Day 1

On the first day of Christmas, my mommy gave to me.... A game choice and a bowl of ice cream!

Pals

These two already spend a lot of time looking at each other...

Thanksgiving

I know... I'm behind. But that's ok b/c someday when I look back, it won't matter that I was behind! But I will be glad I have the pics :) Thanksgiving was spent, for the first time ever, away from the Cooper family. Thankfully, we had the Berrys to provide an outstanding meal along with great company... Or we would have been very lonely and missing our Cooper tradition. Beth's food was outstanding!! For the first time ever, the Berry/Cooper boys were outnumbered by girls... Made for a peaceful afternoon! Ha ha! :)

For what it's worth...

Just found this somewhat noticeable...

Cute little outfit...

This came from Grandma Cooper :) Too cute! She's getting so big! (Guess who's causing her trouble!)

Tessa Marie

She's 3.5 months-ish... I'm already losing track. And precious as ever!!!

Happy Birthday Henry!

It was Henry's b-day today. It was a great day... everything he wanted. Pop-tarts for breakfast, he bought a school lunch (which was breakfast!), and then we met at Five Guys for dinner. Why does food make everything feel so much more special! :) We had a little party for him Sunday afternoon - Aunt Beth made a Wild Kratts cake, and he and his friends had to build cheetah habitats. It was simple and fun! I love hearing their conversations at this age... too cute. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE you Henry!!! So thankful for the seven years God has given us with you!

Pomegranates!

When talking about...

...how God created the world simply by speaking, Wy says, "I wish I was God and if I was, I'd say Big Marshmallow."

Philharmonster!

Our friends allowed us to use their tickets again for the Family Series at the Dayton Philharmonic. It was great! Performances are still a little long for Wy, but they both do fine sitting thru it all. The orchestra players were dressed up in costumes too - and there was lots of humor for adults. So it was a fun afternoon!

We knew...

...eye-wear for the kiddos was in our future considering our vision history as a couple. It's far from good. But I think he looks adorable :) and Older! My glasses were never that cool when I was little. Of course, they were prob considered cool for the 80s!

Twins :)

There is no lack of love for his baby sister!

Scheduling

So Jonathan has had quite a few evening work commitments the past several weeks. Combined with the class he is in on Monday nights, this makes for some long afternoons and evenings :) Doing dinner/bedtimes gets tricky with all 4 at the stage we're in, so I've found I need to have a plan from 3:30-8p in order to accomplish all we need to do in an evening. I've been making all my dinners during the day so I have no prep at dinnertime. Part of my plan this week has been to take the kids to the park as soon as H is off the bus. We pack snacks, scooters, and the double stroller. I walk/jog the first 30 min, and then let the kids play at the playground and in the soccer goals the second 30 min. Has worked great. We all burn energy, spend time together, and when we get home, we hit homework, dinner, little kids go down, then Bible lesson with some other bedtime reading in the boys room. I have loved it. I find with Henry in school all day, I want to maximize the 4.5 hours with him in the afternoon/evening. If I want that to happen, I have to be strategic! We are finding how important it is to have that time with him to build relationship. It's not just quality time, but quantity of time too... We've been having a ton of conversation about this lately -- But that's a whole other post!! Jonathan and I both know we are in a season. We wouldn't necessarily choose his schedule, but it is what God has given us right now. And He is providing the grace we need.. We honestly feel that. Thankfully! But it does require a lot of honest discussion and prioritizing!! It's not easy... But as a family, we are seeing Gods wisdom being poured out and for that we are thankful!