Catch up!

I know, it's been almost a year sense I updated the blog. Yes, I'm a slacker!!!!! I'll try to remember a years worth of activities to get everyone up to speed. Soooo, here I go!...

Last year for Christmas Curt and I spent the day with his parents and then brought Kalea up to spend the rest of the holiday with us. It was a lot of fun cause we ended up with a household of family, went sledding, put puzzles together, and just spent good time together. In January I went to my Warrant Officer school in South Carolina for two months. It was a long time to be away from home, but I did learn a lot. While I was South Carolina, Curt was at a Supply school in Tennessee. Poor guy ended up getting a kidney stone while he was there but he still did great in school. In March we took Kalea to Disneyland and Universal Studios with her dance company and she was able to perform there. She had a ball, and so did we! Curt ended up trading in his dirt bike for another four-wheeler so we've been able to go on rides together this summer (a lot more fun than me worrying about him on that dirt bike). In May we were able to get most of our family together and we all participated in the Race for the Cure! My Mom and Aunt Ruth Anne walked the whole 5K, I was soooo proud of them for finishing! In June Curt and I both ran the Bryce Canyon 1/2 Marathon! I was sooo proud of myself because I never thought that I could do it with my bumbed knees. I ended up paying for it the next couple days, but I wouldn't have done it any other way. In July we added another addition to our family: Ginger, out cute little Yorkie. She can be a terror sometimes, but that's what comes with the territory. During the summer we did some camping, fishing, hiking, and baseball games. In August we went to San Francisco with our friends Ian and Delana. We went to Napa and Sanoma Valley and went to a Giants game. In September we went with Marc and Randy up to Yellowstone and had a blast! Curt started college this fall, and I couldn't be more proud of him! We've just been busy with so many things and enjoying each others company! We are looking forward to spending time with our kids this holiday and making more memories!!

The Hoepfner's Down Under

We were fortunate this year to be able to take the kids on a family vacation, and Curt's cousin had been trying to get him out to Australia for years!!!

We all had a blast, even though it was only for 7 days. The first day we were there Curt and I went out with Drew on his sail boat and went racing. It was the first time I have ever been on a sail boat and I had fun. We ended up taking 1st so that made it even better!

The next day we all walked down to the beach and just hung out for a bit. We had to get back at a decent hour so we could have Thanksgiving Dinner. Kim's been doing Thanksgiving Dinner for the past three years and it was fun to be a part of it.

Every Sunday, Kim and Drew's girls go down to Surf Club and they learn about the waves, surfing, and saving lives. It was fun to go down and watch them. After Surf Club we all piled into the car and drove up to some sand dunes and went riding in this BIG monster truck and then went sand surfing.

The next day we got on a Ferry Boat and went out to Rottnest Island for three days. It was nice and relaxing but you can only spend so much time on a small island where the only way you can get around is to walk or ride a bike! We went snorkeling, site seeing, and hung out with the Quokkas.

The day after we got back we went to the Perth Mint and watched them make a gold brick! Then we went to the Wildlife Refuge and were able to pet Kangaroos, Pandas, and a Wombat! How many times can you say you've pet a Kangaroo?! It was also my birthday so Kim was sweet enough to buy me a birthday cake that was absolutely delicious!!! That night we went to a restaurant that is owned by Kim and Drew's neighbor. At the end of dinner they brought out a BIG bowl of ice cream with a sparkler in it.

The whole vacation and birthday was perfect!

Catch up time!...

I know, I am officially the worst blogger EVER!!! I just get so wrapped up in everyday life that by the time I think about updating the blog I'm just too tired! I'm gonna try to do better, but here is a breakdown of the past couple months.

We had Kalea with us from the first of June till the day after the July 5th. It was a lot of fun having her up here with us. On the 4th we went to the Stadium of Fire and watched the Jonas Brothers. Yeah Curt was probably the best Dad in the world in Kaleas eyes that night. :) On the 13th I left for Ft. Rucker, Alabama for my Warrant Officer school for 5 weeks. It wasn't too bad, just a pain being away and playing the mind games. I graduated August 18th and became a Warrant Officer. Curt flew out to Alabama a couple days before to see me and actually pin me at graduation, I was really awesome to have him pin me!

The second I got home I was busy! One weekend we went hiking up Timpanogos Caves and Bridalveil Falls, hung out with friends, and tried to catch up on work. In September we went to Zions National Park and went hiking with Kalea and Mom. Then we went camping with Dad, Robyn, Glen, Uncle Roy and Aunt Norma, and the kids up to Otter Creek. At the end of that month we went to DC for the week with the Utah Honor Guard and went and saw the sights. That was really cool to go and walk around that area and just soak up the history! The next weekend we went up to Snowbird for Sr. Enlisted Conference. While Curt was in meetings I hung out with Sam and Stephanie.In October we have just been trying to get things organized in our house and figure out what the heck we are gonna do with the house! Curt started finishing the basement and hopefully it will be done before Christmas. Our neighbor, Nick, has been over a lot helping out so that has been nice. The first part of October Kalea actually danced during the halftime show of the BYU vs UNLV football game so we went down to Vegas and spent the weekend with her and watched her dance.

This month has just really been busy with work so far and it has sucked!!! The only good thing is on Wednesday we are taking the kids to Australia for their Birthday/Christmas. Curts cousin lives in Perth, so all we had to do was purchase the tickets and get out there. Kim has been awesome planning our entire trip out there. It will be something that we will all remember!!!

Other then that we have just been enjoying spending time with each other, friends, and family.

I promise I will try to be better at this blogging stuff!

Pony Days Express Concert

This past week in Eagle Mountain they have had their Annual Pony Days Express. We didn't really do much cause we were working but Curt took Kalea out to the parade on Saturday morning and then that night we went to the concert on the grass to salute the troops! It was really good night. Curt did the flag ceremony with the honor guard so we were able to be some of the first people in so we got front row seats. Josh Gracin and Darryl Worley performed and they are sooo supportive of ALL branches of the military. Kalea was cute, when Darryl Worley performed she was up at the very front of the stage and she said that he looked down at her a couple times!!!

So much to catch up on!

Well, I don't even remember the last time I posted anything on here! Things have been so busy and crazy getting ready for the wedding, then going to Greece for a week, and then going down to Curt's parents for their 50th wedding anniversary; we feel like we need a vacation from our vacation. The wedding was perfect and it was great to see my friends and family. I haven't gotten my wedding pics yet so I'm anxiously waiting for them. Here are some of my bridal pics and our Greece pics, enjoy!

Tulip Festival

This weekend my brother Chris came up for drill out to Camp Williams so he brought up Morgan and Kalea to spend the weekend with us, it was a nice suprise! Even though the weather wasn't the best we went out to Thanksgiving Point and went to the Tulip Festival. We were lucky enough that it didn't rain on us, just sprinkle every once in a while. I didn't realize how big the garden was out there and there are some flowers that haven't bloomed yet so we'll have to go out there again to check those out. Coty had Prom this weekend so he didn't get to hang out with us.

Earlier this week we worked on our yard and I think it looks great now! So here are some pics and I'll post Coty's prom pics when he gets them to me.

The BIG 40

Yesterday was Curt's 40th Birthday. All weekend he's been a really good sport about going "Over the Hill." This weekend was the 30 day reintegration drill from coming home from deployment so the State paid for our Battalion to stay up at Snowbird. We had mandatory briefings that we had to go to with our spouse but after that we could do what we wanted. By the time we were done with the briefings it was to late to go skiing or anything so we all just hung out and caught up with each other. Saturday was Curt's Birthday so we all went and had dinner at this Mexican Restaurant and then we just hung out. This morning when we got home, Coty had blown up a bunch of black balloons and put up an "Over the Hill" sign. It was pretty good. Because we were up the canyon all weekend we wanted to do something else for his B-Day so we went and ate sushi. It was soooooo good!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY, I love you!