It's Never Too Late for Turkey!

While I aspired to post pictures from Christmas this week, I realized that I probably should post a Thanksgiving entry first. We spent the long weekend in Liberty with Dutch's family this year since we alternate. We were sure to take the time to reflect on everything we are thankful for our in our lives. Our families (and their health) definitely top the list! Therefore, it was nice that we got to spend quality time with Dutch's family and Cooper gots lots of play time with his cousins. We sure wish they werent' so far away! Cooper was so excited to see everyone that he stayed awake the entire 4-hour car ride (even with not leaving until 7pm)!

Cooper w/ his cousins Hagen, Hallie and Raegan

Best buds! Only 2 months apart!

Cooper got to check out and ride all of Uncle Rhett's toys. He was in heaven!

First we took the new Gator for a spin. It is enclosed and has heat! Pretty fancy!
Perfect for winter and removing snow!

Next up...Uncle Rhett's John Deere Tractor!

Papa even fired it up and took it out to show Cooper how it works.

Cooper also loves to check out all the kitties that are Nana and Papa's house. They wait by the back door for food. In this picture, Hagen, Raegan and Cooper all wait for them to make an appearance!

Papa even brought a kitty inside so Cooper was able to check him out up close!

Cooper also loves Nana and Papa's St.Bernard named Ralph. He is HUGE compared to Milo! He also loves to wear Ralph's slippers (even though he can barely walk in them)! 

For the first time ever, I attempted to do some Black Friday shopping this year (even though it was Thursday night when I went w/ my SIL and BIL) . Cooper helped me scope out all the ads to find the best deals!

We also spent an afternoon in Oxford visiting Miami. We ate lunch on campus and walked around a bit seeing it actually turned out to be a beautiful day! Maybe Cooper will go to school here someday? While we've already started our recruiting, there is no pressure! However, I'm sure Cooper's Nana and Papa would love to have him so close! Only 20 minutes away!! ;)

New business school...such a beautiful building!

We took Cooper for his 1st stroll down the slant walk...



We was mostly fascinated with all the birds up in the trees!









Maybe some day Cooper will be a Miami Merger too!? Good thing we already started saving!



Gooooooal!

I got some free hockey tickets through work so we took Cooper (& my parents) to his 1st game. Cleveland has the Lake Erie Monsters, which is a minor league team. The game didn't start until 7:30pm so we only stayed for the 1st period, but Cooper loved it! He was very fascinated with everything that was going on the ice...and also with the mascot Sully (the Seagull). The best is that when they scored Cooper knew to say....GOOOOOOAL! ;)

Alphabet Dance!

Fallen Behind

It's about time we catch you up on all of our fall activities...

We had some beautiful fall weather so we were sure to take advantage of it. We took Cooper to Mapleside Farms this year to pick out his pumpkin. While Dutch & I took in the beautiful views (since it sits on a hill overlooking the orchard and pumpkin patch), Cooper was focused on something else and kept pointing to the tractor. It took us back up the hill once we had a pumpkin picked out. Cooper could have cared less about picking out his pumpkin. He just wanted to ride the tractor! Haha!

My Uncle Lou, Aunt Kathy and 2 cousins (Missy & Amy) from Maine came to visit for a while week at the end of October. Missy brought her 6-month old little boy named Blake. We hadn't met him yet so we were super excited! 

We got out Cooper's jumperoo (and lots of other baby equipment and toys) for Blake to enjoy while visiting. Cooper had to check everything out as we put it together. At first, he wasn't so sure about what was going on....

However, once Blake arrived, they made great playmates...and Cooper did great with sharing all of his toys!

 We had fun dressing the boys up together for Halloween. Cooper was a doggie! And he was good at it too!

Isn't Blake the cutest froggie you've ever seen!? Missy is such a proud momma! She was like a sister to me growing up so it's so fun to both have boys that are close in age.

Doggie + Froggie = Best Friends!

All ready for Trick-or-Treat!!

 We put both boys in the wagon and took them around the neighborhood to show off their cute costumes. Cooper was quite interested in all the candy (even though he had never had any)!

We let Cooper have his 1st sucker on Halloween...and he feel in love! He definitely has my sweet tooth!

Cooper kept digging through his candy to find another sucker.
PLEASE....

This is my cousin Amy w/ one wore out froggie!

Missy got the boys matching pajamas. We attempted to get a cute picture of them together in them, but it was bedtime...they were more interested in drinking their milk and hugging it out!

 Cooper loves animals and is so curious about them! We got up close and personal with a few this fall. On a walk one day, Cooper and I found a wooly bear on the sidewalk. I put it on the edge of Cooper's wagon so he could get a closer look. He didn't know what to think of the little guy. I love that I caught all of his expressions as he checked out the wooly bear and eventually decided to pet it...with one finger! ;)

At a friend's clam bake, Cooper also had the opportunity to get up close and personal with a horse. We even fed it snacks right out of our hand. I think I was more weirded out by it than him!

Hello!? Are you dizzy yet!?

I have 2 recent videos of Cooper to share. He's such an imitator lately...and loves to say (well, try to say) and do everything we do. It's too cute! Cooper loves technology too! How could he not when he constantly sees us on our phones and laptops!? I love to watch him scroll through pictures on our cell phones or run to grab the laptop so he can play his Seasame Street game or watch a YouTube video of animals or trains. On this particular day, we were at my parent's house and Cooper was having fun with their house phone. I'm surprised he knew what it was seeing we don't have one (like a lot of people these days)! Haha!



Cooper was entertaining himself on this day...by making himself dizzy! I get dizzy watching it!

Playdates & Birthday Parties Galore!

Cooper has had lots of playdates and birthday parties over the last few months. I thought I'd share some of his fun activities with his friends!

Cooper at his neighbor buddy Brady's 2nd birthday party.
I think he only kept the hat on to impress Paige and Ava. Such cuties!

Cooper shares a snack with Natalie. She lives in the neighborhood too and is only 5 months younger than Cooper!





Cooper's other neighbor buddy Zack and Brady show him how to bounce on the trampoline. Fun stuff!

On this particular day, Cooper had a fun afternoon w/ his Chicago cutie...Lyla! Cooper tried to impress her with his humor...and she obviously thought he was pretty funny because they laughed all through lunch. Too cute!

Then I took Cooper and Lyla to the park to play...it's hard work chasing 2 toodlers running in opposite directions! That is why I tried hard to keep both of them on the swings together!

Our old neighbors Emily and Geoff who have the 2 adorable twins girls (Ava and Kara) came up for a weekend visit and stayed with us. It was great to catch up with them. They got to see lots of our other neighbors too seeing our block party was the same weekend. Cooper had a blast playing w/ the girls!

TEAMWORK!!!
Kara pushing Cooper

Both of the girls loved Milo, particulary Ava who wanted to get in his bed with him!

Cooper got to show off his playroom to the girls...

And introduced baseball cards to them! :)

Natalie and her parents came over the one morning for breakfast so Cooper had all kinds of girls chasing him around (in his pj's, of course!). Cooper is sitting with Kara to his left and Natalie and Ava to his right.





A few weeks ago I took Cooper to the east side for a playdate with another cutie...Ainsley. I used to work with her mom Kelly. I'm sad to say that we don't work together anymore and I don't even get to see her that often since I'm not based downtown anymore. She's still my BF@W (best friend at work) though! And we still try to get the kids together every once in a while, especially since there only 6 weeks apart!



One of my BFFs from high school, Jenny Wobser, had her first baby in September. Cooper got to meet Perry Leo when he was only a few days old! So precious! Hopefully, they will be best buds for life too!





Cooper (right) swinging w/ his buddy Lucas. His mama is Elizabeth (aka Beti), one of my college roomies. We're so lucky that they live close!
We went for a long walk on a beautiful fall day to a fun park. We saw lots of deer, including a buck, on this walk (one of Cooper's fav animals) so he was one happy camper!

We attended Hudson's 1st birthday party, which had a fun fall theme. The kids got to pick out pumpkins and then ride back in the wagon to paint them. Cooper wanted nothing to do with the wagon though! However, later on in the party Sarah's brother Mark (w/ beer in hand! haha!) made another attempt...and Cooper actually got in it. Dutch had to ride in it too (along w/ Riley). Too funny!     

Cooper eating w/ his buddies!

Cooper cheering on Hudson! :)

 



Welcome to the Dawg (and Puppy) Pound!

I never thought it would happen, but Dutch has been "officially" converted to a Browns fan...and even proudly wears a Hillis #40 jersey on Sundays now! That means that Cooper is also being raised as a Browns fan...and has a cute mini-me version of the jersey.

Like father, like son!

Cooper can't want for his 1st experinece in the Puppy Pound! Go Brownies!

TOUCHDOWN!!!
My Dad and brother Craig are sure happy about the extra support. We all know the Browns need it! ;)
Now everyone is wearing matching jerseys on Sundays!