Halloween 2008

Happy Halloween kidos!

Adam pulling the Trick-or-Treat gang!

The girls all decked out!

The boys all decked out!

On the hayride!

The Cooks!

The Lohr's.

And the kids, one more time.

The Plemmons'

Cook kids carving the pumpkin, bofore the party.

Okay, so I am just now getting around to adding Halloween pictures and it is the middle of November....shoot me!

We had a really great Halloween this year. Aunt Mary and I made Katy a beautiful princess dress, which she loved! Mason and Adam were both Batman (or according to Mason, Adam was Batman's cousin, Batman). I made Batman capes for both boys. We celebrated Halloween by having a small Halloween party for the kids at our house on the Sunday before Halloween. Everyone dressed up (parents too) and we started by taking a hay ride around our neighborhood and trick-or-treated at about 5 houses close by. Then we came in and had pizza, chili, and chicken stew, followed by spider cupcakes. The kids had a great time playing together and they loved the fact that the moms and dads were dressed up too. It was a lot of fun for everyone.

On Wednesday before Halloween we went to church to our Trunk-or-treat. The kids had great time going around and trick-or-treating out of everyone's cars. Then they got to go on a hay ride. Adam and I ended up getting off the hayride just in front of the house and coming in to find that he had a temp of 103! Imagine that, one of the kids is sick. He remained sick for 5 days straight with a fever, he is still a little yucky.

On Halloween Night Katy spent the night with Sidnee and went Trick-or-Treating with her on the town square. Needless to say, we have lots of candy. Me and the boys went to the football game but then came back home where it was warm. So, our Halloween lasted a full week and was lots of fun for everyone!

It is so much fun to see the kids dressed up and excited about getting to pretend to be someone else for a little while. What fun it is to be a kid!

Apples

We gathered winesap apples from a neighbor and proceeded to "do apples." Katy helped Grandad peel the apples with the peeler, she loved it. We peeled, cut, froze, and sauced at least a bushell of apples. We sent a bunch to Aunt Mary and she dried them on screens in the sun, they will be used for fried pies later. We froze a lot for cooking through the winter and made some into apple sauce. We also made some "pear butter." Every thing turned out well and we have already enjoyed some of the frozen apples, applesauce and pear butter, now it's time to make some fried apple pies, yum!

Santa's Land

We went to Santa's Land with the playgroups on September 10. Mason and Adam had a great time, but we missed Katy, she was at kindergarten. We got to see lots of animals, including 2 baby bears being fed by bottles of FRUIT PUNCH! Mason loved that. They also fed reindeer, goats, sheep, a kangaroo... There were some rides too. Mason and I rode the Rudy Coaster and we all 3 rode the Merry-go-round, the helicopters, the Ferris Wheel, and the boys rode the boats and the cars by themselves. Adam thought he was so big getting to ride the cars by himself. We also went out on the paddle boats in the pond. It was FILLED with huge goldfish that just about jumped in the boat with you trying to get the food we gave them. Adam thought that was so funny, so did Mason. There was also a monkey island and a lemur island in the pond where you could watch them playing.

It was a really fun day for everyone and the boys had a great time. I am always glad to get to take the kids. Santa's Land holds lots of fond memories for me because Nanaw used to take me there every summer when I was little. We always had fun together. My favorite thing then was the Magic Show, but we did not get to see it this time. We will be looking forward to going again next year, I hope!

M is for Magnificent Mischeivious Mason

Did I ever mention that our Mason is a pretty Magnificent kid? Well, he is. He is magnificent, marvelous, mischeivious, mesmorizing, motivating... he is the sweetest kid and the most loving kid ever. Don't get me wrong, he doesn't walk around passing out hugs and kisses all the time, he also delivers his fair share of bumps and bruises, but, you can't help but love him! He steals everyones heart he meets!

He is funny too. Today I got home and he was emptying out his pants (underwear) from where he had filled them full of rocks at Pre-school. So, yes, he filled his pants with rocks, and rode home before he decided to take them out. He also mentioned that he might have had to sit in time out for throwing rocks on the playgrouond today. Of course, he told me all about it with a sweet smile and big ole blue eyes. He knows how to play the game!

Mason, we hope you never lose your loving nature or your appealing humor. You are one in a million and we are super proud of you and we love you very much. You are our most marvelous Mason! Always believe in yourself and your ideas, speak and be heard, listen and learn, live life to the fullest just as you do everyday!

We love you!!!!

A is for Adorable Adam

I hate to be biased, but have you seen my son Adam? ADORABLE, ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE! He is cutest thing, totally brightens up my life every day! He is funny, sweet, affectionate, full of himself, curious, inventive, stubborn... He is a 25 lb bundle of ADORABLE! He is so funny, he loves to make us laugh! He recently went to the Doctor for his checkup and was up on the charts, 45th percentile for weight, and 25th percentile for height. So he is a bit more round than he is tall right now, but boy is he cute!

Adam loves to play with Mason and Katy, he thinks he is as big as they are and can do what they do. So, he tries, and he falls (or gets pushed down) or sometimes he makes it, and when he does, you can just see the pride popping out all over him. He loves to "feel big." Mason and Katy are usually pretty good with him and include him in what ever it is they ar playing, and they are both super protective over him, they might push him, but no one else should even dare! He is lucky to have them as a big brother and sister!

I am hating how big he is getting. I want him to stop growing and stay this size forever. Before I know it, I will be carting him off to kindergarten. Oh, it makes me sad to think about it! The good thing is that it makes me more aware of the time I have with him now, and Mason too, I am trying to be more mindful of the time I spend with them, and trying to make the most of it.

We love you Adorable Adam!

K is for Katy and Kindergarten

Gran would have been so proud of you this morning, just like we are. She would have loved to have seen you in your pig tails with your Cheetah Girl backpack on your back. She would have loved to have seen you headed out to embrace your very first day of kindergarten. She would have believed that you would have a wonderful year and that you would loved every part of kindergarten. She would have believed in you, just like we do. As a matter of fact, I am sure she is looking down from heaven today with a smile on her face, telling her friends up there to look at how big you are, how beautiful you are, and how smart you are! She would say, that little girl is going to do great things, and you are!

You brighten our day each morning you get up and come down the steps to greet the morning. You put a smile on our face as you climb up into "your chair" and ask for some breakfast (even though you will be eating breakfast again at school within the next hour). You may be the only kindergartener who eats 2 breakfasts and lunch all before 11:30a.m. You are getting so big, so fast. You can brush your teeth, get dressed (shoes and all), and brush your hair all be yourself. You are such a great big sister to Mason and Adam. You are a good friend. You are smart, and sassy, and sensitive, and sweet, and funny, and loving, and so very special.

As you step into kindergarten we have all the confidence that you will succeed! You will learn so many new things each day. You will make new friends and try new things. You will go to P.E., and art, and music, and to the library! You will look to your teacher's (Ms. Lauren Rogers and Mrs. Julia Sherrill) to teach you and to care for you and to lead you in the path you need to go. They will be a wonderful influence and will forever make thier footprint on the path of your life, they are so lucky to have you in thier class, as you are lucky to have them.

We pray you will listen and learn, be kind and make new friends, be still and listen, answer questions and be confident, try and try again, never stop until you succeed! Keep your eyes wide open, experience each day to the fullest, love yourself and love your life. Each day is a new beginning to the rest of your life, greet it with excitement and confidence. We believe in you!

We love you and are supporting you every day!

Mom and Dad

Mason Goes to Pre-School

My sweet little boy started Pre-school at on Monday, August 18. He will only be going part time, but he absolutely LOVES it. I took him on the first day and he was so excited, he walked in like he was grown with his backpack on his back and a smile on his face. He put his backpack on the hook by his self and immediately started playing with the bulldozers in the floor.
Mason's class consists of all boys! There are two other little boys in his class that he knew previously so he already had some friends when he got there. His teacher's name is Mrs. Liz (I feel sorry for her with all those boys, however she has three boys of her own, she will be okay)!
When I picked Mason up on that first day, he was super excited to see me (which I loved)! He ran to give me a big hug and reported that he had had a great day. He had played games, and sang songs, and played outside, and most importantly, he had something for me in his bag. When we got to the car, he opened his backpack to reaveal his pictures that he had made that day, (wow, the joy that filled my soul to see him so excited and proud of the the work he had done)! He is one in a million, I tell you!
After I picked him up, we went to thier favorite pizza place for a "first day of school" celebration lunch. Of course this excited all 3 kids. We had a great lunch together, however we missed Dad, he did not get to go with us that day.
I can't believe Mason is growing up so fast. He will be in kindergarten before I know it. He will do well, I can tell. Along with his great personality, sweet demeaner, love for learning, and his knack for comic relief, he is sure to be one of the best students!
We are blessed to have him in our lives!!!
We love you Mason, and we are super proud of you!

Mom and Dad

Days at the Beach (2) Putt Putt

5 kids, two five year olds, one three year old, one two year old, one one year old, 2 sets of parents all pile into 2 vans and head out for an exploration of dinosaurs, green patches, small holes, long iron poles, and little brightly colored balls. How'd that go.........? Actually it went much better than any of us expected. Except for one minor pee pee accident (Mason) and one almost "total breakdown" (saved by allowing him to hit the ball about 100 times on one hole) we actually faired very well.

After driving by this putt putt course about 10 times throughout the week and promising the boys that we would go, we finally made it. The kids were soooooooo excited. They picked thier clubs and picked their balls and we all headed out onto the course. (Adam was literally stuffed into a small carrying pouch on Darren's chest). The kids loved playing and all did really well. Katy and Mason both had some true 2's and 3's on some of the holes. They loved the water running through the course and all of the huge dinosaurs scattered around between holes.

Of course, Darren and I are extremely competitive at putt putt (it is one of the only things I can legitamently beat him at) so we were trying our best to play well. It was harder for him though with Adam in the pack on his chest. Regardless, I must add that I did beat him in the end by 2 strokes. Yippee!

After the game we went to a nearby ice cream parlor for some ice cream. We sat out on the deck overlooking another putt putt course. The kids loved the whole evening! They were all so good and it was great for us to get to watch them have such a good time and really feel successful in what they were doing.

After a long day of the beach, the pool, putt putt, ice cream... we all headed back to the beach house and went to bed. Sleep in a necessity when you are waking up each morning to heard 4 adults, 5 kids, two wagons, two coolers, and all other essential beach parafanalia 2 blocks to the beach (we must be CRAZY)! We would not trade one minute of our time there for the world. It was great!

Happy Birthday Mom

Today would have been mom's 72nd birthday. As more time passes I realize more how much I miss her. The longer she is gone, them more I realize she isn't coming back. I miss her calling me in the mornings just to see what I am doing. I miss her calling to hitch a ride to Wal-Mart and I miss her going places with me. I hate that my kids can't see her whenever they want. I hate that Adam will never remember her, and Mason will not remember her much, if any. I hate that they won't ever really know how great she was or how much she loved them.

I love that Katy and Mason still ask about her. Katy says she really misses Gran. Mason thanks God for her in his prayers, but sometimes mentions the fact that she is in heaven.

They all have some of the good parts of her inside of them and for that I am thankful.

Katy and I asked Jesus to give Gran a big birthday party in Heaven, with lots of balloons, a big cake, and lots of presents!

We believe he did!

We love and miss you, Mom!

These are pictures from 2 years ago, Mom's 70th Birthday Party. It seem like yesterday!

Days at the Beach (1)

Papaw Cook came to the beach and spent some time with us there. The kids loved having him there to play with them at the beach and at the pool. Of course, Papaw insisted on WALKING 2 miles just to get to us each morning, then was able to spend some time playing. He would not hear of riding abike or especially, not a car/truck. Papaw got the kids some boogie boards which they loved, Adam loved them too.

Papaw made special effort to spend time with each one of the kids, individually. He is good at that. They loved having him there!

Mason ran around on the beach like a maniac, laughing and smiling and talking about "who knows what!" Katy enjoyed going out to jump the waves with Papaw, and Adam also enjoyed going out into the ocean with him.

Having Papaw around was great!