Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Vegas Baby!

We had a fun trip to Las Vegas last week to celebrate Gordon's 60th birthday!

Kevin and I went on Wednesday and the rest of the crew (Karen, Gordon, Margie, Katie and Scott) came on Thursday. We all stayed until Saturday.



We stayed at the Mirage which was a great hotel! I was very pleased with the room, restaurants, view, and the casino (although the could have been a little more loose with their money for us!).



We walked until our feet were about to fall off - I am sure it was at least 5 miles a day or more! By the last day, I didn't care what I wore except tennis shoes was a must! We saw all the hotels, the new City Center, Bellagio fountain show from the ground and from up in the Eiffel Tower at the Paris hotel, and some very interesting people!





We had a birthday dinner for Gordon at Stack in the Mirage and it was delicious. We ate at several other yummy places including Battistas Hole in the Wall - very good Italian food, but not a "Vegasy" place at all! Kevin and I decided to see the Cirque de Solei show called Love with the Beatles music - it was AMAZING! I am so glad that we got to see it!



We had a great trip and it was really fun to have some "adult" time, but of course we missed the kids.


They had their own adventures with Aunt Jennifer, Uncle Rob, Trey, Kendra, Emorie Claire, Nana and Grandad! From what I gather, they got to watch several of Trey's basketball games, go to the park, eat with Trey's basketball team at a burger place, and lots of playing outside! Thank you so much to my family for taking care of our sweet babies while we were gone! This was the first time we have left them both more than one night while we were far away, but it was a much needed break!

Friday, February 12, 2010

Happy 2nd Birthday, Cooperman!

Somebody turned TWO this week...


It's been a busy week with so many things going on, but the highlight was Cooperman's big day! We had a very successful birthday party on Saturday at the local Fire Station.
The weather was perfect and the firemen were very friendly. All the kids from (1-11 years old) enjoyed getting inside the firetrucks and ambulances, seeing some of the equipment, trying on some gear, seeing my dad up in the ladder basket and hearing the sirens. Each child got a plastic fire hat and a firemen's badge to wear too! The station got a call while we were there and one firetruck and 2 fire fighters had to leave, but the party went on without them!



We all gathered back at the Knott firehouse afterwards for some snacks, cake, ice cream and playing. We were happy with how everything turned out and several families commented on what a great idea this was! I can't take the credit though...I got the idea from a someone at the daycare! Of all 6 parties that I have done for my kids so far, I think this one was near the top!


On Cooper's actual birthday, we all woke him up with the "Happy Birthday" song and opened his gifts before school. When you asked him who's birthday it was, he shouts, "Coopahhhh!" We also brought a cookie cake to school to celebrate and continued the "fire truck" theme. We brought more firehats and badges to school to share with his friends there too. Cooper was a pro with blowing out his candles - I think we had him do it on 4-5 occasions over several days!


We haven't taken him for his two year check up and shots yet, but at the Pulmonologist yesterday, he weighed 29.6 lbs and was 33 1/3 inches tall. From checking out the growth chart online, looks like he may be around 60% in weight and 20% in height!


Happy Birthday, to our energetic, adorable, sweet, crazy, lovable, ONE AND ONLY SON, Cooper! We are so, so proud of how far you have come! We love you as high as the sky and deep as the ocean!

Monday, February 8, 2010

Heart ache

My heart is breaking for some friends today. Randy & Cristy lost their 3-month old son, Connor, yesterday. He has lived in the hospital since the day he was born - he never had a chance to feel fresh air or sunshine on his skin. He never had the chance to play with his twin sister, Chloe, at their house. He had a heart condition that kept him in the hospital and has already endured several surgeries. The sweet little boy left this earth way too soon, but I know he made an impact on lots of people while he was here. Unfortunately, we never got the chance to meet him in person. He was a lucky little guy to have great parents here on earth, but now he is wrapped up in the arms of our Father. I pray for Randy & Cristy to have strength to make it through this pain and remember all the beautiful days that they spent with Connor.
We will celebrate his life and remember him forever.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Gettin' our groove back!

We have been getting back to normal this week after a whirlwind of things happening last week. Addison was released from the hospital on Sunday mid day. She had to have one more blood test done on Sunday and the results were ready for us Tuesday - everything came back normal this time! Thank God! The doctor told us that she needed to stay home for several more days to get herself back to normal - Kevin stayed with her on Monday and I stayed with her on Tuesday. Luckily, she was well enough to run an errand or two with me because we have a party to get ready for this weekend! Addi was well enough to return to school on Wednesday where she was greeted by lots of hugs and people that were happy that she was back. Her classroom was nice enough to make a huge Get Well card for her and send her a teddy bear to the hospital. It brightened her day to see familiar names and great drawings from her friends and teachers. She seemed to have a normal day back and it was nice to get back into our regular routine too. We are so thankful that she is better!

Cooperman's 2nd birthday party is going to be on Saturday at the local fire station and at our house. We will get to see firetrucks, ambulances, firemen, and hear a presentation about fire safety. Then we will have a few activities and cake back at the house. Hopefully they don't have a fire emergency right when it's time to go to the station! We are super excited to celebrate the big day with him - he has reached the 2 year mark when they no longer adjust his age because of his premature birth. I will take lots of pictures of the event! He makes us laugh so often when he dances...he really does "get down" when a fun song comes on or when we are singing something he likes. He gets his fists clenched, bends his arms, and puts his hands up near his chest/shoulders. He starts moving his little arms while they are bent like that and stomping his feet. You can see in the picture, he is doing a modified version of this dance. He is a hoot!



These two really do love each other. Addi has always been very affectionate toward Cooper, but he was not always that way. But, he has been giving her more hugs without us initiating them and saying "sorry" when he hurts her by accident. But the best is lately he says "Love you!" without us prompting him or even saying it first! We just can't get enough of them!