Happy SPOOKtacular Birthday Cooper!

My Cooper turned EIGHT! Can you believe it? I have an eight year old! And, a GREAT eight year old at that! We had a Spooktacular Birthday Party full of Frightful Delights for his party!

The "Spooky Swamp." Totally cheesy I know, but this was a hit! My dad stood behind the sheet and the kids tossed a fishing line over and he hooked all kinds of Halloween goodies to the line and tossed it back! They kept asking if they could play again, and again, and oh yes, yet again! So cute to see kids being kids!

"Marry the Ghoul." We had three rings and each kid took a turn to try and get it on the Ghoul's Ring Finger! If they did...they WON 10 pieces of candy! Whoever made it on was absolutely over joyed because they got way to much candy! Sorry parents!

"The Pumpkin Patch." Here they had to toss ping pong balls into pumpkins! This one was a little to easy for them...but they still liked it. I think it was because we gave them lots of candy if they got all three ping pong balls in the pumpkins!

"Donuts on a String." This was hysterical! I thought since they were young kids I would use the small hostess donuts! Well, I shouldn't have "thought" anything! These kids had NO problem sticking those donuts in their mouth...WHOLE! I was laughing so hard watching them try and swallow a powdered donut...practically choking. Serves em' right for stuffing the WHOLE thing in! Geesh, where's their manners?

Cooper had such a fun time! I am still in shock that he is EIGHT!

Cooper, you are such a wonderful young man. I know sometimes it is hard being the little guy. I know you struggle with people always asking "Who's older? You or your sister?" I know you can't wait until you grow and are taller like the other kids! But, I want you to know that no matter how small you are, you are the most amazing EIGHT year old kid I know! You are so sweet and kind, everyone wants to be your friend. You are funny and have a great sense of humor. You know how to laugh and have fun, but you also know when to be serious and respectful. You are sensitive and in tune with our Heavenly Father. You know how to make good choices and be an example to others around you, including me. I watch you with Charlee and Griffin. They are SO lucky to have such a super, awesome, cool, PERFECT big brother. You are their protectors, you watch out for them, you stick up for them. You are the big brother that everyone wants and needs. I know you are ready to be baptized and be confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I know you are so excited to be baptized! I know that it is hard being the man of the house, but you do such an excellent job. I know you miss Dad and want him home...not only to relieve you of your "man of the house" duties, but you need him! You have gone through so much in your eight years of life. Most kids have never and will never experience some of the things you have. But, you have not let those trials and experiences hold you back, you have taken them and ran with them. You have done your best in all you do! I am so proud of you. I know your Dad is so proud of you! We both love you so much. Happy Birthday Cooper, I Love You!

My Heart Is Super Sad....

My heart is sad and achy. This post is going to be somewhat depressing for me and maybe, just maybe, might possibly make you all feel sorry for me too.

As you know we have been counting down the days until Mike is able to come home. We have anxiously been awaiting November because this is when he comes home for is R&R. I was talking to Mike the other night when he said, "Do you want the good news or the bad news first?" I hesitantly responded with "The bad news please."

The bad news? Mike is not going to be able to come home on leave. BOOOOO. I am sad and mad all at the same time. Sad because I miss him and I know the kids do too. Having Mike come home as been all they talk about. "When Dad comes home this" and "When Dad comes home that." I am mad because well, it's just not FAIR! How come all the other soldiers get to come home and not mine?

My heart hurts every time I think about this because I haven't had the nerve to tell the kids. How mean am I for not telling them? I don't know how I am going to do it. They are going to be overwhelmingly (is that even a word?) SAD and there is going to be a lot of tears involved. I don't know how much good it will do to try and explain it to them. I just don't think they will understand.

O....how I wish I wasn't the one who had to tell them the sad news.

It's NOT Funny...But It Kinda Is!

My day....

1. Charlee wakes up, she doesn't feel good...she is going to throw up.

2. YUCK!

3. Around noon she is feeling better.

4. Get ready to head to the Raptor Romp.

5. Cooper tells me he doesn't feel good.

6. There are too many people there.

7. He is nervous.

8. I tell him to get down there and perform.

9. He runs back, "Mom, I Am Going To Throw Up!"

10. And..... he does....in front of EVERYONE!

11. Rush him out of the way, using his shirt as a catch all.

12. DOUBLE YUCK!

13. Gather up everything.

14. Come home.

15. Started the day with throw up, might as well end with it too!

And so is my life.......sigh.........sigh........sigh!!!!

It's About Time!

I did it! I finally went out and bought a new camera....it seems like forever since mine broke! So, I am camera happy and snapping pictures left and right to try and catch up for the time missed.

There is definitely much "SILLY"ness going on in our house! Cooper and Charlee are always cracking jokes and making funny faces. They keep me smiling and make my days much happier.
I find it hysterical and can't stop laughing...I love they have found their sense of humor and know how to use it!

I told Charlee to smile for the camera and this is what I got. One of Charlee's favorite things to do is sit on my lap so we can take pictures of ourselves. Kind of weird, but hey...we have fun!

Griffin seems as though he has grown up drastically since last month and I can't begin to explain how fast this little guy is! Maybe it's that he has two older siblings to show him the ropes, but this kid can move! For example....today was the primary program at church. Charlee sat with us until after the sacrament - then went up front. Griffin felt he needed to be with his big sister and took off after her. I was maybe 15 feet from the podium before I caught up to him. And then of course, he screamed the rest of the way back to our seat. Ahhh, the joys of motherhood!

Griffin as also taken much interest in the play room. He his a climber and has perfected the art of climbing onto the chair to sit at the table! Man this kid is good. He feels like such a big boy when he hangs out with the "big kids." Here is what I found today while I was cooking dinner.

Griffin sitting at the table....thinking "I am so big!"

We got our swing set up and the kids absolutely LOVE it! I absolutely LOVE it too! They come home and they want to go outside to play. Nothing wrong with that I say! I don't see them again until I call them in for dinner...or an occasionally potty break! You can't see the whole swing set from this picture, but you can tell the kids are loving the weather outside and the playground that we are so grateful to have!

Okay, so this a terrible picture to try and show the swingset. But, you can see that Scoti and Griffin are having a good time! I actually found Griffin standing on top of the four wheeler with his hand on the handle bars grinning...swaying back and forth...like he knew what was suppose to happen or something. Funny little kid!

I have been doing a lot of this. Halloween Countdown!

My favorite time of year! HALLOWEEN! I don't know why, maybe a little creepy, but I love HALLOWEEN! I get so excited about decorating, having a Halloween party, dressing up and making the kids costumes...the list goes on and on. I would most definitely be okay if we celebrated Halloween at least once a month.

Well folks, this is probably enough for one post. But, not to worry...there will be more. Why? Because Halloween is just around the corner and we will have the cutest PUNKED OUT PIRATES...that I will of course - be showing off!