More Chocolate

For years I have begged and pleaded, scolded and threatened, cajoled and bribed. And not a single child has obeyed. They each have continued to get bigger and grow older.

The most recent was Coop. He turned 7. The celebration began a few days before the real day . . .

At school with his FANCY BIRTHDAY HAT

Me telling the children how great Cooper is


'cause he's CONTAGIOUS and OBEDIENT (except for the growing up part) and OUTSTANDING and PERSISTENT and ENERGETIC and a READER
(and then I read his fav book Green Eggs and Ham to everyone)

and showing them pictures of him as a baby, and dressed as an Army Guy, and with his daddy, and playing at the beach, and playing baseball, and even his icky Costco toenail (they thought that was cool)!

Then the "real" day came . . . early. I don't know what time he woke us up, but it was way too early for a "no school" day! (I think he had birthday and Christmas confused!) We finally got up and began the present parade.

water grenades . . . a puzzle & book . . . a marbles game . . . a Nerf gun. . . walkie talkies. . .


Thanking his big brother profusely for the Nerf gun!

Grandpa showing him how marbles is played.
Oh! Coop's not paying attention . . . imagine that and then notice the gun in the foreground!

He requested Costco's chocolate cake - and I happily obliged.