Cooper Lately

Cooper has a new imaginary friend, his big brother, Jo Jo Jackson. He also talks a lot about his "grandfather" which is a word we never use when referencing his real papas. Cooper assures me that his "grandfather" is not one of his papas. I'm trying not to dwell too much on the reason why he's making up a new family for himself!

Cooper is also going through an eating and sleeping phase. At his 3 year well check he slipped down to the 94th percentile for height and weight. He must be taking this news very seriously and is working hard to make his way back up and off the chart. For breakfast today he ate 2 servings of cheerios, 3 whole wheat waffle with blueberries and 2 scrambled eggs with cheese......and then was ready for a snack of yogurt and pretzels 45 minutes later. My grocery bill the last 2 weeks has been insane. I'm wondering....is this our new norm?

The very best thing in Cooper's life right now is 4 wheeler rides with Daddy! The weather has gotten warm enough that they've been out every evening this week.

A Great Weekend!

What a busy and FUN weekend! The entire Kellen family came down on Saturday to watch Layla's last tumbling meet of the year and to celebrate Cooper's birthday.

Layla had a great time at her meet and seems to really enjoy the sport, her friends and her coaches. She is no prodigy, but it takes a great deal of bravery for her to get up in front of a high school gym full of people and perform. For that reason alone, Dave and I are so proud of her. Boldness is not a natural part of her personality, yet she likes to push herself. As a parent, it's fun to see her work that all out for herself.

Cooper has turned into a Lego lover, this is how I know he has Kellen blood pulsing through those veins. So, there was no doubt what I would make for his cake....LEGO BLOCKS. I love that I can make these very easy cakes, they don't have to look great, but my kids think I'm the Cake Boss. I'm sure this won't last, so I will just enjoy their accolades while I can. Layla's taste is already outgrowing my cake decorating skills! Thanks cousin Shannon for the colored cake badder inspriation. So easy and the kids thought it was so cool!

And then he was 3.....

3 years old

2 years old

1 year old

1 hour old

Coopy D is officially 3 years old today. Buddy, I adore you. You are as sweet as you are tough and as tenderhearted as you are rough. When you were born, you turned the volume up in this family. There are days that you have to have things your way, and if I can, I let you. But, there are certain things you have to learn, and that usually leads to a good, old-fashion stand-off between us. But God made me strong-willed for a reason too! When God first created the world, He knew there would be a little blonde hair, blue eyed boy named Cooper David who would be born on March 27, 2008 at 7:19pm. God new that I needed you and that you needed me. We are God's perfect provision for each other as mother and son. Happy Birthday, my son!

SPRING BREAK!

Honey Creek Resort with our sweet friend and helper, Tayia

Imagination Movers, the kids favorite show on TV

Dave created a scavenger hunt for the kids, they loved it!

Cousins Sam and Henry with Layla and Coop. We loved having them at our house!

Spring break literally sprung up on us this year. I am just not into the groove of school schedules yet. Isn't that strange? But, I guess because Layla is still in part-time school and Coopers not in any school, I still haven't adjusted my life's calendar to that of the school's. So, I had to get on the ball and get some stuff planned for the week. Since we didn't have any big travel plans, I decided we were going to use the week to see friends and family and go on some local adventures. We went to Honey Creek Resort for a night and enjoyed the water park, we headed to Backyard Adventures with a group of friends from Winterset for a play date, cousins Sam and Henry came for a few nights, we had the Kellen family reunion ind Des Moines and ended the week with the Imagination Movers concert in Ames (Thanks for the tip Wyn!). The best part of spring break was just being at home and enjoying the outdoors. We had gorgeous weather and the kids just ran and explored the land they haven't set foot on for 4 months!

It was such a great week, but I am thankful to get back on our regular schedule this week!

The fight from the other room

"Layla, you make me mad!!"
"Why?"
"You say mines words to me." (You're copying me)
"That makes no sense. I'm not saying your words to you, I'm saying my words to you and if they're the same, it's not my fault."
"Lol, STOP!"
"Stop what?"
"Stop being you! MOM! Make Layla stop! Layla keep saying mines words to me."
"Mom," Layla, in her own defense, "I'm not doing anything!"

A few moments of silence......

"Did you just toot?" Layla asks in disgust.
"Yes." Cooper replies.

A few moments of silence....then giggles....then....

"Do you want to go jump on my bed?"
"Yeah!"
"I love you, Lolly."
"I know, brother."

Oh, if we could all just move on so quickly!

A String of Profanitites...

Cooper D is in one of those sweet seasons right now. You know the ones, they listen, obey, are sweet, cuddly and tell me everyday, "Mom, you beeuuuteeful." This is a nice season to be in since he has been very challenging to parent since we returned from Aruba. The transition back home to mom and dad is always hard after they've been with the grandparents for a week. It's a mixture of clinginess and rebellion. The week after we returned, he went into 2 straight weeks of sickness...flu, cold ear infection, strep. WOW!

But, we seem to be coming out of it and I can't help but look at him and think, "you are so stinkin'cute!" every 5 seconds (I am putting this out into the uneraseable blog world so I can revisit it when this season is over and I'm in one of those pull-my-hair-out seasons...like in a few days!)

One of the kids' favorite movies is Beezus and Ramona. In one part of the movie, 7 year old Ramona tells her parents, "I'm going to say a bad word......GUTS! Guts, guts, guts, guts, guts!" The kids love this part and Cooper now says it all the time, with his own little twist. He has a new string of profanities that sound something like...."I gonna say bad word. Guts! Guts, bottom, arm, elbow, head, dogs, chair, table, Layla!"

I'm Just Not that Smart!

Some of this week's questions from the children have included.....

Why don't all herbivores look the same?
If God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are all one, why do they have different names?
If babies are born with fingernails, why can't they be born with teeth?
If the earth is spinning, why don't I?
Why do baby deer stay with their mommy, but not their daddy, but baby penguins stay with their daddy and not their mommy?
Why do police always know where to find the speeding people (no, I didn't get pulled over)
Why do the words emotion and motion sound the same, but don't mean anything the same?
Why would God make my ears, nose and mouth connected? Was that really necessary?
Why do you buy medicine that makes me feel a little better, but doesn't cure me?
Why does ham come from a pig, but HAMburger doesn't?
Do we call it marching because in the old days they only did it in March?
Why do you call crayons colors, but markers markers, even when I'm coloring?

*****very tired sign********

Sometimes, I just don't know the answers and sometimes I'm just too tired to answer. And other times, I'm too exhausted to even google them. Can I get a witness?

Leave it up to an Auntie!

Shortly after THIS POST, Aunt Darci sent Layla an email with THIS PICTURE.

Layla was first in awe that Aunt Darci even knew about the earrings. Then, it was hilarious watching her little mind trying to find the nice way to say, "Wow, that wasn't the miracle I was praying for and I really don't like those" So, she blamed mom. She said, "Tell Aunt Darci you won't let me wear dangly earrings."