1st Day of 1st Grade!

Hunter started 1st grade today! Doesn't he look like a big kid?! I just drove up to the playground and he said, "Bye Mom!", got out and took off! Wow.

So I didn't bawl like a baby on the way home like I did when I dropped him off at kindergarten last year, but I did shed a little tear. And I prayed that he'd have a great day and a great year. He makes us so proud! We took a few pictures this morning before Daddy left for work...

Coop needed a "First Day of School" picture too...

Be sure to keep scrolling down to my next blog, Coop's birthday party pictures!

Coop's 3rd Birthday Party

Coop's birthday party was a smash! Dave took the day off to spruce up the back yard, and the boys and I ran errands and cleaned up inside the house. Then all of our dearest friends and family came for a BBQ, cake & ice cream, and the kids' favorite part.... a pinata! (I can't figure out how to get that little thingy over my 'n' in pinata.) Okay, anyway - here are the pictures.


He actually opened his presents this year! Last year Dave & I had to do it because he was having so much fun hitting baseballs with all the kids! He got a TON of stuff! Clothes, toys, a backpack, a baseball glove...you name it - he got it!





Some of the kids had experience hitting the pinata, others (like mine) didn't. But they sure knew to run for the candy when it dropped!



After the kids had all gone twice, some adults wanted to take a crack at it...Aunt Angie, myself and Dave all took turns. (I could see through my blindfold - ha! :)

Remembering...

Tomorrow our baby turns 3. Three! And I cannot even believe it. He, on the other hand, is very excited. Who wouldn't be? Three is a great age. (Although I always said the day Hunter turned three he turned into a little devil). But seeing as how Coop already is a little devil, I figure it can only get better from here right?

It was a HOT Sunday afternoon in August. Dave's 10-year class reunion had been that weekend and everyone decided it'd be great to go to someone's house and have a barbeque. Since I'd been "nesting" and my house was spic-n-span, I got a stupid idea in my head and said, "Hey, come to our house!"

WOW... I can still see the look on Dave's face when those words came out of my mouth. Anyway, we had a great afternoon! People came, (most of them had their families with them), they hung out, and they brought all the food! But along with a big party comes an even bigger mess...and we were left cleaning up for a couple of hours afterwards. Dave & Hunter helped, which I was very grateful for!

So MUCH later than usual, I climbed into my bed and I was POOPED! I had scrubbed, vacuumed, cleaned bathrooms, rearranged furniture, and played the perfect hostess all day. All I wanted to do was sleep. But I couldn't. Because a teensy contraction turned into a very painful one. So what did I do? I got up and folded some laundry.

"Ali, are you okay?" Dave said, half asleep. "Yeah, I'm fine - just go back to sleep, honey. I'll wake you up if it gets worse." But I don't think he heard me because he was snoring about two seconds later.

Folding, folding, marching up and down the living room floor in the middle of the night. I couldn't decide if this was really it! It hurt. A LOT. But it had hurt with Hunter, too, and I got to the hospital with him and the contractions had completely stopped. It was embarassing, and I didn't want to do that again.

Finally I called the Dr.'s office. It was the late-night message service that I talked to. "I'll call the Dr. right now and he'll be calling you soon," the guy said. But I never got a call! So I took a shower and we called Ash so she could come stay with Hunter and we took off. Dave says, "We need to stop and get some gas." Huh?

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I am kicking a hole in our glove box. I don't think we can stop to get some gas. You're just gonna have to go!" It was the speediest trip to Yakima ever! But we made it, thank the Lord! We checked in at 2:10 AM and Cooper Chase Kleinow came into the world at 2:30 AM.

Dave looked at me and said, "I am SO proud of you". Gosh those were the best words I'd ever heard. And so now as I sit here remembering with a huge smile on my face I'm wondering, where have the past three years gone? How does this...

turn into this...

Okay, so now that I'm CRYING, I'll end with a few pictures of Coop that we've taken over the past few years. It is amazing how he's grown!

And finally.....

Thank you Jesus, for this adorable, fun-loving little blessing that came into our lives August 22, 2005. And a very Happy Birthday to you, Coop! We love you sooooo much!

A Really Great Day

A pretty great thing happened Saturday. Dave's brother James got married and we've been blessed with an awesome new sister-in-law! (And another cool aunt for the boys!) Jamie is so fun and fits perfectly in our family. Their wedding was absolutely gorgeous and we had a spectacular time. It was really fun to have an excuse to get all dressed up! Dave was the best man...doesn't he look good?

The wedding was held in the front yard of James and Jamie's home. Too bad it was the hottest day of the year! But the ceremony was short and sweet and they make a beautiful couple.

The reception was in the backyard, and it was sooooo much fun! The food was delicious, and there was great music and lots of dancing. The boys had the time of their lives! Dave and I enjoyed a few dances together...before Coop noticed we were dancing and came to cut in! He is so jealous. Haha!

Hunter has moves, people!

Coop doesn't like to dance on his own, he wants you to hold him while you dance. His big cousin Taylor is holding him in this pic.

At the end of the night, Hunter was still going strong, but Coop was ready for bed! We got home late, then woke them up at about 4:15 AM to drive to Longview for Dave's State softball tournament. Yes, some would say that is the cruelest thing you could do to tired kids, but not our kids...they hear the words "Daddy's game" and they are ready to go! They actually slept all the way there and on the way back, too. All in all it was a really busy but really fun weekend. We are thankful for our wonderful family and friends. God is so good!

Bobbleheads

"Folks, when you come to the Mariner game tonight, you will receive a very special, authentic Bobblehead of either Cooper or Hunter! Don't miss out - these will be collector's items one day...when they are in the big-leagues making a lot of money and buying fancy houses and cars for their parents!"





The boys saw these and laughed their little "bobble" heads off! Hunter said, "Can you please put those on your blog so everyone can see them?" So here they are. Maybe one day they really WILL be making one of those of my kids...you just never know! Anyway, have a happy day everyone!

11 Years Ago...

On August 9th Dave and I will celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary. 11 years - WOW! We were talking about it the other day, saying how proud we were of ourselves...Haha! I was saying how it felt like "forever"! Then Dave looked at me (with a little sadness in his eyes) and said, "Well to me it seems like it's really flown by." Awwwwww, how sweet is my guy? So I did a little digging and this is what I found. Don't we look like babies? Well, one of us IS a teenager in these pictures!




I love Dave more and more every single day. And I'm fairly certain he feels that same way about me. We are so thankful for this life God's given us - and for our two beautiful boys! My goodness, so many wonderful things have happened in 11 years! We can't wait to see what each new year brings!

Happy (almost) anniversary honey... Love, Ali