Election Day: Go Vote!

I don't care who you vote for, I just care that you vote.  I will not put my political affiliation out there (as a matter of fact I try not to affiliate with a single party).  But I will tell you to vote.  It is our civic duty and our privilege as citizens of this fine country.  Our United States of America. 

I voted this morning and I got this nifty sticker.  I proudly wear it today and though I'm not doing the 30 days of Thanks in November, I am THANKFUL that I have the opportunity to vote.

GO VOTE PEOPLE!!!

Weekend Wrap-up

This weekend was my Dad’s birthday.  Tim, Cooper and I headed south on Saturday morning for the festivities. 

First we stopped at my grandma’s house.  I love to visit her and she loves to see her great-grandchild.  Cooper sure makes her laugh.  And he loves her too.  I was dumb and left the camera in the car, so I have no pictures, we were there for a couple of hours –  Love my grandma!

Then we went bowling with Dad, Gwen, Craig, Casey, Larissa and Layne.  Cooper and Layne had never been bowling before, so that was quite an experience.  They don’t quite have the attention span necessary yet, but I still think they had fun.

Cooper and Tim rolling his ball down the lane.  The kids had bumper  bowling.  Thank Goodness.

Craig	Gwen
Dad	Larissa
Craig helping Layne	Me

Then there was the goofing off of the boys when they got bored.

Scores

Dad and his grandkids.  So hard to get a good shot, this was the best one.

Then we headed back to Dad and Gwen’s for pizza, cake and ice cream.

56

Dad opening cards.

The boys tackling Larissa.

Caught grandpa sleeping while Cooper and Kieran are watching Dora.

That was a fun day.  Sunday we had breakfast with Dad and Gwen, then went to my mom’s to visit and have lunch.  It was a wonderful weekend – especially celebrating Dad’s birthday.  I love my dad so much!  How was your weekend?  Happy Monday, ladies.

Chicken

I’m a morning person.  Usually.  I like getting things done in the mornings because I’m just not that into it after I’ve worked all day, made dinner and played with Cooper until we put him to bed. 

So this morning, I felt like a chicken.  You know the kid running around with its head cut off?  That was me.  I was a maniac.  Cooper woke up early this morning, so I sat him in front of Curious George while I got ready.  And by getting ready, I mean the normal shower, getting dressed, drying hair, etc, but also, sorting all of our laundry, picking up our bathroom, and unloading two baskets of clean laundry.  (We are always behind on putting laundry away, lately it’s been so bad we’ve been living out of laundry baskets, ugh.) 

Anyway, after that, Cooper and I got downstairs, got his breakfast (that Tim so wonderfully made for him before he left), lunch made, dinner made for tonight (love the crock pot!) and a load of laundry going (I love that delay start setting).  Then it was drop time for Cooper’s eyes.  Since Tim has bible study on Friday mornings, I have the pleasure crap job of putting Cooper’s eye drop in all by myself.  I tell you, that kid hates having that done in the mornings.  I cannot wait for the day to come when we don’t have to do them anymore aka holding the child down and prying his eye open to get a drop in. 

Tonight should be good.  I have more laundry to do, and packing for overnight – we’re heading south to visit my dad for his birthday.  Which brings me to my next topic.  I’m making The Pioneer Woman’s carrot cake for my Pop’s birthday.  That is the big TO DO for tonight.  I’m excited to try it.  I love Ree.  Cooper loves her TV show so it makes this mama happy – he’s going to help me make the cake tonight.  Fun!

Have a fab weekend ya’ll! :)

Halloween Adventures

I'm back!  I actually meant to be back on Monday, but due to some sickness - I'm just getting back into the swing of things today.

I couldn't miss out on the opportunity to share our Halloween Adventures with everyone today, since I know most everyone else is probably doing the same.  What can I say?  I like to be with the "in crowd" sometimes.  :)

Our Halloween activites started on the 13th this year.  We decided to take Cooper to the Indianapolis Zoo for the ZooBoo they host each year.  Our awesome neighbors went also, and Allie and Cooper had fun.  It rained while we were there, but we decided we weren't sugar and we'd make it through. 

Pictures from that evening:



Before we left, Cooper and Allie's dad, Keith, were throwing around the ball.

 

Allie.  Isn't she the cutest DJ Lance Rock you've ever seen?

 

Checking out the penguins.

  

And looking for the elephants.



Allie getting some candy.

Cooper getting candy

The next few pictures are from an area of the zoo where the kids can go in and feed birds.  Cooper and I admittedly got a bit scared the first few times they flew right up to us, but we both got the hang of it.  Allie is a pro at this.

Of course, they had to get their heads inside these for a photo opp.

The next thing that I made for Halloween was this cute little pumpkin.  Lindsey had this cute little personalized pumpkin on display on her front porch and I just had to ask her to make me some cutouts!  She sent me the letters, polka dots and the ribbon and I made this, which ended up being the only decoration I did for Halloween:

Next, on October 20, our festivities included carving pumpkins.  Andrew was home from college for fall break, Steph and Ryan came over, and Cooper decided he was too scared of the pumpkins so he didn't carve any.  I am happy to say, I just sat back and enjoyed not getting my hands dirty this year also.



Tim and Ryan carving out their masterpieces.



Tim is super proud of his pumpkin.

Not sure what's wrong with Andrew, looks like he swallowed something sour

Steph carving a K pumpkin for Kampbell.

October 27th was the trunk or treat at a local church.  Our church had a fall festival, but we didn't attend that one, we thought Cooper would have fun trick or treating instead.  It was pretty cold out that evening, so we didn't stay a terribly long time, but enough time for him to eat some popcorn and collect some candy. :)

On the Monday before Halloween, the 29th, the high school for our area had a safe trick or treat in the halls.  It was from 5-7 and it was packed.  I didn't get many pictures because Tim couldn't make it, so I was wrestling with our coats, Cooper's football, his pumpkin, the camera and keeping my 3 year old in line.  Here are a couple though.  He really had a good time at this event.  I loved it because he got to see so many other kid's costumes - when they actually didn't have a coat on overtop.

Finally, on Halloween, we took Coop around to our neighbor's houses, and then he helped us hand out candy.  He got to wear his football costume all evening and that made him super happy.

Daddy with Cooper before heading out.

Mommy with Coop before going Trick or Treating.



Heading up to the first house.  It was decorated :)



We met up with the neighbors and you can tell, the Moms always get to take the pictures!  Janna and I were taking the pictures, while Keith, Diane, Pete, Tim, Allie, Julia and Cooper got their picture taken. 



Cooper wouldn't join the girls in a picture of just the kids, so I got one of the cutie pie girls anyway!
My neighbor Janna made that Princess Presto dress!  Isn't it awesome?!?

  Here's Cooper helping hand out the candy.  I think he had as much fun handing it out as he did collecting it!

That's a wrap!  Halloween is definitely not just a one nighter event at my house! :)