My Beautiful Mess

Warning: This post contains an insane amount of photos!

My Cooperman turned 8 last week! I can’t believe it! Of course, I said that last year when he turned 7….and probably the year before that…and likely the year before that…

The punk had a week-long celebration! It started the weekend before his birthday because we had family in town. Nan, Grandma, Uncle Chad, Aunt Amy, and Cousins Jack & Sydney helped us celebrate at Flat Tire Burgers - very fun and very yummy! The funnest part was the s’more tray…

These boys have so much fun together…

And this girl is just so stinkin’ cute!

Then my mom, grandma, Cooper and I headed downtown to see the Lion King on stage. This was Cooper’s first experience at a big time theatrical production, and I loved sharing it with him. We both laughed, we both cried, and had an amazing time! He loved it!

On his actual birthday, our little fam met Gamma & Buddy at Incredible Pizza, which if you ask me, is not that incredible any more. But of course The Boys love it! They had a good time playing mini-golf, mini-bowling, and driving the cars - Coop is big time now and gets to drive by himself!

THEN, the weekend after his birthday, we had a party with his friends. It was a Lego-themed party at Martin Park Nature Center. Did you know they do not make Lego party supplies?? So we did our own. Cooper and his dad made the invitations with this photo of their creation…

I set up a scavenger hunt through the trails at the nature center. They had to find 13 clues along the way. Attached to each clue was a bag of Legos which we had planned to use for a building activity after the hike but we ran out of time. One reason we ran out of time was because we got a late start. Want to know why we got a late start? Because one of Cooper’s best buds tripped and split his head open! On my watch!!! He had to get 3 stitches!!! I couldn’t believe it. So after shaking off feeling like a complete schmuck, we were on our way…

Then Cooper had seen some photos online of Lego-shaped cakes people had made and wondered if we could try one! Ugh! I do not bake! But I do love my boy…just please don’t look too close at the cake!

Cooper, you are a kind, intelligent, and fun kiddo! You have the biggest heart for your family, for your friends, and for God. I am so proud of the choices you make and the example you set for others. You constantly impress people with the way you pay attention to the needs of others. Baby, I am THRILLED to be your momma. You are and will always be a constant joy! Happy #8!

So blogging has not been a big priority for me this month, obviously. Maybe it is because I haven’t felt too good for most of it (sinus stuff); maybe it is because we had a tornado come, once again, way too close to our house; maybe it is because I have been irrationally consumed with books about vampires; maybe it is the grief that can seem to sneak in when I am not looking; OR maybe it is because we have been so stinkin’ busy! Whatever it has been, today seems like the first day I can think clearly and look back at what we have been up to. Care to join me???

The month started off with Cooper’s 1st grade class hosting the school’s weekly Friday assembly. Each class gets a chance to do this throughout the year. Coop’s teacher decided to have them dress-up like what they want to be when they grow up. They are currently working on “publishing” a class book with the same theme. So here is my “National Geographic Scientist who Digs for Dinosaur Bones”….

Next came the 100th Day of School - a little later than planned due to the 3 snow/ice days we had. As soon as Drew knew he could bring something to school, he wanted to bring Dory, the 5-inch stuffed fish with which he sleeps (try finding that thing every night - let me tell ya, Dory is good at hide-n-seek!). So we made a poster with 99 Dories - and his Dory was number 100….

Cooper’s class did all kinds of cute things for 100 Day but this one really hit home with me. He made a picture of himself at 100 years old and then filled in the sentence, “When I am 100 years old, I will…..”

Don’t know if you can read that, but he put “…go to the groshe stor (grocery story).” Oh Lord, I HATE going to the grocery store now - I was really hoping I wouldn’t have to go when I was 100!

Cooper’s class also did a one-song musical performance with the music teacher this month. This also happened to be the same day the tornado came - at least all 3 of us where together in one of the “safe rooms” at the school, which I did consider safer than my entryway coat closet! (sorry for the scary eyes in the pic below! I promise it was not an evil song!)

Did I mention it is only February 16th? Because I still have more to show you…no wonder I am so tired!

In each class The Boys are in, every student gets a turn being the “special student” of the week. In Drew’s class, you are the Super Star of the Week. So home came the star which we decorated with lots of pictures - and then the whole family got to come to his class that morning to see him present his star.

The Pre-K teacher makes it even more special by having each kid in the class say something nice about the Super Star; even the teachers say something about them and then so does the child’s family. She is an incredible teacher! She and her husband also have an incredibe ministry. Check it out here and here.

And then this week, Cooper gets to be the Honeybee Helper of the week. So home comes his scrapbook page to decorate with his choice of pictures.

Not included in here is the Valentine’s Day parties in each of their classrooms, 3 trips to see the doctor for 3 separate family members, the last basketball games of the season, and a lost tooth! ALL in February! And I thought this was a short month…