Maple Leaf

Coop and I spent a zillion hours at the Maple Leaf Festival this year.  We went early on Saturday morning (the busiest time) to help our friend Miss Linda, the cinnamon roll lady, work at her booth.

Coop spent some of his money on this tiny ewok (weewok, it was called) and a kid-sized ewok hat:

And an alien hat:

He invited Sacia and Eliza to join us.  

In trouble.  Naturally.

Some spinny ride thing:

The cork shooting game (which Coop was actually quite good at):

Back to the house for Indian food:

School and work and other things

Intent on drawing:

Coop and I had to get fingerprinted (as part of the process to be a licensed foster care home -- so that's kind of exciting!):

Math work from school (area and perimeter of shapes):

Reciting poetry with his friend Eliza.

Using his new drawing app:

Big events

Cooper and Alan participated in a 5K race:

At the finish line:

Grandma Margaret turned 100 years old!!!

Coop had class pictures taken in this dapper outfit:

Some new things...

Coop came to campus with me one day.  He met Ichabod:

Fun with students in the library:

New boots:

As Sandy for a play he's producing in his filmmaking class:

Music

Coop and I had a busy weekend with two amazing concerts.  First up, to downtown Kansas City for Faith Hill and Tim McGraw.  Dinner beforehand:

In the arena:

The nosebleed section (quite literally -- the woman in front of us had a nosebleed!):

Treats for everyone:

It's time!

The next night, we went to the Lied Center at KU to see Kenny Rogers:

Man, he's old.  But still pretty dreamy!

September

Sitting with his snake:

Making a pot holder and watching Frazier.  Because he's a 65-year-old woman, clearly:

Coop wanted to "dress fancy" for school one day:

At the state fair, we completed a mobile escape room together!

New hat:

Flying W Ranch

Cooper and I drove to Clements, KS (unincorporated) to go on a sunset horseback ride at the Flying W Ranch:

We stayed in this super cute little cabin:

Practicing for the horses:

Rocking:

In the tack room:

Playing with the cow-dogs:

Saddling up:

On the trail:

Sunset:

Legos

 Cooper has been enjoying playing with his legos:

This is the "mother ship" he made, complete with a lego heart and three moms as captains.

And this is my favorite thing ever.  A lego grand piano -- pedals, movable lid, sheet music, strings inside the piano -- it's incredible!