A Happy Birthday - Cooper Style

~opening gifts from the family~

~our incrediboy in his new pjs~

Cooper loved his new race cars - especially the one that was 3 like him.

~his new undies~

(He insisted on wearing the Buzz Lightyear picture in the front.  

Where he could see it.  Of course.)

~all the loot~

Emmie & Claire stopped by with surprise cupcakes.

(Coop was fresh out of his "birthday bath.")

~Jack, Claire, & Allie~

~Cooper & his Emmie~

We had lunch "with Nemo" at the Rainforest  Cafe.

"Cheers"

(Cooper is a big fan of toasting!)

~The Boys~

~the Birthday Boy and me~

In Allie's arms was one of his favorite places to be - 

today and for the last 3 years.

~lovin' the fishies~

After lunch we were going to take Cooper to the cookie store.  He said, "No thanks.  I want gum."  All the way home from the mall, he said, "I can't believe that they had gum!"  "I love my green gum!"  "I can't believe that I got green gum!"

Glad to know that 25 cents can bring him so much happiness!

When we left the mall I asked Cooper what else he wanted to do for his birthday.  He said, "Play and not take a nap."  I'm a pushover.  So in the afternoon/ evening we went to see Horton Hears a Who at the dollar theatre and got snow cones at Bahama Bucks then we came home and played outside.  

~my really big boy~

~my girl~

~the Birthday Boy~

Celebrating A Year In The Life Of Cooper

Happy Birthday Baby Boy!

June 2007

July 2007

August 2007

September 2007

October 2007

November 2007

December 2007

January 2008

February 2008

March 2008

April 2008

May 2008

June 2008

A "Happy"

This card came in today's mail. Just because. It's perfect. I LOVE it!

Thanks Bea. And thanks for the Sonic gift card too. I already put a dent in it. :)

Summer Recipes

Do you get Kraft Food & Family magazine in your (junk) mail? Basically, it is a glorified advertisement for all things Kraft, but it has some really great and easy recipes in it. Last night, I tried two of them from the current issue. I am sure that you can find them online... here is the version of them that I made.

Tuscan Dip 

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese
2 Tbs. Sour cream (or maybe a bit more)
1/2 c. finely chopped sundried tomatoes
1/2 c. chopped black olives (I used a whole small can.)
1/4 c. finely chopped red onions

Mix everything together. I served this with Wheat Thins Sundried Tomato and Basil crackers.

Pizza Pasta Salad

3 c. penne pasta, cooked, drained, & cooled
4 tomatoes, chopped (I think that I'll use sundried next time.  Can you tell that I love sundried tomatoes?)
1 pkg. pepperoni, chopped
1c. mozzarella cheese, diced (I used the Kraft "Italian Crumbles" for the first time and loved them!)
1/2 c. parmesan cheese, grated
1/2 c. Kraft Roasted Red Pepper Italian with Parmesan Dressing

Mix everything together.
(It also called for 1/2 c. sliced fresh basil, but I don't care for that.)

Both recipes said to refrigerate for an hour... I didn't do that either.  

What are some easy, cool recipes that your family likes?

Makes Me Laugh Monday

Last night there was a need for a substantial punishment for an 8-year-old boy that lives in our home. The first several attempts at disciplining him did not have the effect that we had hoped for, so he was grounded to his room for an hour. Thinking of all of the moral lessons that were possibly learned in that hour, I asked, "Did you learn anything while you were in your room?" He promptly answered, "Yep... An hour is a LONG time."

Another Good Quote

“The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing... not healing, not curing... that is a friend who cares.”

-Henri Nouwen

Thank you to my friends that love me just the way that I am.

In spite of who I am.

Or even because of who I am.

2 For 2 More Days

My baby is two. I can hardly say it out loud... He will be three in two days. With the other kids, I get all sentimental and "I can't believe that another year has passed." each year on their birthdays, but with this one - the one that seems to be my last - I am really saddened by the crossing of the bridge into 3-year-old-hood. I held him in church last night and cried at the thought that I will probably not ever bring a baby back to this place. I sat outside on our patio and snuggled him this morning and cried some more. I read an Arthur book to him on the couch a while after that and cried again. I can't really wrap my brain around the fact that this is it. The thing that I thought that my life was all about is ending. Maybe. The thing that I waited for all of those years is over. Perhaps. The thing that I love to do and do well is coming to a close. It seems. I am digging my heels in and praying for peace in the midst of this life that I have been given all at the same time. It is hard. Today is hard. Today I am having a hard time surrendering to another's plan or destiny or choices for my life. But for today and tomorrow, I have a 2-year-old. Until Tuesday, I still have that.