Our New Home Gym

Jesse and I plan to make a home gym in the basement of our new house.  We got a couple of pieces of equipment so far.  

As we try to place the equipment in the small area we want it to fit in, we make sure there is enough room for proper use.  Cooper loved this game.  We would place the weight bench and Jesse would make sure there was room to use it as Cooper sat on his chest. 

Then we moved the bench to a better place and Jesse would try it again and Cooper jumped on his lap.  He's so funny.  It's a lot of fun for him when we have a project. 

When Bikers Visit

Whenever someone comes to visit on a motorcycle, Cooper's main interest after greeting the visitors is to sit on their motorcycle.  

Most people don't mind, but I really have to watch him when I know someone is visiting who wouldn't want him on their bike.  His nails can scratch a nice paint job, so a there are a few who would rather not have him on their bike.  I respect that for sure.  Cooper will never understand, so it's my duty to make sure he stays off bikes he shouldn't jump on.

Favorite Riding Game

Here's a familiar game.  My son Nate is a favorite ride-on toy.  He gives rides all the time when there are children to play with.  Here he is with his girl friend's son Dylan.  I don't know who likes it more, him or the kids.  

Hmmmmm...  Maybe it's Cooper who enjoys it the most. 

Family Movie Time

After a busy day of unpacking in our new home, Jesse and I decided to watch a movie.  We settled in, me under one of our favorite blankets and THEN...

Cooper parked himself on Jesse's lap...

Gabrielle parked herself on my lap... 

And there we sat for the duration of our movie night.  It's been so nice having Gabrielle here with us now.  Cooper seems to really enjoy her too.

We're one big happy family

Veteran's Brotherhood Cabin Fever Party

At the Veteran's Brotherhood Cabin Fever Party, I worked at the table where people pay their money to get in.  Cooper had the chair right next to me.  We were the welcoming committee.  We greeted every single person who came in.  Well, I greeted.  Cooper relaxed on the chair and watched people's legs under the table.  

I had some of Cooper's blog cards on the table in front of him.  Lots of people took them.  I'm glad they did.  I hope some of them are reading this blog right now.  :)  I would say, "Hi everyone!  It was good to see you all."

Both my daughters came.  They hung around the table with me for a while.  It was a lot of fun.  I liked having them there.  

Cooper also had his won fan club.  He enjoyed some special attention from Kathy and Paul.

Gabrielle's First Solo Outing

Gabrielle has always been allowed in and out of the house as she pleased.  We lived on a safe street with some traffic but a big yard and some woods to explore.  She had a really great life. 

When we sold that house she had to go live in my mother's apartment for 5 months.  In that time she was an indoor cat.  If she went outside she had to go on a leash.  My mother would take her for walks a few times a day but for Gabrielle it wasn't the same as running and hunting as she did before.

After we bought our new house, she came to live with us.  We brought her out on the leash a few times so she could become familiar with our new yard.  She walked around and investigated.  As soon as I was sure she knew her way back to our door I allowed her off leash.     

On her first 'solo' exploration I followed her with my camera so I could show you.

Since then she goes out every day as she pleases.  There are other cats in the area but they stay away from each other mostly.  Gabrielle explores and enjoys her new home now.  She'll be free to be her happy self for the rest of her life her.  It's safe enough and she's glad for the freedom.

Riding With The Sis

My daughter Shannon got her motorcycle permit.  Yup... she has the bug.  She wanted to see how it felt to hold up a motorcycle so she got on her boyfriend's bike.  She looked at all the buttons, clutch and break leavers, gauges and asked all kinds of good questions before she stood the bike up.  

Of course Cooper couldn't really care less for all that.  He just kept waiting for someone to say he could get on too.  He circled the bike and whined until we told him to get on.  He jumped up as happy as you please.  From here he could accompany Shannon in her learning experience.  Maybe he thought she needed him to complete her experienced.  We all agreed that he added a nice touch, but I don't know if he was NEEDED.

Car Wash

I went to the car wash one day to wash the salt off my car.  Cooper has been there with me a couple of other times, but not enough to really become comfortable with the sounds and sights.  He was really good this time.  I wish I had gotten video from the beginning but I didn't.  In this video you can tell he's nervous but he really did well.

What Cooper Did When Daddy Was Sick

I was going through the pictures in Jesse's phone.  He had some great ones.  These two were taken when Jesse was sick a few months ago.  High fever and body aches really made Jesse feel miserable.  He was worried about Cooper being bored and trying to get him to play.  I told him Cooper would understand and would not be a pain.  I was right.

Find Cooper In The Snow

Can you find Cooper in the snow?  He's hard to see.  Usually we have him wear a jacket so we can see him.  In the day time it's just as hard if not harder to see him.  

Cooper In The Cupboard

We do little things with Cooper to increase his trust.  He loves to play these games.  He has come to recognize them as a way to please us.  He'll do anything to make us say, "GOOD BOY!"

While Jesse Pruned The Apple Tree

Seems like Cooper likes to get in on everything.  Jesse wanted to prune the apple tree one day while we were outside and Cooper found a good perch up high on the swing set to watch the progress.

Ready For A Ride

The day Jesse brought my bike to the house, Cooper was ELATED!  He was making it quite obvious that he was ready to go for a ride.  How funny it is that he's happy to jump on any time, any where.  Yup... there he is, in the garage - on the bike - looking for someone to take notice.  Can you see him?  

Cooper On The Slide

I don't know where Cooper got his enjoyment for swings and things.  We have a swing set in our back yard.  It comes complete with a slide that he is really happy with.  Gabrielle seems to like it too.

  

Watch Cooper as he learns how to get to the top of the slide on his own.

Hanging Out On The Swing Set With Gabrielle

On Gabrielle's first day outside at our new house, she and Cooper found a nice perch to hang out together on.  They both seem to like the swing set.  Aren't they cute together?

Taking Gabrielle Outside

Gabrielle lived with my mother for 7 months while we went cross country on the motorcycles, then lived in our apartment while looking for a new home.  Gabrielle would be better off with my mother than living in the apartment on a very busy main road.  In the event that she would sneak out, she could have been killed, so we waited to be someplace safer before we took her back.  

We got our house, moved all the boxes and furniture in, got the place livable and THEN brought Gabrielle home.  We didn't want her to sneak out at all while we moved things in, so that's why all the moving in first.  We had her stay in the house for a week, then I took her out on the leash to make sure it was a safe venture out and then back into the house.  Here are some pictures of her and Cooper hanging around outside together.  Gabrielle was really happy to be outside.  She will be brought out a few more times on the leash before we allow her out on her own.  We want to make sure she knows the yard and knows how to get back into the house before we giver her the freedom to come and go as she pleases.

Buffy In The Spotlight

Here was a chance for Buffy to be in the spot light of CUTENESS!  This was taken during our last visit here in Massachusetts. While Cooper busied himself nearby munching on a snack, Buffy had a lot of fun running Cooper's favorite hallway.  She's so much like Cooper.  No wonder they enjoy each other so much.

Bringing Gabrielle Home

I know neither of these videos are good, but you'll have to forgive me.  I was driving Jesse's truck and just pointing blindly at my subject... Gabrielle.  We had been picking up a few last things from our apartment, including my motorcycle.  Jesse rode that so I could pick Gabrielle up.  Cooper seemed amused.  He forgot to be a nervous passenger.

Filthy Boy

You'll have to excuse the condition of the tub.  I cleaned as well as I could before we moved in.  We're going to redo the bathroom soon, but for now have to deal with the staining from the mold that was allowed to grow in the tub for the year the house was empty.  

With that being said, Cooper got REALLY dirty when we were busy packing and moving and UNpacking.  I'm sure it had been more than a month since he had gotten a shower.  He has never been so dirty.  I hope he never will be again.   This will be one for the record books.

Fun With Lisa

When Lisa comes over she takes a ton of pictures.  It's hard to keep track of them all.  I found this one and LOVED it.   I don't even know when or where she was when she took it.  Isn't it funny?