Cooper James Casillas Turns 12

Cooper turned 12 on August 1. I can't believe he is 12 yrs old!
It makes me so sad. Every year seems to go faster and faster.
So we had 2 birthday days for Cooper one on his birthday and one for his party with all his friends.
Coop has a lot of friends so it was really hard to narrow down his list. We tried but we still ended up with about 20 boys. 20.. 12 yr old boys..need I say more?

So his birthday started with having to go in to his football weigh in. Let me tell you Cooper has been trying to get down to a certain weight to play a certain position. It's so hard because he is going through his growing phase of his life..where they grow out right before they grow up but he worked his little butt off. Eating no junk and working out. His birthday morning Conwey took him over to sit in the sauna before his weigh in. I am not sure how I feel about all of this. I think it's great he was conscious of what he was putting in his mouth and reading labels, but seriously....so he lost about 10 pds. He was at the weight he needed to be. They go to step on the scale and they say oh you need to put the cleats on. He was a few ounces yes ounces over. He can't play in the position he wants. He is soooooo sad. Conwey too. Not a good start to his Birthday morning.
So he gets home and we go to Robecks (smoothie place) for breakfast. Cooper's choice.


Birthday calls are coming in.....Are you getting a sense of the sad mood....
Except Sienna who is always happy to go to Robecks!

So back to the house to open presents.....


His presents from Sienna...sunglasses and bball shorts... how can she pick out such great stuff? She was actually positive he wanted a Gaston figurine... (Beauty and the Beast)

Present from Jackson. He worked for 4 hours pulling weeds to earn money for Coop's gift and spent every last cent on Cooper. It was so very sweet.

Hunter was actually away at High Adventure Camp and didn't get home until later in the day. It felt really weird to not have him there.

Cooper's big present was a new cell phone. He had been wanting it for soooo long. Actually it is more for me than for him. So nice to be able to keep track of him. He is starting to want a little freedom. Going with friends more, riding his bike around the neighborhood....it's hard for me to let go, but I know I have to give him a little. At least now he can call me every 15 minutes or so. :)

I also had my two great girlfriends Amanda Lewis and Elizabeth Florence here for the weekend (more on that later) but I tried to get a photo of Elizabeth on this morning after she had just got out of the shower and she some how knew it might end up on my blog and wouldn't let me take the picture for some reason...love you guys!

So then we went to the batting cages.



Then Rachel and Jimmy came up. We went to lunch at Coopers favorite place California Tortilla, did a little shopping, and then it was time for Cooper's big family dinner at Red Robin.

Taken with cell phone very bad quality.....but you get the idea.

Grandma, Grandpa, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins....he loved every minute of it. Thanks everyone for making the effort to come. It really means so much to him. Especially excited to see The Thomas family cousins! Who just moved to Richmond and are so happy they are closer!

So then it came time for his friend party. Coop made it pretty easy on me and just wanted a big old football game with all his friends. So that's what we did. Football, pizza, cake, ice creme, and presents....what more could a 12 yr old ask for?



Conwey's brother Nico came and helped with the football game...Thanks Nico!

This is Coop's best friends older sister Jordan and we love her! I want Hunter to date her! (when he is 16 of course) Sienna love love loves her too....

10 Things I Love about Cooper.........

1. Tenderest heart I know
2. I trust Cooper more than almost anyone with Sienna, he ALWAYS takes such good care of her.
3. So very passionate about his sports
4. Loves his family so much
5. Loves his friends. He is the most like me I think out of all my kids......
6. Everyone loves Coop... we walk in to school and there is an immediate circle of kids always around him.
7. He always gets good grades.
8. Coop always saves his money and then when birthday's or Christmas' roll around he buys everyone super nice gifts that he thinks and thinks about.
9. Still loves me to come to his school
10. Has sweet talks with me all the time. Loves to go on Sunday walks and just talk.

I love love love Cooper James Casillas!!!!

***Oh and on a side note a little shout out to my hard hard working husband who was just promoted to Vice President of Public Relations in his office! So so proud of you Conwey! So I won't do it on Facebook but sure will on my blog! Love you.

To sum it up.......

We are done with swim team for the year....yesterday was the last early morning swim meet we had to get up for. Hunter swam in Divisionals...he did so great this year, positive attitude, strong swimming...I am so proud of him.
Last night we had our awards ceremony and end of the season big dance called the Tuckahoe Ball. The kids have such a great time at it every year. Sienna loves it too. She loves to dance and all the sweet older girls are so cute with her.
I love swim team but man oh man I am happy we are done! I am so excited to not have to wake up and rush out the door for the whole day. Packed with pool bags, lunches, towels, goggles...seriously put a fork in me because I am DONE!
Football is starting next week but at least it's at night.
So here are some pictures from the swim season.....


The Whirlpool... they do it every Friday...they run around this little pool and then float and it swirls them around.
Fridays were Fun Friday. Every week they got to do something fun after practice. Pinatas one week, relays one week, doughnut eating, ice creme Sunday's, arts and crafts. The kids loved it.





Jackson and his cousin Henry.....



Lunch at a Pizza place for the 9-10 boys


This was at the Divisional relays which we won! Out of 6 pools in our division.
Very exciting! We actually didn't loose one meet the whole year.
We go back up to Division 1 next summer. Bittersweet.

The Ball....Hunter...I loved watching them all dance all night.













Some of the moms...we spend so much time together we feel like one big family.......
We decided next year we were going to do a spa day after everythings all over.

So it went really fast. My kids all had fun (except Cooper who is fighting me tooth and nail on swimming) and I am sad it's over in a way. Not ready for summer to end that's for sure! Good thing we still have a month in a half!

Oh and today at 4:30 am Conwey's sister Summer and her husband Sean had a sweet baby girl! Delivered by Conwey's other sister Sierra who is a midwife. Summer did it with no drugs if you can believe that and we didn't know what she was having. We were all surprised it was a girl for some reason. Luisa Betty is her name after their grandmothers. Can't wait to go hold her!!!
Congratulations guys! We love you!

Jackson the triathlon man

So Jackson completed his first triathlon today! I was so proud of him! He has the craziest endurance I have ever seen. We go running and will run 6 miles and he is just keeping up the whole time..not even tired. I wish I had just half of his energy!!!
He didn't stop once today during it. So he swam first....

Jackson and his friend Dominic before the swim...



Then the bike ride....

Then the run....

I know I am his mom and all but he just did so good!I am so proud of him. He didn't stop once and did it so fast. I have a feeling this is just the first of many for him.
I love love love this kid!!!

For all you family members that want to watch some of it on video here you go......

Swim Team, Swim Team, Swim Team!

Where have I been? Let me tell you....
Swim Team....it is all consuming for about 6 weeks of the summer. Practices, Developmental Meets, Saturday Meets, Potlucks, Swim team lunches, Swim team movie day...it just really is our life for about 6 weeks. I am in the middle of it right now.


I really do love it though. There is just something about it. The smell of the chlorine and sunscreen, the sound of the swimming, the wonderful exercise my kids get from it. The fun memories they make every summer with their cousins, and summer friends. Knowing that they are learning something that they can do for the rest of their lives, and also something that could potentially save their life one day. I just can't say enough about how great I think it is despite all the time and work it takes.
Cooper has been also playing all star baseball so he hasn't been able to swim as much with us and I really miss him. I think also that it is the only sport that we can all go together to. One pool, one time, one meet. It is not me dropping off in three different places and trying to choose who's game I will see.
I didn't do swim team growing up. We swam at the pool everyday but it wasn't as big where I lived and I really wish I could have done it.
We had our swim team late night party last night where they closed the pool to everyone and only let the swim team come in from 8-11 pm and it is so fun for the kids. They play music and swim in the dark with just the pool lights. They have a talent show which is mostly silly skits and lip syncs, but boy the kids love it. Lots of junk food...just a really fun time for the kids to play together because let me tell you...they work hard! Those practices...phew I couldn't do them and I work out everyday. I love my swim team time as tired as I am and as much as I don't get done during it. It is 6 small weeks of the year. I will remember it as much as my kids.
Sienna keeps telling me she can't wait to be on the swim team when she is 5 too.


We still try to make it to our neighborhood pools too...the boys have all their friends that hang out there. Sienna too....


Sienna and her friends...Royal, Nicky and Jackson.


What can I say...like mother...like daughter.
We love summer time!