Happy 200!!!

This is officially my 200th blog entry!!!! Yay! So in honor of the event, I will be giving away this handy dandy personalized checkbook cover. I've never given away anything so here you go. My entry into the blog world has been so much fun and addicting. Most of all, I love being able to remember the sweet pics and cute things my kiddos say! So be sure to leave me a comment on my blog or email me with a comment. I will randomly choose a number and we will see who wins! Probably not many people read this, so your chances are good! ha!

85, 84, 83.....

And the countdown continues! 83 days left, Fanpires! I've got chills!

And I fully intend on sleeping in a tent to get a ticket on opening day if necessary just to see the likes of this vampire. Sweet dreams...........oh, and enjoy the music.

"You should probably know that I'm breaking the rules right now. Well, not technically, since he said I was never to walk through this door again and I came in the window......."

-E.C.

A Few Things We Did In Ruidoso........

Wished Ramma was here in the cabins with us-we missed her!

Ate yum breakfast outdoors in the morning!

Showed the crack sign as we played in the river!

Rode Ponies

Took family pics

Bounced really high up!

Scaled a climbing wall!

Played with squirt guns on the water rides

Got totally soaked while doing it!

Locked a baby in the car........

Therefore had to call the fire department...........

But the fireman retrieved her safely and she was mad about it!

Wore collared shirts to play golf at Inn of the Mountain Gods

Made tiny egg baskets out of play dough.

Went to the horse races (do you see Slade in green?)

And decided we didn't have a future as a bookie

Took even more family photos!

Threw lots and lots of rocks in the river

Went on hikes with big sticks

Ate homemade Monkey Bread!

Watched deer

Acted like silly girls

Took fresh mountain air naps

Rode golf carts!

Acted like silly boys!

Got our first pair of flip flops-can you tell!?!

Had Chai tea from Starbucks

And played in the river even more! We had an awesome time. It was restful, relaxing, and I got to spend time with the four of us. I enjoyed watching my babies play where their daddy grew up spending his summer vacations. The only thing that would have made it better is if Ramma could have been there and Slade wouldn't have freaked out when the wind blew high in the pine trees-one too many Storm Stories for him. I think it was much more likely he would be attacked by a bear than blown away by a tornado in Ruidoso. But you can't reason with the kid.

Finleyism........

So we decide to go swimming at the neighbor's pool. Finley tells me that she is going to pick her swimsuit. I told her fine, and to go get it. I'm getting dressed and she runs in with the orange bikini bottoms(as shown above). "Mom" she says, "I can't find the orange boobs!?!" We finally found the "boobs" just in time to swim!

I predict some serious attitude as a teenager from this orange triangle boob-wearing bathing suit gal! A pic is worth a thousand words or something like that!!! I suppose Kyle will pay for his raising.

Yesterday my parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary! Yay! And no, they wouldn't let us do anything for them. Fuddy Duddys!

Today would be Kyle's mother's 59th birthday. I wonder what she would think about the orange boobed girl? Happy Birthday, Margaret-not a day goes by that we don't miss you!

P.S. I got a little teary thinking about Margaret's birthday and Finley just walked up to me and asked why my eyes were dripping? Priceless!

My First Grade Boy

He wasn't sad at all. He told us last night that he just "couldn't quit smiling".

He woke right up and told us to turn the shower to hot.

He looked very handsome in his new shirt that Cita got him. Same backpack, new lunch box.

He raced the whole way to school and stood at the door to wait for the bell to ring.

He knew several other boys in his new room that were in his class last year. There was a new kid that was upset and Kyle pulled him aside and told him to be his friend today because he was new.

And I admit I had to put my shades on as we walked home because mom got a little choked up. He is just so old now. He doesn't need us. He knows the ropes. Will my heart survive all his firsts? I hope his year is as memorable as my first grade year with Ms. Shultz! I wonder if he'll get to use paper coins and go to the "store"?

Farewell........

Goodbye, ye ol' faithful nap mat. You have been kind, even though Slade never wanted to actually take a nap on you. You comforted him while he cried for his mom the first day of Sugar & Spice. You wrapped your felt blankie around him when he refused to sleep in Kindergarten and had to lay beside Mrs. Hendrix while she worked-when the others were sleeping. Actually, Big Blue Nap Mat, Slade maybe slept a total for 8 hours on you in the three years you have blessed us with your presence. Don't feel bad, he never napped for his mother either. But none the less, we love you and you've been here since he was three. Two years of preschool and kinder. You've been drug on the floor, rolled & unrolled millions of times, and washed at least as many times as my favorite bra. You never failed nor faded, only losing a tiny bit of black on your checked ribbons. We really got our $35 worth. Thank you, Big Blue Nap Mat! Now he is on to bigger and better things. And no more naps!!! Someday, he'll wish you were back. Someday he would pay someone to let him take a nap! You never realize what you got, until it's gone-and that goes for naps, as well. Goodbye, old friend.

To Scrub or Not to Scrub........

The result of playing with sidewalk paint. Dangerous, but fun! I highly recommend it, despite the mess. And Tide stockholders with thank you! It totally washes out, so it's all good. The site of my very own Van Gogh in training makes me smile really, really wide.

Finley's Third Birthday Bash!

Heavens to Betsy-Is my baby really three??? Evidently she is according to my calculations and the pink birthday girl shirt. Where did the last three years go?

Nana's famous chocolate cake in the antique baby pan.

Lots of gifts! Neat gifts. But they are always more fun at someone elses house-why is that? Same toy plus different house equals more fun. Question of the day.

This would be the typical attitude at least five times per day since turning three. Fun times! But I still love her, most days.

This is blurry, but I love it. Daddy and his gal!

Sweet Paigey!

Nana and Aurora

Yummo party food. Gotta love party food. PW's favorite salad, tortilla roll-ups, black eyed pea salsa, hashbrown casserole, watermelon/cantaloupe basket, cheese dip, and hot dogs(not pictured, but still tasty).

Glovers and Lynns

Is this really all the candy I get? Why are all the other kids picking it up before I can? What just happened to Dora?

We rented a bouncer and a double slide. It was fun-even for the adults. Well, the adults that acted like they were three. Here's Callan, Gracie, and Ellyson bouncing.

The Ol' Cooper Bunch-Melissa T., Me, Beth. I have since cut about six inches off my hair. Reckless, I know. I look pregnant in this pic, but I ain't. Bad Camera!

Well, at least Kyle is happy.

I have to have balloons at my kids parties. It's a must.

The kids and the three year old acting adults. At least we sweated off some cake calories.

Emma-she won't be caught dead in a Halloween costume. Sunglasses are negotiable.

Tucker, Slade, and Alec. Just looks like trouble to me!

Still not sure what all the birthday fuss is about. She came around.

Baby Logan was a pretty big hit at this shindig.

Cita and Finny Minny

The slides were fun-until the trouble boys knocked you out when you stayed at the bottom. Or when I bounced a kid out. Not my most shining moment, but I was sorry.

Melissa and Rylee-or "Charlie" as Finley likes to call her.

Our Dora Pinata. We've never had a pinata and I was very excited by this! Finley was scared to death of this giant, so we had to hide her in the closet for a month. Slade taunted her with giant Dora. Mean brother!!!

I have always thought pinatas were so cool with the candy and all. Then I realized that it must be traumatizing for a three year old to watch people beat the hell out of their hero with a bat or stick or sword. What was someone thinking the day they made this paper mache masterpiece? Kinda rates up there in the "pets wearing clothing" category. Why?

They did like the candy, though, after Dora was mutilated.

Happy Birthday, Miss Priss!

Miss Gracie

The monstrosity of a slide!

It was one for the books!!! We had fun! But again, where did the last three years go?