Carson the Cute-Nosed Reindeer

Not to be outdone by his older brother, here is our littlest reindeer, Carson. He doesn't like the red nose, though, just the antlers.

Winter Wonderland

Mother Nature has been sending a lot of snow our way. Here is the view out our back window Saturday morning (5 days before Christmas). Perhaps we'll have a white Christmas afterall. Just one of several tender mercies we have experienced lately... the snow makes this place seem more like home to me.

Brrrrr!!!

I could have sworn we left the cold of Star Valley behind, but this is what our thermometer is saying... It's cold outside!

Snow!!!

We had snow in our forecast Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and today. But it wasn't until today that we had enough snow to really see on the ground. Cooper has been wishing for snow and begging to wear his new snow boots, so today, out he went! He looks like a blue marshmallow in his snow clothes!

Cooper the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Cooper had a friend over to play the other day, and they found "rudolph." The nose used to blink, but I think it's been dropped too many times and doesn't work anymore.

So long, farewell...

We sold our Toyota Camry last night. Cooper has been telling everyone that we have a new car, but we can't drive it until we sell our old car to someone else. That's not entirely true, but the Camry gets such good gas mileage we had to take advantage of it while we still had it and while we only had to put 2 kids in the back seat- 3 car seats just don't fit back there!

Anyway- last night while the very nice couple was driving away with "our car," I didn't really anticipate Cooper to have a problem with it, because he's been so excited about our "new car." (I should have known better; afterall, he did have a complete melt-down when I sold our worn out kitchen table set before we moved from Wyoming- he started crying and yelling at the men as they carried it out the door: "No, that's my table, no, that's my daddy's chair, no, that's my favorite chair!") Well, as our car was driving away this was our conversation:

Cooper: "Why are they taking our car, mom."
Me: "Because they bought it, and now it's their car."
Cooper: "It's not their car, its our car. Why are they taking it?"
Me: "Because, sweetie, it's not our car anymore. They bought it. Now we get to drive our new car."
Cooper: "Oh, I want to drive our new car. But I want our old car, too!"

Sorry Cooper, we just can't have it all!

Pajama buddies

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and really enjoyed visiting family and friends. We were also able to see a few friends from Star Valley; Randall had some work to do over there a few days before Thanksgiving, so we all went and made it one big trip.

Randall's mom gave the kids all an early Christmas present before we left: pajamas! All the grandkids had to put their pajamas on and show off. I wasn't able to get a good picture will all of the kids, but here's a few cute pics anyway.

"That's superb!"

So, this afternoon for lunch we were having soup- nothing special, and Cooper asked for some juice. I didn't have any if the refrigerator, so I mixed up some Tang for him. Cooper took one drink, looked at me, and said:
"Mmmm, that's su-perv (superb) mommy, thank you!"

I just had to chuckle, for several reasons:

Number 1: What a sweet little guy my Cooper can be. At 3 1/2 years old, he can be a sweet angel one minute, and a terrorizing, tantrum-throwing, screaming, crazy boy the next.

Number 2: Randall is always using big words and scientific explanations when he talks to Cooper. It makes me laugh, because I tend to dumb things down a bit too much at times. Cooper is quick to pick up on new things, words included. But this time, no one had said the word "superb" for quite sometime. Cooper just said it, and actually used the word correctly! It must be those "smart genes" kicking in...

Happy Halloween 2008!

While we didn't have a single trick-or-treater (we really do miss all our Star Valley friends!), we still had fun showing off Cooper and Carson to a few neighbors. Everyone thought they were the cutest "things" they ever saw!

Columbia River Temple

We tagged along with Randall on yet another trip. He had to take care of some problems at the Pasco, Washington feed lot. Unfortunately, what was supposed to be a 2 day trip turned into 4 days. So, aside from trying to keep to rambunctious boys entertained in a hotel for 4 days, we had a good time. We didn't attend church (since we didn't take church clothes with us because we were supposed to be home by then), so we decided a visit to the temple would be an appropriate Sabbath day activity.

It really is a beautiful temple- Randall and I were able to attend a sealing there when we lived in Pullman.

Pumpkin Patch

A family in our ward has a corn maze, straw stack pyramid, and pumpkin patch. We took the boys over to pick out their own pumpkin, and they had a blast!




The finished product

Rancho Grande, Nevada

Randall has been doing a lot of traveling for work lately, so I decided if we wanted to see him we'd just have to tag along when we could.

He had to go do some work at a ranch in Nevada called Rancho Grande. The Knights (some friends from our ward) moved out there earlier this summer, so it was also a good opportunity for us to visit with them for a few days and for Cooper and Carson to have some playmates.

Here are a few pictures from the trip:

Cooper and Sophie Knight

Carson

Cooper

Cooper thought he was pretty cool- wearing Dad's headlamp on his hat!

Firefighter Day!

Cooper's preschool class had the local firefighters come for a visit. Some of the kids were scared of the "men in uniform." It took Cooper a little while to warm up to the firefighters, but he loved the fire truck!





The firemen with their dog "Sparky"

Cooper giving the fireman a hug

Do You Know What That Spells?

A few weeks ago when we were home visiting grandparents, Cooper was riding around with Randall and his sister Maureah. Cooper noticed some letters ("AIR BAG") on the dash of Randall's company pickup.

Cooper: Hey, I see some letters---there are 2 "A's", and an "R", and a "G".
Randall: You're right.
Cooper: Do you know what that spells?
Randall & Maureah: No, what does that spell?
Cooper: "Work pickup."

Spud Harvest 2008

Cooper "loading up Shalani"

Carson hanging out in the field

Riding in the tractor with uncle Tyrel

Cooper throwing a spud for Dallin's dog "Spud"

Cooper, Carson, and Suri

I was able to take the boys to Grandma and Grandpa Wilcox's for a week to spend time with my family during harvest. Cooper and Carson had a great time riding in the tractors with my brothers, riding in the truck with my sister, playing in the dirt, searching for lost potatoes, and hanging out with family.

We were also able to spend a few days with Randall's family and had a great time playing with all the cousins.

We wish we lived a little closer so we could do it more often!

We're having a GIRL!

I had an ultrasound today, and the ultrasound tech confirmed that we are indeed having a baby girl, due to arrive sometime in February. I say "confirmed," because Randall was a little impatient and dying to try out his ultrasound skills, so he actually did an ultrasound on me with his machine about a week and a half ago and told me the baby was a girl. It turns out I have a very smart and skilled husband (which I already knew!). Who needs a doctor when I have my very own Dr. Raymond around?

Cooper was really cute at the doctor's office. He was watching the images on a large screen and kept saying, "I can see my baby sister's eyes," or "I can see my baby sister's feet!"

So- out with the blue and in with the pink! We found some pink hangers at Walmart after the Dr. appt. and Cooper said, "Mom, we need these for my baby sister!"

JAVMA

This is for you Gordon!
So... I am normally VERY opposed to taking pictures of children (or anyone for that matter) in the bathroom. However, this picture was too priceless to pass up. Last Sunday Cooper needed to use the restroom. Randall went in to check on him and to see if he needed help, and this is what he discovered...


In case you can't tell, the magazine is titled "JAVMA" (Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association). What can I say... Like father like son?

Gunfighter Skies 2008!

This past Saturday Mountain Home Air Force Base had a fabulous air show. They allow the public onto the base for a 2 day air show once a year, and after attending I'm sure we'll try to make this an annual event. Cooper and Carson LOVED it! I knew Cooper would find it enjoyable as he has had a fascination with planes for quite sometime (hence the airplane cake for his 3rd birthday).

The US Air Force Thunderbirds were scheduled to do their main show on Sunday, which we were quite dissappointed by, but as we were leaving the show on Saturday afternoon they flew overhead a few times to give us a glimpse of what their show would be like the following day.

There were all kinds of military planes on the ground to see, walk in, sit in, etc (C-17 cargo plane, refueler, F-15 among others). They also had a jump team, helicopters, you name it!
On Sunday afternoon as we were returning from Stake Conference in Mountain Home we were able to watch the Thunderbirds perform from the road just off the base- it was amazing, even from a distance! Cooper hasn't been able to quit talking about it for the past 2 days.
We all had a great time and can't wait to go again next year!






Can you tell it was a little bit windy?

Silly boys!

I found the boys on the couch like this the other day and thought it was pretty cute. Despite the fighting over toys and attention from Mom or Dad, they really can be good buddies!

Ridin' with Dad!

Cooper looks a bit like he's in the rodeo- Saddle bronc anyone?

Cooper and Carson both LOVE to go riding with their dad, and Randall frequently offers to take them. Carson prefers a short ride, while Cooper pretty much refuses to get off until Randall puts "Colonel Cotton Chex" away (yep- that's our horse's name! He gets called "Chex" by Cooper).

Cooper's 1st day of Preschool!

A girl in my ward told me about a preschool they offer at the local elementary school here. I was a bit skeptical at first, mostly because I am a bit skeptical of the public school system here in this town in general, but then I found out that a lady in our church ward teaches the class. I happen to really like this woman; she is great with kids and she has a great family. Her husband works with Randall so we've been invited to their home in the past and been able to interact with them a bit.

I also thought that it would be a good opportunity for Cooper to interact with and play with some other children his age--something he has seriously lacked since our move here.

So... Cooper had attended his 1st day of preschool on September 2, 2008. I stayed for about 1 1/2 hours of the 3 hour class before leaving to let Carson have a quick nap at home. Cooper had a great time, and I'm not sure why I was so nervous. I guess the nervousness kind of goes without saying when you let your first child be placed in the care of someone else for several hours on a regular basis.