Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Ice skating!








Of course we had to fit in a trip to the Odessa ice skating rink! All Allison could talk about all week was going ice skating. So Friday afternoon we traveled to Odessa and Richard and Allison ice skated for 2 hours!!!! Of course Cooper and I had our own fun shopping and eating pretzels.

Cousin Time










During the week we were able to spend a lot of time with my niece and nephews! We spent time at the Jumpy place, Chickfila, McDonald's, and we were even able to take the kids to the theaters to see Puss and Boots. Here are a few of the pictures from our adventures!

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

T-day!









What a crazy whirlwind of a day! I started the day off at my mom's baking. Dropped off food at my sister's headed to my sister in laws. Then back to my sister's. Then I ended the day standing in line playing cards at Toysrus with my sister Courtney! I hope we can juggle Thanksgiving a bit better next year because I just might go crazy!!!! My normal baking buddy (my sister) her son had pink eye so her little family stayed home, my step grandmother had a stroke so my mom and step dad were back and forth at the hospital. On top of it all my sister Jamie wanted to host Thanksgiving at her house, so we were all over the place. Anyway it was a good day but I didn't snatch a single picture, I stole these two from my sister Heather.

Breaking Dawn!





Wednesday Afternoon I headed over to my sisters house to help her brim the Turkey, it took us nearly 3 hours! It was alot of fun though, spending the time together. We grabbed dinner and laughed and talked! After dinner we (my sister and our husbands) all headed out to go see Breaking Dawn! I know I am nerd but I love the books and must see all the movies. It wasn't my favorite movie out of the series but it was decent.

Ice cream party











The Saturday before Thanksgiving we had our end of the year soccer party! We decided to go with an ice cream party! We bought tons of toppings and set them up so the girls could pick and choose. We bought chocolate and vanilla and who would have guessed that the girls only wanted vanilla! It was fun to have all the girls together! They had several servings of ice cream. After they were done it was trophy time!!! It was a wonderful season, I cant believe it is over already.

Thankful

On my facebook page I began the 30 days of sharing what I was thankful for, but because we went out of town and had computer issues I never finished. So here is the rest!!





Day 21: So thankful for the Charity and service of others.




Day 22: Thankful for a supportive husband.




Day 23: Thankful for dinner with good friends.




Day 24: I am thankful for a day of food and good company.




Day 25: I am thankful for my black Friday shopping partner.




Day 26: I am thankful to be an Aunt.




Day 27: I am thankful for my talents, cooking/baking in particular.




Day 28: I am thankful for our reliable vehicle that has gotten us safely through our travels.




Day 29: I am thankful my kids have good relationships with there cousins, there a big part of there lives.




Day 30: I am thankful for this opportunity to participate in a month of gratitude, it really helps to focus my life in a more positive aspect.

Friday, November 18, 2011

1st grade Thanksgiving Feast



I was surprised when I got a note sent home that the first grade would be participating in there own Thanksgiving feast. I was overwhelmed with joy when I saw so many parents and grandparents show up to bring items for the feast and also help serve the children. I had an easy job serving the rolls, what kid doesn't want bread? All the children where wearing some kind of head piece representing Indians or Pilgrims, they all looked so cute. Cooper was surprisingly well behaved, although he is so familiar with the school that he thinks we owns the place! Allison was pretty happy to see us there, and we enjoyed eating lunch with her and her classmates! It was a nice escape from the current tragedy our family was hit with that particular day. Spending that time with my kids reminded me how blessed our family is.


A side note, if you look real hard you can see Cooper in the back of the last picture sitting on the stage wearing his red pants.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Building blocks



Cooper and I have so much fun playing and building with his Lego's! Cooper gets so creative and builds the most wonderful things. Lately Cooper is all about height when it comes to Lego's. Yesterday we were building and it took us a couple tries to get the heights but Cooper demanded that I take a picture of his latest design.


A side note. Cooper is not always naked, he just normally undresses when he goes potty.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Wiggles


Cooper was watching The Wiggles Christmas and Allison and I had this conversation I thought it was so classic Allison I had to share.



Allison-The wiggles aren't handsome
Me-They don't have to be handsome
Allison-They do if you wanna kiss them!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Turkey Shoot Out 2011



We drove into Midland on Friday to sign our players in for the Turkey Shoot Out soccer tournament! Later that night my sister, Richard, and I went out to dinner at Outback! It was nice to have a quiet evening with out kiddos. The food was delicious and I enjoyed every second with my two best friends! On Saturday we had three games. Our first game started at 9am, it was cold but not to bad! This game was intense! We were down 2 points and then turned it around and won 5-2!! The girls were so proud! I missed most of the second game because I went to pick up the pizza for the team. We barely lost that game 2-1! I think our girls were hungry and tired! Also the wind came out during the second game and never died down! After the girls ate pizza and cookies they seemed ready for the next game. Our third game was amazing the girls won 5-0!! What a day it was, we couldn't have done it with out our families help. We had lots of items we carried all over the soccer fields: chairs, tent, two ice chest, plate/napkins, cookies, pizza, soccer balls etc. I am so glad we were able to participate in the tournament, Allison played so well and has made a lot of new friends this season!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

A day with Cooper


Most of my day revolves around this little guy so I thought I would blog about this special time with him. Cooper is an extremely early riser, I think there are 4 times in his life that he has slept in! With the time change Cooper is waking up at 5:30am! I appreciate that Cooper is still taking two hour naps daily. Just recently we stopped our morning walks together because of the cooler weather. But normally Cooper would sit back in the stroller with snacks while I walked nearly 3 miles every morning. Usually after we drop off Allison at school, Cooper wants to watch Mickey Mouse club house and eat his second breakfast. Cooper doesn't make it through the whole show before he is up and playing in his room. His favorite toys are his ghostbuster and batman cave. He will play with them for hours!! Lately Cooper has been into playing with his Lego's, and builds magnificent buildings! But most of the day Cooper plays dress up and likes to stay in character! Once he told me after jumping off the bed and me getting on to him "Mom, I got webs don't worry about it!" For weeks he changed between his Captain America, Iron man, and spiderman, but know its only spiderman! Cooper tells me he is Peter Sanchez not Cooper Sanchez. Everyday Cooper and I sit down at the kitchen table for study time! We go over our letters, numbers, and colors. We practice drawling letters on the dry erase board together and play with the magnet colored shapes. Most of all Cooper loves it when I read him stories! I jokingly tell people that I run a 24 hour restaurant at the beck and call of Cooper. That kid eats all day!!! Some of the things Cooper eats: carrots, apples, grapes, blue berries, oranges, bananas, celery, broccoli, peanuts, and pickles! Some times I feel like I am raising a rabbit not a little boy! Through out the day Cooper constantly ask me if we are going to pick up Allison. Cooper also loves to play games on the computer, Disney junior is his favorite site! Everyday when we pick up Allison from school Cooper falls asleep and is out for hours! When he wakes he runs around crazy playing with Allison and they love to build caves and house with the couch seats. Sometimes I over hear them play spiderman where Allison is Mary Jane. I am so thankful for my lil guy, he has been a wonderful addition to our family and everyday he reminds just how grateful I am. His blue eyes light up my life, I see so much of his daddy in him and that brings me joy. It hasn't always been easy to be your mother Cooper but your worth everything to me.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Apple orchard, birthday party, and apple pies!










We started off our Saturday with Allison last soccer game of the season! Richards parents and sister and brother in law drove in for the cold morning! It was an intense game we thought we had tied when the referee said the other teams goal didn't count, we won 2-1! We had a fabulous season, the girls really improved! We ended the season with 7 wins out of 8! Then we headed to Lubbock! Two of my sisters, my niece, and my mom meet us in Lubbock for lunch. After lunch we headed together to the apple orchard. The weather wasn't perfect but tolerable and we were able to pick some apples and buy some frozen apples already picked too! I am sad I didn't get better pictures of my kiddos, my darn camera died again! After our adventures at the apple orchard we headed back to Midland for Richards sister's birthday party at Red Lobster. Then we headed to my sister in laws for cake and ice cream. It was a full but fun day. Sunday after church and a late lunch my sister Courtney and I baked some apple pies!! Let me tell you how worth the trip to Lubbock was because that pie was so delicious! While waiting for the pies my sister and I played cards while Cooper entertained him self with a box! What a busy weekend, but I enjoyed every second of it!

Friday, November 4, 2011

News from Mills Elementary


I have to brag about my Alli-cat! On Monday I received a post card in the mail from Allison's Principal. The post card read:


Dear Richard and Stacey,


Ms. Manes is bragging on Allison. Allison is a very hard worker who doesn't give up if she doesn't understand a concept. Instead she keeps trying until she understands the correct answer. She also has a kind, caring heart.
Ms. Bryant


I am so very proud of my daughter. I often say that she came from Heaven to me with this fighting spirit and that I have nothing to do with her sweet strong demeanor. Okay maybe I had a little to do with it. Allison has made it so easy to raise her, and I am so thankful for the person that she is. I am proud to be her mother.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Dinner and cake!




Yesterday was Richards actual birthday! I started the morning by making breakfast for Richard and soon he was off to work. As soon as he left I started in on making the cake!! About four years ago my sister Courtney and I found this ice cream sandwich Oreo cookie cake that we made for Richards birthday. Ever since then every year I make the same cake for Richards birthday. The kids were anxiously waiting for Richard to come from work. To pass the time the kids made cards for Richard. We went out to dinner together. Cooper loves Mexican food, the kid cant get enough of it. He ate so much salsa, queso, rice, beans, and fajitas. After dinner we came home and enjoyed the cake! I wish I would have recorded the kids trying to blow out Richards cake! They were both sitting over the cake ready to blow it out when Richard covered both there mouths and blew out his own candles!!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Happy Halloween!!





We had a fun day planned out for Halloween! When Richard got home from work we headed out to trick or treat around the neighborhood by Allison school just two blocks from our small street. The kids had a blast and scored loads of candy! Cooper insisted on wearing his spiderman costume, and by the end of the night he was so tired he did not want to walk. We came home in time to hand out some candy to our neighborhood kids. Allison was totally excited to hand out candy. After we finished we came inside and played a few games of Halloween bingo and then decorated some cookies with orange icing and sprinkles. We really missed are family in Midland but we made the best of our night by ourselves.