Pack Meeting

Kyle's so close to getting his BEAR!!!  So proud of him!!!

FUN

I actually played a bit on the trampoline one night with the younger two, while Kyle was at practice.  

RYAN'S BIG CHOCOLATE BAR!!!! 

Ryan School Stuff

Ryan's teacher is really good about posting pictures of things they do.  One of the funniest things she's sent is this video of his Christmas wish list letter, along with the way he signed one of his tests.  She said, "please tell me you have cats!"

He came home one day to tell me about the solo he sang in music.

100th DAY!!  

Hempstead Family Breakfast

Grama Sue and Auntie Deb came into town for a weekend.  We were all able to meet Ryan and Rachael and Abi for breakfast.  Ryan loved her!!!  

Snow Day

The boys had snow day at their school, which meant there were many indoor and outdoor lessons, activities, and fun all around snow!  

chuys

Julia came in to town one Saturday, and what better way to spend our time than with Mexican food!!!!  

Birthday Lunch

I was able to drive back to Cypress for a fun birthday lunch with friends.  Miss so many of these people....and more!!!

Kyle's 9 1/2

Kyle's half birthday was a fun day, especially because he's the only one who TRULY celebrates his half birthday at school, as his summer birthday doesn't give him a TRUE day for cupcakes during the school year.

I made the cupcakes that morning and gave myself plenty of time to grab Taco Bell and get up to the school.  I didn't factor in a MAJOR rainstorm into the allotted time.  I got trapped behind some slow drivers, caught all the lights, and found no where to park.  I had to pull up and run the cupcakes and food inside under the covered walkway before pulling back around to park in the back of the parking lot.  All of that mess put me 4 minutes late, and Kyle thought I wasn't coming.  He got a tray of cafeteria food, and I walked in, drenched, to bring him his 2nd lunch.

We did have a great lunch together, and I'm so glad he still enjoys me coming up to school to hang out with him!

He also LOVED the cupcakes....along with all his classmates and a few of his teachers!  

Here's a traditional questions:


Name: Kyle Stephen Cooper

Nicknames:  Kyle Coop, KYLO

How old are you? 9 1/2

What is your favorite color? My favorite colors are blue, green, and red.  And, also GOLD!

What is your favorite animal? cats and squids.  Weird combination, but....

What is your favorite book? The Dark Side Lego Star Wars Book

What is your favorite TV show? Teen Titans Go!

What is your favorite movie? Star Wars

What is your favorite song? I don't have a favorite song!!

What is your favorite food? SUSHI!!! and CAKE!!

What is your favorite drink? Hi-C

What is your favorite breakfast food? waffles and pancakes

What is your favorite snack? Chex Mix and Gardetto's

What is your favorite outfit? I would pick Dark Vader t-shirt holding the Walkers.

What is your favorite game? Super Mario Maker and Super Mario 3D World

What is your favorite toy? iPad and Legos

Who is your best friend? Seth and Landon

What is your favorite thing to do? Play on the wii U

What is your favorite thing to do outside? I like to go swimming

What is your favorite holiday? Halloween and Christmas

What do you like to take to bed with you at night? my emoji pillow

Where is your favorite place to go? Disneyworld.  Or, Lego Land.

What is your favorite restaurant? 40 Tempura!!!!

Where do you want to go on vacation?  maybe a Disney cruise!

What do you want to be when you grow up? YouTuber!  I like to play games!

What did you do on your half-birthday?  Mom came to school and brought me Taco Bell and cupcakes!






Time is a very weird thing.  I cannot BELIEVE this boy is almost 10 years old!!!!!  I remember like I just blinked a few days ago and he was learning to hold his head up for tummy time.   We love this boy so, SO much! A few days ago, we were watching so old family videos, and saw a few of Kyle as a baby.  He thought it was so weird the way I talked to him on the video.  "Oh, KYLE!!!  He's SUCH a STRONG BOY!!!!"
"Mom?  Why were you being so loud and WEIRD?"
"Kyle, you don't know the feeling of how much we waited for you and wanted you here.  We were SO happy to experience all the "firsts" with you.  Someday, you'll get it!"



LOVE FOREVER!!!

Bangs

The hair on top of my head seems to be taking FOREVER to grow out, so I decided to try out a new style for church.  

And, Evan wanted to take a picture with me.  

Happy Sunday!

Aggie Basketball

Stephen and I were able to take all the boys to watch our Aggies take on LSU!  We just can't seem to beat those guys at football, but we were hoping for a better result on the court.  

Since this game was on tv, there was MUCH more downtime for tv time-outs.  The little boys and I kept busy with fun selfies:

The game was going on pretty late, so we were worn out: 

And, then Ryan fell asleep for real!!! 

This was a fun night out!

First Tooth Lost!

Ryan lost his first tooth!!!!  

He was SO excited that he lost it again....literally!  The tooth was lost somewhere in the house, so we had to write a note to the tooth fairy and hope for the best.

She ALMOST forgot, and Ryan even thought she had.....when I told him to check again.....we noticed  *the money had fallen out of the tooth fairy pillow*  That SILLY fairy!!!

RHCP Concert

Stephen and I added to our 90s concert series by going to see Red Hot Chili Peppers, along with his dad.  It was a nice night, and we only felt one or two songs were missing.  They've been doing this for a long time, and I did love how they encouraged every kid in the audience to pick up an instrument or  other way to be artistic and learn and create for themselves.  

Here's the SETLIST:

1. Intro Jam

2. Around the World

3. Snow ((Hey Oh))

4. Scar Tissue

5. Dark Necessities

6. The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie

7. Me & My Friends

8. Go Robot

9. Californication

10. What Is Soul? (Funkadelic cover) (Flea on vocals)

11. Sick Love

12. Higher Ground (Stevie Wonder cover)

13. Dreams of a Samurai

14. Aeroplane

15. Soul to Squeeze

16. By the Way

Encore:

17. Galveston(Glen Campbell cover) (Josh on vocals)

18. Goodbye Angels

19. Give It Away

I LOVED the light installation they used on their stage.  It was made of 100s of hanging lights that were programs to create 3D lighted images.  SO COOL!

Another fun concert crossed off the Bucket List!!!

New Year

Originally, I had planned on taking the boys to Midland after Christmas, but I got pretty sick after my treatment.  I'm actually glad we didn't go because there were a few days I was pretty exhausted.  It would've been hard being away from home.  

Our New Year's Eve was a VERY boring start into 2017.  The kids were exhausted and in bed early.  Stephen was on call January 1st, so we both went to bed at a normal time, as well.  Nothing exciting, but just what we needed to start the New Year off right.  

I started to feel a little better a few days later, so the boys and I ventured out to try out our new trampoline park.  It was fun, but overpriced, and there were too many tempting things: zipline/mechanical bull/ninja warrior course/water walking ball that were NOT included in the high price!  It was also SUPER busy.  We did it, but not sure we'd go again soon.  

I also helped the boys right up thank-you cards, which was a nice way to break up the few cold and yucky weather days we had.  

Our first week of the New Year was relaxing and rejuvenating.  And Mommy was SOOOO glad that they were all excited to go back to school.

P.S.  We also received the guilt trip letter from the school this week.  Something like:

Mrs. Cooper,
School attendance is very important to a child's learning.  The school district requires 90% attendance, which means each student may miss no more than 9 days per semester.  So far, your children have missed 3 days.  Blah, blah, blah....


IT WAS A SPITE LETTER!!!!

SOOOOO annoying!

1st:  The semester was already OVER by the time the letter was dated and sent.

2nd: They have only missed THREE days!!!!!  NOT. EVEN. HALF of the maximum!!!!

3rd: They knew we took the kids out for two days for Disney World.  Jealous snots.

4th: Why waste the stationary?????


Can't wait to pull them out in the spring.  Let's make up something to celebrate!


MERRY NEW YEAR!!!!

Family Portraits Fall 2016

I am IN LOVE with our family portraits this year! I LOOOOOOVE planning outfits that "go" without "matching," and am so lucky to have an amazing friend photographer.  We drive about 1 minute from our home and stood near a barbwire fence with some trees in the background.  Plus, my boys are all trained SO well that we had over 80 shots worth editing (more than she often gets in a full hour session) in 20 minutes.  AMAZING TIME!!!

It's a New Year, and we are going to make it a good one!