Teamwork and Child Labor

One of the jobs I don't like to do is putting the waters away in the fridge. So we decided about a year ago to let Drew have the job (for a quarter per case). Today Cooper decided to help out, but, he might have caused more work for Drew, so I think at this point Drew may still get all the quarters. So when can they start doing the dishes and laundry? Too young?

PJ Day #2 - Drew

Drew is loving having a few days off from school. But I am confused as to how event will be shuffled when they go back. Thursday was suppose to be the 100th day of school, Willie Brown students have a big celebration every year for the 100th day of school. Drew was suppose to bring 100 of something (of course he chose candy) that day to share with the other students. So I am not sure if he needs to bring them, or if the 100th day will now be pushed back 2 days because of the time missed. But, just to be prepared, we decided to get his candy ready. We laid out the candy in a grid, so that he could make sure he had 100 pieces. Then put them in a plastic bag so it will be all ready when he goes back to school.

Drew working on his candy grid. He loves counting by 10.

I think Drew is getting a little tired of his PJs. He decided to make them look like old man PJs, then decided it was time to take a shower. I really think the shower was just a ploy to delay taking a nap (I decided naps are mandatory on snow days!) But I wasn't going to talk a little boy out of taking a shower.

Drew and his old man PJ's

The snow days haven't really been as bad as I thought they would be. Drew does keep telling me "Mom, I have a job for you... you need to entertain me." Ummmmm, NO! Here is praying for school to be back in session tomorrow.

PJ day #2 - Cooper

Cooper is loving the snow days too. I think he is a little confused by having Daddy home. This morning when I got him up, he looked at me and said "go church?" I guess he thought yesterday must have been Saturday since Daddy was home, so we must be going to church today.

He kept going to the window to see the bird.

He was fascinated with it, but it let me get some cute pictures of him so I didn't mind.

More random cuteness

Peek a Boo

One Trying to get into the Coocoo's Nest

Here in North Texas we have ice on the roads and temperatures in the teens, with wind chills in the very low single digits. Not much is going on around here, so when we heard something crash into our back window we all ran to see what it was. Well, it was a bird... a fairly large bird. I wish I could say that my windows were so clean that it is no wonder the bird thought it could get inside, but if you know me, you would know what a joke what would be. Poor guy has to be so cold, I am sure the inside of the house looked very inviting.

The poor guy left a few feathers behind. Drew thought it was bird poop at first.

I thought the poor guy was hurt, because he stayed just like this for about 20 minutes. But finally flew away.

The boys were glued to "Bird TV" until it was time to take their mandatory snow day naps. Cooper even said "night night, bird."

So that was our excitement for today. We are thinking about venturing out the afternoon. I am not sure how much more family time in the house we can take.

Drew - 5 Years 8 Months

Cooper got his own post, now Drew gets his. Drew is 5 years and 8 months old, or as he would tell you, he is 68 months old. Man that sounds a lot older than 5 years 8 months.

Drew started kindergarten this year and is doing really well. He has made some new friends, had a few play dates, and been asked to attend a few birthday parties. Now that he goes to school everyday he really appreciates school holidays more. He learned to read this summer and is just getting better and better this year. He has a little bit of homework most nights, but it doesn't take him long to finish it. He is already learning things that I know we didn't learn until 1st or 2nd grade. I ofter wonder how long I am going to be able to help him with his homework... and I have a college degree!

This Spring he will play on a new baseball team. The team he played on before is moving up to a new division, and we think he is too young to play up that far so Andy is going to help coach is team with one of the other dads. They will be playing modified coach pitch, which means they each get 3 pitches, and if they don't get a hit, they can take one swing off the tee. Drew is a pretty good hitter, but we thing another year in a less competitive league will help with his fielding.

Drew is still such a sweet boy. He loves his little brother, and and hanging out with his dad. He is standing right here and would like everyone to know that he is "really cool". He asks tons of questions, and all sorts of topics. This past Sunday on the way to church he hit us with "How do DVDs work?" and "What does 'His Grace is Enough' mean?" Really??? We often have to promise to explain something later, so that we can figure out how to answer it. Man are we in trouble when the questions really get tough!

I love the person Drew is. He is such a great kid! I am pretty sure I would like him even if he wasn't mine... but I am so glad he is my kid.

Cooper - 2 Years 4 Months

I thought I would take a minute to update everyone on all things Cooper.

Right now he is 2 years and 4 months old, and so active. He goes to school 2 days a week at the same preschool Drew attended. He loves school, and his teacher says he really likes music and stretch and grow. He does not, however, like art much, especially if they are painting or doing anything messy. At home, if he gets his hands dirty he will hold it out to me and say "mess", which means "Mommy, please clean my hands." He laughs a lot, loves to chase his brother around the house, loves to cuddle, usually has a toy car in one hand (or both hands), thinks he is one of the big kids, loves church, and really likes having the house to himself when Drew is at school. He is really starting to talk a lot. He has new words and phrases everyday, but won't say his own name. If we ask "can you say Cooper?" he just shakes his head and says "nooooo", and laughs. He is in his big boy room upstairs now, but is still in his crib. He sleeps really well, and enjoys playing in his crib, so we aren't in any hurry to move him. I can't believe he hasn't tried to get out yet. He loves learning his letters, and can pick most of them out when asked. We are still working on colors. He calls everything "red". Sometimes I think he knows and is just messing with me, but who knows. I am not too worried, he will get it.

Here are a few pictures I took a few days ago. He was running around me in circles, so most of the ones I took were blurry, but here are a few good ones.

We love his kid so much. I can't wait to see his personality continue to change over the next few years. He is such a sweet, funny, smart boy. What a ray of light he has been these last 2 + years. We LOVE you Cooper.

Starting Over

I have been so bad about keeping up with my blog that I have decided not to try to catch up. Instead, I am just going to start from now, and try to do better this year. My kids are not going to be kids forever, so I need to start documenting how awesome they are everyday.

Here are a few pictures of the boys and their favorite Christmas gifts. I promise to TRY to do better in 2011.

If you have talked to Drew since Christmas, you know he got a Nintendo DSI XL from Santa. Not just a DS... no, no a Nintendo DSI XL. He as to say the whole thing every time.

Santa brought Cooper a Strider bike, but that isn't his favorite. The loves the Leapfrog Alphapet Explorer. He is really getting pretty good at recognizing letters. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa.