As I write this post, I'm listening to Cooper babble away in his crib and Jackson climb out of his bed. I'm also waiting for butter to thaw out and come to room temperature. I am having a serious craving for chocolate, and I have all the ingredients on hand ... so, what's a girl to do? I'm making chocolate chip cookies. Trying out a new recipe - so we will see how they turn out. I've never tasted a cookie I didn't like, so I am guessing they will be great!
What I really should be doing is folding the clothes, or mopping the floor, or cleaning some more windows. But, I am choosing differently!
This morning we went to a splash pad, but not much splashing was done. Cooper was relatively interested in the water, but MUCH more interested in eating his lunch. Jackson spent most of his time on the playground area - and insisted on picking up the mulch and throwing it after I repeatedly asked him not to. What's with kids and mulch? How can that be more fun that sliding or swinging or climbing or getting sprayed with water? I don't know, but I guess it is. Maybe I need to give it a try - I'll just go in the backyard, grab a handful from one of the flowerbeds, and give it a good toss. I'll have to post the results.
Anyway, after getting back from the splash pad and somehow losing one of Jackson's crocs while we were there, it was time to play for a while before naptime. The boys kept me laughing. Jackson is talking so well now and has quite a vocabulary. He does have some phrases that he uses pretty often, but can say just about anything. His favorite phrases include "be right back" or "way way way up!" and my favorite "big ole' ___" He will say "big ole truck" as we are driving down the road. Or "Big Ole' Hole" or "big ole' cookie." I never even realized I said that until he started saying it. It's amazing how much you learn about your own vocabulary when you have a little "parrot" to repeat it back to you all day long.
Cooper also has some new tricks up his sleeve. He recently starting saying "uh-oh," but at first he would just say it randomly to where it made me think, "hmm...did he just say that? or was he just making grunty noises and it sort of sounded like uh-oh?" But over the weekend he has really mastered this new skill and everytime one of us says it he immediately lets out a big "uuuuuhhhh - oooooooooohh." So, now, Jackson and Cooper have conversations using his new vocabulary. It sounds something like this ...
J: Uh-Oh!
C: uhhhhhhhh-ooooooohh
J: (giggles) Uh-Oh!
C: (grins) uhhhhhhhh-ooooooohh
And then this goes on for a long time. Cooper is also giving high-fives, waving, patting the table, and sticking his tongue out if you ask him to. He has other tricks that he does - but these are NOT performed on demand like the previously listed ones! He OCCASIONALLY will give a kiss. Most of the time, I say "Cooper - give me a kiss!" and he grins and turns away. Even when I try to sneak one in he swats at my face and pushes me away! It's heartbreaking, really! He very rarely will cuddle with us, but he loves to give big bear hugs and loves to be held. Kisses are not his thing, though.
He clapped this weekend for the first time (and only time since!). He also says "mama" and "dada" but again, not if you ask him to. He is all about doing things when he feels like doing them. I can just imagine what he is thinking when I am saying "say mamamama! say dadadadada, give me sugar." He just has a look on his face that says, "I am not a trained monkey, lady."
This past Friday, Colin took off of work so we could all have some time together. It was SO nice to have him on. Though, I have to say, and I think he would agree - it would take ALOT of getting used to if he were home with us everyday. I am thankful that he works outside of our home. I have lots of friends whose husbands do work from home, and they assure me that you adjust, but I don't have much faith that we would! I swear, I cannot get anything done while he is here. Getting the kids dressed, fed, and out the door takes twice as long, and I leave the laundry in the dryer for hours before I remember to fold it, at which point I have to dry it some more because it has so many wrinkles. I forget to start cooking dinner, diapers go unnoticed until they are REALLY wet or stinky.
Aside from not functioning so well with my normal routine, Colin and I did manage to get some things done around the house. He told me I was a slave-driver, and I think he was happy to get back to work today. We also got to take the kids to Celebration Park on Friday, and spent some time in the back yard playing which they love. All in all, it was a great weekend.
Oh, we also decided not to send Jackson to Mother's Day Out this year. We had registered him at Stonebridge Methodist back in January. At the time, Cooper did alot of crying. ALOT of crying. Poor Cooper. anyway, I was so eager to sign J up for a two-day-a-week program so I could have some time with just Cooper, and JAckson could get to have some fun. But, as the year went on, Cooper has thankfully decided that he also is a happy little kid - and would like to play too! They are really starting to have fun together, and they are at a really "easy" place right now. After talking about with Colin and everyone else who would listen for weeks, we decided it would be best just to hold on to the money every month, and use it for school next year. Jackson would n0-doubt love school and learn plenty of new things. But, I really don't think he needs it. He's two for goodness sake, and there is plenty of time for structured learning - but right now I think it's the smartest move for us to keep attending mom's group functions and learning through play. Let's face it, with Colin and myself for parents, the kids are going to be genius' no matter what. (ha) So, though there were many benefits to having him in school - I think this is the best decision for our family right now.
Off to bake some cookies - here are some pictures from the weekend
Looking so grown up, right?
My jaw dropped when I looked at this picture -
I still picture a little baby, and he is getting so big!
Hanging out with daddy.
I love these things!
So did Jackson.
He giggled his heart out after Colin helped him climb on the duck.
Licking the last little bit of icecream.
He looks ALOT like Colin's baby pictures right here.
Would you agree, Cynthia and Kevin?
They love this tunnel.
It is so much fun to watch them chase each other through it.
Jackson kept saying "follow me coop."
Our Lantana. -It's about the only thing that has survived the Texas summer.
I love the colors - actually, come to think of it, it looks alot like the colors in my kitchen/den.
What are these two after??
Ahh, yes ... the garden gnome.
What fun!
Our big boy.
Looking for bugs or dirt or something.
On Sunday we had a bake sale to raise money for our church. It was our first one, and we're sure to have more because it was a huge success! We made $730. It was a learning experience, since we were not sure how to price things, and we didn't know what would sell the best. But, we had a lot of bakers, and it was a huge hit! I think we're going to try and have a sale about 4 times a year. 
Here's one of all of us who sold (sans Adrienne).
That's better.
Here are the cupcakes I made.
Here are the cake pops. They were a labor of love. 
Cake Pops.
And Cupcake Pops. 
