Craft Week 2014

Last year Laura and I had a Christmas in July and made some Christmas crafts, since I knew I wouldn’t have time during December to do any of those crafts. This year it didn’t work out to do them in July, but it did work out to do it in October! And Mel came, too. And we made more than just Christmas crafts. And it was fantastic! We spent three days crafting. Here’s my kitchen on the end of day 1:

At the end of day 2:

And my finished projects at the end of day 3:

I’m so excited that we accomplished so much! We already have a list of craft ideas to do next year!

She’s a Bat!

Claire’s school encourages the kids to create a homemade Halloween costume so that they can be part of the creative process. This year she wanted to be a witch for her school costume. We got some black paper, (since we don’t have black paint), and she cut the pieces that needed cutting and taped the paper to her bag. Then she changed her mind and said she wanted to be a bat because she had told her teacher, Ms. Wright, that she was going to be a bat. And since black works for a witch and a bat, it worked out! I knew we could make some bat ears, but I had no idea about the wings. After looking at some pictures online, I dug in my t-shirt drawer for a black shirt I don’t ever wear. - I found one and cut some wings! I’m pleased with how it turned out!

And Ryan looks good as a skeleton!

Mrs. Merritt, Claire, and Ms. Wright

Cousins in Pajamas

I love being able to exchange babysitting with Stephen and Mel for dates so frequently! And the kids love playing together, so it’s a win-win! Here, they’re clean and ready to watch a movie. -- Actually, they were watching a movie. When I saw them watching a movie after I fed Dayton, I paused the movie to take these pictures, and then it was back to their regularly scheduled program!

Dayton - 11 months

Our little Dayton is already 11 months old! Wow!

These days, he likes to push toys while he walks, (a little wagon, a little shopping cart, etc). He likes to walk while he’s holding on to someone’s hands. He loves to eat. (I don’t think he’s met a food he doesn’t like!) He’s still a mama’s boy, but it has gotten better. It’s not always better, but it is better sometimes. He doesn’t spit up as much as he used to. (Hooray!) And he doesn’t have as many painful burps as he used to. He can wave pretty well now. He doesn’t wave all the time that I suggest it to him, but if he wants to, he’ll do it. One day when Claire, Dayton, and I went for a walk, Claire was up ahead of us, and Dayton waved and waved to her! It was cute!

He got some new top teeth recently. - First, the one just left of center came in, and the two center teeth are beginning to break through, too.

He took his first steps last Friday - on October 17! It was two little steps from the computer desk to the computer chair. -- I figured his first steps wouldn’t be trying to come to me. He has really been thinking about walking lately; I can just tell when he’s standing and not holding onto anything. I can just see him thinking about moving his feet, but then he falls or holds onto something. And then tonight he took a step and a half towards Jordan! He’s so close!

I love seeing Dayton light up when he sees Claire in the morning or when we pick her up from school. I’m so glad they both love each other!

We love you Dayton! We’re so happy you’re in our family!

Playgroup at the Park

For playgroup last week, we decorated Halloween sugar cookies at the park. The kids had fun and loved to eat their cookies and play!

Dayton sat happily in the stroller for a while, and then he wanted out. I realized I could put him in the swing! - I haven’t done that yet with him. And he loved it!

And Claire loved pushing him, too! (I love her tongue out in this picture!)

Random Doings

Here’s Dayton, climbing in that cabinet again. Recently, he has gotten all the way inside and then realized he’s uncomfortable because he can’t sit up all the way.

Claire with her bear

And happy little Dayton

Dad & Dayton

Claire dressed up Dayton in a headband and necklace. He didn’t seem to mind. Somehow, I think he has a lot more of this coming in his future!

Rainbow Day

Claire and Ryan had rainbow day at school recently, and they came home with these awesome rainbow crowns. -- Evan wanted to be in the picture, too. :-)

They also had rainbow shirts

and rainbow jello.

Toys, Toys, Toys

When Dayton wakes up in the morning or from a nap, she goes in his room sometimes (when I say it’s okay) and gives him toys, toys, toys!

Trapped!

The little boy is trapped! (And cute, in my opinion!)

Claire, 4.5

Claire is 4 and a half now! I thought it’d be fun to celebrate a tiny bit. She played pet salon in the morning,

and then we went to HEB. I “splurged” and bought us donuts from the bakery in the store.

We had a picnic lunch at the park.

Some cousins came over for dinner, and we had cupcakes, too!

Here’s a little interview of Claire at age 4.5:

Name: Claire Lois Cooper

Nicknames: Claire Do Hair Do, Dew, Dizzle, Dizzle Dew

How old are you? 4 and a half

What is your favorite color? Pink, purple, blue, and yellow

What is your favorite animal? Kitty and a dog and a bird

What is your favorite bird? – bald eagle

What is your favorite book? The Color Book

What is your favorite TV show? Mickey & the animal shows with Dad & Pioneer Woman & Ina

What is your favorite movie? Sword in the Stone, Peter Pan, and Tangled, but I don’t like the mom

What is your favorite song? Popcorn Popping, Twinkle, Twinkle, I Am Like a Star, Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam

What is your favorite food? Sausage biscuits, pizza, pasta, bacon, sausage, eggs, toast, spaghetti and meatballs, and fish

What is your favorite drink? Pink lemonade

What is your favorite breakfast food? Cheerios & milk with strawberries in it

What is your favorite snack? Cheese crackers and raisins, Goldfish & crackers

What is your favorite outfit? Panda shirt from Grandmom and the other new shirt from HEBuddy

What is your favorite game? Ladybug Game

What is your favorite toy? Playing with the kitchen set

Who is your best friend? Ivy

What is your favorite thing to do? Do crafts

What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play on my castle outside

What is your favorite holiday?  Christmas

What do you like to take to bed with you at night? my Susie & Lion and white teddy & pink teddy & butterfly blanket, & my sheet, bed, pillow, and my whole bed

Where is your favorite place to go? The snow cone place & HEB to get some food & the donut shop with Dad

What is your favorite restaurant? Rosa’s, Taco Bell, and Chuy’s

Where do you want to go on vacation? On a boat in the water and see all our family and sail to the other side of the land, and we can get in the water, too

What do you want to be when you grow up? An animal doctor and a food animal doctor (someone who gives the animals food)