Cooper's Carnival Party

I know Cooper turned 2 in March and I still haven't blogged about it, but we post ponded his party until May so I guess that isn't quite as bad ;) We decided to wait until May because that's when Spring decided to show up and then we could do a combined birthday party with my nephew Preston who was turning 2 as well!

Basically I LOVE planning parties! I had bought a bunch of stuff for his party back in November and stored it in my shed for 6 months until we had the party. So I had a lot of time to think about what I wanted to do and plan too much OOPS! I just get way too into it and had so much fun searching on Pinterest for different ideas. The only thing I forgot to remember to do was get my camera out….It's a really bad habit of mine. 

Since we were doing a carnival theme we just had hot dogs and chips for lunch and I put the mason jar cups I'd made for his 1st Birthday Party to good use again. Then we had some carnival treats later on. We had mini doughnuts, popcorn, carmel popcorn, cotton candy, and snow cones. Apparently no one likes grape snow cones besides me…..

Then we had some carnival games for the kids to play with and pick some prizes. We had a swimming pool with rubber ducks to pick from, a can toss, a bean bag toss game into a clown's mouth, face painting, a candy claw machine that we borrowed from my parents, and a photo booth (Ironic since I didn't have my camera out haha) I should also mention that we had my little brother dress up as a clown and run around the party for a bit. He was such a good sport cause it was pretty hot out that day and there was no way I'd want to be running around with a wig and full costume on! 

Then we had cake and opened presents. Preston and Cooper got very spoiled, but I think they're both still at the age where they don't stay interested in things for very long so the moms and dads ended up opening a few of their presents for them. Then we moved on to my favourite part! Each of the kids for to "go fishing" and get a pet goldfish to bring home! I had a little glass vase with rocks to put in the bottom and a bag of fish food for them each to take home. Cooper LOVED having a fish for a few days before it died…. On a side note I went to check on the price of the fish a few weeks before the party and the girl at the pet store got so mad that we were going to give them as pets for a party and wouldn't even tell me how much they cost. Apparently it's more humane to sell them as feeder fish for other fish to eat then for a kid to have a pet goldfish…. So my sister just went the day of the party and told them she had to get some for her fish to eat and there was no problem. Go figure. 

All in all it was a super fun day, but Cooper (and I) were both exhausted by the end. We're so grateful for all our friends and family who were able to make it and for all the help they gave us setting up and taking down the party! It's so much fun to watch Cooper get older and enjoy being around and playing with other kids. They loved being about to drive the Gator around the yard and it was pretty entertaining to watch! Here's a few pictures that other people took at the party!

I'm guessing next year we won't do quite as much since Cooper's going to be a big brother a couple weeks before he turns 3!

I have a Toddler?!?

This week Cooper turned 2.

I wish I could say I was happy about that, but I was pretty sad.

Cooper must have known because I don't think he's ever given me that many hugs and cuddles during the day unless he was sick.

I don't know what it was about this birthday, but I haven't been looking forward to it as much as his 1st.

I guess maybe I'm a little sad to have his baby days done with.

He's a toddler now!

He may not be a baby anymore, but he'll always be MY baby.

Now he's a little boy with a BIG personality.

He has so much attitude!

I love how much he's been learning and growing. Looking back at his pictures I realize how much he's really changed. He's gone from a very chubby little baby to a tiny little boy.

Since I'm hoping someday he'll read this; Cooper I just want you to know how much mom and dad love you. I can easily say you're one of the best things to ever happen to us and we're so blessed to be your parents. I know there's a reason you were sent to us and I'm so happy you were. You make our family better because of your sweet spirit, and your fun personality can always make us laugh. We're so proud of the amazing little boy you've become and can't wait to continue watching you grow and learn. Thank you for the great little example you've been and the sweet spirit you bring to our home. We love you like crazy sweetie. Happy 2nd Birthday!

My almost 2 year old

In less than a month my baby's going to be 2!

I thought I'd give a little update on my sweet little Cooper

- He loves watching movies. I try not to let him watch more than 1 a day, but with how cold and windy it's been lately we've both been enjoying some classic Disney movies.

- He's obsessed with tractors and semi trucks just like his Daddy. Matt took him to haul grain in the semi this morning and I had one very sad little boy when I went to pick him up. I'm sure he would have been content just hanging out in the truck all day.

- Cooper is starting to talk more and more! He's very good at repeating what I say as long as I say it one word at a time. He loves to say his prayers at night and is very patient and waits until we're done to say amen. He's also learning to put a few words together. The other day he started stroking my hair and said "Awe, pretty mama" and he's been saying "Please help me" when he gets frustrated by not being able to do something by himself.

- He is the funniest dancer and will dance to anything. Even commercials on TV!

- He's down to 1 nap a day and it's usually only an hour and a half long if that. I'm really not ready for him to cut naps out of his schedule but we'll see I guess.

- Cooper loves babies! He is very concerned when he hears a baby crying and always wants to go give it his blanket. We have a doll from when I was a little girl and I frequently see Cooper rocking it and singing to it. He's going to be a great big brother some day! Trust me this isn't an announcement, but it is very sweet to watch him and makes me feel excited for when we do decide to expand our little family.

- He has a ton of teeth. There's too many for me to even want to try sticking my fingers in there to count, but I know he has all of his molars!

- He loves to sing! I wish I could get the video to upload on here because watching him sing is so funny! He closes his eyes and really gets into it!

- Cooper's not the best eater so I'm glad he likes having a big smoothie every morning at breakfast. I don't give him very many snacks during the day and he still barely eats anything at lunch or dinner most days. I just have to keep telling myself he won't starve himself and make sure that when he does eat it's fairly healthy.

- Cooper finally got his haircut! At 22 months he finally had enough hair to cut haha yay!

I feel like over night he changed from being my chubby little baby into this little boy running around our house! We love you Cooper!

It's been a while….

So it's been a few months…..

I was going to set a New Year's Resolution to blog twice a month, but I knew I wouldn't be able to do it…..so I just didn't make a New Year's Resolution. Yay me! Haha 

I have a lot of catching up to do so this might be a little long. First off Halloween! (Yep it's been that long)

Cooper was a nerd for Halloween!

I can't believe how much he's changed from last year!

Halloween was also Grandma Barb's 50th birthday so we had a big party at the church. Cooper loved it! Especially because they had a popcorn machine and tons of candy to munch on! He was such a little moocher and pretty cute, if I do say so myself, and ended up getting treats from anyone he walked up to. Needless to say he slept pretty good after the sugar crash!

Then came November….I honestly don't remember a lot of what happened that month. Matt was working on a house in Burdett and took our camping trailer out there to sleep in during the week, but came home on the weekends. While he was gone I decided to switch Cooper over to a toddler bed since I'm the more *ahem* stern one. What can I say? I need my sleep! We bought Cooper a Monster's University bed set and wrapped it up so he could practice unwrapping presents for Christmas. Looking back I probably shouldn't have taught him to unwrap presents that early since multiple presents were taken from under the tree and unwrapped after that. Oh well, at least he was a pro by the time Christmas rolled around!

We also built a wind fence for our yard one weekend when Matt was home! It was a lot of work so it was a good thing we had Cooper there to help!

December was a busy month for us, as I'm sure it is for everyone.

Matt and I took a trip to Kalispell with some friends to watch some dirt biking and do some Christmas shopping. We left Cooper at home with my parents so it was a nice little weekend getaway just the two of us! And Matt bought me a pair of…..cowboy boots for my birthday! Yep, I'm becoming quite the little farm girl!

We also bought my dad's old snowmobile so we could play around on the farm! Since we "negotiated the deal" on my birthday I like to joke with Matt about what a great birthday present it is. It's been a great investment this winter and Cooper loves being pulled behind it on his sled! There are some serious perks to living in the middle of no where surrounded by empty fields haha

Then came Christmas! My favourite time of the year! I love being able to spend time with family, but my favourite part is finding the perfect present for everyone! Much to the irritation of my husband I do my Christmas shopping throughout the year. If I see something in March that would be perfect for someone, I buy it and save it till Christmas so I'm usually done shopping by the beginning of November and like to have everything wrapped before December 1st. I tell Matt it's so I forget what's in the present and I get just as surprised as the person receiving it, but really I'm just obsessed with Christmas.

My sister Shelby is in Ottawa going to school so for her present we switched her flight and brought her home a few days early to surprise my parents. Cooper loved going to the airport to pick her up and he was pretty entertaining to watch holding his sign! Everyone at the airport loved it!

Cooper got some new clothes for Christmas. They were definitely not his favourite thing to open Christmas morning, but I love dressing him up in them!

Matt's present this year was a new dirt biking helmet. Since he broke his leg in 2012 he hasn't been able to use his old helmet and has had to use my pink one. It was definitely time for an upgrade and Cooper loves walking around with it on. Honestly with how accident prone that kid is I don't think walking around with a helmet on is such a bad idea. 

We also spent a TON of time watching movies at Christmas. Cooper loves to watch his "V's" and he even does pretty good with the 3D glasses! His favourite movie by far is Monster's University. I can honestly say we've watched it over 100 times.

Date night with my Coopey Coop!

He had his first sleepover during Christmas with Matt's cousins!

More movies….

And his favourite way to watch movies. In his recliner Grandma and Grandpa got him for Christmas!

 Matt and I also got tickets to see The Band Perry for Christmas! We saw them in January and they were amazing! 

I love that Matt enjoys going to concerts just as much as I do! 

As you can tell from the concert picture Matt was in dire need of a haircut and he actually let me cut it again!

As for February things have slowed down a little bit. 

For Valentine's Day Matt and I went for dinner with a friend of his from high school that just moved back to Fort Macleod. 

The night before Valentine's Day Matt had to run to Lethbridge to quote a job and I reminded him that Costco was open until 8:30 and had some really pretty flowers. I also told him it would be thoughtful to  see if his dad or brother needed some flowers as well. Let's just say he returned home with 3 bouquets of flowers that night!

The next day we were getting my sister Maycee to babysit Cooper while we went for dinner. On my out to Magrath I got a phone call from my dad asking if I had time to pick up some flowers for my mom haha I think after buying 4 bouquets of flowers from Costco we should have got a serious discount!

Maycee had a sleepover that night at our house and the next day we made a craft together while Matt and Cooper played/worked outside. I love how it turned out! It'll look so cute with her jewelry hanging on it!

We took a little trip to Calgary for a friend's baby blessing and spent Saturday at Bass Pro Shops and swimming in the pool at our hotel. Cooper loved the waterslide and would even go down by himself!

We've had so much fun these past few months. I love having these two boys as part of my life! They make life so much more interesting!