Such a sweetie...

Going back to work after a great summer off with my babies is always kind of sad.  I'm excited about a new school year, and glad to see all of my friends from work, but it's sad not to get to be with Cooper and Ella all day, every day.  I know that I am blessed to have summers off with them.  I'm not complaining about having a job.  I am so lucky that Mom and Glenda keep the kids for us, but I can't help but be a little blue when it comes time to leave them every day and head off to work.  And I'm not the only one who's having to adjust.  Cooper loves to be with Mom and Glenda, but he can be a little sad sometimes too about me having to go to work.  Here are some of the sweet (but heart wrenching) things he's said lately...

"I'll miss you when you're at work Mom, but I'll always hold you in my heart."

"I meant to tell you a long time ago, back when I was a baby, that I didn't want you to go to work.  I wanted you to stay home with me."

"I miss all those days.  Those days when you were able to be home with me all the time."

Then tonight when I was tucking him in, he said, "Mom, guess who I love?  She's as pretty as can be, and the best mother in the whole wide world.  It's you!"  Then he said, "I love Daddy too.  No matter how many boo boos he has, I will always love him because he's a great dad."  (Chris had some cuts on his hands from something he did at work today, and Cooper had helped him put on a band aid right before bedtime.)

He is just the sweetest, most loving, most precious little boy in the world.  I am so proud to be his mommy!

Coop's first Panthers game...

Last night Chris took Cooper to his first Panthers game, and I'm not sure who was more excited!  Chris has been waiting for this day since Cooper was born.  Cooper wanted to eat as soon as they got there, and they did a little shopping.  After half time, Chris had taken Cooper to the bathroom, and a lady came up to them and offered them her club level seats.  So they got to enjoy the second half of the game in style!  They had a great time.  Cooper said his favorite part of the game was the cheerleaders (of course haha).  On the way home Cooper told Chris that he wanted to be a football player when he grew up and play in the stadium where they had just been.  And then Chris's head exploded.  :)

Getting ready to go!

Modeling his new Cam Newton jersey and Panther hat.

Showing off the jersey he insisted they get for Ella.  :)

Go Panthers!

Can't believe Chris actually asked somebody to take their picture.

"Sure, I come here all the time."  In the club level.

It's that time of year again...

I can't believe this was my last full week off with my babies!  Workdays start Thursday.  Even though it's always exciting starting a new year, and even though it's nice to go out to lunch and catch up with everybody during workdays, it is so so so so sad to think about not getting to spend all day every day with my little man and my sweet girl.  :(

I won't get to watch them reading together after breakfast...

Or clap for her when she rides her horse...

Or smile at the look of concentration on his face while he plays his Leapster...

Or be a little afraid of the look on her face when she wants me to stop taking her picture and help her put the coins in that toy...

Or see how happy she is while she plays with her teat set...

Or do long drawn out art projects with my big boy...

BUT I'll still get to see these sleepy bed heads every morning...

and these sweet faces every afternoon...

and be thankful that I've had all summer to enjoy being with them!

My new favorite picture of Ella...

How sweet is she?  Love those big eyes and wispy hair.  :)

And check out those tan lines!

Brotherly love???

Cooper loves to get in Ella's crib and wrestle snuggle with her in the mornings.  As you can see from the above picture, sometimes she is less than thrilled with this idea.

But sometimes she likes it.  :)

Tell me this is not the cutest thing you've ever seen!

I was cleaning out old pictures on the computer and came across this one.  Cooper was 21 months old.  Jami took this at Hunter's 1st birthday party.  Love this picture of him!

And just so you know I really do exist, a picture of us together on the same day...