The Season We're In

What is not to like about Fall?  For us it means tons of celebrations from birthdays and anniversaries to holidays.  It also means cool weather and football which facilitate fun activities and time with friends and family.  The Fall is always a busy time and this year even busier as we get ready to become a family of five.  I just thought I'd take a minute and record specifically what season we are in. (And before life with a newborn renders me unable to blog regularly!)

Cooper completed his first soccer season!  He had so much fun and so did we!  I think Cooper learned a lot about how to play, listening to a coach, being on a team, and the thrill of scoring goals.  He was so excited to receive a trophy and proudly displays it on his dresser.  We think 5-year-old soccer is just about the cutest thing ever!

We are trying to pay special attention to this little mess, hoping we can help her transition from little sister to the "middle child."  Mama and Penny both are enjoying the time together and we think (hope) it is helping.  Penny has gone from refusing to acknowledge that a baby is coming to asking to give Mama's growing belly kisses.  When we told her she was going to get to be both a little sister AND a big sister she said, "NO!  I am the BIG sister!" (This is progress, if you know Penny.)  She even helped me pick out a baby book in the store the other day.  

We've been ranchin'!  We have managed two day trips and one overnight trip to the ranch in the last three weekends.  All the outdoor exposure has been awesome!  Cooper is having the best time "helping" Pa-Pa and Daddy get some tasks done around the ranch.  We feel so fortunate to be able to have this opportunity.

I've completed the last of my baby sewing...in the last month or so I completed one more blanket for our little one to come, a pink pig pillow for Penny (so she would feel included in all the baby prep), and some burp cloths for both our baby and a friend's baby due two weeks before ours.  I could keep going (my sewing and baby boards on Pinterest are out of control), but the time has come to shut it down and start focusing on other aspects of preparing for a baby and for the holidays.  Only six more weeks!!

What A Decade Looks Like

November 15, 2003

Our 5th Anniversary...we were parents!

October 2011, married nearly 8 years and we've doubled!

August 2013...Celebrating a decade together a few months early before we add one more!

Ranch Day

On Saturday after Cooper's soccer game (three goals!) we decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather and head to the ranch for a day of refreshing outdoor fun.  Pa-Pa was glad for Daddy's help getting a couple of chores done and the kids had a blast of course.

Penny and Millie enjoyed the day and the ride.

Daddy, Cooper and Pa-Pa load and unload new gates.

Our pretty Penny.

Our crazy Coop.

Crossing the cattle guard.  I remember being a kid and thinking of walking across the cattle guard as an accomplishment also.

Halloween 2013

Cooper the Minion and Penny the Fairy Princess

Our friends Libby and Bill came over for Halloween.  Libby and Penny contemplate the banjo playing skeleton at the scariest house on the block.  So scary in fact that Coop wasn't going to go up to the door.  (This is funny because I have almost this exact same picture from last year, only take out Penny and insert Cooper.  Penny really got into Halloween this year!  She told Daddy at bedtime, "I love costumes!")

Pumpkin carved by Daddy.

Thirty-Four

Scenes from a stay-at-home-mom's birthday:

A sweet face to keep me company.

A moving dust mop forcing me to vacuum on my birthday.

The extent of my fall decor this year.

A 30-week-old baby bump. (The blurry photo was chosen on purpose.  Posting preggo pics of myself makes me a little squirmy.)

Penny and her pigs!

One ornery little dude.

I had a sweet birthday!  I spent all day with my favorite people, Daddy cooked dinner and brought cake, Ma-Mas bathed the kids and put one to bed.  I relaxed!

Happy Birthday Cooper!

Coop, on the first day of school.

Coop, on the first day of school last year.

This year Cooper turned FIVE years old!  I don't know, that just sounds so old to me!  The day we brought him home from the hospital, roughly half our marriage ago, seems like such ancient history.  In the past year this sweet preschooler has become a big kid!  Though he is still as sweet as ever, he now looks, talks, and plays like a kid.  We are having so much fun watching him as he now analyzes, reasons, and comes up with solutions and ideas all on his own.    We start grinning the second he says, "Mom, I have an idea..."  because we know it will be something only he could have thought of.  

Cooper has shed his long time love of Thomas the Train (though he still tinkers with them from time to time) and instead prefers to play pretend (his room transforms into a hotel, the kitchen and laundry room into homes of the three little pigs, and sometimes the couch is a baby giraffe cage), build stuff, play soccer, color and play games, both on and off the iPad.  A year ago, I could only get him interested in coloring or painting every once in awhile.  Now he asks to color and concentrates really hard when he does it!  He seems to be thriving in pre-kindergarten and just this past weekend his interest (and ability) in soccer seemed to skyrocket.  Cooper is an amiable chap with several friends that he talks about all the time.  I think five is our favorite age so far.  Of course, we say that every year!

We celebrated Coop turning five with a small party at home and cupcakes to school.  Nonnie got to visit us for an extended weekend, and Ma-Mas, Pa-Pa, Libby, and Bill all came over for his birthday dinner.  A few shots:

Monster's University cupcakes...We took the kids to see this movie in the theater and they both LOVED it.  Cooper was really proud to share the Mike Wazowski cupcakes with his friends at school.

Cooper checking out one of the many lego sets he received for his birthday.  We have replaced Thomas the Train with Legos I think...all he wanted to do all weekend was play Legos.  He even passed up on swimming so he could play with them!  Daddy was very busy helping him put them all together.

Nothing Says Fall Like...

Soccer!

On Saturday Cooper played in his first ever soccer game.   He liked being on the field with the other kids and running!  (He is really fast!)

Cooper and his team warm up before the game.

Pumpkins!

After a night on the River walk in San Antonio to celebrate Pa-Pa's birthday, we got to visit a pumpkin patch!

Show me your pumpkins!

Sewing for Baby

Over the last few weeks (specifically once the kids went to school), I have been able to coddle my interest in sewing.  I knew a few expectant moms and this was a perfect excuse to hit the sewing machine.  With the help of Pinterest and online tutorials, I was able to create a few baby blankets (I hope the moms liked them!)...

I was so pleased with how they turned out, I was able to use sewing to coddle another  urge of mine...pregnancy induced nesting!  I have really enjoyed the sewing I have done lately for our baby girl!  (Of course now, Penny is a little jealous and has requested that I make her something...She specifically requested a pig pillow, so I guess that takes priority over the burp cloths I was going to do next.)  At any rate, here are a few projects I have completed in preparation for Baby Girl Kirk!

Baby blanket like the ones above...I found the tutorial for this at http://thecraftingchicks.com/2011/08/minky-baby-blanket-simplified.html.  I had all kinds of trouble trying to bind the blankets (I am no quilter) but found an easier way at http://eveninginthegarden.wordpress.com/2013/01/29/blanket-binding-tutorial/.

Changing pad cover...I followed this tutorial: http://prudentbaby.com/2009/12/baby-kid/diy-changing-pad-cover-tutorial-2/.

Changing pad cover #2...I followed the same tutorial as above.  What was really exciting about this one was not only is it my favorite of the two covers, but it was made out of two pieces of remnant fabric I bought for dirt cheap at Hobby Lobby!  I still have fabric left over and I think I spent around $9 total! (That is a steal considering what a store bought cover cost, and considering what minky fabric usually costs.)

Ranch Weekend

We spent the past weekend at the ranch with Ma-Mas, Pa-Pa, and Uncle Clint.  The guys were hoping for some good hunting for opening weekend (there wasn't) while the kids, Mom, and Ma-Mas just relaxed and enjoyed the cool weather.  It rained all Friday evening and night, leaving a very soaked ranch the next morning.  By Saturday afternoon all the rain had cleared and a cool front had blown in, making for a perfect first fall weekend.

On a wet morning walk.

Have I ever mentioned that Cooper LOVES the ranch?

Penny and Daddy enjoy the walk together.

A very full big tank.

Of course they had to clock some jeep time.

Cooper explains the "corn hopper."

Hard at work.

Eggers at the Lake!

Our friends, the Eggers, moved a few months ago and the summer just wasn't the same without them.  We were happy to be able to get together at the lake with them over this past weekend,  however.  We enjoyed relaxing outside, playing new card games, watching the deer, and visiting with their relatives.  The kids of course just played and played.  

Pool time for all the little ones.

Love this sweet face! He has GROWN since we saw him last!

Cooper wants to get close to the deer...but then, he doesn't.

As usual, Penny goes off to do her own thing.

Sweet jeep!  Where are you taking us, Grayson??