No Training Wheels

This weekend we decided it was time for Dylan to start to learn to ride his bicycle without training wheels. So with a celebration picnic at the park on Sunday the wheels came off. All and all he did pretty darn good. I thought there would have been a lot more whining and complaining then really happened. I was really proud of him for getting back up each time and trying again. Check out the video of a couple of our attempts!!

Sydney, How old are you? You are 2...Yeah!!

I cannot believe little baby Sydney is already two. It just seemed to fly by!! This past weekend we celebrated Sydney turning with not just one but two parities!! To start the celebration weekend off Nan, Aunt Shanna and Papa Tom all came in Friday. We they got here we all went to dinner and then Grandma, Grandpa, Mama Jo and Aunt Karen came over to visit for a while. We stayed up a little later than we should have since we had to get up early for Dylan's first soccer game. Then the next morning at the soccer game Nana B and C-Paw and Uncle Cheese showed up. Right after the soccer game we all rushed home to change and then headed to Wiggly Play Place for Sydney's friend and family party. It was the perfect place. She just loved it. We played had pizza, sang a song and ate cake!! After the party we headed home to rest for awhile and then Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Cheese, Mama Jo, Aunt Karen, Papa Tom, Aunt Shanna, Nana B, C-Paw, Uncle Mathu, Aunt Bonnie, and BFF Camryn all went to dinner at La Hacienda...it was a ton of fun!! Then we all went back to the house to open presents and eat more cake...a princess cake. We played late into the night!! It was a really fun weekend. Then on Monday (Sydney's actual B-Day) we went to her 2 year checkup at the doctor and followed the appointment up with Pics at Kiddie Kandids in some of her new birthday fashions......Oh and I cannot forget to mention...now that Sydney is two she is wearing panties full time...we have had some accidents...especially #2 but she is doing great!! Thanks Family and Friends for helping us celebrate "Princess Sydney's" 2nd Birthday!!

Dylan's First Soccer Game

We had our first soccer game this past Saturday at Warren Sports Complex. I was not sure how Dylan was going to react. You never know with him!! He seemed pretty excited, except for the fact that we did not have our uniforms in for our first game and he did not get to start the first quarter. All in all he did really good. He even scored two goals for the opposing team!! Go DYLAN!! I was like a maniac on the sideline...as Dad said I have a type A personality and Clint told me to chill. I thought it was fun. Hopefully as the season progresses he will get better and understand the game more. I am just glad he participated!! It was really great that all our family was in town to see his first game to. Hopefully it made him feel special. Check out the pics!

Uniforms

You know, if you were to ask me when I was in elementary, junior high or high school if I wanted to wear a uniform I would have said NO WAY, the way you dress yourself is how you get to express yourself. Well, ask me now and I would say ho has time for expression...I love unifroms it is so easy to dress the kids each morning and they do look pretty cute. I kinda do miss getting to put Sydney is her cure girl outfits but we have time for that on the weekends! So yesterday was the first day of uniforms at school and this was Sydney's first year to weat them. I acutally thinks she likes it. The funniest part about Sydney was that I put her in little blue ankle socks and instead of wanting to wear them at her ankles she pulled them all the way up like knee socks...funny girl here are some pics.

Staycation

Instead of vacation this year Clint and I decided we would do a staycation. For one we have both been on the road so much this year that we just wanted to be at home for a while. Secondly, when we were trying to plan a vacation we could never decide what we wanted to do. So home it was. As boring as it sounds it was actually really nice and we saved a ton of money!! Even though we had "staycation" we did do a lot with the kids this past week. To start off our vacation Mathu and Bonnie watched the kids on Saturday night while we did restaurant week with Mom, Dad, Steven and Amber. We tried Nana that night which was YUCKO..definitely not my kind of food. Then on Sunday morning we headed downtown and when the Aquarium, it was fun and they had lots to see. Dylan's favorite things were the Sharks, Crocodile and Panther. Monday and Tuesday it rained all day so we did a little shopping at the Galleria and hung around the house. Then on Wednesday we ventured out again to the Ft. Worth Zoo. That was a lot of fun also and the rain actually stopped that afternoon long enough for us all to enjoy it. It was definitely right up Dylan and Sydney's alley. Despite what Dylan might tell you I think he had the most fun feeding the birds. We ended the week actually getting to use the pool and with one more night out for restaurant week and to celebrate Dad's birthday at the Oceanaire restaurant (which was much better than Nana). The kids stayed at Mathu and Bonnie's again and were like little zombies the next day since they stayed up so late that night. All in all it was a good week off with the kids...too bad it had to end.

Silly Kids and Bounce House Party

Here are a few pics of the kids being crazy at the dinner table. Hope you enjoy!

Also, this past weekend we went to a birthday party for Dylan's friend Suhas. It was at one of those bounce house places. Both Dylan and Sydney had a fun time!

Princess Sydney - Sydney gets her ears pierced

So what is the right age for little girls to get their ears pierced? Who really knows..... we decided that today was the perfect day for Sydney to get hers pierced. We thought it was a good 2nd birthday present. Tonight Dylan spent the night with Grandma and Grandpa and so it was just the three of us. It was perfect becuase we were able to give Sydney all the attention. Sydney was actually a perfect angel having it done. I was a little concerned she was going to freak out with two ladies coming at her with piercing guns...but she did great!! She cried out a little when it first pierced her ear but other than that she was a brave little girl. They gave her a sucker which made her forget about the whole ordeal. Sydney is already beatiful, but her new little diamond daisy earrings help to enhance it!! Sorry the pics are not the best quality I took them on the camera phone.

Pee Pee on the Potty

Well I guess some kids just "get it" before others. In this case Sydney just "gets it" way before Dylan ever did. We have know gone almost a whole week with Sydney going pee pee on the potty. She goes every morning when she wakes up and every evening. Last night we were playing and she stopped and said pee pee and started running to the bathroom. Usually when she does this she has already gone pee pee in her diaper and is just telling us...but this time I took her to the potty and took her diaper off and she went pee pee!! I guess she is ready. The funniest thing is, some kids have to be rewarded with stickers, other like to read books, but for Sydney just as long as she knows she is going to get some toliet paper when she is done she is happy. She is so proud of herself when she goes.......when she is done she runs out bare bottom and all to tell Daddy what she did. Go Sydney....just a little bit longer and I dont have to buy diapers anymore!!!

Bend it like Dylan

Dylan's soccer season starts September 6th. In order to prepare we went to Academy on Saturday to buy Dylan new soccer cleats, shin guards and soccer socks. He also wanted some new shorts for soccer but we picked those up at Target. All we have left to do is pick up his new ball. He loves he is new shoes, shorts, socks and guards. He likes it so much that we went to the park today to do a little pre season practice. I am totally impressed. Not only can Dylan throw a ball pretty darn well he has pretty good coordination kicking the ball while running and passing it. Looks like we might have a natual athlete in the fam. Go Dylan. Sydney was our cheerleader. But instead of cheering she was more concerned wth her water bottle. I don't blame you Sydney it was HOT out there! Hope you enjoy the pics of Dylan "David Beckham" Cooley!! Stay tuned for soccer season to start!

Splash Day At JR Newman Spray Park

On Sunday after Papa Tom and Aunt Shanna had left we decided to take the kids to the JR Newman Spray Park in Frisco for something different to do. So we called Mathu, Bonnie and Camryn and invited them along.

On the way to the park we picked up McDonalds so that we could have picnic once we got there.

We had a fun little picnic with McDondalds and then the kids went to the spray area and splashed for about a hour. It was not very busy when we first got there, but as the hour went on more and more kids started to arrive.

Sydney and Dylan both had a blast but Sydney was really into it!! She was sticking her head under the water putting her face in the water that sprays up and running around like mad women taking other kids cups and buckets.

It was a lot of fun, after about a hour Camryn decided she had enough and headed the playground. That is when we called it and headed home for nap time.

We will definately have to do that again!!

A Visit from Papa Tom and Aunt Shanna

This weekend Papa Tom and Aunt Shanna came to town to visit. The entire week leading up to their visit, Dylan would wake up and ask "are they coming today"! He was soooo excited.

They got into town on Friday around 2:30. Aunt Shanna and I went to the school and pick up the kids around 3:00. When Shanna walked into the room Sydney kinda of just starred at her but when Shanna walked into Dylan's room he came running.

That night we went to the new Babes Chicken Dinner house in Frisco. Luckily we got there early we did not have to wait. But when we left that place was packed! Everyone seemed to like it and Dylan and Sydney ate well since it was all there favorite veggies. When we got home that evening, Dylan, Sydney, Shanna and I all swam so that Dylan could show off he swimming "skills"!

The next morning we went shopping for some stuff for Aunt Shanna, ate lunch at Rudy's BBQ and then Aunt Shanna and the kiddos took naps. Papa Tom, Clint and I went to home depot. That afternoon we all swam in the pool to cool off....and of course check out Dylan's awesome swimming "skills". After swimming we all get dressed and went to dinner at Kobe Steaks in Frisco. Papa Tom really liked that place from the last time we went. He even tried and California Roll with wasabi. Sydney also at two California rolls. However, I think a little wasabi got on the second one because she was eating and then all of a sudden started screaming her head off!! All in all it was fun at dinner. After that we rented some crazy movie that Clint and Papa Tom wanted to see and Aunt Shanna and I pick up ice cream at marble slab.

We had a really good visit, but Dylan was really sad to see everyone go.

We Have New Carpet

Friday oh Friday such a good day, of course other than I had another dental appointment this morning. All is well on the Cooley home front. However, the best new is we are getting new carpet today. Of course if you the previous post you know why!! Yesterday afternoon the carpet guy called and said he would be able to install the new carpet today instead of Monday or Tuesday. So as I type this post they are here installing!! Glad to get that "oops"out of the way.

Aunt Shanna and Papa Tom are coming today also. It should be tons of fun. Dylan is soooo excited and when I ask Sydney if she is excited she just tells me "yah". No big plans on the agenda. I think we may try taking them to the new Babes Chicken Dinner House in Frisco and showing them all of Dylan's "awesome" swimming skills.

Hope to have some pics posted later of the new carpet!! (really, can you believe I am this excited about carpet)

The Great Flood of 2008

Well, it was bound to happen at some point in time. I mean raising kids does not come without accidents, right?

Our maid services comes every two weeks on Monday. For some reason when they clean the sinks they close the drains and leave them closed. So this past Monday was maid service day and as usual all the sink drains were closed. I don't go around to open them until I am at the sink and need to use it. Guess I should start a new routine......

Dylan went into his bathroom last night at some point to get a drink of water (He likes to drink water out of his little red cup he uses to brush his teeth), but I guess he forgot to turn off the water. Yes, you can only guess what happened. Now before the blame is put on Dylan, Sydney likes to go into his bathroom also. She likes to stand on the stool and play in the drawer. I did catch he in there last night also and quickly graped her and took her in to the play room. I guess at the time I did not notice if she had turned on the water.....

Fast forward 45 minutes to a hour later.....we go to put Sydney to bed and notice from her room that water is running. I told Clint to go check on Dylan because he was going to get a drink of water......sure enough Clint goes in to Dylan's bathroom and it is FLOODED. The sink faucet was running and the entire bathroom was flooded and had moved out of the bathroom onto the carpet.

Needles to say after reading the Internet (freaking out) and calling Nana B and C-Paw we ripped up the carpet and all the padding. What a mess.

I somehow want to blame the maids for this one and not the kiddos. The first time we had our maid service I had locked the dogs in the closet and Cody freaked out and tried to eat through the carpet to get under the door to attack them. You guessed it, the carpet is completely ruined the closet. So it was not like I did not have to replace that already. Now I guess it is just a reason to move a little more quickly to fix that room as well as Dylan's. See the maids and carpet are not going so well in our house. Maybe we should have rethought wood floors EVERYWHERE!!

A message from Sydney and Dylan to our family

Dylan Learns to Swim

Raising children is probably the hardest job one will ever have but at the same time probably the most rewarding. Over the past 4 years we have been rewarded many times over with our wonderful children Dylan (4) and Sydney (almost 2) but I could not have been a prouder parent then to see my son finally swimming this weekend as if he was doing it for years. I have always loved swimming, always wanted a pool in my backyard and for my children to enjoy it as much as I do. My dream finally came true this weekend.