The one with Batman....

Batman lives in the McCarty house, did you know that? Cooper got a batman mask for Christmas and he loves wearing it around with the cape I made last year.... that thing is still holding up with my horrible sewing skills, but hey, Cooper (I mean, Batman loves it!). Batman was on TV the other night and Cooper was actually watching it..... well I say that like I was surprised, if he will watch Star trek, he will watch anything! LOL

Addison is going on 11 months, not walking on her own yet, but VERY close. She wants to turn loose and walk on her own, she just hasn't built up her own confidence yet. She's learned to clap when you say "YAY" and learned to shake her head and say "NO" when she doesn't want anymore food. She is talking up a storm (like a true girl fashion), but we can't quite understand her yet.... it won't be long. She's doing great at sleeping through the night, it only took 10 months! She is not my sleeper like Cooper. WHO by the way is almost a professional dirt bike rider. Josh took him to the track last week for the first time, and Coop LOVED it. Hopped right on his bike and took off, he wasn't intimidated at all by the fast bikes or the other kids. He loves it, that's all he could talk about all week was the dirt bike track, so we are going back tomorrow. This time a family event. I'd like to see him out there doin his thang :)

10 month old Diva

LOVE

The one where we have our first game night....

As a new year resolution, I decided to demand family togetherness on Friday night (or Saturday) and what better way to do that than game night? Cooper received a ton of new games for Christmas so we tried it out last night. Miss Addison will have to wait a while before she can participate, she was already in bed when we started.

We started with hungry hungry hippos, which can only be played when Addison is NOT around. She puts everything in her mouth and we can't Chance a marble getting loose. Cooper picked the blue hippo. He literally won all the games we played. He's good. I think the recklessness of a toddler is beneficial in Hungry Hungry Hippos, where I am over there trying to be careful and strategic and I lost every game. There is a reason the age is like 5-10 years! And then there was Guess Who? This one was much easier than the traditional Guess Who with the old men you had to guess. These were food, transportation and sea animals, perfect for kids (or adults!) It took Josh and I a while to figure out how to play, I know it says for 6 year olds, but adults have to interpret the 3 step directions- which I am certain they left a few directions out. Anyway, after all that Cooper was on Daddy's team, by choice of course and we played several games. Although it was a little over Coopers head, he had a fun time listening to us and picking the square for each of us to guess. He will get the hang of it soon!

So our first Friday night game night was a success, although it was missing a nice large cheesy pizza. Damn diet!

Coopers FAVORITE game!

Is your animals tounge sticking out???

LOVE

The one with baby's first Christmas (and 4th)...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! I can't believe 2014 is already upon us, which means my baby girl will be ONE next month. Wow how time flies. She's still crawling and cruising. Standing longer on her own though, so I still think it will be soon. She's such a doll, all smiles when she isn't sick. We are on our 2nd ear infection in 2 months. I don't remember Cooper getting them at all. It really affects her sleeping and overall mood, as that would anybody. But thankgoodess she's on antibiotics and we are back to sleeping through the night (mostly). Momma can't handle 2 hours of sleep anymore! Addison's new year resolution is to walk and talk this year! LOL Coopers is to poop in the potty (that one is mommy's too!)

Christmas was great. We are building on to our house now due to all the toys and clothes these kids received!! Seriously though, I have the toys on a rotation schedule. I know it sounds funny, but the older toys are up in the closets and the new toys are out. And when the new toys get "old" we will rotate them with the ones in the closet. It mostly works and when Coopers friends come over every toy in the closest is pulled out along with every toy inside and outside. They are little wrecking balls, but its so fun to watch the kids play! Anyway, as usual we had the family over and Josh fired up the green egg. An 11lb standing rib roast. It was delish! My part not so much. I was in charge of the bacon wrapped green beans. And you may think, everything is better with bacon, well not when the green beans are very VERY al-dente! OOPS good thing there was other stuff to eat. Who needs veggies anyway????

And Cheers to 2014 and the HUGE precious blessing we received in 2013, Addison Kate! Hopefully we, as a family, will have time to stop and smell the roses. We aren't moving from house to house and we can actually enjoy some down time. We finally feel complete. Now don't get me wrong we have PLENTY of honey-do lists around. One of my new years resolution is to actually finish a project I start (same with Josh!). But we are notorious for getting lazy or letting something else get in the way. But now that football season is about done, we will have our weekends back!

LOVE

The one with ol' St. Nick....

Or should I say scary St. Nick.... For some reason, Cooper is freightened by him every year and nothing is differenent about this year. I actually thought he would be a little more receptive to Santa, he knows more about him, he recognizes him on TV and out in public, but doesn't want anything to do with him..... Addison on the other hand stared him down for a few minutes then cracked a smile. Almost like heeeeyyyy this guy is giving us presents lets atleast give him what he wants! After all that, St. Nick even gave him candy. Maybe Cooper will remember that next year!

LOVE

The one with the visitors....

We had our first official house guests! Papa Jeff and Mar Deanna came to visit the week through Thanksgiving. It made our Thanksgiving extra special... the entire fam damily is getting together at our new house! The McCarty's, The Herrmann's, The Simmons, The Clements, The Richardsons', The Brewers, The Oblerdings all together under one roof. 23 folks... The more the merrier on Thanksgiving right? It's what the holidays are about, togetherness and not so much shopping?! Yes, I think I said that! I've really only gone serious after Thanksgiving shopping twice in my life. Once I can remember going with my mom when Persian used to be a department store. They had a great sale on NineWest boots/ shoes that I HAD to have. But even then stores opened at like 5am. My other experience was recent which made me NOT want to get out in that mess. Nothing is worth the hassle, the long lines and those crazy shoppers who HAVE to have that tuperware today! Although, I had to be Thankful for the Walmart stores that stay open, without them we would not have had fried Turkey. As usual, the last minute McCarty's, waited to clean out the turkey pot the morning of Thanksgiving, only to notice water streaming out of a hole in the bottom of the pot. Those dang salty boiled peanuts must have rotted the pot... anyway, THANKFULLY we could run up to the Walmart and purchase a new one!! THANK YOU WALMART

Anyway, Miss Addie is almost 10 months old going on walking. Boy can she get around crawling though. She books it. She's crusing along the furniture, letting go a little bit and standing on her own, she's getting braver and stronger each day and goodness does she love Cooper! Anything Cooper has, she wants, anything Cooper does, she thinks she can. She loves wrestling with Daddy and Cooper. She can hold her own. She actually tries to tackle Cooper. We are struggling sleeping through the night though. Between teeth, growth spurts and ear infections, I have been catering to little princess during the nights. She has 4 teeth now, and looks so different... no more gummy smiles.

Cooper is loving his dirt bike we bought him for his birthday. Thanks to Papa Jeff who bought him his safety gear, he is able to ride it. He learned quickly, thanks to Daddy who is a good teacher. Cooper can already ride the dirt bike by himself, training wheels of course. But he's only 3! He looks like such a little stud too riding. And I don't think there is a morning he wakes up without asking to ride his four- wheeler.... he's counting to 10, getting his own water out of the fridge door and an avid camper. He and Daddy camped in the back yard this past weekend. All week long he pulled his wagon throughout the yard, collecting sticks for his campfire. He LOVES anything outdoors and anything that has to do with Daddy. I was setting up the tent for them and Cooper said Mommy this is not for you, you can't sleep in here! But you know who what?? I get the sweet love when he sick, hungry or tired, so I can handle those hugs and love now!

Happy Shopping!! Can you believe Christmas is here next week? I CAN'T!!! Photos from Thanksgiving....

LOVE

The one with the party...

Can you believe my little baby is 3? And already clearly capable of posting on the blog! He had such a great birthday. We are so blessed to have so many sweet and caring friends and family. Cooper is truly truly spoiled with presents and most of all Love. Next to Josh, Cooper is the best thing that happened in my life. He's a ray of light, a burst of sunshine and truly a blessing. His little squeal of excitement on the little things warms my heart. He's so caring, sweet and kind. I haven't met a 3 year old yet that has his caring heart. And I like to think he's part genius, well, because he is! His third birthday was made special (times 2)! I had a more intimate party for Cooper, with our family. My hope was to have a chili cook-off between Josh and I. And when all was said and cooked, I ended up cooking both chili's. So not like we were keeping score, but if we were, then I won :) hehe On Saturday we had his birthday party with his bestest friend Ceci. She also turned 3 just a few weeks before. It was such a blast. I know all the kids loved it. It's a true testament to how much fun a kid has as to when they fall asleep on the couch. And when that time is 6:30, you know you were successful. Natalie (Ceci's mom) brought the fun to the table. She rented a bounce house for the day and boy was that the hit of the party. All our San Marco neighbors came, all our friends came and all our family came back. It was such a great day. Nothing is sweeter than the squeals and giggles of kids having fun. Thank you to everyone for the gifts, love and attendance of Cooper and Ceci's birthday. It means the world to us.