Denver Zoo

Last week we made a trip with my family to Denver, followed by Rapid City and then on to Highmore. Our main reason for going to Denver was to catch the Red Sox playing the Rockies, and Travis, my mom and I each sat a game out in order to stay behind at the hotel with Cooper. We were just going off of experience when we guessed that he'd be happier where he could run around instead of us trying to keep him happy in our seats. I guess we'll never know for sure, but I think we may have been right.

We went to the zoo while we were there, thinking that was something he could really like. He liked two things about it: the giraffe? Nope. Elephants? Not them either. The amazing gorillas? Um, no. His top picks were the wagon we rented for him, and the tractors working on a couple new exhibits. The only way we could get him to keep going was to tell him we were going to find more tractors.

They let monkey's on the LightRail!

Wedding

Nana Linda and Paul got married a few weeks ago. What I saw as the big challenge? Getting this little boy to cooperate for it all.

My mom was on hand during the ceremony to help keep him occupied if needed. Which means that she and Cooper were in the church long enough to see the bride come in, then made a hasty exit to the nursery full of toys. That was followed up with a lunch of cake and M&M's which he didn't mind at all, and I'm sure I get some good Mommy points for that.

End the afternoon with a wicked fast slide and from our side, the day was a success!

'Side

From almost the minute Cooper wakes up, we hear " 'Side. 'Side." or "Jeep. Jeep" He is always quite anxious to go out in the yard, or drive somewhere. Anywhere. In a couple of days we're headed, in the car, to Denver then to Rapid City then to Highmore then home, so here's hoping his love of driving will not wear off and do us all in! I hope that, but knowing what I know, how as much as he loves the start of the drive, he always changes his mind, I will throw out my guess of about 2 hours of sitting in his carseat before he stretches his arms out to me and says "All done."

Mother's Day

Mother's Day found us having a pretty mellow day at home, with a fried chicken lunch and a few tries at a picture to commemorate the day.

The mothers, minus two of the people that get the mothering, Griffin was running around, my little crab was taking a much needed nap.
A cute little bunch.

Cooper and I did try for a couple pics after naptime.

I'm not above rubbing at the smear of food on Cooper's cheek with a spit-moistened finger.

Red Lodge

I had a hard time logging in to be able to post something, it took me about 6 different password tries before I got in, which definitely means its been too long since I've posted anything.

A few weeks ago Travis, Cooper and I went to Red Lodge. Mostly just for something to do to get us out of the house for awhile, and Cooper is always up for a drive. Travis did test that though, and drove a little too far into some campgrounds, and Cooper got pretty impatient. After the drive we had lunch in town and sat at a table next to a couple with their boy, who looked to be about Cooper's age. He was trying to call the shots as much as Cooper does, he had his parents swapping chairs and begging him to eat. Its terrible but I always feel so relieved to see this. I would feel much worse about Cooper's tantrums and stubborness if I thought that he was the only child who does it. I basically just like knowing that I have company in my moments of exasperation, and that I'm not raising the most determined, strong willed boy there ever was. Not the only one anyway.


Cooper has to have 'coffee' too.

More pics

Just a few more pictures I've meant to post before now.

At my mom's 60th birthday: (I seem to be trying to practice my model pose, please ignore what a big dork I look like)

My little fella.

Cade was clearly envious of Cooper's car from the second he saw it.

Love my little nephew puppy!!

Easter

I'm out of order in my recap, but here's Easter. Or the highlight of Easter, which for Cooper was the chocolate in the plastic eggs. As soon as he'd find one he wanted to crack it open and eat what was inside.

Same with the Easter basket, we had to open all the goodies right away.