Day 30: Thankful for Camp

5th graders here get to go on an adventure to Pine Cove.

For three days, they camp and learn and participate in outdoor activities at a special camp about 2 hours away.  

Kyle said the food was the best.

He also enjoyed horseback riding and caring for horses,

zip lining,

canoeing,

learning about and observing all kinds of animals,

and hanging out with friends.

I'm so glad he had a good time and made it home safely!  

Day 29: Thankful for Improvement

I have been concerned about Evan's behavior and his reading in school.

Overall, both have improved.

I'm so thankful for teachers who love my little maniac.  

Day 28: Thankful for Christ

I am so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ.

I love getting to focus on his birth and life around Christmastime.

To start the season off, we were able to visit and AMAZING

nativity showcase nearby.

There were HUNDREDS of nativities from around the world, along with a scavenger hunt.

We also enjoyed the life-sized nativity!  

Christmastime is here!  

Day 27: Thankful for Santa Letters

I'm glad the kids had something fun to do on the last day of break.

It was fun to hear them all talk about what to ask for from Santa

and what wish to give to someone else.  

Day 26: Thankful for the Elves + New PJs

This year, we got a new elf!

Jane, Merry's older sister, came to help out while Buddy and Joy have a special 

assignment for Santa this year.  

They brought some amazing Harry Potter pjs, which was so appropriate for our year of HP Halloween!

I'm thankful for the joy of the Christmas season!

Day 25: Thankful for Friends in the Neighborhood

I'm SOOO thankful for there being friends to play with in the neighborhood!  

When the weather is nice, everyone comes out to play, and I'm so grateful for that.  

Day 24: Thankful for Puzzles!

I'm thankful that these kids [plus myself] were all able to work on this puzzle.

I'm also thankful that Evan made it out alive after getting ticked that he didn't find as many pieces to fit in as other people, flipped out, and nearly destroyed all the hard work--twice.  

I'm thankful for forgiveness for my yelling and for the boys working out their fight.

In the end, I think we will remember the good times we had while listening to Christmas music and being able to complete this fun goal together!

Day 23: Thankful for the Thankful Book

In recent years, we've had a tradition of filling in "The Thankful Book" on Thanksgiving.  

The Thankful Book is a leather-bound journal, which holds the list of what people who celebrate Thanksgiving with us are thankful for.  It's fun to pull it out each each and remember how we've grown, reminisce on memories from years past, and look forward to the future.  

This year, the book is packed away in storage.  

We made do with a pink notepad and pen.  I'll glue these pages in when the book comes back home.

I'm so thankful people are willing to participate in my traditions, like the Thankful Book.  

Day 22--Thankful for Thanksgiving!

On Thanksgiving day, the kids were over the sick bug.

Here's the littles at the kids' table:

Except this one, who was close to his Mama.

We didn't have turkey----ham, beef tenderloin, au gratin potatoes, green beans with bacon, cornbread dressing, Mac n cheese, sweet potato casserole, rolls, fruit salad, and sparkling cider.  

I'm so glad everyone was feeling well to join in with the celebrations!  

Day 21--Thankful for My Family

I love each member of my family fiercely.  

I am so thankful for each of them.  

Sure, they all tick me off sometimes,

but the great times far outnumber the frustrations.  

Day 20--Thankful for Thanksgiving Birthdays

I don't know what it's like to have a birthday that falls on a holiday.

I DO know what it's like to have a birthday on the first day of school, though.

Sometimes on big days, a birthday can fall into the shadows.

I'm thankful that didn't happen for Dayt, and that we were able to celebrate with him!  

Day 19--Thankful for New Doctors

I'm thankful for all of my new medical team in DFW.
It was SO hard to leave behind my doctors in BCS, but I'm grateful to have new ones who care and I'm learning to trust, like, and love.

I'm thankful for a team who is willing to fight along with me, for who knows how long it takes.  

I'm thankful to have almost doubled the time I was given to still be alive.  

Day 18---Thankful for Goatman

One day Stephen came home from work and discovered Goatman driving down the road next to him.  

Goatman, aka Evan in disguise, makes an appearance every so often these days, and especially loves his car!  

I'm thankful Evan has fun and likes to bring a smile to brighten someone's day.

Day 17--Thankful for Pie

The boys and I have a tradition of making pies together for Thanksgiving.  

Pumpkin is the big winner, and the one we made again this year.  

Claire joined in this year!

It turned out so well, and was gobbled right up, along with some fresh whipped cream!  

Day 16--Thankful for Modern Medicine

One by one, the whole family (minus Grandma) was taken down by a stomach bug over Thanksgiving break.  

Dayton came home with it from school, we are guessing, on Saturday. 

Ryan and Evan and Claire kept threw up and had diarrhea on Sunday into Monday.

They carried vomit bowls with them at all times.  

Julia and Kyle threw up Monday night, and Julia stayed in bed the next few days. 

Jordan and Stephen both felt nauseous, but didn't eat anything and never threw up.

Grandpa succumbed.  

Then, came Jameson, Rebecca, Hubba, and Benjamin.

I had hand sanitizer and wore masks like crazy, and thought I had escaped it, but it hit me late Thanksgiving night and into the next few days.  

Thankfully, we were all able to have at least some fun, quality time.  And there was much laughter about the designated "sick chair."

I'm thankful for medicine to fight nausea and diarrhea.  I'm thankful for things like bleach and lysol to help keep germs at bay.  I'm thankful for a nice bed to sleep off the yuckiness.  

And, I'm thankful for getting better.  

Day 15--Thankful for Laughter

Smiling is my favorite.
I also love to laugh.
It's one of the things I love most about Stephen and so many of my friends who help me stay laughing, even when life goes off track.

There's also something special about a child's laughter.
I'm also especially thankful that Evan loves to make his younger cousins laugh.

Day 14--Thankful for Cousin Fun

For the week of Thanksgiving, we had all the Texas Coopers together.  This means there was a lot of cousin time.  I love how well Evan plays with the younger ones.  He and Ryan spent hours helping Jameson with this train! 

The Frisco kids spent time making welcome gifts for everyone.  They made a mobile for Benjamin, but it didn't last long because he loved it so hard.  

I helped them make a pretty advanced fort.  Everyone had their own rooms.  

I also thought it was hilarious that Evan and Benjamin both wore Halloween skeleton jammies on Thanksgiving Eve.  

We are so Thankful for all our cousins!  

Day 13--Thankful for Sports and Reports

The boys are busy, but it's great!  

Ryan and Evan finished up Running Club.

Kyle and Evan are FINALLY swimming and moving up along the ranks.  

Ryan is almost ready to advance in gymnastics, and is reaching for high goals at school.  I'm so grateful for these boys and the hard work they are doing.  

Day 12--Thankful for Healthy Boys + Flu Shots

Evan had a well-check, and the other boys came along to get flu shots.

Evan's stats:

height: 49" {69th percentile}

weight: 72.2 lbs. {97th percentile}

BP: 112/68

pulse: 87

Evan seems to be growing well and didn't even mind the flu shot.  He was scared, but then said, "That was nothing."

This big Seven-Year-Old also had some great things to say:


Name: Evan Cooper
Nicknames:  Meow-Meow + Rocks for Meow-Meow
How old are you? 7
What is your favorite color? gold, silver, orange, red, blue, and green
What is your favorite animal? cat + I would have to say a dolphin
What is your favorite book? The Book With No Pictures + all Mo Willems books
What is your favorite TV show? I don't have any....Puppy Pals is a fun show
What is your favorite movie? Avengers Infinity War + Star Wars
 What is your favorite song? Thunder by Imagine Dragons
What is your favorite food? sushi
What is your favorite drink? smoothies
What is your favorite breakfast food? a bagel sandwich with bacon, ham, and a fried egg.
What is your favorite snack? yogurt-cookies and cream flavor
What is your favorite outfit? My Space Cat shirt that I have.  I would wear that all the time
What is your favorite game? Sushi Go, Life, and Goat Lords, and Wahoo
What is your favorite toy? nerf gun
Who is your best friend? Charlie, Joshua, Preston + Camden
What is your favorite thing to do? color + do activities
What is your favorite thing to do outside? swimming!!!!
What is your favorite holiday?  Christmas, Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day + Easter
What do you like to take to bed with you at night? my baby hippo,  That makes me happy.  My blanket, too.  The one that I had when I was one.
Where is your favorite place to go? Great Wolf Lodge ( but the cake there is disgusting.
What is your favorite restaurant? Taco Bell and Chef Cao's + Chuy's
Where do you want to go on vacation? on a cruise

Day 11--Thankful for ACTUAL Birthdays

Evan was so grateful for all the amazing gifts he received for his birthday. 

{He even counted that he was able to replenish his bank after paying all of it to the 'fix the windshield fund.'  He not only replenished it.  He now has MORE money than before!}

Out came the goat head!  

And, a new bike!  

We are thankful for this crazy, rowdy, loving, kind, loud, determined, sometimes out-of-control, caring, playful, third son of ours.  Happy Birthday!!!