Busy Month...

This last month has been crazy at the Cooper household...

Dan began detasseling on July 4. I thought he'd be done in 10-14 days, but nope, this year it was a LONG season. He finished last Sunday, July 25. I was naturally elated to wake up (after 4:30am) to him in bed on Monday morning.

We had Bible School at our church this past week, which was also quite an endeavor. We had between 50 and 60 kids each night, and I was the Bible story teacher. I got to dress up like Elijah, the woman at the well, and tell the kids other stories as well. The best, most rewarding part was seeing Lily growing up--she would sing and dance with her other preschool friends--brought me to tears!! Last night after we were done with the program and driving home, she was singing one of the new songs she learned. What a blessing. I can only imagine how God and His angels were smiling down on Denver, IA, at the site of these kids :)

Amidst all of this, I'm trying to finalize where the kids are going to go for childcare this year. Our provider from last year has moved to California, so here we go, changing...again. Today I visited one home that I liked, but they had so many animals, it smelled like a pet store. I want my kids to be comfortable around animals, but the smell is annoying! So we decided on an in-home provider in Waverly--between the two schools I work at, which is great. Actually, it's a home that we looked at when we were considering buying a home in Waverly a few years ago. It flooded in 2008, so the entire first floor has been re-done, and the lady--Sarah--seems very nice. So next week, we'll go sign a contract and start getting her kids into her home to get them ready for full time care in 3 short weeks!! It's been wonderful being home, but I'm ready to get back to school. It'll be a rough transition for the kiddos, though, I think. They have gotten used to having Mom around all the time...Jack especially...he's mommy's boy....fun for me, but also causes some rough moments when leaving him in the nursery or with babysitters. So, the next 3 weeks will be filled with different experiences to get hte kids used to not being around me so much :)

Other big news is that I think we're getting closer to purchasing a mini van. Crazy, I know...the baby of all the cousins is the one to get a mini van, but it just makes sense. One of our cars is at 120,000 miles (which we're going to keep; I love it); and the other is at 92,000. Now is the time, I guess, to make the change. Plus, I'm ready to have some more space!! After detasseling, we have some extra funds saved for this endeavor, so we'll see when we bite the bullet, but I htink it's coming :)

Well, I best be going. I need to get home so Dan can get to school to work on band camp stuff :)

Love you all--
sarah.
and dan and lily and jack

End of July already??!!

Wow - Summer is flying by!
Went to Independence this past weekend for a friend's 40th birthday.
On my way home I stopped by Cedar Rock State Park.
When Iowa businessman Lowell Walter died in August of 1981, he and his wife, Agnes, left their dream home, Cedar Rock, to the Iowa Conservation Commission and the people of Iowa. Designed by the famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the residence lies on a limestone bluff overlooking the Wapsipinicon River near Quasqueton in Buchanan County.

http://www.iowadnr.gov/parks/state_park_list/cedar_rock.html

Coca-Cola is support America's Parks. Help Support America's Parks!
http://www.livepositively.com/#/americasparks/vote
Every time you vote for your favorite park Coca-Cola will donate $1 to the National Park Foundation up to a total donation of $200,000. The park with the most votes will receive an additional $100,000 grant from Coca-Cola. Tell your friends to vote!

I'm voting for Cedar Rock State Park. Although it is pretty far behind the leader (by 130,000 votes) perhaps we can catch up!

Jury Duty...

Well, I was sent a Standby Juror Summons for tomorrow. Called tonight and I have to go in tomorrow. It's for criminal court... We'll see what happens!

Destructo-Man

Not sure if the title means Andrew or Mike, but they're co-conspirators on this one.

This is our main floor bathroom under construction. It started with some mold/water damage on the wall that Andrew's cleaning. This particular day they were pulling some of the sheeting around the shower off to locate the water source. Andrew got out his worker vest, helmet (made by dad out of plastic and duct tape) and a sponge to help.

We're currently gathering bids to repair the tuckpointing on the exterior wall (source of the water). In the meantime, Mike and Andrew have pulled all the other paneling off the bathroom walls, removed the drop ceiling, and ripped plaster off of two interior walls. What started as a quest to deal with some water damage has turned into a bathroom gutting. The room is really small, so redoing the ceiling and hopefully a hinged door will help make it feel bigger. We're excited for the finished product (and grateful for a basement bathroom!), but it will be a long haul, I'm afraid...

Taking the plunge

Here's a video of our little fish! By the end of the night, he was going off the board!

Tuttle girls.... thinking of you

Hi guys,
One of my high school classmates makes jewelry, and I immediately thought of both of you when I saw her jewelry. Wondering if you would be interested in a necklace of hers - my treat. Check out her website (the Etsy site has more pics/choices). http://www.humankindness4all.org/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/humankindness
The birds nest necklaces where the ones I was thinking of for both of you. I am having her make me a necklace in the same design as the Sea Glass earrings. Let me know what you think...

BTW HEATHER - Matt may be visiting St Louis next month to check it out. If you send me your phone #, I'll make sure he gets it and reaches out.
E

Happy Memories!

Thanks for the great time last Sunday. Here are some pics for everyone to enjoy :)
Including a Christmas Pic!!


Christmas 2009


June 2010


And this one is from Christmas - and I just thought it was cool :)