Halloween and other fall shots

Fall beach day.

Ian was determined to stay out in the rain. And it was a DOWNPOUR! There he is: happily soaked.


"Rock Guys" Cooper's favorite part of our visit to the University for Speech Therapy


My GapBaby photoshoot. (kidding, kidding)

Cooper spent this whole walk directing Dad and Diane on exactly how to walk.


It's been quite a month: I was recruited by our school district to take a 1/2 time reading specialist position about a month ago, and, while we hadn't planned for me to work this year, the job was one I couldn't turn down. It's every afternoon for 4 hours. Cooper's in school at that time, and Ian's generally asleep, so I still get mornings with the boys. In that next week, we found some really fabulous childcare, bought a second car (yes, a minivan), and shifted into a different mode. It's been a good change. I like what I'm doing, the boys are happy, and it seems like a job I could do part time for a lot of years.

Our remodel is officially done. I put in the last paint and shelving today, and it is SUCH a relief to get it done. (Pictures below)

Ian is too funny for words- he spends all day toddling around from one place to another, carrying random objects, and holding them out to you, with a loud declaration of, "DA!" He has figured out all kinds of funny noises he can make with his tongue, and has started dancing- which just looks like walking really fast in place.

Cooper's really having a good fall. His language, which has always been my biggest worry (after the chronic hair pulling..) is really growing this year. Lots and lots of 3 and 4 word sentences that I think most people can understand without help. My recent favorites:" Awwww, whats'a'matter baby?" and "Cooper NEED gum!"-the second is particularly funny because I've never heard him say he needs anything before! He's taking a gymnastics class in town, which makes me happy for so many reasons:
1. It's drop off, and I can actually drop him off. The teacher loves him, and doesn't see any need for him to have extra supervision.
2. His gross motor skills are really benefiting. He is walking a few steps on a balance beam, and working on summersaults and rolls. It's a bit of a dilemma because we dropped physical therapy a year ago, as we didn't see the progress we were hoping for. So now we've picked up gymnastics, and I'd like to have him go more than once a week, but that feels cost-prohibitive. Ironically, a gymnastics class is 1/10th the cost of each physical therapy session, but insurance isn't interested in covering it. Sigh. I'm on the hunt for a good grant.
3. Okay, this is terrible, but it's true: he's not the highest impact kid in the class. Everytime this happens I breathe this sigh of relief. It makes me so happy to see him participating in so many activities successfully.

The bits that stick out are all new.

Fall is Here

In Bellingham, Mondays are the general Early Release day for the school district. For preschool and kindergarten, that means no school, so yesterday we joined a group of friends for a tour of one of the apple orchards in our county. The kids got to take a tour of the orchard by golf cart, see the cider press and sorting tables, and sample four kinds of apples. It was a great day!

Cooper, in his new "afraid of everything" mode, had to be really convinced to ride on the cart, but once he was on, he was happy.

 

Every time we stopped, he'd get out of our cart and go find someone else to ride with.

 

 





































We asked them to hold hands in the sorting room. Coop was on the end, so he grabbed the leader's hand, trying to start a game of Ring Around the Rosie.

 

He saw the raised display area with the gourds, said, "Show!" and did a great dance!

A career possibility?

My current favorite pictures. Cooper and I were on a walk in the neighborhood, when he spotted this sign. He picked it up, and stood on the sidewalk facing the road and swinging it around like those guys with the ad boards on the curb! Quite pleased with himself about it, too!

 
 
 

Coming home

We've been in San Diego for 3 weeks, and out of our house since June 26th-avoiding the dust and the damage from our kitchen addition. Tomorrow night, finally, we really get to go home. Ironically, we'll be there about 7 hours, before bringing Cooper to St. Joseph's Hospital for the adeniod/tonsil surgery that we hope will decrease his chronic school year sinus infections. My dad says he's going to equate vacations w/surgeries from now on, and refuse to leave the house. I say, he's going to equate surgery with unlimited ice cream, and ask to go back to the hospital whenever he's feeling deprived of ice cream. (If you're a Facebook frequenter, sorry for the repeat. It's late.) I'm failing miserably to keep track of both my camera, and the cord needed to upload pictures, but I'll work on it.

San Juan Island County Park

One of our longstanding traditions is the San Juan County Park camping trip. This year we saw more Orcas than we have in years, and Chris and I saw glimpses of a future trip where things might be a little easier with the boys. Thankfully, we have good friends who keep us buoyed when things are feeling hard.

 
 
 
 

Just like Grandpa

My dad is notorious for eating peanut butter right out of the jar... This morning, I had the spoon and the pb out to make sandwiches, looked over, and there's Coop, eating the PB (and almond butter, and sunflower butter- we were trying to clear out almost empty jars) right out of the jar!

Ian's First Birthday

We had a great visit with the Uter Family at their new place in Pacifica, CA. Ian & Cooper both loved getting to play with their cousins, Connor & Dylan, and of course, Uncle Nate, Auntie Jen, Nana and Pop Pop. Our friends the Largays came up from Santa Cruz to help celebrate.  
 
 















Hey, who blew out my candle??? 

Hmmm, I'm not sure what I think of this chocolate cake.

Speechless

Cooper's never been a hard kid to put to bed, but since he moved out of his crib, and into a big bed, he's always wanted someone to lay down, and be there with him until he fell asleep. Tonight, he walked upstairs with me, and as I went to get his toothbrush, continued on down the hall to his bedroom and shut his door behind him. Smart mama that I am, I turned around and went straight back downstairs. Chris just checked on him, and yep. he's in his bed. Asleep. Of his own accord. We really can't believe it. (Do you thing it was the threat of toothbrushing???)

Yum.

Thanks for the card, Aunt Carolyn 
 
  It tastes great!

For the Uter Fam.

Thanks for the great firetruck, guys- it’s quite a hit, as you can see:

     

Peek-a-Boo!

Fun with Friends

What a nice rainy weekend to spend with friends...
We took a 12 person field trip on the bus downtown, grabbed pizza, ice cream, and made it back home safely. The little ones are asleep, and the big ones are all piled on an airbed watching a video. Pretty good for 9 people in one house..