Cooper is six!

It's been a whirlwind around here, these last few weeks. VBS, swim lessons, some house projects, and most importantly, Cooper turned six!

Oh my goodness, it's so hard for me to believe that our first baby is already six years old.

His birthday landed on a Thursday, and Nicholas took the day off. We FaceTimed with my parents, (we celebrated Cooper's birthday early with them in May) and then packed up to head to the beach, as was Cooper's request. It was 82 degrees near our house, but actually 72 at the beach – perfect for a day of playing in the sand and splashing in the very cold Lake Michigan.

We looked for neat rocks and Nicholas took Cooper up on one of the big dunes, so they could run down. And Arlo seemed to enjoy his very first beach day. We ate lunch and played and then rushed home to get ready for family night at (evening) VBS.

We ate dinner on the go, since we were in a rush that night, but we did come home after VBS and have sourdough cinnamon rolls and we sang for the birthday boy.

Nicholas and I gave Cooper a few special books (one about sharks, and another about Zelda), a pair of shorts, and our favorite (clean, and kid-friendly) bath bombs. And then his "big" gift was to help Nicholas build a kid's work table for under our deck. The two of them worked on it together, and Nicholas spent some late nights in the garage finishing it up. And it's beautiful! Nicholas drew up custom plans, we picked out unfinished cedar, and then he did all the work to build it, finally finishing it with Odie's oil.

I made a trip to a local thrift store to gather some metal utensils and cups to furnish the table, as well. Cooper and Finn love the table, and it's already facilitated so many hours of play. I love that we have it in a shady spot (under the deck), and we intermittently fill up a 5 gallon bucket with water to be used for the very important work of making stews, etc.

On Friday, I picked up groceries and then spent the day preparing food and getting ready for a little friend's birthday party for Cooper. The boys intently played at the new table, and I baked two sourdough birthday cakes– chocolate with vanilla buttercream and a orange cinnamon/cardamom yogurt cake (I really didn't want to run out of cake, after all). And that evening, we attended a friend's birthday party.

On Saturday, some of Cooper's friends and their parents came over. The forecast threatened rain, but it ended up being an absolutely beautiful, breezy, seventy-something day. The kids mostly played at the work table and then ran around the woods and just generally, kept themselves extremely busy with play. I set out tortilla chips and salsa/guacamole, salami, cheeses, fruit, pretzels, crackers, etc. The kids played outside, pausing to snack. We had a little craft for them to do, and then we sang to Cooper (notice, I put the wrong number of candles on Cooper's cake, whoops).

He opened gifts from friends (so thoughtful, everyone!) and the kids played some more before everyone headed home.

I had thawed the sourdough buns I baked previously, so we could enjoy his birthday dinner request (burgers) after his party.

On Sunday, we went to church and then celebrated Father's Day with my father-in-law. Nicholas grilled some nice ribeye steaks and I made sausage risotto. And my FIL gave Cooper his birthday gifts – a very special Star Wars Lego set and Battleship (the game). He also brought a gift from his friend, Kate, another Star Wars Lego set. Cooper got to work on the Legos immediately, and we had a really nice visit together.

One family we invited to Cooper's party wasn't able to attend, but they had a special makeup birthday celebration for Cooper. There were gifts and handmade cards, a Swedish visiting cake(!) with a special "6" candle, and another rendition of Happy Birthday. My friend, Kathleen, crocheted a small fox for Cooper(!), and ever appreciative of handmade gifts, he absolutely loves it.

Cooper at six

• He learned so much in our first year of homeschooling! I love seeing how his eyes light up when he realizes he remembers/masters something that was previously difficult for him.
• He memorized so many Bible verses put to song this past year, and learning new Bible verse songs was one of his favorite segments of our lessons.
• He loves to build and tinker – Legos, magnetic tiles, and he even turns sticks/rocks/toys into "machines" outside. And I love that he is always so excited to show us whatever he's created.
• One of his favorite things is working on a project with his dad. Whether that is repairing the drywall, painting, woodworking, assembling shelving, or something else, he's a good helper.
• He is extremely observant. Noticing patterns and little details that I often miss.
• He loves his little friends so much – asking when we can see them next when we are on our way home from a playdate. Making sure he "works on the teepee" in the woods, because he promised a few of his little friends he would work on it and he wanted to keep his promise.
• He still loves to help me in the kitchen. Now, I have him program the oven temperature, or help me with shaping bagels, adding and stirring in ingredients. Or even on the days we have mac and cheese for lunch, he is my helper, telling me when the water is boiling, adding the pasta, making the sauce, etc.
• He loves to get cozy. His go-to "cozy" outfit is sherpa-lined sweatpants and his Storm Sweater that I knit for him, and he always tells me he love wearing the sweater I made for him because he knows it makes me feel loved. He loves a cozy afternoon with games or books or snuggles and fika.
• He absolutely adores his brothers. He has his spats with Finn, but they are such good friends. He told me recently, "Isn't it so cool that your brother is like a friend who you get to live with every day?"
• He loves to take photos with my phone, and sometimes, he takes really good ones.
• Every morning, he runs up the steps saying, "Mommy!" and gives me a big hug.

Cooper buddy, we love you so much and we thank God for the gift of being your parents!