Random Phone Pictures...

I took a look at the pictures on Matt's phone and quickly realized there were a few I needed to post...

On MLK Day, we were off work/out of school so went to the new nature trail, which by the way, I have no idea why we had not been before...it is so nice!  Anyway, I love that Cooper is such a boy...he immediately picked up sticks and dragged them throughout the trail.  Sometimes we "question" him because at home he does lots of "girl" things due to the fact that he has an older sister so that is all he knows/sees.

If you want happy kids and lots of smiles, just go to the park!

Monkey see monkey do...look at the next picture and you will understand...

Of course the "crazy" kid isn't too big for the baby swing...one thing for sure, she loves life!

While I was at supper club Thursday night, Anna Lauren decided they needed to pretend they were at the beach.  Matt let them but drew the line to pulling out the swimsuits...

I'm not a huge fan of skulls and crossbones or stickers on my car...BUT...the kid has been begging for this sticker for quite some time now so guess what?  Yep...it's on the van and she is PROUD!

Cooper's Big Boy Bed...

As I knew it would, the time came...we took Cooper's crib out of his bedroom today.  And honestly, it was a little harder than I expected.  But on the flip side, it was somewhat easy because we are working towards getting him to sleep in his room throughout the night again.  

After climbing out of his crib over and over and over again, we took the front off and turned it into a toddler bed.  He would go to sleep in the toddler bed but most nights at some point, he would walk downstairs to our room and one of us would go back upstairs with him to the guest bed.  Just all about getting sleep!  Well, this week my mom was here to keep Anna Lauren who had viral pink eye and couldn't go to school...so...we played musical beds...poor mom got kicked out the guest bed two nights in a row.  So...at least now we can lay down with Cooper in his room and not the guest bed...again, just trying to get him back into his room all night.

We did this same craziness with Anna Lauren...it will all work out.  But...that doesn't mean it is not frustrating from time to time and cause you to try a million different things until the finally decide to just go to bed and sleep in their bed all night AGAIN!  

Cooper's big boy bed...

I showed Cooper these pillows, and he would not put them down...he was determined to get them for his new bed.  And at least they are "fun"!  Anna Lauren shopped with me this afternoon for a bedspread, and she was upset that I bought something so boring.  She wanted him to have a firetruck bedspread...but...I wanted the most for my money.  I thought this would last longer because it isn't "themed"...

Mississippi Snow Day...

Thursday morning we woke up to snow!  It was a cold, wet, messy snow...BUT...it was snow!

Anna Lauren wanted to go outside and play before daylight, but we procrastinated and finally headed out around 6:45 AM.  After 20 minutes, they were cold, soaking wet, and DONE!  The fun was OVER!

Front of our house...

Down the street...

Matt built the kids a snowman...

Putting gloves on the snowman...

The snowman without a face...they were cold and not interested in making him a face...

The fun is ending quickly...

Somebody get me off...I just want to go in and get hot chocolate...

Cooper actually had a better time than Anna Lauren...

Love this picture even if blurry...been using my phone a lot lately because my camera is beginning to get tired and grumpy.  Think a new one is in the near future because cannot live without my camera!

Within two hours, this is what our snowman looked like...

It was pretty but it was all gone within a couple hours...

Dixie Championship Division Winner...

I was looking through my phone and found some pictures I had not posted.  Back in December, Anna Lauren's cheer squad won Dixie Championship Division Winner at their competition.  Along with a trophy they got a banner...so...a couple weeks ago all the girls on the squad got to sign the banner...to the little girls, this seemed to be a big deal!

Anna Lauren signing her name on the banner...

Anna Lauren with the banner...

Her little cheer squad...

And at this age, you must have a "silly face" picture too...

They Look So Sweet...

Nothing sweeter than all dressed for church in matching clothes...I know it will not last much longer so I'm enjoying it for now. Thanks to Aunt Kate and Aunt Kelly, they have two new matching church outfits.

Now...if only they could act as sweet as they look! We are at a very hard stage...they love each other...but...they aggravate each other to death...this too shall pass (hopefully).

Mississippi Blues Half Marathon...

Yesterday I ran the Mississippi Blues Half Marathon with my friend Kelley.  Shortly after the start, I remembered why I said I would never run that race again when I ran it a couple years ago.  My oh my...the hills!  I think you climb the whole course...a "flat" stretch doesn't stand out in my mind.  However, when it was all said and done I was pleased due to being sick all week and my lack of training for the race.  Of course, one of my slower half marathons but that is ok...I did it and for the most part, had a good time!

 
Kelley (orange), me, and Print (Kelley's brother).  You can laugh because I laughed at myself...I have the funniest faces in all the pictures Matt took.  I think I just get so excited when I see them throughout the course.

We are only at mile 2.5 or so and already shedding some gear...Kelley gave Matt her jacket, and I tossed him my gloves.  Warmer than we expected.  

You can definitely tell by this picture that I LOVE seeing my sweet family along the course...for sure could not race without them!  Or train for that matter...whole family has to make sacrifices to make this all happen.

At mile 7.5ish, I got sweet hugs from Anna Lauren and Cooper...

Waiting on Mommy at the finish line...

I spotted them right before I ran through the finish line.  Think Kelley was just ready to be done...they didn't make her as happy as me!

Right under 2:30...that is all I wanted yesterday!  Again, very little training and sick all week...it was a "survival" day!

Me, Print, and Kelley...so proud of Kelley...she is off to Disney this week to do the Goofy challenge.  She will run a half marathon on Saturday and then a full marathon on Sunday, which means she is goofy and will receive a goofy medal!

Anna Lauren quickly spotted the jumpy thing at the finish line...

Just a flipping...the kid LOVES to flip on anything and everything!

Cooper was smiling because Mommy gave him her guitar medal...Anna Lauren is mad because we told her it was time to go and she couldn't jump again.  I was COLD!  Needless to say, the fun was over at this point!

My sweet little man who has learned to say "cheese" when someone puts a camera in front of him...

Happy New Year....

Happy New Year! We had a fun-filled 2012, and we look forward to another year of fun and making memories together as a family!