Happy Boy

I'm so glad that Evan is such an easy-going, happy baby.  It makes me smile, too!

Evan's Army Crawl

This baby is on the move!  He is all over the house, scooting and sliding along the tile floor with ease.  Every now and then he stops to pull himself up onto the stairs, the coffee table, the couch, a chair, a toy basket, or anything else he can reach.  I'm sure it won't be long before he's running right alongside his older brothers! 

Adventures in Potty Training

You just might remember the hilarity that was Kyle's potty training experience.  This time around, we're taking it much slower. 

But, yes, it has begun.........

After Ryan's bath a few weeks ago, he was helping me pick out his pjs and started peeing on the floor.  He stopped mid-stream and looked up at me, pointed down, and said something that could've been straight out of some Japanimation, but I took it to mean "I went potty."  I asked him if he wanted to go pee on the potty, and he nodded.  I have the trusty toilet seats up on a shelf in his bathroom, so we rushed in and started the process.  Nothing else happened, but he was excited and happy about going, flushing, and getting a jelly bean.

For now, we are just trying to make the toilet time a positive experience and casually asking if he needs to go potty.  He's followed Kyle's example a few times, has actually gone #1 and #2 on the toilet, and doesn't seem to have any fears or negative associations.  I'm happy with that amount of progress for now.  We will see if it's just a phase or if regular potty training will start in the coming months.     

New House--Kitchen

 It has crossed my mind recently that I never finished posting about our new home, so I'm going to try to get those posts done.....in all my free time!  So, if it takes a few weeks {or months} to finish the tour of our home, don't be surprised.  What suspense there is on Cooper Chronicles.......

Here's the kitchen area before we moved in: 

And after!  

There are several themes/groups going on in our kitchen.  Of course, we have all my pink Kitchenaid stuff, which lends itself to decorating with many shades of the color--from pink to maroon, and even some red.  In putting together accessories to go in the mix, I realized I also have a bunch of stars and iron stuff, so that all made its way into the area.  Finally, there's my  Fiesta Ware that brings in an array of colors, the terra cotta bowls I made and glazed myself, and my glass jars and canisters that I've collected over the years.

Cost breakdown--Accessories--the Mexican Star Lantern is new {anniversary present.}  I also got some glass canisters for an early b-day present.

 Furniture:  We reused our chairs from our other table, but this rectangular table is a hand-me-down, and I'm wanting to either paint or restain it.  The red-ish chairs are new--a steal at $99 for both!

There you have it--our Pink Texas Kitchen, all for under a few hundred dollars! 

Pioneer Children

 There was a Pioneer Day activity at church on Saturday.  Kyle, Ryan, and I went. 

The boys dressed up in their cowboy stuff. 

 The hat didn't last very long on Po. 

 After some dancing and songs, we split up into groups.  Our first stop was butter making.  The boys enjoyed shaking the jar of cream. 

 Ryan followed all the big kids around, waiting for his turn. 

Kyle was shaking the jar so fast!

 We separated the buttermilk from the butter and rinsed the butter clean. 

 Next, we moved into the campfire story room.  The kids got popcorn and got to listen to a pioneer story. 

Then, we played some games! 

Ryan LOVED tossing the bean bags.

 Kyle liked the stick pull the best. 

Finally, we got to make some bread loaves!  The boys rolled and shaped their loaves and placed them in the pan to rise.

Then, we got to taste some bread that was already baked, complete with butter and jam.

We took the bread home to rise and enjoyed it with the homemade butter with dinner!  YUM! 

What a fun way to celebrate pioneer heritage. 

New Hair....Again

So.....my neighbor, Glory, is a hair stylist, and I'm excited that I can start going next door to get my hair done.  This is great for convenience, saving me time and money, but, I think I might be in trouble.  You may see more and more of these posts about me constantly changing my hair--color, style, who knows?

This is what it looks like for now: darker, warmer base/blond highlights/red lowlights. 

I really like it.  Stephen likes it, but liked it better before.  That means I'll definitely be changing something up the next time around.  I guess being a stay-at-home mom, I've got to get a little excitement in my life somehow!     

Kyle's Actual Birthday

Here's Kyle, showing us how old he is! 

Of all the places he could go for his birthday, Kyle wanted to eat at Arby's.  After dinner, we came home and he opened some more gifts.  Ryan was happy to help pass out the presents.

 Excited face...

Super excited face!!!!

He couldn't wait to play his Angry Birds game.

Kyle had a wonderful 5th birthday and was so thankful for all the great presents and cards he got.  He's been telling everyone he's 5 years old now and referring to things that happened a few days ago as, "you know, WAY back when I was FOUR...." 

Another Climber

 He's barely 8 months old and already I have this to deal with.....

 And these stairs are not that easy to gate off! 

I guess I'll just try working on teaching him to go up and down safely. 

It's Bath Time!

With 4 kids to bathe after a big day of partying, it's easiest to just put them all in the big tub together!  {I'm sure they'll just LOVE these pictures someday......} 

Cousin Dress-Up

 I'm so glad that Ryan and Claire had fun playing together last weekend!  {And check out Evan in the corner, laughing at me trying to get the cousins to smile for the camera!}

She lost the shirt and changed hats....much cooler now.

It was fun having new people to play with! 

A Favorite Spot

Evan can often be found near this diaper basket I keep downstairs.  He loves to crawl up to it, stand next to it, pull everything out of it, and investigate {chew}. 

I do have to watch him closely.  The other day he slipped and nearly hung himself on the side.  He's also gone head-first in a few times and couldn't get out.  Scary!  I think he's figured out how to stay on the outside and still get to what's inside, so hopefully I won't have to worry. 


Plus, he's taken the plank/push-ups to a new level. 

I was at a friend's house the other day.  She's a photographer, specializing in babies.  She talked about her favorite time to photograph--"The Golden Window," she calls it--when babies can sit up but can't crawl.  She loves how they can sit there and be photographed and are old enough to smile and pose, but once you put them in said pose, they sit there.  I responded that I've NEVER had that "Golden Window."  I came home thinking that she's the mother of only girls.  My boys NEVER had a time where they just sat and sat still.  They were scooting before they could sit up, rolling over before they could crawl, falling and rolling back down the minute they could sit up, climbing stairs before walking.....I'm not ready for this baby to be so on the move and into everything!  Maybe my "Golden Window" will have to wait.... 

5 Years Old

It's Kyle's birthday!  5 years ago today we became parents for the first time.  I can't believe how quickly the time has gone and how much our plans have changed in 5 short years.

Kyle has grown up so much lately.  He's becoming more and more of a helper and a great big brother.  I'm so grateful that {most of the time} he likes to play with his brothers.  We were going to the park a few weeks ago, and Kyle saw some other children already there.  He said, "Oh, look!  There's friends here."  Stephen joked back, "Kyle, you don't have any friends."  Kyle responded, "Yes I do.  Po's my friend!"  My heart melted a little.     

Kyle's biggest interests these days include:
Mario, Angry Birds, iPad, playing games, NOT singing, playing with friends, jumping off anything high, swimming, helping me cook, and trains.  He also really likes to do the Booty Dance, which he's taught to Ryan.  Ryan can hardly say anything intelligible, but he can clearly say, "Shake your booty!" and do the corresponding moves, thanks to Kyle's example. 

Another of Kyle's latest things that makes us smile:
Everyday at the dinner table, Kyle will turn to Stephen and say something like, "So, Poopie Scoopie.....what did you have for lunch today?"  I love that he's making dinner conversation, even though it's usually about Stephen's food selection OR about how to pass different levels or galaxies of Mario games.  Kyle also likes to tell everyone ELSE what big Poop Scoops we all are and how he is "nothing.....Nope.  No Poop Scoop here."

5-year-old 20 questions:

1. What is your favorite color? I love all the colors!  My very favorite is black.
2. What is your favorite toy? Hot Wheels stuff.  I like trains, too.   
3. What is your favorite fruit? strawberries
4. What is your favorite tv show?  Wipeout and Thomas
 5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? chicken
6. What is your favorite outfit? Star Wars shirt
7. What is your favorite game? Cat in the Hat game and the racing Mario game
8. What is your favorite snack? animal crackers
9. What is your favorite animal? rhino, giraffe, elephant, and finally a crocodile
10. What is your favorite song? Going on a Bear Hunt
11. What is your favorite book? Trains, Cranes, and Troublesome Trucks
12. Who is your best friend? Nicholas, Everett, Hector, Kate, and finally Kayla
13. What is your favorite cereal? Cap'n Crunch and Life
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? play soccer with Mom
15. What is your favorite drink? Daddy's juice {passion fruit juice}
16. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? my Texas A&M blanket and my favorite blue pillow
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? waffles and eggs
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday?  Panda or Arby's or Cane's
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? a builder




Happy Birthday, Kyle!  We love you so much and are proud of all the good that you do. 

Moody Gardens

We enjoyed a little stay-cation on Friday.  Julia and Claire got into town, Stephen took a day off, and we met the Grandparents down at Moody Gardens in Galveston for a day of fun.

Our morning started off at the newly redone Rainforest Pyramid.  Upon entry, you are greeted with the sounds of the forest---a new sound with each footstep.  Ryan, my musical boy, loved jumping around and activating noises.  He was quite intrigued with discovering the origin of the sounds.    

 Evan was excited to be along for the ride. 

We watched some  giant otters from above. 

 I loved this pyramid! There were so many birds, plans, and other creatures to interact with.  Ryan mostly called everything a "chicken" or a "monkey." 

Grandpa and Grandma with Evan in the butterfly area.

 One type of butterfly we saw was an Orange Julia.  Fitting. 

We came out of the butterfly area and right up to this squirrel.  Ryan FREAKED OUT, and not in a good way.  He was screaming and backing up, like he'd just encountered a jabberwocky.  It was quite hilarious.  I just had to teach him to say HI and BYE, and from then on, he was more excited to spot a new animal than terrified.
  

 Kyle liked finding and pointing out all the small creatures in the different displays. 

This was a cool doorway into another region.

 Claire and Julia! 

Evan, still along for the ride.

This was a great section--so much to see!

My anaconda don't want none......

 Posing as geckos.

After the rainforest, we had a snack and headed into the Aquarium Pyramid.   Ryan LOVED the seal display and probably could've stayed there all day.

 The hands-on area--always a hit. 

The shark tunnel--my favorite! 

 Kyle and Claire checked out what it might be like inside a shark cage. 

 We ended our visit to the pyramid at the penguin area.  Claire and Ryan liked these guys. 

And then the heavens opened and poured and poured and poured out rain.  It didn't look like it was going to ease up any time soon, so we made a run for it and got quite soaked.  At least the fine people at Lupe Tortilla didn't mind serving us some delicious Mexican food even though we were soaked to the bone.  Nothing warms you up quite like some queso and fajitas!