Christmas

This Christmas our good friends Rosey and Rosario spent 5 days with us. We had a great time and ate extremely well. Saturday was Rosey's italian pasta night, Sunday was authentic Mexican tacos by Rosario. Monday was the homemade pizza night with Janet, Holly and Angie and Tuesday was prime rib dinner with friends at Janet's.

Christmas Day, Cooper woke up (at 7:45 am) and said, "Mama, let's let Mommy sleep and go build my planes." (He got some wooden planes from Holly and Angie Christmas Eve and didn't have a chance to put them together yet. When I heard him whisper that to Mama I said, "Cooper, do you know what day it is?" He said yes and then we got out of bed and headed to the living room. When he saw the packages from Santa he started running around the table and tore into his presents!!

His present he asked for from Santa, The Terrain Twister.

Jeff and Chikako opening gifts.

Rosario and Rosey opening gifts.

We took a break and made some fried bread around 9am. Then Cooper opened more gifts. The gift opening ended about 10:30am.

Sharon opening presents.

Jeff, Sharon and Cooper with remote race cars.

The Whirley Pop!

Homemade Gingerbread House

Santa

Cooper had a nice visit with Santa at Santaland.






Cooper and Mama

Fun with Fur, Snow and Skating

We had our first snowfall this week on Tuesday, the same morning as Cooper's fur camp at Tryon Creek State Park.



Cooper's camp included making a fur costume, hiking in the forest and crafts and stories. Cooper had a summer camp at Tryon Creek last year and this fall he and I took a 4-week class on spiders, bats, coyotes and owls. He was a little nervous before we got there but adjusted well once it started.
Here is his costume, the bobcat.



He wouldn't look at the camera.

While he had camp I decided to get my haircut and catch up on some reading. My hair was in need of a trim, it feels much better now.



This morning we went to preschool skate at the local roller skating park, Oaks Park. Last time we went was 2 or more years ago. Since we roller skated in Fresno last week, Cooper was excited to keep practicing. We had a nice time, Cooper improved from last week and had great balance. They do a short lesson during the preschool skate and also have the teacher help kids that are having trouble. We will definitely be back, probably next week.

Quote

Mommy: "Close your eyes Cooper."
Cooper: "I will close them when I am ready to close them."

Weekend

We had an excellent, mellow Thanksgiving this year. We had dinner at our house with just a few friends and our family of 5. This is the first year I ate turkey since having Cooper. Most of you know the turkey story. The short version is my morning sickness came in full affect during Thanksgiving and ever since I was pregnant I could not eat/smell/stand turkey. This year, I ate it not only for Thanksgiving but the four days after as leftovers.
We had lots of fun family time over Thanksgiving weekend, we hit an open gym playtime, watched the Civil War and took Cooper and a friend to PDX Playdate, a fun indoor play park.








We spent 4 hours there, we picked up Cooper's friend on the way there and then his mom ran some errands and met us there after 2 hours. The boys had a blast and we got to visit as a couple and with our friend.
We have a trip to California coming up in early December. Grandma Barbara passed away the week of Thanksgiving and we are going to the ceremony and to visit family.

Gymnastics

Cooper's new gymnastics class, his first day.

Halloween

We went trick-or-treating at Holly and Angie's this year. Cooper was Batman, Uncle Jeff was Super Elvis and Angie was Spa Lady. It was a lot of fun! Cooper had a blast and enjoyed handing out candy at their house almost as much as the trick-or-treating.

Field Trip

Cooper went to the Fire Station today with his preschool class. They went to the station down the street from our house. Cooper loved seeing the firefighter in all their gear, he also liked spraying the water hose and touring the station.









When we were back at school Cooper and his friend Graham played firefighters and dressed in the jacket and hats.






Cooper is learning so much these days. It's true what they say, kids are sponges. They soak up so much information and remember it. I am blown away at the things he knows sometimes.

Mud puddles

Fun in the bath

Pictures from the Weekend

We had a fun weekend with lots of activity. We had date night with our good friends on Friday night, Saturday morning we hit Cadillac Cafe (a fave) for breakfast with Aunt Janet. Saturday afternoon/evening we watched Cooper's BFF Graham and went to an apple pressing party. The boys carved pumpkins, helped press apples and played with their goody bags. We stayed for some good music too. I had Graham for 6 hours and it was great, they played really well together and had one meltdown each toward the end of the night.



Wormy eyes



Cooper did the car, Graham the rocket.

Sunday we had a nice breakfast made by our roomies before heading out to Gales Creek Farm to get our pumpkins with Cooper's preschool friends. The rain stayed away during the farm trip too. Once home, Cooper and Mama set to work on pumpkin carving.

Pictures

Cooper loves this place called the Lumberyard. It's an indoor mountain bike track with 6 different tracks, from beginner to advanced and technical. We have gone once a week for two weeks now. His confidence is increasing every time. From 9am-12 M-F it is only $5 for kids under 6.
Last week he actually went down the biggest hills on the beginner track without my help. It is so cool to watch him advance.
Here is a video of him on the track.

One last photo of the week, Cooper in the tree at the dog park.

Cooper at the Lumberyard

Preschool

We settled into our first week of preschool. Cooper seems happy to be back at school with his friends. He is going Tues and Thur again this year. I also signed him up for a nature class every Friday that starts next week. It's run by Portland Parks and Recreation and is called Nuts about Nature. It is exploring nature in a play-based way. I've heard great things about the program and it will give him another opportunity to play with kids and bugs for two hours. It is completely outside, rain or shine. If we like it, I will sign him up for winter an spring also.

Copper and his preschool friend Daniel were writing their names on Thursday. Daniel wrote his name and then his sister's name Celia above Cooper. I find it remarkable to see them writing, backwards, upside down, forwards. It is so cool.

Play date with Larkin

We met Larkin and her mom on Wednesday at Jamison Square. I also had Wyatt that morning. It started out pretty brisk but that did not deter Larkin or Cooper from getting wet. They played really well together, picking up where they left off. It was great to see them and chat, we spent about three hours together. Wyatt slept the entire time.

More Events

Last week we went to Fiesta Italiana at Pioneer Square and I took Cooper to a great dirt track to ride his bike.




We also went on a hunt for good cannolis. This landed us at the Holy Cannoli food cart on NE 19th and Davis. Cooper and Chikako enjoyed this stationary bike the smoothie cart uses.