Almost Crawling

Cooper is on his way to full on crawling. That’s right folks, he is trying so hard to move his little body around, and that he often launches himself forward, beyond the object he is trying to reach. He gets himself up on his little hands and knees, rocks back and forth and then plop right back down on his tummy. Oh don’t worry he is not in the least bit unhappy about these developments, usually he just gets back up again to try some more. It is too cute, and I’m sure he will be crawling pretty soon.
(no babies were hurt in the taking of these pictures)

Plus along with all his crawling antics, he is even trying pretty hard to sit up from being on his tummy. He can sit up on his own for a few seconds before falling over, so we still have to work on that but tries to move his body just right to get into a sitting position. It is pretty fun and entertaining to watch. With a little more practice I think he’ll have that one down as well. I can hardly believe how fast he is growing up. It seems like only yesterday when I was commenting on how big my belly was.

Our Weekend

We had a fantastic 4th of July weekend. We put everyone in the car and headed down to San Antonio to visit with my parents, brother and two grandmothers. I think we spent eight-five percent of our time in the water. Isabelle is so tan I can hardly believe it, I coat that girl in sunscreen but it does not seem to matter. Poor Bear he has Ben’s skin and so he is pasty white. Anyway, we had fun playing games eating great food and visiting with family and friends.

We had a couple of family friends come over for dinner on the 4th and swim. It was great seeing Sarah and Carly, hopefully we will be able to see them the next time we are all down there. I even had a chance to catch up with one of my college friends who got married last year. We did not really get a chance to meet her husband at the wedding, so it was nice to be able to sit down and have a good conversation together.


I think one of my favorite parts of the weekend was the pillow case race. Ben had made the turn and was coming down the home stretch back to the starting line when he fell and managed to flip himself over. It was so funny to watch and I even got a picture of him rolling over. I do not think that is what he had in mind when he got started. That’s what happens when we get too cocky. We used acorns instead of eggs for the spoon race, the kids held on to their acorns while racing and ran down the field, it was pretty funny. Mom did the best at the cup of water race, she found the flat spot on her head and away she went. My cup only stayed on well because of my hat.

Plus we went to see the fireworks, and I would have pictures of that but the wind was blowing so much it moved my tripod, its not very heavy. Plus I could not see my inside screen to check my shutter speed, and to top it off there was a tree in the way. I know a lot of excuses but hey, I wanted to get some really good shots. Oh well maybe next weekend.

On Sunday we ventured out to Vintage Oaks to swim it the community pool there and the lazy river. Plus we celebrated Bear’s third Birthday while we were there. It was a very nice, relaxing day. I think the kids really enjoyed the pool and lazy river, plus Bear was excited about his birthday. He had asked for “Zoom-Zoom Scooter” and is working really hard at figuring out how to make it work the best. Right now it’s all about the handle bar and where it should go, up high or down low. Too cute!

I hope everyone else enjoyed their Independence Day celebration, we sure did.

Nothingness

Since I have recently been devoid of original thought or lacking in emotions provoked by others I have not posted recently. And since I'm sure you all want to read something more interesting then potty issues or who is cuter, Isa, Bear or Cooper? I have not posted anything. But I did want to post something so this is what I have come up with, absolutly nothing. I do hope you enjoy.

Sleeping on the Job

In all of Bear’s infinite wisdom today, he decided that it would be a good idea to toss around his oatmeal snack. I caught him in the act, and told him that he would need to be the one to clean up this mess. Well apparently he was overworked and fell asleep on the job. Before he decided to lay down on the floor and clean up his mess he was walking around pushing the rag with his foot, which in turn made the oatmeal stick to his foot. He promptly showed me this and asked for me to clean it off, and being the mean Mom I am I told him no that he was going to have to clean up all of his mess on his own. I mean really, I was not the one who made the decision to toss around my food. So either he is just an overworked two and half year old or he woke up really early this morning and the punishment got the best of him. Oh well, I guess he’ll have to finish is job once he wakes up.

Rangers Live

While Ben’s youngest sister and her family were in town we decided to take a break from swimming to watch the Rangers play ball. For about two weeks Bear has been asking Ben “. . .I go back to Texas Rangers.” It was so cute, and just what Ben has probably always wanted. He loves baseball and really enjoys the fact the Bear wants to watch games. Although he really wanted to sit close to the bullpen, we could not because our tickets were a few rows back, but very good seats considering its summer in Texas, which means HOT and HUMID. So since we were going to be there with no less than six (6) walking children we decided to go on Kid Free Day, which is Tuesday nights. Basically tickets were half priced, for everyone, plus the kids got free batting helmets. And from the look of the stands we could have come in a little bit before the game and gotten helmets but you can never be to sure. Needless to say the kids had a lot of fun. They watched the game, played games and of course enjoyed some overpriced concessions. What more could you ask for on a family night out. The kids for the most part all wore some article of Texas Rangers propaganda, and could not wait to go to the game. Ben actually spent quality time watching the kids while I had Cooper, since game time is right around sleep time, but he still had lots of fun. I’m sure this will not be our last game of the season, especially if the Rangers keep up with their current record. As I write this I can hear to ball game on the TV in the background, we are never without baseball during the season.

Baptism

Today we Baptized Cooper. It was a little different from what we have experienced in the past, in that it was a group Baptism, but hey you go with what works. My brother Adam and Ben’s sister Penny are his Godparents and stood up with us. We were very happy to share this step in the journey with family and friends. It was a good time had by all. I hope that everyone enjoyed themselves while they were here.

Damn bunnies

Apparently bunnies are not very smart. There must not be a very good bunny network where they communicate and inform each other which house not to go to. We once again have a bunny in the yard. When I got these pictures I did not see the bunny enter the garden but rather go around and eat the yellow flowers in the yard. I don’t mind that since they are a weed. But the next day or the same day, (I’m not really sure, this week has kind of ran together) the bunny was found jetting away from the bottom of the kale. Now I know we have a lot of kale but I did not plant it for the bunny. So I guess we will have to go retrieve the rabbit trap from the renters, they had raccoons, and set it for the bunny. Hopefully there is only one, but I don’t think so. Ben says that he sees at least two almost every morning in the front yard. Once again Thumper needs to take a hike, or else my garden will fail.

Inch Worm

I have a little inch worm in my family. Yes that's right Cooper is moving around all over the place. It is too much fun. Now Isabelle and Barrett don't usually take this much interest in him but today they thought he was pretty cool, while moving around. I can imagine that shortly they will find Cooper getting into their toys and then we'll see how much they like him. I think that mostly Barrett will have an issue with that but will for the most part deal well with it. Only time will tell. In the mean time here is a little short of him inching his way around the room.

Thomas the Train

Last night two brave souls, Aunt Penny and Grandma Susie, took Barrett to see Thomas the Train Live on stage. He even had the chance to choose where he wanted to have dinner and a special “toy” at the show. He had so much fun, and apparently behaved very well for Grandma Susie and Aunt Penny. I’m not sure where he found his like for Thomas the Train but he really enjoys the books and has a blanket that he usually sleeps with. So it was nice for him to experience it as a special day. Thanks so much Aunt Penny for the tickets. I think he was mesmerized by the show and behaved very well, and watched the whole show. I was afraid that he would have to leave early because he did not get a good nap but he made it through, my baby boy is growing up. I’m so glad that he had fun!

One Year Already

I can hardly believe that an entire year has passed since we left Utah. So much has happened, including the birth of Cooper that makes it seem like we have been gone much longer than a year. It seems like everyday something or someone reminds about Utah and I feel sad about the great friends I have left behind. I also miss the mountains, having grown up around mountains only to be moved to the flat land of Texas, and back again, I do miss the beauty of it. I don’t miss shoveling snow, but I do miss sledding and making snowmen. I guess we’ll have to visit at least one winter for sure. Mostly I want to say thanks again to all the great friends we made and rediscovered while in Utah. You made our transition easier but also a harder choice to leave in the end.

Belly Laugh

Isabelle grabbed a hold of Cooper's hands and "clapped" them together and he made his first Belly Laugh. You have to love the belly laugh. It was so cute you just want to bottle it up and listen to it whenever you feel sad. Those belly laughs are the greatest part of the day, when you know that your baby is truly happy. I just love some of the milestones babies go through. I mean really just look at his face who could not love it!

Renaissance

For my birthday, Ben took me and the kids to the renaissance fair. It was great, I really love to watch all the people and see the different costumes, and who could forget the food. This is the first time that we have been to a well established fair with the kids and I never put much thought into the rides before, until now. Of course they wanted to go on the rides and try almost everything. We did have to put a limit on that one, but they had lots of fun. Plus we got to watch part of the joust; they were having a “qualifying match,” and then were going to meet back up at 6pm. I will say that the fair in Utah was new, but their joust was way better, they actually did it for real, unlike here at this fair, where it really looked more like WWF. Oh well, the kids loved it and got to yell for their knight.

The very exciting part of our day was the bird show. For years, Isabelle has loved birds. I know what is years to a four year old. Anyway, we passed by just as they were starting and decided to sit down and watch. Cooper and I sat at the back while Ben took Bear and Isa up close so that they could see better. Well Bear, being Bear tried to rush the stage when the falcon was flying around, which was noticed by the lead guy who was doing all the talking. So when the Bald Eagle came out, he called Bear up on stage with the bird. Needless to stay Bear was stoked. He even got an eagle necklace out of the whole deal. The guy asked Bear what kind of bird it was and he told him, and I think he was impressed that Bear knew, considering he’s just two. I was funny, since I was sitting in the back away from them, I decided that I would nurse Cooper and then the guy starts walking over and talking to Bear so I figured I should jump up and take some pictures quick.




The other interesting part of our day was the rain. That’s right it could not be a Texas weekend without rain. At least for the last month and half, it seems to have rained almost every weekend. But in true Texas fashion all you have to do is wait ten minutes and the rain will pass. So that is what we and many others did. Bear thought that the rain was great. He jumped in puddles, playing in the mud and got all dirty. So did Isabelle. Although she was even dirtier because she actually fell down in the mud, while carrying the umbrella, and not watching where she was going. I watched it all happen from under a tree. Cooper was the only one who was dry, but he did not seem to notice either way.

Overall I think everyone had lots of fun, despite the weather and mud. I can hardly wait until the next one. One day I hope to dress up again. I know I was one of those, but that was all pre-children. I just need to convince Ben to dress up as well. The kids are a done deal; Isabelle will dress up for anything.

Pool Slide

Who needs a water park, we you can create your own water slide while filling up the swimming pool. After T-ball we went to help Penny get her pool ready for summer. Ben really wants to go swimming. So he helped power wash the bottom and clean out all the gunk, and then started to fill it up. Well Isabelle can hardly say no to water, so she quickly figured out that she could slide down into the deep end and that it was pretty fun. Bear joined in and so did Ben. The best part I think was when Ben would send Isabelle sliding around and up the curve of the pool; it looked like so much fun I decided to join them. I borrowed a swim suit and slid down the pool. The only draw back was that clothing does not slide as well or as quickly as skin.

Three and Four year olds playing T-ball has to be one of the funniest things kids can do as a group. My two kids were no exception. Isabelle wanted to play “catcher and pitcher” and Bear just wanted to be close to Dad, so he “played” first base. Once Isabelle calmed down enough from all the excitement of t-ball for her first at bat she hit the ball right down the third base line. Waited to see if any one was going to pick it up and then ran to first base, I’m sure had she been playing as a older kid she would have at least made it to second before the ball was caught. Not many four year olds can send the ball in the opposite direction when playing, it was pretty cool. Bear did great hitting the ball too, but since he bats right handed he sent it right to the middle of the field and then pretty much took off running towards first base, Dad was the first base coach. He just did not like his helmet so at his second at bat, he had to try to take the helmet off before making his way down the line. It was pretty funny. All of the batting helmets were so big on the poor kids, but most seemed pretty of with it except Bear.

Right when they were getting started and meeting the other team, Bear decides this is a good time to start heading out to the “out field.” It took Ben about a minute to realize that he was making his way, out of the game and he had to run and catch him, yea that’s Bear. Isabelle quickly found out that if you play in the pitcher spot, you can pretty much touch the ball every time. She would “catch” the ball after it was hit towards her, show everyone and then send it off to first base. Usually the ball would actually make it to first base but only after everyone saw that she had the ball. It was kind of cute, then she would do a little dance move once she released the ball. It was so cute!

Ogi Bagobi

Here is our newest family member, Ogi Bagobi. He hopped, hopped, hopped right down into Penny’s pool and she thought Barrett would love to have a pet toad. So here we are with a wild toad living in our house, day one. So far so good, we’ll see how he does the rest of the week.

One more thing

Sunday was a very busy day for us. Ben wanted to take the kids to Little League day at the ball park, Isabelle had her last soccer game finally and I had to go take pictures. Plus we still had family in town from the dance recital so it was crazy fun filled day. First the ball park! Any Little League team in the metroplex could come and walk around the field for the day and be down at the player’s level. It was pretty cool. I think Ben almost enjoyed it more than the kids; they are still a little too young to know the importance behind it yet. But we got lots of pictures of them going around. Barrett was told several times not to go near the dugouts, although I think they were being over cautious, because I did not think he was trying to check it out or go in. And he was told not to stand on the grass. That one was valid but at least he did not jet away, he was only two steps in on the grass if that far, I think he toes might have still been on the dirt. All in all it was pretty cool. Ben took a picture of Cooper and I that was not very good so I’m not going to include it here. You would think the one picture I ask him to take of me he would have tried a little harder to make it turn out well.

After we made our way around the field, Isabelle and I left to go to her last soccer game. She did great! I could hardly believe it. I kept asking myself where was this kid in the previous four games? Why is she just now showing off her true colors? Although I must stay that there were only five kids total on our field, several kids did not show up so there were not as many kids around to chase after the ball, but still she finally found her game again and was very excited about it. At the end all the kids received a participation trophy with a moving ball. Boy was that the hit, all the kids loved to play with the ball and spin it around. Then they took a big group picture, which was not as good as last time but hey, you work with what you can. I think she finally had a lot of fun.


Once Ben came home from the game I was off to take pictures for my class. That was pretty fun, I had a couple of hours away from all the kids and house work, now to determine if any of the pictures were any good. We’ll have to wait and see what the rest of the class thinks when we meet again. Hopefully this time my disk will work, I had trouble the last time and had to turn them in later.