pAARGHty!

Today we threw Cooper his 3 year old birthday pAARGHty. Pirate themed...naturally.

Here are the pics of the festivities.

THE INVITES:THE GUESTS:The Birthday Boy. Pirate Captain Cooper. First Mate Wyatt. First Mate Ethan.

Hanging out at the beginning of the party:I love Ethan's face in this one.

Pirate Adventure #1: Walking the Plank.

the boys loved this one and as a reward for being so brave they got pirate hooks.

Pirate Adventure #2: The Fishing Hole

Brandon was the best. He came home specifically to help with this one and the boys were laughing so hard. My husband is so amazing and he is perfect with kids. He was pulling stunts (like sending over leaves or pennies) that I would have never thought of. And then, he would tug so hard the boys would almost fall over. Here is the haul they brought in: Gummi Sharks. Gummi Aquarium (so yummy, it had fish, seashells, crocodiles, and lobsters. Perfect for pirates) and Pirate Spyglasses, which came in handy for the next, and final pirate adventure.

Pirate Adventure #3: Treasure Hunt. Here are the clue cards. I had taken pictures of various places in our yard and had them racing all over trying to find clues.

They found it!
Here they are digging their hearts out.
Look at that booty! (That is pirate for loot.) They had ring pops, candy necklaces and rings, gold snickers, pirate coins, and pirate earrings. These are the bags they got to keep all their booty in. These swords and eye patches were the final prizes, because now they were REAL pirates. After all the pirate festivities the boys sat back for some relaxing pool time with ice cream cones.
These were the favors for the boys. Giant pirate coloring books and pirate crayons.

I Love This Picture...and A Proposal

Thanks to my beautiful little photographer Kami I now have this precious picture of my son and I.

Love it!
just ignore my greasy bangs...

A Proposal:

Today Cooper asked me to marry him.
"Mommy, you ma-wee me?"
of course I said yes.
You just don't say no to a question like that.
He gave me a ring and everything.

Little boys are so hopelessly adorable. I don't know what it is about them that turns a mommy to mush, but heaven help me. Boys are such little charmers; my boys, in particular, are huge flirts. And when my boys turn on the charm I am a goner, it's over for me.
The love of a mother for a son and a son for a mother is so strange... I can't even put it into words. They are different then little girls, they tug on different heartstrings.
Despite all the messes, mayhem, and extra testosterone (meaning "rough-housing") I would gladly take as many as the Lord will send me.
while we are talking about proposals I must add this story:

While riding in the car the other day the topic turned to marriage. Kami was very concerned as to who she would marry when she got older. I told her that she would marry the boy that she loved the most in the whole entire world. After some intense thought she came to the conclusion that when she was big she was going to marry Cooper because she loved him "the most, the most."
Of course, she was troubled about who Landon would marry if she married Cooper. Until she came to the conclusion that I would just have to have another baby so that Landon could get married. Smart plan.

As you can imagine, she wasn't too pleased when Cooper asked me to marry him.
"Well who's going to marry me now?
I told her she could have daddy. As far as husbands go, they don't get better than Daddy.

When You've Got It...

Flaunt it!

and boy do my baby's "got it". So ridiculously cute it is upsurd.

This post is for my brother Jeron in particular. He is currently serving a mission in Chicago and he gets to check our blog on a weekly basis. He says I am his favorite sister because nobody else in my family updates their blog. hmm... I feel some chastisement coming on.
I have received a special request for an abundance of pictures featuring exceptionally good looking people. I, of course, am complying.
Love you Jeron, hope you, and other people, enjoy this picture smorgasbord...

of intense cuteness.

Cooper's facial expressions in these first three pictures kill me!

It's a wonder I can't get a decent picture of all three of my children together. When I asked Cooper to smile he did this.

Landon with his headband. Sweatin' to the oldies.

Kami wanted a headband pic as well.
Whenever Landon wants to go outside, he will go get me his coat, or his shoes.
(When he wants a drink, he brings me a cup.)
Enjoying a little bit of sun right before all the rain hit (for the last 3 weeks...)
Brandon "enjoying" the sunshine.
Landon makes the funniest faces.
Kami "heart-attacked" Cooper with little heart stickers, he seems none to pleased about it.
Always my ham for the camera.
Landon's favorite little perch. Anytime I try to do dishes I get this instead. It makes me nervous because the last thing I need is a broken dishwasher. That would definitely be no beuno.

Steadmans

Once upon a time I invited all of my family to a really fun place called Steadman's.
... then my family stood me up, and I was forced to invite some renegade friends to share in the merriment. I guess their company was okay... okay really,

We Had a Blast!
So, dear family, here are the pictures of all the fun you missed out on. Maybe next time you will decide to be my friends. Because sometimes, I really am a cool girl.

Landon trying to get in the action of the volleyball game. Kami going down the zipline (the little daredevil) Me and my boys going down the slide. It was suppose to be just Cooper and I, but as you can see, Landon just couldn't say no to the action. Cooper Jay in the tube at the bottom of the slide. I think he might have had a good time. Cooper pushing Landon in the swing. He would push and then hang on as they swung back and forth and Landon would just laugh and laugh. Siblings are the best! My boys at the top of the hill.