cooper's lucky #11

what could i possibly say about this boy that i haven't said a thousand times? he is just incredible in so many ways. he has more natural talent in his 55 pounds than i have ever known. most things tend to come easy to him. and when it doesn't he always has his dedicated & hard working drive to push him to excellence. he is a writer, a reader, a mathematician, a scientist, a researcher, a technician, an engineer, a logician, an analyzer, a soccer player, a basketball player, a football player, a runner, a swimmer, a body boarder, & so much more. i've always been limited by my abilities, he is only limited by his time & interest. 

i live in constant amazement of this boy. he is the hardest little worker. and he has an ability to push himself beyond what i have ever been comfortable with. that's how i know he will accomplish anything & every thing he puts his mind to. the only thing that could ever stand in his way is himself. right now it's cross country season. cooper consistently wins every race by quite a distance (he has his daddy's speed). rather than hang back & just try to win, he sets his own goals & tries to beat himself. last week he ran a 5:29 mile. he's working harder & harder to run a mile in less than 5 minutes. he says that win he runs he gets in a zone where he feels like he's flying & his body seems to move effortlessly on its own. i have never felt that kind of feeling-it fills me with such joy to imagine him in such a state. i watch him run & i can't believe what i see. every time i think he can't possibly keep up at his quick pace he somehow does. that's just the kind of kid cooper is. it's something that sets him apart & something i only wish i had. when things get tough, he gets tougher.

cooper is fun & such a joy. he is starting to build a competitive side & it's fun to watch. he hates to lose & will fight so hard to win. but he's pretty good at accepting defeat when he knows that he gave it all he has. cooper seems to have inherited the best qualities from all of his family. he is a walking encyclopedia, just like his grandpa. he is a wealth of knowledge & i am constantly learning from him.  he is incredibly athletic-like his daddy. he has my love for learning & his grandma's analytical mind. and somehow he's still got his own sense of self that sets him apart from everyone around him. 

he's growing into this tweenage phase with only minor bumps & bruises. he needs a little more sleep  & a little more food. he's sometimes a little more moody, but he's pretty quick to pull out of the attitude funk. he's already up to my chin & his feet are only half a size smaller than mine. he's killing me with how quick he's growing. i have been subbing at the boys' school a lot this year. and it makes me smile every time i spot one of my boys on campus. but nothing makes me happier than seeing this big guy. it breaks my heart to think that next year we won't all be in the same place. like, literally, i have cried over this almost weekly since the start of his fifth grade year. i know he is going to conquer the world, i just wish he would slow down a little bit.

cooper, we love you more than words can say. you are such a great example to your brothers. you are a kind kid with a good heart. you are a leader, a teacher, & a friend to your brothers. they are so blessed to have you pave their way. i feel so blessed to know you, let alone have the honor of raising you. you are my sonshine. happy 11th birthday, cooper. we love you. 

**this year cooper opted out of a proper birthday party. instead, he decided to take his friends on a paintball adventure. i packed them a picnic lunch (complete with layered cake in a jar) & sent them on their warmongering way. they were a little intimidated by the big guns at first but they quickly settled in & had a blast. literally.**

1. cooper's best friend: rex & jameson & sam
2.  cooper's name: cooper j watkins
3.  cooper prefers to go by: cooper

4.  cooper's favorite animals: 

5.  what does cooper want to be when he grows up: a professional soccer player, a dad, a scientist, & an author.
6. cooper's favorite movie: avenger's infinity war
7.  cooper's favorite song: natural by imagine dragons

8.  what makes cooper happy?  when I get things, going to the park, reading, & playing video games.

9.  what makes cooper sad? when he feelss left out.
10.  cooper's favorite food:  five layer burritos from taco bells & del taco bean & beef burritos
11.  cooper's favorite place: utah, coronado island, & hana
12.  cooper's favorite color: dark blue
13.  cooper's favorite game: soccer & fortnite (his favorite non-game activity is writing)
14.  cooper's #1 wish right now: to be a successful scientist & make helpful discoveries. 
15: cute cooper quotes: 

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cooper makes 10.

cooper, my cooper, is 10. double digits. a full decade. it is bittersweet. i am so proud of the young man he has grown to be through his short life span. i feel so blessed to have spent 10 years with this sweet guy. but it breaks my heart to think that the years with him under my roof are quickly dwindling. can time please slow down?

cooper is incredible in more ways than one. i could brag about his brilliance in the classroom. I could boast about his abilities on various sports fields. i could rave about his reading. i could gloat about his goodness. i could even puff about his pleasant personality. but that's all true cooper form. that has been in his being since the beginning. instead, i'll focus on some of the new ways cooper has blossomed over the past year.

cooper has become quite courageous. he has always been a pretty shy guy but he has really shed his shell over the past year. there are very few signs of the timid tot he once was. he's not just brave in social ways, he's also pushed himself to try new things and set new limits. i love it. he was once afraid of the unknown but lately, he has welcomed new scenarios, new scenes, and new challenges. like basketball. he gave it a shot a few years ago and really wasn't a fan. and he hasn't picked up a ball since. so you can imagine my surprise when he asked to give the sport another go this past summer. i was so proud of his willingness to try. going in to it he said, "it's going to be hard going from being one of the best players in soccer and football to being one of the worst in basketball." i was amazed by his honesty, humility, and perseverance.  couldn't believe how much effort and how great his attitude was through the entire season. starting out he was hands down the worst on the court. but he never stopped trying, he never gave anything but his best, and he thrived. he learned so much during that season. not just about basketball, but about life. i am so proud of this brave boy.

this has been the year for so much emotional growth as cooper slowly transitions from boyhood to teen. i am so amazed with how well he handles most everything. he is pretty good at understanding his needs, wants, feelings, and body. what amazes me most is how he chooses to talk to me about any & every big thing on his mind. this is an honor i do not take lightly. i strive to answer all of his questions & concerns with as much honest fullness as i can. he isn't loving this new transition. he likes to cling to his childish ways. and i don't blame him so we don't rush him. he has his whole life to be grown, i think he deserves as much time as a kid as he can possibly get. he is not as mature & a little more naive than most his friends. in my mind, that is a really great thing. i'm learning to loosen the leash a little & give him more control over himself (with plenty of coaching & encouragement, of course). like his room. he is a natural tornado & always ends up with a stream of messes behind him. he's pretty good about cleaning up with instruction but i'm trying to let him take charge of his own space (which is torture for my OCD).

he isn't a very flexible kid. he loves predictability & structure. he thrives with a full nights sleep. he does not like when things disrupt our family time, especially movie nights. he is an extroverted introvert, so as much as he loves hanging out with friends he needs his quiet time. and that's ok because four out of five watkins teammates are natural introverts so we all depend on a little me-time.

cooper has big dreams & i do not doubt he will make all of them come true. he wants to attend college, play professional soccer, live in europe, own a corvette, be a husband and a father, become an author, and make it to heaven. he is practical in everything and he knows that these are all attainable things. we finally made a year long dream come true when he opened his first bank account last week. he takes his financial situation very seriously. he is a saver.

he loves nothing more than playing soccer at the park with his mom, dad, & brothers. his favorite treats are chocolate chip pizookies & insists on having them every time he is in charge of movie night dessert. he is a major bookworm & always has a book in hand. he loves playing fifa & watching soccer videos. he is always down for an adventure & can never get enough of the outdoors. he has more energy than any child i've ever known. in fact, the only things i can think of that he truly hates are steak, shopping, & sleeping.

happy double digits, cooper! you are going to rock this being a 10 year old thing! we love you so much. more than you will ever know. you are the leader of our pack, our team captain. you started our family off & in so many ways you have been the glue that's held us together. you are so wonderful in so many ways. and we are forever and ever grateful to call you ours.

1. cooper's best friend: Rex & Jameson
2.  cooper's name: cooper watkins
3.  cooper prefers to go by: Cooper

4.  cooper's favorite animals: Megaladon

5.  what does cooper want to be when he grows up: A professional soccer player, a dad, & an author.
6. cooper's favorite movie: Wonder Woman
7.  cooper's favorite song: Believer by Imagine Dragons

8.  what makes cooper happy?  When I get things, going to the park, & playing video games.

9.  what makes cooper sad? When he is left out by his brothers.
10.  cooper's favorite food:  Five layer burritos from Taco Bells & omelets from Koa's & McDonald's Pico de Guacamole burger
11.  cooper's favorite place: Utah & Hana
12.  cooper's favorite color: Teal
13.  cooper's favorite game: Soccer
14.  cooper's #1 wish right now: To be the best soccer player of my time.
15: cute cooper quotes: while playing their real life version of the game of life (they act out the board game by finding books to match their career, buying cars, houses, & even wives & children) tj offered cooper a wife & coop asked, "is she the prettiest lady in the world?" and tj said, "yes." then cooper said, "yea, but is she the smartest lady in the world?" and tj said, "she's the second smartest lady in the world." then cooper said, "ok that's pretty good. but is she good at soccer?" he knows what he wants in a woman!

Cooper's 9.

Yes, you read that right. Cooper is nine. Nine! That's half-way to adulthood. The empty-nest syndrome has already kicked in & I am dreading his uncontrollable growth. He almost reaches my shoulder & it's only a few short years until he's passed me up completely. And i'm not just talking about height. This kid's intellect is leaps & bounds beyond anything I understand. He's a brilliant little star. He read the entire Harry Potter series in 2 months. He taught himself how to multiply. And he has a memory like a steel trap. He can watch, read, or hear something once & it is forever committed to his memory. No joke. His comprehension is off the charts. He understands concepts, theories, ideas, well beyond his tender years. And the best part? He loves to learn. He constantly asks to go to the library & he can never get his hands on enough books. His favorite subjects are history, geography, geology, & science. But this little bookworm has had a new distraction…video games. He loves video games (what 9 year old boy doesn't?). His favorites are Star Wars & FIFA. He would play all day if I let him-but I don't.

Soccer is dominating this little athlete's life lately. After winning his first (and second) tournament(s) this summer he has been a little soccer obsessed. He prefers to wear soccer jerseys, he loves getting outside to practice his skills, & he wants to learn everything there is to learn about the sport. His favorite players are Messi & Pele. This year he will be playing flag football & running cross country in addition to playing soccer. I know that sounds like a lot, but trust me, he loves it. He is happier when he is busy doing what he loves. Without school & sports for a month this summer he was going stir crazy & he is more than ready for a busy fall. Coop is a big ball of endless energy. Seriously, I think I've heard him say that he was tired maybe 5 times in his 9 years. He is my Energizer bunny that just never quits.

Cooper is really such a gem. He is a good kid. Always has been. He's never gotten in trouble at school, sports, church, or with family or friends. He's never been scolded by anyone other than his parents. In fact, he is always praised by teachers, coaches, & other adults. He just listens, obeys, does his best, & has a good attitude (ok-he doesn't always act like this at home, but hey, nobody is perfect! I'm ok with a little rebellion in the comfort of your own home). We've really lucked out with this guy. He sets a great example for his brothers. He really is just so good. I love knowing that I can trust him in most any situation because he never fails to be good. He has turned in to a big boy in the last few months. He's lost some of his sweet innocence & taken on a new fascination for everything gross like bodily functions & messy foods, & bugs. But, that's just boys, right? I hope it's all a phase. He's also taken to teasing. This is a new one for us, but his little brothers roll with the punches pretty well & are pretty good at giving Coop a taste of his own medicine.

We are so blessed to have this big guy as the leader of our pack. He is strong, curious, brave, obedient, observant, persistent, energetic, responsible, smart, & in so many ways purely fantastic. He sets the bar high with his endless expectations but his hardworking attitude helps him achieve his dreams no matter how big they are. He pushes me to always be better & do better. He's never satisfied with mediocre. He's always setting new goals & striving to achieve them. He teaches me so much. He melts my heart with his genuine smile, his joyful laugh, & his sweet "the amos" at the end of every night. He is a leader. He is so wonderful & we love him so. Cooper, we fall more & more in love with you every day. You are my very best friend & there is no one I enjoy talking to more than you, Sonshine. Thanks for being you. We love you more than words can possibly say.

**I asked him if we could take his annual birthday pictures. He wasn't keen on the idea so we made a deal. He agreed to take the pictures as long as he could wear a soccer jersey & play soccer while I took pictures. I'm not at all surprised. And I love how these shots show the true Cooper in his element.**

1. cooper's best friend: TJ
2.  cooper's name: cooper watkins
3.  cooper prefers to go by: Cooper

4.  cooper's favorite animals: Spinosaurus

5.  what does cooper want to be when he grows up: A professional soccer player, an inventor, a dad, a lawyer, a president, & that's all.
6. cooper's favorite movie: The Hobbit 3
7.  cooper's favorite song: You Can Count On Me by Bruno Mars & Hey Soul Sister by Train

8.  what makes cooper happy?  Having fun. Playing sports, reading, playing on the PlayStation, seeing new things, & exploring.

9.  what makes cooper sad? When he is left out by his brothers.
10.  cooper's favorite food:  Five layer burritos from Taco Bells & omelets from Koa's
11.  cooper's favorite place: New York
12.  cooper's favorite color: Blue
13.  cooper's favorite game: Soccer
14.  cooper's #1 wish right now: To invent a time machine to study history.
15: cute cooper quotes: "buenos nachos" he's been learning Spanish & hasn't quite mastered "good night." But that's partly my fault, I refuse to correct this cuteness. 

coop's 8th "party"

cooper was hoping to have a soccer party for his 8th birthday but when the opportunity to forego a party & take a special daddy/son trip arouse he took it. todd had a work trip to utah & coop tagged along. according to him, it was the best trip ever (i'll try not to take that personally). they spent 10 days on the mainland between utah & san diego. my heart could barely take his absence.

they had a pretty memorable time. in utah they toured byu, went down on the field at the byu vs. boise game, hiked timp cave, enjoyed all our favorite byu eats (j dawgs, chipotle, beto's, chic-fil-et, etc.), & spent almost every minute with their dear cousins, kam & rylie. during the week todd had to attend some work meetings so he spent most his time in salt lake. coop was a total trouper, he hung with the becks the whole time without the slightest aching for home. it helps that his auntie lys is the absolute most caring, giving, thoughtful, attentive, loving aunt to ever spoil her nephew. she spent the entire week catering to cooper's ever want & need. she made sure he had all his favorite meals, even going out of her way to make him omelettes & cheesy eggs. she took him to all the best utah sites including the dinosaur museum, the museum of curiosity, the movies, boondocks, & his favorite place, the dollar store. in between all that she spoiled him with gifts & treats. plus, she let her kids stay home from school for some extra quality time with coop. he loved spending every moment with his cousins. he learned all about big kid games & loved it. they played lego wars, nerf wars equipped with fort building, stunt & trick shows, xbox, soccer, football, & auntie even let them watch movies until they fell asleep. he was in heaven. 

after all that they flew in to san diego for a couple days with his grandma cindy, nana, grandpa great, & auntie tiff. they grabbed fish tacos & went to mission beach for some roller coaster riding. seriously, can you imagine a better non-birthday-party?

coop's baptism

so i'm a little slow on the blog-front. eh, what can i say? life's been busy. but i do need to make special mention about a very special day for a very special boy. 11.l8.14, cooper j was baptized in to the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints. this was a choice he made after plenty thought, study, & prayer. todd & i worked together to teach him about the lds church in comparison to other Christian churches. he spent countless hours reading the Bible & the Book of Mormon. ultimately, he prayed about it & felt like he should be baptized in to the lds church. he bore his testimony, met with the bishop of our local ward, & spiritually prepared himself for the big day.

he decided to wait until his papa came to maui so he could perform the ordinance. he asked that his dad pray, his mom give a talk on baptism, & the attendees sing "book of mormon stories." his good friend, titan was baptized at the same time. he was so happy to have his buddy there.

it was such an incredible experience for cooper & our family. i am so proud of this little boy & his big spirit. he is so persistent, so dedicated, so faithful, & so good. although he is often timid he has a hidden bravery that allows him to always make good choices no matter how hard they may be. he is  a light & a leader in our family & we are so grateful for him. 

(excuse the poor pictures. my sd card with the baptism pictures off my dslr broke so iPhone it is.)

cooper turns 8.

this boy stole my heart the second the doctor first laid him in my arms & he's had it wrapped around his finger ever since. i've spent the past 8 years just trying to be worthy of him. he is truly some kind of special. he's my best friend. he is smart & inquisitive with an unquenchable thirst for more knowledge. his questions are never-ending & ever-evolving. he challenges my intellect on the daily. for a long time i struggled to come up age appropriate explanations for the advanced concepts he yearned to understand. i would get frustrated & he would get frustrated. then smarty little coop came up with a solution. he requested that i give him the complete unmodified answer to even the most difficult of his questions. i obliged. sometimes the answers are so far over his little head & even though he doesn't understand he appreciates my honesty. sometimes he comprehends bits & pieces & comes up with his own limited conclusions,.& many times, he just gets it. he is so much smarter than i understood. 

he is growing up much too quick. when we got to the top of campus on the first day of his second grade he turned to me & said, "i can take it from here, mommy." my jaw just about dropped. i couldn't believe how mature he sounded. & although i wanted to hold his hand all the way to his new seat i knew that what he said was true. he is so capable, so smart, so mature, & so aware. he really "could take it from there." his new aspiration is to walk the 200 yards from school to our home alone. baby steps, coop. we'll get there soon enough. he's taken on new roles around the house that correspond with his continually growing need for independence & responsibility. he takes out the trash, fetches the mail, feeds godzilla, folds his own laundry, packs his own lunch, & cares for our plants. despite his maturity, he still hangs on to a few of his baby phrases like calling sneezes "bless yous" & instead of saying what time is it he says "what o'clock is it?" i love it all. & i will hold on to my little guy for as long as he will allow.

his creativity is starting to shine. he loves playing the uke & i love listening to him strum & hum. he's even started writing his own songs. & they are too cute for words. my favorite is titled, "your beautiful face." he is an amazing story teller. he has a beautiful imagination. he is very sensible & his stories are often very practical & almost always end with a moral. i love reading over his schoolwork. especially on fridays when he brings home his writing notebook with a special note for me. it helps ease the emptiness of being without him all day. i almost feel like i'm almost a part of this big chunk of his life. he has a tendency of using a vocabulary rather similar to mine. adjectives like incredible, outstanding, & fantastic often pop up in his writing. it's probably because i often use these words to describe him.

he's a goal setter. he loves to dream & works hard to accomplish anything & everything he puts his little mind to. on the short term, he wants to run 3 miles at one time, read the book of mormon & the bible from cover to cover, & save another $100. his long term goals include, going to college, getting degrees in biology & gemology, becoming a scientist, owning a museum, writing a book, being a really good husband & dad, & winning the super bowl. i don't doubt he will fulfill every one of his dreams.

coop loves a full agenda. in fact, i have to remind him to chill & ensure that he has time for unstructured & imaginative play. between club soccer, cross country, & ukulele he is pretty busy. and that's after i had to cut out rugby & swimming for the fall because it was just too much. he is eagerly awaiting the next flag football season. and practices running plays with his dad & brothers almost nightly. he can call & run plays like a mini tom brady. his favorite position is wide receiver. just like his daddy. but i think he has a natural knack for quarterback. i swore my boys' wouldn't play football until high school, but you try telling him no.

he is truly a wonderful big brother. don't get me wrong, he teases & torments his brothers like any good big brother does, but he loves them. he worries about them when they are struggling with something, he cares for them when they are hurt, he helps them all throughout the day, & he is constantly teaching them. he is often the first person to offer aid when they are hurt & they fight over who can have a sleep over in his bed. they are so blessed to have a coop in their lives.

his lengthy prayers are so heartfelt. this kid has some serious faith. he expresses sincere gratitude for all the great things that happened in his day. & his requests are always valid needs, not only for himself but also for his family. twice in the past two weeks he had specific prayers answered. i just have to record this one: he saved up & ordered a brett farve trading card online. & three days later he eagerly ran to the mailbox with high hopes. i warned him that it was too soon. come on, an envelope just can't travel from indiana to hawaii in three days. this faithful little guy immediately bowed his head & said a sweet little prayer. the entire time i was panicking. how would he handle the disappointment when he opened the mailbox to find it empty?  how would i explain that some prayers just don't get answered when & how we expect? would this shake his faith? but there was no need for any of that. his prayer was answered & his faith confirmed when his trading card was waiting for him.

per his request we had an early breakfast of ham & bacon omelettes, & chocolate peanut butter smoothies. he opened all his presents before heading off to school. last night, he helped me bake & wrap his favorite treat (one that we have adapted over the years to contain as much sugar as posssible) super cookie brownie sandwiches (homemade chocolate chip & m&m cookie bars covered with a layer of oreos & smothered with homemade brownies & topped with sprinkles) to share with his class. he also helped me bake homemade funfetti cupcakes to share with his soccer team. mylo & i will be taking him taco bell & vitamin water for a lunch date at the school caf. then he wants to play with his new toys & watch super bowl highlights before soccer practice. then it's fun factory & ruby's diner for cheeseburgers & milkshakes. not a bad day, little man. he opted to trade in his birthday party for a special trip to utah with daddy. awwww, he's such a man! (he also wants to take homemade oreo layered cake to church to share with his class on sunday.)

coop, we love you. so very much. more than the sun. more than the moon. and more than all the stars.  you are a vital piece to our family & we would never be complete without you.

1.  cooper's best friend: alec, keawe, titan
2.  cooper's name: cooper j watkins
3.  cooper prefers to go by: cooper
4.  cooper's favorite animals: siberian tiger
5.  what does cooper want to be when he grows up: a football player & a dad
6.  cooper's favorite movie: wild kratts & lego movie
7.  cooper's favorite song: "i know i can" by nas
8.  what makes cooper happy? when someone says a very funny thing & boxing with my daddy & brothers
9.  what makes cooper sad? when i'm having a lot of fun & i get injured & when i get scolded
10.  cooper's favorite food: omelettes, german pancakes, taco bells, & pizza
11.  cooper's favorite place: sydney opera house 
12.  cooper's favorite color: turquoise 
13.  cooper's favorite game: football & soccer
14.  cooper's #1 wish right now: to get a super bowl ring 

back to school 2015

after a fun filled summer break we are back on the grind. all of us-ok, maybe not me. but hey, someone has to pack those lunches & wash those uniforms!

todd is starting the second & final year of his mba program. and despite the constant struggle of juggling family, work, & strenuous schooling he is ready to get back at it. he had an incredible first year, working hard & pulling off grades well beyond expected. he was able to spend three weeks in asia as part of his business program. he visited south korea, china, vietnam, & indonesia. he toured major companies & checked out the surrounding areas. to say this was the highlight of his year would be a grand understatement. 

cooper began second grade. he is a big man on the lower elementary side of campus. it's amazing to see the transition that has taken place at the commencement of this year. he craves independence & responsibility & he fulfills his roles like a champ. he loves being in charge & rarely abuses his power (hey, he's seven, he isn't totally perfect). he is so comfortable & confident in school. he knows most of the staff & students & loves the social side of school. he insists on getting to campus at least 30 minutes early so he has plenty of time to play. and he is trying to convince me to let him walk the 200 yards from school to our home solo. i miss his constant presence around the house but i love school-coop. he loves the school & is so much happier when he can break up his day by spending some quality time with friends & teachers. he is proud to be a pea. and he is eager to take part in every school activity. any time there is an extra project to be done he does it. and he cannot wait to enter upper elementary so he can take part in all the extra curricular. for now, he loves running on the school's cross country team. he is always one of the best behaved, hardest working, & smartest in his class. he makes me proud in so many ways. 

tj started preschool. like, for real, legit preschool. and he loves it. he goes two full days a week & begs for more. but this is the last year i have with him before he enters the public school system & will be absent from our home 5 days a week & i wanted him home full-time. so two days was the best compromise we could come up with. when he first started school the plan was that todd would drop him off on his way to work & i would pick him up early. when i showed up on the first day he told me, "i'm so happy to see you, mommy. but next time can i just stay until daddy comes." i was shocked. so now he is at school basically the same hours todd is at wortk, so like, forever. tj has always been the shyest of my boys but he walked in to class on the first day & sat right down grabbed some toys & started making friends. no hesitation. he has yet to remember any of these friends' names but that's part of being a pre-ker, right? he loves his teacher, loves the school, & loves his friends. he is most excited to have his own place to go each day & to have a little extra time with daddy in the car. he insists on wearing football shirts/jerseys every day & carrying his football lunch bag. he is totally ready for preschool socially, emotionally, & mentally. in fact, he should probably just jump in to kindergarten. he knows all the letters & their sounds, he can count & identify numbers well over 200 (i have yet to test how far he can go-my a.d.d. sets in around 150), he can read a digital clock, & add & subject single digits. yea, he's a genius. just like his brother, but he's doesn't have any desire to show off his skills. if i didn't ask i would never know just how much he understands. he is sweet as sugar & i hope his school realizes just how lucky they are to have him.

as for mylo, he's my only pupil these days. he recently sparked an interest in letters & numbers & i am rolling with his lead. his attention span is short so we usually spend 30 minutes or less on learning activities, lessons, & games. he digs it & i dig him so it works well for both of us. he doesn't love taking directions so when i start to notice him resisting we usually pack up & are pau. his favorite things to do is read, sing songs, & play board games. so i find ways to jam as much educational value in to these activities as possible. mostly, i just love seeing a different side to this rambunctious little guy. it's nice to take a few moments to sit down one-on-one & quietly explore the world of education with him. he hates when his brothers are both at school. it usually takes a solid 30 minutes for him to come to grips with the fact that he is the only boy at home when he wakes up & his brothers are off at school. and even then, he asks to pick them up about 100 times an hour. he may not be totally smitten by all the quality mom time but, i on the other hand, am soaking up every moment of my quality time with my baby. 

as for me, well, i'm kind of on vacation. after a high-energy fun-packed summer i'm kind of enjoying a quite-ish home & plenty of time to get things done. i'm finally getting done all the things i've put off for the past few months; home improvements, exercising, & reading here i come!

Reading 101

coop finished off 1st grade a proud as a peach. he couldn't wait to bring home his 8 notebooks & read every single page of completed school work to me. yes, even the math problems. in fact, he was so proud he asked me to help him type up some of his writing passages from his reading class on here to share with his family. since, he decided to take up typing this summer we opted to make it a joint effort. so the two of us worked together to bring you two of his favorite assignments. it may seem like we're showing off but since he reads this blog more than anyone i just had to appease my biggest fan what he wanted. and you know me, i'm a sucker for that kid. plus, it's nice to have these things permanently stuck on the web, for preservation purposes. he learned so much this year. i can't rave enough about his incredible teacher & the entire school staff. his school's curriculum is based on the 7 healthy habits. i love hearing him talk about synergizing, putting first things first, being proactive, making win-win solutions, & beginning with the end in mind. it's so comforting sending him to a place that isn't only teaching him his ABC's & 123's but instilling good character & inspiring him to build a strong foundation.

this post is brought to you by cooper:

highlights from this year: 1. My teacher uses the app class dojo to send weekly behavior reports to the parents. i only had two negative marks all year long. 2. I won awards for being proactive & beginning with the end in mind. 3. I was picked to present my class's work for the parents at  ho'ike. 4. I built a bottle rocket & won first place in my class. 5. I had five class projects but my favorite was my tiger shark presentation.

Happy Birthday USA

by Cooper Watkins

5/9/15

Whiz! Boom! Bong! That's the sound of fireworks that tear through the air. Colors light up the sky. Bands play and crowds roar. It's the Fourth of July! Each year people celebrate the birthday of the United States. It is a day for us all to share. We enjoy parades, fireworks, and picnics. This kind of party has gone on for over two hundred years. But how did this holiday begin? In 1775 our nation was small, it had 13 colineas. Today our nation has 50 states. More then 302 million people live in the US now. When it was 1719 there were only 19,000 people in the USA. In 1859 there were 3 million people living in the US. In 1999 there were 302 million people in the US. In 2015 there are 302 million 4000 people in the US. Do you know when there was first Americans? When England took control of the USA. That was in 1524 when there was so little people in the US. Let's go in to 1524 when our nation was very little or tiney. When it was 1673 George Washington led the army agaenst England. They won! But with nobody to lead the nation George Washington was the president. He was a very nise president.

some of mommy's favorite sentences from cooper's spelling notebook this year:

9/2/14   What was the presint? It was a saperise! I wander what it will be. A boat. What if it was a remote boat or a big toy moater boat? Now it is nite time. I wock up and it was a big remote boat. It was my forst gess! Yessss!

9/9/14   I only like to kiss in kolig.

10/15/14   I like to help my mom wen there is bevy stuff to hold.

10/30/14 My mom winks at me if I do a good thing.

12/17/14 My nose is very cute because it's the shape of a cube and it has very nise manners.

may day 2015

may day just might be the best day of the elementary school year. the flowers, music, & dance only enhance the feeling of aloha & ohana we have come to love at cooper's school. this year his school program was centered around famous hawaiians. the first grade chose to honor duke kahanamoku by dancing to the song pi'i mai ka nalu which means "catch the wave". it was far & away my most favorite may day performance, yet. my heart could just burst listening to these little seven year olds shout in pidgin & shake their booties while pretending to surf. it is down right darling. coop had the moves down & he knew every line. he practiced in secret on the days leading up to may day so that his final show would be a surprise for us. he made candy leis to pass out to friends after the program. i was so proud of all the handwork he put in to his big day. he is truly some kind of special.

kahului warriors #2 & #3.

this rugby season was a very unique time for the watkins team. we had not one, but two rugby players on the same team. it was possibly the only time that tj & cooper will ever be teammates. seeing these two team up was probably the highlight of my life.

they play well together all the time but even more so when it comes to sports. tj loves to block & tackle, & cooper loves to run & score. they make the perfect pair. tj was a little hesitant the first few practices & games (ok, he was a little hesitant almost the entire season) but having his big brother by his side was all the comfort he needed. there were so many times when cooper walked tj on to the field holding tj's hand or wrapping his arm around his little brother's back. cooper is a great leader & a great example. and tj was more than eager to follow suit.

cooper's speed gave him a one up on the field. he  scored more trys than i can count & not many could get past his defense. often times, tj was the youngest & smallest on the field but he didn't let that stop him. there were plenty of times where he pulled flags, handled the ball, & he scored twice. they both love rugby, love their coaches, & especially love their team. they've come to know their teammates well over the past two years, they play so well together on & off the field. i can't say enough good about the maui rugby organization. we look forward to next season when mylo joins his brothers on the field.

(this post was requested by cooper. he loves to read "the watkins team" & gets on the blog at least once a week. they all love to look at old pictures & read the little blurbs i type. it makes my efforts on this blog all so worth it. coop came to me on monday & asked that i post something about rugby, & his wishes are my commands.)

if you want to check out the warriors live you can check out some of coach tim's videos:

https://www.facebook.com/timskye/videos/vb.582237914/10153157147872915/?type=2&theater

https://www.facebook.com/timskye/videos/vb.582237914/10153244247157915/?type=2&theater

phillies #10.

after taking a three year hiatus coop finally got back on the diamond. it took him a few weeks to get back in to the game but his hard work payed off. somehow he was put on the all-star team with the kids that play year around year after year. so he started off a little self-conscious. but the coaches were amazing and taught not only great technique but great sportsmanship through their words & examples. the parents & other teammates were all so encouraging. it didn't take my shy guy long long to feel at home with this group. from this team that his favorite position was second base & his biggest hit was a triple. baseball doesn't come as naturally to coop as other sports. mostly, because it's slow pace allows more time for thinking and my over analyzing perfectionist does better when he doesn't have time to over think every move. he loved baseball but soccer & rugby still have his heart. 

to be totally honest, football is quickly taking over. he got his first football jersey (since strutting his dad's jerseys) today & he refuses to take it off. he is insisting on wearing it to sleep. all my boys got new jerseys & they are all equally obsessed with them but tj is definitely the most captivated by the game. i'd say he spends over half of his waking hours consumed by some sort of football activity. cooper's favorite team is the giants, tj loves the cowboys, & mylo is a true raider fan; but they all agree that todd watkins is there favorite player" in ever, ever, ever".

my lens.

it's months (8 to be exact) since i dusted off my big camera & took some quality shots. such a shame.to be honest, i completely forgot about it. that is, until coop & i were discussing his talents & dreams when he caught me off guard by asking me what my talents & my dreams are. ummm, total blank. it's been years since i thought about myself long enough to consider such things. i told him my biggest dream was to be a good mommy, but to a sensible 7 year old like coop that wasn't a good enough answer. he wants solid factual quantifiable answers. so after a few minutes of racking my brain i remembered that one of my long forgotten goals was to master my dslr. and there you have it! the reason for my new constant accessory. i' try to bring my camera along anytime i think i may have a few moments of down time. i still have a long long road ahead of me if i'm ever going to attain my lofty goal but there's no better place to start than the bottom, am i right? for now i'm just trying to keep off auto mode & figure out the overwhelmingly tricky settings. 

honestly, few things make me happier than pictures of my boys. i wish i could just truman show their entire lives. some days are sunshine & rainbows & others are just plain rough but when i look back at our photos  every smile, every tantrum, every tear, every moment seems down right perfect. i need to take more pictures. i don't want to miss any of it. so i hereby solemnly swear to capture it all (okay, maybe not all of it but definitely more.)

(waiting for cooper's baseball game to start with mylo, tj, & todd.)

(a typical lazy sunday afternoon at the beach with my men. soccer, football, sand castles, beach combing, & bbq.)

(scavenger hunt at ali'i kula lavender field & picking flowers at kula strawberry farm with our maui ohana. tj insisted on the biggest plant he could find, cooper got his favorite flower, a sunflower, & mylo simply wanted one small stemless blossom.)

student athletes

we've now got three student athletes on the watkins team. 

1. cooper's loving the first grade. he lucked out and got the kind of teacher that every mother dreams of. he amazes me with his school work. since he's one of the oldest in the class & kind of brilliant it makes sense that he would be the smartest in the class. but that's not the amazing part. what's so rad about this guy is how he uses his down time at school. he finishes all of his assignments in record time & rather than sit around he challenges himself to take his assignments one step further. if the teacher asks them to copy his spelling words he will copy his spelling words then write sentences for each word. if the teacher asks for sentences he writes paragraphs. oh, and he rarely comes home with homework because this time-manager finishes most of it while in class. he's just like his mama. and i couldn't be more proud. he just started another year of soccer & he couldn't be more excited. soccer season is his favorite time of the year. he got his favorite coach, daddy, again this year. he's kind of a natural when it comes to managing sports & school. when cooper's teacher asked him what made him special he said, "i'm super fast & super smart." (coop was asked to write sentences for his spelling words. the word was hat. he wrote "the man had 1 hat on monday, he had 3 hats on tuesday, the net week he had 10 hats!" so creative. then for the word what he wrote, "what was the present? it was a surprise. i wonder what it will be. a boat? or a big toy master? now it is night time i woke up and it was a big remote boat. it was my first guess! yesssssss!" um, brilliant.

2. tj started preschool. it's called storybook school & it's a co-op. so far he loves it. i wasn't sure how he would do but since a few of his old friends are in the class he seems pretty comfortable & confident. i taught the first week & loved it. the kids are awesome, the curriculum is so fun, & i just love seeing a different side of tj. on days he doesn't go to storybook school tj & i do our homeschool. we've been doing "school" since january but we've really stepped it up this school year. we have our homeschool preschool every morning (he insists. in fact, he won't leave the house until his school is done.) so far he's mastered shapes, colors, & coating, & he's half way through numbers. we have weekly themes & field trips. each day we have art, reading, a fine motor-skill, & a gross motor-skill activities beyond our worksheets. i love this quality time i get with my middlest child & he amazes me with how quickly he catches on to everything. he has a unique way of thinking & every day he comes up with something brilliant that just amazes me. he has an incredible memory, & a real knack for distinguishing differences, & navigating problems. tj was going to start soccer this year but with two other student athletes in the house i decided i couldn't take on another time commitment. but he thinks he's on cooper's team & participates in all the practices. 

3. todd started the executive mba program at university of hawaii. this is a distance learning program so he's able to do most of his schooling from maui & just travels to oahu every month or so. he couldn't be more excited about this new phase of his life. needless to say, this is a real adjustment for our whole family. he now works full-time & attends school full-time, which combined equals about a billion hours a week. so we squeeze in family time every chance we get. between school, work, & coaching todd doesn't get much downtime but when he does you can usually spot him on the waves or passing a ball at the park.

(just cause it doesn't feel right writing about 3 of the 4 i'll add a little tid-bit about the mighty. if he's awake while tj & i do our homeschool he always joins in. he either colors in his favorite coloring book for the day or he works on color activities with me. so far he knows blue, orange, white, & "hulk smash". and he's a huge fan of the number 4. he hates the 3 hours a week when tj is away at school. i was so excited to have some alone time with my baby but he prefers the company of his brothers. he may love soccer more than any of my other boys. he wants to play all the time. and he insists on practicing with cooper's team, through the entire 2 hour practice. he dribbles, passes, & shoots right along with the u8's.)