Thankful, Grateful, Blessed.

So it goes…you wait and wait for a special holiday, it finally comes….and then it goes.  

I absolutely love Thanksgiving…it might actually be my favourite holiday! Though I do love Christmas   (obviously not as much as Krista) it does run at a close second for me…but Thanksgiving…that is the best. You see, Thanksgiving will always be my family's 'old faithful' holiday… Food, Family and Tradition.  

It all started a few years ago.  My aunt and uncle have this amazing getaway spot, where they graciously invited us all for a weekend, to celebrate Thanksgiving. Close your eyes and imagine a place with lots of fall colours, a crisp breeze in the air and a gorgeous, quiet lake…then you'd be at the Island.    

We trek down for the day, enjoy a late afternoon Thanksgiving supper, with ALL the fixins….including a couple years of deep fried turkey, and then a hockey game! Luckily, our (everyone in our family's) beloved Maple Leafs usually play their (Aunt & Uncle's) Senators.  Family, Food and Hockey, you see, it's MY perfect day! 

The people that fill the chairs around the table have changed a little bit.  Since we've been having these 'Island Thanksgiving' celebrations, we have lost my mom and my grampa.  However, we have also welcomed my cousins' babies, my babies and gained some new 'partners' in crime.  You see, these traditions are what have kept me together, all of these years. I have cherished memories from each of the Thanksgivings we have spent together, at the Island…and as my babies grow, they will also have fond memories of Thanksgiving too.

This year however, I realized, that as much as I love the Island…it really doesn't have much to do with my memories… Saturday, we enjoyed an afternoon at a small zoo, with my dad and his new wife…my boys ran around while feeding popcorn to the animals, and playing with baby ducks. Saturday night, we shared Thanksgiving supper at my sister's new home.  A delicious meal, with one of Kate's signature cheesecakes…and the usual suspects gathered around her table, beautiful fall colours outside, a crisp breeze in the air, and a hockey game on the TV (Leafs vs. Sens), it was perfect.  

Sunday, we enjoyed some time at our local Farm Market…where our boys and their cousin ran around and jumped on hay bales, ate apples and checked out some local 'artwork' on some festive pumpkins.  We had a another amazing supper at cooked by Adam's mom…just when you think you couldn't possibly eat another thing, she brings out not one, but TWO homemade pies and you suddenly have room for more.  As we went around the table, we all said what we were thankful for…all of us agreed, we were most thankful for the people we were able to eat that meal with, it was perfect.

A perfect little weekend to remind me, of what I am truly thankful, grateful and blessed to have in my life.  Hope you all enjoyed your weekend, as much as I did.

Fall

Fall by coopandco featuring leather shoes

Morning Routine

Morning Routine by coopandco featuring Eos

Firsts.

Can you believe it's already September?? Happy September 1st, my friends.

Slowly, summer is slipping away…but what a summer it has been.
However, now we must look to some very exciting times ahead.  

First, an exciting weekend with family for Labour Day, and a happy send off to summer….the first day of school for some….the first leaves turning colour…the first day you are 'allowed' to bring out your Fall jackets and boots…the first time (in what feels like 10 years) you can get a Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks (September 8th, mark it in your calendars).
Yes, fall is a new beginning, a chance for a positive and refreshing start…complete with some fresh, crisp, cool air.

It was our first summer/season of Coop & Co., learning through a whole series' of firsts along the way.  It's been a whirlwind…making adorable onesies for some very new babes but we have really enjoyed the new challenge, together as Coop & Co.  It's pretty sweet actually.
Not realizing what we were getting into, and all of our firsts, we've actually been lucky enough to become a part of some little newbies' firsts…some of their first pictures, first visits, first gifts and first celebrations. 

Speaking of firsts, over the weekend we were able to see a cute pic of 3 adorable first time-moms-to-be, showing off their new Coop & Co. onesies!  Imagine…being a part of a new life, before it even arrives…what a lucky pair we are!

We absolutely love when people share pics of their onesies and tees in action, so please continue to share:)  Most of our pics, we share on Instagram and Facebook if you want to check us out!

So here's a quick snap we wanted to share.  Don't worry, these mamas know they are gonna be famous after this one.  We are just waiting so patiently to hold these little ones, when they finally arrive…and get a pic of the babies actually wearing our onesies.

Anchors Away!

Wine Wednesday

FYI- Wine Wednesday got a little out of control...I found myself searching through baby photos of my sweet boy trying to find just the perfect one to share on this blog post.  Therefore, this Wine Wednesday post is officially a Thursday Morning (no cool title) post.

~~

So now that we are back on track and ready for this whole 'blogging' thing...we thought it would be fun to start with getting you in on our 'Wine Wednesday' plans.  Normally, a glass of wine, some chatting and some work will be done.  However, this Wednesday is a little tougher to get through...and I imagine, the next few will get a little tougher too. 

Bartender, hand me that bottle.

My little boy is starting Kindergarten this year. Sniff. Sip. Gulp.

Gulp.

Gulp.

Ok. I think I'm ready to talk...step away from the wine.

Now I figured, I'm no expert on how to get through all of this craziness! I'm still trying to figure out how they let me bring him home from the hospital....but I know I will figure it out, as all of us moms, usually do.  So, here's a few things that are helping me get through this difficult time...at least 5 things that will distract me from what is REALLY happening...this is the kinda thing my A-D-D REALLY loves!

                                       

1.  SUPER COOL BACKPACK

PB Kids Personalized Spiderman Backpack

Great pack, just his size! PB Kids makes them in 4 different sizes so you can find the perfect one for your scholar!

2.  ADORABLE JACKET (in red, his choice!)

Uniform Jacket in Red

He totally picked this one out, all by himself…he LOVES red, but he thought this one was a cool jacket as well!

3.  NEAT LUNCH CONTAINERS (I know, I'm a nerd! These are so cute tho.)

Lunch Blox by Rubbermaid

I'm hoping that because these beauties can all 'click' together, there will be less 'losing' of containers! However, they are pretty affordable and reasonably priced…you won't mind having to buy the odd replacement piece!!  Also, it comes with this cute little block that can be frozen and click onto your snack containers to keep everything cold! Great idea!

4.  GREAT SHOES

Saucony Boys/Toddler Shoes

Ours are a little different, but we got them at WINNERS for only $25.00! Hello SWEET Deal!

5.  A PLAN FOR THE FIRST DAY! (For him, and for me)

All kidding aside, this is going to be an amazing day/year for him.  I know he will do great...so here's how mommy is going to cope.

The plan...

-Get up with him, have breakfast, help him get ready (I'm sure he'll refuse the help, but I'll try anyway)

-Make sure he's got all the great stuff noted above, either ON him or in his AMAZING backpack...

-Load him in the car, drive him to school.  

-Give him THE HUGEST-BIGGEST-STRONGEST hug EVER and hand him to his new Teacher. 

-Smile happily, wave, and leave him alone.

-Get into the Car, drive away from the school...about 1km, then pullover. 

-Cry...get it all out.

-Fix your face, woman!  Get out these great  Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit  Make Up wipes (which are amazing to just keep in your purse).

-Drive...to the nearest Starbucks and kill time successfully until 3pm when you can go pick him up...

Good Luck, Bear. I know you'll do great! Mommy loves you. xo

Anchors Away.

handsome…don't cha think?

While the Jones' were enjoying the playgrounds, we've been slaving away! 

Lots of tees and onesies are being made and we couldn't be happier! We haven't slept in days, but….whatev. Anything for you guys.

Anyway, we promised you pics on Sunday…these pics were done a little while ago,
they can be considered #TBT pics.
Can you imagine standing on a dock,  with 3 children…(2 under 2, I might add and a 4 year old who thinks he's Batman 99% of the time…that's for a separate blog post)  and having a plan to take a few tasteful and sweet pictures of our shirts to show our potential customers that we have our shit together and are running a legit biz.

So kudos again, to our AMAZING photographer, Chantelle and her ridiculous patience, for reals, if you need a photog, she's your gal!
Wrangling children for photos is crazy…yet somehow, the pics all look so calm and happy.

Young, Wild, Free-This guy's Motto.

Messy Hair, Don't Care.

The twins you see, are Krista and I.  

A little photo shy, and we didn't actually plan to wear the same outfit…serious. Not lying.

Thanks to everyone for your support, it has truly been great getting started in this biz with all of you…

We've got some great designs ready for you, so check out the pics attached and if something catches your eye, let us know! We take orders through email, Facebook and our new Etsy page! 

https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/CoopandCoApparel?ref=hdr_shop_menu

#JonesSummerJams

This is our first summer with a toddler.  An extremely busy, rambunctious, adorable, sometimes temperamental but always fun, toddler.  In our family we believe that summertime = fun time.  It means staying up past bedtime, eating snacks for breakfast (not every day) not wearing pants (only the toddler) and going for bike rides each and every day.  Cooper is lucky enough to have a dad who is a teacher and gets to spend a ton of time with him while I am at work! This summer they made a deal to visit every park in our town and they documented this on Instagram.  In being a parent for only a short time I have learned that you cannot spend time focusing on all the big things in life but need to enjoy the little things--like watching your kid go down a slide for the twentieth time that day even though you were ready to leave after the fifth time but know that as soon you say the word home the melt down will start.

   

They are only going to be little for so long so enjoy it.

Krista