Our Christmas Gingerbread Mansion!!!

Our HUGE gingerbread mansion! It took a few hours to make. Parker made a swing a bench and the stairs out of popsicle sticks. It took a whole box of grahm crackers from costco, lots of frosting and lots of candy. It was so much fun!

A Missionary Christmas! Love this poem!

A Missionary Christmas (author unknown)

I skipped the sales after Thanksgiving. The thrill just wasn't there. No
pictures taken with Santa Claus, My decorating has no flair.
His presents are shoes, shirts, and ties, two suits and socks...no fun.
I've bought him all white clothes because...

This year I'm giving Christ my son.

I've spent more time in the temple, my testimony stirred.
I've reread November's Ensign, felt strength come from His words.
Our family prays more frequently. My tears are quick to run.
Abraham seems closer because,

This year I'm giving Christ my son.

I wonder how those Lamanite mothers, gave their sons to war?
Or how the pioneers chose Zion , their sacrifice was so much more.
My loss will be his presence, I'll miss his smile a ton
For two years we will pray for him,

I'm giving Christ my son.

I stare at his face when he's not looking. I memorize his eyes, their
shine. He's always hungered for the part of him that makes his soul
divine.
The stories and lessons he always heard, his choice and mine are one.
I'll put my faith in God's hand. This year,

I'm giving Him my son.

Past gifts have lost their glitter. I think I finally understand:
Christ's birth should be celebrated by giving Him a hand.
It's because I know Christ lives and reigns that all his packing's done.
My gift has taken years to make, This year...

I'm giving Christ my son.

I know there's One who understands the sacrifice I'm making.
Who knows the gift I willingly give, the toll it will be taking.
For He has done it all before-- greater love, there could be none.
For years ago God gave to me,

His only begotten son.

The hands I washed, the hands I held, the hands I taught to pray;
Now knock on doors to find the ones who will listen to what he'll say.
Because I know Christ needs him, until all the gathering's done,
My gift has taken years to make.

This year...I'm giving Christ my son.


I loved this poem and for a week now I have been trying to copy and paste it to my blog and it would not let me. It finally worked! This poem makes me cry everytime I read it. I love the last paragragh... The hands I washed, the hands I held, the hands I taught to pray... now knock on doors to find the ones who will listen to what he'll say...

More pictures of Mic

Mic's first baptism, well he said it's not his, but the sisters investigator. They needed an Elder to baptize her, so they asked Mic

Mic doing his favorite thing, baking cinnamon rolls

Mic loves pinnapple

Mic's and his companions baptism! The one on the left is Mic's companion

Mic's church is on the right on the bottom floor

MTC Pictures Mic and Cory Companions

Love this Picture at the Provo Temple right when they got to the MTC!!

At the Provo Temple

Stockholm, Sweden!!!

Classroom at the MTC!

In their MTC room..... Ah I miss Mic!

New Family pictures

Help with my blog!

My design of my blog suddenly disappeared, and I can't seem to fix it. Does anyone know how? I really need to update my blog. I'm way behind. I have tried updating it with "cutestblogontheblock" but it's not working.

The MTC

Well, the day finally came! First I woke up with a hive on my eye, so nice big swollen eye for the MTC, then I got one on my arm and then my feet and hands started itching, but they quickly went down when we got the MTC, my tongue was even itching and it did not go away till the next day, but at least the swelling went down. Mic was pretty nervous, but he said "Well I think I have everything" meaning let's go! We first took him to Tacanos as a going away gift because he loves that place and unfortunately all our kids do to! As we were eating we were talking about all the things he needed and packed just to make sure he had everything and when I said journal, he said "Oh no" then that started all the other things he forgot, so we quickly called my sister Shari to stop by and get all the things he forgot. She was able to bring them to the MTC, so that was relief! When we got there they had people directing you to the parking lot for pictures, then they said we could walk over to the wall across the street to take a picture then walk back to our car get in and drive back over and drop him off at the curb. How sad, at the curb? But that's all we could do, so we did. As we came up to the curb there was 2 missionaries to greet him and we all got out and gave our last hugs crying the whole time. I miss the song they used to sing when you went in the MTC. Called to Serve, but I heard it a few times this last week, so it was okay. Well, that was it, very short good bye and now he has been in there for almost 2 weeks, I have got an email and 1 written letter. He is doing okay, he just said it's hard, but he is going to stick with it. We miss him! Here is the pictures in the parking lot

Mic and his Aunts(Karen, Shari, Mic and Joni), just missing one, and it's Shelley.

Mic ready to go

Mic waving goodbye. This is the picture that got me sobbing in the car. WOW! Can't believe he is going to be gone for 2 years!

Parker really excited to go! Okay, it just looks that way.

Ready or not! Only 1 more day left!!

MTC and Girls Camp all in one day on Wednesday!!!


Elder Lopp

We had more family there, but forgot to take a picture.
I will write more, just running out of time.

A weekend full of AMAZING things

Tulips at the Temple -- So Beautiful Andy came home for this amazing weekend and we were able to take Mic through the Temple for his mission. It was so neat and good to be together for these experiences.

Andy was also here for Haley's Patriarchal Blessing. Haley has been wanting one for a long time and she was so excited to go pick it up she was skipping to the Patriarchs door and smiling and laughing. This has been a great experience for her and she is so glad to have it.

Andy was also here for Reilly to receive the Aaronic Priesthood and become a Deacon. Andy did his Ordination. He was excited to get his suit and very excited to get to go do Fast Offerings for the first time. I was very impressed how the Deacons talked to him. Kadon Peterson told him about it and he kept saying "you get to do this" and "you get to do this", instead of "you have to" I think that made Reilly more excited and to believe it's very important.

This really was an amazing week. It took some scheduling with getting Andy home at the right time and Mic coming home from college. Mic did great and I think got straight A's. He got a job a few days later. He started Tuesday full time and can earn some money for his Mission. We are SO grateful for this job. It will help a lot.

Woman's Conference with Hillary Weeks!!!!!!!!!!!

Every year we go to Woman's Conference at BYU with my Mom, sisters and friends. This is a picture with Hillary Weeks after the big concert on Thursday night in the Marriott Center. We stayed behind and she was right there so I tapped her on the shoulder and asked if she would be in our picture with us. She was so happy to do it. She is an amazing LDS singer. She is also really funny and talked about laundry throughout the concert. They even gave a washer and dryer away and tons of laundry soap. I really don't know who the lady in the blue on the left is tho. She just joined in. The rest are my Mom, Angie, me, Hillary Weeks, Joni, Karen and Shelley all my sisters and my Mom. I actually stood right by her with her arm around me and Joni. Ha Ha! We had a great time.

Here is the video!!

Mic opening the post office box to see if his call came It came!!!!! It was the only thing in the box, a big white envelope. He is all smiles

Elder McKinly Thomas Lopp. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is the video of Mic reading his call. The only thing we forgot was to film all the people down below Mic. Our whole front room was packed with family and friends. You can almost here a pin drop while Mic was reading his call. Everyone was so excited to hear where he was going. I totally forgot to get pictures of the huge crowd we had. I can't believe I forgot to take pictures. I was so concerned about getting it on video that I forgot about pictures. Mic said the view of all the people was amazing and intimidating! It was so much fun to have everyone over and support Mic in this amazing time in his life.

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mic got his call on Wednesday. We went to the post office to get the mail with all the cameras we have and pushed record before he opened it and the only thing in the box was slowly pulled out and it was a giant white envelope!! It was HIS CALL! It was so cool. I just wanted him to open it right then. I was so excited and my excitement starting taking over me by making me jittery, shaky, laughing and saying over and over; "I can't believe it's here." We drove right next store to get a yummy chocolate donut from Holiday to celebrate.

We drove to Staples to get little smiley stickers so everyone could put them on a map to guess where he goes before he opens it. We decided to open it at 9pm, so we had to wait like 11 hours! It was a very long 11 hours. While we were at Staples and buying our purchases, Mic bought his first and when he was done started walking towards the door, so did I with my items to buy. Mic said to me "Mom are you not going to buy your things?" I said "Oh yeah!" I almost forgot to buy my stuff because my excitement is taking over me. I guess it's time to just go home and wait.

We tried to keep busy all day, lunch, shopping, working, piano, cleaning, YW, and finally 9 came. All the cameras ready, guesses made and everyone there. Mic stood at the top overlooking everyone over the railing. He opened it and was so nervous said "where do I read it." He finally found where he was to read it and once there was total silence, he read, and even before he finished a huge loud cheer erupted when he said SWEDEN. He had to read it over to tell us where in Sweden. Stockholm, Sweden. He then read when he would leave; July 28th and he would be speaking Swedish, another cheer erupted. He leaves right during girls camp. Haley and I will have to come up with the Relief Society on Wed night.

With all the excitement I wanted to make sure I got everything videotaped and so we had 3 cameras going. I totally forgot to take still pictures. I'm so mad at myself for not taking any. My Mom got only 2 or 3. We did not even get a picture of the mass crowd of people in our front room looking up to Mic. There was a ton of people, the whole front room was crowded with family and friends. I did not even videotape the eruption of cheer that exploded. I told Mic we have to do it all over again.

I still cannot believe he is going to Sweden. I keep saying it out of the blue and it's been 4 days. I can't believe it!

I'm in St. George right now using my sister's lap top so I can't post the videotape of it, but I will when I get home. Check back later.

Yeah, Stockholm, Sweden!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WOW!

Prayers needed! The wait is almost over!

It's coming!!!!!! This week we are hoping. I'm bringing the camera to the post office every day with Mic. His call just has to be there this week because Mic is home for his spring break all week and Andy will be home too. It just has to come. Party at the Lopp's Wed or Thurs to watch him open his call, if it comes. They say they are supposed to come on Wed or Thur. EVERYONE SAY A FEW PRAYERS!!!!!!!!!

19 years ago and a TERRIFIC VALENTINES!

19 Years ago I was in the hospital with Mic and he was only 6 hours old, weighing in at 7lbs and 11 oz. I will always remember that weight because of the 7-11 convenient stores. Valentines was over for me 19 years ago, but hey what a great valentines gift. Actually I have gotten double. Andy and I still go out just the day before and he got me a dozen red roses and balloons for me this year and he was home and so was Mic. It's been a great Valentines this year!!!! We have done a ton this weekend as a family and we needed it. Both Andy and Mic leave tomorrow:(:(, but we look forward when they come home again because we will probably be opening Mic's mission call all together. It's driving me crazy wondering where he will go. I can't believe we will have a missionary! That's just crazy!!!!!!! Happy Birthday MIC! Love ya

All stitched up!!!!

So I got a call around 2:15 from Parker asking me if I could come and pick him up from school to go get stitches. What happened?? He said he was playing circle ball in his weight lifting class and ran into his friend and his cheek bone connected with Parkers eye. Nice! 8 stitches later and a matching scar from his other eyebrow he's home and proud of his lovely stitched up eyebrow. I think he needs to wear a helmet cause he has been stitched up 4 times on his head in his life. You can faintly see the scar in the middle of his forehead, ( top left of the picture) then he has a scar on the back of his head and on the other eyebrow. Nice!!!!

Where oh where have the Lopp's been

I just realized I have not updated my blog since Nov! Wow! That's been a long time. I'm usually up on that. We are getting ready to send Mic's papers off for his mission. Feb 20th is when he can send them off. Wow! I'm old sending a missionary off. Yikes!!!!!!! He is way excited tho and can't wait.
Here are some random pictures of what we have been up to:
Christmas candy houses

Anual family Santa party at the lopp's

We have gotten into bowling for FHE. The kids all love it. This was when Mic was home from college. The only person missing is Andy. He was home one time with us, but Mic was gone.

Reilly recieved his Tenderfoot award in scouts and has finished his 2nd class and almost his 1st class(I can never remember which comes first... 1st or 2nd class)
Zac will get his Bear at the Blue and Gold Banquet this Thursday

Playing in the snow and building a very cool snowman with Zac.