keaton and kooper

Go Owasso Black!

2011-10-23T14:22:00.002-05:00

INFC Game of the Week: 4th Grade Owasso Black vs. Collinsville

Kooper's New Bike

2010-10-06T21:18:00.000-05:00

Kooper has been ready to upgrade his tricycle for some time now. We passed a garage sale, and they were selling a "little bike" (as Kooper called it). Unfortunately, I had no cash on me, and by the time we got back to buy it, the little bike had sold. Kooper was crushed... so I surprised him with his own little bike on Sunday. He immediately fell in love and has been zooming around on it ever since! Can you see the pure joy on his face in these pictures? He even made me load it up in my car three times this week so he could take it and ride it at Keaton's football practice!

The big boys were wrapped up in a very competitive game of basketball!

Bubble Boy and football

2010-09-19T17:22:00.000-05:00

Kooper: this boy loves his baths! He loves to shape the bubbles into a beard and play "Santa" and I laugh at his deep "Santa-voice." He's losing his chubbiness; his tummy is flattening out and his thigh rolls have all disappeared. He's becoming a big boy...

This week was the first home game for Keaton's team; he was excited to play in the real high school stadium! And this was their first game with cheerleaders; the football players even got to run through the banner onto the field. Kooper was definitely entertained by them! And our team won 12-0!

Running onto the field

Keaton (in the center)

Coach Dad

Such a hot game; Keaton was glad to get sprayed from the stands!

Go O Black!

2010-09-11T20:56:00.000-05:00

Keaton had his first football game of the season today, and his team looks really good! They tied in the fourth quarter so they played into overtime; no one scored in overtime so the other team won by half of a yard. What a great start to the season!

Keaton #17

Keaton stopping a potential touchdown

Kooper is quite the social bug at football; this face was captured by my camera but was the result of seeing his favorite girl at the game (she's probably 13!)

Fatherly encouragement

Caution: Party Zone! Kooper turns 3!

2010-09-05T19:55:00.000-05:00

Kooper asked for a "digger" party to celebrate his 3rd birthday, so I turned our house into a construction zone!

I put out construction cones, decorated the house with "caution" tape, and filled the back of a play dump truck with dirt (crumbled brownies) and gummy worms.We put together this fun play set in the backyard for the kids; the weather was perfect! The kids all wore construction hats

Kooper's construction cake- it tasted so yummy! We have been eating it for two days now!

Kooper loved celebrating his birthday so much that he insisted that we light the candles and sing to him three times! He opened so many fun presents and couldn't decide what to play with first! Thanks to all of our families who helped us celebrate!

Happy Birthday Kooper!

2010-09-05T19:17:00.000-05:00

It seems like just yesterday that we welcomed Kooper into our family! Keaton was so excited to become a big brother, and he has been loving, teaching, and pestering Kooper every day since September 4, 2007.

When Kooper was born, the nurse handed my baby bundle to me, and it was then that I noticed and fell in love with his dimples. Keith didn't think the dimples would last, that they would fade as he grew. But I am thrilled that Kooper is still a dimpled boy!


1st Birthday Boy


Kooper turns 2

Happy Birthday, baby boy! You are a joy to watch as you play, explore, and grow into such a fun and loving little man.

Football season!

2010-08-28T13:56:00.000-05:00

Football season has begun! Keaton's team has been working really hard, practicing a ton, and scrimmaging different teams to prepare for their season. There are a lot of great boys on his team; all of them are really playful with Kooper which helps him feel included in the team! Keaton is enjoying football, but he's also realizing how much work it takes to succeed.

Keaton almost got him! (He's in the black pants.)

They scrimmaged a 4th grade team- big difference in size between our team and theirs!

Keaton trying his hardest to block this big boy!

Water break

Back to school

2010-08-28T13:34:00.000-05:00

Keaton was very excited to start 3rd grade. He loves his new teacher and even has a few buddies in his class. His favorite subject so far this year is math and science (and recess, of course!) He's already learning multiplication and can't wait to start Facts Master. His long, shaggy hair is his attempt at charming the ladies "like Justin Beiber, mom!"

Kooper loves to walk "Bubba" to school every morning. His favorite thing to do is count all the kids riding their bikes! Kooper has also stopped using diapers- he pretty much trained himself in a week! He is growing up so fast!

Backyard fun

2010-07-19T20:45:00.000-05:00

Ohmygosh, was it hot this weekend!! I found this inflatable slide and pool on clearance at Target. The boys were so excited to play with it!
Their smiles say it all!

And what better snack for a hot July afternoon than ice cream?

Happy Birthday Keaton!

2010-07-11T11:09:00.000-05:00

Happy 8th Birthday Keaton! On July 11, 2002, you blessed our lives and made us parents.We were so nervous because you were so new! But we were so excited to figure you out and teach you everything!

Then, you turned one! You learned to walk and haven't slowed down since.

Keaton, age 2

Keaton, age 3

Keaton's 4th Birthday

Keaton's 5th Birthday

Keaton's 6th Birthday

Keaton's 7th Birthday

Keaton, what a little man you have grown into! You have taught us so much in your 8 years! We have had the pleasure of watching you grow into such a wonderful young man and have had the privilege of being your parents. 8 years- wow! We love you!

Birthday Fun!

2010-07-10T21:11:00.000-05:00

Keaton has been anxiously awaiting his birthday party at Laser Quest- he's been planning his party there since last fall when he played his first game of laser tag with his football team. His birthday is officially tomorrow, but we usually celebrate a birthday weekend in our family! Keaton woke up this morning to find the house decorated and a stack of presents on the table. I love traditions! I ordered this birthday banner from Etsy and love it so much! It will be now be enjoyed at each birthday, and I hope one day the boys will cherish it.

I also ordered this birthday plate from mypaperdolldesigns.com for the Birthday Boy to use. Birthday celebrations are so much fun to me, and I love to make a big deal out of the Birthday Boy! This birthday hat has been used by Keaton since he was 4; it makes me sad that it is starting to tear. I really enjoy looking back and seeing how much he's changed wearing that birthday hat.

Keaton invited a few friends from school to his birthday party. And of course, we had lots of family there! He loved his football cake and balloons, loved playing laser tag, and even got beat by a girl twice at air hockey! Tonight he proclaimed that this was the best day ever! And what more could I ask for? I'm so happy that his birthday party was so fun!

Tomorrow is the trophy ceremony for baseball season- his team earned fourth place! That is a huge accomplishment considering the top three teams are competitive and his team is rec. We'll be enjoying more birthday cake and playing at the splash pad. And I'm sure we'll all need a nap after this busy busy weekend.

Fourth of July

2010-07-07T18:35:00.000-05:00

We spent July 4th camping (well, in a camper with A/C!) in Talihina with my family and a group of pilots that came for the Fly-In. Unfortunately, the rain and wind didn't allow the para gliders to fly but we watched the hang gliders.

Blowing bubbles

The boys met Crockett the dog... Kooper was timid because of his size but they quickly became friends. Crockett tried to play bubbles with the kids, and he ended up with a bubble on his nose- look closely!

We celebrated Keaton's birthday with my family a week early so we ate cupcakes. Keaton was being so silly!

Keith, enjoying the outdoors

My brother, Chris, on Buffalo Mountain

A weekend in Talihina

2010-06-20T21:17:00.001-05:00

This weekend, we spent time at my parents' land in Talihina, OK. It was so, so hot- we went to Lake Sardis to cool off, where we found a great sandy beach!

My dad has a love for adventure sports and his most recent venture is para-gliding, which consists of strapping on a harness attached to a parachute and jumping off a mountain to glide higher in the sky than even the birds! We had never seen him fly so we were entertained (and a little scared!) by watching how high he can get.

Atop Buffalo Mountain overlooking the Potato Hills; this is the view from their launching pad (the landing pad is that large clear field.)

My dad, all harnessed up and ready to jump! They take this sport very seriously- lots of line checks and wind monitors.

There he goes! He makes it look so easy- but it's actually very complicated!

Keaton really enjoyed using his binoculars to

keep an eye on Pepaw and the other flyers.

My mom even flew tandem with an instructor! My dad is flying on the left and my mom is on the right. Despite the desperately sweltering heat, we loved spending time watching all the flyers and enjoying the beauty of southern Oklahoma.

Hello, hello!

2010-06-14T19:38:00.000-05:00

Wow, I can't believe it's been a year since I've written. Keith's schedule has been crazy, so I've had my hands full with these rambunctious boys; between keeping our house clean and Keaton's full baseball schedule, I'm lucky to sneak in an episode of The Bachelorette or the Real Housewives of NJ!

Some things have changed since this time last year- Keith is one year closer to graduation (yippee!), my house is officially toddler-free (as Kooper grows quickly into a preschooler), and I have a new camera that I love! So no more hazy, unclear pictures for me!

Baseball is coming to an end for this season, so I feel like I can breathe a little before tackle football starts. I thought I would take a minute to share some of the things that are making my life run smoother and are helping me along this crazy road.

The Mob Society website

For Moms of Boys by Moms of Boys

themobsociety.com

I recently discovered this website and the posts are great to read. It's refreshing to hear that other moms of boys are overwhelmed and intrigued by these little creatures. It's also a great resource for reaching into their little hearts and raising them to be Godly men. I also love the book Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys by Stephen James.

Steam Mop

Wow, these boys are messy! Especially in the summer when they are running in and out of the house! They track in mud from the baseball field and dirt from the backyard. I am in love with my steam mop because it makes my life so much easier.

Summer Reading Program at the library

Any incentive that helps kids get excited about reading is a favorite of mine! The prizes are really fun (who could turn down a free doughnut from Krispy Kreme or a free $5 game card to Incredible Pizza)!

Sunnygram

When I'm busy, it's hard to remember to keep in contact with my grandparents. I saw Sunnygram in the paper one Sunday and tried it- my grandma LOVES it! I send pictures and updates about the kids to her email address set up by Sunnygram. Once a week, they print out all her emails in a newsletter and send it through the paper mail. Anyone you designate can send her an email- it's a monthly subscription of $12, and well worth it for her to see so many pictures of my kids! Sign up here: sunnygram.com

Bento lunch boxes

Keaton's camp requires a packed lunch four days a week and his Laptop Lunch box by Bento makes it much easier for me to pack him a healthy lunch. Instead of buying the pre-bagged snacks and chips, this lunch box has dividers (some with lids) that I fill with healthier choices. He really likes eating lunch out of this box, and I can see how much he ate at lunchtime. Plus, not using all those baggies and packaging is better for the environment! You can buy the lunchbox or get great ideas to pack a healthy lunch here: laptoplunches.com

Keaton's new chore chart

I finally found something that is working to help Keaton be more responsible. I printed this chart with a baseball from stickersandcharts.com and filled all the boxes with chores; some are really chores "Empty trashes" and some are more fun "Read a book to Kooper" or "Use the computer to look up a fun fact." When he completes a task, he highlights it. He gets to chose a reward when the whole chart is highlighted. He is really excited about his list of rewards- right now, he's eying the 5 iTunes songs! It's taken him a little over a week to get finished, but he can choose when he wants to complete them. That's been the key to our success!

He does have daily chores that are expected but not rewarded- Make his bed, brush his teeth, feed the dog.

My maid!

Just typing that made me excited! But, no, I am the maid. But I can dream, right? Keeping this house clean is a major feat. And speaking of clean, I have two little monkeys that need to be tossed into the bath!

Just pictures!

2009-05-23T21:05:00.003-05:00

We've been so busy with end-of-the-school-year stuff and baseball! I finally got the chance to eat lunch with Keaton, and he wanted me to bring him McDonalds. He was excited to have me sit with him and his buddies at their tiny lunch table!

He also had a first grade musical and awards assembly; he was so proud of his reading award!

We took the boys to the park; Keaton needed some practice at the batting cages so Koop enjoyed the slide.

His new monkey friend looks a lot like him! (and is completely necessary- he is so fast!)

More milk please!

Boy oh Boy!

2009-05-05T15:25:00.004-05:00

As the rain comes down for another day, I sat in my car waiting for Keaton to get out of school. Between the sidewalk from the school and where I sat waiting in my car, there lies a large field (usually just dirt-covered but today was mud filled!) I watched countless little girls tiptoeing through the mud, attempting unsuccessfully to stay clean by slowly and meticulously maneuvering onto tiny grassy patches to avoid the mud. Oh, how different boys and girls are! Unlike the girls, the rambunctious boys just bounded straight through the mud, splashing blissfully unaware of the mess below!

When we found out by ultrasound that Kooper was going to the tip the scales in favor of the boys in our small family, I hadn't really even begun to know life with these strange creatures(er...boys!). Never having a girl, I cannot compare boys vs. girls well; however, life with MY little guys is never a tiptoe through the mud! The messier, the better!

This past weekend, I was blessed with a child-less shopping getaway with my mom. It was relaxing, calm, and girly... and then I returned to my 3-boy-entourage waiting for me! I'm glad that I was missed, but boy oh boy did they quickly remind me how rambunctious and loud they are! It's amazing how a little time away can recharge my Mom Batteries and patience! Thanks Mom!

Peek-a-boo!

Dirt

2009-04-08T20:10:00.005-05:00

Today, the weather is finally acting like Spring! We took advantage of the sunshine and spent all afternoon playing. Keith's Home Project #2 wrapped up last weekend- he dug up lots of dirt from our side yard to extend the sidewalk with more cement slabs. He used the extra dirt around the yard in hopes of everntually leveling out the lumpy ground. This afternoon, the boys flocked to the dirt without hesitation! They pulled out shovels and cars (Kooper even used the hose attachment to bathe Charlie!) and got to work!

Conversations with Keaton

2009-04-05T11:57:00.004-05:00

Keaton has been begging for us to take him to see the movie "Monsters vs. Aliens" lately so I took him on a Mommy date Saturday. He has been asking about college a lot lately. Probably because I have started filling his brain with the idea that it is not optional, that college is just something that you do after high school. In the car ride to the movies, he asked me "Do kids still live with their moms and dads in college?" I explained to him that it depends on which college you go to and that some kids go to college far away from their parents. His next question was this: "Will you tell the lady that I want to go to a college where I can still see my parents?" I'm going to savor this conversation before he turns into a teenager and runs as far away from us as he can!

So, as we are waiting for the movie to begin, the ads and fun facts start appearing on the screen. Keaton is a newly "independent reader," as his teacher calls it, and has begun reading everything he sees out loud. A fun fact about Posh flashes across the screen with a quote from her stating something like this, "All I used to do was wear the fancy clothes and pout." Keaton happily read it out loud, "All I used to do was wear the fancy clothes and poot!" He stopped reading and we quickly looked at eachother and errupted into giggles just as the movie started. By the way, the movie was pretty bad- but there is another Disney Pixar movie coming called UP! that looks so cute!

Kooper is having a rough weekend- the poor little guy had a bout of diarrhea that has left his baby bottom a red and painful mess. We have been using Desitin but it's not helping at all! He's sauntering around like a cowboy, without his diaper, because he's so uncomfortable. Any other remedies? Thanks!

Kooper funnies

2009-04-01T16:03:00.007-05:00

Today has been a day! The boys have been extra funny and extra ornery today. Maybe they know that on April 1st, they can get away with more! So, as soon as we finished afternoon snack, Kooper busies himself with cleaning out my cabinet, which I don't mind because it's the only cabinet that he's allowed in. I keep a little basket in there with plastic cups and spoons so he can play while I fix dinner- he loves it! Today he pulled out Keith's lunchbox and toted it around the house. Then he wanted to put on Daddy's shoes and tried to tell me "Bye-bye!" So then I asked him, "Kooper, what you put in the lunchbox?" and he replied: "Num-nums!!" Translation: Snacks!!

Here's another Kooper funny that made me laugh today: I've been trying to help Kooper say his name. Me: "Who are you? What's your name?"
Kooper: "Poo-poo" which is also how his little friends at daycare say his name!

Last but not least: this new little pose that Koop does when he doesn't want to listen- he pretends to be shy! Ha! He turns away from us and buries his little head into his shoulder. Oh, he's got us wrapped around that chubby finger!

An Easter Invitation

2009-03-31T17:41:00.005-05:00

Easter is here, and it is the one time every year that a ton of people open up their hearts to God, just a little, and are willing to check out church again. This year let’s make Easter Visible Online. At LifeChurch.tv Craig Groeschel will be talking about “Can You See Him.” What would it look like if we helped thousands of people “see him”, maybe for the first time?!

So, we have a big challenge for everyone! We want to make Easter visible online like it has never been before by using all the amazing tools that are on the internet like Twitter, Facebook, Blogging and everything else. So how can you help? Pass this video on...

*Be sure to pause my music on the right side of the page before playing the video*

Spring pictures

2009-03-31T16:56:00.002-05:00

Afternoon Adventures

2009-03-23T17:40:00.010-05:00

My birthday is on Wednesday and what I wanted more than anything was sturdy, comfy patio furniture. We found what we wanted (surprisingly at Wal-mart) and hauled the HUGE box home to assemble my gift.

We very quickly found out that we needed something other than our backyard toys to occupy the kids for the daunting task of assembling the millions of pieces of chairs and tables... What could be more fun to kids than a huge box?Peek-a-boo Kooper Man!

The boys had a TON of fun in their "fort", even coloring the walls and making pictures!
Keaton's picture is on the left and it says "I love you Mom"; Kooper scribbled on the right!
The final product! And I am so excited to spend lots of time as a family in our backyard!

Funny boy!

2009-03-08T20:22:00.008-05:00

"Kooper, let's get ready to go!" This is how he prepared himself- brother's basketball shoes and his winter puppy hat! Apparently, pants were lower on his list!
Diaper boxes have really shrunk lately; however, Kooper still manages to squeeze himself in.

The best $10 I have spent in a long time! It's a wheeled bucket and I found it at Wal-mart. It's meant for toys or dirt and rocks, but the boys have had a blast playing in it!

He has earned the new nickname "Spanky" (like the Little Rascals) for his sweet round face and ornery personality.

Tidbits

2009-03-01T11:51:00.008-06:00

I can't believe that March is here! It came upon us so quickly! Keith and I are celebrating our 7th wedding anniversary! My, how time flies! On March 2, 2002, I awoke to the sound of sleet hiting the window. I pulled back the curtains to see several feet of snow! In March! This was something we hadn't even contemplated when choosing the wedding date. Luckily, our family had already safely arrived in Tulsa and the festivites were not hindered one bit. We even took fun, but freezing, pictures in the snow!

Keaton just finished basketball season. This was his first time to play, and he really enjoyed learning the sport and practicing lay-ups! The games were very exciting to watch, but I had a hard time cheering Keaton on because Kooper was so fascinated with the stairs on the bleachers. We couldn't have done it without Goldfish crackers!

Kooper has changed so much lately! He's saying more words everyday and is truly Keaton's little shadow. He imitates everything big brother does and is so excited to see him after school. Although they play well together, they are so different!

Fishing

2009-02-10T17:14:00.003-06:00

Meet Sharky. Sharky went fishing...in the toilet. I wasn't a bit surprised. Grossed out, yes! But Kooper was so pleased with himself.

25 Random Things About Me

2009-02-10T15:51:00.002-06:00

This chain letter has been circling around Facebook for a while now; I finally did mine and I spent so much effort doing it that I thought I would post it here too! So here goes...

1. When I was little, my very favorite thing to play was hide-and-go-seek; it was life or death for me, and I loved the thrill of waiting to be found.

2. I hate my feet- there is nothing cute about them!

3. I had a huge crush on my husband in 6th grade. Thanks to my ugly duckling phase, we didn't start dating until the summer before our Senior year.

4. I cannot stand when people chew ice (shudder).

5. I am still slightly scared of the dark, especially outside. I just know that someone is waiting to get me!

6. I sleep in socks, with my feet under the covers. I am also afraid that someone will tickle my feet in my sleep.

7. I had my belly button pierced in high school.

8. I hate to be cold- that makes me really grumpy!

9. I have started many journals, with great intentions. All of them are empty except for the first 5 pages.

10. I do not dance. I have no rhythm at all, unlike my husband who can cut a rug (which many of you have had the opportunity to witness!)

11. I will avoid talking on the phone if at all possible. I would much rather text or email.

12. I have always wanted to learn how to surf; I will one day.

13. My dream in middle school was to graduate from the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and fly jets. Maybe because my dad was in the Navy. I love going to the Air Show every June and watching the planes fly.

14. I am a worry-wart, especially when my kids are not with me. My imagination runs wild with scenarios that might happen.

15. If I could live anywhere, my cozy home would be on the cliffs on the Maine shore. My back door would open to the ocean and I would fall asleep to the sound of the waves...

16. When I was little, I was so upset with my mom that she didn't order me with dimples.

17. I like the idea of road trips; I enjoy the packing and planning, and I am happy for the first 3 hours or so. Then, I need outta that car!

18. I cannot whistle, and this really frustrates me. Especailly since Keaton just learned and has been whistling away all day.

19. I gained 50 pounds when I was pregnant with Keaton; luckily, I bounced back!

20. I do not like to swim in the lake or an other body of water in which I cannot see my feet.

21. I am a bit obessed with chronicalling my kids' childhoods; I am always taking pictures of them, trying to capture all of their funny faces and moods.

22. I cannot believe that Keith and I have been married almost 7 years; we are planning trip to Italy for our 10 year anniversary.

23. I was a figure skater for 6 years; I could do a double lutz.

24. I cannot resist a package of Oreos and a glass of milk- I have no willpower against it!

25. I only did this because Jenni promised to watch The Notebook if I did. Ok, Jenni!

Welcome Matthew!

2009-02-04T16:31:00.004-06:00

My second nephew was born today! He's adorable with a head full of blond hair. Now there will be four little rambunctious boys at the R family gatherings.

Babies are everywhere right now! It's almost Spring and definitely baby season! And as I watched little Matthew getting his first bath in the nursery, my mind flashed back 17 months ago to when Kooper was the little (well, not so little at 9 lbs!) bundled ball of baby in the plastic crib.

As I write this, he is currently exploring the art of furniture moving; he's very good at pushing our heavy barstools from the bar to the wall. He's babbling gibberish, with his pacifier half in. He's such a funny kid; he loves to brush his hair, and he loves lotion more! He's obsessed with shoes and would be occupied all day long just sticking his feet into our shoes and trying to walk. He's true to his nickname "Monkey"; he can scale the dining room chairs to sit on the kitchen table in 2 seconds!

Some days, I am able to entertain the thought of another baby; lately, I can barely tread water with two! We'll see...

Koop at 3 days old and then at 17 months!

"I wuv him!"

2009-01-11T14:56:00.003-06:00

I have been re-organizing files and home movies- If you know me very well, you know that this is what I do! I love having all my pictures categorized by month and year, and it gives me great peace of mind when everything is where it belongs...

Since I have finished reading the Twilight series, I felt the need for another project so I began editing our home movies. So far my project has been a flop because I've been so engrossed with watching the movies and reliving the moments that I haven't done any editing. Oh well!

I had not watched any the footage of Kooper as a newborn and it made my heart swell a bit to watch Keaton holding baby brother for the first time. He had just turned 5 when Kooper was born and had done a bit of growing up the month before when he a benign cyst removed from his throat. He was so brave watching them draw blood; he was motionless while they took an MRI for 2 hours; he did not cry at all before or after surgery.

Anyway, looking back at the immediate awestruck love that Keaton felt is so precious for me to watch now, as Kooper is growing into a rambunctious little brother to Keaton.

Be sure the pause the music on the right so you don't miss Keaton's little voice!

Twinkies

2009-01-09T18:10:00.009-06:00

When Kooper was born, we were unable to match his facial features to Keith, Keaton, or me. He was such an individual! Maybe it was the adorable dimples or the blue eyes! As he has grown, he has gone through phases where he looked more like Keith and then more like me; it wasn't until I compared the boys' baby pictures that I realized how much he looks like brother! Keaton's picture is first, then his are alternating with Kooper's. They are the best of friends!

Christmas Celebrations

2008-12-28T08:35:00.008-06:00

We had a blessed holiday and we hope you did too!

Kooper so desperately wanted to play Wii with brother. Just don't tell him the controller isn't connected!

When Christmas memories are made

Flash forward several years: already loving an easy chair and a remote!

Kooper loved his car so much that he refused to get out and

unwrapped the rest of his presents in the driver's seat

Keaton discovered that Santa brought him a basketball goal!

At the end of all of the festivities, Kooper just couldn't hold out any longer. Thank goodness, too! Little man was so cranky and exhausted!

Holiday Festivities

2008-12-21T16:06:00.005-06:00

Out of school for Christmas break!

Cub Scout Elves in the Christmas Parade

Although it was so cold, Kooper loved the parade!

Waiting to see Santa at the Christmas Train

sick day

2008-12-08T16:26:00.006-06:00

I am sick with strep. I am not surprised because it seems as soon as someone mentions strep is going around, my throat starts to hurt. But this is the worst case of strep ever- my throat is swollen shut and I cannot talk. The congestion in my head has caused my ears to ache, and I cannot stand for long before I start to feel really dizzy. No work for today. I took myself to the urgent care this morning. I felt so pitiful that I curled up on the paper-covered table until the Dr. came in.

After two dose of antibiotics, one tylenol with codeine, and a 5 hour nap, I can talk a little! Anyway, on to a more interesting note...

It is our custom to call Keith everyday after I have picked Keaton up from school. Keaton and Daddy usually chat away about Keaton's day, but today Keaton was very funny...

Keaton: "When I get a job, I am not going to work at your work."

Keith laughs, and asks why.

"Because you have to stay there a really long time!" Oh, someday he'll figure out that most jobs require that!

I love a 6 year-old's perception of life!

The past couple of years, I have arranged for Santa to send Keaton a letter. It came in the mail today, and Keaton was thrilled! He was so tickled that it said to tell Kooper hello!

Holiday Spirit

2008-11-29T12:07:00.002-06:00

We had a relaxing (well, as relaxing at it can be with two rambunctious boys!) Thanksgiving. My house is clean, laundry done, groceries purchased; I am pleased and proud of myself. But I am so excited that Keith is expected home any moment. I only had 9 days of single-parenting it; I cannot imagine how military families or single parents do it everyday.

I am eagerly awaiting putting out my Christmas decorations and curious to see how fast Kooper can pull it all down! I'm sure my little adventurer will be very interested in the twinkling lights and ornaments on the tree! Except for a few stocking stuffers, my Christmas shopping is done. Our Christmas cards are ready to be mailed. Now, I can sit back and truly enjoy the meaning of Christmas.

I was talking with Keaton in the car about Jesus's birthday; he eagerly replied "Oh, is he going to have his birthday party at the bowling alley? I love the bowling alley."

We usually choose an angel from the Angel Tree at the mall. I also adopt a few residents at the nursing home where I work. But this year, I am wanting get Keaton more involved in giving back. How do you teach your children to think of others in this commercial toy-driven season? If you have any suggestions, please share!

We have a problem...

2008-11-24T16:15:00.009-06:00

It's day 4 of Keith being away... All I can say is that I am alive and I got a shower today! Since Daddy has left, Keaton has forgotten every house rule, including no throwing balls in the house, no eating anywhere except the dining room table, and more importantly, no talking back. Kooper has forgotten how to sleep and has reverted to waking every 3 hours. Which leads me to our problem...

the pile of pacis that have accumulated!

Kooper normally only uses his paci at night, naptime, and in the car. Without Daddy, though, little man has taken his paci all day. I laughed very hard this morning in the car; I looked in the rear-view mirror and he had 2 pacis in his mouth! If I could have taken a picture, I would have! I anticipate a big problem when we decide no more pacis!

Little Man

My "gamers" during an eerily quiet moment in the house

On my own!

2008-11-22T20:36:00.004-06:00

First a little history about what occurs at Thanksgiving every year... Keith and the boys of his family grow out their grizzly beards and head into the woods in hopes of bringing home that prize deer. He packs up his canned sardines, spam (ugh!), mounds of bedding, and doe urine, and he happily heads to the wild. For the past few years, there has been a jinx on me when he leaves. Two years ago, shortly after Keith left, I received a phone call at work; Keaton was running and tripped, forehead first, into the door frame. An ER visit and 6 stitches later, Keaton was fine and all was well.

This is why I am a bit nervous for Keith to take his annual trip. Two days have passed, and so far, all is well. Except for an exhausted mama. In two days, I have accomplished one load of laundry and a daily shower! The kids seem to sense that I am relenquishing my type A control and are taking advantage of emptying every toy bin and cabinet. Just 6.5 more days to go...

Fall Pictures by Quincie's Creations

2008-11-09T19:59:00.004-06:00

Quincie took these beautiful pictures for us on a sunny afternoon in LaFortune Park. She was so patient with us, and these turned out wonderful. I love them! Her blog is quinciescreations.blogspot.com, and she's very good!

Halloween

2008-11-01T21:04:00.005-05:00

Yes, Keith dressed up as a cow! Here are all the boys, including cousin Will
The boys had so much fun trick-or-treating around the neighborhood. The weather was perfect! Kooper rode around in the wagon, and once we would stop in front of a house, he would try to climb out and run to the door with brother. He didn't bother much with the candy; he wanted the attention from the people handing out candy!

My little ninja and nubby brown bear

At the party at daycare

I took this just because the tail is so cute!

Such a cuddly bear!

Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-26T20:14:00.003-05:00

After Keaton's extremely exciting soccer game Saturday morning (they came back in the second half to win 6-3!), we went to pick out pumpkins. The boys had so much fun wandering around the pumpkin patch!

Boys in the woods

2008-10-19T11:40:00.002-05:00

the cabin
aiming at pop cans

My boys finally returned from the woods. They had not properly bathed in three days. They came into my pristinely clean, freshly painted home and brought dirt, dirty laundry, and woods. But I am happy to have them home; Keaton is in one piece, no broken bones, just scratches. And he brought home tales from his weekend in the woods. He has talked non-stop about seeing armadillos and snakes, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, his cozy sleeping bag, driving a 4-wheeler with the help of Papa, and shooting BBs at pop cans. What more could a boy ask for?

The good old days...

2008-10-18T20:51:00.003-05:00

Keith took Keaton out to the cabin this weekend; it sounds like it needed lots of work to get it ready for hunting season this year. So it's been just me and Koop all weekend, and I've been so proud of all that I have accomplished- re-decorating our bedroom and master bath, painting our dining room, planting mums, cleaning and laundry (that just never stops!), a little shopping for Keith's birthday, and keeping Kooper out of all my cabinets and from climbing on the furniture.

So now that Kooper is in bed, I had the chance to look back at some old pictures. These were from our senior year of high school- 8 years ago- and my how things have changed!

First Haircut

2008-10-04T17:54:00.005-05:00

The time arrived for Kooper to finally have his first haircut! So we said goodbye to his curly, long baby locks... he looks like such a big boy now! He has almost mastered walking and can get into cabinets so fast!

Kooper's wobbly steps

2008-09-15T20:20:00.003-05:00

Soccer season!

2008-09-14T15:43:00.000-05:00

Keaton's first soccer game

Kooper's 1st Birthday

2008-09-05T21:08:00.006-05:00

We celebrated Kooper's birthday with a little party in the park; we couldn't have asked for more perfect weather! After all the clouds and rain moved away, it was a gorgeous afternoon and perfect park weather.

Koop's cake was made by Mallory's Mudpies. They made such an adorable monkey cake; it was also the yummiest cake I have ever tasted! They made a little "smash cake" for the occasion. I thought Koop would tear into the cake without hesitation, but he surprised us! He mushed the icing around in his fingers and then proceeded to cry and fuss about the mess! He certainly did not get my sweet tooth because that little cake would have had no chance with me!

We were very blessed to have those in attendance at the party, such great company! We are so thankful that we are constantly surrounded by such love and generosity!

Happy Day!

2008-08-30T09:37:00.003-05:00

So many great things happened yesterday! The event that I was most excited about was a package that was sitting on my doorstep when I arrived home. Kooper's homemade baby blanket had arrived from Willow Creek Baby! We had selected 25 of our favorite baby outfits and had mailed them to Pennsylvania; 3 1/2 weeks later, they came back as a cuddly quilt that Koop is loving to look at and touch! The lady did such an incredible job on it, and it brought me to tears that all of his teeny tiny outfits were all together in one quilt.

My other favorite event of the day? A sign posted at the corner near our neighborhood "QT coming soon"! A day we have waited so long for...

Just Pictures!

2008-08-26T19:33:00.002-05:00

Koop pushing his cart

Watching Keaton and Daddy playing soccer

Boys!

2008-08-24T18:24:00.004-05:00

My monkey looking so sweet

My boys taking a ride together

Our household has been crazy lately! Keaton seems to have more energy than ever... I guess sitting still in school all day is causing the need to run around bubble up in him! We went to parents' night and his teacher had all positive remarks; he is adjusting well to the new school and first grade. He will be starting soccer practice very soon and cannot wait to join the Lizards.

Kooper is cruising around the furniture and grabbing for everything within reach. He crawls so fast that he can get across the room before I can grab him! He has recently developed an attitude and has quite a temper when he is re-directed; I haven't had the opportunity to take a picture of his face in this temper yet, but he squishes his nose up and looks so funny! I am ready to take Koop for his first haircut, but Keith is resisting to cut the baby curls that cover his ears and neck. What do you think?

These boys are growing so fast that I cannot take enough pictures of them; I don't want to miss these funny faces and moments. Koop's first birthday is less than 2 weeks away, and I am a bit sad to celebrate that milestone.

"I had a lot of fun, Mom, but I don't want to go back tomorrow"

2008-08-13T16:46:00.004-05:00

This morning at 4:45am, I opened my eyes to find Keaton staring at me, fully dressed, whispering "Is it time to go to school yet?"

He was so excited for first grade! He rode his scooter to school; we could barely keep up!

I was waiting to walk him home after school and he came out of the building looking very worried; that made two of us! It was so crowded and I was very nervous to hear about his day. He said he liked the chicken nuggets for lunch, but school "took way too long."

When we got home, as he hung up his backpack, Keaton said, " I had a lot of fun, Mom, but I don't want to go back tomorrow."
In Keaton's words: "I had a lot of fun, Mom, but I don't want to go back tomorrow."

It's amazing how much Keaton has grown since we took this picture on his first day of kindergarten!

Vacation

2008-07-27T14:58:00.003-05:00

Great vacation to visit family! We started in Pennsylvania; it was wonderful to see my grandparents and eat chili dogs! We got to meet my nephew, Derek, and spend time playing with my niece, Cassidy. Then we drove to Sandusky, Ohio, to ride roller coasters at Cedar Point, with 17 of the best coasters in the world! The kids had a blast together riding smaller rides and getting to know each other.

I am so proud of us! Keith and I rode the newest ride in Cedar Point, the 420 foot tall, 120 mph Dragster. This roller coaster is 2 and a half times taller than the Statue of Liberty and the ride is over in 17 seconds! And yes, as it looks in the picture, the coaster goes right over the top and back down to the bottom.

Lots of great family time and memories to cherish! Glad to be home!

My baby turned 6!

2008-07-13T20:57:00.003-05:00

And lost his second tooth! Keaton is growing up so fast; he has changed so much in the last year! It's amazing and exciting for me, as a mom, to watch him learn so many new skills; he can write his name, he can add small numbers, he can tie his shoes, he plays the Wii better than us! Along with these new accomplishments, though, he is becoming more independent and needing our help less. I'm so blessed being able to watch him grow into a little man; I just wish it wasn't happening so fast...

What a great 4th!

2008-07-06T17:21:00.003-05:00

We had a wonderful weekend full of fireworks, good food, and family! We went to the Drillers game Thursday night with great friends and enjoyed the game and fireworks show.

There was a moment during the show, with Keaton cuddled next to me and Kooper in my lap, the music playing and fireworks lighting up the sky, that a sense of true fulfillment came over me. We have so much to be thankful for, and I cannot imagine the sacrifice that our soldiers are making for our country. It was a moment I will cherish for a long time.

The rest of the weekend was spent with family, eating, playing and relaxing. The boys are exhausted! But Keaton is counting down the days until his birthday...

t-ball and trophies

2008-06-29T09:54:00.011-05:00

Keaton's last t-ball game was Tuesday. He has been requesting all season to play catcher, so finally it was his turn in the rotation. He was so excited to get to wear the catcher's helmet and squat behind the plate! After the game, the team had a little celebration at the park. and the boys played off their energy. The coach presented each player a trophy; Keaton has known all seaon that he would receive a trophy after the last game. He had waited so long and couldn't wait to get that shiny trophy in his hands!

Kooper cooling off on his splash mat. He loves the water!

Monkeys at the zoo

2008-06-25T20:51:00.000-05:00

We took the boys to the zoo this weekend. Luckily, the zoo opened early at 8:00 so it wasn't too hot yet. We had a great time- the animals were all awake and moving around. We watched them feed the black bears, and the lion was actually roaring! Kooper was his easy-going self and enjoyed the ride in his stroller, and Keaton burned off lots of energy! Our lil monkeys took a good nap that afternoon.

The sheer loudness...

2008-06-23T19:45:00.000-05:00

Here is just a one minute glimpse into our house right now. Koop has started emitting an extremely high pitched squeal. Not to be outdone by little brother, Keaton then squeals louder and higher, and this continues for much of the evening and, yippee!, even in the car. Ah, life with little boys!

Splash!

2008-06-22T17:09:00.000-05:00

We took the boys to the splash pad to play in the water. Keaton jumped right in, of course! Kooper took a little longer to get used to the water; he would stick one little finger in the water and grunt at it. He had a lot of fun patting the puddles on the ground and watching his crazy big brother run around and get drenched by the buckets of water falling.