January's Ten Things

Here are my Ten Things to Smile About in January:

1.  Ethan was baptized by Todd

 2.  Ethan started cub scouts and has already earned his bobcat!

 3.  Family Ice Skating Night

 4.  Cooper's ear surgery went well and his ears are finally infection free!

5.  Cooper's first haircut at a salon went so well - he didn't even cry!  Look how long his hair was…awwww, so cute...

 after:

 6.  Waking Cooper up for school pick-up doesn't make me smile, but watching him sleep does:

 7.  Listening to my family (all four of them) laugh at cat videos on youtube.  Ethan especially.  He laughs so hard he can't even breathe…watching him is even more funny than the cats.

8.  I started reading The Four Gospels this month, and that has definitely made me smile.

9.  Miss Madeline turned 6!!

 10.  Eating chocolate cake.  Um yeah, food always makes me smile, especially treats!

Madeline's Birthday

Madeline was more excited for her birthday than for Christmas.  That's why I wasn't surprised at all when she woke very early, hopped up the stairs and peeked into my room.  She had stressed for days…weeks...that none of us were to wake her up on her birthday.  She was very excited her special day was a Saturday and she could sleep in.  But I knew she wouldn't be able to!

 She opened her giant princess lalaloopsy and a pink haired fairy barbie in the morning and then enjoyed chocolate chip pancakes with pink sprinkles for breakfast.

 Todd took Madeline and Ethan ice skating during Cooper's morning nap and I worked on her chocolate cake.  Then we enjoyed a huge family party at a buffet pizza place.

 She wanted dessert pizza and she got it!  Along with a giant monster cookie that turned out to be mostly whipped cream!  She was also spoiled with princess books and glimmer lip gloss to name a few of her favorites.

This girl knows how to pack it in.  After Cooper's afternoon nap, we went bowling:

Then home again for "Dad's Macaroni and Cheese".  I'm not allowed to make it, only Dad makes it good!  And more presents.  Here's her expression when my mom mentioned she thought it would be a basketball:

 But no...

even better...

another giant lalaloopsy, with HAIR to style!  

and what girl wouldn't want another pair of great shoes?!?!

The boys, though not nearly as spoiled that day, were still plenty happy.  They enjoyed each other's company...

 and all the balloons hanging around.  Turns out the streamers hanging across the room made a great "net" for balloon volleyball!

 After dinner, it was girls on one side and boys on the other.  All playing games of their choice. All happy to be together.  Just don't cross the line!  ;)

And a come-from-behind-victory for Dad!  Followed by singing and chocolate cake.

It was a day that will be hard to beat!  Happy Birthday to my sweet Miss Madeline.  Six years of fancy pink fun!

Chocolate Cake

Death by chocolate anyone?!?

 Madeline chose a chocolate cake this year for her birthday.

 Chocolate cake, with chocolate frosting, and Milky Way candy bars chopped up inside and on top.  I surprised her with the pink pearl chocolate balls as the finishing touch.

 She was excited to eat it!

 Oh, and did I mention that her 6 candle was also chocolate??

 We didn't even break out the chocolate oreo ice cream.  We'll have to save that for another week.

 She couldn't finish her giant piece, but that's okay.  She ate the rest of it yesterday.

I giggled a little though, as she was trying to eat it.  She looked up and said, "can I have some milk please?  NOT chocolate milk."

 With this cake, plain old milk is just right!

Happy Birthday Madeline!!!

My 6 year old beauty, 

 you've sure come a long way!  Phew...

 I love you so much I just might scream.  So glad you're my girl.  Happy Birthday!

Love you forever!

Cooper's Ear Tube Surgery

Cooper wasn't quite sure why we woke him up yesterday morning when it was still so dark outside.  We had to be at the hospital by 6:30.  He also wasn't sure why he had to get his coat on when he hadn't even had breakfast yet!  But having Daddy with us was all he needed.  Seeing Dad in the early morning is a special treat.  And he kept on smiling about that.

 Sitting in the hospital was even okay as long as he got to be on Dad's lap (though he's been to so many doctors lately, he knew something was up!).  He didn't like the hospital gown much, and was really bugged by the tag on his ankle, but he liked playing with the medicine droppers and looking at the fish on the walls and ceiling.

It's hard to watch the nurses and doctor carry your baby away.  Even when you know it will be quick and easy and he'll be better for it.  But I felt so much love and support from family and friends and I was extremely grateful for the prayers being sent up in our behalf.  I knew it was going to be just fine.  And, of course, it was!  The doctor came back 20 minutes later and said he was done.  Things went perfectly and he was in recovery.  He told us he'd be another 20 minutes or so and then when Cooper was awake enough, they'd bring him to us.  Four minutes later, we could hear him coming down the hall!!

Fastest recovery ever apparently!  He moaned and fussed for another 30 minutes while the meds wore off.  He was unimpressed with the juice we made him drink, but boy was he ever happy to get home and have some breakfast!

We've been alternating tylenol and advil and he's on one more 10-day round of antibiotics, but I finally feel relief.  And judging by his happy nature this morning, I think he already feels that way too.

Phew!

16 Months Old

This past month has been pretty rough for Cooper.  His double ear infection won't go away.  After two rounds of the best oral antibiotics, he had three antibiotic shots and still no luck.  Both ears are really bad and it's obvious that he doesn't feel well.  We are going to a specialist today.  Tubes seem to be in his future.  I just hope and pray he won't have to be in pain much longer!

 Despite that, he still is happy a lot of the time.  Laughing, wreaking havoc on the house, and throwing things.  Unfortunately, food is one of the things he's good at throwing.  Perhaps it's the pain in his ears, or his teething, but my good eater has turned into a horrible one!  If it were up to him, he'd live on a diet of grapes and graham crackers!  I guess not that abnormal for a 1 year old...

Last month, he thought every animal said "baaa", now he can make the sounds for a sheep, cow, horse, fish, bunny, and sometimes makes cute bird tweets.  I think he can bark for a dog too, but it still sounds like an angry sheep!  Cooper makes me happy.  Makes me tired.  Makes me smile.  I am looking forward to the day he is well again.

My Cub Scout

I thought it was crazy when Ethan got baptized, but honestly, that was at least something I had thought about a LOT in my life as a mother.  Nothing really prepared me for this!!

 This little wolf was very excited for his first Pack Meeting

 He even was in charge of the Flag.  Watching him carry it up and post it and salute during the pledge totally was blowing my mind.  He did awesome!

 Then came his initiation...they decided to try it out for the first time on Ethan.  They've never done initiations before, so I was a little worried, but he impressed everyone!  First, the Weblos carried him from the back of the gym to the front on a giant wooden pole.  He was hanging off it, holding on with his hands and feet!!  Then he had to drink a little cup of "buffalo blood" which really was Tomato Juice, though for Ethan it probably was just as gross.  He was amazing though, and chugged the whole thing at once!  Then they painted his face and welcomed him into the pack.

You'd think with the Scout Master as my husband, I would have been more prepared for this kind of thing, but I realized I know nothing of cub scouts!  I think that was my first pack meeting too.

We also watched a boy earn his Arrow of Light and saw his neckerchief catch fire but not burn.  Quite the night!

I was so proud of Ethan though, he took it all so well.  And while we watched him playing tag and catch with a football in the gym that night with all the other cub scouts, Todd and I agreed that Scouts would be so so good for Ethan.  I'm excited for him.  In his first week, he's already learned about loyalty, honesty, how to take care of flags, and learned about himself that he can do hard things!

Cute Coopey Pictures

He had fun trying on Madeline's boots:

 One morning I found him like this, just snuggled in Blankie sitting in his chair:

 He loves his horse, he's given him a hug here:

 Helping clean the tub

 and his very curly hair after tub time.