Gingerbread House

Last night we made a Gingerbread House over at the Tobler's...needless to say we didn't win a prize for the best gingerbread house, but we sure had a lot of fun! I think our pre-made house we decorated last weekend was a little better.... I'll have to get a picture of that. One of the Copeland family traditions is to make a Gingerbread House. Last year (the first Christmas Craig and I were married) Craig begged to do one and I never got around to it. He was so disappointed, he talked about it all year long. So far we've made two this year, so that makes up for me ruining Christmas last year, right?

BYU, Here he comes!

My baby brother just got accepted to BYU! And got a scholarship!! I'm so proud of him and excited for him. It's so hard to believe he'll be turning 18 tomorrow. I remember like it was yesterday the day he came home from the hospital. He came home in a giant stocking and he was a giant. A whopping 10+ lbs with a huge bald head. He's definitely gotten cuter.

One of my fondest memories: Just a few years ago Trevor got a bike for Christmas. And being as smart as he is you'd think "easy as riding a bike" would be pretty easy. So, after Christmas he was out riding around on smooth level ground with nothing within 20 feet of him and I swear, everytime I looked over at him he had fallen off. And we're not talking 10 years ago, it was probably 3. I pray he doesn't go to a mission where he rides a bike... :) Love you Trevor! Congratulations and Happy Birthday tomorrow!

Sunday night Craig and I were asked to do the youth in our wards Sunday Evening Discussion. The topic was self-esteem. We were asked a week before, and I spent the whole week thinking about it. What a hard topic! It's such an important thing for teenagers and something they really struggle with, how was I going to say something to help them with this??!! We started out by introducing ourselves. I told the group that we were going to introduce ourselves twice so listen carefully. The first time we each introduced ourselves we only described negative experiences and things about ourselves as teenagers. The second time, we described our successes and good things about ourselves. Even as I listened to us, it sounded like we were describing two different people. It's funny to realize that so much lies within how we look at ourselves, and which things we decide are going to be a part of who we are. Anyways, the discussion went great. Everyone had tons of input and questions and I felt like we really had some good things to say. It actually turned out to be a lot of fun.

Would you rather....?

So, my husband likes to play this game we call "would you rather". It drives me absolutely insane. The reason this comes up is because we are driving up to his parent's house this evening and I KNOW he's going to try to play the game in the car. So...a little background on the game. Craig absolutely loves Utah and would do anything to move back there if he had the opportunity, me- i'm a little more hesitant, I really like the South plus my family is here. So, what Craig does is make up questions so that my answer will be moving to Utah. For example, "Cassie, would you rather move to Iraq or Utah?", "Would you rather move to Fallujah or Utah?", "Would you rather move to Waldo, FL (you'd have to go there to understand) or Utah?". So he has lots of fun with this game, but it drives me crazy. When i get tired of playing he calls my mom to play. My mom is terrified of heights or mountains or planes, roller coasters or anything like that. He'll ask my mom, "Would you rather skydive or never see your daughter again?", "Would you rather ride a roller coaster or have us move to Louisiana?" His purpose is for my mom not to choose us living near her, I guess to make himself feel better that we probably never will...lol. So, now my mom has joined in on the game. She'll ask, "Craig, would you rather live in Downsville, LA or have me move in with yall for the rest of my life?" Anyways, these questions go on and on and on and on..... it's getting completely out of control. I'm dreading the road trip to Louisiana for Christmas- maybe I can get some ear plugs.

Merry Christmas

Since I haven't had anything to write lately, I thought I'd steal this from Rachel.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper hands down. My mom knows to this day to wrap all of my presents. She even wraps everything in my stocking individually.

2. Real tree or artificial? Right now I have an artificial, but growing up we always had a real tree. I think once I have a family and we stay home for Christmas real is the only way to go.

3. When do you put up the tree? Well with a fake one, the day after Thanksgiving or before Dec. 1. A real one you can wait a little later since it dies, but you still have to put up all your other decorations.

4. When do you take the tree down? New Years Day.

5. Do you like eggnog? No, I've never tried it, but absolutely not.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? A new bicycle was always amazing.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? No, but my mom has had one for as long as I can remember that she hand painted. It's part of Christmas.

8. Hardest person to buy for? Daddy.

9. Easiest person to buy for? Craig's not too hard.

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Well I had an aunt that liked to salvage things from dumpsters. (She's passed away now, so no mean jokes!) But anyways, for Christmas we always got a bought gift from her and a dumpster gift from her. I can't remember all of them, I do remember a porcelein doll and little jewelry thing you put your earings in. It's not that they were such bad gifts, but you always knew which one was your dumpster gift.

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Well I don't do either....someday I think I'll mail.

12. Favorite Christmas Movies: Craig loves Christmas Vacation. I like romantic Christmas movies, like The Holiday that came out last Christmas.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Not until December. My mom starts in January.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No, but I plan to this year!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Dressin' and chicken and dumplins

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear.

17. Five Favorite Christmas songs? O Holy Night, Silent Night, We Three Kings, Baby It's Cold Outside, and The Little Drummer Boy.

18. Most Annoying Christmas song? Jingle Bells, you have to admit it gets kind of annoying.

19. Travel at Christmas or stay home? At this point in my life, travel. When I have kids, stay home so we can start our own traditions.

20. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Hmm...i dunno. Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixon, Commet, Cupid, Donner, Blixon, Rudolph, how many are there?

21. Angel or Star on top of the tree? Angel.

22. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Morning, but you get one on Christmas Eve, we've done that every year and every year my mom denies we've ever done and thinks we just want to open a present.

23. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Too many people at the stores!

24. Favorite Christmas Apparel? Singing socks, of course.

25. What I love most about Christmas? The chance to have time off from work or school or whatever and just relax and be with family and friends, which puts us in the state of mind to remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Lexi's home and doing great!

Amber's engaged!

My best friend from home , Amber, got engaged Wednesday night! His name is Greg and I'm so so so excited for them! Congratulations!

Amber and I met in kindergarten and were pretty much inseperable for the next 13 years. We did everything together: ballet, gymnastics, softball, basketball, you name it. We even switched boyfriends a couple of times...it was a small town, give us a break! You know we were great friends if we could pull that off and still be friends. :) We've been through a lot together and laughed and cried many times. A lot of my best memories involve her, and I can't imagine my life without her. No matter how far away I am she'll always be one of my best friends!

Elf Yourself

So, there is this website called www.elfyourself.com and it's pretty much one of the funniest things I have ever seen. I promise if you upload some of your friends or family pictures you'll be dying. I made one of Craig and me and my parents.
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1167621455

Enjoy!