"C" is for Cosmo

Cole puts great thought into what he is going to take to Show and Tell every week, and once he's made up his mind, there is no convincing him otherwise. So, I knew we were in trouble about 2 months ago, when Cole was thinking about what he could take for all the different letters. When he started thinking about "C" week, he got a big grin on his face, looked at me and said, "Mom, I'm going to take Cosmo to school for "C" week!" I was hoping he would forget and take something like "Cole" to school, but no such luck. He reminded me every week about his plan. So, what is a Dad with connections to do? Arrange for his kid to be the coolest kid in school of course! And so it was. Live Ants for "A" week and Cosmo the Cougar for "C" week!
When they do Show and Tell, the kids ask questions, then if they don't get it, they give clues.
This is Cole giving the clues. (He also is very particular about giving his own clues. I've tried to help him pick good ones and he prefers his own. Sheesh!)

Cole also helped Cosmo hand out blue (did you expect any other color?) candy canes (another good "C" week item) and signed pictures of Cosmo.
After hanging out in Cole's class, taking pictures and doing BYU cheers, Cole then took Cosmo around to some other classes in the school that had kids that he knew in them (like the other Kindergarten class and his cousins' classes.)
Cole thought it was great. The grin on Cole's face was well worth the time and effort I think. They even wrote about Cosmo's visit in the monthly school newsletter, so Cole proudly shows it to anyone he can!
Go Chad and Thanks Cosmo! You made a little boy very happy!

The "Almost" Thanksgiving

This year, our Thanksgiving seemed to be a series of "almost" moments. Here are some of them.

The "Bengay Brigade" almost made it to the championship game of the Annual Dodgeball Tournament...
Instead they ended up 3rd. This was pretty good considering their name is a very fitting representation of their age! They took down many teams that were much younger.
Since Cole got hit in the head last year at the tournament, this year he came prepared! (He seriously came up with this all by himself.) He wore his helmet to protect his head and sunglasses to protect his eyes. Whenever he was going down to floor level, he "suited" up!
Damon and Katie almost changed their minds about coming when they got caught in nonmoving traffic for over 2 hours... (Notice the shoes!)
Instead, they stuck with it and we had lots of fun with them.
Weston even learned my name!
Jennifer and Kevin almost set their house on fire trying to fry a turkey...
Instead, (since thankfully their house is made of brick) they went out and got a new fryer (who knew that Walmart would have one and be open, oh wait they have everything and are always open!), everyone pitched in and we had a wonderful meal!
Everyone almost sat down at the same time to eat...
Instead, let's be realistic, with a baby, a 1-year-old, two 2-year-olds, a 3-year-old, a 5-year-old, and then the rest of us, there was no shot at this actually happening! But we still had a good time.
And finally, Utah almost beat BYU...
But of course, BYU pulled it out on yet another miracle play in overtime! Go Cougars!

In Honor of Rivalry Week

As always, we have to have our annual Rivalry Week post.
Cole is always ready for game time!
Emily tells anyone who will listen that "our family does not like red!"
Chad's philosophy, indoctrinate them while they are young!

One day, Addy had the saddest eyes as she brought me Cosmo. She kept pushing his foot and nothing would happen. A little while later, I went and put new batteries in it and pushed his foot. As Rise and Shout started to play, she perked up, and ran (ok toddled) over to me with a big grin on her face. Glad to see yet another child is already BYU crazed!
Go BYU! Beat Utah!

I am a Soccer Mom!

Ok, this post is a little late, but I was waiting on pictures from an unnamed source.
Cole was finally old enough to start playing his first sport ever, soccer. He was very excited about it. We got his jersey a few weeks before the season started and he and his buddy tried to wear it every day!
We had a fun season, but thankfully they don't keep score in the kindergarten league. Cole had a less than stellar coach who couldn't teach her team to score! But we had a good time, and that's all that matters, right?!!?
Team meeting with the coach to discuss our game strategy, or to at least discuss which direction we are supposed to kick the ball!
Cole playing his outstanding defense. (Notice the goalie's attentiveness!)
Who says soccer is not a violent sport?
Cole was a pretty good dribbler, as long as the ball stayed in front of him. (I hate when the ball trips you up on a breakaway! It happens to kindergarteners a lot!)
More of Cole on defense (Again, notice the attentive goalie. Oh well, you can't inspire them all!)
The kids even learned some of the basics, including how to make a proper throw in, as Cole demonstrates here under the watchful eye of his coach.
Overall, we had a fun time, and we might even be talked into it again next year!

Gameday, Provo-Style

If you haven't heard the big news yet, ESPN Gameday came to Provo a few weeks ago to hype the TCU-BYU game. Not sure when (or if) it would ever happen again, Chad decided that Cole needed the Gameday experience in his life. So, he and Cole got up way too early and endured weather that was way too cold to journey up to Provo and stand with way too many people so they could cheer way too loud any time BYU was mentioned.
But they had a great time and now Cole (and Chad) can say, "Been there, done that."
This picture is courtesy of Chad's Dad and his fancy camera and Chad's connections that got them to a very high point in LaVell Edward's Stadium so they could look down on all the madness! (This was a little later in the morning when the crowd had diminished somewhat.)
As you well know by now, our favorite Cougars lost. But, my boys are true fans and continue to cheer even during the down times.
We still love you Cougs! Get 'em next time!

A Date with Dad

Chad learned that Disney on Ice, Princess Edition was coming to Salt Lake, so he decided he and Emily needed some special Daddy-Daughter time. (To tell you how special it was, Chad even missed the BYU football game that was on at the same time. He was willing to tape it and watch it later. What a Dad!)
While her initial reaction was being afraid of the scary parts (the mean Snow White witch, the Beast, and the mean Sleeping Beauty witch), she continues to tell me every day something new that she remembers from the show. She is also constantly trying to sing the songs, although she knows about as many words as her Dad! And, she really loves the Princess coloring book and Cinderella statue that she talked her Dad into buying for her.
She loved Mickey and Minnie Mouse (who doesn't!).
She thought the castle was so cool.
And, of course she loved Tinkerbell, her favorite!
Most of all, she loved having a day with her Dad all by herself!

Independent Addy

It seems like I could write a blog entry every day with the exploits of Addy, but I'm pretty sure I don't have that kind of time!
Here are 2 signs of a child that is far too independent for her own good and for mine! I think it's that third child thing. I've found she's much more capable than my other kids were at this same age. It's amazing what they can pick up on with older examples to follow and when we don't have time to watch them like a hawk!

Addy likes to climb.
So far I've caught her on a chair (how can you get mad at that face?),
drinking and eating from whatever food was left on the table,
on the keys of the piano,
on the table,
and I haven't even captured her favorite spot, sitting on the tray of her high chair with her legs hanging off the front! I have a feeling stitches are in her future.

Addy also loves to be outside. She's very cute whenever someone goes outside. She grunts and bounces excitedly, then she heads to the back entryway and brings back her shoes. (She usually even finds 2 matching ones. That's better than Emily manages sometimes!) Lately she has even been bringing a jacket with the shoes. If I tell her no, or don't take her out, she watches for a chance to head out on her own. As is inevitable with a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old, an opportunity always arises. (I might need to invest in a self-closing door. 3-year-olds and 5-year-olds don't seem to know how to close the door when they go out no matter how much I nicely remind them!)
In the past week, I have found her not just sitting nicely on the porch right outside the door, but clear on the other side of the yard in the sandbox (she was quite proud of this one),
headed to play with her friend next door (Emily caught her and monitored her this time),
and eating a huge chunk of ice leftover from our latest snowstorm.
Thankfully all of these escapades wear her out and we can all get some rest and recovery time at night! (Not even goldfish could keep her awake this day!)