GARDNER CLAN

I have 2 sister in laws that do photography. They are both amazing! Go check out their stuff at brynsphotos.blogspot.com and giovannalou.com. They both totally have their own style and I get so dang excited when they take pics cause they are so talented. Here are some new ones of Cooper and Jesi that Steph did..

Our sweet little Jesi Lynn was blessed by her father this last Sunday. What a beautiful blessing he gave her! He is amazing and such a great father and husband. I am so grateful for him and his honoring his priesthood so he can bless our children..and before I know it, he will be baptizing them! Thats a crazy thought! Anyhoo...here are some pictures of our special day..

How fun is Halloween all over again when you get children. I have to say my little ladybug and Spiderman are adorable! :) I, myself, began to dress up as a sassy witch, but just wasn't into it this year so I stopped and just put on some jeans and a jacket and was much more comfortable. I did tell my hubby that we need to be 'funner parents' and dress up with our children...maybe next year.

Cooper was a crack up trick or treating. We left Jesi home with Clint to stay warm and away from people, and Cooper, I mean SpiderMan (thats what we had to call him when he wears his outfit) and I headed out to trunk or treat and to a few houses in our neighborhood. He was so happy telling people HAPPY HALLOWEEN and would get so excited about other peoples costumes. I wish I would have had a recorder with me cause now I can't remember the funny things he was saying. I loved spending some time with my little man again.


This is Coop and Jesi with a bunch of their cousins. There are quite a few missing, but these guys all looked so great! Do you love that green wig! I told my sister that I am gonna have to use that one year for sure! Love it! She got it with the outift at a yard sale for like 12 bucks!

Born Sept 17th and weighing in at 6lbs 12oz, we are so happy to have our little lady here! She is absolutely adorable and just a sweet piece of heaven! Cooper loves being 'big brother' to Jesi and is super sweet with her.

Well, as circumstances have changed we have decided to get started this Thursday if the little lady doesn't come on her own before then. Kinda crazy to think that I'm gonna have a new little baby in less than 5 days! Now if we could just come up with a name...

Well for whatever reason, Clint and I are having a hard time nailing down a name for a little girl due in less than 7 weeks. I thought I might open it up to some ideas from others...
We have liked Jesi Kenna
Josie Chloe
Samantha Keira
and Clint loves Penelope (nickname Penny)
Any other ideas? I don't know if we should stay with the 'c' and 'K' thing or if we should go away from that...
If you've got some fun names and you don't mind sharing I sure would love it...

Cooper talking with my father yesterday..

Cooper: You have a nose, and I have a nose Grandpa.

You have eyes and I have eyes...etc...This went on for a minute as Cooper went through different physical attributes that they had in common. Then he looks at my dad and says..

"I have hair grandpa, and you have hair...then with a concerned look he pats the back side of my dads head and says "but you are missing some grandpa! Thats okay, my Daddy is missing hair too!" (Clint shaves his head if you didn't know)

We have all got a kick out of this. To end it off as I was leaving my parents house I called Clint to tell him what Coop had said. As I was telling Clint that Coop said he didn't have hair, Cooper was in the back of the car saying "Mom, I need to talk to my Daddy! Mom, can I talk with Daddy?" ..so I handed Coop the phone. He put it up to his ear and said.."Daddy, You don't have any hair!" like Clint was trying to argue with me or didn't believe me. It was pretty funny. I wish you could hear his voice when saying these things. He seriously cracks m up some times with the things that he says. I love this kid!

Ahh..the loved Lehi Round-up that we attend each year for my fathers birthday. It is always a good time and gets funner as the little manchild grows up and has so much fun and is so dang much fun to watch.


Cooper loved his cowboy hat! and he loved Grandpa wearing his too. He kept calling him his 'cowboy grandpa'. So dang cute!

Happy Birthday to my little manchild! He turned 3 yesterday. He is all big on me now. I love it and yet it makes me sad that he is growing up so fast!
We had a blast with him all day. We kinda started his birthday Friday night. We went to the new movie 'Up'. It was a cute show we thought and Coop had a ball with his cousins and grandparents who came too. Then on Saturday morning, Cooper helped me to decorate his cake while we ate M&M's for breakfast. After talking with him all week on what he wanted at his birthday party, offering to make him a baseball cake or bug cake or different games and things to do, he informed me that he wanted to have green punch and a cake with green frosting with M&M's on it and ice cream cones. Easy enough right? He also wanted to play Duck Duck Goose. I mean how simple was that for me to prepare for?
My sister, Jackie, was a sweetheart to open up her home and fun back yard for his party. She has a nice big yard with a trampoline, large play set, sand, rabbits, chickens, and tons of room to run. We invited some friends and cousins to come and play. The kids had a ball. I am not sure why on Coopers birthday it is always a chillier summer day. You would think that on June 6 it would be a great day to have a pool party, but each year we try and it doesn't work, but thats okay cause we always have fun anyway.
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Here are 10 things I love about Cooper right now..(there are a whole lot more than 10, but I thought I'd say some that are fun about him at this time of his life)
1. His sense of humor. He loves to laugh and tease. He has the most adorable smile that can be so mischievious sometimes. He makes me laugh all the time.
2.His language. Like aweons (aliens) He runs around shooting the aliens or saying "I'm an aweon, I'm an aweon!" and we are supposed to shoot him. Or how he calls girls or boys 'Hims'. 'Him is my friend' or whatever. I love it.
3. His independence As frustrating as it can be to me sometimes when I am in a hurry and its easier for me to just do it, I love that he likes to do things 'all by myself'. He is such a good kid who likes to help out whenever he can. He likes to put on his own seatbelt, and roll the windows down himself, and cut his own food, and he did tell me a couple weeks ago...
Me: 'Cooper when are you gonna make your own bed?'
Cooper: 'Um, when I'm 3 Momma. Yeah, when I'm 3 I will make my own bed'
I love it! We will see how well this goes.
4. His memory This kid got his fathers memory. He can tell you everyone in his lifes favorite colors or pretty close. He sees something purple and he tells me how that is Grandma's favorite color. He can tell you Clints, mine, his gmas and gpa's, some of his friends and so on. He also can remind you of many things that have happened and the words that were said. It can be real funny, but I really gotta watch what I say and do, ya know?! He remembers people names really well too. He likes to know their names and he remembers them real well. Glad he didn't get my memory cause it isn't so good. Ha :)
5. His questions He is the king of 20 questions right now. It is kinda funny. 'How you do that, Momma?' 'How the cat eat its food?' 'How you make that food?" etc... They pretty don't stop all day and he really is interested in an honest answer too.
6. His prayers I love letting him say prayers on his own to see what all he says. Clint found a toad a couple weeks ago in the road and brought it home to Cooper. We kept it for awhile. Every night, even though it is gone now, he has to thank Heavenly Father for the toad that dad got for him and that daddy could catch it in the road. (He actually called it a tato frog because he kept calling it a frog, so I said it was a toad frog and he got the a little mixed up with a potato bug and combined them all. Kinda funny). He also likes to thank Heavenly Father for everything else he can see when he peaks his eyes open, like his trains and his baseball and any other item he sees. Little children are so simple minded and it is such a good reminder to me.
7. His love of foods based on who he eats them with Here is what I mean. My mom and dad watch a few mornings when I teach and dad loves a good breakfast with sausage and stuff. Coop is a carnivore and loves this ritual. He loves sausage, but when I cook it for him at home I have to tell him that it is 'Grandpas sausage' to get him to eat it. He only like sausage that is grandpas, not ours. Also, he loves to eat crackers at my sister Debi's house. If we are buying any we have to buy some like 'Debi's' or I give him some in a baggie to eat while on a walk or something I have to tell him that they are Debi's crackers cause he only likes those kind. There are some things that he only eats at certain peoples places. He will only eat Mac n Chz at Aunt Debi's. He is a goof and very particular about things. What a goof!
8. how he acts out his stories He is so funny when he is telling you something. If he ran fast somewhere or someone else did and he is telling you about it he runs fast in place or for a few steps and pants like he is out of breath. He likes to act out with facial expressions and movemnets whatever it is that he is talking about. It is quite entertaining!
9. his love of green If it is green, 'his favorite color', he likes it. We have dyed his milk green, bought green shorts, green foods.. If he sees something green he lets me know that he likes it cause it is his favorite color and he likes it. So funny. He like cereal if it is in a green box or has something that he likes on the box. I can get him to eat some healthy stuff cause of the package!
10. that he loves me and tells me all the time He is such a loving little boy. He will just randomly give me a big ol' hug and tell me that he loves me. He will do it to others too, but I love to hear it from him. I also love that every night when we lay down to go to sleep, he goes through the day and thanks me for all that we did. 'Thanks for watching a movie with me' 'Thanks for going swimming with me' 'Thanks for making me cookies' or whatever it is that stuck out to him that we have done. It sure makes a mom feel good when they are thanked!

I love this little guy! He is the light of my life. I am excited to see how he is with the new little sister coming this fall. Thanks Cooper for lighting up our lives with your energy and happiness! I LOVE YOU COOPER! Happy 3rd!

I thought it would be fun for Cooper to come to the ultrasound with Clint and I to kinda make it more real that Mom was having a baby. When they brought up the ultrasound it showed her spine and Coop kept saying, "Mom, you havin' a girl alligator!" They technician and specialist were getting a kick out it. They said they have heard alot of things but never that it was an 'alligator'! He still tells peope that 'Momma has a girl alligator in her tummy!' He used to point to my boobs and tell me I was having twins so at least its not '2 babies' anymore! Haha!
So, anyway, super fun that it is a girl. We would have taken and been excited for either though. We tend to agree on names for girls much easier than boy names. We are excited and can't wait to meet her in September!

Yes, I am alive, slightly stressed, prego sickly and busy, but yet alive. I don't have much to post other than my adorable little manchild and the funny things he says. Love him!!

Cooper eating his dinner last night..(well me trying to talk him into eating his dinner rather than only drinking chocolate milk which he thinks is the only thing to eat/drink.)
Cooper: (drinking his chocolate milk standing up on the chair with his chest puffed out) "Mommy, chocolate milk makes me bigger! I drink all of it so I get bigger!"
Mommy: "Cooper eating your food will make you bigger. You should eat some oranges and take a bite of your PB sandwich."
Cooper "No, chocolate milk makes me bigger mom, not my food!"
Mommy: "No, ask grandpa, food makes you bigger.."
Cooper asks grandpa and decides to take a bite. "Look Momma, I'm bigger!"
Mommy: "Yes, Coop you are!"
Cooper (looking at his bum with his eyes large and eyebrows raised with sheer excitement in his voiec) "Yeah! My bum is bigger!"

Cooper playing pirates and dragons with Grandpa.
"Ahh, I get choo!"
Grandpa "Did you get him? Is he dead?"
Cooper "Nah, he's not dead, Papa. But he's crying like a little girl!"

Cooper, sitting in his carseat, just got told no to something by his Mom and says..
"Mom, will you get me that?"
"What Cooper?"
"That cup right there... so I can throw it at you. Cooper is mad at you, Mom."


He is a handful at times, but makes me laugh most of the time. One sweet thing I do love about him is when putting him to bed at night he tells me thank you's for the day..
"Thank you watching movie with me, Momma"
"Thank you playing cars with me"
"Thank you for my juice, Momma"
etc...
I don't know if he is just post poning the inevitable or what, but it makes a mom feel real good to get told thank you for all the little things.

My sweet sister in law took Coopers pictures for me last night. She did such a good job! Here are just a few..I LOVE THIS LITTLE MAN CHILD of mine! Tell me he isn't adorable...

A--Attached or Single: attached, It'll be 4 years with my Clint this April!
B--Best Friend: CLint and Cooper. I love my boys!
C--Cake or Pie: CAKE White with vanilla frosting! Double layer please! Mmm..
D--Day of Choice: Saturday or Sunday.
E--Essential Item: Lip Gloss. Haha! I always have some with me it seems
F--Favorite Color: REd
G--Greatest Accomplishment: Children. I love them and it is such a miracle how it works. 9 months and then all of the sudden you are holding this little child in your arms that you are instantly so in love with.
H--Hometown: Alpine, Ut
I--Indulgences: Right now pregnant..anything fried and greasy-chips, tater tots, bacon cheeseburgers, eggrolls, cheetos, and of course Easter chocolates!
J--January or July: July. I love the sun
K--Kids: Two and one on the way this fall. Cooper 2, Kate would be 1 and ?
L--Life is incomplete without: My family and the gospel(i know such primary answers, but its truly how I feel)
M--Marriage Date: April 27
N--Number of Siblings: 5. 3 brothers and 2 sisters (we are totally the Brady bunch!)
O--Oranges or Apples: usually apples, but pregnant right now oranges
P--Phobias or fears: I actually have a fear of heights but I try really hard to face it as often as I can. I hate having fear. I hate feeling weak.Oh yes, claustophobia(is that how you spell it?) I hate anything over my face or tight tight places.
Q--Quotes: When falling forward, you are actually moving forward. I like this for 2 reasons. 1-I am always falling 2-I like thinking that mistakes might help me become better if I learn from them.
R--Reason to Smile: SOO many things. Cooper, Clint, Kate, life is basically good, ya know...
S--Season: Spring, Summer, Fall...really I am just not a fan of cold. I like the rest though. Being outside, BBQ's, parks, laying on the grass and feeling the warmth of the sun on my face, swimming...
T--Tag 5 Friends: Epp, Camel, Nikki, Kinslee, & Goldie
U--Unknown fact about you: I hate little noises like someone chomping their gum in my ear, slurping, some random noise in the car or something. Clint loves to make little noises and see if I can figure out what he is doing or where it is coming from. I get a little unnerved.
V--Very favorite store: Target and grocery store. Its true. When I get put on a budget it consists of me not going to Target or the grocery store
W--Worst habit: Picking my zits. Its horrible, I know.
X--X-ray or Ultra Sound: I prefer ultra sound cause that means its a baby most likely and xrays mean more like a broken bone. Although they do look pretty cool with all my hardware in my back.
Y--Your favorite food: Mexican something, my mom's yummy potatoes, steak,bacon cheeseburgers.. oh gracious, if you know me you know that I just love food!
Z--Zodiac: Leo! Rrr..

Yes, its true.. I'm pregnant! Baby #3 is on its way. We are expecting another little one due this September making us about 2 1/2 months along right now. Fun! We are excited. Not bad.3 kids in 3 years..

I try to consider myself a fairly tough chica, but when your 2 year old gives you a black eye that looks like you were in a pretty good fight, it humbles you a bit. He didn't mean to and said "sorry mama" quite a few times with many "kisses better". It hurt pretty good. I hit the bed with my fist to let out a little steam. Cooper kept saying, "You okay mama? That hurt you?" I would say, "Yes Coop, Mama hurts. She loves you, but Mama is a little upset right now."
It is a good one! My whole cheek was swollen and I have had quite the shiner for about 4 days now! Great job Cooper! (sadly this is the 2nd one, but the first wasn't nearly as bad)

So I can't get my camera to work or else I would have a picture of the beauty..and it is a beauty!

I love the things kids say. Cooper has some funny moments and some tender moments. Here are some from lately.

Cooper has found the little army guys at Grandma's and is playing intensely with them all over the house with their tanks and trucks. As I listen, he has two guys fighting and then thows one in the cabinet and shuts the door and turns to me and says, "Hey Mom, look! He ran away like a little girl!" (someone has been hanging out with daddy a little too much!) :)

on the tender side...

Sunday was Kate's birthday. We were on our way home from St. George and Cooper fell asleep. We hadn't really said anything to him abot her birthday yet and then he ended up sleeping through going to the grave. Later that night while Coop was in the bathtub playing, he started to sing the Happy Birthday song. I asked, "Who you singing to, Coop?" He looked at me and said, "Katie". How precious is that!

While in the car, every once in awhile I will notice that he is talking to someone. I will ask him who and the answer goes something like this..
Cooper: "my friend"
Me: "Oh? Who's your friend? Is it a boy or girl?"
Cooper: "a girl"
Me: "A girl? What is her name?"
Cooper: He used to say her name was Cooper, but this last time her name is Katie. I think maybe he got that her name was Cooper cause that is what she calls him.
How sweet is that! I mean, I have always known that the veil is thin, but I love that they are friends and have conversations all the time. I wonder what she says to him? And what he says to her.
He says the funniest things lately and I need to write them more so I remember, cause I forget so quickly.

Happy One Year Birthday! to our sweet little Kate! Can you believe it has been a year? At times it feels like a while ago, and at other times it feels like just last week. As I sat there looking at her grave stone today, I felt like it had just been a few days since we had buried her. The day she was born was kinda wintery weather like today was. The day we buried her was a beautiful day. Kate's funeral was the same day as President Hinkley's, and we reaped the benefits of that beautiful winter day a prophet was buried. We miss our little girl very much. We are so grateful for the knowledge of the gospel helping us know where she is and how happy and perfect she is.
It has been quite a year for us... we started the year burying our little girl and ended it burying our little sister mixed with some stuff in between. We are happy to have ended that year and started a new one. And with the new year I will try to resolve to be a better blogger cause I really didn't end 2008 off very good in the blogging world.
Here's to a new year!