Happy 2nd Birthday Brilee Rose!

Brilee turned two yesterday! She is such a wonderful little girl, and we love her so much! We had her party Saturday at the Rec. Center. (I didn't have my card in my camera, and so no pictures... bummer!) It was awesome. We also celebrated Chazzy, Cy, and Marley's birthday. We rented the blow up slide for 2 hours, and the whole time Brilee asked to go swimming. She didn't even go down the slide once. She finally got to swim, and life was good! She had a wonderful time in the pool. It was fun partying with her cousins and her good friends the Nyberg's and Guymon's. Thanks for coming everyone, and for all the fun presents. Yesterday we spent the morning at home, and Stacia, GMA, and GPA came over to sing to Brilee and eat cake. Then we went to Granny's so Brilee could play with her cousins. Chaz, Mar, and Brilee all dressed up and danced. They were soooo cute. Happy Birthday Brilee Rose Bear.

Bri Bear playing with her new toy from Grammy.

Bri loves the WII. She always has to have a remote, and she pretends to bowl, dance, shoot, drive, and anything else she has seen the other kids do.

She really enjoyed having us sing to her. She was pretty proud of herself all day. She sang "Happy Birthday to Brilee" all day.

After playing dress up she refused to take the dress off when it was time to leave. She left it on until bed time. She loves her new alphabet magnet she got from the Michaelson's and Laws'. 

She now sings the ABC's perfect until we hit that tricky L M N O P...

We hope you had a perfect day Bear Cub!

Baja Mexico

Jake, Ben, Andre, and I all went on the Carnival Baja Mexico cruise last week. It was a lot of fun, and very warm! Thank you soooooooooooooo much (times a thousand and plus a million) Stac, Mom, and everyone else who helped with the kids. We owe you big...

On the puddle jumper plane. 

Heading to the Carnival port.

Getting on the ship.

Andre at the sail away party.

Jake and I sailing away...

The first night at dinner the magician visited our table. Jake gave him a dollar bill, and the magic man turned it into a three dollar bill... The blunt 13 year old girl who ate dinner with us asked Jake to give her the three dollar bill, and so he has nothing to show for it!

They had a little party for our birthdays at dinner.

Every night we came back to our room to find these cute towel creatures.

Our ship as we were heading into Catalina Island.

We rented a golf cart in Catalina, and it was so much fun! We drove all over the island and explored. It was great.

We saw a few deer while driving around... It was so cool!

We decided to try parasailling. We didn't book it through Carnival, thank goodness! We spent half the price, went 600 feet higher, and flew double the time than the Carnival boat. It was soooo cool! Here we are right before we went. (Jake was SOOOOOOO scared.)

While we were up there we saw lots of sea otters, and six dolphins. (Jake saw a whale in the boat, and then the couple who were in the air came down saying they saw it too... way jealous!) 

It is crazy seeing how far and high we were.

These people were never not dressed up. It was crazy. I bet they brought 40 suit cases.

Formal night.

In Ensenada Jake and I decided to go horse back riding before shopping. This was our group for the day, and boy were they fun.

My poor horse has very few rides left in her.

Jake took right off into the ocean.

Awww La Cabana.

Our dinner table. 

We invited our dinner table friends to a game of miniature golf... The boys won, but we were close!

We played a lot of bingo, and never won... Jake and Ben were good spot savers. Jake and I won big(for us)in Black Jack, so we did have some luck.

It was a very nice trip, and we were soooo happy to get home to our little girl.

Grandma Cooley #2

Stacia, Thomas and Amy couldn't resist sending their own Top Ten Grandma Loves!!!!

Amy's 10 Favorite Things About Grandma:
1) She is the best story teller around -- adding lots of funny details and keeping us all laughing
2) She's always up for a game. Whether it's Candy Land when we were kids or a Catch Phrase at the cabin, Grandma will always play - and she's competitive!
3) She is so considerate. This is such an admirable trait -- Grandma always knows how to help out. 
4) She is always so supportive. Even when I stumble, she cheers me on and tells me she's proud and things will turn around. 
5) Grandma is unfailingly generous. She has compassion for everyone. 
6) She is so easy to talk to. Grandma will put anyone immediately at ease.
7) Grandma would be the last person to say a negative word about anyone, and her optimism is contagious.
8) She is the kind of Grandma who came to "Grandparent's Day" in school, who always knew the details of what was happening in my life, who would drop everything to come over and watch us. She has always made such an effort to show her love and to be involved. I couldn't be more grateful for this. 
9) She keeps tabs on everything and everyone. I think her effort to do this really strengthens our family.
10) Visiting Grandma and Grandpa is one thing I look forward to most when I visit home. I love you both so much!


Thomas' List:
Favorite grandma things

Grandma has 5 nice things to say before I'm through the door.

Grandma is proof you can be lucky at cards and lucky at life.

Grandma is so funny- she doesn't need a punchline.

Grandma reminds me every day that I can be having a good time.

There ain't nothing better than a Grandma hug.

Sometimes we find out that grandma taught us something before we knew she was giving us a lesson.

Nobody loves more than Grandma!

It is mathmatically impossible to be categorically both 100% honest and 100% nice but that doesn't stop Grandma!

Grandma told me bread crust will make my hair Curley!

A priest, a rabbi and a civil engeineer walk into a bar... The rest isnt important because Grandma already has the whole room laughing!

Stacia Marie's...

1) I love how she is ALWAYS down for a good game at clue
2) I love her stories...she keeps everyone laughing and updated on family.
3) I lover her hair.
4) I love her spicy little attitude when somebody REALLY deserves it.
5) I love how she supports and accepts everyone. She is the nicest lady I know!
6) I love that she loves her grandkids more than her real kids!
7) During Thanksgiving I am more excited for Grandmas comments than the Turkey Dinner...no offense Aunt Cathy.
8) I absolutely LOVE grandma during karaoke 
9)Grandma always tells me I look good. She is a confident booster!
10) I love grandmas will power! She is one strong lady!!! 
LOVE YOU GRANDMA COOLEY!!!!!!! HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY