Shower

The boys have been enjoying showers instead of baths lately. 

And yes, I'm already heard, "I'm gonna pee on you!!"

"Marry"

Cooper: "Mom, do girls marry boys?"
Me: "Yes, girls.marry.boys." (Thinking this could be a trick question-hoping we don't have to go into a conversation about homosexuality!)
Cooper: "No, mom. BOYS marry GIRLS."
Me: "Ohhhh, yup, BOYS marry GIRLS." (I guess...since boys ask girls to marry them--where is this going?)
After some silence to process...
Cooper: "Mom, do DOGS get married?"
Me: "No, dogs don't get married."
Cooper: "Oh, I think just GOOD dogs get married."
Me: "Ok, Coop." (What else do I say?! He has dogs on his mind a lot lately!)

Rob's new American bulldog, "Dozer".

Muscles

I don't know if I've shared this before, but it is a morning ritual at our house for Cooper to eat pancakes and applesauce for breakfast, brag about how much he eats, and then flex his muscles to show me how big they're getting (Rob keeps tell me I should probably tell the kid the truth about pancakes and growing muscles...one of these days!!). 

A month or so ago, Rob brought the boys home some 2 lb. dumbbells. Carver struggles with them, and has dropped them on his toes a few times. Cooper enjoys being shown how to lift them, and likes to "lift weights". A few weeks ago, he asked to take a dumbbell to school. The next morning, after struggling with his backpack being so heavy, I asked him if we could just take it out and not take it to school. He said, "Fine, mom! But I'm just going to lift now, then!" So, he came into the bathroom and did bicep curls while I did my make-up. (He lifted the next 3 mornings after breakfast!!)

Here he is showing off his weight lifting skills:

AWANA

During opening at AWANA, we say pledges to the American flag, AWANA flag, and the Bible. Each week, a Cubbie (3/4/5 year old) gets chosen to hold the Bible during pledges. A few weeks ago, Cooper got to do it! It's not a very good picture (taken on my cell phone), but I wanted to share it. He was very proud of himself!

Heaven

I'm sure this won't be my last post about heaven. It's amazing the work God can do in even hearts as young as 4.

Cooper and I were talking last week about Grandpa Bruce (my mom's dad who passed away in September 2010). When asked where he was, I said, "Well, Grandpa is in heaven." At the time, I think Cooper was satisfied with that answer.

Out of the blue last night, Cooper was laying in bed, and said, "Mom, is heaven...like...up in the sky?"
I said, "Yes."
Then he asked, "Well, who took....Grandma Pauline's there?"
"You mean, who took Grandpa Bruce there?"
"Yeah, who took Grandpa Bruce?"
I said, "Well, God took him to heaven."
Thinking a minute, he then asked, "How did God get him up there." (Imagining this 4-year-old picturing God lifting Grandpa Bruce into the sky!)
"Um, I don't know, buddy."
"Ok."

Sometimes I'm glad he's ok with that answer!

Dan Wardell

Yesterday, Dan Wardell, from IPTV, came to Jesup, to our story hour! Cooper and some friends from daycare got to meet him and have their picture taken. He read two stories and encourage the kids to 1) Shut the TV off. 2) Go outside and play. 3) Use their imagination. and 4) Read a book!

(Cooper reminded me when we got home that "that guy" said "we can't watch TV!" Thanks Dan!!)

Cooper (the only kid there in costume) & his friends Delaynie and Lily

Busy weekend!

Last weekend, we had the pleasure of spending a few days with Rob's family, as his sister, Amy and her family were home from Texas. The kids got in lots of "cousin" time.

Cooper holding Josh & Jill's new "baby Kendall".

Carv with my new sunglasses on.

Ava and Cooper on the way home from the "school dance".

Cruz (9 months) and Carver hanging out.

Cooper playing in the sandbox with an Amish boy.

Carver, Ava, Cruz, Cooper, Keeley, and Kendall

"Giddy-up" he said!

Carver just loves this dog out at the Amish!

All the kids got cart rides from Henry (one of Dan's nephew's kids).

Happy Easter!

The boys were with their dad for Easter weekend this year, but we did get to color some eggs the week before. We also sent out a picture of the boys for Easter with Cooper's favorite bible verse that we thought was fitting for Easter.

1 John 4:10

...God loved us and sent his Son...

Happy Birthday Carver James!

Carver's birthday landed on a Saturday this year. It happened to be the day we got home from Dubuque. After a much-needed 3 hour nap, Cooper and I helped Carver celebrate by making homemade cupcakes that the boys decorated with homemade colored frosting (or ate spoonfuls at a time!). We also opened presents and sang to him. The day ended at the park!

Likes: his blankie, animals (live and pretend), reading, building blocks, writing on the white board, taking a bath, playing outside, milk, Cooper, asking "what doin" "where goin", "fruit snacks" (prunes), ketchup.

Dislikes: bedtime, sitting still, loud noises, sitting on the potty, washing hands, being told what to do!

Carver is a joy and a blessing to our family. He gives us grey hair, but we're so thankful for him. Love you big boy!

"Is this why you never took us on vacation?!"

The title is exactly what I asked my mom after trying, myself, to be super-mom the last weekend in March. I booked a waterpark resort hotel suite, made all the plans for a good time, and packed the kids up. We were already nervous about how it would go, when Carver fussed the majority of the way there. Luckily, we chose the Grand Harbor Resort in Dubuque (90 miles away) and decided to only stay one night (it's a good thing level-headed Rob made THAT decision). 

It was all smiles when we got there though! And how fast can we all get our swimsuits on and head to the waterpark?! FAST!!

We lasted an hour or so in the waterpark. It was a blast! Perfect for the boys. They dodged from one water spout, to a slide, the lazy river, and back. There was so much to do, and they really enjoyed it! We went back to the room for room service about 7pm (normally bedtime)-note the beginning of meltdown #1. We ordered as fast as possible, but still wasn't fast enough for two over-tired, over-stimulated kiddos! $60 later, the kids picked at their food, decided they mostly wanted what I had packed for our kitchenette fridge, and then Cooper said, "UGH, I wanted steak!!" I swallowed. HARD.

We got the kids to bed around 8, only after a noted meltdown #2, where Carver could hardly be soothed. He was fighting a cold, and just wanted to go home, literally, begging us to take him to the car. By the time we got them to sleep, we decided we wouldn't be doing this again for a LONG time. (Are we having fun yet?!)

By 9, we split the kids up and each "slept" with one (yes, on vacation, in a hotel...and in bed by 9!). I don't think much sleeping occurred. Come to find out, they both grit their teeth and kick. Carver coughed. ALL.NIGHT. And Cooper talked in his sleep, once saying "Mom, I need one of those pink things on my arm!" (Referring to his waterpark wrist band we had ripped off him--I forget which number of meltdown THAT was!) Another time, he proclaimed "I'm ready for my cereal!"...I think that was around 2am.

By morning, I didn't care how tired we were, the fun wasn't over!! We ate a quick breakfast at the restaurant and headed to the waterpark. Carver only lasted about an hour and was about to drop in his tracks, so he and Rob headed up to nap. (They never did nap, but got to walk by the river and see some boats!) Cooper and I spent the rest of the morning going down slides, playing basketball, and cruising around the lazy river. 

We thought the ride home would be in quiet, but Carver had to put up a fight first. It took me getting in the backseat between two carseats to get him to fall asleep first. Finally, 20 miles or so out of Dubuque....

they were both....

asleep.

And, did I mention, "Ya know what would top off this vacation...if you got pulled over..."

20 miles later...$119 ticket.

(Do I dare say..."I told you so.")

THIS IS WHY MY PARENTS NEVER TOOK US ON VACATION!

Patience is a Virtue

That might be the next thing I teach the brothers to say!

Yesterday morning, I was rushing Cooper along before school to "get dressed" and "get your shoes on". Finally, he turned to me and said, "Kids are slow, mom. You have to be patient. I know you're not being patient, mom." He was so matter-of-fact, I didn't even know what to say!