Cars like to have "Apple Juice" Parties Too

Battle of the Books

Every year at the beginning of the school year the elementary schools in our district do what is called Battle of the Books. There are two teams Primary and Intermediate. In the Primary Team there are 15 books and in the Intermediate team there are 10 chapter books. Only six kids are on each team. To be on the team you have to try out by taking a test based on the books. Anthony has been doing it since second grade. He has diligently read all the books and each year passed the qualifying test. After the teams are formed in October they then practice twice a week until competition at the end of January. During this time Anthony rereads the books and continues studying them. By the time of competition Anthony knows those books forwards and backwards. Several times this year the teachers in charge would stop me in the hall and tell me how impressed they were with Anthony. Anthony's team consisted of fourth and fifth graders. Only two fourth graders (Anthony and another girl) made the team the others were fifth graders. At the beginning the fifth graders thought they were smarter and didn't need the fourth graders. However, Anthony was able to demonstrate to them that they should listen to fourth graders. Anthony is not very athletic, but he has found his niche in Battle of the Books and has been a good contributing team member to his team. Anthony is already looking forward to next years competition. This year at competition Anthony was chosen to be the team captain of the intermediate team, which he took seriously. When they are at competition Anthony makes sure that the judge at their table raises the right card to signify their answer, and if the judge puts up the wrong card Anthony is right there to correct the judge. This year Anthony could not contain his excitement when his team got the answer right. He just couldn't sit in the chair, he had to dance with each right answer, those around him knew that he was excited for his team. In the end, Anthony's team comprised of Primary and Intermediate took home the trophy for first place. After the competition Madeline and I met everyone from the team up at CiCi's for lunch and celebration. After the competition Anthony called me to tell me the good news and as I was congratulating him I had to hold back the tears of pride. It was in that moment I knew and felt the many joys of being a mother, a job and title I wouldn't want to replace for anything.

So when summertime comes, Anthony will be busy reading and re reading the books for the 2013 Battle of the Book Competition.

Chinese New Year

We have a tradition in our house and that is to celebrate Chinese New Year. I don't do anything fancy with decoration, games, or activities. I usually make Chinese Lanterns to go over the kitchen table and then we have Spaghetti or a similar noodle dish. The fun part is eating dinner with chopsticks. Watching the kids, especially Spencer, master the art of chopsticks is fun. They usually start out stabbing their food, but quickly are confused as they see that no mat

ter how hard they stab their food it still remains on their plate. Next they go for scoop up the food method and then they quickly learn that doesn't work either. They then try to copy what Mommy and Daddy are doing, but since Mommy and Daddy are not masters either, that plan doesn't help them get their food in their mouth. So in the end they go and get a fork and use the chopsticks as drum sticks. In years past I have made the kids fortune cookies out of felt and put messages of love and good fortune from Mommy, but life sometimes can get busy and some things get left out. Instead I went to the local chinese restraunt and bought fortune cookies. At the end of our dinner we all enjoyed opening our cookies and seeing what good fortune that we were all blessed with. We all got a good laugh and that is always fun.

Always Good Advice

Pinewood Derby 2012

First off I have to say that I am so glad pinewood derby is over. It was definitely a marathon to the finish. Anthony started working on his car during Christmas break. He and Grant collabroated on a design that would meet Anthony's goals (a fast car) and then Anthony drew out his design on his car and then cut it out, sanded, and glued the weights on all himself. The only thing that us parents do was spray paint (for obvious reasons) and Grant tweaked the wheels just right. This was the first year that Anthony was excited through the whole process. It was nice not have to nag him to go and work on his car. It was neat as a mother to see his excitement and pride over something that he worked hard on and finished to the end. In Anthony's pack they have a special race for the parents, leaders, and siblings and so Madeline and Spencer wanted to race a car too. Madeline and Spencer chose to do their cars based on the characters from Cars 2 movie. Madeline helped Grant saw (hand saw) the design and then used the belt sander to sand the edges. Because of her surgery Grant had to do most of the work, but when she was feeling up to it she was out there working hard on her car. Spencer helped sand too, but his 4 year old attention span is rather short and so Grant did a lot of the work. However, every day Spencer would ask Grant if he could work on his car and so together they would work out in the garage until Spencer's attention fizzled and then Grant would finish. The marathon part came in finishing them, painting them, and getting the wheels and the weight just right. I thought those cars would never get finish. I enjoyed my part which was watching the race and seeing their excitement watching their cars come down the track-they were so proud of their cars and they should be! Pinewood Derby provided our family with a project to work together on and having projects like those are good for they help in building family unity and love. Pinewood Derby 2013 will be here before you know it and Grant and the kids will be back out in the garage working away at wonderful creations. Let the marathon begin.

Fun with a Cast

Madeline has been a trooper when it comes to her cast. It has been an adjustment living life with a full leg cast. With having the cast she lost a lot of her independence, but she has taken it in stride. Instead of sitting there feeling hopeless and depressed, Madeline has found ways to get around, dress herself, and take care of her basic needs. There are still some things that she needs our help, but with her patience and drive she has found ways to regain her independence. We are counting down the days when the cast can come off. Though she will get another cast, this one will be below the knee and she will be able to walk with the help of a walking boot. I am hoping the next cast will allow Madeline to sleep more comfortably. We have definitely been tested with this cast, but once again Madeline has shown us her resilience, courage, strength, determination, and her can do spirit. Not even a cast will get Madeline down. If Madeline could pick up her leg and carry on she would, but instead she takes her leg and drags it behind her as she crawls around the house enjoying day to day living. Madeline has even found a way to play at the park. She simply takes a trike and with her good foot pushes along up the ramps and around the play equipment; and with the help of daddy or Anthony can still go down slides and crawl through tunnels. Simply put a cast isn't going to stop Madeline from enjoying life. I know with this attitude Madeline will go far in life and she will have much to enjoy.

Now back to the purpose of this post. One night after family scripture study and prayer we decided to have fun with Madeline's cast. I got out the sharpie markers and we each took turns drawing and writing our names. I find it very significant out of everything that Madeline could draw she decided to draw her family. I feel that it was her way of saying that together with family we can get through anything. When we stick together and work together we will achieve success. I feel like she was saying that she knows that she has the love and support of her family and we will do what we can to make this period in her life a little easier to endure. There are days that my children teach me more than any profound book can, and it is these moments that I treasure and hold on to. I know that Heavenly Father makes these moments possible to show me that I am doing a good job and that as a mother I am on the right path-at times it is easy to forget.

It was a simple activity to do as a family and one that brought smiles to everyones face and I know brought us a little closer. Now wherever Madeline goes she can see a picture of her family and their names and know that we have her back (or leg) and no matter what we love her very much and she will always be our Madeline.

New Years Eve 2011

A picture of the three of us at midnight. This picture was taken during one of Madeline's brief moments of not crying.

This is the last of the 2011 posts, with this post done I will be ready to begin putting our 2011 family blog book together. To be honest I don't remember what we did New Years Eve, I know Grant and I were sleep deprived and just kind of going trying to put one foot in front of the other. What I do remember is that Grant spent majority of the day building ramps for our living room to help with Madeline's wheel chair. While Grant was doing that I was spent majority of the day cleaning up the house and trying to put some order back from all the holiday fun. I believe it was a beautiful day and so the kids spent the day outside with Daddy which made it easier for me to clean up. Later on in the day, my sister brought her little girl over for us to watch while they went out and celebrated. My niece fell asleep on the way to our house and remained asleep while her parents were gone, so we pretty much watched her sleep. Madeline decided to take a nap at the same time, which was good because she needed one. For dinner that night we did drive through, Grant and I didn't feel like cooking and since we were sleep deprived drive thru was an easy solution. From dinner to bed time I don't remember much, but I do know that when Grant and I were ready to go to bed (way before Midnight), Madeline's pain kicked in from her foot and for the next 3 or so hours Grant and I tried to comfort Madeline as she dealt with the pain. We had two different pain medicines and after one dose of one and two of another, and 3 or more hours of intense crying she fell asleep. During this time, since we were up we decided to watch the ball drop. Dallas has their version of NYC New Years Eve party and that is the one we watched. The ball dropped and with tiredness Grant and I declared Happy New Year.

2011 was a good year for us and we were able to makes lots of memories together and celebrated many things as a family. We went on a really neat family vacation for the summer, and Grant was able to experience life as a traveling engineer (glad that is over). Madeline stayed away from the hospital (except for her foot surgery 3 days before the new year) which has been a goal and wish for Grant and I. For 2011 I had a goal for our family and that was to make memories and celebrate. To celebrate the little holidays, the big holidays, achievements, and all of life experiences. I think we did that and I hope to continue that on into 2012. I know 2012 will be a great year and I am excited about all the things we will experience and learn. After Madeline was born, life took on a whole new meaning. You learn to find joy in the good days and the bad, and you learn that you don't need a holiday or a reason to celebrate; life is reason in it self to celebrate and enjoy. I love how Nephi says that although he had his share of hardships and trial, he was also blessed with the goodness of God. We have our trials and we have our hardships, but we also have been blessed with feeling and seeing the goodness of God in our lives, and those moments far out weigh our trials.

Oh if you think our New Years Eve was exciting, our New Years Day was even more exciting. Madeline was still experiencing lots of pain so she stayed home from church with Grant. Anthony and I went to church where I was blessed to give a talk (so I am done for the year). My talk was on the importance of the scriptures. The spirit was strong and I walked away with a stronger testimony and stronger desire to cling to the Word of God. Then after church it hit us, Grant and I were hit with the lovely stomach flu bug that evening. It was kind of hysterical, Madeline is screaming in pain while her parents are tending to their business. Neither one of us is feeling well but we trade off tending to Madeline; while one holds Madeline the other tends to the affects of the stomach bug. This went on for the evening and thru the night. Grant and I couldn't help but laugh.

Christmas Part Two

Christmas this year was simply magical. The gift I enjoyed the most this year was just being able to sit back and watch the Christmas magic through my children's eyes. They didn't receive a lot but they were so excited for what they did get. Anthony and Madeline woke up first and they just sat there in the living room talking about what they saw from Santa but they didn't touch the gifts or the stuff in the stockings-they just sat on the couch patiently waiting for the rest of the family to wake up. When Grant and I went out to the living room at the designated time that we said we would (7:00) we had to tell Madeline and Anthony that it was o.k. to play with the things from Santa. Spencer was a little slow to wake up and needed a little help. When he finally came out of his room, his mind was set on watching Muppets he didn't care what Santa brought and he wasn't interested in all the presents under the tree. He had a one track mind and that was Muppets. We had to do a little coaxing to get him to at least entertain us with Christmas presents. Once the first two presents were opened and he took in what was going on, Muppets went out the window and his focus was on what was under that tree for him. He loved everything as you can see by the expressions on his face, and he had to keep all of his presents gathered in a pile-it was fun to see. It didn't take long to open everything and then it was off to enjoy the new loot. We didn't have church until 2:00 so there was plenty of time to play, explore, and enjoy the new treasures. My everyone was off exploring, I snuck back to my room for a nap. Every year I procrastinate wrapping presents until midnight, mainly because I don't want to listen or deal with kids asking everyday if it is time to open presents. When the tree is empty then there is no nagging questions. However, wrapping all the presents at once is very tiring; hence why there have been a few years where the gifts weren't wrapped. I wasn't going to wrap presents this year, but Grant really wanted the presents wrapped. So Grant and I rang in Christmas wrapping presents until the wee hours of the morning. Then when we finally get to go to sleep ourselves, Grant wakes up to the evil flu bug-Merry Christmas to Grant! I think for next year I am going to wrap the presents then put them in our hiding spot (which is in Grant's car trunk) and then put the out under the tree after the kids go to bed. I am even thinking about using gift bags-quick and easy. Anyway back to Christmas. We didn't do anything fancy, we enjoyed a nice Christmas program at church, a simple stoffer lasagna dinner at home, and lots of time playing together. Christmas was simple and I think that is what made it some magical. No gimmicks, no hype; instead it was filled with time spent together as a family.

A forgotten side note: I kept up our usual treasure hunt and this year in their stocking was their first clue. Their clues led each of the kids to a pair of pajamas that I made for them. I make Christmas pajamas for everyone to wear on Christmas Eve and this year I made the kids an extra pair that I thought reflected them or that they would like. The kids really enjoyed going through the house solving the clues and finding their treasure. After the treasure hunt we opened the rest of the presents under the tree.

Merry Christmas

Love the Cooper Family

Christmas Part One

Every year my family gathers together and make a wreath for Papa Bear's (my step dad) grave. It our Christmas present to him. The grand kids gather together to color wooden ornaments for the wreath and then the adults (mainly my mom, sister, and me) fill the wreath with the wooden ornaments and other things that remind us of him. Then on Christmas Eve I deliver the wreath and a poinsettia that I have been taking care of all month and wish him a Merry Christmas. It has been many years since his death and the tears come so easily-Oh how we miss him! Well this year we decided to have our families Christmas celebration in combination with the wreath making. After the wreath was decorated to perfection we all gathered to opened presents while our dinner finish cooking. The kids were so excited to see what my mom and sister brought and once their loot was revealed they were content playing with their new treasures. I scored big points for my gift to my mom-a Chad Hawkins water color painting of the Manti Temple, I think it is safe to say that I scored a home run with that gift. After gifts we enjoyed a yummy and simple dinner. I didn't do Turkey because we didn't need that much meat and ham doesn't agree with my body so I always do a pork loin roast. It is small enough to get eaten quickly and not have lots of leftovers looming over your head. Then we topped our tummies off with Pumpkin and Cherry Pie and the kids enjoyed baking Chocolate Chip Cookies. It was a fun evening and an enjoyable time as a family

Christmas Countdown Part II

Counting Christmas down has been a joy and we has been a great memory building experience for our family. I love that the holidays are all about family and it has been a blessing and joy to center our focus on the Savior and us as a family. Doing the Christmas countdown activities is a lot of work and sometimes get a bit tricky with school and bedtimes; but the smile and excitement on the kids' faces makes everything worth it. I love getting to soak up the magic of Christmas through their eyes. Here is the rest of our activities:

15. Wii Pictionary

16. Wreath decorating for Papa Bear's Grave

17. Painting our own nativities

18. Gingerbread houses

19. Trip to Bass Pro and to see Santa Clause

20. Christmas Tree Popsicle Ornaments

21. Making Homemade Snow Globes

22. Flu Bug

23. Flu Bug

24. Christmas Program and visiting the cemetery

Changes and Challenges

It is almost mid January and I haven't finished our Christmas countdown and our other family Christmas festivities, but life threw us a curve ball and certain things have been pushed to the side. After Christmas Madeline had a foot surgery. Madeline's left foot was pigeon toed and she was walking on her tip toes. The bones in her foot were starting to get stiff and rigid in this position and to prevent Madeline from being pigeon toed for life, it was time to go in and correct the problem. In my mind I was thinking it was like a broken foot. You go in have it fixed and then get a cast for 6 weeks. The plan was that Madeline would have a walking cast with walking boot for 6 weeks. That seemed simple to us and something very manageable. However, when the doctor got in the operating room he realized that he needed to do more work. Grant calls me with shocking news. Madeline was going to have a cast and it would be on for six weeks, but it would be a full leg cast. I was immediately overwhelmed, my daughter was not going to be mobile for 6 weeks. After her full leg cast Madeline will then receive another cast, a walking one, that will be on for 4 weeks. Fear came over me and I asked how am I suppose to be a full time mother and a full time nurse. The care that Madeline was going to need overwhelmed me and I wasn't sure how I was going to manage. I was worried about my bad back and the burden of lifting her and assisting her with all her needs. I have been thrown curve balls with Madeline before and I have learned that whatever challenges come I can handle them as long as place my faith in my Savior and trust in the fact that with Him I can do anything. So we brought Madeline home from the hospital and I shielded myself with faith and trust and went to work doing what I do best-love my daughter.

We have been at this for a week, and there have been days that I thought would never end and wondered how am I going to do this for 5 more weeks, and then there have been days that have flown by and went about in a normal fashion. My back has been sustained and has been able to carry the burden placed upon it. I was fearful, but this has been a testimony building experience of what the power of prayer can do. Don't get me wrong I have my eye on Feb 2, the day the cast comes off; but until then I know I can be the full time mom and full time nurse that Madeline needs because I am not doing it alone. When you have the Savior beside you, there is nothing that you cannot do.

I have always admired Madeline for her faith, courage, and strength; but this experience has increased my admiration for her. In a lot of ways Madeline's independence has been taken from her, she is at the mercy of her family to take her from place to place and to assist her in going to the bathroom. Through this and through the pain, Madeline has maintained her smile and her spark. Today we had a tender moment between Mom and Daughter. Madeline was on my lap and I was talking to her trying to calm her down. I looked her in the eyes and told her that I am sorry that it is hard that she is not able to walk and do all the things that she loves to do. I told her that I was sorry that she had to have a full leg cast and to be in a wheel chair. I told her that I was sorry that it hurt so much. Madeline then reached up for me to hug her and then she just cried and I cried too. My heart just broke in a million pieces and at that moment I just wished that I could trade places with her. I can't take the pain away, I can't take the cast away, and I can't snap my fingers and have her foot completely healed; but what I can do is give her love and to fill her days with magical moments. Madeline is my hero; she is full of strength, courage, dignity, and faith. My life has been enriched and blessed. It is my greatest joy to be her mother and see her spark, the spark that only Madeline can have.

Signs of Christmas

Working Together to Get the Job Done

Our dishwasher is on the verge of giving out. Though my first reaction to run out and buy a new dishwasher I decided to sit back and embrace the art of washing dishes by hand. We have noticed that not having a dishwasher does have its perks, washing dishes is a good way to have the kids work together and helping out around the house. And from the pictures we can see that though Madeline and Spencer seem to like pushing each others buttons, they really can work together and they can do so happily. Maybe the family that does dishes together stays together. I don't know, but when the finances allow I will be the first one in line getting a dishwasher. Modern conveniences does have its place. I just might not tell the kids that the dishwasher works.

Always Be Prepared

A scout is always prepared for anything.

Christmas Advent

On December 1 we start our families Christmas countdown. The kids were all giddy with excitement when I brought out the advent box. This was also the first year that Spencer got into the whole advent activity and understood what the box means. Of course Christmas is just around the corner and I haven't posted about our activities, life around here has been busy and I find myself living in my car or at the school with Madeline. It has been a juggling act to do our activities every night with getting the kids fed and ready for bed for school, but we have made it work and I am glad. There has been such a feeling of excitement in our family and it isn't the greedy kind of joy of what am I getting. Instead, it is the pure excitement that this season brings. I have enjoyed all the family time too; spending time with the kids enjoying things that they enjoy always brings us closer as a family. There are times that doing an activity every night is hard, but the magic that fills are home is worth all the time and effort it takes. I love how our focus isn't on the material aspect Christmas brings out, but our focus instead is on the true meaning of Christmas- family, love, time, and our Savior Jesus Christ. Having this focus is the greatest gift I as a parent could give my children. Who knew so much magic could be held in a little advent box.

So far this year we have done:

1. Lego Christmas trees

2. Smores in the fireplace

3. Decorate the Christmas Tree

4. First Presidency Christmas Devotional with Pumpkin Pie

5. Christmas Stories and Hot Chocolate

6. Play around of Monopoly

7. Watch Charlie Brown Christmas with Christmas Cookies

8. Sleep Under the Christmas Tree

9. Decorate the outside of the house with lights

10. Homemade Christmas ornament with paper mache

11. Eating dinner at I-hop

12. Foam ornaments

13. Popsicle tree ornaments

14. Popsicle snowflake ornaments

All of these activities have been fun and has shown me that it is the simple things in life that bring us joy and bond us together as a family.

Thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving this year we went to Oklahoma and spent it with Grant's cousin Darrell and his family. We left Thanksgiving morning had a picnic just just inside the border of Oklahoma and made it to Darrell's house around 2:00 that afternoon. Thanksgiving dinner wasn't planned until 5:00 that evening so Grant and Darrell went to Darrell's rental house and fixed somethings up before he sold it. The kids all played together picking up right where they left off, and Staci and I chatted for a bit. As time got closer for the big meal Kylie(?) became fussy and so I was blessed with holding her and giving her lots of attention and that was a lot of fun. Our Turkey dinner was simple and perfect. They had invited another family over to enjoy the big day. After dinner and before pie all the adults played a few round of games. Pie was equally as delicious as the dinner and after everything was all said and done the boys (Grant, Darrell, Anthony, and Joseph) open up Epic Duals (a star wars game) and began an intense battle. On Friday we did a little bit and I mean little Black Friday shopping after all the intense shoppers were taking their naps and then Grant along with Anthony and Joseph helped Darrell some more on the house while we hung out and played. After dinner that night Staci and I went out for girls night at the yogurt shop. Saturday it started out with cold rain but there was still plenty of work to be done on the house. While they were working on the house the kids played and during quiet time Staci and I looked at houses in New Jersey - that is where they are moving to this summer. :( The kids were getting kind of stir crazy so when the Daddy's came home from working they took all the kids to the lake to walk around and throw rocks in the water. I held and played some more with Kylie while Staci finished a scripture bag for Jessica. That evening Staci and Darrell surprised Grant and I with a date. So Grant and I went out for dinner and after dinner I needed a new pair of shoes so we went and did that as well. When we got back it was Darrell and Staci's turn for their date. After sacrament meeting on Sunday we headed back home to Texas. It was a nice trip and I loved how simple yet fun the holiday was.

Boo at the Zoo

Grant's cousin Darrell came into town with his family the weekend of Halloween. The driving force for everyone getting together was a BYU football game in town. The two cousins had fun chearing on BYU and this year they were able to watch BYU make it into their end zone. TCU still won which we new but it was a brutal beating like last time. The kids, Staci, and I stayed home enjoying each others company, eating lots of pizza, and watching the kids have fun together. They stuck around a little bit on Saturday and we treated everyone to a trip to the zoo. I have grown up going to the same zoo so going is not so fun for me but I enjoy going with there is fresh eyes to see things with. At Halloween time they have a little Boo at the Zoo event. I hadn't been before and thought it would be fun to try out with everyone. Darrell was kind enough to pay for the tickets to get in and I think the kids enjoyed playing all the little fun carnival games and cashing in their tickets for candy and a pumpkin that they could decorate. I will probably take the kids next year. I am not a big Halloween person I rather save my energy for Thanksgiving and Christmas. However, Boo at the Zoo it doable and the kids can have fun in a safe environment and who knows maybe next year I will be on top of things and they can wear their costumes. After the zoo everyone came back to our house for a little bit more of fun before it was time for Darrell and his family to head back home.

Anthony is Ten

Wow it is hard to believe that I have a ten year old, but I do. On November 4 we celebrated Anthony entering the double digits. The night before the big day I was reflecting on Anthony and the blessing he has been to our family and then it hit me; In two years he will receive the priesthood, in six years he will be driving, and in nine years he will be entering the mission field. I had to stop there because I have to admit that I got emotional. I will just enjoy him being ten and cross the other ages later. From time to time I think about what special mission the Lord has in store for Anthony. He is such an incredible kid with a strong testimony and a good grasp and understanding of the gospel. I just wonder from time to time who am I raising. I have said it before, Anthony is really an incredible kid who has a smile to kill and a positive attitude to boot. He excels at school and currently is doing well at leading his Battle of the Books team. He loves anything to do with numbers, in fact that is how he thinks and sees the world around him through numbers. Anthony loves church history and he is currently reading the Old Testament on his own. He has finished the five books of Moses reading every word and every chapter (that is something I haven't done). He wants to read all the books of scripture. Anthony still have a deep and abiding love for Star Wars and right now enjoys making up his own Star Wars battles and developing his own Star Wars character. Anthony still plays the piano and the music that comes from those fingers are amazing. Anthony fills our home with beautiful music. Anthony has many wonderful traits but the one that amazes me to no end is his complete obedience. No questions asked, no buts, no whys; just complete obedience. An example to me indeed. Anthony loves his sister and loves to find her at recess and play with her. Anthony truly cares about those around him, and wants to share his blessings with others. Anthony has a strong testimony of the gospel and I always feel the spirit when he bears it at Family Home Evening; especially when he talks about the Prophet Joseph Smith. It has been my privilege to be Anthony's mother a gift that keeps on giving every day. It is my prayer that I may continue to raise him in a way that will prepare and allow him to accomplish whatever great mission the Lord has in store for him; for Anthony will go places and accomplish much in his life. I treasure being his mom, and knowing that I will get to enjoy his smile for eternity.

Now on to the party fun. I am not a big friend party person but I am all for celebrating the day from sun up to sun down. Anthony got an extra bonus the weekend of his birthday. Anthony's good friend's parents were going out of town and needed us to watch him for the weekend. So Anthony had the ultimate sleepover! The morning of Anthony's birthday Anthony was treated to homemade cinnamon rolls ( a favorite of his). For lunch Daddy was able to join us for lunch at school and at the end of school Anthony was able to pass out his favorite treat (homemade cream cheese brownies) to his friends at school. After school there were balloons and a cookie cake waiting for him. After his friend came over the real fun began. I started out the fun with a page long math problem and once he solved the problem the number would lead him to page in a book. When he came to that page he found a clue. The clue lead him to the Target store where he received his next clue. This year I didn't buy presents and wrap them, I left them on the store shelves and instead gave him clues with him criss crossing the store finding his presents. He had to think carefully because whatever he guessed that is what he received. Luckily he guessed right. The employees even had fun with Anthony's adventure and got in on the fun. After his treasure hunt at Target it was off to pizza then after pizza it was cookie cake and ice cream time. The next day Anthony and his friend went off to Lego Land for a couple of hours of fun. I chose the opening time and Grant said that for most of the time they had the place to themselves which is nice because that place can be a mad house. I am pretty confident that Anthony enjoyed his day and felt like a king for the day. I love celebrating their special day and making fit their personalities.

Character Parade

Every year for Halloween the Kindergartners and Preschoolers at Spencer's school does a character parade. The kids dress up as a character from any book and they parade around the school holding the book they represent. I only make one costume a year, as it is three costumes total is sometimes a feat to overcome. I couldn't find a book with a king in it hence the reason why Spencer is not holding a book, but I don't think he mind or noticed. I am pretty sure Spencer didn't understand what the big deal was with walking around the halls at school having people look at you. He was just excited that he could wear his purple cape (after all it is magical) to school. I have been doing the character parades since Madeline was three, if Spencer qualifies for the program that he is currently in next year then we will have one more year of character parades.

Halloween 2011

This year for Halloween we had a Jedi Master, a Chef, and a King. Our ward's Trunk n Treat was on Saturday; the kids had fun running from car to car collecting as much candy as they could. Spencer really got into the whole Halloween fun this year. For weeks he would ask me if it is Halloween and if his king costume is done. Spencer loves capes and the fact that I was making him a purple (his favorite color) cape sent him over the moon. On Halloween day itself we joined some friends from church to go trick r treating around their neighborhood. Once again the kids were well treated in the candy department. Once Spencer realized that when you knock on the door they give you candy, he was gone. I was a little surprised because Spencer is not a people person, I guess there is power in his purple cape. He confidently went from house to house loudly declaring trick r treat and soon as his candy prize hit his bag he was off to the next house. Meanwhile Madeline was confused by the whole trick r treating thing. The kids have only known trunk r treat. Madeline kept asking how the people would know to have candy for her. I think for a bit she just thought this was some crazy fun that we Coopers were doing. After a little bit of explaining she caught on and enjoyed taking her turn ringing door bells. We did get to a point that her bag was to heavy for her to carry, but that didn't stop her. She just turned to her favorite person in the world (DAD) and had him carry her loot as she kept up with the other kids going from door to door. In the end we had more candy then anyone ever needed. We sorted the candy for gingerbread houses and then kept the good stuff for us. After a few weeks I was tired of seeing Halloween candy and tired of picking it up so I put it up out of sight out of mind with the hopes of throwing it away after a bit.