A Past Due Update

Things are going well for us. We continue to move forward and stay ridiculously busy at times. I didn't really have any fantastic news to share. These are some of my favorite pictures over the past little while. The bottom one if hilarious to me because Crew always seems to feel so picked on. . . that's because we like the other children more.

The great news of the past little bit is that we are completely out of credit card debt. Over the past year we have paid off approximately $17,500 in medical bills and credit card debt. Now we attack the student loans and we should be out of debt (except for the house) in no time at all. Hurray for small successes!!!

Summer has been working hard as the chair woman of the local Jr. Miss program and that will end next week. She was made to do stuff like this. She has fantastic organizational skills and she definitely gets things done.

J.C. continues to excel in his academics. He's actually kind of a nerd, but hopefully that translates into him being wealthy and able to put me in an awesome nursing home one day with hot CNA's.

Crew has enjoyed his first year of kindergarten. Kannon loves his baby brother while Steele seems to be scared to death of his older brother. Everytime Kannon comes around Steele just tightens up as if to say, "Is this the day I die?"

We are blessed, happy and continue to look forward to new adventures. Happy New Year (it's March, I know) everyone. Upward and onward.

After a week of this

He isn't really smiling in that picture. It just almost looks like it.






After a week of Steele with his three older brothers, Thanksgiving, and the kickoff of the Christmas season, this week has been surprising tranquil. What is there to report? My fantasy team beat Buzz's this week. Is that news worthy? Anyway, I took the boys to see the movie Bolt. Chalk some brownie points up for Dad on that one. Of course what would a week with me be without some sort of ball being involved. We played some basketball and I even introduced the boys to the joy of football on Thanksgiving day. (both playing and watching, however, the televised games were barely watchable) We went to see Santa on Friday. This was not the year for us to get up early. I may have killed someone. I've had a bit of a short fuse this week. Anyway, enjoy the snapshots. God bless everyone out there.

More updates

I was mildly irritated yesterday. I wasn't able to upload some of the photos I wanted. Here is a second try. The little guy is doing well. We are happy to have him here and out of Summer. I don't feel the least bit guilty in saying that the only good thing that came of this pregnancy is the little boy in the picture above. Outside of that, pregnancy has nothing to offer. Check him out, though. He appears to be worth the hassle.

Steele Dale Hoopes

I won't spend too much time on this but Steele was born yesterday as many already know. Here are some pictures. He seems healthy with some healthy attitude. Take a look.

I thought this was funny

I admit that I'm kind of a dork . . . OK, I'm a lot of a dork, but I was playing with the camera yesterday, and I got some footage of the boys. I asked them some stupid questions. After this, I think my boys are related to me and they think I'm a dork. Oh, well.

OK, I was asking these off the cuff. This is a day in our house.

New Pics of the Boys

We just had some pictures taken of the boys. Michelle Bowen did a really good job. Here's a sample.

Day trip to Mackay

We decided to make a road trip out of General Conference today. We decided to go to Mackay. I'm not sure why we chose Mackay. It's pretty and they have mountains. Here are some of the highlights:

If there were ever any doubt, old-school playground equipment beat the socks off of the new age, child-safety-friendly, boring-as-gospel-doctrine-class playground equipment. So what if you are more likely to need stitches afterward. Ah, memories. OK, it was a little scary for Kannon.

We also went to the Mackay Reservoir and decided to throw rocks. Summer won't allow me to post footage of Crew helping her up. It was a sweet gesture on our little boy's part. She's 8 months pregnant and it is a little embarrassing for her I'm sure.