J Cooper Photography

You are gonna want to watch this a hundred times or so.

We had a nice long therapy session this afternoon where Danny’s therapist and I discussed his walking at great lengths.  I lamented his “slow progress” and she encouraged me saying “He WILL walk…we still have a lot of steps in the process to take before he will do it…but he is progressing every week! ”  She left our house at 5:10.  At 6:30 he walked 15 steps from our fridge to our kitchen sink about 25 times!   Before bed he walked from the back door to the rug in our family room (25 feet) all by himself!  Just like that.  We set him down on the floor and he wobbled a few times and then just took off!

There is no explanation for his sudden determination to get moving.

It is by God’s grace ALONE!  We are beyond thrilled at the Cooper house tonight for this gift from God!

BIG PARTY at our house this weekend.  Cupcakes, streamers, and lots of clapping and cheering for our little man….who wants to come??

1.   That’s a merry go round full of cuteness if ever I saw one.

2.   This is par for the course at our house.  I go thrifting and my husband ends up strapping stuff to the top of the car in the 100 degree heat.

3.  Hey look!  This time the thrift store finds fit in the back of the van!

4. Two weeks under their belts and they still like 2nd and 4th grade.

5.  A little dinner celebration with Baboo at a favorite spot.

6.  Missed nap time makes dinner a challenge.

7.  Brainstorming ideas for my craft room.

8.  Dinner date {he likes mac and cheese}.

9.  The girls and their friends enjoying a bit of Husker action.

10.  What do you think?  Did I buy them?

I’m sorry my blog has been sadly neglected the past few weeks.  We are etching out a new normal here at the Cooper house with new school routines, therapies, and being a “mom” of a college student.  ALL good things!

Due to a change in travel plans (boo!!) we didn’t get to meet our newest Peruvian family members at the airport as originally planned.  The girls were so disappointed as we had worked on special signs for their new cousins.   But I didn’t think missing the first day of school was a great plan so we stayed home and cheered them on in spirit.  Fortunately for us…they make a lightning quick road trip on Saturday for a special delivery and we got to see them newly home after all!!

Here are 7 of the 14 cousins in the family so far!

The Peruvian Princess is no stranger to our house (can you believe her incredible locks these days??) so she helped her newest brother, Little Man, find his way to the toys.   OH.MY is he a sweet heart!  He fit right in with all the wild kids running around!

And Little Lady LOVED two things at our house:  The Beast and Danny Boy {as you can see…he may take a bit longer to warm up!}  She was a stitch barking and playing with our dog!  And she just could not resist snuggling our Danny Boy.  She was completely goo-goo-ga-ga over him and talking non-stop in her Spanglish to him.  Pretty adorable!

If you haven’t been following The Librarian’s 40 day journey to these precious children…you should!  You can read all of her daily journals on HER BLOG (you are gonna want to take the time to do that).  To say I am proud of her family is an understatement.  They have given up a lot of things to follow this call that God has laid on their hearts.  It hasn’t been easy.  There have been many sacrifices made…but God has been faithful and the blessings have been abundant.

The main reason for my sister’s super quick visit was THIS special delivery.   She’s probably gonna kill me for this…but hey…you live in my house…your face ends up on my blog  We have a new auxiliary member of our family!  Many of you probably remember my niece from several blog posts last year about this time.  God has done a lot in this little lady’s life…and now we get to be a part of her daily routine as she is living with us while she goes to school.  And just like that…I am a “mom” of a COLLEGE student.  Pretty sure I do NOT have the qualifications for this job but we are going to be blessed to have her in our home!!  I made her sit on the front porch for a “first day of school” picture and she didn’t even complain…so she gets bonus points for that!!

Feeling very blessed by God’s gift of family.

Wednesday it was Super Sam’s turn to scurry through his morning routine and hop in the car for preschool!!  He’s got a pesky summer birthday so we haven’t determined if this will be his last year of preschool or not.  But at his teacher’s suggestion we went ahead with Pre-K this year and we’ll re-evaluate at the end of the year.  Maybe he’ll head off to kindergarten next year…or give Pre-K another round.

He was pumped.  He showed me how FAST those new Nikes could run and we were out the door!

And of course…another trip down Memory Lane is needed!

Super Sam in 3-4  year old preschool last year {yikes…looks like Mommy was behind on the hair cut schedule!}

And the year before he did one day a week at Mom’s Day Out.  Look at those sweet cheeks!

A friend of mine posted on Facebook the most adorable video of her little girl headed to Kindergarten and it inspired me to get my phone out and record Super Sam’s sweet little 4 year old voice!

For reference…the words to the “My Favorite Store” song:

My first favorite store is TJ MAXX

My second favorite store is Ta-ar-ar-get

My third favorite store is Noooothing

My fourth favorite store is Cool and Collected

My fifth favorite store is TOYS R US!

My sixth favorite store is Walmart

That is some quality music right there folks!

We have been doing the doggie paddle for awhile now.  We are working hard and keeping our heads out of the water…but we haven’t really seen the shore on the horizon.   The constant treading is a bit exhausting at times…our legs are a bit sore and we would really just LOVE to see some FORWARD movement.

So glad God cares enough about us to throw us a life line every now and then.

A few funny things to notice in this particular footage:

1.  Danny making “eyes’ at me about 2/3 the way through.  This is such a Classic Danny move

2.  The Beast getting a tummy rub.  Could a dog smile ANY bigger?

3.  Danny yelling “YEAH” for himself is just about the cutest thing ever

4.  Our daily crazy is really loud on video

We are VERY proud of you Danny Boy!  You never cease to amaze us with your persistence!  Can we get a “WHOOP WHOOP” for our sweet little stander upper???

There comes a point mid August where blogs across the Midwest become over taken by back to school pictures.  Sentiment runs high.  Moms get weepy and kids start hoarding pencil boxes and those awesome giant pink erasers.  I love summer…it is quite possibly one of my most favorist seasons.  But I would be lying if I didn’t admit that she had lost a certain Je ne sais quoi around the Cooper Casa.  The bickering was settling in heavy and we were all feeling a little bit too “free”.  So while other moms weep and lament…I gotta say…I’m pretty darn happy that school is back.

My kids like school.  Ok.  My kids love school!  And I like routine.  So it is a WIN WIN at our house.

The girls started today with Super Sam to follow tomorrow.

Of course we took photos before to commemorate their carefully chosen outfits and new shoes.  And apparently so I could spend the entire afternoon taking a trip down memory lane.  Oh time…why do you taunt me so?

The Brainiac – 4th grade

Miss Middle – 2nd grade

We had to come up with a new routine this year and it put me into a bit of a last-minute-panic.   We normally take photos on the trail behind our house (and then again in front of the school because I like to over due it).  But with the big move to the cornfields…there’s no trail.   At the last minute I wasn’t sure whether to chose the front porch, the side yard by the garden, or the deck?   Throw into the confusion that are new-to-us fish had babies this morning as we were heading out the door (I swear…I missed my calling in life as a fish breeder)…and I was just in shell shock.

We went with the porch.  It seemed like the right thing to do.

The Brainiac

Miss Middle (classic pose)

I also made them pose in front of their school (much to their dismay and embarrassment)

Overall they both had a GREAT first day.  I had chocolate chip muffins waiting for them after the school day (gotta win back a few points from the Mamarazzi nagging).

I have high hopes for these two sweet girls this year.  Here is my current list of hopes and prayers for them:

1.  That their hearts will beat louder from their convictions then they do for popularity

2.  That their actions will showcase a tender heart

3.  That they won’t chose to wear their neon pink socks with every outfit

4.  That they’ll swim upstream and grab hold of the under dog on their way

5.  That they’ll try hot lunch a few times

6.  That they will be brave on the playground in ways that make Jesus smile

7.  That they will make friends in the least likely places

8.  That they will remember to brush their teeth

That should just about do it

And now for a trip down memory lane cause I just can’t stand not to.

The Brainiac – 3rd Grade

Miss Middle – 1st Grade

The Brainiac – 2nd Grade

Miss Middle – Kindergarten

The Brainiac – 1st Grade

Miss Middle – Pre-K

The Brainiac – Kindergarten

Miss Middle – Preschool

The Brainiac – Pre-K

Miss Middle – Preschool

OH MY!  Maybe I am one of those weepy moms after all!!

Danny got new wheels this summer.  Bright yellow…you can see him coming for a mile!  He also got some spiffy new orthotics.  They are tall and hot and plastic.  And quite frankly…none of us are a big fan.  If you can get over my annoying “mommy voice” this is a pretty cute video of him learning how to steer his wheels down our side walk.

I know someday I will look back at these videos and be amazed at what God has done in Danny’s life.  To be honest…right now they kind of depress me.  Please don’t get me wrong…I am SO very proud of the progress he has made over the past 18 months.  God has proven himself more than faithful.  But some days I would love nothing more than to see Danny in the future.  Running.  Kicking a soccer ball.  Climbing the stairs or chasing the dog.  But that wouldn’t take faith.  And right now we are on a faith journey.  God is asking us to get in the boat with Him…and just test the waters.   We aren’t sure if the waves will come or it will be smooth sailing.  And that’s not really the point is it?  He just wants us IN THE BOAT.  So we are gonna just keep paddling and inching our little boat forward.  I don’t know if the wind will pick up the sail or not?  I don’t know if the waves will turn us about or tip us right over?  But I DO know God is asking us to keep sailing.

So…here we go.  One new walker at a time  Anyone got a paddle?

We’ve been here for about nine months and I really hadn’t touched the girls’ rooms until this summer.  We recently had all of our windows painted (main floor and upstairs) and that was the push I needed to get The Brainiac’s room put together.  We had planned on a barely-there aqua for the walls to tie in with the vintage sheet quilts I made before we moved.  As it turns out…nobody really likes those quilts (except for me…and apparently my opinion doesn’t count for much).  The girls deemed them “babyish” and they have been banished to the hall closet (sob).

While wandering through Target one afternoon we spied this quilt.  It was love at first sight for my budding tween.  There was hugging and petting and squealing involved.  Then she stroked it once more, and put it back on the shelf…turning to me she said “I don’t need it…I have a perfectly fine quilt at home…even if it is a bit babyish”.   Then that bad boy went right into the cart because what mother can resist an amazing attitude like that?  It helped that it was on sale too   We found the coordinating pillows (teal and lavender) and then found the polka dot pillow on clearance with the outdoorsy picnic items.  I bought 2 60×84″ tablecloths for $10 each and turned them into drapery panels.  Yeah for cheap!

Both girls have one of my beloved turquoise chairs and this quilt was such a great match!   Then we stumbled upon the ridiculous horse painting at Tuesday Morning.  We visited it a couple of times before I took the plunge…getting $25 off because the frame was scratched a wee bit (still need to touch that up!)

Her new space could really be sponsored by Target as we found most everything there!  It has been a challenge for me to LET GO and let her experiment with her own sense of style.  In the world of Jenn Cooper there are no purple rooms.  But, alas…I am not almost 10.  And I’m not cool, either.  I wanted to stage her desk area…but left it alone.  She had everything arranged on her memo board just as she likes it.   The built-ins were there when we moved in but needed a major overhaul.  They were extremely deep (must have housed a boxy TV in the 90s?) and only had 2 shelves.  We made a false back…added bead board…then added a couple of extra shelves for some of her favorite books and trinkets.

I had a {great} idea to paint a canvas for each child with a meaningful scripture on it.  The Brainiac and I chose this as her verse.  I was SO excited for this project.  Unfortunately it was a big FLOP.   I was ready to throw it away but she convinced me she still loved it so we went ahead and hung ‘er up on the wall.  I love the sentiment.  Not wild about my lack of skillz.  Not sure what happened with this one but my paint bled, the paper ripped…my letters were crooked.  We finally decided it had a certain “handmade charm” and decided to just embrace it

I re-used my old turquoise mirror and we organized her desk with a new little lamp and some dollar bin finds.

She ADORES her new room and that is what matters in the end.   In fact…she likes it so much she is keeping it PRISTINE..happy daughter!  Happy Mom!

Her adjoining bath has gotten a MAJOR overhaul too…will be sharing that soon too!

And for those who want them…here are some sources!

Quilt and shams – Target

Aqua polka dot pillow – Target

Lavender ruffled pillow – Target

Turquoise yo-yo pillow – Target

Purple pillow – Target

Drapery panels (tablecoths) – Target

Dust Ruffle – Tuesday Morning

Shag rug – Target

Chevron blanket – Tuesday Morning

Turquoise lamp and drum shade – Target

Memo tiles – Target

Horse painting – Tuesday Morning

Verse canvas – Yours Truly

Tray on desk – $2.50 bins at Target

Giant black clip – Target

Pencil cup – $1 bins at Target

Desk lamp – Target

Daybed with trundle – Nebraska Furniture Mart (this used to live in our guest room)

Dresser, side table, desk and chair – High and Dry Home Goods in Kansas City

Told ya we did some one stop shopping!  Thanks for letting me share!

We’ve had another busy weekend trying to pack everything into the last sliver of summer.   The Brainiac has been living quite happily at the county fair mucking out the stalls and sweeping hay.  This weekend we decided to hit the fair ourselves.  We saw all the animals, exhibits, random craft projects, a belly dancing troupe, and then hit the midway.  Super Sam proved to be the family ride lover.  Danny…not a fan…but the girls were happy to take his tickets from him

I took a thousand Instagram photos so I’ll just share our afternoon via pictures.

Every kid needs to see the fair.  And eat an over-priced ice cream parfait.  It’s a summer essential.

One funny memory from Super Sam.  He loved the little metal cars that are all connected to each other and spin round and round.  EVERY.TIME.HE.PASSED.US he yelled out “Look…I picked the FASTEST car!  I’m WINNING!!”  He was so dead serious too.  Cause no matter how fast he went…all those other cars were behind him

I was a little disappointed that the ferris wheel didn’t have “old-timey” baskets.  That would have made for cuter Instagram photos.  But you can’t win them all.  This is Lancaster County after all.

Miss Middle to the rescue to pamper the scared toddler.  Then she gladly stole the rest of his tickets so she could ride the boats

I didn’t eat any funnel cake for fear of spending the entire night in the ER but I sniffed real hard as we walked by.  That counts for something.

All in all it was a near perfect day.  We also squeezed in TWO sleep overs, a trip to the park, church, a birthday party, Sam’s preschool open house, and a few errands.   We are trying so hard to spend every last bit of intentional family time together that we can before this last little bit of summer passes us by.  One week.   I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’m just a little excited

Just trying to remember the last little rays of sunshine from this summer.

Fishing,  splashing off the dock,  paddle boating, rigging up the sunfish, the Happy Hippo Splash Pool, the “big catch”, early mornings, family time, and sunscreen.  Gonna miss those days in another week!

Oh, Summer…why do you have to leave so soon?