They Say It's Your Birthday

I suppose at some point I have to play catch up with these posts. I've promised several people the Xmas photos, but that'll have to wait until next time. Cooper turned 3 years old today. We celebrated with a party on Saturday.

Here he is before the party, watching his favorite movie "Jurassic Park". He loves dinosaurs, but when Micole told him that we were making him a dinosaur cake, he said, "No! Thomas Twain, Mommy!" So I had already spent like $15 on Ebay to get him a T-rex cake pan. I'm going to try to convince Colton that he wants a dinosaur cake for his birthday.

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The 3-D train cake.

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Getting ready to blow out the candle.

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Growing half of a really, really bad mustache.

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Opening presents.

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Just a note, Cooper spilt some stuff on his shirt. This isn't some Kentucky hillbilly, kind of birthday party, though I'm sure this is pretty close to what you would see at Kentucky hillbilly birthday party. Well, except that more people would have their shirts off.

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Dobie Jon-San: May 18, 1998 - February 4, 2008 RIP

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Dogs are like a grace undeserved that releases us into an economy of abundance, where the economic laws of scarcity and therefore competition no
longer apply, where instead we feel ourselves the beneficiaries of a wealth that
is actualized only as we give it away, and in giving we see something that we
could not see before. - Professor Stephen H. Webb, "It's a Dog's Love"

You were my first redheaded baby boy. You have seen me through many good times and some bad. You've always been at the door each day when I come home. You weren't there to greet me at the door today. I never expected our journey together to end this soon. I was sure we would have a few more years.

It's only been 48 hours or so since we were sitting on the floor and you were giving me and Colton kisses. Just last week you ran to me as I walked up the sidewalk after getting off the bus. I appreciated those moments then just as I appreciate them even more now.

I know it hasn't always been easy for you. You were once the center of attention. Then your brothers came along and you ranked at the bottom of the totem pole. I'm sorry if you ever felt forgotten. If I ever failed you, it's because I'm merely human and not a dog and thus unable to love you with the same purity and fervor with which a good dog like you is capable of loving a human being like me.

I tried to teach you many things, but you were spoiled by your buddy, Pappy, so I never had a chance. You taught me many things.

So now I must say goodbye, my friend. You will be missed. My heart will always have a place just for you.

Ohio State 14, Michigan 3

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It's another year and another win for Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel, who is now 6-1 against that school from up north.

Professional Photos

We went out yesterday for some Xmas and professional photos. The boys at times were less than enthused to be there. Cooper was more interested in playing with Legos in the lobby and Colton wanted to explore. Sitting still for a few minutes was simply not an option for these two. Luckily the photographer was a true professional was able to make a diamond out of coal.

Some of the photos that didn't quite come out the way we hoped.

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As I said some came out really well. Here Cooper reads "The Polar Express". The kid is a bookworm. He absolutely loves books. When asked the other day if he would play football, the answer was no. When asked if would play baseball, the answer was no. When asked if he would read books, the answer was yes.

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Halloween

It's been awhile since the last post. I've meant to post several times in the last month, but I guess time moves twice as fast with two boys instead of just one. Even though there are some really good photos I've wanted to post, I'll stick with some from tonight's trick or treating.

Cooper was a shark and Colton was a penguin. They both had cute outfits, but it seemed everyone loved the penguin outfit. We couldn't go anywhere without people saying "Look at the cute little penguin!" Cooper wouldn't always wear the shark mouth hood up so some people didn't know what he was.

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Limo trick-or-treat style. Kids have it so easy these days.

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We stopped into see cousin McKenzie.

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The boys eventually decided to rough it and forego the limo. In this picture Colton drags his bag of candy on the sidewalk.

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Cooper wouldn't let me take too many pictures of him in the shark outfit, but I was lucky to get this good one.

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Cooper enjoys his spoils.

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Hopped up on sugar.

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A Day Out With Thomas

Micole and I took Friday afternoon off to take the boys to ride the rails at "A Day Out with Thomas". We told Cooper that we were taking him and then showed him the website and he sat and stared at for a half hour.

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Thomas pulling into the station.

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Before it came our time to ride, both of the boys enjoyed navigating the maze.

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Neither of the boys wanted anything to do with Sir Top M. Hat

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Cooper really enjoyed the ride and afterwards said to me "Thank you, Daddy."
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After we got back to the station, Mommy and the boys stopped to take a few pics in front of Thomas.

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We ended our trip with a visit to the gift shop and the boys got a couple more trains for their evergrowing collection.

A little funny story - On Saturday Pappy and I went to see UC play Miami University in football. While I was getting ready in the bedroom that morning, Cooper walked in and asked "Wat ya doin, Dah-e?"

I responded, "I'm going to see Pappy."

"Mom-e too?", Cooper queried.

I said "Nope. Just daddy. We're going to see a football game!"

Right then, Colton walks in the door and proudly says, "Fute-Bowl!". He doesn't know many words, but he already knows football.

My Heart Melts

Cooper just said for the first time ever, "I love you, daddy", which phonetically sounded like "I luv u dah-ee".

As a special bonus, he's never said it to Micole. It's kind of a freakish occurrence, because he is a total momma's boy. I'm #1 for just a little while.

Happy Birthday, Aunt Kelly!

The cupcake aftermath.

It was everywhere. Tables, couches, chairs. It's kind of like going to the beach and finding sand in places you didn't know you had.

It's Potty Time!

We had to bribe Cooper with stickers to get him on the potty. The first time that Micole gave him a sticker after getting on the potty, she told him that every time he gets on the potty he gets another one. He walked right over and got on the potty again.

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Now we just need to get him to actually go on the potty.

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Colton with a little 5 o'clock shadow.

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Clean shaven.

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Cooper can be a really good kid when he's not beating up on his little brother (or as the case has been lately when he's not biting him). When he doesn't want to share, he is very territorial with his toys. Of course, much of the time Colton wants to be Cooper's shadow. I admit that I will fiendishly enjoy the day a year or so from now when Colton finally pops Cooper a good one. That day is comin'.