PoTtY PArTy!!!!

HE did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This past weekend (general conference weekend), we decided to have a "POTTY PARTY". It was complete with Potty, pop, pizza, underPants, and prizes! Gunner (2yrs. 9mos.), SUCCESSFULLY potty trained!

• Number of accidents: 3 on the first day... NONE thereafter!
• Number of times he peed in the first hour: 19! (he figured out how to get treats fast!)
• Party Song (sung each time he went, along with dancing by ALL family members): "Slow Ride"... his favorite Guitar Hero song.
• Number of VERY proud (and pleasantly surprised) parents: 2
• Number of VERY helpful older brothers: 1

Gunner is a very stubborn boy... so we knew it was going to be hit or miss with potty training the first time around. It was all up to him. HE made his mind up... and HE did it! He loved the "party" part of it, and after seeing all his treats Saturday morning said, "It's my birthday!?" We chose conference weekend so Dad would be home to help, no church, and Cooper had no school Monday for teacher development... which meant we would have 3 days home. Which, we didn't even end up needing! We actually potty trained Cooper during an April general conference weekend (he was 2 yrs. 4mos., but took a little longer to "get it"). We are so proud of Gunner! He tells us when he needs to go, and even does a great job on outings. 

You are such a BIG BOY and we LOVE YOU!

Some final goodbyes

Just got some pictures uploaded off Andrew's camera, and came across these few pictures of some of our final goodbyes at Scott AFB, IL. 

These first few are from our last day of church, August 3, in the Belleville Ward in the O'Fallon Stake in Illinois. It caused me to look back on our time there. Our ward had a wide range of ages, military and non-military families, and a lot of transient areas of apartments and such. Those who held callings, worked hard to hold things together. We actually had two sets of missionaries (Elders and Sisters). Andrew served as an Elders Quorom teacher, and as "Den Leader" of the cub scouts. This meant weekly den meetings. Cooper loved going to "Scub Scouts" with Dad. There were only a few boys who came regularly, but I have no doubt that Andrew did a great job and made a good impression in their lives.

I had the opportunity of serving as the Primary pianist (a dream calling for me), but my dream didn't last too long, as I was quickly also called as the secretary in the Primary presidency. I loved having the opportunity to serve with the children, and to get to see what Cooper was learning and doing too. The first presidency I served with was Mariah Steadman, Kim Martinez and Bonnie Naylor. I learned a lot from each of these women. Then I was kept as secretary for a new presidency pictured below...

Tracy Shields (chorister who took my job as secretary), Lisa Johnson (2nd C.), Joy Toone (1st C.), me, and Rose Polvado (President).

I really grew to love these sisters. We had so much fun together. They took me to lunch at a cute tea house for my birthday, made sure I was taken care of when I had Beckett, and even had a surprise going away party for me, complete with gifts, AMAZING food cooked by Rose (she is Hawaiian and knows how to cook!), and fun. Thanks for everything girls!

Cooper was in the CTR 5-boys primary class. Some days there were up to 7 boys there. They actually went through a few teachers while we were there, until they finally got the Birckheads (who seemed to be able to handle their energy). 

Pictured below, those in attendance the last day: Brennan Leafty, Frankie Spicer, Cooper, Logan Wilson, Liam Obray, and Natalie Noorlander (a sunbeam visiting). 

We also loved our neighborhood on base. A few months after we moved there, Adrian and Comrie moved in with their cute boy Jack. It was so fun having good neighbors. She always brought over yummy treats. For a month while their shifts overlapped (they both graduated from the Air Force Academy), I watched Jack for a few hours each day. It was so fun, and a great experience for Cooper and Gunner to get used to having a baby around. We miss you guys!

Tags Finally Fulfilled - AND - Welcoming Halloween

Have had a few tags I have put off. Thought I would also show you some of our Halloween spirit! We love fall, and it is the perfect "boy" holiday. They are really into all the "scary stuff". The masks were a dollar at WalMart (no, they are not their costumes), and the witch was clearance from last year's after-Halloween sale, and we just happen to have the PERFECT tree for it in our front yard... right on the corner...

Here are the rules: I have to answer the following questions with one word answers and one word only!

The questions are as follows:
1. Where is your cell phone? kitchen
2. Where is your significant other? work
3. Your hair color? brown
4. Your mother? Jean
5. Your father? Steve
6. Your favorite thing? snuggles
7. Your dream last night? none
8. Your dream/goal? eternity
9. The room you're in? family
10. Your hobby? photography
11. Your fear? failure
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? home
13. Where were you last night? FHE
14. What you're not? lonely
15. One of your wish-list items? vacations
16. Where you grew up? Coeur d'Alene
17. The last thing you did? gym
18. What are you wearing? sweat
19. Your TV? sports
20. Your pet? none
21. Your computer? mac
22.Your mood? content
24.Missing someone? lots!
24. Your car? Van
25. Something you're not wearing? shoes
26. Favorite store? Ikea
27. Your summer? moved
28. Love someone? boys
29. Your favorite color? yellow
30. When is the last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? Sunday

Now on to my second "tag". 6 quirks about me.... mmmm... 

1. I am about the most indecisive person I know. It takes me forever to decide on what to eat at restaurants, or what shirt to buy, etc.

2. I have a shower "routine". I do the same thing, in the same order, usually even the same number of scrubs in each place.

3. Any time I drink out of a drinking fountain... I take 10 drinks. Not sure why... it started in middle school. Maybe I am OCD and don't realize it.

4. I am very plan oriented, and if things don't go they way I have them planned, I am easily frustrated. 

5. I am a list person... I get this from my Dad... 

6. One thing that drives me crazy is inside-out hoods on sweatshirts or coats. I notice them all, and want to fix them all for those people. Not sure why...

Bumbo Baby

It seems like each baby there is something "new" that you just "have to have". This time around, it is the BUMBO.
This very cool chair is such a nice place to sit a baby... especially on who is not yet sitting. He still doesn't prefer it over his "Jump-a-roo", but definitely prefers it over a bouncer seat. This was the first time we put him in it, and he was ALL grins. (By the way.... THANK YOU to Auntie Rachel for the Target giftcard that made this purchase possible!) We also got the "play tray" that hooks on, which has made it super nice to set toys on. Cooper loves putting him in it, and I'll often come in the room and wonder why he is in there, but Cooper assures me, "he just wanted to be in his seat mom." 

Yes, those are olives on his head. Anything the older boys do, that we think Beckett wouldn't like, ends up making him laugh. I guess they know him better than we do.

Here is our "Olive Monster!" 

A liTtLe late... bIG announcement....

Some of you got these in the mail a couple months ago... but, I finally am back on my desktop, instead of my laptop, and I thought I would post them for everyone to see. I also want to make sure they are in our blog book when we print our blog.

The three pieces were each 3x6 inches, and held together with a brad in the upper left-hand corner. The pictures were so fun to take, and the announcement was even more fun to design. He has been such a blessing in our lives! We sure love this little guy... who is growing WAY to fast, I might add!

ROYALS ROCK!

We hit our first (and the last) Royals game of the season. It was a lot of fun, the boys did great, and it wet our appetite for next season!

Cooper did his best to get a ball, but had a hard time accepting the fact that you don't get a ball every game! This was the 14th MLB stadium he has been to, and I think his 63rd MLB game? I'll have to double check that when our other computer is running again.

Gunner's favorite part was the cheering. 

There were 3 homeruns that night, and the Royals won!

Isn't he just the cutest baseball baby you have ever seen!

"Looks up to" his Daddy!

The stadium is under renovation, but it is a pretty neat stadium. We loved the big display screen, and the fountains in the outfield. It is the first field we have been to with fountains. Even though the Royals are far from a great team in baseball... and most people in Kansas City actually seem to be bigger St. Louis Cardinals fans... we are a "home-town team" kind of family, and we are excited to cheer on the "boys in blue"... and have an excuse to get new hats! :)

Beckett... a.k.a. "lover of thumb"

It is true. We finally had a baby who loves a binky...

and his THUMB!

Of course, with a husband who is a dentist, we are concerned with ortho. But, it is just too cute that he will use his thumb, if his binky isn't available, and put himself to sleep.

He must have a little Aunt Mikin in him! :)

Cowboy Cooper...

... and his horse, "KiKi". Yes, they each made their own stick-horses out of PVC pipe and lunch sacks, and got to name their horses.

Cooper is loving preschool. His teacher, Lesa, is amazing, and we are continually impressed at the things he brings home. A few weeks ago, they learned about Cowboys. They made horses out of rectangles and yarn, made "trail-mix" by counting different foods into a bag they had decorated, paint-stamped handkerchiefs, and prepared for their RODEO!

Yes, parents were invited, the kids got dressed up, and it was a YEE-HAW good time! :) Daddy even got to come during his lunch hour.

We said the Pledge of Allegiance, they did their parade, each cowboy(girl) was introduced with their horse, they showed off their galloping, trick-rode through a ring, and got to show off their very own "trick". Cooper's trick.... riding his horse while hopping on one foot. It was unique, exciting, and actually quite impressive! :) 

They finished off with the song "I'm a Little Cowboy" (to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot"), and did their final ride and wave of their hats

Cooper loves his friends at preschool.

Cooper and Drew (my friend with the airplane backpack)

The next FOUR kids also go to church with us...

Blake, and his Dad, Brad Cochran

Brian Young

Cambree Peterson

Zander Bell

Jaime Bell and her sweet little girl, Emberlyn

BeCkEtT {4 mOnTHs}

Yes... it is true... he is ALREADY 4 months old! 

Weighed in at 15 pounds 14 ounces.

• Started the month out with your grandparents and cousins in Coeur d'Alene/Spokane.
• Went to the NORTH IDAHO FAIR for your first time, where the Lee family runs the ELEPHANT EAR BOOTH. Proceeds will one day pay for your mission!
• MOVED into our new house here at WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE near Kansas City. 
• One thing we have discovered here -- you have ALLERGIES like your Dad. Hay fever has gotten you a little congested and coughing, especially at night, so we are giving you Benadryl.
• Despite your allergies, you are still such a HAPPY BABY! You rarely cry, and have such a happy, smiley personality.
• You GIGGLE all the time. Especially when mom tickles you. Your new fun thing this month is to "Jump! Shake your booty!".
• Still SLEEPING in our room. Wake up 1-2 times a night for a brief snack. Starting to settle into more of a 2-3 NAP routine, rather than catnapping throughout the day.
• Started PLAYING WITH YOUR FEET. Love to grab both of them and "tip" over.
• PINWHEELING - what I call it when you roll on your side and then back over and over spinning yourself like a clock on the floor. You can actually end up fairly far across a room... or on opposite ends of your crib.
• ROLL OVER - both back to front... then front to back... in the same day.
• Regretfully, you have become a THUMB SUCKER. Although it does save us if we forget a binky.
• Love your JUMP-A-ROO. It took you a few minutes to figure it out, but you get your rhythm going, and you love being up and looking around.
  
  
• Continue to love your HORSEY on your car-seat. 
• You SLOBBER a lot, spit up at least a little bit each feeding, love to bite my fingers... hard, and are a great burper.
• Love to hold, grab, and chew little TOYS. Your favorite are the ones that squeak.
• Get lots of hugs from your BROTHERS. 
• Mom loves to chant, "Beckett Le-o, don't you know I love you so."
• Only new nick-name this month is Marvin... when I know your hungry, or it's time to eat. (Short for Starvin' Marvin). 
• Love the SWINGS at the park. We also put your whole carrier on the wagon to the park, and on the merry-go-round.
• Didn't put sun-screen on your head one day. It was seriously only about 70 degrees... but the top of your little head got so SUNBURNT. I felt like SUCH a bad mom, and had to explain myself to everyone I saw the next few days. 
• PUSHING UP on your hands when you're on your tummy.

I actually had a girl (Jaime Bell) say to me, "I didn't even know you had a baby for a few weeks after I met you. I know you must have carried him in and out of preschool, and had him on your arm during conversations, but he is seriously such a good baby I never even noticed him." We just feel bad sometimes when we forget to pay attention to you too, because you are always so content. We get the biggest grins when we change your diaper... like "FINALLY you are paying attention to me!" :) We are so blessed to have your sweet little spirit in our home, and you make us all smile. We want you to stay our chubby, squeezable, fun little baby forever! But you'll just keep growing... we can count on it. :)

Moving on...

Just an update... posting will get more regular again once we get the INTERNET! Aghh! I can't believe how lost we feel without it. Andrew got Dish Network today... which he is way excited about. We went to some new friends' house to watch the first BYU football game... but too long without college football is just that... TOO LONG. :) 

So here is our new "Home Sweet Home". A 4-bedroom, 2 bathroom "rancher", built in the 40's, getting demolished as soon as we move out in 2 years. :) We looked at a lot of homes "off-base", and ultimately decided we wanted to live on-base again. We love the safe "gun-gaurded" neighborhoods, free utilities, the school is great, Andrew can be to work in no time... and home for lunch everyday, closer to the cheaper, tax-free shopping, which would be less tempting to utilize if we lived too far away. Lots of great playgrounds. The boys LOVE watching the B2 Stealth Bomber, and fighter jets... 5 low-flying helicopters today at the park. The house was actually very clean, plenty roomy, and we have a full, unfinished basement (which is heaven for the boys), new stove/oven, a dishwasher, fenced backyard... all the necessities. :) It will be perfect for the next 2 years. We have lots of great, friendly neighbors, and love our ward. Our Bishop actually served his mission in Spokane (Andrew's hometown), went to the same dental school we did, did an AEGD in Dayton, and his 2 years "payback" here at Whiteman Air Force Base, and then got out of the Air Force and set up a practice here. There are a few other dentists in the ward too, 32 kids in nursery, and 4 kids from Cooper's preschool in our ward. We have felt very accepted. We watched the BYU game last week at the Cochrans, and went to a Labor Day breakfast at a dentists house on 40 acres with animals and a pond. The only negatives... the allergies are horrible for Dad, Cooper, and Beckett, the closest Costco and Target (or pretty much any shopping/restaurants) are 45 minutes away, there are a ton of crazy bugs (you couldn't live here Lindsey! :) ), and we still love and miss all of you!!!

Have continued our church history trek, and now live right by Independence, Liberty Jail, Adam-on-dioman (sp?), Far West, etc. 

For all of you who didn't get an email from me with our new contact information... you can email me for it at cassielarson16@yahoo.com. Our cell numbers will stay the same.