Smile Fridays - week 39

Wow.  I haven't done a Smile Friday post since the beginning of April!  Apparently my Fridays have been too fun to sit at the computer!  This Friday has been pretty darn great but here I am because I don't want to lose this tradition...gotta hop back on this wagon.

My view for the last 2 days has been pool and/or beach side.  And I don't think I have stopped smiling! After passing up Hawaii (nursing Laney) and Puerto Rico (just stupid), I have finally tagged along with Adam to one of his dreamy work locations.  This time, Kiawah Island in South Carolina.  Yep, he's working and I am reading/drinking poolside...sounds pretty perfect, right?  He may disagree.  Actually he has had some free time and we realized we haven't been away together (without kids) since Cooper was 1!  The kids are in good hands with Grandma and Grandpa.

  You all have figured out by now that Laney Faith is our mischevious one, right?  This is where I find her the other morning.  You can't see but she had the chocolate chips dumped out on the shelf and enjoying herself a post-breakfast snack.  

Coop helps me fold towels now and takes his job very seriously.  Love his help!

Unless you are living under a rock, you probably know that Uncle Bill pulled thru once again...the #1 2013 prospect, Andrew Wiggins, has chose to play ball at KU next year!!!!!!!  This is huge, I mean huge for our program...we are counting down until October for basketball season to start up again!  In the meantime I have been educating Cooper on the greatness of Andrew Wiggins thru YouTube videos :).

Laney the Patient

Laney has had lots of ear infections in her short 21 months of life.  Since January she has had one every month, so in April this led to the topic of ear tubes with our pediatrician.  With Aunt Tanya being an audiologist and Adam's work, we were very familiar with them.  We visited the referred ENT who was great and decided tubes was the way to go with Laney Faith.

I honestly didn't think twice about it until the night before her surgery.  Adam has seen the surgery done multiple times and I was very aware of how simple it was.  However, that night before I did get a tad worried about my teeny tiny (ok, she's not so teeny tiny) Laney going under anesthesia.  I was also dreading the next morning because she is an early bird that demands milk the moment we get downstairs and we weren't scheduled to be at the surgery center until 8:45.

She didn't fail me...up at 7 on the dot.  However, I distracted her most of the morning playing in our room and watching Mickey Mouse and Jake.  At 8:30 we were all out the door, Doodles clueless.

 And within minutes I already loved this place.  I mean, Senior Citizen clowns?!?  Is there much better than that?  And guess how old Professor Owl is?  94!  Ninety-Four!!!  Look at that make-up and those shoes!  His partner in crime, Joyfull, didn't reveal her age.  They were precious and so sweet with all the kids!

 Laney was not impressed.  Her milk and food meltdown was in full swing and I couldn't blame her.  It was 9:30 and she spotted sippy cups and snacks in my bag.

She was all good when we got called back.  She had Jakey, Lovey and Madagascar was on TV.  I continued to love this place.  The staff was incredible.  Adam kept reminding me that was their job but really...they were the nicest people.  I kind of didn't want to leave, I just love people that love their job or do an incredible job of pretending to love their job.  I mean, the anesthesiologist called me the night before and left his home number on my voicemail!  Maybe this is routine and luckily we don't know the routine because so far our kids have stayed healthy.

They gave her a nose spray full of kiddie-valium and all was good.  She loved her nurse and happily went back to the OR with her...of course never letting go of Lovey and Jakey. :)

From the time she left my arms to the time her doctor came to see us was 12 minutes!  I knew it was quick, but didn't expect it to be that quick!  He was fabulous and said everything was perfect.  We had to wait about 10 more minutes to go back and see her.  She was post-op drunk.  Couldn't stop drinking this apple juice.  

We got home and she demolished some food...girlfriend was freakin' starving.  After that it was as if nothing ever happened.  She may have had surgery that morning but it didn't slow her down one tiny bit!  I am so happy it is over and so happy for her that she (hopefully) won't be in anymore ear pain!

Cooper's last day of preschool - year 2

Coop finished up his 2nd year of preschool a couple of weeks ago.  He had another great year, we are just so, so happy with his preschool!  You can see his first day of preschool here.

 He was in the 3 year old class this year :).

We love this boy (and his thumb sucking teeth ;)).

 I wrote in this post about the incredible scrapbooks that each child comes home with at the end of each year.  I love this page...he got the skateboard and motorcycle.  Never heard anything at home about the BatCave or box to put toys in :).

 They go to Discovery (science class) at school each week.  He told me he was learning how to milk a cow in this pic.

 Last year he grew 4 inches and gained less than a pound.  This year, 4 inches and 4 pounds...that's just September to May.

 Learning to write his letters was (I think) his biggest accomplishment this year!  I just can't believe how far he has come in just 8 months...and he writes his name much better than what's on here.

Loved this page in the scrapbook.  He said the person with no hair was Dad which is funny because he probably has more hair than anyone in the family.  Also funny that he wishes his dad worked at Chicago...guessing Adam was there the week he did this assignment?  Who knows.

His teachers, Ms. Whitney and Ms. Adrina.  They were so loving and great teachers for Cooper!

Laney has discovered popsicles!

This is such a random post but sometimes I feel like Laney's 'firsts' get overlooked.  You know...that 2nd child syndrome.

We had our first popsicles of the year after Coop's last day of school.  If last day of school and popsicles don't scream Summer, I don't know what does!

 First popsicle!  She was so excited and a bit confused ;).

 Cheers!

Needless to say she was a disaster by the time that popsicle was gone!

Grapevine MainStreet Days 2013

Last Friday morning the kids and I headed out to Grapevine for their Main Street Days...they shut down main street for bands, lots of pizza set-ups, a children's area, carnival games, etc.  I posted about going last year here.  Man, I can't believe how much Laney has changed since then!

We went as soon as they opened so we missed most of the weekend crowd and crazy heat which was great!

 Here's a sign this boy is growing up.  He asked to go on a ride!!

 Laney watching her brother and wanting to ride too.  Sorry Laney, Mom is cheap...I wasn't paying for all 3 of us to ride.  Next year :).

 After the carnival ride we headed to the free kids' area.  Coop was so excited to see the LegoLand characters and wanted a picture with this one.  Laney was petrified.  

 This is where they spent the most time.  It was just a big roped off area full of bikes/trikes to ride.

 Just like last year, Coop was all about feeding the goats.  I thought our animal-lovin' Laney would love it, but she clung to my shoulder in fear.

After this the goats had him trapped in a corner where he nearly fell in their huge water bowl.  Seriously, I don't know how he didn't fall in...I was already planning how we were going to recover.

Such a fun morning with my favorite girl and boy!  So thankful to live in a place that always has something kid-friendly happening!!!

Final TOT Performance

Cooper wrapped up his TOT season last weekend with their ShineTime performance.  I have posted about TOT here and here.  We did remember the camera and video camera but...the video camera was dead.  Man, will I ever be prepared?  

 With his buddy Jackson, they will be playing tee ball together this summer too!

 Where's Cooper you ask?

 Oh yeah, he's in the back with Dad.  The boy 100% refused to go on the court!  He was all about it that morning, has performed on the court twice before but not this time.  No way, no how.

 God Bless Adam and his patience with Cooper in times like this.  I told Adam that Cooper was lucky he took him out there because I wouldn't have been so patient and trying with him.

 Sister was entertained.  

I am sure he will love me for this picture in 10 years :).  

There he sat by his lonesome, sucking that thumb, watching the rest of the kids perform.  He didn't even want the trophy that he had been talking about for weeks.  I will admit, I did feel less guilty about the dead video camera since he wasn't performing ;).

Cooper's Spring Performance

This is about a couple weeks late and here's why...being the awesome parents we are, we didn't bring our camera or video camera!!!!  What?!  I know!  I just about died when we pulled into the parking lot and realized it...of course I remembered the chocolate chip cookies I needed to bring ;).  We figured, oh well, we'll just video on one phone and take pictures on the other.  Well, that was a nice thought until we started and our phones came up with this message..."exceeded maximum storage."  In other words, they wouldn't take more video or pictures, UGH!!!!!

Thank God for good friends who look out for your kids.  My dear friend Carolyn got some good pics and a guy Adam works with sent us the video.  

 Their class song was Run for Jesus...does that help explain the costumes? :)

 Oh my gosh, they were the cutest!

 He was in his own little world, as you will see in the video.

His class had a little cookie/drink reception in their classroom afterwards.  Clearly our kids were loving the cookies.  I asked Cooper's teachers, "what was he doing up there?!?"  They assured me that he knew the whole routine at rehearsal and it was clearly nerves...well, it was funny that was for sure.

See the video here!

Weekend in Review

Since our kids aren't really 'involved' in anything yet, our weekends are usually open for anything.  We have occasional plans but usually sleep in, eat pancakes, watch cartoons.  Not this weekend, up and out the door before 9am both days!  Here's what we were up to...

Cooper is officially signed up for tee ball this summer!  Dad took him shopping for all his gear.  When they came home I said, "We already have a tee in the backyard."  Adam's answer to Cooper, "That's why your mom didn't take you shopping for your baseball stuff."  So true. 

 Friday night they went up to a local elementary school and tested it all out.  He is so excited and loves to play baseball...we will see what happens when the season actually starts.

Saturday morning we had Coop's TOT Shine Time performance.  I decided that deserves its own post...coming soon.  

Saturday afternoon we had 2 birthday parties!  Yep, I think we have entered the friend birthday party world.  His first was at Pump It Up where he only knew the birthday boy.  In true Cooper style, he had no interest in the bounce houses until about the last 5 minutes.  Our 2nd party was for Coop's (and Laney too) friend Meghan.  

 Coop and I arrived a few minutes late from our other party.  Laney was cracking us up in the water, she was loving it!  Don't the Fimmen's have a beautiful backyard!?

She looks scared but she was loving the slide!

This morning we headed out to Arlington for the Great Strides walk in honor of Cystic Fibrosis.  I originally posted about it last month here.  At that time our Stella & Dot fundraiser show had raised $500, by the time the show closed I was able to donate $700 to Emily's Hope!  How incredible is that?!  It was a beautiful morning to walk a 5k!

 Afterwards they had a DJ, Kid's Korner with lots of games and hotdogs/chips/drinks.  It was 10:30 so Laney was the only one in the mood for a hot dog ;).  This was her dancing to The Ceiling Can't Hold Us and devouring that dog!

Coop was pretty excited to see the Texas Ranger mascot.

After naps (yep, we all took one) Dad took the kids to the swimming pool for the first time this year!  Unfortunately I went to the grocery store, boo.  I did make a quick stop by the pool to peek in on my way home.  

Such a fun weekend!

The Stauffers do Texas

Well, for 48 hours anyway.  The Stauffers are good friends of ours that live in KC.   Adam and David were roommates throughout college so when they get together, it's like they are right back in college again...but with wives and multiple kids ;).  They have 2 cute boys, Henry-2 and Charlie-6 months.

 You are looking at Friday night's dinner.  The boys went to the store and cooked up some incredible stuffed pork, original recipe inspiration from John McCormack :).  We had some friends over for dinner/drinks and to let the kids play like crazy.  Cooper and Henry went to bed at 11pm!

The next morning we headed down to The Stockyards, it's our obligatory "Texas must see" for new visitors.  Where else can you see a longhorn cattle drive down Main Street?

We usually stop by the old school candy store and

 ride a couple rides.

A natural ;)

 Boys and their boys.

 Crazy Laney and Sweet Charlie.  This boy was just along for the ride with the 3 wild and older ones.

 One of the main reasons the Stauffers visited this weekend....Kenny Chesney concert!  My incredible baby-sitter brought a friend and they kept the 4 kids from 4 in the afternoon until after midnight, great baby-sitters are priceless!!!

 The concert was at Cowboys Stadium and we had awesome seats.  This was the view straight above us...yikes!  The biggest screen in the world was hovering above us.  Yes, it's a stadium...they opened the roof up for the night, so fun!

We had a blast!  Eric Church was a great opening act, always liked him, but he just might be my new fave.  And who doesn't love Kenny Chesney?  He played for over 2 hours, high energy, full of entertainment.  The crowd also provided quite the entertainment...we saw multiple people arrested, the lady in front of us puked and peed herself, and people passed out in random places!!!  No joke people, it was crazy!

 The next morning was Mother's Day and unfortunately the Stauffers had to catch an early flight (11am is early when the night before is Kenny Chesney ;)).  Cooper and Charlie were ready for pics...we had to chase down and tackle the other two.

 Another awesome weekend of visitors!  Thanks Stauffers for coming down to see us, we loved having you here!  Next visit, Final Four 2014...rock chalk jayhawk!