Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Parade and Decorating the Christmas Tree

Since we stayed in UT for Thanksgiving this year, we were finally able to see the lights parade. Cooper had a blast! He rode on daddy's shoulders the entire time, poor daddy. Man, was it cold outside!






Cooper's favorite thing about the parade was the Jupiter express train.

After the parade we watched the fire works and waited for the lights to
be turned on.


Cooper's favorite was the big ball. Before the lights were turned on he kept saying "big ball, lights on". He was so excited!



Since we stayed home for Thanksgiving, this year we decided to put up our tree the day after Thanksgiving.

Cooper loved to help daddy put the tree together.


Putting the finishing touches on the tree. Now for the lights.


Cooper was a "big" help putting up the lights.


He did a good job making sure all the little lights were twinkling.


My little photographer taking a picture of the tree.


Now for the ornaments. Cooper was very careful while hanging all the ornaments. So far, none are broken.


Trying to put Randolph in the tree. Cooper had a great time decorating the tree.


MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Our First Thanksgiving in UT

The Tuesday before Thanksgiving, the weather forecast was predicting a major blizzard. Some blizzard. We got snow, but I'm not sure I'd call it a blizzard. It was, however enough snow to close the interstate in Idaho. So unfortunately we were unable to travel to Nampa for Thanksgiving. At first, I was extremely disappointed, but as the days went on I was getting excited to make our own Thanksgiving dinner and spend it at home.

The night before Paul and I made our first ever pumpkin pie. It turned out beautiful and tasted delicious!


When I was little, my favorite thing to do on Thanksgiving morning was watching the Macy's Thanksgiving parade. Cooper and I enjoyed watching it while feasting on Paul's yummy pancakes. Cooper enjoyed seeing all the character balloons and the people singing. He enjoyed eating in the office while standing in his stool.


Cooper was very excited to help daddy make the rolls. First you roll the dough. Daddy used the rolling pin and Cooper used the pestle. It's just the right size.


After you roll out the dough you need to cut it into triangles. Cooper tried to help with his plastic knife. It more or less tore the dough and made a big hole.


After making the rolls, then comes the stuffing. Mommy cut the onions and Cooper put them in a bowl.



While waiting for the food to cook, Cooper decided to help me unpack my suitcase. He found my curlers and knew exactly where to put them. Good thing his hair doesn't hold curls.


Dinner was finally ready. Cooper decided he wanted to stand in his stool. He was so stubborn that he didn't taste a thing. Oh well, he missed out. Thanks Paul for making a great dinner. What a fun day!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Playing in the snow

We had our first snow fall of the season several weeks ago. Not a huge storm, but enough to have a little fun outside.

Cooper is cute all bundled up in his snow gear.


Gotta taste the snow, as long as it's not yellow or brown.


My goofy boys eating snow.






Cooper was not a fan of being pulled in the sled.


Now mommy has to taste the snow too.


Cooper was trying to help shovel.



What a fun day in the snow.

Too bad it's all melted now.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Halloween 2010

The weekend of Halloween, we had some pretty rainy weather. We were lucky enough to get to play outside one morning before it really started to rain. The weather was quite windy so daddy had a great idea and pulled out Cooper's kite. At first daddy seemed to have a difficult time getting it to go up in the air. But eventually, it went up with all the wind.



Cooper watched daddy very closely to see how this whole kite flying thing worked.


Then he had to have a turn. Notice how he's holding it with his right hand and has snacks in the other. He held on to those snacks the entire time we were outside.


Mommy enjoyed helping Cooper fly the kite.


Wow! That kite is high. It was quite windy out. so Cooper decided "lefty" would do a better job holding the kite string. It got a little out of control with "righty".


I guess it was just too windy for him to hold on.


We had just enough leaves in our backyard to make a small pile so Cooper could jump in them. He didn't quite understand the jumping part. He mostly marched through the pile and threw the leaves.






Cooper had fun picking out a pumpkin. Because it was Halloween weekend, there weren't many left to pick from. But we still found a good scary looking one.


Cooper watched intently as daddy began to carve the pumpkin.


Helping daddy scoop out the insides.


Pen in the ear... sure, why not.


So cute smiling for the camera.


Cooper is still holding on to his snack bowl in the picture.


Isn't he cute. Our little photographer.


This is the picture that Cooper took. Pretty good for an amateur, and being only 2 years old!


I'm not usually a big fan of Halloween. Eating candy is fun, but I usually eat way too much. Now that Cooper is older, it's more fun because he seemed to understand the concept of trick or treating.

On Thursday that week Cooper's daycare was having a Halloween party.


He was a little unwilling to put on his costume at first, but then when he found out he was going to school for a party to get candy, well he was all over that!


This was a toy that was in the older kids room. He thought the toys in the big kid room were awesome!


He loved trying to play the games like the older kids.


Taking a break to eat a chocolate doughnut.


He was just so cute posing for his picture. He actually left his hood on most of the evening.


When we got home, he of course had to test out one of these delicious candies that he got at his party. Suckers seem to be his favorite.


Saturday was the day most of the kids in our neighborhood went trick or treating. Cooper went with daddy and some neighbor kids. I wish I had went too. I really could have because the door only rang twice and we had about 10 kids.


Aren't they cute. Cooper held on to his bag the entire time, dragging it on the ground. Daddy offered to carry it but Cooper said no. Cooper was so excited and such a good boy he walked almost the entire 3 blocks.


Cooper and Benicio posing for a picture.


And of course, we can't forget to pose with Papi.

What a fun Halloween this was. Cooper is being such a good boy with his candy. We usually only let him have 1-2 pieces a day if he eats a good dinner. And with the exception of once, he doesn't usually ask for candy unless we suggest it to him. And when his one piece is gone, he usually doesn't throw a fit for more. Such a good boy.

I can't wait until next year!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Daddy Rock You!!!

That is Cooper's subtle request for his daddy to rock him at night before bed. Really, I love doing it so how can I resist. Kelly and I alternate nights putting Cooper to bed so that we can both contribute as parents and so that it doesn't become an overwhelming burden for either of us.. Although it was Kelly's turn to rock Cooper tonight, it quickly became a "Daddy Rock You" night. Most likely because I needed to attend an evening meeting, so I didn't get home until 7:45pm right before his bedtime. As Kelly began the process of putting Cooper down, he began screaming. "Daaaadddddyyy Roooocccckkk Yooooooouuuu," over and over. After about a minute, I went in and gave mommy a break.

So there I was, sitting on the rocking chair with Cooper and all of his bedtime paraphernalia, his stuffed animal (Gragg), two blankets, and his happy (AKA Pacifier). Somewhere in this pile of stuff is Cooper. It really is quite a site to behold.

We read a few books and after about 20 minutes of rocking, he says, "Book. Happy Day."
I say, "Happy day? You want to read the happy day book?"
He replies, "Yeah!"
I pause and think for a moment..."Uh, we have no happy day book."
He says again, "Happy day!?"
I look at him and notice that he is pointing to the bookshelf. Initially I thought he was pointing at a book, but alas on top of the bookshelf is his birthday hat from day care (AKA the Happy Day Hat).
At this point I think, "I am really screwed. I am being manipulated...again. And I know it is happening."
So I grab the hat knowing that this is going to induce play and that I will not extract it from his head when it is time for sleep.
Then Cooper says, "Sing Song?"
I say, "What song?"
Cooper replies, "Happy day song! Yeah?"
So I sing "Happy Birthday."
"More?" he says.
I sing it again.
"More, happy day?"
So after singing the birthday song about 20 times, Cooper looks at me and says, "Bed? Hat Off."
And that's it, in bed without a fight.