First time to visit the Dallas Zoo

We visited the Dallas Zoo for the first time last Saturday with our newly formed DBC Weekend Mom's Group. Several of my mom friends and their families joined us at the zoo for some outdoor fun. It was a fun afternoon but still really hot!

Coop's favorite place to hitch a ride

Here's a sweet pic of Coop and I. He loves to ride in the sling and often times will drift off to sleep. I know these days will be gone before I know it, so I cherish our sweet moments. Just had to share this one. :)

LIFE Group @ the park

Every few weeks we get together to have dinner with our LIFE group. It's a group of young families that we connect with through Dallas Bible Church. Together we have something like 20 kids, so it's always an adventure when we get together with the kids. We had a picnic at a local park a few weeks ago. Here are a few super cute pics! I especially like the one where Drew is tackling Cooper on the blanket!

Cooper is FIVE months!

At five months, Cooper was growing like a weed! Check out his cute little double chin? Super sweet!

Practicing for T-ball

Jack began t-ball this fall and loves to practice with his Dad in the backyard.

And he jumps and jumps and...

The Jumper

During Cooper's 4th month he developed a love of the doorway jumper. If we let him, he would entertain himself for hours in it. As you can see here, he jumped so long he literally wore himself out!

Cooper is FOUR months old!

Coop & his big puppy!

Cooper is THREE months!

Cooper & his puppy dog

Jeff's 32nd Birthday!

new German beer

Jack, Cooper, and I met Jeff for a special birthday lunch at Brio's in Allen. Then, when he got home that evening, we had "prepared" a special birthday dinner: pork dumplings, sushi, and a homemade chocolate cake. Jack had a great time shopping for his Dad, especially at the grocery store where he made all kinds of new friends. :)

Playgroup with LIFE Group Friends

Caden was right at home in Addi's pool.

Being 3 is a blast!

Jack and his "future wife", Addison (Isn't she a doll?!?)

Addi & her precious baby brother, Drew.

Cooper thinks Caden is SO funny!

We get together for various playgroups all the time during the summer. Last week we spent some time with our friends from our LIFE group. The boys had a blast hanging with their buddies!

Cooper goes swimming...

We attempt to take the boys swimming in our neighborhood pools as often as we can given the fact that we have a new baby, and it's SUPER hot in Texas. Here's a few pics of Cooper's first ride in his baby boat (as Jack calls it). It worked out pretty well. I think he will enjoy it more as he gets stronger and learns to sit up.

Happy Father's Day, Jeff!

For Father's Day, I took the boys to Quiggly's Clayhouse in Richardson to paint Jeff a grilling platter using the boy's footprints. It turned out SO cute! The lyrics around the outside edge come from a Neil Diamond song that has Sigma Nu significance. After going to see Toy Story 3 that afternoon, we treated Jeff to a dinner at home: BBQ Pork Loin and homemade blueberry pie. Yummm! (Not sure why the pic loaded sideways???)

Jack's BIG Reward!

Cooper got to go down the slide too!

In order to encourage favorable behavior with Jack, we've been keeping track of his "good choices" on his very own "Behavior Sticker Chart"...I know what my teacher friends are thinking..."he's already on a behavior plan?!?" The answer is YES! It's simple...it works, so we do it! :) Anyway, he's been working hard this summer and filled up the entire 5 rows of stickers, so we thought it was time for a big treat (and we were thinking of getting one anyway! :) Jack got his first swingset in the backyard last weekend! He loves the slide the best right now, and he is learning how to swing...not so easy for this 3 year old! It's a great lesson in patience and persistence.

Summertime fun at home in Sachse...

Cooper's newest trick...reaching for his toys while laying under his play gym.

Nothing like playing with the old baby toys!

Here's a random assortment of the fellas just being themselves.

Independence!

So Jack anounced to me the other morning that he was tired of being in his pj's and wanted to "put his clothes on all by myself." I said go right ahead since I was nursing Cooper at the moment. He emerged from his bedroom just like you see above and said "Ta da! I did it! I put my clothes on all by myself!" The best part was that he had even taken off his pull-up and put on his Transformer undies (the right way-they've ended up backwards many, many times)! He did a great job!

Cooper is 2 months!

It's a little late, but who cares! :) Here's Cooper's two month old picture with his big puppy! Notice the smirk on his face...I can already tell that he's going to be full of personality!