Meet Generous

The other day Dave took the kids to the toy store for a little impromptu visit. He let them each pick out a toy. Nothing fancy, just a little treat. It's one of those spontaneous moments you remember from childhood—the trip to they toy store where your mom or dad let you get something for no reason at all. And it meant as much to Dave as it did to the kids.

Jonah picked out a little car. He's obsessed with all things transportation at the moment. Ellie on the other hand is much more discriminating. She'd spend hours in a store if you let her. She looks, considers, hunts some more, and then finally FINALLY decides on the perfect item.

The perfect item on this occasion? An egg that cracks when you place it in water to reveal a duck inside. It took three days of sitting in water for the egg to hatch. She likes things that take their time. She's patient—something she did not get from me.

So here he is. Meet Generous.

When I asked her why she named him Generous her response was, "Because generous means kind and thoughtful and sweet." While Merriam-Webster may have a slightly different definition, I like Ellie's more. I also like Generous's bow tie.

The Princess and the Tiara

Tonight Dave entertained the children so I could fire off something near 180 million emails. Okay, not 180 million more like 125 million. I tend to exaggerate.

As I was shooting off my hurried missives, I overheard Dave telling the story of our engagement to Ellie. It was very touching hearing him recall how he bought my ring when I wasn't around. How he planned a surprise trip to New York for us. How he fancied himself incredibly clever by causing me to think the surprise was the trip. However in reality, the REAL surprise came on the first day of our trip when we went to the top of the Empire State building and he got down on bended knee to ask me to marry him.

I looked at Ellie and her eyes were wide and excited. She asked if I wore a tiara to the wedding. She's seen pictures and I knew she already knew the answer. But I answered yes anyway. I imagined she was building up to something. Then she asked where it was.

"Hmmm, I think it's in my closet."
"Could I see it?"
"Sure."

As I took down the silver and white box she gasped, "That's such a pretty box." Then I removed the lid and took the tiara out of its drawstring pouch.

I asked, "Would you like to try it on?"

Was there ever any doubt?

Monday Night: Pancake Night

It's been a busy couple months for us here. I would share with you all the tales of birthday parties, parades, bicycle riding and pool time but instead will leave you with one of our favorite moments of the summer—pancake night. Mondays find love when they end with buttermilk pancakes topped with fresh blueberry compote for dinner. MMMmmmm.....

Jonah worked the dry ingredients

While Ellie got to put in the wet ones

In goes the buttermilk

Some stirring

Some flipping

Blueberries start to pop open

Add a slice of turkey bacon

Mine were heartily enjoyed too

Nursery School Closing Ceremony

Sometimes you get discouraged
Because I am so small
And always have my fingerprints
on furniture and walls.

But everyday I'm growing—
I'll be all grown up someday
And all those tiny handprints
Will surely fade away.

So here's a final handprint
Just so you can recall
Exactly how my fingers looked
When I was very small!

Staring at his handprints on that piece of paper made me realize just how precious this time is in our lives.

Tigerrrr....

Note: I just had dental surgery two days prior so I'm a wee bit puffy and sore. Thankfully, Ellie was kind enough to stay away from that area.

#65 On the List of Ways In Which I Humiliate Myself

Internet, today I ran a mile. That may seem like a small feat for you but for me, it was something I have not achieved since 7th grade gym (and even then I'm sure I walked at least a quarter of it). It has taken four months of going to the gym but I did it. I didn't walk. I ran the entire thing. I breathed through the stitches stabbing my side. I watched as that little treadmill meter switched over to a big one and breathed a sigh of relief. It was glorious. Glorious and amazingly painful.

I've always envied runners. Me? I couldn't run a quarter mile without panting and pain. I'd watch them at the gym looking all cool with their ipods and cute running shoes. I'd listen to my friends say, "I'm going on a run" and think, I like the idea of saying "I'm going on a run." It just sounds fabulous. Now, I can say, I'm going on a run. A short run, but a run nonetheless.

After this little victory: me against the mile run, I went and picked up the kids in the gym daycare and headed to the pool. Playing with the kids in the pool was some of the most fun I've had in weeks! Ellie and Jonah were happy, followed directions, and swam their little hearts out.

As an even hour approached, I swam over to the lifeguard who had given me a rather interesting look. I called up, "Is an adult swim time coming up?" She seemed a little startled. Then after a second (in which I thought, perhaps she speaks a different language) she nodded her head.

So we got out of the pool. The kids put on their shoes and I started heading for the showers. On the walk around the pool deck to the locker room, I noticed a woman across the pool looking in our direction. It was one of those looks like she knew us but couldn't remember from where. You know that look. There's a bit of a perplexity in which one scrunches up their nose slightly. As we drew closer to each other, she quickly looked away.

We got to the locker room and I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. There underneath each eye was the largest, blackest mascara rings I'd ever seen. Think Tammy Faye crying. I HAD FORGOTTEN TO REMOVE MY MASCARA BEFORE GETTING INTO THE POOL!! That is why the lifeguard seemed startled. That is why the woman looked at me funny and then adverted her eyes as we came closer. She was embarrassed for both of us.

Then I thought back. Thought back to the funny look we received when we got out of the pool from the woman sitting watching her daughter swim. The one from the mom who was getting her toddler to blow bubbles in the water. The man who got out of the lap pool and did a double take.

So there you have it. My triumph and my foil. Mascara for sensitive eyes—you suck.

Road Trip Day 4

It was the second rest day of our trip and we squeezed in about as much as you can into it.

We started off with a tour of the land to see what wildlife we could see

We found a frog (which completely freaked out these city kids after it jumped into Dave's leg)...

...and some honeysuckle.

After our tour we headed to Myrtle Beach to get our fill of fun-house mirrors...

...car rides (evidently they didn't get enough car time yet)....


...teacups...

....and carousel rides.

Then it was off to the beach.

Road Trip Day 3

The night before Day 3, we heard from our cousin Marcus who lives in Virginia but is originally from Atlanta. He was going to fly into Atlanta early the next morning. Naturally, this called for a meet up! So we organized to have breakfast with him and his Dad along with our crew.

We'd forgotten Jonah's train, so he fashioned his own out of two sugar caddies on the table. It kept him entertained. Being a proud mama, naturally I was quite impressed by his ingenuity.


After breakfast it was time to pack up. So we took one last tour of the hotel.

We said goodbye to the TV outside of the elevator forever tuned to CNN....


We said goodbye to the views....


We took our last ride in the mirrored elevator (which doubled as a fun-house mirror every journey up to the room and every journey back down)....

And we headed over to Atlanta's Olympic Centennial Park for a little fun before we sat in the car for 6+ hours.




Then we hit the open road which, incidentally, is lined with Waffle Houses. So we stopped for a little treat about hour four into the drive. Unfortunately Jonah had fallen asleep in the car before this stop. It took him a good 15 minutes to stop whining after we woke him up. It was only after the waffles hit his tummy that whining ceased. MMmmmm....pure simple-carbohydratey goodness. And without much more than that for a segue, here's a picture Ellie took of Dave and me at the aforementioned Waffle House.


After a long drive along I20 then up I95 (which were littered with these)

(and signs for those)....


we arrived at our destination: the wilds of coastal South Carolina.


Next up...Day 4: the Last Day Before the Long Trek Home

Road Trip Day 2

The next day was our rest day, giving us a chance to explore Atlanta. We started with breakfast at the hotel.

After that we hit the Georgia Aquarium. It was such a great experience!




After that we met up with a friend at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The Children's Garden was a perfect location to while away an afternoon.


After that we headed back to our hotel. Someone fell asleep as soon as we started the car. Notice he's holding the train he got from the aquarium.

At this point Dave and David had to head off to prepare for the showing of the film. While they were off, I took the kids to dinner at a place around the corner from where we were staying called Mellow Mushroom. I chose it because it was within walking distance but evidently it's a bit of an Atlanta institution. And I must say, the pizza was might fine.

After the pizza, we rushed back to meet the sitter who was going to watch the kids so I could attend the screening of the film.

After the showing, we headed out for drinks and discourse, then it was back to fall into bed for the night.

And that is how we spent our rest day.

Next up: Day 3 and the trek across the states of Georgia and South Carolina.

Road Trip

Last week, the Coopers took a bit of a road trip. Actually, it was a lot of a road trip. By the end of it, we would have hit: Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

It was a grand idea. By grand I mean insane. But we Coopers are a crazy bunch, often up for any adventure that doesn't require lots of fore planning (well at least on my part). So we embarked.

The trip was an excursion to Atlanta, GA for a showing of Road to Roubaix. Normally the kids and I don't accompany Dave on his film trips but in this case we were going to mix business and pleasure. From Atlanta we would head to the Myrtle Beach area of SC to visit Dave's Dad and his wife. Then we'd head home.

We had five days to accomplish all of this. And we were to travel by car.

So my fellow traveling souls if you're up for it, I'll break down (in pictures) our trip day by day for you. So here's our first installment....

Day 1: On the Road

To keep the bigger one occupied (and to make me feel better about the 3 unexcused missed days of school) I required her to journal her trip. So armed with a fresh blank journal and a brand spanking new set of colored pencils the girl was ready.

Someone didn't make it far before dozing off.

Pit stop

Cracker Barrel. The official road trip eatery.

He was done. It was about 9 hours of travel at this point. We only had 3 more to go.

The kids cheered with glee when we got to the hotel room. Their absolute most favorite thing? The shower. I have to say, it was rather magnificent.

Ellie unpacked. Not sure what the gloves are for. Apparently she felt they'd be required at some point on our trip. You'll also notice she brought along a lizard and not one but TWO watches. You know, two watches are always better than one. I do love the way she arranged everything so carefully. It was most definitely done with attention to detail.


Next up Day 2: Seeing the Sights