Cooper

It was a pretty fun day for Cooper today.  He sang in his preschool Easter program this morning.  Such sweet songs about Jesus.  He did a really great job.

 Then he had his last swimming lesson for this session.  He passed the level and said he loved it and wants to go on to the next harder level.  He still is a little nervous to jump in and put his face in, but he did it and he made huge strides and I'm proud of him!

Early Easter

We decided to celebrate the fun part of Easter on Palm Sunday this year.  And the Easter Bunny really rose to the challenge.  15 feet up!!  The whole family got to search for Easter Baskets.  Oliver found his first and then Cooper.  Twenty minutes in, I found mine.  Then Madeline.  Todd only found his because I couldn't keep from laughing when he was searching right where it was and couldn't see it.  And then Ethan.  After 45 minutes, Todd started doing the cold/hot game with him until he found it.  Until he looked UP!  Suspended 15 feet in the air up in the skylight.  

 It was pretty much epic.

Todd got it down with the ladder.  It was really fun and funny.  And just made us all happy.  Awesome Easter Bunny!

 Happy Easter Week 2018!

 Then, for FHE we dyed Easter eggs.

 Oliver loved it

 And they turned out very cute.  Todd and Madeline and me are the only ones that like eggs, so we better eat a lot fast!  lol

The Little Boys

I tend to call Ethan and Madeline "the kids" and Cooper and Oliver "the little boys".  Not sure when that started, but it sort of stuck.  Someday, they won't be little though.  But for now, they are the little boys.  And they sure are cute!

I admit, Oliver is trying my patience these days.  What can I say, he IS three after all.  He tends to moan a lot and like to do things himself (very slowly) and run away when we need to load in the car for the 12th time in the day.  I can't blame him too much.  Except maybe for the moaning...I hope that's a phase!

But I love how he watches shows with his hand on his cheek!  He never moans while his show is going.  Lol!

 And I love how he plays twister too.  Finding cars the right colors and putting them on the circles.

 Oliver looked up and said, "Mom, please take a picture of me mom!"

 It's days like this when I miss him taking naps

 But then he gets all cute like and says stuff like, "Look mom, I'm drawing a truck...but, it doesn't look like a truck!"

I had fun on a date with Cooper Saturday morning.  Donuts and cinnamon rolls for breakfast is always a win.  Especially with this kiddo.  He always likes going and doing.  Which isn't really my forte.  He often says, "I'm bored" at home.  I think he'll like going to kindergarten this fall.  I'm not always fun enough for this one.

 We also went to sit in the big wooden shoe and see the fish.  He was thrilled like it was the best date ever.  It makes my heart happy when they are easy to please and filled with joy at small things.

 Cooper has been pestering me about seeing his friend Joshua for a couple weeks.  They were sick and so were we, but finally I could schedule a play date.  Cooper was SO EXCITED that he made a paper chain to count down the days until Joshua comes.  Then he added a couple more for when we go to Utah!  I love how he makes paper chains for everything!

I'm so incredibly grateful for my little boys.  I love my little boys SO MUCH!!!

Daffodils

What a lovely evening we had!  My friend told us about a place in Lynden to pick daffodils.  The field is covered in them.  It was so fun!  Todd was there too despite the lack of pictures.  We had fun delivering bouquets and now our house looks and smells like Spring!  I'm so happy to welcome Spring!

Pi Day Observed

Since we were feverish on Pi Day, we celebrated a little late.  When pie is involved, late is always better than never!  YUM!  I think this was the best cherry pie I've ever made.  Test Kitchen Cookbook wins again!

In other unrelated news, I couldn't stop laughing at what Cooper said the other morning when I asked him where his coat was.  He told me he had left it outside playing the day before.  I said something about how that was a bummer because it was probably all wet and soggy now.  To which he replied very matter-of-factly, "Mom, that's just how the story goes.  You can't change the past."  I'm not sure where he got that from, but he's wise beyond his years.  And pretty dang funny!

2018 Luck Continues

Madeline and I have the flu now too.  Not surprised at that.  But I am surprised that Oliver is still fine.  Pretty grateful.  In other related 2018 kind of news:  Our fridge door broke, I got a flat tire this week, and our furnace broke.  When the furnace broke, Ethan said, "I think I would have freaked out a few months ago at that news, but now I'm not even surprised."  At this point, I'm just laughing.  What else is there to do.  At least my 12 year old doesn't freak about stuff as much???

No one does fashion shows like Cooper:

 I tried not to fall asleep on the floor while I did puzzles with Oliver.  Because he's so cute and he said, "I wanna do puzzles with you mom.  Again and again and again.  I know where these go perfectly!"

My Bathroom

Don't you just love the green walls and the accent tiles with little blue and pink squares.  haha

 It went so great with the forest green squares on the linoleum...cough...

 It's a lot better now.  Though an entire remodel is still on the wish list.  I think losing the green made a huge improvement!

 We also replaced the faucets which were broken and worn.  It looks a lot better.

I can't do much about the floor, but at least it doesn't clash the walls anymore!  I'm glad it's done.

Stuff

I don't think the three of us have had a girls night since November!  We spent five hours together and it was really fun!  I think we all needed it.

 Oliver made Peewee a mansion on a hill and all Bandit gets is this little house.  lol

 He's always loved being in the tub

 Cooper chose cinnamon rolls for his half birthday treat.  He thinks cinnamon rolls are even better than donuts (gasp!).  One of my favorite traditions is singing half of Happy Birthday while we eat a treat of choice on half birthdays.  It always makes me giggle and it's lots of fun!

 The bad news, however, is that now Cooper is getting a fever.  I guess it's his turn for the flu...

 Oliver is still chipper and healthy though, and had fun making a rainbow with his toys on my bed.

Paint and Flu and More Wet Stuff

I am painting my bathroom.  For some reason, the ugly green just became too much for me.  I can't take it anymore!  I'm feeling so random.  I still need to take the blinds and clock off the wall...

Todd has Influenza.  And so does Ethan.  I just can hardly take the thought of all of us getting this horrible bug one by one.  I need to paint faster.  I'm still trying to get over this horrible three week cold.

Our water softener flooded our garage this week.  And Todd's truck required two more repairs since my post in January.

2018 just seems so long already...but at least my bathroom won't be green for much longer.

Swimming Lessons

Cooper started swimming lessons!  He was so excited to swim.  And even more excited when he found out his teacher is a boy.  He told me that he is tired of always having only girl teachers.  haha

 He has always been unhappy with water in his eyes.  I always blamed it on the eye surgery, but it probably doesn't have a thing to do with it.  But either way, I was proud of him for being brave, because I just wasn't sure how he'd like it.  So far, he's doing really great!

March Focus

Be kind.  Speak Kindly.  That's a great way to live after the manner of happiness.

March is Here

I can't believe it's March!  The first two months of this year were a total blur!  I think I'm ready for Spring!!!

The sun peaked out for a minute, so we went out to swing!

 Oliver has a new favorite pastime: making circles!

 Madeline and I enjoyed a date to see The Greatest Showman.  We also enjoyed pizza and brought donuts back for the whole family.  See, that way they like when we go out and leave them home.  lol.

 Cooper built a house on the toy shelf...

 Oliver always says, "I just like being with you mom."

 Ahhhh.  He's such a sweetie.

 "Homemade sandwiches for lunch today!"  Cheese and strawberries and apples on his bread.  He ate it all separate in the end.