Cougar Fun Run 2013

Carter and Cooper's school has a fun run each year as a fundraiser for the school.  Each child runs with their class and grade and has 20 minutes to run as many laps as they can around the school track.  Kindergarten went first and Cooper was so nervous he could hardly stand it!

His class was precious and came out ready to run.  Cooper did the most laps of any kindergartener, which was 10, and we couldn't be prouder of our little speedster.  He was quite determined and definitely surprised us with his endurance level!  He would walk a few steps here and there but ran the majority of the time.  The track is between 1/4 and 1/5 of a mile, so he ran at least 2 miles.

Carter's class was next and Carter could hardly believe Cooper had run 10 laps, which set the bar pretty high for him to beat!  He did 13 and also tied for the most laps of any 2nd grader.  Both of their classes ran the most laps of any of the other classes in their grade, so they were both all smiles knowing they had the speediest classes!  Way to go my running boys!

Getting in some stretching before the big run!

 And they're off!

 Parents stand around the track and give the class rubber band bracelets each time they come by and Cooper would bypass everyone and run straight to me each time:).

 My exhausted little runner!

Swifty Cougar was a big hit with the kindergarteners!  It was funny to see the 2nd graders immediately after because they couldn't care less about seeing the cougar!

 Having a snack and drink post-run.

Coop and his best school buddy Sam.

Here come the 2nd Graders!

Go

Carter

Go!

Neck and neck with his good buddy Brandon!

Looking like they're at a funeral, not a "fun" run!

Carter's class pic

Take 2 crazy!

Birthday Boy #2

Mr. Cooper celebrated his birthday a couple weeks ago on September 26th.  I didn't realize until that day how difficult it is to celebrate and make it special once school and sports and work are thrown into the mix!  I worked the night before but was happy and excited to come home and greet my sleepy-eyed birthday boy.  He wore a cute birthday button to school so that everyone knew it was his special day!  Jamey and Hudson were the lunch guests of honor at school and took Cooper his beloved Chick-Fil-A and baseball cupcakes for his class.

The afternoon passed quickly with Carter's swim practice then a birthday dinner at Carolina Ale House.  Coop initially wanted to go to Chick-Fil-A as a family that night but we were able to talk him out of it!  Nunu and Pop took us to dinner and then we came home for cake and presents!

Cooper was blown away by all of his awesome birthday presents, especially his new DS.  Hopefully he can keep up with it this time!  Happy birthday Cooper, we love you so much and can't imagine how boring our lives would be without your wild, silly self in it!

Carter and Cooper's school recognizes students based on certain character traits each month and Cooper was the lucky recipient of the responsibility award for September.  He got to go to the media center at the beginning of the school day and get recognized on the school television shaking the principal's hand!  He was shy but excited to have the chance to be on "TV" for all of his school to see!  I was so proud of my responsible boy.  Way to go Cooper!

Preschool and UNC Football

Mr. Hudson started his 2 year old preschool class last week.  He will go to the same school we've been going to and actually be in his same classroom as last year, just with 2 different teachers and for one more day!  He wasn't too thrilled about going but really does love school once he's there with his buddies.  I was nervous about the first day drop off because Hudson is so unpredictable in his behavior but fortunately he was an angel and happily sat down to start painting as soon as we walked into his class.  He's been doing well so far with the drop off and is precious and thrilled to see you at pick up time so let's hope that trend continues!  Jamey said today on the way to school he told him he didn't want to go because his back was really hurting and he wanted to go back to bed.  Gotta love those 2 year old back aches!

This was Hudson before his first day not really feeling the photo shoot as you can see!

Hot and sweaty but smiling after day 1!

Last weekend my parents bought us all tickets to see Carolina's opening game on Saturday.  We had a busy but fun day full of activity!  Coop had a baseball game bright and early Saturday morning so we headed straight from West Raleigh to Chapel Hill to hopefully get in at least a little bit of tailgating before 12:30 kickoff.  We found the perfect tailgating spot and enjoyed ourselves as long as possible until it was time to head into the game.  The place is awesome because it has a playground that the boys loved playing on while we just hung out!  On our way in, we noticed Cooper's kindergarten teacher at her car tailgating and he was so excited to get to see Mrs. Harris outside of school!  After saying hello, we headed in for a HOT but mostly fun time!  Hudson had his moments of reminding us he is very much still two but Carter and Cooper were very good and I think would love to have the chance to go back again soon.  I think a babysitter will be in the works for Hudson!

 Rah rah Carolina lina!

 Hudson had the chance to say hey to Ramses thanks to my dad!

 One of the few moments of lovely shade!

Watch Out Kindergarten!

Tuesday was a big day for this kiddo!  Cooper had his first day of Kindergarten this past Tuesday.  He was nervously excited as the time to go approached!  He knew he only had to go one day this week so I think that made it much easier on all of us!  We sent Carter to his class and off we went to the kindergarten building.  We only knew which classroom number to go to, not which teacher he would start with so we were both relieved to see the room we were assigned to was Mrs. Harris, who was Carter's kindergarten teacher!  As soon as I saw it was her room and told Coop, he pumped his fist and said, "Yes!"  We walked in and put away his things, filled out a little bit of paperwork and then it was time to say bye.  Poor Coop didn't realize I was leaving him (he thought I stayed with him the whole day!) so that was harder than I thought it would be to explain to him he'd be there all day and I'd pick him up in carpool with Carter later that afternoon.  Once he asked me a million questions and seemed ok with the situation I left and had a lonely day with just Hudson.  We stayed busy but my mind was always on my Cooper at school.  I could hardly wait to pick him up that afternoon.  I told Jamey I felt like a kid on Christmas morning sitting on the steps waiting to get the go ahead to come down and see your presents!  Seeing Carter and Cooper walking out of school together proudly and hopping in the car was priceless and an image I hope I won't soon forget.  They were both just so happy and proud and couldn't wait to tell me about their day.  Fortunately Cooper loved it and said it was "way more funner" than he thought it would be!

The first day, kindergarteners rotate through all the kindergarten classes and meet each teacher and assistant and are evaluated in the process so he doesn't have an actual assigned teacher until after the first day.  I was excited he was able to start his morning with Mrs. Harris because I knew that would make him feel more comfortable to have a little familiarity but that didn't mean she would be his teacher for the year.  He liked Mrs. Harris and another teacher, Mrs. Lipe, the most so we were hopeful to go to meet the teacher and have his name on one of their doors!

Ready for his first day!

 I guess the sun was a little too bright!

We went for Meet the Teacher this afternoon and were so excited to see that Cooper has Mrs. Harris!  Hudson came along too and loved checking out the reading nook and loft and playing with the baby dolls in the class!  Cooper was shy but happy to know he had Mrs. Harris for the year and now he's so excited to start his first year of real school!  I'm so proud of my big boy for being brave this week and I'm so happy that he's actually excited about kindergarten now!