The Night Before Kindergarten

Dear Cooper,

Tomorrow is your first day of kindergarten and I can hardly believe it.  It seems like just yesterday that I brought you home from the hospital.  You've always been a "Momma's boy" (despite how much your daddy teases you about it!) and I hope that will never change. You have turned into the funniest little boy ever who can make me laugh endlessly with your silly faces.  As a matter of fact, you know that and have used it many times to distract me if I'm ever getting on to you. 

I think you are excited about starting school, but you don't quite show it like your sister did.  You've not really gotten into the backpacks or new clothes, but I think you are pretty pumped about your new lunchbox and tennis shoes.  My prayer for you tonight is that you wake up excited in the morning about school.  What a great adventure you are about to begin!

Although I'm excited about you starting school, I'm a little sad as well.  You're my baby and I'm not really ready to let you go.  I'm not sure how I'm going to ride to work without you in the car with me every day.  I will miss you running up to me and shouting, "Mommy!" when I picked you up every day at Mrs. Mae's.  That was always one of the highlights of my days and I have always dreaded the day when you stopped doing that.  You see, that would mean that you're growing up and I know I keep saying it, but I'm not ready for that.  I'm hoping that tomorrow when I pick you up from school that you will still be as excited to see me as I will you! 

As I said, you are about to start a great adventure!  You are more than ready for kindergarten and I can't wait to see you learn and thrive as you make new friends.  I know you're going to blow your teacher away with your math skills already!  :)

Cooper, you are my special gift from God and I'm so proud to be your Mommy!   God knew that I needed you before I even did and I can't thank him enough for the blessing and privilege of being your Mommy! 

I love you to the sun and moon and back, Cooper Bear!

Love,

Mommy

Last Preschool Pics

Cooper had his last preschool pictures made a few weeks ago.  I'm so not ready for this chapter to be over!

 I'm sure I am super biased, but I think this little guy is pretty handsome!

 Love his sweet smile! 

Can't believe these kiddos will be starting kindergarten in August!  What a great group of friends Cooper has had at Mae's....we will miss them!

I want to just freeze time now and never let him get any older than this!!! 

Mother's Day 2012

I love this picture of me and the kids!   They are my pride and joy and I'm not sure what I ever did before they came along!

Trying to get one good picture is always a battle....

 Kam is obviously thrilled....and Coop's eyes are closed.

 Still giving the camera the stare, but at least Coop's eyes are open...if only mine were!

Tell us how you really feel about having your picture made,Kam!

I'm pretty sure I'm giving Cooper the "it's Mother's Day and this is all I ask" speech.... there are at least 20 more pictures that Mark took like this!

We had a great afternoon at Mamaw Efird's after church.  It was nice and laid back and the men (well, Mark!) did all the cooking.  I enjoyed getting to visit with my family and cousins without having to rush to do something or be somewhere.  Sometimes I think we run around so much and forget what's most important - family!

Proverbs 14:1 (NCV) “A wise woman strengthens her family, but a foolish woman destroys hers by what she does.”

This verse reminds me that I need to be more intentionally focused on my family and just being there for them.   My kids need my time and attention.   Although I can't stand to think about it, there will probably come a day when my kids will not want to just snuggle or cuddle with me....so I never want to take any of those moments for granted!  

The kids and I decided to go to Magic Springs for a few hours later that day.  It was great to stroll hand in hand with both kiddos just enjoying a leisurely afternoon of play.  

They were dying to ride the Summit Plummet and I just could not make myself get on and get soaking wet!

But they loved it!

So thankful for my two kiddos!  I'm also extremely thankful for my own mother (and I can't believe I have no picture of us together!) for everything she's done for me.  I'm a grown adult and she still sacrifices for me.  I'm pretty exhausting to be around at times (according to her and Mark) so I appreciate her loving me even when it's hard to!

Ready for Summer

I came across these pictures on my phone today of Kam taken about a month ago.  I found her this way one Saturday when I came home from taking Cooper to a birthday party.

Yep, this girl is definitely ready for summer!

Costa Rica

Oh, Costa Rica, how I can't wait to see you!

Wonderful Weekend

Oh, how I love the weekend!  My only problem is that it's too short and I usually need Monday to recover from it!  Can I get an amen?  We had a t-ball game Friday night.  This picture is actually from Cooper's first game a few weeks ago.  He is doing great and loving him some t-ball!!

He hit the ball hard and actually hit a line drive to the pitcher (coach) who had to jump.  He was so excited and when he got to first he started jumping up and down hollering at his buddy, Jaden, that he nearly knocked the coach down. 

By the way, I was out of town the day before the game and asked Mark to pick up his belt and socks to go with his uniform.  He forgot.  We're good now though.  This is one of the things I love about t-ball.  Amazingly, Cooper wasn't involved in this pile up. 

After Kam's practice Saturday, we went to North Little Rock for Mark to play in a golf tournament with Mike.  The kids and I hung out with Jodie and the girls that afternoon and had a nice time.  The kids decided that it was warm enough to swim so Kam borrowed a swimsuit and jumped in.  I didn't think Cooper was interested until I noticed him stripping his clothes off a few minutes later.  I stopped him before he got completely naked!  He swam in his underwear and borrowed Dora life jacket.  I wish I had gotten a picture of him to blackmail him with ten years from now!

We went to Benihana's to eat that night to celebrate Kamryn's birthday.  The food and fellowship were great!

The kids watching intently as the chef made a beating heart out of fried rice....

Kamryn and Kam were so hyped up and got up numerous times to dance or jump around. 

It was prom night so 3/4 of the restaurant was full of pretty girls and guys all dressed to the nines.  It was quite entertaining but, honestly, I can't stand the thought of these kids being old enough for that!  

We had a great day at church and softball pictures yesterday afternoon.  Did I already say that I need another day to catch up in my house?  Oh well....there's always next weekend!

Coop's Class Party

So I'm about three weeks late posting pics of Cooper's Easter party....no surprises there!  It was his last Fun Time party and it made me so sad!  I'm already getting anxious about him not being there.  I will miss these parties at every holiday! 

The kids held up different color jellybeans and said a poem about Easter.  Cooper's was black and about the sin that Jesus died for.

I was so proud of him for remembering and saying his line so well and his voice was so cute!

Mark can't make it to every party because of work but he always makes sure that he's at the last party....I just wish he would smile for a picture once!

I think someone's talking too much!

I love this picture of me and Coop...

Passing out treat bags....oh how he's going to miss those when he goes to kindergarten!

Mrs. Kelly, Mrs. Mae, and Cooper... I love these ladies!

Cooper's class (minus Jack)....can you tell who the wild one is?

I'm pretty sure he's the ring leader of trouble!  

We still have the summer left before we have to say goodbye to Fun Time!  Looking forward to a summer of fun with these kiddos before they all start kindergarten!