This Guy. This Guy Right Here.

It's hard to believe that Jonah is turning....THREE! I mean at two they're still babies. But three? At three, they cross the threshold to preschooler. I'm not sure I am going to recover from this one

The Cooper Family Motto

I've often been told that Dave and I impress people with our, I'll call it moxie. In fact the other day, a good friend told me, "When the Coopers think it, they do it." I think people tell me this as a compliment—which is totally very sweet. And I do have to admit that this motto has created some rather fun opportunities. However...

There is a painful downside to always being ready to jump. A good percentage of the time you're going to get hurt. Really hurt. Bad.

I, dear friends, have officially been hurt.

Gather round children and let me weave you a tale of what happens when you leap before you look.

Several weeks ago, Dave approached me with the idea of living a more car-free life. Naturally, I initially jumped at the idea. After all, gas prices soared and I realized I could use a little more activity in my life. I mean playing Thomas and cutting out paper dolls is fun, but it doesn't firm up anything. So he did a little research and found these amazing bikes. He forwarded me sites like that one and this one that illustrated just how cool commuter biking could be. I of course, envisioned myself as one of those chicly dressed dutch women cycling around picturesque European towns. I was all over it.

So on Mother's Day, we picked up our Xtracycles. I was convinced by someone who shall remain nameless (hint: name begins with D and ends with ave) that I would be able to make a trip home from the bike shop via bike (about 7 miles away). Oh we'll make lots of stops. We'll have a picnic and it will be great.

And seven miles via bike doesn't sound that bad. I mean I haven't ridden a bike in, oh 8 years or so and yet, I remember it fondly. Unfortunately though for me, the ride home is completely uphill the entire way. And these are large hills. Hills that some of the regional bike teams train on. But lured with promises of chocolate brownies and a cute little picnic scene I figured, hey I can do it. Right?

No. I'm going to keep it short here because I don't want to scare you too much. Some of you may have stomachs too sensitive for this type of torturous tale. I mean I wouldn't want to tell you how I cursed certain people. How I felt the urge to vomit about 3 times on the journey home. How I would have cried but was unable to make tears because everything in my body went into producing sweat. Or how the expletives I let fly directed at everyone and everything were mere whispers. Sometimes, just thoughts. I would have screamed them to anyone within earshot, but again though, wasn't able to as every muscle in my body was focused on just getting home. I had flashbacks of labor. Yes, it was that bad.

And yet, there were highlights. Like when Ellie rubbed my back and told me, "Don't give up mommy. Keep going, you can do it." Or when we pulled along side Dave and Jonah where Jonah sitting all relaxed on the back of the bike looked at me and said, "Mommy, maybe you just need some water." Actually, wait. That just pissed me off. But I did enjoy the way Ellie giggled all the way down the one descent we got to do.

Now I did end up having to apologize to Ellie for snapping at her when she said, "But Mommy, this is good exercise." At which point I turned around and flicked her right on the nose. Actually I didn't. I couldn't have mustered the energy even if I wanted to. I simply whimpered out between huffs, "be"...."quiet"...."NOW."

And that my friends is how I spent my mother's day. Next year, if my gift consists of anything other than a relaxing trip to the spa, I think there will be consequences. Serious consequences.

These Hills Are Alive With...Something

In an effort to live a more car-free life—and also because the weather was so lovely I felt compelled to be out in it—the kids and I walked (ah, that's what those two things under me are for) to our local little shop to pick up some sundries. You know, the essentials like old bay flavored potato chips, goldfish crackers and children's allergy medicine.

As we walked through the neighborhood, Ellie and Jonah spontaneously burst into song. It was all very Rodgers and Hammerstien. In fact, I looked around to make sure there wasn't a big camera and boom somewhere nearby capturing it all on celluloid.

While they were singing I noticed two things: 1. I struck by the contrast of the kids belting out These Are A Few of My Favorite Things while we walked along a rather crowded/cluttered area of housing which is not nearly as...um....picturesque as the scenes the songs are sung in the movie; and 2. that my almost 3 year old actually KNEW ALL OF THE WORDS to every song.

Dave had never really seen the Sound of Music in its entirety. Personally, I find this to be a minor defect in his character. But I guess it could be chalked up to him not having a sister who would force him to not only watch it over and over, but to also participate in re-enacting various key scenes. However, thanks to Ellie and Jonah's utter fascination with the movie's soundtrack, he has found redemption by knowing all the words and often indulging the kids in a few bars of The Hills Are Alive when the mood strikes.

As a kid, I vividly remember wanting people to break out into song and dance on a whim. And now the people in my life (the little ones at least) do.

Picture of the Moment

I love that he's making this face while wearing a tie. There's poetry in it don't you think?