Forgot to post...

So I forgot to post a very important element to the party...the moo-sic! My favorite on this album is "I've got a cow in my bathtub reading a book, a big book about ice cream....."

Or the cow serving ice cream who asks "Cow many scoops do you want on your cone?"

Also, my mom really wanted a pic of Hunter in his Blue Bell hat, and this is certainly a winner! Here's a pic of him with Josh's mom aka- Nana. :)

Hunter's Blue Bell Extravaganza

On Saturday, we hosted our son's first birthday party. The yard party gathered around the high chair--ages 79 to 4 weeks old---and watched this little man in all his royalty sitting behind his "I am 1" banner-- a mound of buttercream goodness at his fingertips. "Happy Birthday" began. It was so surreal. I thanked God for this moment as we celebrated H. I could not believe we had arrived at this point.

Theme: Blue Bell. And yes, we partied like it was an extravaganza!

You could smell the fall in this brisk morning. It was that kind of morning when if you took a breath and then inhaled just a bit more before exhaling, you could smell the fall. And...Spiced Pumpkin Pecan was the favorite of the ice cream tasters.

Contemplating how to start with this tower. First cake ever!

Let the display of delectable Blue Bell treats begin:

PB&J on Pumpernickel on Popsicle sticks.

'Lil Belle's Salty Snacks- pretzels and goldfish in the small blue bell containers--chips in the "big" container for the adults.

Belle's Favorite Hay Snacks: Picnic Shoestring Potatoes in Waffle Cone Bowls.

Factory Perfected Ice Cream Sandwiches (Pimento Cheese half-sandwiches wrapped in wax paper with a certified Blue Bell stamp of approval).

My favorite decoration was Hunter's Menu. We listed all of the ice cream combos we were offering and named them with an event he had that year. For example- the "I Love You, Too" was a special Snickekrdoodle ice cream, the list price was $7.27 because Hunter said "I love you, too" to Mommy on July 27th. Of course, the menu also stated all fees could be waived for a good 'ole country smile. :) Flavors on the menu included: Cookies 'N Cream, Vanilla, Dutch Chocolate, Snickerdoodle, Spiced Pumpkin Pecan and Mint Chocolate Chip. Toppings: butterscotch and chocolate sauce and morsels. And sprinkles and cherries, of course!

Ice Cream Cupcakes- recipe idea from cousin Leslie! :)

It's safe to say Hunter had a blast! "It's just so tasty, MaMa!"

Happy One-Year Old~ Too Excited for Words...

Thank you to everyone who was able to come! Our whole family was in attendance, and that was so special. Thank you also to my parents who were slaving away in the kitchen with the pb&j fudgecicles at the crack of dawn. And most of all to my husband who did everything I needed, including rearranging furniture in the house the morning of the party when it was 39 degrees outside and we were thinking ...there's no way people will eat ice cream out here! But it all worked out, as the weather really warmed up enough. As I gave Hunter a bath that night, I told him my main hope was that he felt special today.

p.s. to my readers...

my blog is currently under construction...sorry my background has no curb appeal at the moment. look out for new colors and texture coming soon!

CJ

dear hunter- 10 months!

check out that smirk!!!!!!!!
hooray for double-digits! (and not sitting still!)
simply irresistible......
dear hunter,

we celebrated your 10-month birthday on friday. cannot believe this even as I type! you are still so funny! you love to eat french toast. you love your walker....especially when you find your way into your self- made man cave under the kitchen table or when you pick up your feet after chasing someone down the hall for a "slide!" WOO-HOO! you can say "DA-DA" very well, and "Mommy," I'm sure, is just around the corner. :) you still crawl on your belly (very fast, might I add) ...but you started taking your first steps on your own initiative this month! who wants to crawl on knees anyways? you sure can't get under the furniture as easily up on your knees. you've been doing better when we drop you at the church nursery--even kelly matte, who was helping in your room today, said you did great. were you on your good behavior because it was the pastor's wife? you pick up on everything. :)

i am having fun celebrating all of the milestones and funny things you did this year, as i compile goodies for your birthday party. but it is bittersweet---where has my baby gone? oh well, you are too cute now to miss anything at the moment. i love you~ mommy

Summer Highlights

Since we are fastly approaching Labor Day, I better get this post done before I have to start my drawn out, romantic goodbye to my white capris. Takes forever every year to let go.

This summer was one of the best for these reasons:

Avery and Abby and VBS. We had a great time hosting my niece and nephew this summer for Vacation Bible School at First Baptist. I have excitedly told many of you...but for those of you who have not heard...Avery accepted Christ this year! Giddy up from the Saddle Ridge Ranch. Oh. My. It was SUCH a highlight for me and Josh. We were thrilled--and so was Avery. We had lots of talks about how the angels were partying it up in heaven over his decision. When we prayed at night together, I'll never forget what Avery wanted to add: "I hope He is happy with what I did today." There are no words.

Taking Hunter to the Aquarium~

We had a blast showing Hunter all of the fishies like his plush aquarium at home. I think he liked the random tiger best. We so enjoyed the Thompsons adventuring into the deep with us. The kiddos had a great time and Caden made sure to let us know Nemo was in the house. He's adorable.

Hosting a Baby Olivia's Shower at Rudy Tomjanovich's House. So much fun to be at someone's home I have admired for years with my Dad. We honored my friend Michelle Beard and Baby Olivia. Cupcakes by SugarBabies and truffles by SessySweets. YUM...YUM.

Hunter Goes to the Beach. We took Hunt to Galveston as a family in August. He wasn't afraid a bit. I think he would have taken a wave if he had a surf board. He was ready to go out there! He splashed, tried to used the sand as a trampoline (and also for a snack!) I'm so glad he loved the beach as much as Mommy and Daddy...now if we could just get the "laying out with a magazine" part down. Hmmmmm...I'll keep dreaming. LOL

And last but certainly NOT least: "BING." Enough said. One night during Hunter's Bible story, all Josh said was "bing" without even a laugh, and Hunter did the biggest belly laugh he's ever done. Again and again. Over and over. We were afraid he would stop if we videoed it, but we finally just had to.

8...9...10

Dear Hunter,

Oh, how i love you! Tonight marks the culmination of an era. Tomorrow is your nine month birthday. I can hardly believe it. We've completed the first building block: Birth-9 months. Your Daddy and I had jobs given by God that were specifically designed for this time frame. We were to work on our connection with you, build your trust in us and in God, and show you what God was like through our parenting. I prayed over you tonight that you knew how much God loved you. I hoped in my heart I had done it right. But the Lord will have grace over me and make my way perfect, I am sure of it, for the times I have make mistakes. We may be weak, but He is stronger. I want more than anything to know how much God, me and your daddy love you.

8/9/10....and hunter, i'd do it all again

... for you.

love, mommy

Sentimental to the Core...

So I've been known to be sentimental--just a bit. When all of the other first graders were screaming ecstatically as they ran out on the last day of school for the year, I've been told I paused in the doorway and sighed, "I'll never cross this threshold again." While I blame much of my need to have dramatic narrative on Kevin Arnold, I know it's partially just how I am.

That's why when Josh asked me over and over again if I wanted to change my engagement and wedding ring, I just couldn't. I mean really? The ring HE designed himself. Turned princess cut into a ballpark setting...the ring he showed me as he proposed in front of a whole football stadium of people...with a plane flying overhead saying "Courtney, will you marry me?"


No.


No. and No. I told him if he really wanted to give me an upgrade or something...it would have to be another ring. No.


Josh approached me again in January and asked me if I would like to go shopping just to get ideas. He told me he'd like to get me something for our 6th anniversary in June. He was preparing the sentimentalist. :) I agreed. I even gave in and let him play with my existing ring for ideas. By the time the summer came, Josh had talked to the same guy who sold him my first ring, at the same jeweler where my dad bought my mom's engagement ring, the same place he bought my mom's 25th anniversary wedding ring---Diamond Jewelry Factory on Westheimer. He had again, designed a ring for me--telling me only about part of the design. It took a while for it to come in---and eagerly picked it up in July. And once again, it was beautiful. My wedding band is not shown in the first pic, but was originally a platinum band that he had now set in pave. My favorite part was the least expensive--the "basket" setting they put on top to raise the gallery. I do love a high gallery. Thanks for teaching me, Jajo.





The ring I will always love, forever and ever and ever. :) I made the jeweler promise that I could always make it original again if I just had to. Hahaha....no i really did.



And here's the new one! I absolutely love it. I'll love it this way forever and ever too. Thank you, Josh! I love you~


love, winnie cooper