Cooper’s Birthday

Cooper would’ve turned 7 years old today-crazy!

This day is always bittersweet for me.

This morning we woke up to this in our front yard:

Andy and Richards families must have set this up pretty early in the morning, because we didn’t hear a thing. The kids all colored a paper cream cow (which is significant because as a birthday breakfast tradition our kids get to pour their milk from a cream cow) and attached it to a sunflower. So sweet. Andy’s family does something every year for Cooper’s birthday.

And every year when they do something I cry, a good/sad cry all at once. We feel so loved and blessed to have such caring family.

The other night when we were at Andy’s for dinner, I noticed this cream cow. They actually got it for my birthday which is 3 months away, but gave it to me now since I already saw it:)

 

Carter had a very important appointment today. When he was born they thought he might have a dislocated hip and that was confirmed today. His left hip is way out of socket. I’m just thankful we know in time, so that he won’t have life time issues like I do. He will have to wear a soft brace and if that doesn’t work he’ll have surgery.

He had an ultra sound to detect the dislocated hip and he couldn’t eat for a couple hours before, so that he could take a binky or bottle during the procedure. I pushed him around in the stroller and then held him, to keep him happy since he couldn’t nurse.

The right hip is perfectly fine, just the left has issues…seeing a baby get an ultra sound is so cute. He was a champ and did great.

 

To celebrate Cooper’s birthday we always do fun stuff. We went to the movie theater.

This was Carter’s first time at the movies and he slept through it.

 

Then we went to Funtasticks- It has rides and mini golf. We actually went there on one of Cooper’s pat birthdays.

Marlee was all about spraying everyone else with water…we got pretty wet.

Clayton was tall enough to drive his own car. The other kids road with Laun or I.

Marlee and Porter got to drive these cars.

She could barely reach the wheel:)

Marlee road all the kiddie rides…

But I’m pretty sure she had more fun on the race car with her daddy.

We did some golfing.

We also go out to eat on Cooper’s birthday. Richard and Andy’s families joined us. We went to a Greek restaurant.

The older kids table.

They have some entrees that come out flaming.

Every year we release balloons for how old Carter would be if he was here. This year we let 7 balloons go up to heaven, even Carter let a balloon go. We love you Cooper-Happy Birthday. We let them go at a nearby park.

We watch them until they disappear.

Since it is also Grandpa Mike’s birthday we celebrated with blueberry cheesecake in his memory. I think that will be a new tradition for the birthday cake from now on.

 

And our last tradition is our flavored milks. When Cooper and I were in the hospital, Laun used to bring the boys to visit and he’d take them to the cafeteria for a milk.

(We drank them with cousins last night and again the next day. These last pictures were taken on the next day).

Cheers to Cooper!!! We miss you buddy! You are never forgotten.