Things We Learned Tonight

How could these two cuties reek havoc?  

 The answer is EASILY!

So here is what my little sweet trouble makers helped me discover tonight:

• Remote controls do float in the toilet!  Thanks Coleson for enlightening me.
• Small and large pieces of toilet paper would make suitable replacements for Hansel and Gretel's crumbs...they lead you straight back to the scene of the crime!
• Water is apparently much more fun when it is poured outside the tub. 
• Breathing treatments SUCK with 14 month old boys!  Even though they only last approximately 7 mins, it seems like an eternity when you are fighting to keep the mask on, while they are arching and trying to pull the mask off!  Then when one is finished, you still have one more to do, whew!

With all that said, it's just another night in the household of the Crazy Coopers!

St. Louis

Even though St. Louis, MO was the hottest vacation EVER...we had a great time hanging out with family as always.  Will and I always talk about how much we wish we got to see the family more often and lived much closer!  Here are some highlights!

 Bella Boo and Liam try badminton!

 July 4th sparklers!

 Ready for the Children's Museum!

 Father/Daughter paddle boating!

 Liam is such a ham!

Sassy pants!

Bella Boo's Swim Lessons

10 Months

Pure Bliss

I don't want to paint a picture that my life is perfect and there are not afternoons and nights that I don't want to pull out my hair, but my children make me so incredibly happy!!!

Take today for example; I did not have a good day at school, it was the kind of day where I question everything, but then I get to come home to my wonderful children who put the biggest smile on my face.  I have the boys, who are like little ducklings and follow the mama duck everywhere, which just warms my heart!  Then there is my high spirited 4 year old, who yells out "Mom, this song rocks!" while we were listening to James Taylor's "Mexico" and then proceeds to get on top of her stool and dance!  How could you not forget about the bad day and just smile!

Awww....this is Happiness!!!

Teaching

Growing up, I ASSUMED that teachers had an easy job...off in the summers and holidays, and worked from 8 to 3!  Boy was I wrong!  It wasn't until I became a teacher until I realized exactly what the job entailed.  Recently, our local paper put an editorial that was very negative about teachers in the paper; personally I think it was to stir the pot and sell papers, but that is beside the point.

Teaching, for me is a Love/Hate relationship.  I LOVE my students.  I LOVE watching their growth each year both physically and intellectually.  I LOVE the joy I see in their eyes when I see them master a skill and/or explore a new entity.  I LOVE their innocence on the playground as they imagine they are super heroes or Star War's characters.  I LOVE that I can give them something as simple as an atlas or a rock and we can have a scavenger hunt that will last for hours.  I LOVE the perspective and connections that they can make between texts, themselves, and the world without me even giving them hints.  I LOVE that when we play freeze dance, that we can all laugh and have an awesome time!  I LOVE that they LOVE technology, because I do too and I LOVE all that we can do with our smartboard!  I LOVE them as if they were my own children for at least 180 days and most of the time more!  Last, I LOVE that they can put a smile on my face even at 7:25 in the morning!

Hate...such a strong word, so let's go with DISLIKE!  I DISLIKE all the assessments I have to give, and so do my students...I always apologize in advance!  I DISLIKE that they can only have 30 mins of recess on Non-PE days because I think there is a ton of learning that can happen through imaginative play.  I DISLIKE that I have to assess them ALL the time...did I mention that already?!  I DISLIKE Read 3D, that is a very time consuming assessment!!!  I DISLIKE all the stress!!!

I got into teaching because I LOVED children...that has not changed, nor will it!  My fear is that we have become such a data driven society, that we have gotten away from teaching and more into assessment.

Nine Months

I have been so slack about updating the blog, but I have also been super busy! I'm hoping this summer I can get back into the groove. The boys are doing well...they LOVE to eat! Both boys are loving baby food and we are slowly working on more "real" solid foods!

Coleson, pictured below, has 3 more top teeth coming in. He is definitely using the army crawl to get around and "attacks" any foods put on his tray!

Kipton, seen below, has two top teeth coming in. He is gotten really good at sitting up and loves to smile!

Both boys are happy and healthy and we cannot ask for anything more!