Goodbye Sweet Bandit!

With much sadness, we decided to say goodbye to our sweet Bandit. Bandit was 16 years old and was starting to really show signs of deteroration. About 4 years ago, we thought he was a goner when the vet said that he had a tumor. He spent a week at the vet and they couldn't do anything else for us. We took him home so we could spent one more week with him - little did we know that we would have four more years with him!

Last summer, Bandit and his bad old-man eyesight wandered into the street and was clipped by a car's tire. We thought he wouldn't make it that night, but he came out of it miraculously! At the time, the vet was more concerned about his enlarged heart, which we had no idea about.

That enlarged heart has led to alot of coughing since his heart kept squeezing on his lungs. In the past few months, he coughs alot more and in the past week he laid around alot and was having a hard time walking. We knew it was getting close but just didn't want him to suffer anymore.

Bandit had a great life! He loved car rides, going fishing with Scott, chasing the geese in our old back yard and just playing with the kids and the cats. He was so patient with the kids and was my little shadow! I hope Smudge is chasing you around again in heaven, Bandit!

Our Soccer Star

Caroline is playing soccer again this fall. She has really found her nitch and really seems to be enjoying the game. I just love to see her out there hustling! She has come a looongg way this past year!

 While Caroline was playing goalie, the nice referree stopped to explain to Caroline that if her own team member kicks her the ball to her while she is goalie, Caroline cannot pick it up and can only kick it. I did not know that!

Play Ball!

Cooper is playing Fall Ball at Davie Little League this year. This is his first coach pitch team and it has been quite interesting! These teams are much more hard core than our usual Y teams! He has already come a long way since our first practice but we hope for him to keep working at it!

The video on the left is of Cooper hitting a base hit. He just kept running after first base and headed straight towards second base. You can hear Scott in the background yelling out to Cooper "Nooooo" because he thought he was just going to keep on running all the way to home!

The video on the right is at one of Cooper's first games. Scott and I have replayed this a million times just laughing at him and his reaction to us afterwards.

How much can this boy grow??

I had to take Cooper to the doctor last week for his wellness check for kindergarten. He got his kindergarten shots at his wellness check last July, so this visit was really just to get his physical signed for school. I told Scott before we left that I was curious to see how much he has grown since last summer. I can't tell you how many people have said to me that it seems that Cooper has just grown alot this past year. After the visit was over, I asked the doctor if he could tell me his stats from last year. That Cooper grew 11.64" since last July!!! Almost an entire foot! I couldn't (but could) believe it! Sadly, our skinny boy only gained 2.5 lbs for the entire year!

I pulled some pictures from close to this time last year and compared them:

October 2010



August 2011



First day of Kindergarten - August 2011

First day of Pre-K - August 2010

Happy 6th Birthday Cooper!

We decided to change things up this year for Cooper's birthday party. Cooper's friend, Landon, has his birthday the same week as Cooper's. Landon's mom and I decided to do their birthdays together since they have most of the same friends. (As a Mom and the parent that has to attend these parties with my child, I would MUCH rather go to one party than two!)

We decided on a place called Funigan's. It's like a Chuck E. Cheese but without all of the hoopla. Personally, I can't stand going to Chuck E. Cheese - mostly because of the clientele that it brings in. (Sorry, if I sound uppity on that remark, but it's true.) They have an indoor jungle gym, soft play, video games, a rock climbing wall and bowling.

No birthday cake this year. Cookie cakes are better!

Landon and Cooper

You will notice that Cooper can't take a serious picture to save his life!

More silliness

We HAD to take a picture of Cooper and the Chicken "Coop".

Davis climbing up to ring the bell

Cooper bowling

So, Happy Birthday to my baby boy! Cooper, you are such a joy and I am so proud to call you my son! We love you very much!

Swim Team - Go Orcas!

 Caroline decided to do the swim team, The Oak Valley Orcas, again this year. I think swim team is one of the best sports that you can encourage your kids to do. It can only help them later in life. There is nothing better than a strong swimmer!

 Caroline and her friend, Mary Kate

 Getting ready for her 25 Free

 Cooper did not do the swim team this year, but he sure had fun at the swim meets! Our friend, Brian, showed the kids how you could put your swim cap on by filling it upside-down with water and dropping it on their head. Cooper gladly demonstrated!

Another great part about swim team is the downtime at the swim meets. The kids just have so much fun horsing around in between events!

The best part of the season was when Caroline was able to complete the breaststroke, butterfly and backstroke without disqualifying AND had competitive times against her competition! We were SUPER proud of her!

So Stinking Proud!!!

Our outdoor soccer season at the Y started this past month! Cooper and Caroline are both participating this season. In the past, Caroline hasn't really given 100% with sports. She will try but her timidness usually takes over. She is just not one of those aggressive kids, which is fine with me!

This season, Scott and I decided to use our bribery skills. There is a smoothie shop inside the YMCA and the kids beg for a smoothie every day. So, we told them that they could get a smoothie for every goal that they score. Well, Caroline has taken that bribe to the max and has scored in mulitple games! She is having the time of her life! This past Saturday, she scored SEVEN goals! And yes, there was a goalie!

She has mostly been playing forward and has really gotten more aggressive!

There is one goal!

Playing Goalie

Look at her taking on the other team! Three months ago, she would have frozen in her tracks!

There is another goal! It was hilarious! Cooper was starting to get jealous on the sidelines saying, "Mommy, she can't eat all of those milkshakes! That's not fair!". I bet you Little Mr Competitive will try to outdo her next week!

There goes another one in!

Giving her teammate a high-five afterwards

The best part about this is that she is really gaining confidence. I am just so stinking proud of my girl! 

Birthday Girl!

Our 8 year old princess woke up all chipper on her birthday!! Can you tell?? I had to get a picture of her bee-utiful rat's nest! 

 This is her pouty face if you couldn't tell. Apparently, she doesn't get my humor! She is such a good sport!

This sign sits right on the corner of her school entrance. Scott made sure she saw it when he took her to school on the morning of her birthday. I later surprised her for lunch at school with a birthday cookie. It was a good day!