daddy in heaven

Last summer I froze some fresh corn. It was a huge hit. every time I made it. I only made nine so we ate them sparingly throughout the year.

This year I froze some more corn...more than double! I have been freezing stuff with my friend and her family. When we were making the corn I was telling everyone about how much everyone loved the corn. I said that every time we had it, Andrew was in heaven. 

Cooper pondered my phrase and after a couple of seconds, with the most serious and confused face responded with:

"Daddy went to heaven?"

Since my grandfather's passing this January we've had a lot of death and heaven talks with Cooper. A concept so hard to understand. He knows heaven is where you go when you die. He was so concerned and confused about his daddy being in heaven! I had to explain it was a figure of speech. Which I'm pretty sure was a speech he understood nothing of. I just had to assure him daddy had never been to heaven.

I think I'm going to have to start making a Cooper-ism section on here. He is saying some awesome stuff lately!

abbreviate

I realized recently that Cooper likes to shorten his words.

We saw Monsters University...monkey, too! Cooper cried in a few parts, but told us he liked it when we left.

Monkey = Monk.
Pajamas = Jams
Yoshi = Yosh
Mushroom = Mush
The Ninja Turtles are Leo, Mikey, Donnie and Raph

Love to watch him sleep. This day he chose our bed as the best spot for a nap.

My new favorite was heard a few nights ago when he was done pooping and needed to be wiped. He usually yells, "Mom, I'm done!" That night it was different. From the other room I heard "Mom, I went pot."

Now we can add to the list.
Potty = Pot

Do you or your kids abbreviate anything?

He rode his bike to the playground at the school close to us. We played Mario with the rubber pieces on the ground.

Jumper Fish

Cooper started out this summer being quite timid in the pool. Fearful of letting go or being on his own, he swam in the pool with much hesitation. The more he practiced and the more experiences in a pool he had, the more comfortable he became. I was convinced he was becoming a fish.

Last week he finished his first course of swim lessons. He finished off his first round of lessons by pushing off, with his face in the water. While he improved leaps and bounds, his progress report said he lacked confidence. This weekend we helped him gain it.

After some coaxing and a lot of "come on, it's fun!" from six adults, Cooper warmed up enough to jump off the ladder!

Next, he asked me to film him jump off the side. And this is the hysterical conclusion to that request. 

Then dude got it. He jumped off the side.

Repeat this about 20 times and you have the rest of our afternoon in the pool. He even jumped off the diving board once!

He's now not just a fish, he's a jumper fish!

"Vacation"

Have you ever experienced tightness in your whole body, your mind seems jumbled, and it seems you can never overcome the words "I'm tired"?

Me, too.

The past couple of months have been crazy and my tired body and jumbled mind muttered "vacation" and screamed it loudly until I heard. I needed a vacation. A day or two where I could sleep a little and have some down time.

Let's rewind a bit. Andrew was out of town for a week. Cooper took his absence pretty hard this time around. Tired momma + tired child = a week of survival mode. We coped by visiting the pool as often as we could (vitamin D always does the trick) and trying to "go" as much as we could. If we stayed busy it helped. I also coped by entering a world of novels. I think I read about 4 while Andrew was gone.

Andrew came home. Hooray! Oh, wait...you have a huge deadline fast approaching? You mean you won't be home again tonight? You mean you can't go with us to visit our friends this weekend? Andrew added it up...yep, he had been working some 100 hour weeks.

Vacation it was. I convinced Andrew to travel with me to Kentucky for the 4th of July weekend. Just picture it, Andrew...we could have a date night!...we could sleep in!...we can soak up some lovin' from the family and friends!...it's the cheapest place we can run away to!

Away we went. Of the 3 full days we were there, Andrew worked 1 1/2 of them. On the 1/2 day he worked I did nothing. Absolutely nothing. That's why I was there...to do nothing!

The 3 days "vacation" was good for my soul. Spending time with family fills me up. I got to see 2 great movies. I got to go on a date with my love. We got to see our friends, the Greene's. And, of course, Cooper got completely spoiled with lots of love and attention

When we left I told Andrew I could still use a couple of days at the beach all by myself. #kidding #notreally

Due to some wet bottoms from rain, Cooper got to wear this UK shirt one evening.

KCU campus walk with the Greene's.

You'll shoot your eye out, kid.

Bee Bee Gun

Happy and Excited about movie and dinner sans child.

We were literally in the clouds for part of the drive home.

A summertime miracle - photo dump and random happenings

This long past week was a long and busy one for us.

We've experienced a few mornings of summertime miracles. I call summertime miracles sleeping in. The sun comes up so early here and Cooper has a hard time sleeping in during the summer. Well, this week we've experienced an 8:45 am wake up, and a couple of 8:15-8:30 wake-ups.

This past weekend I did my best to wear cooper out - mostly using means of the pool. I think it worked. We have spent more time poolside this month than we did all of summer last year. Apparently Cooper snapped this picture at the pool on Friday.

We also spent the night at our friends house. And I got to do my morning quiet time with this amazing view.

We had breakfast with them. And they served Cooper a huge plate of bacon. And he ate all of it!

When we left they uttered life into my child. "We love you, Cooper. You are important to us." That sentence cause God to move in my heart in many ways. I need to tell Cooper he is important. Thanks for speaking life into my child (and me!), Lee.

Andrew was out of town last week. I was uncharacteristically emotional with him gone. I'm not sure if it was him being gone, God working on my heart, or the super moon - maybe all of them combined. Cooper was been emotional, too. Every morning the first thing out of Cooper's mouth - "Is daddy home yet?". He's also said many times, "I miss daddy." And one time "I miss daddy forever." It did seem like it was a long time.

Cooper's T-ball game was cancelled this week because of weather. But he still had swim lessons...which sometimes stress me out. He fights putting his head under water, and practicing is like pulling teeth. If practicing for swim is any sign of what we're in for when he has homework at school we're in trouble.

By the end of the swim lesson Cooper did so well! I'm hoping it was all our time in the pool this week, but I have a feeling it was more to do with bribing him with a chocolate chip cookie.

I could probably classify this video as a summertime miracle, too!

T-Ball, Game 1

This summer we are venturing into the world of sports! That's right, folks...cooper now plays t-ball!

First of all, let me just say that the teacher in me has a hard time sitting on the sidelines and not being in control. When I see some disorganization it makes me cringe. I am practicing letting go through this sports season we are in. The coaches don't need my input - they can figure it out. And if they don't figure it out then we can all learn some lessons. I was glad during this week's first game that I had my camera in hand. It helped me sit back and relax. So, I guess we have my practice of letting go to thank for the following pictures and videos.

Have you ever watched a 3&4 year old t-ball game? It's hilarious! The hour game was free entertainment for those watching on. It's really just an hour of practice. There is no score. There aren't really any "outs". It's hit the ball, try to catch it, and see if you can get to the correct base.

It was funny to see Cooper hit the ball and then instead of running to first base, run to his own ball.

It was funny to see Cooper run the bases with the opposing team instead of trying to catch the balls they hit into the outfield.

When someone would hit the ball, the whole team would run for the ball, then run to the base. So, you'd have about 5 orange shirts surrounding the one yellow shirt as they ran to first base.

We had fun watching the game. We are extremely proud of Cooper. He is best at hitting the ball. He's also got a good arm...but throws too far for the littles he's throwing to. He was a (pretty) good listener, and he was attentive and interactive the whole game.

The orange team and coaches

practice

huddle before the game

waiting his turn to bat

there was rarely a moment he wasn't smiling

these sweet girls decided to sit after the first inning. Flowers are so much more fun! 

Play 2nd base? No, I'll just play with my coach instead.

proud daddy and love of my life

one ball, three players trying to get it 

game over! 

We've got 5 more games! In august we get to try our hand at soccer.

Coffee Date Monday: Father's Day

Whoa! It's been so long since I've sat down to type something on here.

I've decided to break the silence. I can't take credit for today's post, however. It was written by one handsome dude.

"My Dad"

by Cooper

My dad is funny because he eats all by himself "butt" and he says, "booger butt".

My dad thinks I am funny when I'm playing my hungry hungry hippos all by myself.

My dad is 4 years old.

His favorite thing to do is play with his toy that goes "bjjjjjj".

His favorite color is blue, red, and black.

My dad's job is to work at church.

He loves to eat butt.

He is really good at playing with me.

My dad loves when I do the dishes.

My dad always says, "Eat Cereal."

My favorite thing about dad is playing.

Cooper dressed up in Andrew's clothes and answered some questions about his daddy, which we compiled into a gift. That last picture is too much for me.

I hope you all had an enjoyable Father's Day, celebrating the men in your life. I pray you have men in your life who influence you as spiritual leaders.