Visiting the cousins

Why don't they make kids with handles?

Lynzee having a very serious discussion with Dexter

Four kids smiling, one looking at the camera

All smiling, four facing the right direction, one looking at the camera

Only one real smiling, but everyone's looking in the general direction of the camera. Close enough.

Christmas

We had a crazy-busy Christmas (does anyone have a relaxing Christmas? I don't think so). Christmas Eve started with a quick stop at Uncle Michael's house for the extended family, then we were off to see Granny Smith & Papa Fred & John's family.

Dexter got to chill with Auntie Anna. (Anna didn't even know what was coming! But more on that in another post...)

Cooper loved his new guitar from Auntie Anna & "Uncle" Pat. (It just made everyone else in the room feel old because the toy guitar plays instrumental versions of Wild Thing by the Troggs, Message in a Bottle by the Police, Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen, Love Shack by the B52's and All Star by Smashmouth.)

Christmas morning was spent at home. Even though we left out cookies & egg nog for Santa & talked about him all day Christmas Eve, Cooper still wasn't expecting him. He slept 'til 8:30 & didn't really get what was going on at first.

Cooper was very excited about his stocking.

And judging by this picture, Cooper would have been happy if Santa stopped at just the stocking. (But what fun is that?)

Dexter, as you can see, was equally thrilled with his stocking loot.

Hmm.. I bet you're wonder what this is...

Dexter is intrigued too... but you'll have to wait for another post.

Cooper and his Thomas train, the one thing he asked for from Santa.

Dexter was tuckered out from all the excitement.

Then it was on to Grandma & Grandpa's house.

Things were mostly a little crazy. Not surprising considering there were 5 kids 3 years & under and (only) 6 adults. Why do we still feel outnumbered? (Gift opening was particularly crazy, which is why I don't really have any pictures of that.)

But there were a few calm, relaxing moments.

Dexter & Lynzee checking each other out.

Since Adam couldn't be with us for Christmas, we tried to get a good picture of all 5 kids together.

We quickly decided it didn't have to be "good", they just all had to be in it, even if they all look like deer in headlights. (I swear, no children were drugged in the taking of this picture.)

This is seconds later.

Dexter, once again, tuckered out. (He was actual awake when John sat him up, but sitting on Daddy was just too relaxing & he fell asleep.)

Welcome to the world Lynzee Ann!

My niece just couldn't wait & decided to join us a little earlier than expected. Mom & baby are doing fine.
7 lbs, 4 oz and 17 in long.
Congratulations to my brother Justin & his wife Dayna, and to the new brother & sister, Zak & Caycee!

The ankle- (and face-) biters

A dog that intends to bite does not bare its teeth.
-Turkish Proverb

I learned this one the hard way. Cooper's bitten me several times, but not recently and usually just when he's teething. I think he's bitten John once or twice. He's never bitten another kid. Until last week.
We spent a few days with my parents, Dayna, Zak, & Caycee. Within hours of me & Cooper arriving, he & Caycee had a small tiff & suddenly she was screaming. I had no idea what happened until I saw her face start to turn red. Yep, he bit her on the face. What is wrong with my child? He bit several more times, & made several attempts. Time-outs didn't work at all (he laughed & played), so he got swatted on the butt a couple times. That seemed to get the message across at least. Luckily, Zak & Caycee (& Dayna) were very forgiving, although Zak & Caycee did yell, "Don't bite me!" when Cooper would chase them. I guess I can't blame them.

Coolest park ever

Caycee having fun, despite the large bite mark on her cheek.

Caycee & Zak with "babies" just like their mom & aunt

New Children's Museum with the family

Cooper & I met Grandma & Grandpa, Dayna, Zak, & Caycee at the Kidworks Children's Museum in Frankfort and had lots of fun. I think we'll definitely return.

Cooper taking a ride with Grandpa. That's an impression of Cooper's face & body on the lower right side

Caycee & Cooper loved the slide. They're not so good at taking turns, but don't mind sharing.

Cooper exploring the light table.

Playdate with Zak & Caycee

Dayna, Zak, & Caycee came over for dinner, some playing, & a bath the other day. I would have loved to get pictures of the bath, but we were drowning in bubbles (the "ten thousand bubbles in minutes" claim on the box of the bubble blower was not an exaggeration) & the kids had me & Dayna outnumbered so it wasn't an ideal place for the camera.

Interesting thing: Caycee used the sign for 'finished' or 'done' when she said she was done in the bath - she's apparently learned the sign from seeing Cooper do it! How cool!

Visiting & the big N-O

We went to play with Zak and Caycee the other day and Dayna's sister Jamie was in town with her son Conlan, who was born the same day as Cooper. If it looks a little chaotic, it's because it is. We had the kids outnumbered 5 to 4, but somehow they still manage to bounce on the open dishwasher door, try to throw themselves off the couch, and climb onto high chairs. (Okay, all of that was Caycee!)
This is just the cutest snowsuit I've ever seen:
I also experienced what I've been dreading for quite a while. We knew it was coming; Cooper's been saying "Na, na, na" when I'm changing his diaper, or when he doesn't want to go to sleep. But while Cooper & Caycee were eating lunch I tried to put a spoonful of macaroni & cheese in his mouth and he said it. Yikes. He shook his head & said, "NO!" I'm sure we'll be hearing that a lot in the years (decades) to come.

I'm expecting...

another niece or nephew!
(Ha ha! Got you!)
No, I'm not pregnant, but Dayna is! Almost exactly two years ago we found out Justin & Dayna were expecting Caycee, & now they're expecting another little one (their third!).
Congratulations to Justin & Dayna! I can't wait to meet the baby. :)

Thanksgiving

Well, I've been negligent in my blogging; it's been a while since I've posted. I'm hoping everyone had a great Thanksgiving - I know we did. We had John's family (Granny Smith, Fred, Anna and Pat), as well as Pat's father & brother. It was a great time, although I screwed up the turkey. I decided to cook the turkey from frozen (you can do it, I swear - the FDA says it's okay). I followed the directions I found online, & even added some time to it, but it took 2 hours longer than I planned. We had to push back dinner & then serve everything but the turkey (luckily Granny Smith made ham!). The turkey was ready to serve just as everyone was finishing their meal. Oh well. At least I know for next time. Despite the problems with the bird, we had a great time.
Then on Friday it was off to my parents' house. Adam joined us Friday night, then Justin, Dayna, & the kids on Saturday morning. We had our second Thanksgiving feast Saturday (with a turkey & everything!) & the whole family hung out until Sunday.
Since Grandma & Grandpa didn't get to see the kids on Halloween, we brought their costumes. Here they are dressed up, or as Zak would say, "being Halloween":

The "adults" seemed to have a pretty good time too, looking like fools playing the Wii:

My favorite time of the day, especially with all the kids together, is bath time. I have no idea what they're all looking at here, but it must be pretty interesting.

Sunday morning everyone relaxed on the couch. Cooper hopped up on Adam's lap (okay, Adam probably helped him up), then Zak joined, & then Caycee.

... and chaos ensued.

Of course, no holiday celebration is complete until someone's wearing a lampshade, or, in our case, Caycee's wearing a basket on her head.

Can't wait 'til Christmas!

Hanging out with Zak & Caycee

Happy birthday Dayna!

Caycee's birthday party

Justin and Dayna had a party at their house this weekend to celebrate Caycee's first birthday (which was this summer while Justin was in Iraq) & their new house. They let me make Caycee's cake, which was fun - I like baking & it's neat to make girly stuff every once in a while so I made a butterfly cake. I used a triple chocolate cake recipe which sounded really good, but I think it may have been a little dry & dense; I probably won't be using that recipe again. I was really happy with how it looked though:


Caycee really liked the cookies.

Zak seemed to enjoy the cake...


Zak, Caycee, & Cooper were all wearing their Bears outfits & the Bears won! John insists Cooper has to wear THIS Bears shirt every time they play - I can't even buy a larger one when he outgrows this one. Maybe we'll just replace it with a larger size without Daddy noticing! :)

Zak "helped" us get these pictures by "hugging" Cooper & Caycee...