Halloween Costumes...

Looks like we have costumes for Halloween this year.  Cooper is going to be Yoda and Calleigh is going to be a flower.  Cooper isn't loving the "hat", but hopefully he will get used to it.

trip, haircuts, and snow... oh my!

This month has been WONDERFUL!  We have had an early snow, a visit from Billy's mom, a first haircut, a first trip to Washington DC, and a baby rolling ALL OVER the place.  Last week Calleigh started rolling ALL the way over.  She has been rolling "one way" for a while now, but while I was in DC last week she started rolling from one end of the room to the other.  She is sitting up better and better now, I can't help but feel like it won't be long before she is crawling.  As much as I cherish the growing up "process", it makes me a little sad.  

Both kids have LOVED having their Nana here.  Since we so rarely get to go to Huntsville, I worried it take a couple of days for Coop to warm up... that was not a problem at all this time.  Cooper immediately took to his Nana and Calleigh LOVES her too.  Mrs

. Lones has been a great blessing to me (especially) by allowing me to work while she kept the kids.  I have been able to get ahead in my class, as well as get prepared for my amazing trip 

to Washington DC.  She has really endured some early mornings and minimal naps.  I think Cooper knows that when Nana is here he doesn't HAVE to nap (even if he needs it).  :)

 Last week I went to Washington DC for the very first time ever.  I went with a group of future teachers and current teachers.  We flew into DC at 9:30 on Wednesday morning and hit the ground running!  I was able to eat lunch at the Native American Smithsonian, visit the American History Smithsonian, the Supreme Court building, the National Archives building, the Capital building, and the Library of Congress.  That night we ate at the INCREDIBLE Ben's Chili Bowl and then visited Chinatown.  We then met up with the rest of our group and toured the monuments.  We saw the Washington, World War 2, Korean, Vietnam, Lincoln, and then walked to the White House.  Just so you know, the White House lights go out at 11pm.  :)    

The next morning was the highlight of the trip.  We went to the Holocaust Memorial Museum and spent the day learning more about the Holocaust and touring the museum.  The best part of the day was when we got to hear a Holocaust survivor.  She was in Poland living a good life before the Nazis invaded and changed her life forever!  What a blessing to hear from a woman who lived thru such difficult circumstances and truly has a positive outlook on life.  She certainly put my problems in perspective.

When we returned (at 1am on Friday morning), we went our own ways and then I got up with my family and went to get Cooper's FIRST HAIRCUT.  Cooper was a trooper and behaved SO well!  I was very proud.  He looks a little more grown up, but he is still my baby boy!

REALLY... Snow??

Well, today it happened.  Mark the day, October 10th... it snowed.  I am sure that isn't completely unheard of in other parts of the country, but to this Bama girl it is surreal!  I wish I had taken a picture of it because there was about half an inch on the ground and a layer of GREEN leaves on top.  I couldn't help but wonder if Mother Nature was a little confused.  

We didn't let the snow slow us down.  This has been homecoming weekend at YC and so we went to the Volleyball game last night (which Coop LOVED and Calleigh hated it... but only because it was so loud) and to Alumni Chapel and the Choir concert this morning.  It was nice to see some faces from early in our work here and to hear President Eckman speak this morning AND hear the choir.  Both kids were really good for the 2 and a half hours, but were glad to get home.  

Tomorrow we go to Omaha to pick up Mrs. Lones and we look forward to a great 2 weeks with her.  I leave on Tuesday for my DC trip and I am so excited.  Pictures to come...

Cooper's 18 month appointment

This week included a trip to the Doctor for his 18 month appointment.  He is growing and is very healthy.  He is 34 inches tall and 28 lbs and 12 ozs.  Other than sort-of being on a "meat strike" right now, he is eating great.  Calleigh's 6 month appointment will be next month and I am looking forward to adding cereal to her diet.  She is chunkier than I remember Cooper being, but otherwise they are the same baby.One funny story, last week I went into Coop's room to find that he had found a pen and had begun to decorate himself.  Trust me, I won't wait around to go get Cooper out of bed in the morning.  He was so quiet that I didn't know he was awake.  I just happened to go in his room b/c we needed to go somewhere and I needed him to get up!  Glad I got him when I did.  :)