Loving Fall

 We are enjoying every minute of fall this year.  There is a chill in the air every day now... a reminder of my favorite season rapidly approaching.  Christmas music has made it's way into my kitchen.  I was baking something with cinnamon in it, and I just couldn't resist busting out my Christmas Classics CD.  Lainey thought I was the greatest mommy in the world.  She would have the tree up by now if I would let her.  Anyway...back to fall...we have a cheerleader in the family : )  Our church offers Upward sports and Lainey had the choice of cheering or playing flag football.  Her daddy tried hard to convince her to play football, but Lainey caught one glimpse of those pom poms and her mind was made up.  Basketball starts in January and Jamie has already agreed to coach her team...so until then, he's got himself an adorable, little cheerleader.  

 A couple of weeks ago, we spent the evening at the Eckerts Millstadt farm.  Very similar to the Eckerts just down the street from us, but more activities for kids.  They have a pumkin cannon that the kids get to load a small pumpkin into and then watch the friendly man in the overalls launch them a few hundred feet into the air.  Pure country fun.  Oh and I can't forget the pig races...miniature pigs running around a race track while the crowd cheers them on.  It really was a fun night.

Funny boy

 Cooper is such a character.  This boy has a love for life that is contagious.  The only way to describe life with Cooper is to say that he bounces every where he goes.  He can make even the simplest activity an adventure.  I have to say that I think I see some big adventures in his future.  Mountain climbing, sky diving...who knows.  The little guy has no fear.  I'm just hoping he will make it through the toddler/preschool years alive and with his limbs in tact.  I'm not kidding : )  and yes, those are Lainey's princess heels in the above picture.  I have since been banned (by my husband) from taking pictures of Coop with any girly anything on his body.  He will probably thank his dad for this some day.  

Here we go...

 It's overwhelming to think that the first day of kindergarten has come and gone and we are now about to wrap up the first quarter.  We have a parent teacher conference coming up in a couple of weeks and I'm really looking forward to it.  I find myself craving more details about Lainey's school life.  This has been the hardest part of her going to school for me.  I miss knowing what goes on every minute of her day.  She has been my little sidekick for the past 5 years, and now, she is having experiences and learning things on her own.  I'm grateful for how well she has adjusted and how much she loves it...I just wish she wasn't quite so good at the independence thing.  It's kinda hard on a momma.  So, needless to say, the first day of school was great for Lainey and hard on me.  She was brave, bright eyed, friendly, and so excited.  She made me so proud.  There were several kiddos in her class crying as they said goodbye to their parents.  I promise if she had expressed one little bit of apprehension, I would have scooped her up and run out the door.  I wanted to do that anyway.  Instead, she gave me a big hug and said "bye mommy."  Daddy stayed behind to give her a little pep talk, but I had to leave quickly because I was about to go into the ugly cry.  Yep.  I was that mom.  The first couple of school days seemed really long to me, but I'm happy to say that we've all adjusted and Lainey is thriving.  

Cheering Section

 Sometime back in July (Yikes!  So behind on the blog!) we enjoyed a visit from Jamie's family.  He was preaching on a Sunday morning so the O'Dell clan (Papa & Nana, Brian & Crystal and the boys) came for the weekend.  We spent a day at the Magic House and had a great time chasing the kiddos.  The Magic House is such a fun place, and I love that the kids are making these memories with each other.  Jamie did such a great job preaching and it was nice to have his family cheering him on.