SO TIRED..........

Last night the kids were in bed by 7:30pm and fast asleep by 7:45pm!  That is just how crazy our weekend was.  It started off a little crazy with 2 calls from the school concerning Coop.  He was complaining about chest pain and since this is all new to them they called which I so appreciate.  Coop looked fine but said his chest really hurt.  Before the day was over and after a few trips to the school we ended up at the doctor's office.  It turns out Coop is growing, yay, but his chest cavity is expanding and with all of his surgeries and such it is painful.  It is also possible some of his new activities such as swinging on the monkey bars is also part of the cause o the pain.  Besides pain, though, he is in nor harm.  Therefore, we talked with him, explained what it was and what was causing it and told him it was yet another thing he would need to learn to deal with.  His response, "Ok."  He made us chuckle too as he took Dr. Kelley's stethoscope and looked at Dr. Kelley and said, "Tell me your concerns?"  It was hilarious.

After all that excitement we took the kids to the rodeo with Aunt Steph, Uncle Cody, Aunt Bonnie and a few cousins.  It was a fun, but late night.  Saturday we had a birthday party and then the kids had a sleep over which equals another late night.  After church Sunday we headed to the pool.  By 7:30pm the kids were more than ready for bed.  Hopefully, after a few good nights of sleep they will be ready for another weekend!  As for me, I am exhausted tonight so off to bed it is!

NO LONGER NEEDED BUT STILL LOVED........

We have spent 5 years loving and nurturing Cooper.  We have spent 5 years praying that he will survive.  We have spent 5 years spending every second of every day cherishing everything he throws our way.  Now, in just 5 days Cooper has became independent, self sufficient and in complete control!!!  I think we may have done our job too well!  As most of you know Coop started Kindergarten last Thursday.  It was like an introduction day and some of the Kindergartners went on Thursday and others on Friday.  So this week is really their first week of school.  On Monday morning we started our new school year routine and both Raelynn and Cooper did fantastic.  They were even ready early!!!  We headed to school at 7:20am as we will every day.  I volunteer at the school and read to the K-3rd Grade in the gym before school starts at 7:50am.  The first week of school is always crazy because the Kindergartners are just learning the ropes.  This year there are sooooo many of them, 5 classes to be exact.  I expected things to be hectic and I was not disappointed.  Of course, because Coop had been with us in the gym in the years past from time to time he knew how things worked.  When I called for Kindergarten to line up he did just as he should.  Coop also knew where his classroom was and who his teacher is which again is mostly because he has been around the school.  Anyway, when I dismissed everyone I had a handful of kids that had no idea who their teacher was let alone where the room was.  by 8:10am I had finally delivered the last of them to their proper destination.  I then went to Raelynn's classroom and told her goodbye and gave her a hug and kiss because with all the chaos I had not been able to tell either of the kids goodbye when they left the gym.  Raelynn would probably have a breakdown if I failed to tell her goodbye.  She needs that hug and positive encouragement to start her day and always has.  She is a little timid at times but yet still confident but can be cautious in new situations.  Anyway, I left her smiling and headed down to tell Coop goodbye.  He came to the door of his classroom and I hugged and kissed him just as I did Raelynn.  He said, "Mom, you don't have to do that!"  I told him I didn't get to tell him goodbye and I just wanted to make sure he was starting his day off right.  He said, "There's no need to say goodbye Mom, I'll see you after school."  He patted my back as I knelt next to him and turned and walked back to his class.  I am pretty sure I did not move at all for a few seconds.  When, exactly when, did my frail sweet baby turn into this confident mature little boy?!  I got up and left knowing that he was never going to need me emotionally as much as Raelynn does.  I was a little sad but I was very proud.  He is a strong kid and I have never questioned that, I just never saw it in this light.

So Monday night came and I couldn't wait to pick the kids up.  They both once again had a wonderful day!!!  It was amazing to listen to them both talk throughout the evening about their day, school and their friends.  It was like they connected in a way they never had before even though they are super close.  It was really quite a day of observation and awe for me as I watched them both!  It is amazing what we can learn from our kids if we just take time to observe them.  I am so happy God gave us a reason to open our eyes and ears to them!!!

Tonight we had a calm night with a little snuggling.  Coop is tired.  I could tell tonight the long days, early mornings and no mid afternoon rest was going to be hard on him until he gets used to it but he is so easy even when he is exhausted.  I just reminded him that no matter how tired he was wining is never ok.  He said he knows sometimes his voice just does that.  He was so cute and I tucked him in a little earlier tonight.  Just as much as I can tell the long days are wearing on him, I can tell Raelynn is a year older.  In the past the days have been long for her and she can be a little difficult but she too has matured and seems to get things done without constant direction.  It is just so amazing to see them grow from stage to stage.  I don't think I will EVER get tired of watching them develop!  I love being a Mom, a friend, a cheerleader, a support system, a counselor and any other role I will need to play in my children's lives.  I have the best job ever!!!

FAMILY AND FUN.....

What an amazing week, weekend and life!!!  There are certain things in life that make you realize how wonderfully special like is and how much I love mine.  This past week and weekend was one of those times.  Last week started off so fun.  The kids and I had our annual before school day out.  Every year I take a day off right before school starts and we head to Kansas City for school shopping, the kids annual Build-A-Bear and just some fun time together.  This year we decided to find a fun place for lunch and we sure did.  Raelynn had heard about a restaurant where a little train delivers your food.  We googled and found Fritz”s!  It was awesome and the kids LOVED it.  It started our day out great!  We spent the rest of the afternoon shopping at the Mall.  Coop ended up with a new bear named Camo and Raelynn has Raenlynn.  All of her bears end in “lynn” just like her name!

LUNCH IS SERVED!

 The day was so much fun and just had a few complications.  I had gotten to the gym by 5am and then went home to make homemade muffins for the teachers as Monday was their first day.  I delivered them to the school by 7:30am and then went by the office to do a few things.  When I got home Raelynn had just gotten up and her eye was swollen underneath.  She thought she remembered falling out of bed so we assumed she had bumped it.  However, by 5pm when we were headed home from KC, it was even worse.  I called the doctor’s office and schedule her an appointment for Tuesday.

 So after a fun Monday the chaos began.  Tuesday the kids spent the day with Aunt Karli and caught the new move Planes.  They, of course had a great day but it was a little hectic for us.. We had a beginning of the year meeting with Raelynn teacher at 8:15am and then I was off to KC for a class for work.  Therefore, Terry had to run back home and get Raelynn for her doctors appointment at 11a.m.  It turns out she had a chigger bite!  It was crazy!  After that Karli ran around and got her medicine.  I got done with my class around 5pm and headed back so I could be at the IC Social again for the beginning of the school year.  After that we ate dinner with friends and then got ready for Raelynn’s first day of 3^rd Grade.  Unfortunately the realization of 3^rd Grade hit Raelynn about 9pm and she was in tears about having to be on the “other” end of the building with the big kids!!!  She was all the sudden so scared.  We made it through all of that and on to Wednesday.

ICE CREAM SOCIAL NIGHT!

DROPPING OFF SCHOOL SUPPLIES

COOP AND MRS HUMBURG

RAELYNN AND MRS BAILEY

 Wednesday it was up early to head to the gym and then home to make chocolate chip pancakes.  Raelynn loved them and started her day off great.  She was definitely a little apprehensive but by the time I picked her up from school she reported her first day was AWESOME!  That was music to my ears!  She loves her teacher and continues to say she is too nice to be a 3^rd Grade Teacher.  Apparently, a 3^rd Grade Teacher is suppose to be mean!  Wednesday night we made Raelynn’s dinner of choice, grilled hamburgers and hot dogs and pasta salad! Perfect end to a perfect day.

 Thursday was Coop’s first day of Kindergarten!!!  He was so excited he couldn’t even sleep on Wednesday night!  He was absolutely adorable!  He got up and got ready in no time.  It was so great to see him there in class.  He loved it and had no trouble telling us goodbye.  Terry and I did pretty good as well however I think I did see Terry shed a few tears.  I was fine until I got to my car and then the tears came running!!  I think when we start to think about where he has come from, and where he is today and it is just a little overwhelming.  I picked Coop and Raelynn up Thursday, which was a treat to pick them both up at the same place.  Coop came running with a huge smile on his face and said, “School is soooooo fun!”  Another successful day!  It was also so touching as we received emails from Coop’s pre school and preschool teacher wishing him the best for his first day of Kindergarten.  This just shows how great of people have surrounded us.  Aunt Steph also sent silly videos to the kids on their first days.  She always brings a smile to their faces and also to mine.  I love that she gets the importance of the little stuff!

 

Friday was an emotional day as it was Coop’s last day at Mary Beth and Grandma Karen’s.  His daycare has been very important to us for a lot of years.  We had bought them both these beautiful lockets and then I had written a children’s story and the kids and their Uncle Kendall had made a few pictures to go into it.  It really turned out well and when I read it to the kids Wednesday night Coop had started to cry confessing he was really going to miss Mary Beth and Grandma Karen.  It was so sweet.  Anyway, we all met at their house on Friday after work to give them their specially gifts.  They seemed to love them and we all shed a few tears.  It is so hard to think that we will not see them every morning and afternoon anymore!!!

 After that we headed to Scott City for my Grandma’s 96^th Birthday!  We were lucky enough to see so much family and even meet some we never had before.  The kids met some new cousins as well and had a wonderful time.  Grandma enjoyed her party and Sherri worked her hinny off to keep us all fed with breakfast and dinners.  It was truly a fantastic!

 

We are now headed home and organizing out week ahead!  We are all wiped out but so happy to have family and each other!!!  There were so many laughs over the past week and weekend it could last us forever but I know it wont’ have to.  Laughter is never-ending around our house.  Once morning while Coop was eating a muffin I walked in to the kitchen to see crumbs all over the floor.  I said, “Cooper, you’re making a mess!”  Coop looks down and says, “I did not do that!”  I just dropped a couple pieces and they must have had babies!”  Once again, he got himself out of trouble by making me laugh!!!  I believe it is the best medicine of all!!

COOP PREPARING FOR KINDERGARTEN........

I cannot believe I forgot to mention in my previous post about Coop's preparation for Kindergarten.  He is of course completely excited. We received a request from his teacher to complete a sheet of questions she put together about our child and then we met with her this morning and took her the sheet so she could get to know Cooper better.  Anyway, most of the questions were for us to answer about Coop but one asked what our 3 goals were for Coop this year.  As most of you know I am a big goal writer and Raelynn writes goals as well so I thought it would be perfect to ask Coop what his 3 goals were for the year.  I started him off by saying, "Maybe one of your goals would be to learn to read since you LOVE reading."  Coop agreed that this would be one of his goals.  Then I asked him to give me 2 more goals all on his own.  He thought for a minute and then he said, "I would like to learn how a clock works."  I acknowledge this goal with a smile and then asked him for one more.  With little hesitation he said, "I would really like to learn how a rolly pollie walks and how he rolls up in a ball."  I told him that was very interesting and I didn't know if rolly pollies really walked and Coop responded, "Well if I reach my goal then I will let you know!"  I just started to laugh and realized I have another smarty on my hands, bahahahaha!

SCHOOL IS COMING....

 I can hardly believe summer is coming to a close.  It hardly seems possible.  Well we survived our week without the kids.  Terry and I did what we always do to survive, we worked!  We really must learn how to enjoy ourselves that week they are gone!  The kids however had a great time.  They swam and went to the zoo and were spoiled beyond belief.  They also attended the fair there which was a huge hit for both them and Terry and I because we didn't have to go, lol!

Cassidy and Raelynn at the fair

Cassidy and Hunter

Terry and I headed out to pick them up on Friday.  It could not have came soon enough!  We also got to celebrate Hunter's 1st Birthday which was super fun.  He is adorable!

Do you think they missed their Daddy?!

Chandler and Raelynn at Hunter's Bday Party

  

Cooper and Aunt Steph

Grandma and Steph

Grandma and Mom

THE SUPER CUTE BIRTHDAY BOY!

We got back on Sunday and it wasn't long before things seemed back to normal.  I heard "Mom" about 100 times and it was complete chaos getting showers and dinner.  It was awesome!  

This week was a little crazy because we don't have daycare for Raelynn so she is being shuffled everywhere thanks to good friends and family.  Monday she spent the day with Aunt Bonnie, Tuesday she was with Aunt Bonnie again and they went to the fair in Oskaloosa.  She spent the day with friends, cousins, pigs, horses and ended it with a parade.  For Raelynn, it doesn't get any better than that.  On Wednesday Raelynn got to spend one last day and Mary Beth's before we are gone from there for good when Coop finishes next Friday.  Raelynn has looked forward to that day all summer.  She got to be their helper for a day and she loved it.  Today Karli had both of the kids.  They went bowling, played at the McDonald's Play land and chilled around the house.  Tomorrow we have no plans for her so she will start the day at least with Terry, from there who knows.  Speaking of Terry, he has been working like crazy.  He is installing flooring for his niece at night and we haven't seen him basically for 2 weeks.  Tonight, sweet Coop broke into tears at bedtime because Daddy had not been there to read his Ninja book and apparently, to my surprise, I just do not read it as well.  It was so sad.  If you know Coop you know he never cries unless his feelings are REALLY hurt or he is physically hurt.  He was trying so hard to keep it together tonight but as he started to tell me in this quiet voice the tears just ran down his face.  He is so sweet and loving and it just gave me another excuse to hold him tight and snuggle.  He settled for letting me read a Super Hero book but he was just never quite into it.  I do believe Daddy better be home by bedtime tomorrow!

Saturday Raelynn has another horse show but this time Aunt Bonnie is not going to be there.  I am in deed a little nervous but thankfully Wendi and Uncle Brian will make sure the horses are there  and we are ready to go.  Every day Raelynn's love for her horses grows and every day I become more amazed with her.  Below is a pic of Raelynn and Aunt Steph but it was so cute I just had to share.  I don't know what it is about it but it encompasses all of Raelynn and I love it!

Anyone that follows me on FB knows that one of the families that we funded for CCF this year has gone out of her way to give back to the foundation.  She is extremely talented and very creative.  She began making lockets and has donated some of her earnings to the foundation.  This is one of the beautiful lockets she made for me.  I just can't say enough nice things about her.  She is a beautiful person inside and out!  If anyone would like a custom locket please get in touch with her, belinda18@gmail.com!