Two Month Whirlwind Catch-Up

Wow.  I can't believe it's been two months since my last post.  Okay, actually, I can.  It seems like forever since my last post.  Things seem to have been going on fast forward since school got out in June.

Things haven't slowed down yet.  After attending the week long GLAD re-certification the beginning of June, the boys and I spent a week or two together before Eli started sports camp with his buddies.  He LOVED it.  He was with a number of his friends for a week learning about baseball, basketball and soccer.  He really enjoyed basketball but says it's too hard so doesn't want to play it.  Which is fine.  He's already in soccer, t-ball, and swimming lessons.  Once he starts school, I know he'll learn more about it then and if he decides he wants to play, then we'll explore that road if it comes up then.

The previous week was when my parents' house closed and they moved to Arizona.  It's official, they are now residents of the Grand Canyon State or the Copper State depending on who you ask.  The boys and I spent three days helping them get ready before their long drive to their new home.  I am very excited for them, this is their dream...and we have a great vacation place!

The beginning of August brought the demonstration part of the GLAD training we started just after school got out for the summer.  I had such a good time working with Andrea as we shared GLAD strategies with a "real" class.  Because we don't have summer school, a selection of kids came to school for a week to learn about forests of Washington while we presented to the teachers.  It was the first time we've done a training with one solo teacher and a coach for the teacher participants.  It went really well and we got great feedback from the teacher participants.  The kids were great and we had a fun week together.

As soon as the training was over, I hurried home, took Oliver to a friend's house and we hit the road.  We spent a day and a half in Spokane with Jess's family then we're off to Montana to visit my family.  My uncle is fighting cancer, both non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Leukemia, and was very sick.  We spent five days in Billings with family.  It was great to see family, but a very difficult time emotionally.  They have been fighting this for so long, they sure can use all the prayers you have.  During our trip we made stops at ZooMontana and the Old Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge.  I will post pictures soon.

Now that we're home, I've been trying to catch up on a week and a half of laundry, unpacking, getting my classroom set up, and playing with our new little crawler! After spending one day with his little buddy Jack, Cooper finally decided to take his backwards scoot to the full-fledged forward crawl!  It is a little clunky and laborious, but he's got it and is crawling.  I think this weekend brings the installation of the cabinet locks for the kitchen and bathroom sinks....

 I did it again.  I have been so wrapped up with what seems like everything under the sun, the blog has taken a turn for the worst.  We are all doing well, but I have to admit setting time aside for any sort of reflection has really taken a back burner.  In a quick nutshell, here's what has been going on since our last real post...

The cousins came over!  Eli, Brooklynn, Kendra, Cooper

 Someone hit the fabulous five! Five months that is!

 ...and six!

We had some beautiful weather....

great for playing in the grass,

 riding bikes,

hanging out with mom,

and graduating from preschool!

I went back to work the end of March. March 26 to be exact.  It has really been a bittersweet experience.  I absolutely love my boys, but I realized that I missed my school family too.  My students, the other teachers, having adult conversations during the day, ok or at least conversations with other adults during the day.  We have MSP'ed (state testing), did lots of math, learned about Asia, and just had fun together.  I did the absolute coolest art project with my class and it turned out so much better than I could have ever imagined.  I really think it's going to be a new staple for me.  It was THAT amazing.  I am actually going to take one of my student's pieces and have it blown up and hang it in the boys' bedroom once we get it painted this summer.  I'm going to keep the anticipation for that until I get it done.  Tomorrow brings  last day of school!!!  I am still in amazement that our time together has come to a close, but I am SO ready to be home with my little loves during the day again.

Eli has been in t-ball again and it is amazing how much he has grown in this area.  I remember his very first tball game as a small three year old.  Boy was that fun...he cried for over half that game.  Now he runs, plays, jokes with his friends, and smacks the ball like no other.  He is doing really well and loving it.  

The boys are growing like crazy.  Eli is officially five and a half years old (he just had his half birthday yesterday) and to say he is excited for kindergarten would be the understatement of the century.  For a while now it hasn't been my school anymore.  It is our school.  I am eager to have him at school with me, I have to admit.  My baby is getting so big!!!  Kindergarten.  Wow.  Mr. Cooper is growing and changing every day, too.  Yesterday marked his seven month birthday and boy, what a few mere weeks make for him.  I haven't been able to get his seven month picture ready to post yet, that will be another post, but I'll put some of that in here too.  He is built like his daddy, long and lean.  At his appointment on Friday, he weighed in at 17.5 pounds, which puts him in the 30th percentile, and was 27.5 inches long, ranking him in the 70th percentile.  Yep, that's his daddy!  The funny part is Cooper and Eli started out looking so much like each other, however over the past few weeks/months, he's really started to change.  Cooper is built like daddy but is really starting to resemble my side of the family, my dad in particular, which works out great since his middle name is Papa's name.  At times I really see my cousin Raleigh, other times I see Uncle Clyde, but it is usually dad is most prevalent.  Oh, and we can't forget about Uncle Daryl!  Boy does this kid have his uncles hair.  It sticks out in every direction and does whatever it wants.  haha  Cooper is sitting unsupported for nearly a minute at a time, much longer if he has, or thinks he has, someone sitting next to him or around him.  Just this weekend he started saying "Mama."  He has a serious case of separation anxiety.  Serious.  If we go to the other side of the room, he freaks out.  I love when he leans out to me though.  

  

The boys are growing like crazy.  Eli is officially five and a half years old (he just had his half birthday yesterday) and to say he is excited for kindergarten would be the understatement of the century.  For a while now it hasn't been my school anymore.  It is our school.  I am eager to have him at school with me, I have to admit.  My baby is getting so big!!!  Kindergarten.  Wow.  Mr. Cooper is growing and changing every day, too.  Yesterday marked his seven month birthday and boy, what a few mere weeks make for him.  I haven't been able to get his seven month picture ready to post yet, that will be another post, but I'll put some of that in here too.  He is built like his daddy, long and lean.  At his appointment on Friday, he weighed in at 17.5 pounds, which puts him in the 30th percentile, and was 27.5 inches long, ranking him in the 70th percentile.  Yep, that's his daddy!  The funny part is Cooper and Eli started out looking so much like each other, however over the past few weeks/months, he's really started to change.  Cooper is built like daddy but is really starting to resemble my side of the family, my dad in particular, which works out great since his middle name is Papa's name.  At times I really see my cousin Raleigh, other times I see Uncle Clyde, but it is usually dad is most prevalent.  Oh, and we can't forget about Uncle Daryl!  Boy does this kid have his uncles hair.  It sticks out in every direction and does whatever it wants.  haha  Cooper is sitting unsupported for nearly a minute at a time, much longer if he has, or thinks he has, someone sitting next to him or around him.  Just this weekend he started saying "Mama."  He has a serious case of separation anxiety.  Serious.  If we go to the other side of the room, he freaks out.  I love when he leans out to me though.  

Have I mentioned how much I love my guys?!?!  Yes, this includes their fabulous Daddy too.  I am so thankful for the three of them.  Some days are challenging, but boy I don't know what I'd do without them.  They are my life!

As I'm going through the files of pictures, I can't forget one of Cooper's milestones too!  We made our first trip to Spokane!  The milestone part you ask?  Cooper didn't scream the whole way!  LOL

The old gang got together!

Just the boys and their kids.

Cooper met his cousin Kaelyn,

playtime with KG,

and loving the summer-like weather!

All the cousins (at the time!).  Cooper, Kendra, Brooklynn, Cameron, Kaelyn, Eli, and now we need an updated picture with baby Maddison!

I suppose I better wrap things up, we do still have school tomorrow, and boy do I have a lot to get accomplished in those few hours.

Father's Day

We had lunch at the Rainforest Cafe to celebrate dad's special day.

Growing!

Today we had Cooper's 6 month appointment,  yes we're late.  We got off because of the state not sending immunizations out.  At any rate Cooper is 17.5 pounds,  30th percentile, and 27.5 inches long, 70th percentile. 

He sure loves to sing!

Memorial Day

After a cranky day,  this is how Cooper made it home.  Yay,  a nap just before bed.

And Typical Morning

The boys usually start their day hanging out together.  Today Eli wanted to hold Cooper.  I love how much they love each other.

We went to the zoo!

For Mother's Day we ventured to the zoo.  It was great.  The sun was shining, it wasn't incredibly busy, and the boys loved it.  Eli has always loved the zoo and this was Cooper's first visit.  Cooper ended up sleeping for most of our time there and Eli had a blast! The sad part was that I forgot the camera sitting on the couch!  Good thing my cell has a camera on it!