Jessica Kopp

Watermelon vs. Cake

We decided to save Evan's traditional 1st birthday cake and party until Abby is back from Culver. Poor Big Sister was completely broken hearted about missing all the festivities and since Evan doesn't even know what is going on, we decided that waiting wouldn't hurt anything.

So instead of cake, we gave Evan watermelon. The biggest piece a one-year-old has ever eaten. He LOVED it and devoured the whole thing, including a couple nice bites of the rind. His shirt and shorts were soaking wet, and he had juice running off his chin, arms, fingers, cheeks and nose. He was sticky, sticky, sticky and sad when I finally ripped it out of his hands and he had to go straight to the tub to get cleaned up.

 

If this is any indication of what he'll do with the cake, we've have a great party next month.

Safety First

Sydney and the neighbor kids have decided to build a club house. They told the neighbor Greg that he was going to help them and the sweet man that he his told them he would. So while the plans for the real club house are being figured out, the kids figured they needed to get in a little hammering, nailing and screwing practice....and of course you can't do that with out safety glasses. 

At first they only had one pair and kept taking turns and fighting over them, but then I suggested Sydney's glasses would work perfect. Before long they were all busy hammering nails, building ramps and making benches. They love going through all the scrap wood from our basement. Evan even got in on the fun, but they didn't like that he kept stealing their tools and putting them in his mouth.

 

 

Evan: 365 Days

It still doesn't seem real to me (and thats my excuse for having nothing planned) but Buddy turns one today. I can't believe how fast this year has flown by. It seems like yesterday we were scared to be bringing home a brand new baby.....and now look at him, he is a little man. He crawls, he splashes, he pulls the dog's tail. I'm grateful everyday that he is a part of our family. He has filled our home with happiness, laughter, trucks and fishies. Exactly what we needed.

We love you so much Evan and hope you have the best 1st Birthday! 

 ****These pictures were taken during Evan's first bubble bath. He kept putting his face in the bubbles, trying to eat them. Sydney was helping me bath him and kept putting the bubbles on his head like a wig and calling him George Bubbleton (get it.....like George Washington but with bubbles.) What a smart helpful sister.

Culver: Part 1

 
Abigail is loving Culver.....that is when she isn't crying about coming home. Poor girl is very very very homesick. In the past 2 weeks we've received 8 letters begging us to come and bring her home. Here is a little sample of her letters.  

Mom,

Call Culver. Tell them I want to go home. I want to be home before Evan's Birthday. Please. It is terrible here. 

Love you, Abby

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Dear Dad,

Riding horses is fun and the food is good. But I want to go home NOW. I cry every night and we have to march to meals. I want to go home today please!

Love Abby

I'm not going to lie, it breaks our hearts every time we get another letter telling us how much she cries and wants to come home. She even writes "SEND ME HOME" on the back of the envelopes. If it wasn't for our 'spies' on campus (Uncle Greg and Aunt Mandy) and all there positive info, we might be on a plane right now. But we know she isn't even close to as miserable as she sounds in her letters. She does get sad during down time and of course that is when she decides to write us. The rest of the time she is laughing and smiling and making new friends. She is playing soccer, swimming, going to track meets, riding horses, building rockets, learning indian dances, going ice skating and watching movies. 

We finally got to talk to her this weekend and even though there were tears, I think she is going to turn a corner this week and start having a more positive attitude. We told her we loved her and missed her too, but we weren't going to come and get her so she should go out and have the time of her life. I've been told she'll be crying and begging to stay by the end of the 6 weeks. We'll see??

Because this was the first permit weekend, Abby was able to spend Saturday afternoon with her Grandpa. He took her to Papa's, the famous spinach pizza place, and out to get treats for her cabin. And on Sunday she got to spend the day exploring the campus with her Aunt Sarah. She is so lucky to have family so close. This weekend she gets to spend time with Grandma and Aunt Melissa. And two weekends ago she got a secret visit from Uncle Dan and Aunt Marissa. 

   
Here are a couple pictures of her at camp. We are very lucky that photographers follow them around all day, so we are constantly in the loop about what is going on. Derek checks the site and blog a couple times a day to see if anything has been updated. Here is a link to her Butterfly Wing 2 Blog. As you scroll down you'll be able to see all the fun stuff she does all day. And see for yourself what a miserable time she is having.

She starts new classes today and I can't wait to hear what she got and how she likes or dislikes it.

4th of July

What a weekend! 

The 4th of July is becoming one of my favorite holidays. I love everything about it.....parades, bbqs, friends, family, caramel popcorn, smores, and more bbqs. I especially loved celebrating it over the 3-day weekend. We had something fun planned for every single day. I'm not going to lie, I was completely exhausted when it was all over, but it was so worth it. Here is a little recap of all the festivities.

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REAL SOCCER

Friday night Derek and I got tickets to a REAL Soccer game in Sandy. We are quickly becoming super fans, this is our 3rd game and we are totally hooked. We can't wait until we get to go again. This was a perfect game to kick off the holiday weekend.....not only did REAL win 5 to 0, but they had an amazing fireworks show at the end. 

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NEIGHBORHOOD BBQ

The wind might have tried to spoil the fun, but we pulled out the blankets, put on the coats and kept the party going. We rocked out to Greg's music, while the girls did 'Shadow Dances'. I love my neighbors and my neighborhood. We always have so much fun when we get together.   

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KOPP FAMILY BBQ

Sunday we headed to Orem to Melissa and Rob's house for a little get together with the Utah Kopps. It is great to have so much family close. We had tasty bison burgers, played water balloon toss, talked about Rob's new toes shoes, and had a fireworks show. Sydney was so excited to spend time with her cousins. They spent the whole afternoon taking care of their water balloon babies, jumping on the trampoline and eating burnt marshmallow s'mores.

 

 

To show how patriotic he was, Derek wore his favorite shirt for all the festivities  He informed me it was patriotic for 2 reasons: first it is blue and second it shows support for the President. Who can argue with that logic?? And who doesn't love a zombie t-shirt.

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PROVO FREEDOM DAYS 

Bright and early Monday morning we headed to Provo with the Dowdles for the hot air balloon launch and parade. It was my first time at each event and I was very excited. It was absolutely beautiful driving into the valley and watching the balloons lift off. The mountains were an amazing backdrop to all the colors and designs. 

It was very very warm at the parade, but besides the heat we had a great time. We had packed a little picnic breakfast and Evan found the box of powdered donuts and helped himself to 3 or 4 before I realized what he was doing. He was completely covered in white powder and cried when I took the box away. But once he was strapped in his stroller he slept through the majority of the parade. He was all worn out from all that eating!!