Happy Birthday (belated)

Cooper 1 day old

Cooper 1st Birthday

Cooper 2nd Birthday

Coopers 2nd Birthday was on the 15th of June. We celebrated for about 3 weeks with lots of family and a small steamtrain birthday party. Many Pictures to come.

Cooper is one of the best things that has ever happened to our family. He has taught me true patients, and has helped me become a better person. Even through the struggle of his first year and the dignosis of Williams Syndrome there is NOTHING that I would chage about him. The world would be a better place if we all had the personality of my little Cuper Cooper. Happy 2nd Birthday my sweet man.

Favorite Food: Sharp Cheeder Cheese and Popcorn
Favorite Toy: Trains/Cars/Balls
Favorite Person: Daddy and Lucy
Favorite Show: Sesame Steet
Favorite Thing: Bathtime or ANYTHING with water.

For the teachers in my life. Grammie and Tutu....

This week for dinner and BEST sister ever

Sunday: Pot Roast, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, roasted asparagas and brownies. ( Dusty has been pretty run down after traveling and working for hard for our team so I made him his 2nd favorite dinner as a thank you)

Monday: Chicken and brocoli casserol with rice. Taylor begged me yesterday  to put this on the menu.

Tuesday: Grilled Salmon, roasted fingerling potatoes and peas

Wednesday: Homemade lasagna and garden salad

Thursday: Left Overs

Friday: Shrimp Po Boys, Tater Tots and corn on the Cob

Saturday: Some friends of ours from Cincinnati will be here for the Reds game!!! I'm thinking BBQ but we will see.

Taylor and Cooper

You know when you realize that it's too quite in the house and you know your kids are up to something ( most likely up to no good) Last week I found Taylor and Cooper sitting on Taylor's bed watching a movie on the Ipad. 1st Taylor had the sneek the Ipad away since we like to have no tv or tecnology during the weekdays. When I asked Taylor why Cooper was sitting on her chest she said. " This is where he wanted to sit mamma and I wanted to make him happy" Sighhhhh she is the silliest and best sister ever.

I can not get enough of this girl

The best moment of my day was opening my phone to see  these pictures of my little Peanut. She took these herself, I have no doubt practicing for her next upcoming dramatic role. Not the best angle but who the heck cares. This girl is AWESOME. I can't stop laughing!!!

Happy Friday!

Dusty

I love this quote from Conan O'Brien. It is the definition of Dusty's work ethic. Trust me there are a lot of people who took advantage of him ( and our family, I might add) but Dusty continued to work hard and was always the bigger person... and look AMAZING things happened for us.

Got to love that awesome man of mine!

Grammie and Papa Visit

We had a super short visit from my amazing parents last week. We love them. I am so lucky to have supportive parents that give our family a great example of how to build a strong and loving family. They are the perfect example of how the strength of the relationship between parents is the foundation of a positive and healthy family structure. Here are a few pictures from there visit. More to come over the next few days. I have to much to share with everyone so stay tuned over the next couple weeks.

 This is my favorite picture. My parent drove from Salt Lake. Taylor, Cooper and Lucy looking out the window and waiting for them to arrive. I think Taylor asked over 1000 times ( no kidding) " Are they here yet"

 

Papa and Cooper watching Dumbo before bed

 

Nothing better then riding the horsey with Papa. Cooper adores him.

 

How cute is this picture. I love my family!

 

Taylor spent a good amount of time making sure every hair on papa's head was perfectly in place

Taylor asked Grammie to watch her babies, while they napped. She did an excellent job.

They are coming back in August and again for Christmas. I am counting the seconds until we see them again.

This Week for Dinner

** Sorry for my absence. I have been so distracted with work and personal "things" that I haven't gotten my act together. **

Sunday: Fathers Day, Skyline Chili of course!
Monday: BBQ Chicken. Grilled Squash, salad
Tuesday: Whole Wheat pasta with spinach, Feta and turkey sausage.
Wednesday: Shrimp and veggie coconut curry stir fry with jasmine rice
Thursday: Ham, asparagus and mushroom Quiche with a green salad
Friday: Portabello Mushroom burgers, corn on the cob and sweet potato fries.

This was our dinner on Tuesday. Whole wheat pasta with turkey sausage, heirloom cherry tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms and feta cheese. Took me 20 minutes to make and the kids went nuts for it. Yum Yum in the Tum Tum

 

Below are some pictures of our team. Cooper First day of Preschool. Taylor Last Day of 3's Preschool. Please note. Taylor need pictures taken at all angles so we could "appreciate" her accessories. Thanks to Auntie Allie for taking Taylor to Crew Cuts to pick out her sweet outfit. Allie picked the dress. Taylor picked the accessories

Yes, looks of fuzzy pictures because this is our real life. Lots of energy, lots of dancing and big... big smiles. xoxo

Preschool

I have been so busy. I am so sorry for my lack in posts this week. Work and been out of control and Dusty has been out of town. Sigh…. Okay enough of that!!!

Cooper and I started preschool this week, and let me tell you it is AMAZING!!!!!! The school district has put together the most comprehensive program I could have ever imagined for his early intervention. Everything is custom for his specific needs and the one on one teacher time has been more than we could have hoped for. Intense is the best way to describe it. This is as much of a school for me as it is for him. We are both completely exhausted by the end of the session. The whole family is learning sign language as well as tactics for Cooper to recognize strangers from family. We are working one on one with a speech therapist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, 2 teachers and a school psychologist and we are beyond thrilled!!!!!!

On our way to the first day of school 

my advice for the weekend....