Proud Mama

Cooper does things all the time that make me proud.  He also does things that make me laugh or just shake my head!  But when a note from school came home about a special appointment, I was overjoyed and beamed with pride!

Cooper has been chosen to be in a program called "Connections".  A couple of times a month, he and another student will have lunch with an autistic student (and his teacher) in a smaller setting than the cafeteria.  This will allow the autistic student to learn to build friendships and learn socialization skills as well.  His teacher said she chose Cooper because she thinks he is a good role model.  Well, so do I!!  Way to go Cooper! 

I am thankful to God to have a child that is caring and compassionate for others.  It is my prayer that this not only has a positive impact on the autistic child - but on Cooper and the other student chosen in this program as well. 

My boy has grown...

So much has been going on since I last blogged.  For one, Cooper finished t-ball and we were 1st place!  He is now playing football and is a Cub Scout.  Sometimes I just can't believe how much he has grown!

I went to Target yesterday and saw a display for Halloween themed Kraft Mac & Cheese. I was very excited, because I thought that would go great with the Halloween-themed dinner of mummy-dogs (it's kind of a tradition now). As I put the box away last night, I got to thinking about how much Cooper has grown and I remember when he was little - he called mac & cheese "maroni", and my heart sank.  He's six years old and in 1st grade - when did that happen? 

Cooper - if you read this one day, please know that I love you and I am very proud of you!

Great News came yesterday!

Don is back working weekends! Horray! Not that I'm excited to have him out of the house on Saturday's and Sunday's, but I am relieved for our financial situation.

On to MIL stories - haven't had one of those in a while. I asked Don to ask his mom not to come over every day. He did. But she continues to come over. She comes over to my house EVERY DAY! Monday through Friday. She is there. I've asked Don why she does this and Don says that she's bored. I can appreciate that I guess, but find another hobby besides coming over to my house to fix my 42 year old husband breakfast and iron his jeans!! She not only does this, but she gives my dog treats and fixes him "special" meals. My dog has a weight problem - STOP FEEDING HIM!! I've asked her to stop and sometimes she denies that she does it - while she stands next to the evidence to the contrary.

Yesterday, when I got home from work, I saw the evidence of my MIL's presence on my coffee table (a stack of mail for us to sort through because she claims to not understand it). On the top of the stack of dead trees, was Cooper's homework. He had already done it! Don looked at it, read the directions out loud and told Cooper, "wait til Mommy gets home so she can help you". Don had to take a phone call in the office, so he left Cooper to watch tv. When he returned, Cooper had gotten his homework supplies and did his homework ALL BY HIMSELF! We were very proud - and he did it correctly! My smart little boy!

My little show stopper

Cooper gets out of school at 2:00. I know that when my husband calls at exactly 2:00, that something went on at school today that he couldn't wait to tell me. As I picked up the phone, all I hear is laughter from my husband. During assembly (not really sure what this is, but everyone gathers in the sanctuary I think), each child has an opportunity to get up and sing something and his teacher told Don that usually they sing something they learned in school (Jesus Loves Me, Go Tell It on the Mountain, He's Got the Whole World in His Hands, etc.). My son got up on stage and sang a heavy metal song using his fist as a mic complete with rock 'n roll horns and totally rocked it! She said he knew every word to the song and did a great job! His teacher couldn't wait for Don to come and pick him up so that the teachers could find out what song he was singing. Cooper told us later he was singing Ozzy. His teacher said that he was a very good performer!

See, internet - this is why I have only one child.

Just an average evening

At our house. Joseph had his girlfriend over and they were watching a movie, I was cooking dinner and Cooper was right under my feet. So, Don took him outside to play for a few minutes. Don pokes his head in the front door asking me to come outside. And there's Cooper sitting up in the tree. He looked right at me and said, "mommy, I'm tall!". He was very proud of himself.

Other funny things he's said recently - we were all wrestling on our bed (Cooper was in his jammies and also wearing his Bob the Builder safety goggles) when Joseph walked in to see what all the noise was. Cooper stood on the bed, took his goggles off, threw them on the bed and looked at Joseph and said, "you want some a dis bubba?" Don and I just started laughing hysterically. We have no idea where he heard that from - but it sure cracked us up!

Crazy things Cooper says

Cooper just cracks me up. The things that come out of his mouth are getting funnier and funnier each day. Last night, I dropped him off in the nursery at church and I went on to Pastor's Bible Study. I went to get him and Wendy stopped me to tell me what Cooper had done. I braced myself, because I didn't know what to expect. She said, "Cooper called for me - 'Miss Wendy, Miss Wendy' - so I went over to see what he wanted" (there is a half door to his class room) so she walked over, peered over the door and he looked at her and said, "ya know - you could open this door if you really tried". Wendy said she had to turn away and just laugh! Now, he wasn't trying to escape his class, as he really enjoys it - he was trying to get someone to take him outside to play on the playground! He's a smart boy - resourceful - and not afraid to ask for what he wants!

The other thing is that he calls Tiffany HIS girlfriend - when really Tiffany is Joseph's girlfriend. When Tiffany comes over - Cooper just won't leave them alone. He's always wanting to show Tiffany something or even just hang out in Joseph's room and play with his cars while Tiffany is there. We don't let Joseph shut the door when Tiffany is there, so Cooper just walks right in. No wonder they always want to hang out at Tiffany's house!