Friends and family, both real and virtual:

I have decided to launch a new project, and as of today, I will no longer be posting here at Hooper Home. 

Please join me at my new site, Blessed Treehouse.

This will be my new home for family stories, motherhood adventures, and green living.

Thank you for your readership and loyalty, and I hope you will join me and my blessings at Blessed Treehouse.

*I will continue to run my mouth at alidotes. That will remain its own, unique site. In fact, check it out for a video of Team Cambodia's arrival home.

She's Back!

And by she, I mean MoMo and me! 

Morgan has many amazing stories from her time in Cambodia, and it's safe to say that she would love to go back. I thank God for giving her that incredible opportunity, and I thank Him for bringing her home healthy and safe.

And my weekend in Nashville was wonderful. I was so ready to get back home, but the time away was lovely.

Most importantly, Henry had a great weekend with Grandma & Grandpa (they took care of him on Friday), Daddy (although he's fighting an ugly cold), MoMo (Henry greeted her at the airport on Saturday), and Oma & Opa (they gave Matt some relief so that he could try and get healthy). I'm so thankful to my wonderful family for lovin' on my baby while I was away.

It's good to be home.

Until Monday . . .

This weekend I am attending Blissdom in Nashville, Tennessee. Blissdom is a two-day conference all about blogging.

I imagine that some of you will roll your eyes at this, but I couldn't be more excited. The only downside is that I will miss my sister's homecoming (though Matt, Henry, and my parents will be at the airport to greet her!). 

Believe it or not, I have established special relationships with many of my fellow bloggers via blogging. Additionally, I work with the conference host, and most of the ladies with whom I work will be in attendance. I talk to these ladies everyday (via skype), and they are all dear friends. 

I won't return until Sunday, but I will be sure to post updates on Monday regarding the conference, Henry, and my sister's trip.

Be thinking of me as I will be missing my family.

Until Monday . . .

Missing MoMo

MoMo returns from Cambodia on Saturday, and Henry cannot wait.

Before Henry was born, MoMo made him a monkey at Build-A-Bear, and when you press on his hand, he says, "I love you, Henry." It's MoMo's voice, of course. Everyday since MoMo has been gone, I press on the monkey for Henry to hear. He just stares at, trying to understand why a familiar voice is coming out of the stuffed monkey. He stares until I press it again, and then he looks at me, and then he looks back at the monkey, as if he is thinking,"is that really who I think it is?" 

I know he will be so elated to see her on Saturday, and I imagine she will be over-the-moon to see him.

*In case you are new here, MoMo is my sister, Henry's Aunt.

Exploring.

WHO ATE THE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE?

Henry & The Toy Box

Check out this video to see how Henry dives in and out of the toy box. And five bonus points if you catch the "uh-oh" in this clip.

The cutest toy in the toy box

About a week ago, Henry began digging for toys in his toy box so intently that we often found him feet up. At first he would laugh, but after a couple of minutes, he realized he was stuck and would fuss scream.

A couple of days ago, I turned around to find him IN the toy box. I guess our little bear figured out how to get himself out of one pickle and into another. And if you are wondering how he gets out of the toy box - just wait until Monday's video post.

How do you think this ended up?

She leaves today!

Do you remember when I made this very important announcement?

Well, she's leaving today!!!

My darling little sister, Morgan, is going to Cambodia to do missions work. She will be serving an orphanage in Prek Eng along with a group from our church through a third-party organization, Asia’s Hope.

Our church currently has a long-term missionary serving the orphanage, and if you check out her blog you can read about how God is using her in Cambodia (and maybe she will update her blog while Morgan and the team are there).

Thank you for all of your prayers and support. God has been so faithful.

Please continue to pray for Morgan and the team as they begin their 35 hour journey to Cambodia. We are so proud of these missionaries!

Has winter ever looked so fun?

Did anyone guess . . .

. . . Sledding?
Last weekend Matt, Henry, Jaeger and I bundled up and ventured out with Henry's brand new sled (remember the one Grandma & Grandpa gave him for Christmas?).
Henry and Jaeger both enjoyed spending time in the fluffy white stuff (although Henry was pulled around in a cushy sled while Jaeger was tied to a tree).

Watching Henry giggle as he's pulled across the snow makes living in Ohio during the winter months so worth it!

He should totally model for L.L.Bean.

Chillin' with Dad.

Can you see Jaeger in the background?

So relaxed.

Here we go!

He loves it!

Any guesses?

What do you think we were doing out in the snow last weekend?
These pics of Jaeger are simply a sneak peek.
Pictures of the event to be posted Monday!

Innocent until proven guilty?

Something tells me that these two are up to something.

Whose chair is it anyway?

Two years ago I bought Matt a chair for his birthday. Not just any chair - a beautiful, plush, brown, leather recliner. I spent way too much money on it (especially considering how much we spent on our beautiful, plush, brown, leather couch). Fortunately, though, it gets a LOT of use. More use than I could ever imagine it getting considering Matt works 10+ hours everyday, and the chair doesn't even face the T.V.

But Matt is not the one who uses it 8-10 hours everyday. No, JAEGER is the one who loves this chair thus occupying it for hours at a time. Not only does he think it is comfortable, but it faces our front window, and he thoroughly enjoys watching all the action from that chair.

I suppose if Matt is gone everyday and can't enjoy the chair, then the next best thing is for our dog to keep it warm for him.

Matt's Jaeger's chair

Guard dog extraordinaire

Tough life

Zzzzzzzz

Because everyone needs a good snuggle.

When Dad stays home from work . . .

. . . things get done!

Don't worry, Dad, I'm your assistant.

I'm a proud assistant!

What do you mean you need the screwdriver? I'm using it.

Mom, I can handle power tools. Relax.

Let me try, please.

Almost done!

Whoa. I'll let you take care of that one.

Okay, let me put on the finishing touches. Voila!

I spend most of my days chasing this:

Uh-oh!

It's official! That is Henry's first word. Once I pull my act together, I'll post video of the uh-oh machine. 

Coal, anyone?

Guess who was caught eating burnt wood?
And this photo doesn't do it justice. The flash washes out the deep black that was oozing out of Henry's mouth.
He was playing in the fireplace (sans fire, of course), and this is how we found him.
Sadly, he looks like he's enjoying it.
Ugh.