Report & Resolutions

2017 was an interesting year.  We were told it would be my last, but the time is still ticking.  With that in mind, it's time for a look back on our goals.  

Stephen for 2017:

Help Melodee with the boys.

Help boys enjoy the outside more. 

Be more patient at work

Travel

Fish for tuna

work out on elliptical

Another year with Mel

Report: 

Stephen killed it on his 2017 goals!!!  

2018:

Try to enjoy life more.

Play with the boys more.

Less complaining at work.

Priorities: work, be a good example. 

Mel's 2017 Goals:

Donate money from the sell of my book

Help Mom with MoTab books

Keep up with the boys' job charts and allowance

Go to the NM Balloon Festival

Try a zipline

Craft with new materials.

Report: 

I attempted to donate money from my book, but was denied from several directions.

Worked a little on Motab books....more will be done this year!

Job charts and allowance was great!

Did not make the balloon festival or a zipline

crafting was lower on the totem pole, too!

Mel's 2018 Goals:

Try to write another book, declutter

More exercise and playing games with family

Less stressing and yelling

Priorities: MoTab Book, Family Yearbook, organize videos.

(I've also added: Be okay with letting some things go, like NOT wishing happy birthday on Facebook.)

Kyle for 2017:

Finish Rush Revere books.

End my school year great for me.

Try to have a great summer.

Get along with Ryan and Evan

Learn about technology

Get better at math.

Try lobster

Report: 

Kyle did great.  Getting along with brothers is a constant work in progress.  

2018:

Learn to write better.

Learn to cook more foods.

Play more with Ryan and Evan.

Read all the Harry Potter Books.

Ryan:

Read chapter books.

Learn to cook.

Learn about how I was born and where we go when we die.  

Try salmon.

Report:

He read chapter books.  

He only learned to cook a few things---we're working on it this year! 

The last ones are still goals.  

2018:

Eat 50 different types of cookies.

Help Mom 1,000 times.  (only an average of 3 a day)

Travel to Arkansas.

Cook a lot!

Evan:

Count to 100.

Learn to read.

Learn about vampires

Try a new flavor at Spoons (fro yo)

Report:

Probably needs more vampire study, but did everything else!

2018:

Nerf Gun Battle.

Ride a bike with no training wheels.

keep being nice at school.

Travel.

Watch the 1st Jumanji movie.

Here's to a goal-oriented year!

School Fun

Kyle loved his field trip to attend a performance Peter and the Wolf.

Evan was able to share his writing with some students from the Intermediate school

MSC Opas

We were invited to attend the MSC Opas with some friends.  It was fun to get dressed up!

Here's a flashback to another time we all got dressed up....our latest cruise! 

Like Riding a Bike

A Festivus Miracle happened yesterday:  I taught Evan's Kindergarten class a lesson on rocks and no one got injured or cried!  

This all began when his teacher sent out the email of upcoming subjects of study for this month.  When I saw "rocks" in science, I happened to mention that Evan LOVES rocks, has an amazing collection, and we call him our little geologist because of his fascination.  Knowing that it might be a perfect bribe incentive to get Evan excited about making good choices at school, I asked his teacher if there was a time I could come up and let Evan share some of his collection with his classmates.  Somehow, this turned into me being asked to be a guest speaker on the subject.  

Even though it's been awhile for my earth science......and Kinder is NOT my cup of tea, Evan truly was excited about the whole thing.  He helped me pick out the right rocks and plan something fun.  

He let me borrow his book on rocks and gems (which even features a whole section on Crater of Diamonds State Park, a place we've been many times!)

We had a quick lesson on ways to categorize rocks.  (size, texture, luster, transparency.)

Then, we split into table groups for some hands on practice to actually sort.  I loved the flashlight test of transparency the best.  

Prayers were answered, and I actually had fun.  I guess once a teacher, always a teacher!

10 1/2

Anyone with a summer birthday knows how hard it is to celebrate with school friends.  As one with a summer birthday, I have made half-birthday celebration a thing with my summer birthday child at school (and, really, the whole family.)  

This year, Kyle wanted Whataburger and brownies.  I loved eating lunch with him and getting to make a homemade treat for his teachers and classmates.  

Name: Kyle Stephen Cooper
Nicknames: Mega Cough, Poop Scoop
How old are you?  10 1/2
What is your favorite color? blue and red
What is your favorite animal? Octopus and whales
What is your favorite book? Percy Jackson Series
What is your favorite TV show? Amazing World of Gumball
What is your favorite movie? Harry Potter Series
What is your favorite song? Imagine Dragons songs
What is your favorite food? Mexican food, Chinese food, and desserts
What is your favorite drink? rootbeer and milk  
What is your favorite breakfast food? pancakes and waffles
What is your favorite snack? sweets
What is your favorite outfit? any Star Wars shirt
What is your favorite game? Game of Life, Cover Your Assets, Cranium, Super Mario Odyssey
What is your favorite toy? video games, Nerf Guns
Who is your best friend? Jonathan, Kaden, Gavin, Landon, Ian, Connor, Calvin
What is your favorite thing to do? play board games with the family
What is your favorite thing to do outside? Nerf wars and playing on the trampoline
What is your favorite holiday? Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas
What do you like to take to bed with you at night? blankets and a pillow
Where is your favorite place to go? family members houses
What is your favorite restaurant? 40 Tempura, Chuy's, Cane's, Taco Bell
Where do you want to go on vacation? Japan or Bahamas
What do you want to be when you grow up?  a doctor
What do you want to do on your half-birthday? I went to school, and mom brought treats!

New Prophet

Our area of Texas shut down due to Winter of 2018, the day after MLK day.  As you might expect, it was a whole lot of worry about what turned out to just be a really cold day, easily one which could have gone on much like normal, with a late school start.  

In addition to the kids being out of school, my cancer clinic, which follows the school district's schedule, was also shut down.  

On the bright side, we all got to watch the broadcast of our church's new prophet announcing his new First Presidency.  Evan documented the morning with about 37 pictures, but here's just a few to remember the occasion.  

I especially love that President Nelson and President Oaks smiled, laughed, and joked with each other like BFFs!  

Christmas Crafting

My *twin* baby sister made me an awesome key holder.  I got it hung up and love it!  

I was also able to help my visiting teacher make a music paper wreath, as a Christmas gift for her mother-in-law.  (My FAVORITE kind of service project!) 

It's fun to make gifts of love.  

Little Po

Ryan is quite the perfectionist when it comes to his work.  He often works slowly, but precisely.  

He was so happy to be the first 2nd grader to complete Happy Numbers, the computer math program his school uses for review.  Our Po is becoming quite the gymnast!  I love seeing all his improvements, and he especially loves the vault! He's also working hard in his GT class AND has just added "Imagineers," an art club, to his list of activities.  

"I love my life!" was how he described it all.  

Joe's & Freddie's

Although about half the boys are probably getting too old for this activity, for many years we've met up at Monkey Joe's to let kids run and play and the moms catch up.  Before heading back to school....and after the antibiotics kicked in and killed our illnesses, we met up with some Cypress pals for a playdate and lunch.  

Some nice older woman asked me, "what kind of a group do you have here?  Is it some kind of boys' club?"  

"No, ma'am," I answered.  "We're just friends who have lots and lots of boys between us!  

I'm so grateful for these amazing friends and their boys who are still friends with mine.