First Snow 2007

Today Cooper played in the snow for the first time. He seemed very intrigued, though very confused and anxious about how difficult it is to walk in snow pants, boots, and snow covering his feet. He had fun though, and hopefully the first experience didn't scar him too much. See the pictures below for the whole experience.

Happy in the snow

Looking good in the new coat and snow pants

Checking things out from the porch

Uh-oh! Cooper face planted off the porch into the snow.
We went inside after this, but I couldn't
resist taking a picture. Needless to say,
Cooper did not like having a face full of snow.

One Amazing Kid

I've always been impressed and inspired by all that young people do. Here is an amazing example of a 10 year old girl moved to make a difference in our world, and to challenge others to do the same.

Laura is completing 25 good deeds in the 25 days leading up to Christmas. She is dedicating her work to her grandfather, who she was her inspiration to be a charitable leader, and she is honoring his memory through her good deeds.

Please check out her blog Twenty Five Days to Make a Difference. Be inspired and reach out to make a difference for others this holiday season. I know I'm going to.

Visiting Santa

In need of distractions and laughs while in Michigan last week, my mom and I decided to take Cooper to see Santa Claus at the mall. The experience proved to deliver just what we needed: lots of laughs at the expense of poor Cooper. He was successfully traumatized by the event, and dependably answers a resounding "NO" whenever asked if he wants to go see Santa. Why is terrifying my own child entertaining? I'm not sure, but it was just what my mom and I were looking for. Hope you get a laugh too.

Cooper thought the train was cool,
but once he realized the seat was
close to Santa, he wanted OFF!

This one is my favorite.
I love the polite smile and
Cooper trying to hide his desperate fear.

Uh oh, this is getting scarier!

Can you please take me off of this thing?

Okay, somebody help me.

And the finale;
with one picture left
we decided to attempt the lap picture.
You can see Cooper
absolutely loved that idea.
I don't think he has ever gripped me
as tightly as he did when I finally
lifted him off Santa's lap.

46% of our County's Public School Children are Low Income?!?!?!

I don't know what angers me and saddens me more when I read things like this disturbing post on another blog: the high rate of children living in poverty or the extreme imbalance of wealth in our country. How do we call ourselves a super-power? How are we one of the wealthiest nations, a global leader, when there are such hypocrisies here? And where do our leaders get off thinking that we can solve the problems of another country, when we can't seem to solve our own?

I recommend checking out the link to the post, along with an interesting comment on the outrageous long-term costs of higher education.