Construction

As part of our living room makeover, we had to take down some old sheet rock in order to put up some new sheet rock.  With Madeline away at two doctor appointments the boys went to town at tearing out the wall.  After a few hours of demolition, the old wall was down and a new wall was up, and the best part was that Madeline wasn't around to breath all that dust and get an asthma attack.  I love how things come together!

Camping Out

It has been raining here for what seems like a month, so because of all the rain our camping trip was canceled.  Anthony really wanted to use his tent that he bought with his money so instead of camping at a campground in a swamp, we opted for setting up his tent in the living room.  The kids enjoyed playing in the tent and Mommy and Daddy enjoyed sleeping in the comfort of their bed.  

National Cream Filled Doughnut Day!

Another delicious holiday that we could not pass by without celebrating.  The doughnuts were sure a hit after we figure out the right temperature.  The right temperature, a little chocolate pudding as the filling and you have a successful family treat!

National Make Your Bed Day!

For National Make your Bed Day we decorating pillowcases with fabric markers and white pillow cases.  The kids had fun making their own pillowcases and they thought it was really neat to sleep on their own creations.

National Chocolate Milkshake Day!

We couldn't miss National Chocolate Milkshake day!  Needless to say it was a big hit in our home.

National Banana Split Day

How could we miss National Banana Split day in our household.  Needless to say this was a big hit with our kids!

President Monson's birthday

In keeping with our tradition this year, we celebrated President Monson's birthday.  We had cake, stories from his life, as well as an interactive timeline.  This tradition of celebrating the prophets birthdays has been fun for our family as we study the lives of our latter day prophets; my testimony of prophets has sure increased!

National Trail Mix Day

Yep we celebrated national trail mix day in August.  The kids had fun assembling their own trail mix from their ingredients of choice.  It was a fun FHE treat!

What you sow is what you reap

Anthony harvested three watermelons this summer, nothing sure beats home grown watermelons.  Anthony was pretty excited to be able to eat his watermelon.  Unfortunately some animal beat us to Madeline's cantaloupe.  

It's Back to School We Go!

A feast for a King and a Queen

Sunday night I threw Madeline and Anthony a feast that is fit for a King and a Queen.  We had a special dinner with our Special dishes, this all fit our theme of "You Are Special"  Grant and I served the kids, which they enjoyed very much.  Madeline and Anthony each had a crown to wear.  We read a book I am a Child of God and we talked about what makes a special.  Each child received a card listing the qualities that make them special.  After dinner, Grant gave Madeline and Anthony their back to school father's blessing.  The spirit was in our home and you could tell by Anthony and Madeline's reaction that they felt something too.  It was a great evening, I am so blessed to be their mother.

Tender Mercy Moment

For talent for FHE, Madeline and Anthony took turns talking about the cards that they made.  Madeline made a card for Anthony and told about how she loves him, what a great brother he is and that she likes when he plays with her.  She also told him how special he is to her.  Anthony talked about his card that he made for me, and this is what he wrote:

"Dear Mommy I love your lessons in family home evening because they make me feel love inside.  I also like it when you play and help me because it makes me feel that you love me.  I also like the work that you do to keep the spirit in are home."

I think we could have ended our FHE with our talent portion.  I am grateful for the Lord reminding me that despite my short comings I am still doing okay and that he loves me and with His help I can do even better.

A Sunbeam....staring Spencer

This is Grant's song he sings to Spencer every night when he lays him down for bed, afterwards Spencer tells his dad bye.  Grant turns off the light and as parents we can rest because our tornado is sleeping gearing up for new adventures.

Conversations

Daddy:  Madeline you need to listen and obey what Mommy and Daddy ask you to do.

Madeline:  "I will listen tomorrow."

Mommy:  "Are you ready for Kindergarten."

Madeline:  "Yes"

Mommy:  "Is  your class going to be big or small?"

Madeline:  "Big"

Mommy:  "And you get to meet lots of new friends."

Madeline:  "Yes, but I will still be a girl."

Anthony:  Madeline when I get to college, you will be in high school and when we are done with college then there is no more school.

Madeline:  Yeah and then we can stay home and play all the time.

It is fun listening in on the conversations with are children.

Camping We A Go...Cabin style

Well it is Texas and it is summer time and that means it is plain o HOT, to hot to go tent camping so the next best thing an air conditioned cabin.  We were not able to have a summer vacation this year, but we still wanted to do something fun.  We went on a little stay cation to a camp site that is about 30 minutes from our house and found ourselves a cabin right on Lake Grapevine.  We enjoyed the outdoors and then when it was too hot, we enjoyed our time inside our nice air conditioned cabin.  It also happened to storm during our camping trip, but we were safe and sound snuggled in our cabin, our tent camping neighbors didn't fare so well; they left for safer ground and came back for their soggy wet things after the storm had passed.  The kids really enjoyed themselves and they have repeatedly asked to go back for more fun.  We will probably make a few more trips back to the cabin, but we are still on the hunt for a rustic cabin out in the country and away from the city.

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Pioneer Day

In keeping with tradition of celebrating the holidays throughout the year, the Cooper family celebrated pioneer day in fashion.  I used the coloring book that I made for the Cooper reunion to talk to the kids about their pioneer ancestors, not only does the coloring book have fun pages to color and activities to do, but it gives an account in their language of who their pioneer ancestors were.  After our little lesson, we made stick horses and raced them around the house.  Then we made ink out of blueberries and used feathers to dip in our ink and draw and write with.  After that we made homemade butter which we used on our homemade cornbread.  We were going to cook our cornbread in our dutch oven, but mother nature dumped a thunderstorm that killed that idea so we used our modern day oven to get the job done.  Overall the kids enjoyed learning about pioneer life and how it is different than our life today.  It was neat to share with them about their ancestors and the faith and testimony that they had to endure what they did and to ultimately cross the plains to Utah.  We talked about how we need to follow their example and their faith for the next generation to follow.  We wrapped up the night with talking about the definition of pioneer and ways that we can be pioneers today.

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Swim Therapy

Madeline participates in a Swim Therapy program that is designed for children with special needs.  It is funded by a grant so the whole thing is at no cost to us.  The program runs from April thru October and it is every Saturday for 40 minutes.  Madeline goes with her Daddy, mainly becomes Mommy is not to fond of getting in the pool in public.  Madeline has been participating in this program since she was two, and she absolutely loves it and gets excited when Saturday rolls around.  Grant gets in the water with her and he becomes her life preserver.  Madeline's confidence level has increased through Swim Therapy.  Not only is she getting stronger, but she gets a little more comfortable around the water as each year goes on.  We are so glad for this program that allows Madeline to do things that other kids get to enjoy.  Hopefully we can find more programs out there that are designed for special needs children....still looking for some.

Madelineism

I thought the blogging world could use some more "Madelineism."

These all took place during conversations with her mother.

Madelineism 1:

Madeline:  "Why this" and "Why that"

Mother:  "Madeline Mommy needs to concentrate on driving right now so we don't wreck the car."

Madeline:  "Okay I am just going to talk to myself."

Mother:  "Great"

Madeline:  Continues to ask me why this and why that

Mother:  "Madeline"

Madeline:  "I am just talking to myself"

Mother:  "Well when you talk to yourself, you need to do it quietly"

Madeline:  "Oh....I guess I am a little bit talking to myself and a little bit talking to you."

Madelineism 2:

Mother:  "Madeline we are having pizza for lunch do you want cheese pizza or pepperoni pizza."

Madeline:  "I want the red pickle pizza."

Mother:  "You mean pepperoni pizza."

Madeline:  "Yes, the little red pickles pizza."

This took place with Madeline's Dad while they were fishing together.

Madeline was digging for worms to bait her hook with and while daddy was hooking the worm on, Madeline continue to dig for worms.  She would pull a worm out and big playing with it my seeing how far she could stretch it.  Then the very observent Madeline said while looking closely at the worm:  "Daddy, this worm doesn't have a head."  No damage was done to any of the worms during Madeline's investigation.

Tender Mercies of the Lord

I usually do not share things personal on this blog, but I have had a couple of experiences that have touched me, both of them have to do with Anthony.

Anthony has a goal to read The Book of Mormon before he turns 8 this November.  Everyday he reads a chapter a day.  Grant and I have been impressed with how well he is understanding what he is reading.  It also has been exciting to see his excitement in reading his scriptures, I hope this excitement follows him through his life.  Well I have been reading The Book of Mormon as well and I just recently finished reading it.  I told Anthony that I finished reading The Book of Mormon and with a big smile on his face he gave me a hug.  He probably will never know how much that meant to me, to see him proud of me for accomplishing a goal.  

Madeline has been receiving lots of get well cards in the mail.  A few times Anthony would ask when am I going to receive cards in the mail.  Sensing that he would love to receive a letter in the mail, I asked a few family members to join me in sending cards to Anthony.  A few days ago my letter arrived in the mail for him and he was excited to see that he was getting cards in the mail.  After he read my card he told me "I almost cried when I read your card."  I was surprise to hear that come from a seven year old.  I asked him why, in which he simply replied because I liked it and it made me feel special.  Again I don't think Anthony will know how much that meant to me.  At times I feel that I am so busy taking care of Madeline's medical needs, containing my tornado named Spencer that I feel I leave Anthony out.  I have been making a considerable more effort for him to realize and know each and every day how much I love him.  There are days that I feel I don't do so well in the area, but the Lord knows my heart and my pleas as a mother and he brings opportunities like these to let me know to not beat myself up so much that I am doing a good job and that despite my shortcomings my children are happy and feel loved.

These tender mercy moments have come at a good time for me.  I just recently experience some hurtful words and accusations that have really crushed my spirit, but my Heavenly Father knowing of my pain has showered me with these Tender Mercy Moments to aid in lifting my spirits, and who better to receive a Tender Mercy from than an innocent child.  

I truly have the best children and it is a joy and privilege to be their Mother and to serve them everyday and to experience the joy that comes from being their Mother.  My life is truly a gift.

Fourth of July Fun

In keeping with our families tradition of celebrating the holidays throughout the year, Grant and I threw a party for our  kids.  We started off the day with red white and blue cinnamon roll breakfast.  I took half the batch and dyed it red and the other half blue and then the white came in with the frosting.  The kids enjoyed it, especially Spencer, but then again Spencer doesn't turn down food.  We had a late lunch and we continued our theme of red white and blue.  Our party consist of making red white and blue Popsicles, making fire works with paint as well as with a science experiment, popping poppers in our backyard, reading books on why we celebrate fourth of July, and then we ended the night with driving around our city to see if we could see the fireworks.  We accidentally drove right in the path of the fireworks, so we pulled over onto the side of the road had an up close view of the fireworks from our nice A/C car.  

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