"the hooper dance": 2013 In Review

2013 was great for the Hooper Family! This was our first full year back home in Arlington. It has been a great blessing to be close to our family. Mom is able to help with the kids and Dad is able to help with house and car repairs. That may not seem like much, but it is huge for us. One of my goals this year is to keep up better with my blog. I really enjoy looking back on the things we do as a family. I also like seeing the kids explore new things and take on new adventures. I stay so busy that I have not made this a priority the previous 2 years. So I'm giving a recap of some things we did last year and going forward I will update more frequently.

Chris and I went on his team building company cruise in February. This is our 6th trip (I think) with the company. We always have a good time and we have connected with great people along the way. We also took a family vacation to Hot Springs Arkansas, went to several Rangers games including the Tie Breaker Game against the Rays in September, and the Food Truck Festival at the Ballpark. We went to the State Fair in October and spent several family game nights together with my parents, Joey and Katie, and our kids. These are some of the things that stand out.

I ran in 3 half marathons this year including Cowtown, Dallas Rock'n'Roll Half, and the Jalapeno Half. I recorded my best time to date at Cowtown finishing in 2:19. My mom and I went to visit my best friend, Heather, in New York in May. It was mom's first time in New York and we had a blast. It was an exhausting trip but I cannot wait to visit her again. I celebrated 1 year at my job in August and was promoted to Assistant Director, from Enrollment Coordinator, in November. This is a position I have been working towards for the last several years so it was a great accomplishment for me.

Chris started to run this year, which I love! He did a couple of 5K's and will continue building on his running this year. Some changes were made in his company this year that yielded great results for his motivation and income. It was great year at work for Chris. He also picked up a new hobby, woodworking. He made cabinets, an art easel, a towel rack, and countless other small items. He was able to play golf with friends more frequently this year and even took me to play on his birthday. He went on this Annual Boys Trip in November to see LSU play at Death Valley. He looks forward to this trip with his close friends each year. They go to see some important game at some important stadium each year.

Cameron had his kindergarten field trip to a farm in Arlington in the spring. He had an awesome kindergarten teacher. I was his room mom so I got to know his class and teacher really well. In the fall he started 1st grade and continued playing baseball. He learned to ride this bike with no training wheels this year and is doing great in school. His teacher told me she has to constantly challenge him because he is ahead of the 1st great level and easily gets board. He loves all sports, especially baseball. During the summer, baseball is all he wanted to do and watch. He watches Quick Pitch on the MLB channel in the morning before school. He knows more able baseball than Chris and I and that is saying a lot! He also learned to tie his shoes this summer.

Calleigh did a cheer leading and hip hop dance class this summer and loved it! She loves to dance and play dress up. She gives her brother a run for his money too! They play really well together for the most part, but have their fair share of "fights." She also started private kindergarten in the fall and is doing really well with her reading and writing. I can already tell she will be a dedicated student. She loves school. She is working on riding her bike without training wheels and is getting very close. She loves to run with mommy and wants to go with me every time I go. She also picks her own clothes out for school. It is a rare day she lets me pick them out and if I do, we usually argue about it. She matches most of the time and sometimes I let her go without matching. I am teaching her from an early age to be independent and trust her judgement. (not that she really needs help in that area)

Hope you enjoy catching up with the Hooper Family!