Cooper's 1st Day of School

As with Kamdyn, we had to read "The Night Before Kindergarten" to Cooper before bedtime.  I forgot to buy Coop his own book so we could write a note to him in it, but luckily he didn't realize we were reading Kam's.  He will have his own soon!

Kamdyn was dying to read to him and he finally consented to her reading "Kindergarten Rocks" to him.

This boy normally pops out of bed but he was a little slower to rise this morning...notice he goes to bed in his bed and wakes up in mine!

Breakfast of champions before the big day....

My big kindergartener!  Where has the time gone?

Backpack ready to go...

Surprisingly cooperative for the pictures.....isn't he a handsome kindergartener?

Silly...

Back to serious... well, sorta.

Cooper and Mark...

Posing with Sissy....notice they aren't too close together.  I had to coax him on over her way.

More silly faces...

 Trying to stay away from her and stay serious...

This little boy is really not so little in size... he's almost as big as me, but he will always be my little boy!

I think from this pose you can tell that Mark's getting a little tired of all the pictures... 

First day pic with both my babies...

Kamdyn's first day of second grade and Cooper's first day of kindergarten...

Pulling up to school...still has that same smile on his face!

Walking in with Daddy... sometimes I think I miss participating in moments because of my camera!

Heading to Ms. Mac's room...

When I asked Cooper to get one last picture, he ran to Mark.  My heart stopped for just a moment thinking that he was going to cling and not want us to leave....but he hugged us both quickly and was ready to head to the playground with Ms. Mac.  His buddy was waiting there for him...but I didn't get my picture!

After visiting with several other parents, Mark and I decided to be playground stalkers and watch for a while as they lined up to go inside.  He looked fine to me which made it much easier to leave.    

He went to Aunt Donna's after school (for some reason they didn't want me to pick them up!) and had a great first day!  He didn't get in trouble and wanted to go back the next day so I call that a  success!

This girl did too, even though you couldn't tell it from looking at her here.

Talking to Pop about his first day of kindergarten...

I love Cooper's teacher who texted me about noon and said, "doing good, Momma!"  I was dying to know how he was making it and I really appreciate her thinking of me.  Later that afternoon, she sent me this picture of him...

Melted my heart!  I'm so grateful to Ms. Mac for making his first day (and mine!) an awesome one!  I think it's going to be a great year!

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!