Jessica Kopp

Rain Rain Go Away

Saturday night we sat in the pouring rain and watch the REAL Soccer season opening match against the LA Galaxy. We were frozen and soaking wet by the time it was over, but it was so worth it. It was an exciting game full of beautiful plays, angry fans, fireworks and plenty of yellow cards. And to top it off we won 4-1. I have to admit that my favorite part of the game was when they put Jimmer (BYU basketball star) up on the big screen and while everyone was checking him out REAL scored and we all missed it. It was hilarious and infuriating at the same time. Thanks goodness for instant reply.

I'm so excited for the season to finally get started. We have gone to a couple of games here and there over the past few years, but this year Rivetal got season tickets so we will be going all the time. I've always been a soccer fan and I'm excited to see the rest of the family catch the spirit.

David Beckham plays for LA Galaxy so I finally got to see him play and I have to admit, I wasn't that impressed. He wore a silly headband the whole game and really didn't do anything that spectacular. The girls loved how the crowd would BOO every time he got near the ball.

 

Can you tell that some of us had more fun than others? Poor Syd only likes to come to the games for cotton candy and churros....and once they were gone she was just cold and wet.

 

Tickle Tickle

After going through the last year of photos I realized I needed to get myself out from behind the camera more. I take photos to document our life and I'm not in hardly any of them. That isn't right.

So I set two goals.

First: Hand off the camera.

Derek can push the button as easily as I can and Abby is turning into a great photographer. I need to give them a chance. I'm excited to see what they capture and what stands out to them.

Second: Purchased a camera remote.

It arrived last week and I'm still learning the ins and outs of the little clicker, but I was able to capture this special moment between Evan and me. I wish the focus was more on Evan's face then the wrinkles around my eyes, but who really cares. We are together. He is smiling. And he can always look back and know how much his momma loved him.

Hungry Boys NOT Allowed

I used to think it was a bad idea for me to go to the grocery store on an empty stomach. Everything would look AMAZING and I would end up with a basket full of crap. But this past weekend I learned how much worse it is to take a hungry 20-month-old little boy.

Everything will also look AMAZING to him, but he doesn't just want to put it in the cart, he wants to eat it NOW!! And there will be crying, complaining, screaming and whining until he gets a taste. We only needed to grab a few things, but in those few short minutes he tasted grapes, had fruit snacks, devoured multiple handfuls of crackers, opened a candy, and tried to drink a full gallon of apple juice. We didn't need to have dinner when we got home.

*These last 2 photos are perfect examples of Evan's new CHEESE face. Whenever the camera comes out this is what I get...scrunchy face, closed eyes, pokey chin and a little giggle. 

Where are we? What is going on?

Two weeks ago, Abby and I decided to have some fun in the sun and snow at Sundance Ski Resort. Abby is turning into a great little boarder and I decided to give myself a challenge and strap on a board instead of my usual skis. I thought it would be fun for us to both spend the day on what I thought would be an even playing field. Boy was I wrong.

While Abby spent her time weaving in and out of the trees,  I spent the day just trying to stay upright and off my already bruised bottom.....that is until the last run of the day.

I will admit that on that last run I was so excited to FINALLY be done. I had played the brave mommy all day, but every part of my body was on fire. I still can't remember exactly what happened, but as I rounded one of the final corners of the mountain I must have fallen hard and hit my head. From what Abby says when she came around the corner I was laying on my back with my goggles and hat scattered all around. I quickly sat up and started talking, but I've been told I wasn't making any sense. I had no idea where I was or what was going on. I even asked where Derek was. Abby finally told me I was really scaring her because I kept asking the same questions over and over again. 

I was able to get myself down the mountain and spent some time figuring things out in the lodge. It took about 30 minutes, but eventually the fog slightly cleared in my mind and things started making a little more sense. I could remember things before and after the crash....just not the crash itself. 

I have to admit that looking back this was a lot more serious situation then I originally thought. And I have been scolded by many for my actions. I now know I shouldn't have driven Abby and myself home and maybe going to the doctor would have been a good idea. I'm just grateful that everything is okay and all I got was a gigantic goose egg, killer headache and ringing ears. 

I did learn a lot of important lesson from this little adventure.

    #1: Wear a helmet.

    #2: Don't scare your daughter.

    #3: MOST IMPORTANT!! Never get on a snowboard again!!

 

A style all her own.

This girl's style is all over the place. But yet, all perfect for her.

One day she is running around in camo pants with a tank top and the next sporting her REAL Soccer jersey. Lately she has become OBSESSED with Aeropostale. She begs me to take her to the mall all the time to see what is new and on sale. Recently we hit the jackpot and they had tons of long and short sleeve shirt for only $3.99. We picked up some great ones, but I had to quickly make a rule that she could only wear an Aeropostale shirt 2 days of the week after I noticed she was wearing them everyday.

The pink one she is wearing in this photo is her new favorite, especially paired with her flower hat, crimped hair and bright teal Converse All Stars. 

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I need some advice.

Abby loves her hair all crimped and curly, but it takes forever. She has decided she wants to get a body-wave perm. Is that a good or bad idea? I haven't had a perm or know anyone who has gotten a perm in years. Thoughts?

It's Great to be Eight

Eight years ago today Sydney was born.

It was a cold day in Rexburg, Idaho, but with only 2 pushes she was out and ready to face the world.

It was 4:31 PM and she tipped the scales at 9 LBS!!

I remember her looking me right in eyes and knowing she was going to do great things.

She has always been a feisty little girl, but she teaches me everyday what it really means to love.

I'm so glad she's part of our family and excited to celebrate this special day with her.

Happy Birthday Sydney Lou!

I love you.

I'm proud of you.

I'm so glad I'm your mom.

dadda home, dadda home

 

I'm so glad I had my camera out when Derek got home from work this week. As soon as the door started to open both Evan and Lucky took off full sprint toward him. I was able to capture the perfect little scene of Evan running right into Derek's arms yelling "dadda home, dadda home."

Evan has never said that before, or for that matter, even been that excited when Derek gets home. It was the cutest thing I've ever seen and I sure hope it happens everyday. That little boy sure loves his dad.

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Evan has also fallen in love with getting up and playing with Mom and Dad after sisters have gone to bed. With our crazy work schedules the past few weeks Derek and I have been putting in a lot of long hours and there is nothing we enjoy more then getting a few extra minutes with Evan. He knows it is a special thing and is always super sweet, cuddly and giggly. He likes to do puzzles, play cars and sit in Derek's lap. He always crys, "No night night," when we finally drag him up to bed.

 

Moments....not events

While getting my morning blog fix this morning I read a statement on 3 boys and a little lady that made me stop and think. It said,

    i stopped blogging "events"...but decided i would rather blog "moments". 

So many people I know, including myself, have pulled away from blogging because they feel they are just so far behind. (I think to myself, it's March and I still haven't blogged about Christmas.) But by reading this statement I finally realize that by getting caught up in the "events", I was missing out on what was most important, which is recording the "moments." So my goal from here on out is to record "moments". The things that made today special...the little things...the things I don't ever want to forget. 

So for today's moment I present Evan and the garbage truck.

This little man looks forward to Friday morning and the sounds of the rumbling garbage truck. The second he hears it his eyes open wide and runs to the closest window and destroys the blinds to get a peak out. Today was a special day because we got double trucks (garbage and recycling). We sat on the porch in our pj's and watched the big trucks go all the way down the street and back again. Evan was so excited he couldn't sit still. He was running back and forth pointing and ohhing and ahhhing.

 

Make a happy camper... BUY A POSTER!

Would you like to have your very own Book of Mormon reading poster? Abby sure hopes you do.

As many of you know, Abby went to Culver Summer School last year and it was pretty much a disaster from start to finish. But somewhere between major homesickness, crutches, concussions, impetigo all over her face and frequent trips to the health center, she was able to get a glimpse of what makes Culver so wonderful and wants to go back.

Originally we had planned for her to take a break and skip a year, but she came to us recently and explained she'd been thinking about it a lot and doesn't want to miss a year. She wants to go back this summer. In order to help earn tuition money, Abby is selling these posters.

They are only $25 and are the perfect way to keep your family motivated as you read the scriptures. They are 20x30" and are made out of the coolest repositionable fabric...meaning you can stick it to any wall and move it as many times as you want.

If you are interested please let Abby know and she will jump on her scooter and deliver one right to your door or drop one in the mail. You can also click here to be taken to an online order page.

Please spread the word to all your friends, family and neighbors. Thanks!