The Pond

We went to the Tweedy's pond on Tuesday night to enjoy time with their family. Cooper and Miles got to throw rocks in the pond, feed the fish, enjoy frogs that Brent caught, ride a riding lawn mower, and check out pumpkins that the Tweedies planted just for them! What an evening!

At one point, there were several "country" noises around. Cooper paused, and then said, "Hey! I think I just heard a kangaroo!" Hmm...

Prayer

We heard sirens today, and we often stop to pray for the people the sirens are responding to. Today, we heard sirens, and Cooper said, "Let's pray!" I said, "Buddy, do you want to pray today?" "Sure!"

Cooper's Prayer

Dear God,
Thank you for today. Please let the sirens stop. Please let the ambulances sirens stop. Please let Mr. Shane's siren stop. Thank you for today. (Long pause.) Thank you for today. (Long pause.) Thank you for today and thank you for today. (Long pause.) Dear Jesus, thank you for today.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

Mighty to Save

Family Resemblance

I gave my sister a picture of the two of us together when we were little for her birthday. When she saw it, she said (or it was my mom...I can't remember now), "Oh my goodness - that looks so much like Miles!" I hadn't really paid much attention when I was getting it ready, but once I looked, I could really see the resemblance! Here is a picture of me that I think could be Miles, if, let's say, Miles was dressed in girl clothes and born 30ish years ago. :)

Playin' in the Rain!

We took the boys out in a downpour and let them enjoy the rush of water in the curb. Although cautious at first, they enjoyed their time splashing in the rain!

Tattoo

We were standing in line at Woods today behind a football player looking gentleman. He had a large tattoo around his upper arm. Cooper was a pretty interested in this guy's tattoo. Finally, he asked me, "Mom, why did that guy write on his arm?" loud enough for all to hear. We had a small discussion about tattoos - Cooper wanted to know all he could. Tattoo Guy turned around and smiled at us. I'm glad that he didn't beat us up!

Miles has started saying: "Cooper, where are you?" but it sounds a little bit more like, "Bobby, Ooo ahhh oooo?"

Meatballs

Not much new is on the Bethell front. I've been traveling a lot - mostly to Canada and Texas. We've had some beautiful days lately with highs in the 70s so it's been a great opportunity to spend time outside with the family and on the bike. Carey is still running and adding mileage here and there. Sarita and Carey are running a half-marathon in a few months in Bolivar. They ususally don't train for the halfs but they have done a 10-mile run for fun.

So, to the meatballs. (This is Carey...)
One day, I was holding Cooper. He rubbed my chest a little and said, "Mom, those are your meatballs." I let it drop - I didn't want to give him a reaction that would make him want to say it again. We did have a small discussion about private areas and how we handle those. (I didn't think this would start with a 2-year-old!)

One of the P90X videos that we have is an ab video. I do this video a few times a week, and Cooper likes to watch, and sometimes attempt the exercises with me. There are four people in the video and one of them is a woman with a green sports bra. In the middle of the video last week, Cooper said, "Where's the green girl?" I said, "Oh - the camera's not on her - just a second and it will be." Cooper - "I want to see her meatballs." Shock and horror. I got up and turned the video off. "Buddy - who taught you that those are meatballs?" Cooper - thinking - "Grandpa Holtwick!*"

The video will no longer be on while he is around...

*For those of you who know Grandpa Holtwick (my Dad) you know that he would never teach Cooper that a woman's chest is called meatballs. I called him first to tell him that Cooper blamed him so he would not be surprised by this. He is an awesome Grandpa!!

Get ready house...

The fam was hanging out on Monday night and enjoying some time with the boys. Cooper had just fallen off the stool at the kitchen counter and we were in the living room recovering. While doing so, Miles decided to stand up next to the couch and start walking. He has taken a few steps, but this was good progress. Lots of fun to come in the Bethell house - I hope the house survives!

We were listening to Michael Jackson during dinner one night last week. Cooper started dancing by "punching" with both arms in the air. As he punched, he said, "Punch it out, Baby!" I think Michael would have been proud.

Conversations with Miles

Miles has added two words to his vocabulary: this and that. Conversations sound a little like this:



Miles: This! This! This! (While pointing at something.)

Me: This?

Miles: That!

Me: That?

Miles: This! (Pointing.)

Repeat



The other day in the car, Cooper spotted a green tractor. I said, "That tractor is green! I bet it is a John Deere." Cooper said, "Oh! Good thinking, Mommy! Good thinking!" Such an encourager.