We're keeping busy

Big boy, sitting up now!!!!

Cooper started cereal today.

He wasn't too sure at first, but then went after it and loved it!

Snapping green beans with Grandpa Tim.

A caterpillar!!

Our sand box! While I know it looks pitiful, it can be covered and put away, or taken to Grandma and Grandpas house in an instant!

It's football season! The boys play everyday at recess and after school, and Grace is starting to get into the game, too!

I got Grace's helmet out for her to wear if she goes on a bike ride with Grandma Patty someday, and she immediately got on her motorcycle and asked if she was just like Jason!

Just enough hair for 2 ponies! How cute!

A favorite of ours during the summer is the vegetable grill basket. While our garden was a disaster (what with a newborn and all!) we frequented the local vegetable stand and discovered dicing them up and grilling them in Italian dressing and topping with Parmesan cheese is DELICIOUS! Plus, I just love how pretty it is! (And, Grace loves them too!)


Well, Tim had added about two years to our pool pump in the past, but it finally bit the dust and was unrepairable this week. We closed the pool today, and while we'll miss swimming, I won't miss the upkeep or worry! We'll get a new pump next year and will be investing in solar panels to warm the water - no more cover!! Yea!!

They Grow Up So Fast...

Lot's of changes around the Drake house...

new friends (boys!), new beds, new skills, and just getting older and cuter by the day!!!

Here is one of Grace's favorite friends, Zach, playing hide and seek- she even called him to ask him to come over! Tim is struggling with her interest in boys already!!!!

Two Drakes in the bed, and the little one said...



5 months

We're very excited about Mandi and Michael's adoption process almost being done and posed for this picture for their scrapbook that prospective birth mothers will look at. We are looking forward to Baby Rigney coming to stay with us some day!

We moved Grace into her big girl bed and Cooper to the crib, finally. He insists on sleeping on his stomach, so I feel better having him in the crib rather than the pack and play. And Grace is doing wonderful in her big girl bed! So far she stays in until we go and get her up. I'm sure that won't last forever!

Practicing with scissors!

Always interested in what Grace is doing!
We attended our first volleyball game of the season this week. The kids wore their polo shirts and khaki shorts to match their dad! Cooper did great, hanging out with Grandpa Tim the whole time. Grace pretty much melted down upon arrival. She wanted to be with Tim, but couldn't and with all the people and loudness, just couldn't handle it! I spent the majority of the game in the hallway with her clinging to my leg and screaming as I could find nothing to comfort her. I suppose we'll give it one more try next week before we call it a season!

Summer Draws to a Close

Well, it certainly doesn't feel like summer outside, but with Tim back to school (today!), volleyball in full swing, and the pool unswimmable (79 degrees!!!) we certainly are feeling the end of our "lazy days of summer". The kids and I stopped on our morning walk to welcome Mr. and Mrs. Knight to retirement (I realize mine is only temporary - but I imagine it feels the same on the first day of school!) and are trying to get ourselves into a routine without Tim around. He's going to be busy with school, volleyball, and more classes for his Master's. We are looking forward to starting storytime at the library and maybe even gymnastics to keep us busy, as well. Grace has been such a water-bug that I hope to make it to the White's pool throughout the winter to get her even better at swimming. So, we'll find things to do and before we know it, it will be summer again!! Here are some pictures as we bring the summer to a close!

Cooper's first swim!

Potty Training - Drake style!

Ok, we have actually started it a little when inside and with a potty chair, but when you are outside, this will do! With her 2nd birthday less than a month away (eeek!) we are also talking a bit about moving to the big girl bed! Sooo not ready for her to grow up!

Big smile in the high chair!

After a warm bath.

Dare Devils!!!

Fun with the Camera

Summer Fun with the camera!

We had a little game of Poker ourselves last Monday when Tim went to play with the guys.

Just "Airin' out!"

This would be Cooper at the end of his morning nap after a TERRIBLE night of sleep. As if to say, "That's right Mom and Dad... I'm in charge here and everything is going exactly to plan..."

Grandma and Grandpa Cooper are finishing up in New Mexico today and, after picking up Aunt Toby and Uncle Galen, they will head to Phoenix to see Monica. We miss them!

Fun with Aunt Monica

Monica just returned to Colorado where she is back to work already. We LOVED having her around and miss her tons already. As she drove off, Grace cried the saddest tears I have ever heard her cry, saying, "Where Aunt Monica going?" with her little lip stuck out and quivering. Tim and I both teared up it was so pitiful! We only called her 3 times on Monday...

Monica spoied us rotten while she was here, starting with the "ginormous duck" she got us for our pool! The pool was unswimmable last week - of course - but we are looking forward to trying it out this week!

After getting tired of getting slimed by Cooper all the time, Monica fashioned a bib of her own out of Cooper's blanket.

WE LOVE OUR AUNT MONICA!!!!!

I was enspired by the Marschand family and their love of corn on the cob so I got some for us and for Grace to try... she loved it!

A Cooper Update...

The boy has abs of steel and smiles that will melt your heart!

He also is very flexable...He now loves to chew on his toes!

He takes his medicine very well each night in a medicine bottle. Here is Grace helping to keep him heathly. (tear, sniff)

Brown County 2008

Well, we survived another year at Brown County with the extended Cooper family. With a two year old, 2 three year olds, 2 six year olds, a 2 month old, and a 4 month old - there was never a dull moment! Brown County has such great memories for me with all my cousins (we've been going for over 25 years now) that i'm excited to experience the fun with my children. I'm looking forward to exploring the park and finding new things to do with them as they grow up.

The Abe Martin Lodge added a water attraction this year which we attended every day!

There is a zero entry pool with fountains, a lazy river, a water slide, and a volleyball area. (Sorry-this is the best picture I got on my camera!) We took little table and chairs for the little kids to eat on.

It was a huge hit and, of course, a great photo op!

Bubbles!

Watch out! There is a car coming!

Horse back riding this year... This is as close as Grace would get to riding a pony, and as close as I'd let Cooper get to riding a pony! I think he'd have done it - he was so interrested in watching them!

Jason, Ben, and Laura took a 30 minute ride. I think they all had a great time! (Not exactly how I remember my last trail ride...)

Checking out the playgrounds in the state park.

Ben and Laura headed south for the mountains, on their bikes, after the weekend.

Over the weekend you may have seen any number of poeple on the back of a bike....Jason, Shelby, Grace, Cooper... ?!?!

Always make time for a family pose!

On an additional note...

Cooper had his 4 month check up today and is perfect! He weighs in at 14 pounds 13 oz and is 26 1/4 inches long! That puts him in the 50th percentile for weight and 90th percentile for heighth! Because he is rolling from back to front and he likes to stand - the doctor commented that he must think he is a 6 month old already! He is happy all the time and eating well. We are starting to try to put him down unswaddeled and awake and hoping he'll stretch out sleep at night. (This is one of my least favorite times of infancy! I hate to hear him cry!)

Try and stay cool this week! Aunt Monica is home this week, so I'm sure I'll have lots more pictures to post next week too!

~shelby