THE END TO MARCH MADNESS..........

What a weekend of Basketball.  I cannot tell you how disappointed we were to end the fun of March Madness but I guess it has to end sometime.  I dread when basketball season is over because it is really the only sport I don't mind being on TV all the time.  Now starts golf, talk about putting a person to sleep.  Just their broadcasters and their quiet warm voices are like a bedtime story!!!  Anyway, this weekend was filled with more laughs from the kids even though the NCAA Tourney left us sad.  During Sundays game, in the first half when Terry was yelling at the TV and Coop was just staring at him, Coop turns to me and says, "I think they just need a little Pixie Dust Mom.".  I wish it were only that simple!  Coop is big on imitating things right now and acts out scenes from TV shows all the time.  It is usually hilarious.  Since I work at Farmers Insurance and they had multiple ads on during the Tourney Coop began singing the little Farmers Jingle. 

If you have never seen our ads this won't be near as funny but if you have, it's pretty cute.

Friday night as we rushed home to get dinner and watch the first game of the weekend, Raelynn decides I am working too hard.  She gets the couch set up with a pillow, blanket, bottle of water and then calls me into the living room.  She tells me to lay day and rest why she proceeds to give me a foot massage and Coop massages my head.  It was awesome, she had foot lotion and the whole thing.  It did not last near long enough but was awesome all the same. 

Saturday was house cleaning day and I confined the kids to Coop's room and told them it was the only place they could make a mess.  Some how they convinced me to let them have a carpet picnic in his room for lunch and make their own lunch.  Amazingly they did incredible.  They made sandwiches and had yogurt and fruit and they made the whole thing.  Of course they voted that I clean up after they were done but it was still nice of them to feed themselves.

Oh and you might wonder what's with their outfits?  Well apparently Coop was the prince and Raelynn the princess and these outfits seemed appropriate for that.  They did that on their own as well :) I guess they are cowgirl princess and cowboy prince!

Raelynn headed back to school this week and luckily we fell back into the schedule quite well after having a week off.  This week has been pleasantly "normal".  Soccer is starting for Raelynn on Tuesdays now but my Tuesday night meetings are over so that should be an easy transition.  Now we are just holding out for our Spring/Summer weather.  Come on Mother Nature!!!!

RAELYNN IS HOME AND EVERYTHING IS AGAIN PERFECT............

Wednesday night Raelynn got home.....finally!  There is nothing better than the HUGE hug she gives me when she returns home after being gone for awhile.  She is always smiling so big too, it is awesome.  She got home while Coop was in the bath and after we had given our hugs she quickly went in to see Coop.  It was incredible to watch them.  She sat and talked to him for 10 minutes telling him what she had done and he asked her questions about the stories she was sharing.  I just stood in the hallway in awe.  To hear them carry on such a conversation was outstanding.  As I went to bed last night and walked by her room it felt so good to know that both the kids rooms were filled and no one's bed was empty!

Today Raelynn got to visit her good friend, Paige.  They played all day.  I took a late lunch and picked her up at 3pm.  We shared some ice cream and then she hung out at my office for the rest of the day.  I think she has had a fun spring break but I also think she looks forward to a relaxing day at Mary Beth's tomorrow.  Tonight we made KU cupcakes for the game tomorrow which was fun.  The kids help make them and then frosted them themselves with a KU theme so you can imagine mess and the fun!

Tonight I went in to tell Coop goodnight after Terry had put him to bed.  As I lay my head down beside him he says "Mommy I want you to rock me."  "How do I rock you we don't have a rocking chair in here?"  I asked.  Coop positioned her arms just as you would if I were holding him with one arm under his bottom and then other holding him close across his back, "Like this Mommy and I put my head on your shoulder where it fits" he whispered.  To see his small arms and hands showing me how to hold him and then he saying he lays his head on my should where it fits really touched me because I love to "rock" him like this and he is right.....his head fits just right on my shoulder.  I swooped him up and held him just as he asked and swayed back and forth.  As I held him tight against me and felt his deformed chest and his unusual heart beat tears came to my eyes.  Every once in awhile when I am least expecting it, I am reminded of how lucky we are to have him and how special he really is and what amazingly good things he has brought to our lives.  I wanted to hold him forever but knew I couldn't.  I lay him down and he says, "Mommy I really like you."  "I love you, Cooper." "I know but I really LIKE you!" I think we tell each other we "love" each other so much that he thought telling me he "liked" me was a little more special.  Like or Love, either way there is no doubt I feel like the luckiest Mom alive!

MISSING MY SWEET PEA......

We made it back from Scott City in time to watch the Hawks which was our goal.  Chandler's birthday was good and I think she had a good time.  As you can see below Coop was having a good time and Dad......well Dad maybe was a little bored.

Chandler and her American Girl Doll from her Aunts

Wake up Dad, you are suppose to be acting like you care!

Cooper and Grandma had way too much fun with the wrapping!

Because Raelynn is on spring break this week she stayed in Scott City for a couple extra days.  I know this is good for her and me but I miss her soooooooo nuch!  She seems to be having a great time and it is giving us a little more one on one with Coop but I still can't wait for her to be back.  Coop is missing her too and they talked tonight on the phone which was pretty cute.  Coop was not happy when we left her in Scott either.  He wanted to stay too but there was no way I could do without them both. 

Raelynn and Steph text me this picture tonight while they were having dinner!

Although I am missing Raelynn terribly, Coop is keeping us well entertained.  He is helping me out a lot since Sissy is gone.  Tonight I gave him a whole package of toilet paper and asked him to go put it away.  After not hearing from him for a few minutes I decided to see how things were going.  He did eventually get the toilet paper put away!

This weekend during our travels Coop decided standing up to go potty was definitely the way to go in the public restrooms which I have to say I would agree.  At one stop, after pottying, I ask him if he is done.  He says he is, I ask if he wiped his peepee, he says

"No big boys don't wipe they shake it off."

 "What?! Who told you that?"

 "Mary Beth says you just shake it off."

 "Ok for now but we are going to check this out with your Dad and I will make a decision then."

Well come to find, after checking with Terry, he is right so I let Coop know he was allowed to "shake it off" but he still had to use the toilet paper to wipe the toilet if he gets any potty on it.  He agreed and so that is now our bathroom routine.  I am telling you.....everyone needs to have a brother growing up because coming from a family of girls there are definitely some things I missed!!!

SUPER FUN ST PATRICK'S DAY!!!!

Yesterday was a blast! We had our annual float in the St Pat's Day Parade and it was a beautiful day! We have fun every year but this year Terry and I handed out candy instead of riding and we had an awesome group of kids! It is amazing how many people fill downtown! Terry made a set of benches for our float this year which was fantastic.  He did a great job! After the parade we hit Penny Annie's for ice cream which was the perfect end to the day!

Now we are headed to Scott City for Chandler's birthday! It will be a quick trip but happy to celebrate with her!

TOO MANY LAUGHS.............

I only have a minute to post but Raelynn and Coop have said some pretty funny things in the past couple days.  Monday night we had swimming as usual.  After Raelynn got done with practice we went into the Ladies Locker Room to change.  Obviously Coop is still too little to leave alone so he comes into the locker with us.  There was another boy in there as well but he looked MUCH older to the point I am not sure that it was appropriate that he still be in the Ladies Locker Room. Raelynn got her stuff out of the locker and then I asked her to go into one of the bathroom stalls to change because I did not think it was appropriate for her to change in front of this boy that was in there.  She didn't even ask why and just headed in to change.  Cooper on the other had says, "Does Sissy have to go in there to change so I won't see her boobs?"  The entire locker room cracked up.  I told him I just thought she should change in there and not in front of everyone out here.  Coop replies, "Oh I was going to tell you I have seen her boobs before and they are just small like mine but they will get big like yours when she gets bigger."  I am so glad he is already tuned into the whole breast thing!  However, I did appreciate that he referred to mine as "big" :)!

Yesterday after school Raelynn, out of the blue, states "Mom, we have been so busy and Cooper will be starting preschool soon and I haven't had time to train him."  I couldn't resist, I had to ask, "Train him to do what?"  "I have to train him not to be so ornery Mom!  He is going to have a lot of problems if he doesn't learn to be not so ornery."  I agreed and and then she says, "I think maybe we will set aside some time each night to work on it why I do my homework.  Do you think we will have enough time before he goes to school?" She is already looking after her little brother.  I just hope he is not as much of a problem as she seems to think he is!

Last night was Raelynn's first Music Program.  It was awesome.  My wonderful friend/coworker, Valerie came to watch as well since Raelynn requested that someone "special" come to watch.  I guess Mom, Dad and Coop are just not "special" enough!  It was great and she did a wonderful job!!!



Mrs. Moring (taken by Raelynn)



Raelynn and her best friend Hayden