First Day of School

I started preschool yesterday! I was so excited that I was ready to go before mom was. I met my new teachers and classmates. We were only there for an hour, and mom went to orientation but I saw lots of my friends from last year, and my old teacher (who is also our neighbor). Can you tell I'm glad to be there?

My teacher also has a blog for our class, once mom figures out how to put links on my page, you can check it out too.

Dance Class

Tuesday is dance class, and I just love dance class and putting on my dance clothes. Dad was working from the house, so he snuck away to watch me. Of course, I had to make sure he knew that he (or mom) couldn't come into the room with me, but they could watch through the window. I am really following the teacher and having a great time. I like to practice at home too.

Max and Maddie's Birthday

I went to Tennessee for Max and Maddie's big birthday swim party. Mom and I spent the whole weekend there. Friday Maddie and I played dress up and Mall.

We included PawPaw too, Mom was not a fan of the "Mall" play, we were "buying" stuff that Maddie the sale clerk rang up at $500 here and $100 there. The mall is just way too expensive.

After the pool party, we went back to Max and Maddie's and played and played. The big kids included me and I loved it.

I got to stay up really, really late. I had the best time.

Playing with Max and Maddie Sunday morning before I had to go home.

Backyard Vistors

The hawk comes often to our street. Last week we watch the hawk hang out on the swing set in the backyard.



I took this picture (with a little help from mom, but not much)

Museum Mice

Today, Mom took me to the Marietta History Museum Mice Tour. We met Emma there. Our tour was so much fun. We looked for Murray and Etta, they are mice, in the museum and had fun stuff to count. We saw girl and boy scout uniforms, toy trains, baseballs, military guns (I haven't seen guns before), model airplanes, spinning wheels, telephone switch board, and a doll house.

Here's Sadie with the "Marietta Chicken" with Murray and Etta painted on it.

Looking at the display

The telephone switch board had lots of cool cables

and our favorite, the dollhouse, with 11 rooms.

Playground with Regan

We met Regan at the park, we had lots of fun on the slides

Ms Laura and JT were there too.

We got to watch the trains go by, they were really loud.

Tiny Dancer

Sadie started dance class on Tuesday. She was excited and wanted to go into the dance room "all by myselves". So here are some pictures through the door. She's taking ballet and tap. It's an hour long lesson and is the cutest thing to watch. The girls are 2 1/2 to 4 years old (Sadie's not quite the youngest). Our neighbor Norah is in the class too. The funniest thing, if one girl has to go to the bathroom, they decide they need to go too. Her teacher Christine, is fantastic with the girls. Sadie did pay attention during class; however, it was not always to the teacher, sometimes she would do whatever the girl next to her was doing.

BLUE M

Saturday Mom and I went to the Library Summer Reading Program Party. Lots of my friends were there. I was sooo excited to see Blue M. I just love Blue M... the mascot for Marietta Reads. I saw Blue M once before at the Marietta Square. I am a HUGE FAN!!


I was shy at first.

But not for long.

Also, there was crafts, face painting, a fire fighter,

and music...
and Blue M dancing and jumping with me!!

Examples in my life

This is from "Get Cooped"newsletter. Our friend Teddy is a fitness trainer, motivational speaker, and has a family and works for EPA in DC. I met Teddy earlier this year, I liked him a lot, he was fun and loud, like me!
You'll see why I'm such a MiMi's girl!

The “Silver Fox” and his Bride

Throughout my life, a number of people have modeled a heart to serve others. One example is my dad Theodore Roosevelt Coopwood, Jr. He was precinct committeeman for over 40 years in Gary, Indiana and served the people in his precinct with passion and the heart of a lion. Other examples are my best friends from high school, Jim Watkins, Leonard Finley, and Xavier Johnson. Jim teaches and coaches at our alma mater Calumet High School in Gary; Leonard serves our country in the United States Army; and, Xavier spearheads an organization in South Georgia to help disadvantaged women start a new life. All of these people have modeled a servant’s heart. However, no one has illustrated a heart to serve like the late Dr. Don Estes, affectionately called “The Silver Fox”, and his wife Myrna.

Dr. Estes was and still is a legendary giant in the world of fish biology in the United States. Through his leadership and passion to seek out and encourage minority students to pursue careers in fish biology, several students like me had an opportunity to earn advanced degrees in fish science, and to develop successful careers with local, state and federal governments, and private organizations. In addition, Dr. Estes was instrumental in integrating fisheries into schools like Gambling, the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, and Southern University. He was also responsible for enhancing the outstanding fisheries program at Tennessee Technological University (TTU).

The foundation of his success was his heart to serve his students. The result of his love and care for us was a strong, thriving program. None of his students wanted to disappoint him; and based on the fact that thousands of students are now professionals because he directly or indirectly touched their lives, we didn’t.

His servant’s heart was apparent the first day I met him. After months of telephone conversations, he knew enough about me to know I was coming to TTU without much more than the clothes on my back. Upon my arrival, I learned he had worked with the university to secure a place for me to live and used his own resources to purchase a bed, sofa, table, and chairs so I would feel at home. He did all of this for me without having ever laid eyes on me. That is a heart to serve!

It’s been almost eight years since we lost Dr Estes due to complications from Parkinson’s. However, his passion to serve others still lives in the many lives he touched; and for those of us who called him friend, his spirit will forever be a part of who we are and who we are becoming - men and women of service.

After meeting Dr. Estes, I thought there would never be another person in my life that would offer such genuine care. I was wrong. The day I met Myrna, his wife, that notion was forever changed. Myrna Estes was and is a super woman. Because Dr. Estes was so intent on serving his students, Myrna was often asked to provide meals for 20 or more people with little notice. It was during these times that we saw what service truly looked like. It was magical how she could get to the store, buy the food, drive home, prepare the meal, serve appetizers and drinks, and still attend to each person as if they were the only one there. I still wonder how she did it, and more importantly, how she did it so often.

What was most impressive about Myrna was her attitude. She never complained, never stopped smiling and making each person feel like the most important person in the world. The more I watched her, the more I understood where Dr. Estes learned how to serve others. He was married to the master of service. She was without a doubt the source of strength that fueled his success and the success of so many of his students.

Today, Myrna remains the same. At the drop of a hat, she is there to serve those in need with love, and compassion, and a complete disregard for herself. Myrna Estes didn’t direct a college program, teach a college course, or mentor college students. Nonetheless, she taught so many of us the characteristics that are produced through serving others, such as kindness, trust, selflessness, excellence, integrity, and accountability. Myrna Estes may not have been leader in the classroom or in the field, but she was and still is a leader that we all should model.

A Day at the Botanical Garden

Today Mom and I went to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. We met Emma, Hollis and other friends there. We just explored the children's garden. Peter Rabbit's garden, observation beehive, soogy bog with lots of frog and tadpoles (you should hear Emma and I talk to the frogs), woodland playground, caterpillar maze (we pretended to be be butterflies and fly out (picture not included below--sorry it didn't fit I had too many) and the best part.. (especially in Aug in Atlanta) ...the sunflower fountain. We brought along our bathing suits and just had a ball getting wet and watering the nearby flowers and bushes.

Emma's Royal Tea Party

My best bud, Emma had her birthday tea party at the Ritzy Pixie. We got to dress up like princesses and the boys as knights (if they wanted too). We had snacks, but I waited for cake. We played games ... toss the tea bag into the princess trunk and stick the shoe on Cinderella. We made our own crowns and then sang "Happy Birthday to Emma" and had cake (Yay). I also had to be in just about every picture Emma was in... It was tons of fun and then at home I played birthday party all night, singing and bringing mom and dad pretend cake and presents. I sure can't wait until my birthday, but mom's says it's not my turn yet.

Playdate with Hollis

Hollis came over to fix things around the house with me. We are very good, so let us know if you need anything fixed, even trees.

Treehouse

We went the Coffee Park in Marietta, all of my friends were there. I dressed up and climbed up in the castle, with Emma, of course.

Did you know I was a cowgirl princess?

Mom and Dad

Mom and Dad celebrated their 10th anniversary... have they changed over the years, (besides the waist size)
Wedding Day, St. Johns Virgin Islands
5th anniversary, Exit Glacier National Park, Alaska

10th anniversary, Cades Cove, Great Smokey Mtn. National Park, Tennessee. I noticed that they end up at National Parks (after they got married they went snorkeling at Trunk Bay National Park)

Weekend at MiMi's

Mom and Dad traded me in for the weekend. They took MiMi's convertible and left for a night in the Smokies to celebrate their 10th anniversary and left me behind at MiMi's, in good company! I had a great time with MiMi and Aunt Jo, and Bailey and Zack. I love hanging out with them. I even got a new Barney movie, MiMi fixed up her old baby doll bed for me, and had bubbles. I was non-stop.



Friday night at dinner, Sydney gave me her camera. I love it!!!
I would position everyone for their photo shoots. At the restaurant, at MiMi's house, everywhere. I took pictures of everything.






Aunt Jo and MiMi's tummy hurt from laughing soo hard at my picture taking of Zack and Bailey's best sides.

Dinner with the Mondays

Last Friday night we went to Cookeville and had dinner with Ean, Jenny and Sydney Monday.
MiMi came along too. The food was great and I had so much fun playing with Sydney. It's fun to watch us interact. Since I was the older girl, Sydney followed me, we had a great time.