AWANA Program

Cubbies!

Planting Gma & Gpa's Garden

We have a 3 year old!

Happy Easter!

First 5K!

Supporting a fellow Jesup J-Hawk student with cancer.

Well, we survived our first 5k together! Cooper started out on his bike...last .42 miles. He then ran, walked, and rode on my back. What a trooper! He did SUCH a great job! I was SO proud! He's not sure he wants to do another race (this long) for quite sometime though!

Finish line, with our friend Paul (in the hat) cheering us on!

35 minutes-not bad!

Pre-race photo!

Best babysitter ever!

Every time I think about the word "babysitter", I first think of Amy Perry. MY childhood babysitter. Gosh...some day I'll have an adult conversation with her, about HER memories at our house. I don't have a lot, but I remember locking her out of my bedroom, screaming at her, and crying. (I don't think we were very nice to her--my siblings and I.) Hopefully we didn't traumatize her.

Then I think about when I was the babysitter. I mainly remember my days watching the Beran kids, even though there were a few more. I was THAT babysitter that didn't have a clue, was probably too young in the first place, and NEVER told the parents the truth. No matter what happened, I told them the kids were GREAT (even if I went home crying and saying I never wanted to go back!). (Some day, I'll have an adult conversation with those kids too, and tell them how much I still love them--even if they DID traumatize me!):)

Now (which makes me feel old), I'm the one PAYING a babysitter. We have been SO blessed to have found a loving family here in Jesup to babysit. Our very own, Kayla Kauffman, has become such a friend to the boys AND me. She's just a text away and is always so willing to come play! When she doesn't see them for awhile, I think she misses them as much as they miss her!

Last night, Kayla came for a few hours in the evening. She handled after school, supper, bath, and had the boys quiet in their beds when I got home. I left her with a craft idea and she double checked that the paint was all washable before I left. I let her know that it was no big deal if they didn't do it.

This is the picture I sent her:

This is the picture she sent me two hours later:

Then, this is what I came home to:

What a blessing! (I hope some day Kayla doesn't have an adult conversation with "the brothers" about how they traumatized her!) For now, she seems to do a good job of being honest with me and she keeps coming back, so I'm thankful for that. We hope to keep her around!

Educational Snack Time

Must've been feeling like a super mom this weekend...turned snack time into educational time. I gave the boys 4 different snacks and encouraged them to make patterns. Cooper loved the project and got made at Carver for not having a clue what he was doing! Cooper's patterns are below:

 



This actually happens...

Snow fun!

We're ready for spring, but we're making the most of this snowy winter!

 

 



The boys got to sit in the bucket after Larry cleared our driveway and made us a sledding hill.

Larry reminded them not to eat the yellow stuff! Cooper told me at school, after recess, he "licks his gloves!".

Carver helping shovel off the deck.

Cooper playing innocent during a snow ball fight.

Sick Day!

Carver enjoyed a sick day home with mommy, Tuesday. He had a great attitude, and fairly good energy, but couldn't keep anything down for about 6 hours. It was fast moving, and woke up Wednesday a new kid.

 



Tuesday after waking from nap.

Wednesday morning 6:15 a.m.

Abby's Champs!

Abby Moore, a junior higher from Cooper's school, was recently diagnosed with cancer. Together with the community, we are supporting her family with events, thoughts, and prayers. Below is a picture of all three Pre-K classes/teachers wearing YELLOW last month to support Abby. Cooper is in the front row-5th from the right (between his favorite boy-Hunter and girl-Sara).

 

Cooper and I will be participating in a 5K in a few weeks to also support Abby. (Cooper will ride his bike while I run-pics to come!)

 

Dreams

Cooper has been telling me lately a lot about dreams. He's been remembering things like, a bear at our house, two snowmobiles crashing, and who is and isn't there at the time. This morning during our commute, he said, "Mommy, I dream when I'm awake, too!" I said, "You do?" And he replied with, "But not at school!" (Good! I don't think we need a note home quite yet that we have a "day dreamer" on our hands!)

Pre-K Progress

I haven't blogged much about school this year, and there is always something going on, so I thought I would share a few things.

I have the privilege of taking Cooper to school everyday. We drop Carver off at daycare, and sometimes add kids to our car to also deliver to school.

Cooper & I walk in to his classroom, where he drops off his lunch bag on the desk by the door (I pack Cooper a cold lunch every day. I decided at the beginning of the year that he could choose a few school lunches a month if he wanted, but I would primarily pack because of cost. He has not been brave enough yet to eat school lunch! He told me once, "I probably won't like their food anyway!") On any given day, his lunch may include: ham/turkey sandwich or pb (which is a current favorite), applesauce, cheesestick, go-gurt, wheat thins, pringles, graham crackers, fudge striped cookies & marshmallows (a current request), and fruit snacks. We also pack his water bottle, because he's not a huge milk drinker, and usually just prefers water.

Next, Cooper drops off his bag and coat on his designated hook. He then has two "jobs" before going to his table. He has to move his school bus name tag from the "Home" poster to the "School" poster to help with attendance and keeping track of kids. Then he moves his monkey name tag to either white milk, chocolate milk, or water for his choice of beverage for snack time. (He usually chooses water and never chooses chocolate milk.)

Every Tuesday is Cooper's sharing day. He has taken his ninja turtles, motorcycles, monster truck, and yo-yo. Sometimes he forgets, but always has some random toy in his backpack that he can show off.

Cooper loves school and his best friends are Carver, Hunter, & Dax. His favorite part of the day is recess.

Here are a few other things I wanted to show off:

I helped with the "Z" which frustrates him, and helped him spell Davide, but otherwise he did the rest!

This was his attempt at his brother's name. He is a perfectionist and got frustrated after writing "Carv", so started over!

 

I hope you can read this note that the teacher sent home. I am VERY proud!

Batman!

Happy Birthday Mommy!

I received a night's stay at a hotel for my birthday, so the boys and I enjoyed dinner out, the pool, room service, cable tv, an awesome shower, a king size bed (for 3!), and an awesome breakfast buffet! (We are thinking about moving in!)



 

 

Favorite parts:

 

Cooper: Watching movies in bed

Carver: The pool

Mommy: The food!