OUR LITTLE COMPUTER GEEK!!!

Coop just gets cuter and cuter everyday. Aunt Karli and I were in the kitchen talking away and Coop much have decided he needed some computer time because he snatched Aunt Karli's and kept himself busy!

THE CALM AFTER THE STORM..............

So the Cooper's Cause Foundation 4th Annual 5K has passed and it was a great success!  We had an increase in participants, sponsorship and fun!  When I sit back and think about what the foundation is doing and how many people are helping, I can hardly believe it.  It is absolutely amazing to me what it has become.  I sometimes think about what Cooper will think of the foundation and whether he will find it as wonderful as we do.  Watching Raelynn and her will to do charitable acts gives me hope that Cooper too will see how important it is to give back to those who helped us and to give to those who are not as fortunate as we are.  Raelynn recently opened her own charitable account at the bank and named it, Raelynn Cares.  She saved up $100 and opened the account.  She is saving to adopt a family for Christmas which was entirely her idea.  She heard about it last Christmas and insisted that she wanted to save for this year.  So save she has.  Anyway, I want my kids to understand and cherish the importance of doing things for others.  I used to think it was important to do for others with no benefit to yourself but I have found that those two concepts are impossibly connected because when you do for others there is no possible way to not benefit yourself.  That was never our intention, to benefit ourselves, but when I see families we have helped or see families that have been affected by little ones with heart defects I cannot help but feel proud and happy and love so I benefit without even intending too.  Anyway, every event just re-energizes me to push harder and raise more money.  I always stop after every large project and set new goals that focus on what I could do better for the next project in life whether that project be a small one or another large one.  I focus my goals on family, faith and professional.  So with new goals set, I am on to the next project which encompasses October through January.  It should be another exciting quarter!

Coop got a little bashful as everyone cheered him on in the Raelynn's Rock Star Run

Who knew Raelynn could run!

The kids are doing great.  They both LOVE school which makes our lives super easy.  Each night I have both Raelynn and Coop sit and work on homework for 15 to 20 minutes.  If they don't have any we take some out of some workbooks I had picked up at Sam's Club for preschool and K-2nd Grade.  The idea is just to develop good study habits.  It is funny to watch them as they are such a distraction to one another.  Raelynn is constantly trying to tell Coop how to do his homework and Coop is constantly trying to write on Raelynn's homework.  I know I shouldn't enjoy watching them pick on each other but I love it.  They generally get along so well that when they don't I find it a little fun.  Last night we had nothing going on so we came home right after work which we don't get to do very often.  The kids played on their scooters for awhile and then we came inside.  The kids took their shoes off and headed back to their rooms to put them away.  Raelynn was slightly in front of Coop.  Raelynn said something and Coop copied her.  "Cooper quit copying me!" Raelynn replied to which Coop of course said, "Cooper Quit copying me!"  Raelynn gave one last shout, "Cooper I said to stop copying me!"  With a giggle Coop mimicked, "Cooper I said to stop copying me!"  Then I hear both pairs of shoes hit the floor and Coop scream as Raelynn turned around to chase him.  She chased him all around the house while the two of them giggled so hard.  Terry and I were laughing as well.  Terry said they reminded him so much of he and Gary and I too could relate.  We cheered them on until they were both exhausted.  It was an all around fun, relaxing and wonderful evening at home. 

This week seems so low key compared to the past month or two so I plan to do some catch up work and hopefully soon feel like I am back on top of everything just in time to start the holiday craziness if that is even possible already!!!! 

FUN TIMES............

It seems like it has been so long since my last post!  Last Saturday was a crazy busy day but a lot of fun.  We started the morning with Raelynn's Soccer Game.  She loves soccer but this year they plan on a much bigger field and well, my daughter is not in very good shape :)  The girls are exhausted by the end of the game.  After that some friends and Aunt Karli joined us and we headed down town for the Band Day Parade. 

It was pretty fun but the highlight was definitely visiting 3 Spoons afterwards!  Then it was back home to eat a bite and then off to the football game.  We try to get the kids to a couple games of each sport every year.  The older the kids get the more fun it is.  We were kind of split up this time with Raelynn and I a few rows in front of Karli and Coop and then a few more rows from Terry.  It was no big deal to be split up but it really turned out to be pretty fun.  Raelynn and I talked a lot about the rules of the game and what was going on.  I know the fact that I was educating our daughter on football terrifies Terry but we had this wonderful older couple next to us who filled in all the gaps.  The kids were absolutely exhausted when we got home but had a great time!

Sunday was the 10th Anniversary of 9/11 of course.  On the way to church I talked to Raelynn and Cooper about what 9/11 was and what it means today.  As I began to describe what happened on 9/11 Raelynn took over and explained to Coop what happened.  As she finished up what she knew I asked her if they had been talking about it at school because she seemed to know much more than I thought she would.  She replied, "No , I saw it this morning on CNN."  CNN at age 6? I am not sure how I feel about that but at that particular time I was really pretty proud of what she knew.

The rest of the week flew by.  On Thursday morning Raelynn left with Aunt Bonnie to the State Fair.  I cried for 30 minutes after dropping her off!  I knew she would be fine but it still tugs at my heart.  She had an amazing time!  She returned Saturday night and was all smiles.  Other than being a little cold, she had a great time.  Besides the excitement of Raelynn returning on Saturday we also had so much fun wedding dress shopping with Steph.  The bridesmaids and mothers joined Steph in KC for some shopping.  She found a BEAUTIFUL dress and had a great time.  We also got the bridesmaids dresses so it turned out to be a very successful day.  It is so much fun watching her prepare for her wedding.  I get so excited thinking about this next stage of life because I know how great it can be.  I can't wait for her to experience it too. 

Next weekend is the CCF 5K!  I hope anyone in the area can make it.  We have some sort of media coverage everyday this week except Wednesday.  I hope this gets the word out for participants as well as letting people know we will begin taking applications for funding next month.  This is all so exciting and so unbelievably rewarding!  I don't know that I could be any more fortunate than I already am being given the opportunity to help so families just like ours!  

I HAVE A BORING JOB AND I AM A BAD COOK :)..............

Every year Terry's niece, Wendi, and her husband have a huge party with wonderful food and fun bands.  So Sunday night we all headed out to their farm in Oskaloosa.  We had to drag the kids away as they were having too much fun dancing to the band.  The pics are pretty dark but I think you will get the idea!  They both dance better than either Terry or I!

My 6 year old has a HUGE sense of humor and thank goodness so do I.  On Tuesday Raelynn did not have school nor did they have Boys and Girls Club so Raelynn spent the morning with me at work until Aunt Karli finished classes at college and then she came and picked her up around 11am.  Raelynn did fantastic at work.  She wrote in her journal and played her DSi and was just fantastic letting me work which was good because I was swamped.  Anyway, the phone was literally ringing non stop.  At one point I had just hung up the phone and it rang again.  Raelynn says, "Jeez People!  Give my Mom a break!"  I giggled as I answered the phone.  Once I was finished with the call Raelynn says, I swear this is exactly what she said, "Is this what you do all day, listen to people and take care of their needs?"  "Well pretty much!" I responded.  She decided being in the insurance business was not really for her!  After a bit she says, "Mom are you bored?"  "No, why, are you?"  "Uh yea like 2 hours ago!"  Good thing Aunt Karli was on her way!  I actually really enjoyed having her there for a few little chuckles throughout an insane morning.

The rest of the week went as most weeks do, fun but busy.  Then last night Raelynn decided to inform me that I am a bad cook.  She has gotten to be a pretty picky eater and does not care for meat of any kind.  Every night I cook a homemade meal for us all to sit and eat together.  Last night we are eating and Terry or I commented that Coop was a good eater and that Raelynn used to be.  Terry says to her that she used to try everything.  Raelynn responds that she always tried everything at Mary Beth's.  That started a whole conversation about how Grandma Karen at Mary Beth's is a good cook and makes everything from scratch.  When I pointed out that I too made things from scratch Raelynn responds, "No you use a recipe, Grandma Karen doesn't need a recipe she just knows how to make things!"  So basically my daughter let me know that my cooking stinks and considering I don't really like cooking but do it almost every single night, I took the comments pretty hard.  I am only kidding, it was all in good fun and Raelynn knew exactly what buttons she was pushing!  I shared the story with Karen this morning when I dropped Coop off and she could only laugh and remind me that she has had many years of practice!  However, I am pretty sure I will never compare no matter how many years I pactice! :)

There are so many things that we try to teach the kids and set good examples but you always wonder if it is really sinking in.  Last night on our way home from school Raelynn says, "Mom, John (I changed the kids name :) ) doesn't believe in God, can you imagine not believing in God?!"  I let her know that there were always going to be people that don't believe the same things she does but she needed to just stand strong in her beliefs.  She responds, "Well I told him he should believe in God because God believed in him and he just needed to have faith."  I was a little taken back by this very mature response so I asked her if she knew what it meant to have faith.  She says, "yea it means you believe it in your heart and you can't really see it but you can feel it and so you know its real."  I told her I was very proud of her and God would be proud too.  Then she says, "Mom what will happen to John when he dies if he doesn't believe in God".  Oh boy, I wasn't really ready for that one so I took a deep breath and I said, "well honey, those that don't believe in God spend eternity which means forever even after they die with the devil in a very sad place."  Raelynn looks at me with her big brown eyes filled with tears and says, "that's awful, I will talk to John tomorrow, can you imagine never getting be in heaven!"  By this time there are tears in my eyes and all I can do is look at her in awe, I cannot imagine having the maturity and confidence that she has at 6. 

So we started our weekend out right just chillin' at home tonight.  The kids started playing Mario Cart on the Wii and got in full gear for their race.  Lots more fun to come.....

ALL SCHOOL PARK DAY FOR COOP!

Today was all school park day at Coop's Preschool.  This is a day that the entire preschool gets to spend the morning at the park with their parents.  It is a time meant to let the families get to know each other.  I never got to go when Raelynn was in school and it was no different with Coop.  Fortunately Terry worked things out so he could take him.  It is a fun day for them and Terry was able to meet a couple of the parents I have been looking forward to meeting :)

Both of the kids were pretty tired this morning after spending Thursday evening with friends at the KU Pep Rally.  We have such awesome friends to take the kids to the Pep Rally, McDonald's and then to their house to play while Terry and I attended curriculum night at Raelynn's school.  When I was putting Coop to bed I asked him if he had fun.  He responded, "Oh we had sooo much fun we almost exploded!"  Now that's some fun!  Anyway, while the kids were having a fantastic time Terry and I got to hear from Raelynn's teacher about her plans for the year.  I am more than pleased with her focus on reading and math and cannot wait to watch Raelynn develop.  We are only a few weeks into school and Raelynn is already reading more than I have ever seen her and she writes me messages and notes everywhere.  They are not often spelled correctly but phonetically she is doing amazing.  She is also understanding math better than I ever did at her age and I really liked math.  She is teaching Coop as well.  Tonight As I was making dinner they were having a little snack of veggie sticks.  As they ate Raelynn asked Coop, "Ok if you have 6 veggie sticks and I take 2 away how many do you have?"  Coop did not even pause and responded "4!"  Then he says to Raelynn, "If I have 8 veggie sticks and I eat 3"......he precedes to eat 3 of Raelynn's veggie sticks......"how many are left?"  Raelynn turns to me, "Mom!  Coop ate my veggie sticks!"  Coop defends himself by saying, "well I was just helping her learn math!"  Never mind the big smile he has on his face!!!  I couldn't help but laugh and neither could Raelynn.  So she reaches over and takes Coop's bowl with his veggie sticks and says, "Well I am just helping you learn discipline!"  As I laughed I decided enough was enough and took everyone's veggie sticks and even though they were frustrated I was cracking up inside!

So the perfect start to a perfectly wonderful long weekend!