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.

Havensville Visit

Sunday we ran up to an auction in Onaga and then on over to Great Grandpa and Grandma McDougal's for a visit.  The day was
DIS-GUST-ING-LY hot and humid.  After running an errand and a potty break on a back road, we happened upon our favorite street sign. 

Needless to say, we didn't last at the auction long and ran to the house to soak up some AC and grandma's cooking!  When we got there, she told us that she had a new little friend.  This poor cat got more attention than it ever dreamed of. 

And then, Bruce and Coop discovered this little baby bunny

 hiding in the grass. 

Isn't it so fun to be in the country?  We had an awesome supper of Bruce's favorite Grandma meal-beef and noodles, mashed potatoes and corn.  (He's a little spoiled!)  Then we spent a few hours listening to Bruce talk to the TV dish company about service and prices...Finally he got done and after reading books and playing with toys, we headed home.  I wish they lived closer to us!

Happy 5th Birthday!

I can't believe that Cooper is 5.  I can remember the day/week (since it took so long) that we had him and now he's a big boy!?!  This year's theme was cowboy, of course, and while we tried to make it an "easy" party, it was still a little hectic and crazy.  We had a wonderful time with our family and friends celebrating our sweet boy.  And for the first time in 5 years, we had a pretty nice day.  The humidity wasn't awful and the heat was ok, which by my standards says something because I become a bit of an inside AC girl in the summertime...



The awesome cake that Grandma Susie made him this year WITH trick candles!

Daddy helping to cut GIANT pieces of cake.  He was good to use because there wasn't much left for us to nibble on.

Grandma Jean got him the horse trailer that he has wanted and begged for FOREVER.  Seriously...FOREVER!

And then she got him even MORE of the horse stuff!  She won the gift award this year!!!

Loving his new hat from Grandpa and Grandma Reves and the mustache from the Vetsch's.

Our own little circus lady

It was our little buddy Kabe's first birthday that day, so we had to make sure he had a special cake with a candle.  His Uncle Brucie loves him so much!

Zoo

Last week the weather was AMAZING. I don't mean nice, but it was actually cold and I love that kind of weather (especially at the end of May)! I decided it would be a fantastic day to go to the zoo in Topeka and even more fun if we took our favorite neighbors.

They were SO excited to see the penguins!

They thought Bruce would like this one. :)

They weren't too into the apes after watching a gorilla throw up
into it's hand and then eat it 4 times...

Loving on the goats

What a ferocious little girl!

Such good buddies!

Pretty girls

Always the cowboy...

After the zoo, we ran across to the park and rode the train.  What kind of a mother would I be if I hadn't let them do that AND each eat a chocolate chip cookie?  I know how to stay in these kids' good graces!

So, we had a good day.  Watching 3 kids is way tougher than the one ornery boy I usually have though.  I don't think they ever were in the same place together for more than a few seconds.  Lunch was at McDonald's and then they played on the playset there too.  Let me tell you...nap time was awesome later on!