Don't you wish...

... that you could have your snack INSIDE the toy box?

I guess the toys just didn't want to come OUT and play so Caleb made sure to remedy that!

If it can make you this happy (even with two year molars are coming in), why not try it next time.

Good Friday

We enjoyed this year's extra day off in style. We met Karin, Trevor and their children at Fort Desoto county park for a tour of the Fort. http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/05_Ft_Desoto.htm

Where we played inmates.

Perused the artifacts

and climbed the cannons

and then headed to the top for a birds eye view of the pier and beautiful beach below.

What a view and the weather was gorgeous. We can't wait to go again and share this new (to us) adventure with other friends and family members. Mark even remarked how we should try out their campsites sometime. Thanks Salisburys for showing us your favorite beach spot, it was lots of fun and it just may become one of our favorites too!

Double Dahle Dinner Date

Thursday, April 9, 2009


TGITh? Oh yea! Mark had Good Friday off so Thursday was our "date night". Mark hurried home and we all piled in the car to head for Brandon. Mark's parents met us there for a wonderful Japanese dinner at a restaurant we discovered together called Sushi Ninja. They ordered appetizers of 3 sushi rolls, and Chicken yakitori -Yum! What a delicious start! Then we enjoyed soups, salads, our various main courses and some adult conversation (even with Caleb -who did great all things considered). It was so fun to have some two on two (with Caleb it was really three on two) time. We enjoy hanging out with them so much that their company was even better than that outstanding food (did I mention how much I LOVE sushi yet?)! Caleb loved seeing his Farmor and Farfar. They were so sweet and brought him a few Easter treats. The adorable bunny with jellybeans and fun magnet bunny toy were total hits! Thanks Farfar and Farmor for a wonderful evening! We sure love you guys and we should do this again sometime soon!

NY Strip Steak

After Lori, Caleb and I left the Outback Crab Shack we stopped into a Jiffy (mini-mart) that's marquee said NY Strip Steak $4.99 per lb before heading back to the house. We each remarked on what a good price it was as I helped Lori choose 3 large packages of beautiful steaks from the gas station's coolers. At checkout Lori picked up a few boxes of candy and so did I. Meanwhile, Caleb is out of control and almost ran out the front door while two Spanish/Latin ladies entered the Jiffy. The women approached the cashier and asked for directions to a church called Mary Immaculate. Lori and I over hear them and we decided to try our best to help them find this church/place where their father and husband was supposed to be participating in a special meeting that night. They were all dressed up and running late already. The only problem is they have no address, no phone number and no name of the place. They've just been there before so they tried to explain where it was the best they could. http://www.hopereborn.org/ is where they were really headed. After trying to explain to them for over twenty minutes in both English and Spanish where this place was and how they needed to go back the way they came from, Lori finally leaned into the car (where Caleb and I were now because the mosquitoes were eating Caleb up) window and asks "should we just take them there?". My only response was "Get in"!

I then explain to the ladies that they should just follow us and we'd take them there. And that's what we did. Luckily after some serious digging we found this place's website on Lori's phone and then followed the directions as best we could since they were quite vague. It wasn't just around the corner either! Finally we pull up to the parking lot across the street from "comunita cenacolo" and they pull up from following behind us and sweetly say "Thank you" (almost with tears in their eyes) before we now dead tired head for home with our steak.

Lori kept asking if it is typical of the Spanish/Latin culture - not follow directions which makes them late. I responded, I don't think so. We both laughed at how trying to do one simple good deed turned into a whole evening since now we were barely going to make it home before the boys returned from Priesthood. We figure that one act should count for the rest of the month at least...ha ha. Just kidding!

The next day at dinner we retold the story and hoped that everyone enjoyed their steaks a little more after all we had to go through to get them! Thanks Lori. Those steaks truly were delicious!

Easter Conference

General Conference is a wonderful time to learn and feel the spirit of the Lord. This year we were up in Jacksonville visiting the Potters (my oldest sister Lori's family). Grant, Todd, Alison and their girls were visiting the whole weekend too (my sister Lesa and nephew Tanner left on Saturday).

We watched both sessions on Saturday like normal. On Sunday we played pin the tail on the rabbit,

made foam jewelry,

created bunny noses and dyed (real and marshmallow) eggs before and during the sessions.

It was nice to keep the kids busy and help them get ready for Easter. I'll admit that I was way more into it all than anyone else (Alison and I had fun leading the kids in games and crafts). I love celebrating any holiday and doing it with kids is even more fun! I also enjoyed keeping my own hands busy while listening to the prophet, apostles and other leaders of the church teach great wisdom and insights. Although with Caleb (as we found out during the Saturday sessions) it is often difficult to simply sit and listen like we'd normally do.

Before the Sunday morning conference began Steve read a story to Caleb - what a wonderful Uncle he has.

During one session the men were hanging out on the couch listening.

The Potter's neighbor called and told us that there was a big black snake on top of our fence sunning himself. The neighbor wasn't sure it was real and thought it was an April Fool's joke. Steve explained that it was real and went out and scared him away. He also cleaned off all the vines on the fence so that the snake wouldn't be able to climb back up and bother them again.

Later that evening we all sat down for a nice meal together before Mark and I headed home. More to come about that dinner in another post.

Thank you Lori and Steve for hosting us all weekend! We love you all so much and always enjoy spending time with your family.

The Crab Shack

April 4, 2009
St. Augustine, FL

It seems like forever that we've been hearing Grant and Todd rave about a restaurant that Lori and Steve took take them to called the Outback Crab Shack
( http://www.outbackcrabshack.com/ ). It's about a 25 minute drive from the Potters house. So as soon as we said our goodbyes to Lesa and Tanner (who were catching their plane home to UT) and the Saturday afternoon session of General Conference had ended we (the Potters minus Lydia, Todd and his whole family, Grant, Mark, Caleb and I) all loaded the cars (the men ready for Priesthood in shirts and ties) and headed to the "Shack".

We ( 7 adults and 6 kids) snagged seats in one of their large Gazebos and ordered our food just as the sun was setting. Lori, Todd and Grant took the kids (all but baby Naomi) for a walk on the dock while we waited for the feast.

One giant platter of fried fish, shrimp, gator, clam strips, deviled crab, oysters, french fries and hush puppies and another big boiled platter of snow crab, shrimp, oysters, crawdads, sausage, broccoli, corn and mushrooms arrived just before they returned from exploring the river. Melted garlic butter, ketchup, cocktail and tarter sauces were amply available (as were wet wipes and napkins which I finally received at the end - Thanks Alison!) for our feasting enjoyment. It was fun to all sit around and enjoy the gorgeous weather and share these delicious platters together. We easily cleared our plates and Uncle Todd made sure that not a morsel went to waste.
Our meals turned out to be about $20/adult. I really enjoyed it! Mark wasn't sure if it was worth the money for his amount of enjoyment. So, now that I've raved about it, you should check it out yourself and let us know what you think.

Batman PJs

When Caleb's Aunt Stacie handed these PJs down to us (cape and all) she told me how much Caleb would love them. I doubted at the time, but now I'm a believer. Just look at this smile! His daddy's was almost as big seeing his boy all ready for bed in these cool pjs.

A Pride and Prejudice Evening

On our fridge for more than a month, was an invitation that I finally took down today. It came in the mail as a total surprise and was addressed in calligraphy to Mister and Misses Mark F. Dahle, Jr. We cracked up as we tried to decode the old English style verse (we even had to call the host for clarification) inviting us to come at 6:30pm on April 3rd to a Pride and Prejudice style ball in honor of Lori and Steve's 40th birthday median (the day in time half way between their 40th birthdays since they're almost 3 years apart and no, I won't mention who is the oldest) celebration. You were to RSVP to them by phone or email. This was (of course) right up our alley, since we had helped to introduce the Potter family to the BBC miniseries a few years back we were even more excited and honored that they had chosen this as their theme. Knowing we couldn't miss this for the world, we quickly accepted the invite over the phone.
The next few weeks leading up to the party were packed full of events for our family but we made sure to prepare and find our costumes for this special event!

We also had the opportunity of learning (thanks for all your help Meghan and Leigh Ann) and then teaching a dance to the other couples in attendance (we must really love you Lori and Steve).

The party was first rate. It was held at the Mandarin Community Club ( http://www.mandarincommunityclub.org/ ) which carried on with the theme perfectly. They had a photographer to take your picture, period music, cards, quotes, framed posters and balloons to set the mood. It was an elegant and enjoyable evening for sure. As our present to the Birthday girl and boy all were asked to bring only a tray of our favorite appetizers to share. So the array of treats was wide and fun to nibble. I was so impressed with how many of their friends and family came and were dressed up for the event. My guess is 70-80% were in some type of costume which really added to the ambiance as well.

We found our costumes from our closets and Goodwill. I truly feel that the spirit led me to the right dress. I found a black floor-length choir dress, with an empire waist and puffy sleeves for $6.50 that fit perfectly (it was a bit tight in the chest, but that is Regency style for sure). By simply adding gloves, a sash and a few other accessories to the dress I looked just a good as any other "Elisabeth" or "Jane" impostor there!

The highlight and biggest surprise of the evening was my sister Lesa's guest appearance all the way from Park City, UT!

The Cooper Ladies all dressed in their Regency Gowns

It was such a joy to have all my siblings (and Father -my mom was sick) together for the evening (which is no easy task when there are five (six if you count my parents) of us scattered from all over FL to UT). At the end of the night as the party dwindled, it was so great to have all the Cooper kids sit around a little table and just chat, no kids, no worries, just being together, talking about nothing and everything at the same time. A memory that Lori and Steve gave to me for their birthday that I'll never forget and am forever grateful.

Happy Birthday Lori and Steve! Thank you so much for hosting us!

Hurt

On Saturday evening (March 28th) it was dinner time in our house, the table was set and the food was ready. Mark was already sitting at the table as we called Caleb for dinner. Caleb was busy playing in the living room and so there was no reply. He ignored our calls to the table so I went to get him myself. He immediately protested as I told him that it was dinner time, grabbed his wrist and began towards the table with him in tow. His almost two year old temper really flared up then as he started to drag his feet, and said "No, no no!" Seeing that I wouldn't be deterred from our goal (family dinner at the table) Caleb resorted to playing dead. By going limp and putting all his body weight on that arm in the opposite direction of my now tighter grip towards the table, he seriously hurt his elbow. Instantly he began to SCREAM (and anyone who knows my child, knows that he can take a hit, scrape or fall with out even flinching) which made me stop dead in my tracks. I knew something was seriously wrong as the alligator sized tears rolled down his cheeks. He was in agony and wouldn't let us touch his right arm or hand at all. You can't imagine the guilt and fear I immediately felt. I had done this to our precious boy. In my heart I knew that it was an accident but I couldn't help but feel terrible. I had so much compassion for any parent that this or anything similar had ever happened to. What if I had broken his arm?

Mark was wonderful (a true Superman!) and bounced right into action, comforting us both, calling for help and grabbing supplies. I can't say what a comfort mentally, emotionally and physically it was to have him there. We all worked together and figured out how to help Caleb feel better and calm down. I am so grateful to be a part of such a strong team. We took the advice of knowledgeable friends and family not to go to the ER or call the pediatrician. We believed it was simply dislocated not broken - a blessing for sure!

We prayed, gave Caleb Tylenol, a hot bath (to relax the muscles) and then iced his arm. He then fell asleep with in minutes of getting into his jammies (no easy task with a hurt arm). We didn't want to awake him for our now very late cold dinner that didn't seem to matter at all now. Our night was long, and sleepless for most of us (especially SuperMark).

The next day we continued Caleb's convalescence with the ice and Tylenol. We also wrapped his hurt arm/elbow and put it in a (makeshift scarf) sling. Finally he would try to walk or move on his own. This is a picture of him heading in to church in our sling get-up.

We didn't plan to stay for the meetings (and would go straight to the ER) if our friend (John Walz, a physical therapist) thought something was wrong with our diagnosis. But after examining Caleb (he was such a brave boy while being checked over, he didn't even whimper) our PT friend told us that we didn't need to wrap it or use the sling. Caleb's tendons were stretched from his body's pull on the arm and therefore would be sore for a few days, but then he would be fine. Mark and I were so glad to hear that! We quickly found our home teacher (John Wompey) and he and Mark gave Caleb a blessing. The spirit was there and gave me the final peace and comfort that I needed. Then we proceeded to our normal church meetings. Caleb even went to nursery for a little while with Daddy's help.

For the next couple of days we continued giving him Tylenol and encouraged him to use that arm more and more. By Wednesday his confidence had returned and that arm was back in full swing.

You just don't know what a joy it was to see him climbing and swinging all over the place with both arms again on Wednesday. Even though it was wonderful to have him so still, quiet, snugly and reverent during that Sacrament, I wouldn't trade his normal, busy, loud and curious self for even one more Sunday like the one we endured. We are so grateful that he is well again!

It was truly a blessing that helped us stop and examine how precious our lives and bodies are. Heavenly Father really does work miracles everyday. We're thankful for the healing power of the Priesthood and for these amazing bodies Heavenly Father has created. Caleb is so special to us and we are glad to have this reminder of how we often take for granted our family, health, his great personality and the vibrant life he brings to our family that we've been blessed with. My heart has been more grateful than ever for life being back to "normal" and the many blessings that "normal" represents. It's also been a good reminder for myself on recent days when he is getting into mischief and I want to be upset with him (for example he's currently climbing on top of his play kitchen cabinets). I tend to take things easier and enjoy the moment more (I laugh instead of scold and get down and play instead of clean up the mess).

Hopefully you can learn from our experience and heartache. It all happened so quickly and easily I realized that it could happen to anyone. After relating the event a few to friends it was comforting to know that others had gone through it too. Sometimes it's just nice to know you're not alone.