It's been a really good Memorial Day even though it's been so rainy. We had a BBQ with a few friends at our house. We spent the morning getting that ready. We marinated some meat, veggies, and pineapple and made some very yummy kabobs. The marinade was my doing, so I don't want to toot my own horn too much, but they were pretty good. Most of the pictures during the BBQ are of Henry. We put him in 6-12 month clothes today. They fit much better, but his overalls almost seemed too small already. He's a big boy.
This evening, after Thomas woke up from his nap, he really wanted to go "Bye bye car." After we got Aubree off to work, Thomas and I drove over to JeffersonBarracksNationalCemetery. It's like the very famous ArlingtonNationalCemetery. Only service men and women are buried there. The scouts in our ward helped put up American flags in front of every headstone in the cemetery yesterday. I was excited to go and see how that looks. I actually really enjoy driving through the cemetery. The closest park with a playground is right by there, and I often take a drive through the cemetery with Thomas and Henry after I take them to the park. It really is an awesome sight, and it helps me keep things in perspective and helps me remain grateful for my country and the freedoms we have. Driving through the cemetery gives me a chance to think and reflect on the sacrifices endured by so many to maintain those freedoms, often the ultimate sacrifice. The cemetery is a very stunning and awesome reminder of this. Going there is especially helpful when I feel like things are hard and I wallow in self-pity. Like I said, it keeps things in perspective. It really is a spiritual place. Today, I thought about all those who have served this country, and in particular, I thought about my Grandpa Thompson and his service in World War II. I'm proud of him and grateful to him and all other servicemen and women. Here are a few pictures I took this afternoon.
I think this is a deer, but it also kind of looks like a moose without antlers/horns. I really don't know this stuff that well. We saw this while we were driving through the cemetery. First one to identify the species wins the prize.
After we got home, Thomas had some dinner, and while he was eating, we were listening to some AC/DC. On his own, Thomas started headbanging. It was pretty sweet. I don't know how well you can hear the music in this video, but the song is "TNT." My little rocker. While I was writing the post, the music was still on, and Thomas said to me, "Daddy rock," wanting me to dance and headbang, too. We were rocking out together. Grandpa Cooper should be proud.
Here are some pictures that aren't really related, but I wanted to post them. It's been rainy this weekend. I don't know if it's been statistically more rainy than usual, but here are two pictures as examples. The first is a picture of a soccer field near the MeramacRiver. I took it as we were driving home from fathers and sons. If you look close, you can see that it's completely covered with water and only the goals are poking out of the water. The second is a picture from the grocery store parking lot where we stopped on the way home from the cemetery. The drain was working fine, but it was having a hard time keeping up with the water.
Also, we haven't really posted about this yet, either. Aubree's sister Megan is staying with us for the summer, and Thomas is having a ball with her, even though it doesn't seem like it in this picture. Whenever she's not home, Thomas says over and over, "Where Mimi go."
Thomas and I went on an adventure Friday night. Our stake had fathers and sons at Mastedon State Historic Site not too far from our house. It was basically a grassy field in a forested area. Thomas was ready and excited to go when I got home from work on Friday. He heard camping and found the closest thing to a cowboy hat he could. Unfortunately, all he could find was a beat up pink straw cowgirl hat his mom got in Mexico. Most of our stuff was ready Thursday night, so we gathered together the last of our things and had a quick dinner before we hit the road with our packs. I used my backpacking pack to carry all of my stuff because I knew that we had to walk a ways from our car to the campsite, and it was the easiest way we could think of of accomplishing that with Thomas in tow. It was really Aubree's idea to use the pack. Despite the campout being only one night, my pack was pretty full. Granted, our tent is a two person tent, but it's not really a lightweight backpacking tent. Also, I brought along an air mattress and a hand pump. Combined with my sleeping bag, some clothes and other small camping supplies, it was full. Thomas helped by carrying his own gear. He has a little backpack that came with a sleeping bag. We put some of his clothes and diapers and wipes in there, and he carried it to the campsite. Along with my pack, I also carried a camp chair. It was a little slow going, and Thomas eventually tired out (read: decided he wanted to be carried), so I ended up carrying him, the camp chair, and my pack for the last part of our walk. Fortunately, the walk wasn't too far, and we were able to make it in one trip. We put our packs down and got to setting up our tent before it got dark. Thomas was very helpful. You can see him here putting some of the stakes in the ground. We finally got the tent set up and it was time to get everything put inside. After we were settled, Thomas enjoyed running around, throwing his ball around, playing with his friends, and finding new ones. He liked to take his ball up to some of the bigger boys and get them to play with him. It was interesting to see their reactions. Some of them were great, and some of them didn't really know what to do with Thomas.
After a campfire meeting, it was time for bed. Thomas had a really hard time going to sleep. There was lots of noise from a game of capture the flag and it was quite warm, plus Thomas just didn't want to go to sleep. He was really tired, though. He eventually fell asleep after midnight when I rocked him in my arms, standing in the middle of the field. He woke up again during the night when it started to rain pretty hard, but he went to sleep pretty quickly and slept in in the morning. We had some yummy breakfast of pancakes, eggs, sausage, and bacon and then cleaned up the campsite and headed home. I think he enjoyed himself despite the troubles he had falling asleep. I set the tent up in our garage to let it dry out and Thomas saw it and kept saying "night," meaning that we needed to get inside to go to sleep. He's now sleeping in the tent in the back yard with his Aunt Mimi (Megan). Aubree just got off work early and is going to join them. Henry and I are going to stay inside in our beds.
I just finished and posted 4 or 5 new posts, but they all showed up on different dates. So, keep scrolling to find out what's new at the Cooper house!
While I am here, I may as well post some recent pics of the boys. It wouldn't be a post without them!
Here they are watching cartoons together while mommy gets ready for the day.And here they are in my bed together. Who would've known that Thomas was the sleepy one and Henry was wide awake? Check out those cute thighs and Tummy!
The past week I have felt like Santa Claus. Every night after the boys have gone to bed, Michael and I have been getting our paint brushes out and gathering bedding and furniture to put together Thomas' first big boy bedroom! It turned out great and I had a lot of fun doing it too. It was fun having a little project.
Here are the before pics... or I should during the process... It first was a lonely white room.
And now it is a little boy's sports haven. What do you think? You have to see all angles of the room.I think Thomas likes it. He's such a sweet little boy!My little boy is growing up!!
As a mother, myself now I am only beginning to see all of the sacrifices and love you shared for me over the years. You were my cheerleader, my maid, my cook, my chauffeur, my ears when I needed to talk, you kissed my owees and made them all better, you changed a bazillion diapers and probably helped wipe away hundreds of tears over the years. Thanks for all you do. I hope I can be the best mom, just like you!
Love, Aubree
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For Mother's Day all I wanted was to spend the day with my family at the park. So we packed a picnic and went to a fun little park. This park is full of animals, ducks, playground, pond and fishing. It was so nice to spend the day with my family at the park. We don't get to do enough of that lately.
All ready to go on a picnic!! I was so excited!
Thomas looking at the "duckies" at one point he ran right at them. I thought he might get pecked to death by the mama geese when he tried to get a baby goose. So, I had to come save him... or the "duckies" for that matter.
Henry loved love riding in the stroller with his brother. I can't believe he turned 4 months this week. Where has the time gone?
He really wanted some of that Fresca!! He was eying it for a LONG time!!
May 7th cranked up the dial for another wonderful year we've had together! Let's see how far we've come in 4 years.
2005- Married. I graduate from nursing school and start working as a nurse in Labor and Delivery. We rent a house by the U. We experience 3 miscarriages together.
2006- We buy a house in Salt Lake. Michael graduates with his BSN in Chemistry and starts graduate school at the U.
2007- Thomas is born. :0)
2008- Michael obtains his MSN in Chemistry. We decide to move to St. Louis, MO to go to Law School.
2009- Henry is born. Michael has finished his first year in law school and started working at a patent firm for the Summer. Aubree now has 4 years experience as an RN in labor and delivery and still loves it.
Wow, honey we have accomplished a lot in our short married life! I can't wait to see what happens in the bazillion years to come. I love you.
Michael took me to a nice restaurant called Big Sky. There we ate delicious food outside on the patio and had some nice US time. (Thanks Katie for watching the boys.) He also bought me some beautiful red roses. Man, he knows I love flowers! But, best of all he wrote me a love poem:
When we first met The sky filled with fire Working the party You were all I desired
-------- 25 stanzas later--------
All I can say This will have to do It's really quite simple I LOVE YOU!
It was an amazing poem, he said he worked on it for a week! I love it. Best gift ever, I know I'll treasure it for a very long time. Thank you!
We went to our first of many Cardinal games the other day against the Phillies. We got our Cardinal gear on and away we went. They didn't win, but it was still fun. The game started at 7: 15, and Henry was sleepy before we even left the house. Sweet little thumb sucker! Thomas waiting for his Daddy to get him a hot dog and some french fries. Meanwhile, some girls saw him and said, "Oh, he's so cute." And gave him some Mardi Gras beads. It has been over a week and he has yet to take them off... even to take a bath! Michael in line for some good 'ol baseball grub! Yum Yum! For some reason a hot dog or hamburger tastes so much better when you are at a baseball game. I'm had lots of fun... Henry had fun sleeping. :0)Thomas with his beads and juice watching the game. Finally at 9:45pm Thomas decided that he had had enough and was ready to go. So left the game with a couple of innings still left. But, it was still fun while it lasted!! Go Cards!
P.S. We discovered Thomas really likes Cracker Jacks
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After we got home, Thomas had some dinner, and while he was eating, we were listening to some AC/DC. On his own, Thomas started headbanging. It was pretty sweet. I don't know how well you can hear the music in this video, but the song is "TNT." My little rocker. While I was writing the post, the music was still on, and Thomas said to me, "Daddy rock," wanting me to dance and headbang, too. We were rocking out together. Grandpa Cooper should be proud.
