seven.

in december cooper turned seven.
i can't believe we are there already. we now have an almost 9 year old and a seven year old!!
i remember 2006 like it was yesterday.....not like it was seven years ago!

i love parties. love them. love planning them. love throwing them.
they are my jam.
and especially i would do anything for this little guy. he is funny and charming and such a nice kid that waits patiently all year for his birthday AND christmas you can't help but want to spoil him a little. give him a little extra because of all the waiting.
but this one was.....a lot.
this year we took him and twelve friends bowling. glow-in-the-dark, laser-light show, disco bowling.
holy smokes that was a busy afternoon.
i completely under-estimated it.
i think maybe next year we are going to take him away for his bday. somewhere hot and fun.
{and somewhere brighter - trying to get 14 kids to stop moving to take a photo in a dark place sucks!!}

i don't know if i can do another.

...

 

first day of school this year.

this year friday was the first day of school. {strange i know - had something to do with needing a certain number of days of school or some business.}

this year we are embarking on a new year with a grade one-er and a grade three-er. go eagles go!

this year is going to be the first year of a real hard-nosed mama and papa when it comes to homework and learning french. no if, and's or but's!

this year, for coop, is his first year at his OWN desk and to take care of his OWN things.

this year started with confidence. last year started with a little nervousness for one little boy and possibly some tears for one grown mama.

this year is going to be fun.

this year is going to be trying.

this year is going to be memorable.



this year, i was the one you could hear cheering as she exited the parking lot.
for reals.

;)

the graduate. part II.

it's official.
one year down. many more to go.
coop graduated from kindergarten. he rocked it.

this year tony was out of town and i was officially on kindergarten graduation duty.
i wasn't available to go to aydan's, so it WAS my turn.

i was a mess.......
{i don't think it was wise i went.}

they walked in to commencement. they had on graduation caps they made. they sang songs so show off their grasp of the french language. they were so proud...and rightly so.
when cooper was called to the front i was crying attempting to take video and snap photo's - i had the iphone and of course attempt number one was blurry. i did eventually get one to be proud of and a snapped a couple of him with his best buds.

cooper with his teacher.

the ceremony was done so well by the teachers and volunteers and went off without a hitch.

the best part - hearing him call to his friends as we were leaving, "see you in grade one!!!"
what a guy.

it was also last day of school for aydan too!

on her way to grade three...it's going by too fast!!!!
happy summer.

batter up!

who's ready for some baseball??!!!
i hope cooper is.

he is.

this year we are switching his focus from soccer to baseball. as some of you might remember we spent a better part of last years summer at the soccer pitch cheering on two kids that ran around the edges and actually never once really went for or kicked the ball.

obviously not our sport.

after observing coop for most of the year and seeing him excel at skiing - an individual sport - we thought about baseball. a team sport that focuses on individual performance and doesn't have that "bee swarm" mentality. perfect for him.

he loves it.
after 2 weeks of field play i noticed a vast improvement already and he seems to have come out of his shell and is interacting with the {mostly} french kids on his team.
no more shyness towards the unknown.
a breakthrough.

he participated in a skills competition over the weekend and although he didn't place he was in the top ranks - we are so happy for him. watch out for next year though...he going to wipe the floor with'em! ha! {not good sportsmanship, i know.}

he's been asking every day with excitement if it's baseball night - a sure sign in this house it's going well.

since aydan is very busy during the year we decided to give her the summer off.
we will though be performing pop quiz performance drills just to keep her on her toes.

;)