Things we learned this Christmas. . .

In no particular order, here are a few bits of wisdom we will remember for future years Christmas.

• Santa shouldn't have the same wrapping paper that Mom & Dad have on their presents at home.  Paige noticed this and commented, "Santa has the same paper that we have at home!"  Mental note that he needs his own role of paper next year.
• Elf on the Shelf costs $29.99 and is worth WAY more than that in behavior modification around the holidays.  He disappeared until next year and managed to move each night.
• Separate the children when sleeping at Gramma's house on Christmas Eve--that way when Paige has to blind us with the bathroom light; she won't wake up Cooper at the crack of dawn--or 6:30am
• Get Christmas cards mailed out before Christmas so I don't have to cross out Christmas and put Happy New Years on them like the last dozen I just did tonight!  We ran out of cards and had to make some more.
• Make sure the Wii remotes are charged; as that sucker will be on every night after Christmas since Cowboy feels the urge to master the new games he got.
• Everyone in the world is on the internet on Christmas morning; and Skyping didn't work as well as we hoped.
• Next year--start the prep earlier so this tired out Mom isn't as frazzled as she was this year!  Everything went very well and we had a great time seeing our families; but there was a lot of last minute things going on that I can definitely avoid in the future.  I think I'll aim to have my shopping done by Thanksgiving!

Merry Christmas, and here is hoping by New Year's that the presents, food, etc. all clean themselves up and find a home.

Christmas

 Cooper Christmas morning with his rocking bull.

 Cooper & Daddy opening up some presents at Gramma Shelly's

 Christmas morning--very early!!!!

Christmas Eve playing with a few toys before bed.

Christmas is a 'coming

So Christmas is a week away and the to do list is pretty big yet.  I am a procrastinator for some reason with the 'tasks' of the season.  So we devoted today to holiday baking and making a HUGE mess in teh kitchen.  Cooper helped for a while.  Paige worked on the ornaments we were swirling paint in and decorating.  I forgot to get glaze; so they are one solid color since the silver didn't work.  But a 5 year old's creativity with stickers made up for it.  We have one excited household anxiously counting down the days and one Mom wishing there were more hours in the day!

Our Elf

We finally got our elf.  Thanks to Jackie and Noel for helping us get our new elf, Chester, in time to enjoy him for a few days before Christmas.  I figured getting him for a few days was better than no elf at all.  Paige is at the perfect age for such things; and was SO excited to see him.  We jointly came up with his name and she wrote it in the book he came with.  She spent that first night talking to him and worrying about how he would get out of the box.  Cooper just poked at him behind the plastic sleeve.  Paige had me untie his neck--there was a twist tie holding him in the box.  I convinced her he could until the one around his waist by himself; sort of like a seatbelt.  She found him immediately the next morning on the coat hooks.  He's made it to a different spot each night; but I have heard that sometime there are storms at the north pole and he may be in the same spot.
Cooper was testing us the other night by sort of swatting at the tree ornaments; and Paige just wheeled around and looked at him with huge eyes and scolded, "Cooper--the elf is watching!"  I love the power of the elf.  If only he could stay all year round.

Pictures with Santa

It took me 4 years to get Paige back on Santa's lap; and what a great picture we got.  She went voluntarily and is full of questions about Christmas this year.  I am trying to hunt down an Elf on the Shelf so we can get our own elf.  The drugstore hopefully will have one on Tuesday.  We watched the show on TV about them; and she had huge eyes at the thought of an elf in our house.  We are off this afternoon to get some shopping down and hopefully the rest of our decorations up this weekend.

Inventions

Item 367 I would invent if I had time to create, patent, market, etc.--a self decorating Christmas tree. Or a robot elf that you could buy to just decorate it all for you :)

I am feeling a little grinch-like as I have the fall decorations all down and packed away; and the tree is up and fluffed--and since its prelit--it looks good all by itself with no ornaments. I am not wanting to go drag up a zillion boxes and make the huge mess.

Big day tomorrow--pictures with Santa!

Cramming

So I have been out of college for . . .8 years now.  Wow, I must be a grown up now.  So its been a while since I have had to study for much of anything.  Occasionally for things at work; but its not really a test situation--just new methods, rules, etc.  There was an exception last week as I found out I would be getting some insurance licensing in a hurry.  There was a miscommunication with some outside people; and they thought everyone attending this meeting/starting this new area was already insured.  So I needed to study about 500 pages of material and pass 2 standardized tests at a test center in Bismarck so I would be able to proceed.  My superior told his boss how this wasn't terribly fair and he responded that I would do just fine, he was sure of it.  So the pressure was on, gulp.  So starting with the evening of Thankgiving I started cramming.  I went through 2 highlighters, one stack of index cards that I made notes on, and hours spent at the computer doing practice tests.  I had to take the tests on Tuesday; and on Monday I had yet to really pass a practice test.  Wasn't looking too good.  Plus I had been ignoring my family all weekend, and my job duties as I holed up to cram.  Poor Paige just wanted to put up the tree, and told me "Mom, we still have turkeys up, can't we get the Christmas tree up?"  I felt like a bad mom, but told her we were getting a new one when Mommy was gone most of this week up in Bismarck.  Tuesday morning came, and at 6am I was on the road trying not to let my test anxiety get to me.  I arrived with time to cram for about an hour and a half.  I don't know if it helped; but I passed both tests! Yay.  Pressure gone.  I learned two major things (other than all the insurance jargon).  1.  I don't know how people have children in college and manage to be students and parents--major kudos to those people.  2.  I can still fall asleep on textbooks after a mere 5 minutes of reading ;)

Little girls

I am so happy I have this little girl.  I won't be able to call her little for long.  She's into dresses, lipgloss, singing with her MP3 player at the top of her lungs, pretty sparkly jewelry, and everything else little girls are supposed to be into.  Its a short jump from tights and mary janes to high heels.  Can she stay little forever?

A snowy lazy day

I have apparently in 5 short years created a Sat. morning monster--not a bad one though.  I have apparently taught Paige that Saturdays are meant for laying around in your pjs all day!  Today a light snow started falling, we had no schedule to be anywhere or do anything in particular, and I was lacking ambition.  A perfect combination for a lazy Saturday.  Paige was the only one who stayed in her pjs--Cooper and I at least put sweats on.  The morning started with homemade chocolate chip waffles.  I own a Cuisinart waffle maker (from Christmas last year) and it makes the best waffles ever.  I don't dare ruin it with batter from a box, so I make my own waffles and Paige likes them with chocolate chips.  Chocolate makes everything better.  So we started out our day the correct way.  Here a few pics from the week.  

 Paige showing off her headband and looking tough.



 Paige with a real smile and not a pose.  She's big into posing lately.

Cooper helping with waffles this morning.  He's a pretty good counter sitter--and will just watch me put things in a bowl.  He needs his own spoons and measuring cups most of the time; but it allows me time to finish things.



Diaper cake

This is my diaper cake I made for my friend's surprise baby shower.  The diapers I bought had a lot of purple on them unfortunately--so we went for a green theme.  Its a bit more vivid in person; but I was a fan of the spiral cake as I didn't have to sit and roll diapers.  Plus, these held their shape really well and will stack nice when she dismantles it and uses them.

a relaxing Sunday

I am sitting in my sweats watching Harry Potter.  Cooper was camped out with me eating the great Boy Scout cheese popcorn we had delivered the other day.  I don't think it will last much longer with his growing appetite.  More than once this last week, Ryan and I have looked at each other in amazement while eat keeps packing away food.  While Cooper and I are loafing, Miss Paige and her Dad are at a 4-H meeting bedazzling her new purple sweatshirt.  They have been gone for over three hours now.  I am concerned that Ryan is going to come back covered in rhinestones!  The girls might have ganged up on him.

We had a lovely long weekend with a surprise baby shower for a dear friend that actually stayed a surprise and she was excited.  I had another friend say she's expecting today.  Lots of happy news.  Here is hoping it continues for the week and its a good week.  Last week sucked--so here is hoping:)

I moved the play kitchen up to the living room--Cooper loves to play with all the gadgets and was entertained for a few hours this afternoon.

Miss Paige finally returned from her 4-H meeting with a 'bedazzed' headband/bandana.  Its kind of hard to see; but its her dad's brand.  Sad, I know!

Halloween

Halloween prep pictures

Paige, Ryan & Piper posing by our pumpkins.  Cooper was too busy running up and down the sidewalk to sit still.  So the three that cooperated took a really great picture. 

Paige and Ryan went to a 4-H meeting this afternoon.  They carved pumpkins and Paige made a ghost for us.  Its super cute and due to our lack of trees in the front yard, he will hang out in the living room for a while. 

Cooper trying to figure out if he could be helpful.  He couldn't do much, but the pumpkins were almsot as big as he was!

Paige and her pumpkin we carved.  She did all the tracing and Mom assisted with the small cutting areas.

October recap

So its been a lonely month on the blog.  I had thought my new laptop would make it easier to post.  I realized the other day that I have barely taken any pictures this month even.  Apparently we are just too busy :)

So here is a brief recap--Cooper was diagnosed with his 3rd ear infection in 3 months.  Not very fun, but I caught this one bit earlier than the others and fortunately he likes lemon amoxicillian and takes it like a champ.  However, this has been a month of no sleep as he is still not sleeping consistantly and we are still up in the middle of the night.  He is getting to be a big boy in every other way--about 22 pounds, running everywhere with a smile on his face most of the time, chasing his sister, trying to eat with his fork and spoon when he can, babbling non stop.  He loves the kitties at daycare, is learning more about Piper and how to be friends, is always into something and moving something around.  I have realized that people who have cabinet safety latches, etc. are parents of BOYS.  I never installed a safety anything (other than an outlet plug) with Paige.   She didn't care about pulling the contents of every cabinet, drawer, or shelf out.  I have even gave Cooper his own drawer in the kitchen so he can cook with me and use the toys I put in there instead of him trying to lift my 12 inch skillet and dragging it around the house.  He is into mimicing grown ups--he vacuums, dusts, cooks, combs his hair, etc.  Overall, the word to describe his activity is busy. 

Paige is doing well.  She is thriving in school and we had a very good conference a week or two ago.  She is in the routine now and we have a schedule that works and keeps everyone pretty happy.  She is learning so much as a kindergartener that  its completely amazing me--she is reading, and loves to learn anything else she can about words or letters.  You can't keep paper and pens out of her hands as she is always writing or drawing something.  She really enjoys art class at school and music.  The songs are sung quite loudly and off key; but she has fun.  She is a pretty busy little thing with school 4 days a week and Sunday school and now 4-H meetings on Sundays too.  She and her Dad are doing that; and she's had quite a bit of fun the last few weeks going. 

Cooper pictures

Well we are into October and I have forgotten to take pictures!  Its been a busy fall and I have these fun few of Cooper.  He's a busy little man and is now 13 months old--as of today he weighed just over 22 pounds and was diagnosed with his third ear infection since the middle of August.  I hope those stop coming our way anytime soon. 

 Cooper figured out that Piper loves to share his treats.  She even likes veggie straws.

 Mohawk after bath time. 

Today playing in Paige's extra car seat I tossed inside the living room door.  It may just live there as its been one of the few things in the last couple of cranky days that will occupy him.  He was cuddled up in it last night with his blankie and pacificier, just chilling.  He knows he's big stuff when he hangs out in there.

Sibling picture

"I love my brother"--Paige manhandled Cooper and drug him in front of the camera for me; and we got a good moment.  We just had professional pictures taken; but this one really makes me smile.

Beach babies

We FINALLY made it to the lake on Labor day weekend.  It was a beautiful day--and a perfect family day.  Lots of fun was had by all and I wish every weekend was full of summer fun like that.  I remember so many great childhood memories of mine at the lake; I hope to recreate that for our kids at some point.   Oh, and yes, that is a Cowboy in swim trunks.  Its like an eclipse--rare, blinding, and don't stare directly at it!!! 

What have we been up to. . .

I would like to voice my complaint that summer is here and its supposed to be fall. I have a guilt complex about sending my child to school when its 85 degrees out--who can concentrate when the nicest days of the year are happening now? Anyway, its been a busy month and we made it through the big birthday; Cooper got a new ear infection--the left ear this time; and have just been trying to make it through the days in one piece! School is taking quite a toll and we are working hard to create a good schedule; and more importantly, follow through with it. Its going to be a bit easier when the cooler weather comes and it gets dark before 8pm :) Newest update is I got a laptop this week; so hopefully I will get pictures online much faster and more frequently.

Cooper's 1st birthday

Thursday, September 1st was our Cooper's first birthday. I remember everything about the few days prior to his birth so well and its hard to believe one year has passed. I remember at our ultrasound being told we were having a boy. I saw the joy in Ryan's eyes as we found out--and I am not going to lie--I was a little scared. I know nothing about little boys. I know they are messy, loud, into things, always on the go and busier in general than litle girls. I have a beautiful little girl and felt comfortable with another girl. Well this little guy came along and I am so happy to have a little man in our house. He's everything I didn't expect--and I am so happy to be his Mom. Happy Birthday to our Cooper. We love you and are thankful you are in our lives.

Well, he is related to us as chocolate is the flavor of choice. . .and he dug in like a champ!

Cooper's big present from Mom, Dad, and Paige--a Cars ride on that makes all kinds of great noise. He can get off and on it by himself and thinks its great.


Birthday boy who loved all the balloons.

Cooper and his daddy--wonder where the blue eyes come from?!

Cooper's mini cake--just for him

Go away flu & germs

So, my goal for next week is to have a complete week at work without missing one whole day. Whay would I want that? Because its been impossible for the last few weeks for that to happen. Note, today is only Monday and I have attended work for a whopping 15 minutes before I headed home. It all started last weekend with Cooper's first ear infection, then Paige getting a fever/chills, then the fever/chills hit me midweek. We made it through the weekend, and then boom, Mom is out of the game again today. I feel like my desk is drowing in paperwork; as I am never there and when I am, I have been filling in for everyone else. Here is hoping for a productive week; both at home and work to getting all the little things accomplished. The one big goal; go eat lunch at school with Paige on Thursday or Friday. Thursday is milkshake day, definitely going on Thursday!

First day of kindergarten

Thursday, August 18, 2011 was Paige's first day of kindergarten. She did great and was ready to go. The biggest problem we had was Mom getting sick on Wed. and not sure if I'd be able to even move on Thursday! Everything turned out okay; and I took Paige to school rather than have her ride the bus. There were no tears by her or me; so I am calling it a victory! I picked her up at 3:15 and she had a great day. On Friday; she rode the bus and we are lucky its Grampa Rick who is our morning bus driver; so that helped immensely. This will be our first full week of school; and here is hoping for more smiles than scowls :)

What? Already!

So this cute little sprite is starting Kindergarten in 5 days. Granted she doesn't look like this anymore; but it feels like this was 5 days ago. I am trying to anticipate if I will be one of those Moms that cries the first day of school; or if I will keep my cool. Will keep you posted and have lots of great pictures of the first day later this week. Thursday, the 18th is the first day of school. Paige will go all day 4 days a week with Wed. off. We went to her room and stashed her supplies and met her teacher on Friday afternoon. They have another hour on Tuesday where its the whole Kindergarten class (w/o parents). I think she is totally ready and going to have so much fun.

In other news:

Cooper is learning to play 'nice' with Piper; or trying!



A little blurry; but great clouds this week when a large rain storm came through.

C00per yesterday--prior to his fever hitting and those two front teeth trying to finally erupt. Its been a long weekend with a cranky baby.

Pre-rinse

This is Cooper. Cooper is what we call a "hands on eater." So he doesn't like bibs because they restrict his movement of shovelling food in-so he eats without his clothes on. Then there are scenarios like this one; where the spaghetti sauce was the victor and Mom is on the losing team. Cooper gets set in the tub and has to be wiped off before the bath water can be ran. You know its a good mess if you need a pre-rinse to take a bath! We won't even talk about the high chair or dining room floor. . .

11 months

Cooper is 11 months old today. Wow, where did that go. I have a few pictures I will add; but for now I will do another recap of what was accomplished recently. He's a super smiley little guy and has a good demeanor--even when we were travelling. He's a good eater and loves to eat whatever the grown ups are eating--especially ice cream!

• 2 new teeth popped last week while on vacation


• is walking up a storm! This last week the confidence and balance are way up and he is on the go. He is also clicking his tongue making a "Click" noise. He reminds me of that crocodile that swallowed the clock on Peter Pan and stalks Capt Hook. You can't always see Cooper; but you can hear him!


• He can't fall down and pop right back up; but he will crawl back over to something to pull himself up on and then continue to go.


• Started saying "da-da" with some regularity. Especially after we came home from vacation and saw Dad again.


• He weighs roughly 21 lbs and is wearing size 12 month clothes and a size 4 shoe.

Vacation recap

We survived our week vacation and were gone from the 23rd to the 30th. That is:

• 7 nights away from home with a 11 month old who doesn't like to sleep


• about 100 diapers or so


• 1420 miles on the Expedition


• 2 bags of puff-corn consumed during those miles by the small people!


• 2 new teeth popped by Cooper


• 8 million--not really but it seemed like it--the number of hours Paige logged in the pool


• 6 hours spent at the wonderful Minnesota Zoo


• 4 minutes--the estimated time of the roller coaster Paige and I went on--we both screamed and loved it


• 1 pair of newly pierced ears


• countless--giggles, smiles and hours of fun

Thanks to Crystal and Aunt Wanda for hosting us at the travel stops in Fargo and thanks to Aunt Mary and Steve for letting us invade them for 5 days--we had so much fun and can't wait to see you all again soon.

Pictures to follow; but need to have some time to go through the 300 I took to see which are worthy!

Cooper walking video

Tee ball and coconuts

Last tee ball game on the 11th--they split up and played against themselves and it was on the 'big' baseball field underneath the lights at 8pm. They thought they were big stuff. Paige couldn't keep her hands out of the line chalk!

Sunday the 17th, my hula girl ready for the parade and the bank's float. The parade theme was tropical paradise; complete with a tiki hut that Ryan worked hard on building the frame for and Sarah made look wonderful with the raffia.

Around the 4th pictures

Cooper & I on July 4th. Paige was too busy with sparklers for pictures!

Cooper modelling his swimwear. We went to the pool and his swim shirt did a great job of keepign him warm and not burnt.

Cooper watching Paige and Ryan set off fireworks from inside the house--where it was safe and bug free.