This weekend was our annual visit to Schaake's Pumpkin Patch and Birthday Celebration. We always have so much fun. Saturday morning we went to Raelynn's soccer game bright and early. It was a very special game for her because everyone in the family was there including Mary Beth and Grandma Karen! Raelynn did a good job of staying focused on her game though. Then Saturday afternoon we headed to the pumpkin patch. It is always a great time and this year was no different.
Raelynn and Daddy got to visit the pumpkin patch on Thursday for Raelynn's first field trip. They had a great time and Raelynn even got to eat lunch with Daddy and where else besides McDonalds!
Tonight for our special Friday Night out we went downtown to Sylas & Maddy's. They make every kind of homemade ice cream imaginable. IT WAS DELICIOUS!
So now on to some more fun. My family gets in tonight and then off to the pumpkin patch again tomorrow!
A little Coop update.....we took Coop in for a weight check on Thursday and he had gained almost an entire pound. He now weights 26lbs. I was so excited as was everyone else. I dropped Coop back off at Mary Beth's and all the kids were eating. I sat Coop down and Karen placed his plate in front of him. I looked at the plate with as much food as the other kids. I asked if he eats all that? They said he did and does so without hesitation and eats about as quickly as the other kids. I was super happy he ate there but a little frustrated that they can get him to eat all that yet at home he eats about half that as long as I am bribing him with his "Puppy Cheetos". So Friday night we got home after having a wonderful night out together having a little cookie treat at Colossal Cookies and they fun at the Toy Store. I got the kids dinner ready and as always Coop states that he wants "Puppy Cheetos". I let him know we are not having Cheetos and he needs to eat. As always he tells me, "me not eat, I want puppy Cheetos!" Well let's see, for months I have been too scared that Coop may loose an ounce if I deny him anything and therefore he has gotten away with deciding when, how and what he ate, but not anymore. Now I know how much he eats during the day and I know that he is gaining weight so now I take the control back! I looked right at him and said, "Coop, I know you eat and Mary Beth's and you are getting bigger now so we play by my rules now, you eat what is set before you or you don't eat, it's that simple." Coop began to pout and said he was done. Raelynn simply said, "Uh oh Cooper." So Friday night Coop ate nothing and for the first time was denied a bedtime snack. Then Saturday rolled around. We sat down to eat lunch and Cooper ate 8 chicken fingers (kind of like chicken nuggets) this was 4 more than Raelynn ate. He did not once ask for a "puppy Cheetos" and never once complained. He has ate and ate and ate since then. So I guess my little boy is not quite at stubborn as he wanted me to think he was. Thank Goodness! Honestly, had he held out I would have probably given in but that is my little secret!
Our weekend was full of birthday parties. Raelynn had friends birthdays on Saturday and then our good friends and neighbors party today. It was definitely a lot of fun.
I am walking into Raelynn's room this evening as she is turning down her bed. Constantly there are hundreds of thoughts in my head at one time and I say to Raelynn as she is turning down her bed and getting ready for her bedtime story, "Please lay out your clothes tomorrow." She says, "I will". She barely gets that out of her mouth and I say "What do you want for breakfast in the morning? Remember you need eat faster in morning than you did today, did you get your papers out of your backpack?" Raelynn looks at me in disgust, "Jeez Mom there is only one of me!" Classic! I say this to her and Cooper quite often. I laughed hard and told her she was right I would let her answer one question at a time. She then says without missing a beat....."eggs, sausage and water....I will.....and yes". (Reference my long list of questions above)
Equally cute as Raelynn was Cooper. We had ran errands after work and got home a little late. We were rushing around to get dinner and bathes. Coop was bathed and getting ready to watch Berenstain Bears as they did every night before bed. I was cleaning up the kitchen and trying to get things put away and straitened up. Coop runs into the kitchen and says, "Mommy you watch bears with me!" My heart melted because generally from 8 to 8:30 regardless what needs done Terry and I stop to sit and watch the Bears with the kids. To recognize that it really meant something to Cooper was awesome. Thank goodness my Mom has reminded me many times to appreciate the time with them and remember the mess or other things we have to do will be there when we get to them. I dropped everything and swooped Coop up in my arms and spent the next half hour cuddling with him and watching Bears, definitely the best 30 minutes of my day!
Sunday we were eating dinner and talking about our day and the week to come. Terry had went to a visitation for a friend's father that had passed earlier in the day. We were talking about it and Raelynn asked if he was old. Terry said he was and our conversation went on to recognize those in our family that had passed away. Raelynn then says, "Aunt Sherri will die before you because she is older." I said, "yes maybe but anyone can die anytime regardless how old they are. People die from accidents and diseases and lots of things." "Like Cancer." Raelynn replies. "Yes, like cancer." I confirm. Then my 5 year old explains, "Well you know our bodies are like a flower garden with lots of flowers and the cancer is like weeds. Weeds are really hard to get rid of and sometimes the weeds take over the pretty flower garden." In complete awe Terry and I just look at each other and then at her. "That is a perfect analogy Raelynn." To which she replies, "yea I saw it on Arthur, it helps kids understand things a little better." As Terry said, I think Arthur could help some adults understand things a little better too. Anyway, yesterday when I picked her up from school she asks if I remember Marty's Dad, a friend of ours who had died from cancer. "Of course I remember him" I replied. "Well do you think Marty has watched Arthur and knows about the flower garden?" "I don't know Raelynn but I am sure that he understands his Dad had cancer." "I know he is bigger so he knows about that stuff but he needs to know his Dad was a beautiful flower garden and it was just the weeds he couldn't help it." I told her I thought he knew but part of me almost wanted to let her tell him on the slim chance that he did blame his Dad just a little for leaving. Once again her perspective on things amazes me. I continue to learn from her and with her.
In addition to an enlightening conversation at dinner, we also discovered Coop loves meatloaf. He just ate and ate and ate it. Of course dipped in ketchup but he thought it was Yummy! Terry said he thought we might be eating a lot more meatloaf and I think he is right!
Coop will go in for a weight check on Thursday, we are very anxious to see if he has gained but at this point I am not worried at all. He is eating at Mary Beth's like crazy and here he eats well too other than he knows we have Puppy Cheetos (Puffy Cheetos) and would rather eat them then anything else. Luckily we ran out tonight and I don't think they will be going on the shopping list anytime too soon!
