Even though she was on the Bronze...

She was going for the Gold...

School for Mommies

This morning, Cooper and I were talking about school, and I told him how much fun he was going to be having in the coming days, and how I wished I could go to school, too! Cooper said:

"Mom, you can't go to school, you're a grown up. Maybe, when you get small enough, you can go to school with me and Ava."

"Mommy, I'll tell you a story. Once upon a time there was a Mommy at school. Mommy taked a nap, and she had a snack, and there was a big dinosaur that scared her away! But the dinosaur went away. The end."

Chick-A-Lik

Thanks to the heat, we weren't able to make it blueberry picking with the Kealey's on their trip down here; it was 102 degrees. So instead, we make a trip to Chick-Fil-A. Cooper calls it Chick-A-Lik, in homage to PopPop, who calls it Lik-A-Chick.

Bathing Beauty

Bear Island

We went to Hammocks State Beach/Bear Island, and it was beautiful. a 15 minute ferry ride, and a 1/2 mile walk to the beach, but it was a nice ride, and a beautiful, uncrowded beach. On the beach, there was a roped off area where the sea turtles had laid their eggs. The kids loved it. Since both mine had not enjoyed the pool the week before, I was surprised they enjoyed the ocean so much, but I was really glad! And Uncle Chad did double duty with Cooper!

CCA Visit

Last week we had Christy, Chad and Big Al come for a visit. It was a short visit, but it was fun. We went to Hammocks State Beach/Bear Island, and planned to go blueberry picking, but that day it was 102 degrees when we got into Jacksonville, so we played around in town, instead.
It was great to see them, and it was fun for the cousins to spend time together!

Behind

Hi, everyone! We're really behind on our posts, ut we've got TONS to get up here, so look out in the next day or so!!

Sitting on Neptunes Lap

How many opportunities do you get to sit on Nana and Papa's lap, while sitting on Neptune?

Art

Cooper and Ava did some sticky art work at home this weekend; Cooper used his kidsafe sissors and glue stick, and Ava used glue stick and pasta. Their creations were so cute! Cooper made his man all by himself, I only helped with the buttons! For Ava's, I only helped do her name at the top. Fun!

Summertime Favorite

I've been enjoying my all time summertime favorite for the last few weeks, crunchy, thirst quenching, sweet watermelon. I've been sneaking bites here and there when the kids aren't looking (because they are just as much watermelon fans as myself), we've enjoyed it for dessert, more nights than not, and now that it's at it's peak, I can start picking it up roadside for as little as $2 a piece. Last night at Sam's Club, it was $6.47 a piece, but off the road we can get it fresh from the vine.

I've also been growing my own! For the most part, I've been pretty sure I was going to be as unsuccessful at growing watermelon as anything else I've tried; I have a brown thumb. But we noticed a few days ago we have a few babies on the vine! I think we'll end up with 3 or so watermelon, which suits me fine, since the seed investment was only a buck or so! Here's our biggest baby, close up and then a wide shot so you can see how little he is (and how far the vine has grown outside the brick border we made.)

Tony Bean is a Loser

Jerry's Karaoke made sure to put up a sign here in Jacksonville to let everyone know what a deadbeat Tony Bean is.

It has been years since I have been able to express myself musically. Check out the video and enjoy.

Flashback Look A-Likes

Jacksonville Fire Station #1

Today, my Mama's group went to the Jacksonville Fire Station, #1. It was a great trip, the firefighters showed the kids what a uniform is like, let them try on some of the gear, showed them the engine, played a really great video (from 1995 but was really great; Cooper came out reciting some fire safety), and got their own "deputy fire marshall" hats. Tons of fun, and extremely educational, too.

How to Recycle Leftover Birthday Balloons

Fun at the Maysville Playground

We tried out the local Maysville Park this week; after all this time we didn't even know it was there! What fun!

Curley Sue

What's Old is New Again

Isn't it true, fads go out and come back again? When Joey was a kid, he loved Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Well, full circle...

Swiper

Cooper swiped my camera when I wasn't looking, and this is what I found he used it to take photos of. He loves his cars, what can I say...

Rocket Party

Tomorrow it Cooper's birthday party with his friends; I'm excited but at the same time, I always get nervous that the kids will have a good time, that we'll be serving food everyone will enjoy, that the adults will enjoy themselves, etc. So I'm anxious for it to be here and over, too!

Cooper requested a Rocket Party. I'm making a Rocket Ship Cake today (photos later), we got a rocket pinata, and I make rocket/outer space themed gift bags for all the kids. I'm pretty happy with them, they only cost about $2.50 a child, and have a whole variety of fun stuff; stickers, coloring pages, punch ball, rocket, create your own space scene,and all time favorite Pop Rocks (had to throw some candy in there!) We bought red and blue lunch sacks from Walmart, stamped outerspace images on the outside (meteors, stars, astronauts, planets, etc.), then loaded them and sealed them with a planet sticker. They're fun!

Little Princess?

Ava, having seen me put on make up, discovered a long-lost tube of lipstick yesterday while I was doing dishes. Of course, she doesn't know the difference and thought it was eyeshadow. She applied it to the best of her ability (which, she did get it around the eye!) Two problems; 1) it was 18-hour lipstick; doesn't come off with normal soap and water, and you really have to scrub; 2) Vaseline will take it off, but we didn't have any. Yikes! Luckily, Blistex is 50% petroleum (main ingredient in Vaseline), so I had to coat the poor child's eyes in lip balm, let it sit, and rub with a wash cloth. But it came out, and now she's her beautiful self (sans makeup.)

Brown Thumb

I have a brown thumb, always have. But thankfully, pumpkin and watermelon are so fool proof, that we've managed to at least grow a few of these. Granted, nothing has grown off yet, but I still expect they will (hopefully!)

It's a Good Day to Eat Outside

That's what Cooper said, as we ate on the porch this afternoon. After watering the pumpkin and watermelon plants, taking the kitchen waste to compost, and collecting rocks, we decided to eat outside. Cooper asked if Daddy would be home for lunch, I told them Daddy ate lunch at work. Cooper said, "Maybe if we call him loud enough, he'll hear us and come?" Then he and Ava started calling "Dadddddyyyyy, Daaaad-dddyyyyy" as loud as the could. It was really very cute.

There was a calm breeze, and it was a lovely lunch!

Snack Time in the Playroom

Visit Over

Grammie, PopPop, and cousin Alex came to visit for Cooper's 4th Birthday last week. The cousins had a great time, and it was great to spend time with our family. We're looking forward to the next visit by Grammie and PopPop, and we'll get to see cousin Alex again soon, next month!

Trade In?

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Someone Enjoyed Cooper's Birthday Cake

Cake #9 And Cooper's Birthday Cake

Here are our latest cakes; first is the cake I made for Mom Rawson's 60th birthday. Next is Cooper's birthday "cupcake"; it was an overgrown cupcake. It was made with a cake pan where each side makes one half of a full sized cake in the shape of a cupcake! For Cooper's child birthday party next week, he's having a Rocket Ship party, so he's have a, surprise, Rocket Ship Cake. Stay tuned...

Happy Birthday to Our Big Boy, Cooper!

Happy 4th on the 4th, Cooper, you're such a big boy now!! Love you, Mommy & Daddy

Happy Independence Day