Great Wolf Lodge

With Bruce's job change and wanting to do something ALONE for our 10th anniversary this year, vacation got put on the back burner.  Mom retired though and we thought it would be fun to take the kid and do something for a few days, which only could mean Great Wolf Lodge in KC!  I've never been there and we kept it a secret from Cooper.  He knew we were going to Kansas City, but couldn't figure out any of our clues.  It would be an understatement to say that he was ecstatic.  The hotel was wonderful and catered to him and made life easy for the two of us.  We shopped at Legends the first day and it was SO fun to shop with mom.  It was the first time I remember us ever shopping in the same section of the store.  I'm so proud of her!  After that, we pretty much stayed at the hotel and chased him around.  We had a great time and were glad to come home to daddy when it was over.

Getting his tattoo

Wiley the Wolf

Having a snack at the water park

Our little fish

They LOVED the hot tub!

Finally big enough to play the big kid games!

The little bag that he picked out and I colored most of...

Deep in conversation on the balcony

Showing the fake animals who's boss

The wolfpack

Finally got him to stop hiding from the wolf at the restaraunt

His new stuffed animal

Another successful family trip!  Thanks for going with us mom!

Mom's Retirement

My mom has worked at the same place my entire life.  When Seth and I were in school, we had to come home and call her everyday to tell her that we got home.  That phone number and extension are so programmed into my brain that sometimes I dial it on accident when I'm trying to call the house.  Finally after 32 years of being there, she is retiring!!!  My Aunt Monica and other friends planned the party for her at work.  Mom, of course, didn't want anything over the top, so they did different dips at break and it was very low key. The fun part was that she didn't think that any of her family was coming, but we all showed up to surprise her!  It was hard to keep a secret from her and not ruin it by Cooper saying something, so we had lots of little fibs and plans going on.  I truly think she was surprised.  My nephew, Tyler, ran up to her first, followed by some cousins and then she saw Cooper, which threw her off and then me.  After several minutes, she also saw dad.  She was a little overwhelmed I think. :)

the reception table

The family--and yes, those are shorts, not a short skirt like my brother thought...

Aunt Monica and Mom, had to take it fast before the tears started again...

Dad (who dressed himself and looked pretty studly)

Danica, Josie, Monica and Addie Mae

Opening her gifts at home

Coop was pretty excited about this part!

Later that night, we went out to eat supper together.  Oh how spoiled I am having an independent little man.  These two turkeys are BUSY BOYS and keep their mommy and daddy even busier!  This was towards the end and they were beating up on Cooper.  I love these boys!!!

Instagram Heaven

Do you have Instagram?  I am sooooooo in love with this app and finally figured out how to download them on the computer.  (I get a little behind when I don't have my 8 year olds at school to help me!)

Our turtle after eating strawberries, which entertains us because it looks like lipstick!

My handsome boys eating out for Cooper's birthday

on the birthday saddle and getting sung to

cupcakes we made for daddy because he passed his test

Our silly girls--this was my attempt to get the 3 of them quiet while waiting for pizza

Coop's self portrait in the car

Sweet Scout...
never know how much time we have left with him,
so I love when he's lovey and I can get a picture

Frog Hunting

Who knew there was a "season" for hunting frogs?  Our family is VERY into the show Duck Dynasty, which is where Coop saw people hunting frogs in the first place.  He was a man obsessed.  He caught his first at Uncle Jody's pond.  I think the boys caught that poor froggy 10 times or more. 

 Well, the season started and Bruce took him for the weekend up to Grandpa Danny and Grandma Diane's for his first official frog hunting trip with the big boys. 

Jody and Coop with the night's haul

 And then the fun part.  Both of my boys have eaten frog legs in front of me, but we've never had them at home, nor have I had the pleasure of dining on them myself...Can't say that now!

First bite...

And they're good!

5 Year Pictures

Cooper needed to have his 5 year pictures taken, but I've put it off because I wanted something that was "him" and not generic.  Monday was a nice, cloudy day and I thought we would go try to do some pictures at a place north of Meriden.  He was interested in the buildings and that kept him posing away and I'm not embarrassed to admit that there was a little ice cream bribe towards the end.  They turned out pretty good.  Here are a few of my favorites.