GREAT NIGHT..........

Awe, it is finally warming up!  Tonight was awesome.  First, we didn't have to rush anywhere and were actually able to get home, cook dinner and enjoy a glass of wine :)  The best part was why I was making dinner, Terry and Coop were out playing basketball.  Coop got a basketball goal for Christmas and hasn't really been able to use it.  It doesn't go as low as Terry and I had hoped and when they first got out there Terry told Coop to keep trying as he tried to get the ball to the goal.  He told him by the end of the summer he would get it there if he kept working.  After a little while and with a few pointers from Dad and determination by Cooper, he was scoring before dinner was ready!  It is going to be a great summer.  We also prepared to enroll our sweet little boy in T-Ball today.  He has to "play up" a year which is allowed here because they don't allow them technically to play until the summer of their Kindergarten year.  Coop has no concept of being small or not as good as the bigger kids so he is not intimidated at all.  He loves baseball and can't wait to play.  It will be fun to watch him but our summer is shaping up to be a busy one.  With Raelynn practicing her horse shows and racing 2X per week and shows on Saturdays and Sundays, Coop with soccer practice on Thursdays and games on Saturday and now Tball practice 1x per week and games on Saturday it might be a little tricky.  I am just grateful that Terry and I aren't out numbered because I am sure I would need to clone myself if that were the case.

Today when I picked Coop up from preschool there was still quite a chill in the air.  As we got in the car I made the comment that I was cold.  Coop said, "I'm cold too.  I'm glad I didn't get to go out to recess because I would have been cold."  I have learned with Coop to pick up on what is NOT said as much as to listen to what is.  I asked him why he didn't get to go to recess.  He paused a moment and said "Ooooohhhhh, weeeelllll, .............." and then went into this story about wrestling and chasing fake leprechauns and stomping on the little ones and on and on and on.  Summarizing things I clarified with him that basically he got in trouble and therefore didn't get to go out to recess.  He then back pedalled a little saying he just had to stay in for a little while and when he realized I was not any happier by that he went on to tell me he only had to stay in 1 minute.  He again saw no softening in my "look" so then continued....."well I was sooooo cold and it was cold outside so I just did that so I wouldn't have to go outside."  He was quite pleased with this version of the story and even repeated it as to confirm that is what really happened.  I asked him, "So you want me to believe that you got in trouble on purpose so you wouldn't have to go outside because you were cold?"  To which Cooper replied with caution, "well it was cold outside."  It is really hard not to laugh and really hard not to dread the trouble that boy is going to be in.  He knew he was not convincing me of his latest version of the story so he then pulled out all the stops and as I turned back around to begin driving he said, "Mommy?"  "Yes Cooper?"  "I really love you!"  And there it was, his "out".  I simply said, "I love you too Cooper and I will love you when you are writing your apology note to your teachers for not listening."  And with that he knew the conversation was over and this one he had lost!  However, as I drove with a smile on my face, I really knew we had both won because I had made it through it without laughing or letting him know that I was quite amused and he had learned that once again Mom always knows the truth!!!

Raelynn's last night of karate was Monday night.  She actually was really starting to get it and I think even like it a little :)

Maybe we will try it again in the fall!

LONELY WEEKEND.......

Well we survived Monday!  Yea!  But after a lonely weekend, Monday was nothing!  Unbelievably I allowed Cooper to take a road trip without us.  We have been trying to get down to visit our good friends that moved to Tulsa last year but we have yet to make it.   Coop misses his buddy and so when the opportunity arose for him to make the trip, I couldn’t help but let him go.  Kelly’s sister, Steph, was going down to visit and Kaden has a birthday coming up this week so Coop went with her.  They left early afternoon on Friday and got back Sunday evening.  It was by far the longest couple of days I have had in awhile!!!  Kelly and Steph were awesome thought and kept me updated with pictures and texts each day.  Coop says he missed us but when Raelynn asked who he missed the most, he said it was Sissy!  And when Coop and Steph got back into town, Coop wanted to go to her house and live with her.  He said we could just get another boy and name him Cooper!  Boy was I feeling the love L!  When I was snuggling with him at bedtime I asked him if he missed me just a little and he said he missed his whole family even Poho so I guess I will believe him but there is no question we have an independent boy! 

On top of Coop being gone, Raelynn had a sleep over on Saturday night and left about 4pm and I didn't pick her up until noon on Sunday.  So needless to say with both kids gone it was a long and boring weekend! Terry got some work on the basement done though and I got a manicure and watched one of Raelynn's friends at her gymnastics competition which was fun!  Friday night though Raelynn and I were on a movie watching marathon!

EMOTIONAL WEEKEND.........

If you have followed my blog for any time at all you probably know that I treat this blog as my journal. I started this blog after being encouraged to do so by Tom when we found out about Coop's heart defects.  He said it would be a good way to keep everyone up to date.  I thought it was a great idea but it turned into so much more.  At the end of every year, I use a program that converts my blog into a hard back book and I order one for each of the kids.  My idea is that when the kids are older and raising families of their own or if should something happen to me, they will have a journal of everything we did, the thoughts I had and so much more.  That is why I often write with so much description because I want them to know and understand what they mean to me.  Both the kids know that I blog and have even been known to request certain embarrassing situation not be discussed on the blog, and they glance at the books when they come in so today when Raelynn and I stood in line at the grocery store and overheard two ladies talking and one of the ladies was very vocal about how "stupid" it was to waste your time blogging, Raelynn was very offended.  "Why did that lady say blogging was the "st" word?  (We don't say stupid :) )  I smiled and said, "because apparently she does not see the importance of it?" Raelynn gave her best disgusted look and in her most sassy voice said, "Well I guess she doesn't love her kids!"  I couldn't help but laugh and explained that not everyone used the blog the way I did but it sure did make me feel good that she recognized the reason I do.

Saturday morning was amazing! Cooper's Cause Foundation had the annual Presentation of Funds for 4 great families and awarded a total of $25,500!  This was our largest funding year and brought our totals to 11 families, $52,500 in just 4 years!  I cannot tell you how wonderful presenting the funds to these families is.  It's not how the families react to us and the foundation, but rather knowing that we are actually helping them in a big way and knowing that we just passed on a little of love that has been given to us.  It is really hard to explain how this day always makes me feel and as the kids get older and become more involved and understand the whole concept better, it just gets more emotional and more important to me.  The truth is the foundation has given our family more than we will ever be able to give back!  

After the presentation we headed to Coop's last soccer game of the season.  Thanks to some great friends who picked him up from the presentation, he was able to make it for his last game.  We made it in time to get the picture of him getting his medal :)

Saturday evening was our monthly Family Meeting.  This meeting was held at Henry T's so we got to enjoy a little dinner out along with our meeting.  We always point out things we like and things we need to improve on.  This month the things we liked  were our efforts to stay healthy and the snow days :() The things we need to work on are having healthy snacks and thinking of others before making our decisions. I love the things they come up with!  These meetings are really going well.  Our new business was focusing on planning our summer vacation so the planning has began!  This year we are headed to Colorado.  Last year we had to delay this destination but this year nothing is stopping us!

As most know, the subject of death is a very open subject in our house and discussed with no hesitation.  We have always felt it is important to be open with the kids considering the struggles we have had with Coop.  On Saturday at one point in the afternoon Coop said, "Mom do you know you can die in a car accident?"  I acknowledged that I did but inquired why he asked.  "I saw on a show that you can die in a car accident."  Now I don't know where this all came from because at this point we got a little sidetracked.  Raelynn piped in, "Mom, I'm torn because if I die everything is good in heaven with God but I think I would miss being here with my family."  I smiled and said, "I think a lot of people are torn about this but the good thing is we don't chose when we die, God does."  Raelynn laughed and said that was a really good thing to which Cooper responded, "yea that is really good and I am really glad God has chose for me not to die yet and just keeps fixing my heart." "Me too Coop" Raelynn said and off they both ran laughing and playing.  These are the times I am so thankful the kids cannot read what is in my mind or feel the lump in my throat or the knot in my stomach or the fear I push so deep because I love their lack of fear of death and their innocents in discussing it.  I hope they can always hold on to their strength!

Today we heard this morning that my uncle is in the ICU with pneumoniaa and is not doing well.  After church I told Raelynn about it and we discussed pneumoniaa was and so forth.  It was later this afternoon that I had picked up my phone when I heard a text from my Mom with an update.  While I had my phone I checked my email and there was an email from Raelynn.  Now first let me clarify that she does have an email but it is only used between she and those I have chose her to communicate with and it is all ran through my iCloud so I see all emails that come and go from her account.....Anyway..... this is only the 2nd email I have received from her in the 3 months she has had it so I quickly clicked on it to see why she was emailing me when we had been together all day.  The email is posted below:

Sometimes I Whisper

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
—Psalm 46:1

Sent from my iPod

Tears came to my eyes and I couldn't help forwarding it to my family.  How appropriate and how scary that my 7 year old was schooling me on scripture when it was just what I needed as I worried about my uncle and my Mom.  After a while and after I could be sure I wouldn't cry, I asked her why she sent it.  She was very casual and just said, "Oh I get those all the time from my devotional app and like that one and thought you could use that today."  I thanked her and just walked away in amazement.

Her encouragement was also present on Friday.  After a trying day and week in general, Raelynn brought this home to me on Friday.  

So here we are, another wonderful week ahead of us and I am approaching it with a new revitalized attitude.  We are all so fortunate to be given the beautiful gifts we have and just need to remember to take time to appreciate them!

MORE SNOW!?

More snow, more snow days, more fun.....that pretty much wraps up the last few days.  Last Friday Raelynn came to work with me.  She spent the whole day reading, playing the computer, watching movies and drawing.  She really is so good at my office but when the day was over and I asked her how it was her response was BORING B-O-R-I-N-G!  Gotta love it when they learn to spell :)

Friday was also Poho's birthday.  He is 10 years old and the kids made a special cake for him.....

Saturday after soccer friends invited Raelynn and Cooper to spend the night and of course they were super excited to do so.  We postponed our Family Meeting Night for another week and the kids were off.  I love the relationship the kids have with these friends.  It originated with Raelynn and her friend who happens to have a brother on Coop's soccer team that is his age.  So the kids all have became great friends and their parents are fabulous.  They hold many of the same values we do and are just wonderful and fun to be with.  I have mentioned often how it is amazing how our kids have been drawn to other kids whose families we have became friends with.  I never realized how our kids would be such a center point of our friendships but I feel so fortunate that they have been.  Anyway, since the kids were gone Terry and I decided to head to the Lawrence St. Patrick's Day Parade Auction which is always a good time and sometimes even too good :)  Terry left me alone for about 10 minutes and when he returned we had purchased a pop-a-shot.  I really had wanted it but completely unnecessary.  I was a little worried when Terry told me it would never fit in the basement and even more concerned when he asked how we were going to get it home.  Fortunately it broke down and even better it did fit in the basement.  When they kids returned home Sunday, the were super excited at our purchase!

Monday rolled around and with it yet another snow storm.  Yep that's right Tuesday was another snow day!!!  This time the kids were playing away and I decided to make good use of my day and repaint our bathroom, a project I had been trying to do for 2 or 3 weeks.  So the bathroom got painted and the kids had another great day in the snow.

Finally all of the snow has fallen and hopefully that is all for awhile.  The week has seemed a little weird and unstructured but tomorrow is already Friday.  Saturday we are presenting the funds to the 4 families the Cooper's Cause Foundation funded this year.  We awarded $25,500, our biggest funding year yet!!!  It is really hard to describe the feeling I get when we help these families.  It is so satisfying and emotional and exciting!!!  I love the foundation, what it does and even what it has done for us.  My kids understand the concept of giving and helping others and seem to genuinely get what it is all about. To hear Coop talk about his heart surgeries and his foundation is so touching and heart warming.  It is by far one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.  There is no doubt that our family has received more from the foundation than we can ever give back.  We are the most blessed family and I never ever forget that!  With the help of my knew right hand who has came on board with the foundation, I am for the first time really enjoying things.  With her extra help, I am actually able to breathe and not feel like I am constantly behind.  I am so pleased with what she is doing and constantly tell her she is the newest angel in our lives!  So Saturday will be a big day and so much fun and I will definitely be posting again then!!!

SNOW, SNOW, SNOW......

What a day!  It snowed about 10" here and last I looked still snowing.  I woke up this morning at 4am like usual, looked out and hardly a speck of snow.  School had already been called off and I had a test for work scheduled in Topeka.  I laid back down just to process how the day was going to go with the kids out of school and me gone for the afternoon.  The next time I woke up was 5:40am and it was snowing.  I sprang up, changed and headed to the gym.  By the time I headed back home at 7am it was coming down hard.  I called the testing sight in Topeka and thankfully they were closing at noon and my test was scheduled for 1pm so I was off the hook there.  Then Tom text encouraging me to stay home and after a little argument and his reassurance that he was leaving early too, I stayed.  The kids were ecstatic!!!  A snow day for all three of us never happens.  The kids started the day with pj's and TV.  They played and played and never left each other's side.

I achieved a few things and then believe it or not I headed out this afternoon with the kids to play.  It was pretty fun actually.  I usually watch from the warmth of the house but today I just couldn't let them play without me.

I was the first to freeze out and head inside, next to follow was Raelynn but Coop played until dark.
He had sooooo much fun.  As Terry scooped the driveway and built up snow on the edges Coop discovered they made great sledding hills.  Apparently his first run he actually went down the hill, across the driveway and right under the truck.  Terry said he just laid back and went right under and arose on the other side with a smile on his face.  He challenged Terry that he was going to sled right off the rock wall but Terry persuade him otherwise.

As ornery as he is, he is also a very sweet boy.  Last night he asked if I would give him a fast bath which he does when he just wants to get in and out with no play time.  I agreed as we were running late from Karate.  I washed his hair and then reached for his body wash.  He asked if I would use my body wash instead.  I said sure and asked him if he liked mine better.  He said, "No I just smell like you so when I sleep its like I am snuggling with you."  Then he flashed me that sweet smile.  I am telling you that is one boy who is going to melt some girls heart some day.  Today when he came in side from playing in the snow he was so cold.  I helped him get some warm pj's on and then he said, "I could sure use some hot cocoa Mommy."  He ended his request  by saying, "but after I give you one of my soft kisses!"  I always tell him when he gives me a kiss on the cheek that I love his soft kisses so he knew just what to do to get his hot cocoa!

Tonight as I downloaded pics from the day, I found these on my computer.  I guess while Coop was outside playing and I was finishing the laundry, someone was playing with Photo Booth!

Tomorrow is another snow day but I assume 2 snow days for me is pushing it so it is also take your kid to work day.  :)