tubes and cabbage

We headed up to Helen, GA to float the river with the Kelley's. Coop had a nice nap as we floated most of the way. I don't think it was Steve's favorite afternoon (since he was the one having to pull us off rocks after getting stuck) but overall it was enjoyed.


BUT just like we thought it was a good idea, so did everyone else in Atlanta. There were soooooo many people up there, practically ridiculous but made for some good people watching.

The Kelley's wanted to make a pit-stop at the Babyland Hospital on the way home (where Cabbage Patch kids are born ;)


And it was the funniest thing. The place was decked out, they have deliveries all day, they do ultrasounds on the cabbage, you can name the babies, it was quite cute for little girls to check out.


And if I had one wish I would put the cabbage patch smell into candle form so I could smell it all day. I miss that smell, oh the childhood memories. The blonde canvas on the bottom right looks exactly like one I had back in the day.

or"man"do

Steve met up with his high school friends for a golf trip in Orlando mid July. Lots of manly activities included eating steak, playing basketball, video games, swimming, and of course 2 full days of golf - Steve's favorite activity of all. Glad he could expend his manliness in style.

red white blue

The Fourth of July was fun even though it was no match for an Idaho Falls Fourth of July ;) but the south still tries to do it up right. We went to the local parade and festivities with Steve's fam. Nothing like watching a million politicians campaigning and pageant girls waving for half the parade entries. But we did get to enjoy carnival food, namely a delicious corndog, my fave.

Cooper loves to attack my chin like it's a teething toy. We both end up laughing everytime.

Cooper loved his amazing flag shirt courtesy Grandma Kris, classic.

Our familia ready to go home for naps.

We showed Cooper a few fireworks and sparklers at home that evening. He just stared at them (I think cause he likes lights) but didn't show too much excitement. Steve and me had fun though. I tried to give Cooper a good show, lol.

thirty-one, really

It's our year to both turn 31 and Steve's birthday comes 3 months and 3 days before mine. We celebrated with the usual Outback affair and spent time with Mr. Coop. A great birthday indeed. He, of course, is buying his own birthday present this year, something along the lines of golf probably.



I surprised Steve with a giant quart of TCBY cotton candy frozen yogurt instead of a cake (oh yeah, don't even think you're too old for cotton candy flavor). I made a rainbow chip cake at his family dinner the previous Sunday so I had to do something else I knew he'd love. And he did.


Cooper loves hanging out with his Dad

My cute boys ;)

brave new fan?

Possibly. I found Cooper this new hat and we had fun playing with it and taking pics. But all the times since he takes it off immediately. Hopefully he'll get over this at some point and just wear it because we need our new little one to represent ;)

You can see Coop's one and only tooth so far in this upper right shot. (This teething business is not cool, btw)

dear dad

God must really love me a lot to give me the wonderful dad I've got, you are the best dad I could have hoped for. You play with me, make me giggle, show me cool things, and make me feel loved. I can't wait to grow up with you in my life.

I know you had to work today but I hope you loved your delicious blueberry waffles for your first Father's Day breakfast. I had a fun day hanging out with Grandpa though, he must've been just as good of dad as you. love, cooper

june is too late

...for camping in Georgia! The weekend we decide to go the humidity hits and temps reach the high 90s...not cool.


We headed to Lake Lanier for the weekend and after camp was setup we had to hit the lake to cool off.


This boy was loving the water

In the few minutes it took to setup camp this kids cheeks turned bright red from the heat, he was glad to cool off in the lake, poor kid.

Splashing with dad was pretty much awesome.

Watching Dad make the fire.

Steve's idea was to keep it easy on the food front which meant everything over the fire. The bad thing was it was so hot already we could barely stand cooking our hotdogs, but they were de-lish. Plus we had to have smores for dessert so the fire was pretty much necessary. I mean that's really why we go camping right?

Relaxing with dad the next morning, one sticky humid night not much lower than 75 degrees. Cooper thought the tent was cool though

Cooper's wakeup call came a tad too early. What were you doing at 6am?

We got up and cooked breakfast over the fire which meant sausage, powdered donuts, and chocolate milk. Steve's menu.

Our crew in the tent looking pretty tired. The heat was too much to handle for another day and night (we had planned to stay 2) so we packed up and headed out for some relaxing at the pool and some AC watching movies. Lightweights? Maybe. But what does it say when there are no other tent campers around and everyone remotely close to us were sleeping in their deluxe trailers.

We'll be back in the fall, don't you worry. Humid camping = not for us.

aqua boy

Could you die over this pic? I love it! We took grandpa great to the aquarium for the day with Cooper's cousins. He thought the fish were pretty amazing.


my favorite - the jellyfish

The Kelley cousins, ready to go with their maps, they were out tour guides ;)

I could barely snap this because he kept looking back at the fish behind him.

Weird worm/eel things that pop out of the sand

Me and my new fish boy.

Lone Cooper and the world of fish

The shark coming to get him

These awesome new rays were HUGE!

Clark had the cutest grin in this first pic, and the other Cooper is totally enthralled with Clark letting him know what all the fish were.

There's nothing like showing this kid something new.

grandpa...great?

Grandpa Great came for a visit for a few days from Mississippi to see all his grandkids. Cooper thought his glasses were cool. We had fun hanging out and I even made a special breakfast of crepes for them. mmm.