San Diego State vs. UOP Basketball

The Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, San Diego State Basketball was playing UOP @ UOP! We had to go to see Matt Soria in action...he works for the San Diego State Basketball team - I'm not sure his exact title but I know it's super cool and he's on the bench just like a coach at every single game! So we joined all the Sorias, family and friends at the "BIG basketball game" - which is what Cooper continued to call it! It was so much fun to see Matt hard at work, watch a college basketball game and see so many family friends.

It also brought back many memories of the UOP AG Spanos Center - that's where my high school graduation was held, I had a few cheer and dance competitions there and I performed at halftime of a couple UOP basketball games for dance during middle and high school. Fun times!

Coopie with his Mall Mall and Carole!

Cooper spent most of the game with Papa Mike! He sure does love his Papa!

Chad and I

The one picture I got of Matt hard at work :)

CHEEEEESEE!

After the game, enjoying playing with his mini basketball that he got from the UOP Tiger

Thanksgiving Feast at Cooper's School

The Friday before Thanksgiving, Cooper's Preschool had a Thanksgiving Feast for lunch and all the parents were invited to join! Of course, Chad and I took some time out of our work days to be part of this special day at Cooper's school. It was so much fun to join him in his classroom, see him in action with his buddies and see the parents of the other children in Cooper's class. We had a yummy Thanksgiving meal and there were lots of different desserts. Cooper wanted to try all the different pies - he called them all "Happy Birthday Cake".

Cooper showing off his Thanksgiving placemat that he made

Beginning to eat his yummy meal

Switched chairs to sit next to Mikey - one of his favorite buddies!

All done eating and time to play - doing flips with Danny - another favorite friend at school!

All done!

Cooper is going to be a BIG BROTHER!

In July we found out we were expecting baby #2!!! We were thrilled! That meant our baby would be due in the middle of March...perfect! We got to spread the news to our families in August and everyone was just as excited. Today we had our ultrasound and Cooper is going to have a LITTLE BROTHER! We couldn't be anymore excited. It will be so much fun to have 2 little boys just under 3 years apart. It may be a little crazy at times having two energized boys around the house - but so wonderful, too! I don't have any pictures of my baby belly and don't know if I ever will (not a fan of taking pictures of my growing belly) but if you look back on our posts during the past few months you will notice my stomach growing each month!

Now it's time to prepare Coop as much as possible that he will be a big brother and it will be wonderful life change for him! We can't wait to be a family of four!!!

Make Your Own Pizza Night

Cooper LOVES pizza and he especially loves olive pizza! I thought it would be fun for us to make our own pizzas one night for dinner and it turned out to be a great idea. We all like different toppings - Chad loves Pepperoni and Sausage (although, I didn't buy any sausage this time), I love Pepperoni and Olives and Cooper must have olive pizza! So we all got to have them pretty much just the way we like! A fun event and a yummy dinner!

Chad and Cooper getting ready to build their mini pizzas

Cooper spreading his pizza sauce

Time for Cheese - Cooper could live on cheese so we had to take the package away from him after awhile!

Having a blast!

Time for some olives

yummm...a little taste of a pepperoni

Finished Pizzas - all cooked and ready to eat!

Football Season

Football season began in September and ended November 13th! Every Friday night we spent at the high school football games. From all the pictures below it is definitely obvious that Cooper loves every minute of being at the football games. He loves watching the game, loves seeing "Mommy's Deerleaders", is obsessed with playing with the younger sisters of some of the cheerleaders that come to the games and loves getting special treats from "Miss Nancy".

This is my 4th year coaching - I'm still totally enjoying it - but of course, it is a lot of time. Besides football games every Friday night, we practice at least 2 days a week. Sometimes it's difficult getting myself to practice - but afterwards, on my way home, I am so happy that I was there...that shows me that I still enjoy all the work it takes!

The football team wasn't the best but the girls did great all season!

Cooper with his poms! He would go through the girls' cheer bags to find some poms - each and every game! Maybe he will be a cheerleader someday????

Cooper and Jennifer - his very favorite friend to play with at the games. She was always so wonderful with him!

A true face of happiness!

Jillianne - one of Cooper's favorite Cheerleaders! He thought it was pretty cool to go down on the track with all the girls...I'm sure he will love these pictures later on in life!

Snack time with the "Deerleaders!"

Enjoying a lollipop with daddy

Coop made his very own seat - he needed a closer view!

Looks like he's trying to grab the camera from my hands...his eyes are just so pretty!

Family photo!

Balloon fight with daddy...

hahahaha...silly boy!

Liz and Doug came to a game too!

One of the games was on my birthday - so the girls/parents brought some cupcakes to celebrate! As soon as Cooper saw the cupcakes he could not take his eyes off of them. He waiting so patiently until it was finally his turn to eat one.

Digging in! and Loving it!

My girls singing "Happy Birthday" to me

Unsure of what to think of the Panther

It was a chilly Friday night on the last game of the season

Papa Mark is a referee for high school football games and we were lucky enough to have him ref the last game of the season at Prospect! Woohoo! He did a great job!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween was so much fun this year. Cooper is at an age where I think he "gets it" more than any other year anyway. He enjoyed everything about the pumpkins and on Halloween evening he LOVED getting dressed up as a tiger. He even acted like a "scary scary tiger" at some points during the evening. This year we went to a couple of our neighbors homes to Trick or Treat and then we drove over to Cooper's school where they were having a Truck N Treat that the church was putting on. Usually during Halloween the church puts on a Harvet Festival but this year they decided on the Trunk N Treat. I loved the idea! I remember as a kid going to the Trunk N Treat at my church - so I was excited to take Cooper. It ended up being SO perfect! It was great because we didn't have to walk from house to house - instead it was car to car - shorter distance for our little tiger. It was also wonderful to see so many people there that maybe did not know Chad or I but they all knew Cooper! I loved seeing his eyes light up when he would see one of the teachers from his school or a friend from his class. It's always different to see the people from school - outsideside of school. Such a wonderful Halloween evening!

All ready to go - checking out his whiskers in the mirror

Having puffs as a snack before going to get lots of candy...those probably aren't any healthier...oh well I guess

Nice Tiger

The Scariest Tiger you've ever seen!!!

Papa came over to say hello to his tiger before we went out for the evening

We stopped to Trick or Treat at the Estrella's on our way to the school - they decorate their house for every holiday - I thought this was a great background for a family Halloween picture

All of the cars/trunks were decorated with so much creativity! It was really cool to see the different ideas everybody had.

Hugs for Ms. Sylvia

An Aquarium...love it!

Even Santa showed up for Halloween! Coop LOVES Santa!

Funny to have this picture with his Halloween costume...but such a good idea for the theme of your trunk - an igloo, the North Pole and SANTA!

Of course, Cooper found the doggie! He LOVES doggies! Maybe someday I'll get the courage to have one in our house...just not yet!

Cooper and his buddy Mikey from school!

Cooper getting caught in the seaweed

Home with all his candy...seperating through what he can eat and what Daddy and Mommy can eat :)