Cooper's First Halloween

For Halloween this year, a big group of our friends met up together for a soup potluck and trick-or-treating. There were about a dozen kids or so, all dressed up in the cutest costumes. It was absolutely perfect weather!!! It's been high 60s all week. I can't remember the last time it didn't snow on or before Halloween.
















After that, we joined our friends Tim and Amy for a movie, August Rush, while Cooper was crashed out in the pack 'n play. It was a fun night of hangin' out with good friends and kids doing their thing.

Frankie's New Home

Frankie has a new home with Cameron's aunt and uncle in Denver.....and a new boyfriend Moby. It's a fortunate situation....they were looking for an Aussie and I was looking for someone who could give Frankie some quality attention. It has been a real challenge raising Cooper in a zoo. We've gone from 2 dogs/2 cats to 1 dog/1 cat. It's bittersweet, but for the best.
Frankie and Moby are going to be great pals. Their energy levels are a good match for each other. The whole day we spent with them, they were chasing and wrestling with each other.

Cooper loved the leaves everywhere....to step on them and eat them. We went on a gorgeous walk around their beautiful neighborhood. Lots of mature and colorful trees and beautiful beautiful old homes. Really nice weather, too!
Dinner was amazing!!!!!!














Goodbye Frankie.....We'll miss you girl!

My

Favorite

Tree...

a

beautiful

yellow

Same

tree

in

early

spring

Cameron was gone, so I was on early morning dog duty. I'm not accustomed to waking up sooo early, and therefore not used to seeing such a beautiful sunrise. I had to capture the rare moment....haha.

(The little tree on the far right of this picture is the same tree enlarged up top)

Pucker Up

Daddy's Hat

Cooper 9 mo. Check-up Stats

Height 29.25 inches (76%)
Weight 19 lbs 2 oz (25%)

Doc says Cooper has advanced motor skills!

An Off-Kilter Day

I tried to get out of the house and enjoy the beautiful fall day.....thought I could do a few errands. I didn't get any of it done. Wanna know why.......well, this was how my day went. Half-way to the first designated store, I realize I desperately need gas. I detour to a gas-station. As I wait for the car to fill up, I wash my windows. Meanwhile this huge motorhome pulls up behind me and waits for me to leave so he can pull up into my place. I try to hurry and finish up because I'm too damn nice sometimes. So, I have the window cleaner thing-a-ma-jig in my right hand and I go to remove the gas nozzle with my left.....I guess the right hempishere of my brain wasn't working when I accidently squeeze the nozzle as I was removing it....and consequently I spray gas all over the place, soaking my keys that had fallen to the ground a few minutes prior (I knew I should have picked them up when I first thought to. Listen to your inner voice people!!!! Clearly, I didn't.) Now I have gas-wreaking car keys and gas on my shoes. I head home to clean up. Then I head BACK OUT to finish my tasks. By the time I get all the way across town to meet up with my friend who is at Whole Foods finishing up a meet with her other friend.....Cooper decides to poop and what do you know......I forgot diapers. I think, well, I can just go buy some in the Whole Foods Market. Are you freakin' kidding me!!!!......organic diapers are way over priced, and I didn't need a large pack anyway. I wasn't about to waste what little money I have on diapers I didn't need, especially organic ones (I'm stocked up at home). Like my friend said, they would probably disintegrate before Cooper was done using them anyway....haha. So, to avoid being ripped off, I decide to just go home......AGAIN! By this point, I've had it and I'm frustrated and I give up on my day. I had a screaming baby all the way home....and for anyone who knows Ft Collins, getting home can take awhile. As I pull into the garage, I realize that I could have accomplished at least one thing......I've been wanting to try organic peanut butter (because of something I read and I needed more pb because of my stupid dogs).....but, of course, I forgot that, too. So, now I'm drinking a cup of chai tea, trying to calm down and venting about my wasted day of driving all over town, not getting anything done and everything going wrong...... grumble::grumble::grumble......How was your day?

On The Move

Cooper 500

CHANGE can be a Great Thing!

BEFORE....
Since becoming a mom, I've been spending a LOT more time at home...and the rust color I picked 3 years ago turned into orange and it's been driving me crazy. I decided I needed a change. Besides, I find painting rather meditating. So, this last weekend, I've been up to my eyeballs in blue tape, primer, paint color #1, paint color #2, paint color #3, and a last minute addition of leftover paint color #4, .... oh, and sawdust, etc etc etc. It was awesome!

...AFTER!

We went with a two-toned scheme. It's hard to tell, but the top color is a light beige (not white)...and a dark brown for the bottom. I really like the look of blacks and browns together. We replaced the artwork, added some trim, and Cameron built me a beautiful shelf for my books (I painted that, too). I absolutely love the final product and the change feels good!