Give 'em CREDIT

On "Parent's Night" at school, we got to see some of Cooper's projects. The pic above is a clever idea that was on each child's desk. When you lifted each letter it had a picture that Cooper drew to represent that letter--so let's review his name in reverse. R-rocket. E-egg. P-pencil. O-octopus. O-octagon. C--CREDIT CARD!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? AND LOOK AT THAT PICTURE HE DREW! CRACKS ME UP TO NO END!!!

This is some of Coop's art work when they were studying LINES! His teacher told me she asked the class to describe what a LINE is....Coop raised his hand and said, "I know, it is green and you put it in margaritas" SERIOUSLY!?!

How bout them apples?

We have had to move the fruit bowl b/c Millie won't stay away from those apples!

Brady's first homework

Can you see how excited he is to have homework!!! He just loves it and is ecstatic each time he has "homework" from preschool. Brady has really blossomed the last few months. His speech therapy is making a big difference. I'm not certain if he just hears everything Coop learns or if he is just a quick wit, but that boy busted out and counted to 100 without missing a beat. We still get excellent reports on how sweet and helpful he is at school. He still beats to his own drum and if you ask him what plant he is from, he will say "pizza planet". Oh and he still prefers to be called Brady Boo Charles Johnson!

First Day of First Grade

We didn't quite get moved in our new home before school started, but we wanted to start out walking daily with our new neighbors. Besides having lots more storage, I think the thing we were most excited about moving was having more neighborly neighbors and being able to walk to school! It was a CRAZY morning because Brad had to be at a different construction site for an inspection at 7am, so I had to get everyone ready and hope/pray that Coop didn't have a repeat Freak-out session starting school, drive to new house, then walk with everyone.

I'm happy to report....all went well! It was perfect. Cooper wouldn't pose for the neighborhood kids photo and wouldn't hug the principal, but marched right into his classroom. What a relief!

Mrs. Scaife--what a blessing she is! So laid back and friendly. And her son is in preschool with Brady so he thinks that is super cool!

Meet Fantasia

This is our new pet at the cabin. This sweet deer would walk right up to us. The deer was named by the painter staining the deck---can't quite figure out why he chose that name for her!?!

Chillaxin at the Cabin

This past summer was quite crazy because we were so busy building our new home. But we did make certain we found some time to relax.

These pics were taken the last day before the new school year started. It was a fabulously relaxing day, lounging, eating popsicles, lounging again.

Camille was a handful on the boat this year. She did not like being held when the boat was moving and by the end of the summer she figured out how to open the cooler....and drink all the juice boxes!

Posing on the deck of the cabin. That is one of my favorite pictures of her.

The boys with their summer "burr" haircut

Lizzy even joined us for a water gun fight

pirate brady

last but not least, pirate brad

Cousin Time

We had a great summer visit from our Schindall cousins in August while they were traveling to & from summer camp in Branson.

Uncle Adam and Camille. He spoils her and would get her from her crib if she was crying while she went to sleep. I mean, seriously?

The Wonderplace!!!v

Another great weekend with Grandma and Grandpa this past summer. You can tell they love to climb and wrestle on Grandpa!

Red, White and Blue

This Fourth of July we celebrated at the Martin's house. Camille, Elle and Tinsley (who escaped the camera) loved lots of watermelon. Brady and JT had a blast with water balloons and fireworks. Cooper was still recovering from tonsillectomy so he just chilled out on the deck.

Millie Vanillie

I was right by her and turned around to stir something on the stove for maybe 30 seconds!

Learning to float from Daddy

I just LOVE this picture. I'm pretty sure I know what they would say if they spoke the same language...OPEN THIS STINKIN GATE ! WE WANNA SWIM!

This is just a sweet spring day

Chillaxin with my sippy cup

3's a crowd

These were earlier this summer and not certain how many more bathtub sessions we can have with all three! 3's a crowd!

Toothless

I think this is Brady's official first portrait without his front teeth. That boy is a magnet for collisions. Be it the wall, the floor, Cooper's fist/foot/elbow, the coffee table. He initially loosened the teeth last November and after 3 more "collisions" they finally fell out. I must say the collisions were a bit traumatic b/c there seemed to always be pain/shock/blood involved. But when they finally came out...no drama.

This picture was taken the evening after Brady lost the first tooth (the second one followed about a week later). I took the picture with my phone and texted it to lots of people. Well, I didn't even pay attention to the fact it looked like he had a major laceration on his cheek. That is until I started receiving lots of replies wanting to know "what happened? is he ok?". OOPS that was face paint from earlier that day when he attended Cooper's fun day at school. I must admit I was concerned losing the teeth would hinder his speech therapy, but I was also worried for vain reasons. Really, no front teeth for the next 3-4 years. Oh well, now I couldn't imagine him any different. Just a toothless cutie-patootie!

Strep be GONE!!!

After seven miserable episodes of strep throat in about 6 months, we had enough! Look how miserable poor Coop was....so on July 1st....Tonsils be GONE! Strep be GONE! Cooper did really well; he is a realist and likes to know all the details so we had to tell him his surgery was scheduled. I think Brad and I were more nervous to tell him than we were about the actual surgery. We just were so worried he would panic since his last surgery ended up being a 9 week ordeal. But, nevertheless, he was cool about it (as soon as he found out he would get a new Nintendo DS game)

He did really well after having surgery--even played DS in the recovery room while still doped up on Demerol. He got some cool straws/cups with lots of koolaid from Miss Debra. And he insisted on going to get a chicken sandwich at Burger King (b/c they had commercial, after commercial advertising them). The first few days were a breeze, then of course when I went back to work....

**

Brad calls, "Cooper just threw up blood everywhere"

**

Me "get all the kids in the car and head to the hospital. i will call his doctor and find out where will meet him"

**

Doctor "calm down. is he still bleeding?'

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Me (on two phones) "not sure let me find out"

Me "Brad, is he still bleeding?"

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Brad " I don't think so but I shove a kleenex in his mouth"

**

Me (thinking, What the heck?) "Remove the kleenex and tell me if he's bleeding"

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Brad "No, he's fine. Just scared"

**

Me (thinking, scared of the blood or the kleenex in his mouth?)

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Doctor (waiting patiently on other phone)"ok, just calm down and have him drink cold water and lay still all night. Call me if any more bleeding"

**

Obviously, I was in momma-freakout-my red headed boy is bleeding to death-mode, not doctor mode. But the bedrest worked. No more bleeding.

*****

THANKS DR. MAROTTE!!!

Howdy Partners

We went to such a cute birthday party for the boys' friend, Henry, at a ranch. It was alot of fun and they loved looking at the animals. Brady (my fearless one) jumped right on the horse and rode round and round and round. Cooper (my fearful one) wanted to ride and then changed his mind. Instead he ventured off to a muddy area to look at some weird looking birds!