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?

Weekend with Friends

We recently spent the weekend with our friends in Virginia. We were treated to breathtaking views of the Shenandoah and of my friend Elizabeth's garden. I always feel so...Virginian when I go. I stroll the well-tended garden and walk small town streets to a coffee shop (the only business open on a Sunday). We wait at a Railroad crossing and wave to the conductor as a train travels past. It's all just so darn picturesque.


I have to say, Ellie was ecstatic to have someone to make picture books with and have a sleepover (our friends' daughter age 6). Jonah was thrilled to have a red fire engine to ride and a cool tree house in which to play fort with his bud (our friends' son who is one month older than Jonah). And Winnie (yes, even she came along for the ride) was delighted to have a large yard to romp about. In fact, she seemed downright depressed when we pulled up in front of our house. I think I heard her say something to the effect of, "well, it's no Virgina" and then she sighed.

The Name Game

Dave: I think I'm going to change my name to Phil Maker. "Hi, I'm Phil Maker. How do you do?"
Me: Filmmaker. I get it.
Ellie: Oh oh, my new name is going to be (pauses) Shepa.
Me: I have one for you. How about Bally Rena. Get it? Ballerina.
Ellie: No. I don't like it. Wait Jonah needs a name.
Dave: Hmmmm. What could his name be.
Ellie (excited): I know! Brown Stain.

What Our Kids Sing from the Backseat While Driving to Target

Ellie's shrieking ability rivals that of the lead singer. So they alternate between this and songs from the Sound of Music Soundtrack. Do, a deer, a female dear...

I admit it. I'm a Big Dummy... (owner)

You may be asking yourself, "Exactly what is that thing?" It's a SUB (Sport Utility Bike), one of the newest ideas we've lifted from Europe after their decades of using bikes for the things we all use our cars for. Grocery shopping, heading out to see friends, heading to the hardware store, etc. This bike frame by Surly is designed around the Xtracycle system. Click the title of this entry to go to a review that gives you some nitty-gritty, and more pics.

So Jen and I have taken the plunge. We're going to try to live more car-free by loading our stuff (i.e. Ellie and Jonah) onto a bike for things like grocery shopping, trips to local restaurants, and oh yeah... this bike can carry passengers, and an additional 200 lbs! We will both have the Xtracycle which makes carrying the kids and the groceries, etc., even possible. You can convert any bike to do this, and we hope we won't be the only ones in town to do so. We're having Race Pace Bicycles build both bikes. Ask for Nik O. or Julian. Good guys both.

Anyway, hope to see you out on the road soon! Did I mention we'll be getting in shape without any formal exercise?

Marriage IV: When You're Left With Only Hidden Talent of the Stars to Watch

Him: Hey, check this out. I used to know every word of this.
Her: Did you notice how poorly acted it was even back then?
Him (wistfully): Yeah. (sighs) You know we used to watch this all the time in my adolescent years. This shaped who I am today.
Her: Uh-huh.
Him: I could ride the wall a little bit.
Her: You thought you could ride the wall.
Him: You're just like the girls back then.
Her: How come I've known you all these years and this is the first I'm hearing about this?
Him (shrugs): Dunno. I guess I forgot about it.
Her: Well I guess I can see the appeal for a kid. I mean it is rather comical.
Both simultaneously break out into laughter at the dialogue, then in unison: NO Waaay!

*Moral of the story, when there's only poorly acted and written shows on tv to watch do you find out that a poorly acted and written movie shaped your partner's very soul.

A Sucker

The other day whilst traveling the aisles of Target I spied a lip gloss that promised full luscious lips for only $9.99. And being the sucker for marketing that I am, I went back later to test out the product. Because beautiful packaging + clever name = money leaving my pocket.

Okay so I'm not ashamed (well maybe I am) to admit that I couldn't wait to try it out. So in the parking lot, I applied Soap & Glory's Motherpuckers and waited for the magic to happen. I have to say the first sensation was...well...that of my lips being electrocuted. Immediately I phoned my bff to give her a detailed description of my lip plumping transformation. Because she, (more worldly than I) had already warned me that lip plumping HURTS LIKE A B!TCH. I gave her a minute by minute blow of how it went from the feeling of my lips being hooked up to an electrical outlet to them feeling like I had just rubbed a freshly cut habanero pepper all over them to finally a heightened tingly sensation that while unpleasant, allowed me to stop screaming.

And what would you supposed I did with the gloss after all of this. Yes, that's right folks, I kept trying it to see what would happen.

So you be the judge. Ellie took these before and after shots for me (because yes, I force my children to go along on the crazy ride) and I'm not so sure the pain is worth it. I mean my lips look pretty much the same, no?