Crazy Cooper

While I was going through pictures to put on the memory stick for Donna, I found this video I took of Cooper a month or so ago. It's so cute and funny I really need to share it, so here you go:

First Sleep over

After Becker's we head to my parent's cabin to drop off the boat and spend the night. This year I really wanted to get home to unpack and relax before heading back to work on Monday. Why is it when you get home from vacation you feel like you need another? Any way on the ride to the cabin we were talking about how we were going to tell my parents that we wanted to go home. Knowing that they were excited to spend that time with Cooper, we decided that we would ask if they wanted him to spend the night with them. I know this probably doesn't sound like a big deal to some people, but for me this was huge. Of course my parents agreed. It was hard leaving him because over the week at Becker's he had become a huge mommas boy and when ever I left the room he would start crying. This time was no different. So I left him in the capable hands of my parents and we went home. I have to admit it was a lot easier unloading and unpacking without him freaking out every time I wasn't in sight. We relaxed and watched a movie after we unpacked. Going to bed that night was really weird seeing his empty crib and knowing he wasn't home. When we got up I couldn't wait for my parents to drop him off. I think Cooper did better than I did, but I did ok.

Beckers 2008

For the last 20 some years Rob's family heads up north to Becker's resort. Prior to missing last year while being uncomfortably pregnant, I have going up there every year I have known Rob. This year of course there was one small change.. Cooper. It was a very different trip this year, but a wonderful one. Gone were the late night fires and binge drinking, they were replaced with putting Cooper to bed followed by a good night sleep and waking up with a hang over. I wouldn't have changed anything.We didn't do as much fishing as we normally do, but we did take Cooper out for his first trip out on lake Winnie. My idea for shade worked out pretty well. He even took a nap for a while which was nice.




We spent a lot of time at the pool as well. Cooper loved the water, even though it was really cold! Abby and Cooper had matching swim floats and enjoyed splashing each other.


Cooper finally got to meet his Aunt Kate who just came back from Africa and was able to join us at Becker's.




This year besides having Cooper up there, we had another small change. Instead of sharing a cabin with Ron and Donna we shared a cabin with Tim. This worked out really well. We had a quiet place to put Cooper down for naps and bedtime and we even talked Tim into helping change a diaper. I couldn't believe Rob actually talked him into it, so I had to take a picture.


Cooper did spend at least part of every day with grandma and grandpa watching him so Rob and I could run to town, go fishing or just go for a boat ride. It was really great for all of us. He enjoyed going into their fridge and pulling things out, pulling things out of their cabinets and grandpa showed him how to use a pot cover as a drum. Thanks grandpa. Grandma and grandpa also bought Cooper his first Becker's outfit, super cute.


They also have a play ground there and Cooper loved the swing. We had bought Cooper a wagon thinking how great it would be for Becker's and I have to admit I was right. The kids loved riding it in.

We were really lucky this year, Brynn and Jeff flew in from LA to stay with us for half the week as well. It was so great to see them again.

At some point in the week it's tradition that Rob, Roger, Ron and I have a fishing tournament up the river. Ron caught a nice rock bass, can you find it in the weeds? As for the winner, let's just say it was the one person who wasn't up there last year. ;)

Fourth of July

The fourth of July is a big holiday for my family. We all head to the lake, watch fireworks and have a great time. This year was no different. Dad and Adrian drove to Missouri to get the fireworks a couple weeks before hand. Why Missouri? Better fireworks, better prices and less chance of being stopped for illegal contraband than going to Wisconsin.

On the fourth Angie, Natalie and I took the older kids (Jordan, Jake, Liv, Isaiah and Sammy) to a parade in Randall. There is nothing like a small town parade to get you in the festive mood. Ok Minus the stickers for the kids from the politicians and the anti-abortion truck with a picture of a fetus on it. Either way all the kids were really great! We headed back to the lake for the boat parade on Pine Island, which is also a lot of fun. We got to see some fireworks from the dock on Friday night. Cooper really seemed to enjoy them.

Saturday was the big day at Pine Island. We had a potluck dinner and a great fireworks display. We decided to take our boat out and enjoy the fireworks from the lake. It was so nice out there! We could see the fireworks without the loud noise and see the other fireworks on the lake. Cooper watched about a half hour of it and then fell asleep!

It was a great weekend but busy weekend. If I counted correctly we had 28 people and 8 dogs up there. My only regret is that I didn't take a lot of pictures.

First mommy hair cut

Over the fourth of July weekend I decided to attempt cutting Cooper's hair myself. It was getting really long again (even after 2 hair cuts) plus he loved wiping his food in his hair. So I borrowed my mom's clippers and clipped away. He sat amazingly well until the end when I took the guard off. Whoops! Thankfully his hair grows quickly. We had to do a couple touch ups the next day but I think it turned out really cute. What do you think??