Friend Family Christmas

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This year we traveled home to Kansas for Christmas. For years we take turns, every other year spending either Christmas or Thanksgiving with one of our families. This year it was my turn for Christmas. We hadn't been home since July for my Dad's 70th surprise party. So the trip was long overdue and it was really nice to see my parents, brother's & their families. We did our traditional 'Friend Family Chistmas Eve' gathering at my oldest brother Donald's house. We had a really good time. The only bummer was my middle brother David and his family couldn't make it because he had to work late. So the family wasn't quite complete without them, but we still all enjoyed each other's company.



Mom & Dad got their BIG gifts from us, which was an extension of their rehab contracts. For the first time in my parents lives they have been working out weekly. Sometimes three times per week. These is a huge accomplishment for them and a big lifestyle change that we are all really pleased and proud of them for. We are excited for them to 'keep up the good work'.



Cooper grabbed Grandma's pine cone candle when she wasn't looking.



Cooper really had fun seeing his cousins Brady and Ryan. He especially was attached to Brady. Here Brady was helping him open one of his gifts.





Both of my brothers dogs were there, which Cooper just loved. He liked Rosie a little more since she was small and more his size. Most of the time he was afraid of Achilles (the english bull dog). But in the picture he was brave and giving Achilles a 'stare down'.



We were getting ready to do our 'Ornament Exchange'. We stopped exchanging gifts years ago because it got too hard to figure out what to give each other. So we came up with some other fun alternatives. So now we do an ornament exchange and white elephant exchange (dirty santa style). It always makes for a good time.





Grandpa and Ryan hanging out. Ryan has on the White Elephant gifts that we brought. It was a collection of 'stick on' mustaches.. and yes Joe picked this out.



Lorelee and Brady being silly.



Here are the ornaments that Joe, Cooper and I got.



And are little family picture. Too bad we aren't all smiling. Oh well at least Cooper isn't screaming.. HA!

Almost Christmas

Getting ready for Christmas, wearing his reindeer antlers.







Opening an early Christmas present from his Aunt Kerrie & Family.





Yeah.. a box...



Loving the tissue paper.



Trying out his Christmas outfit from Grandma Boeckman.







The Christmas tree will be decorated. Poor Diana we are making her behind this year with us moving in and all. But oh well. We'll get it done. There will be ornaments and a tree skirt by Christmas. : )

18 & 19 Months - Evil Coopy?

He isn't totally evil.. he is an angel most of the time. But he does have his moments.



So the past few months have been a blur and with selling our house I didn't do a good job of keeping up on the blog. So 18 & 19 Month milestones are getting lumped together. Not to sound like a downer, but I think we started to see a glimpse of 'evil coopy'.. HA. By that I mean he has been starting to show signs of the terrible 'two's'. At times he is sweet as can be, and then in the flip of switch he is a wholly terror. Oh the joys of todderhood. We are on the course to a whole new adventure with this. Here are a few things that I remember:

1. His personality is in full bloom. And he is quite the character. Silly & Goofy. Inquisitive - He wants to know how things works and he'll take it apart to figure it out. He is very determined. And he is stubborn as can be. Hmm.. I wonder where he gets that from??

2. He started feed himself with a spoon and fork more. Gettting more cordination. Sometimes the spoon goes in upside down and the food doesn't quite make it to his mouth, but he is working on it.

3. We finally dropped the baby foods. But is one picky eater.. I guess that is just pay back for Joe and I being such picky eaters. He loves his fruits, snacks & cookies. And he is really starting to take meats much better. But vegetables, well that is a whole other story.

4. He has been a little more agressive lately, hopefully this translates into his athletic skills.. and doesn't continue to hit.. and bite. HA! No but seriously he has been hitting a lot lately and biting occasionally. So we are working on 'breaking' these things. We have to get these 'nipped in the bud'. I swear.

5. Testing --- Testing, testing, testing.. he is doing that constantly. What a little turd. This stage is definetly challenging. But that's ok.. bring it on. We can handle it. I'll admit though it soo hard to not laugh sometimes, because he can just be soo dang cute. The worst is when he does something bad, and then comes right up into your face to see if you stay serious or 'crack'... Ughh... he is something else.



Cooper is blowing a kiss here.. sometimes the kiss doesn't actuallly leave his mouth.. HA!