3rd Birthday

Cooper had a whole lot of birthday fun!! We spent the day of his actual birthday in Salina with some cousins. My cousin, Brian's, kids were staying the week with my Godparents, Aunt Judy and Uncle Jerry (their grandparents). Cooper, Maylea, and I drove there so that Cooper could play with the boys for a little while. They played very well together and had a good time. Aunt Judy had even bought some special "birthday" cookies for them to all eat to celebrate Cooper's birthday....they even sang to him.

Cameron, Cooper, Parker, Alexandria (Alex), Maylea

Aunt Judy and Maylea

Cooper got another special present all the way from TX. He got this adorable teddy bear wearing a sweatshirt with a picture of Jackson and Cooper. In the picture, you can't see it, but Cooper and Jackson both have on a t-shirt that says Big Brother. Jackson will be a big brother in October.

Cooper got a "Big Boy Bike" from mommy and daddy for his birthday. Cooper does not ride it very well on gravel.....however he does very well on concrete.

The weekend following Coopers birthday mom and dad were able to come down to celebrate his birthday. We had the annual "Save the Pool" festival at our city park. We all (our family, Joshua's dad and step mom, and mom and dad) went to the park and ate dinner (everything is a donation to saving the pool). Then we went to the house, opened presents, and ate cake. Mom made the cutest "M&M" dispenser (would say bubble gum, but you will understand when you see the presents) cake. She did a great job, and we all enjoyed eating it. After cake we went back to the park for the ice cream social.

Mom had ordered these cute M&M to put into the dispenser for Cooper. He always says, "mommy, can I have some M&M's? The ones with the Cooper's on them."

4th of July

4th of July was a fun filled day for us. Mommy, daddy, and Cooper were able to get some time together at the lake for a little while in the afternoon. It was a good time for Cooper to get our complete attention. This is the only time we have been able to make it to the lake (much different than last summer). Cooper had a great time swimming with daddy.


When we left the lake, we went to pick up Maylea, Grandma Gayle, and Chantal to head to some friends house for a BBQ and fireworks. They had borrowed one of the water slides from a friend and all the "kids" (big kids too) had a great time playing on it. Cooper had a BLAST!!!! At the bottom you will see some videos of him sliding. On a couple of them I forgot that I can't turn my camera to the side...sorry!

Cooper swimming in the lake.
Slide 2

Day at the "pool"

I love the summer days when Joshua comes home from a road trip. He normally comes home on a Monday afternoon and he doesn't have to go into work. It is nice to have an extra afternoon with him home.

We decided to air up Coopers pool and let him swim for awhile. I know I have taken pictures of Cooper swimming in his pool before, but I wanted to get a few of Maylea in her suit. I put a beach towel over her chair, hooked the ipod up to it, and the two of us hung out on the porch while the boys played in the yard.

Love the little ruffles on her bottom!!!

Ice cream cone

I thought that I was taking pictures of Cooper's first ice cream cone, but when I pulled out the camera and started taking pictures mom asked why. As I explained to her she said, "no it isn't." I guess he has had one with grandma before. I went ahead and took a few pictures of him. He did a really good job eating it, however, when he gets to the cone he thinks he is done and throws it away!

At the lake

Cooper spent the afternoon of mom's birthday (June 28th) with Aunt Cori and Uncle Luke. Luke has an Aunt and Uncle that live on a private lake so they took Cooper out to their house. He had a good time with them and was SO WIPED OUT that he did not sleep very well that night. He desperately needed the sleep, but that didn't happen!!!!

Cooper waving at Uncle Luke on the Jet Ski

Cooper, Uncle Luke, and Melody (flower girl)

Aunt Cori, Cooper, Melody

Out on the paddle boat

Melody, Cooper, and Matthew