‘Super cute’ Valentine’s story goes viral

Families thrilled heartwarming article has lifted people’s spirits during pandemic

Photos by Tom Rivers: Cooper Traxler, 6, gives his date Natalee Olsen a ride in a Power Wheels toy car at the McDonald’s drive-through on Sunday for Valentine’s Day. Lt. Steve Fox of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office provided an escort while they were driving to keep them safe in the loop around the store.

ALBION – The article on the Orleans Hub on Valentine’s Day about the two 6-year-olds hitting the drive-through at McDonald’s in a toy car has gone viral, and been featured by many news sites in Western New York and beyond. The Fox News station in New York City put together this article today (click here) and is putting it on their national platforms.

The parents of Cooper Traxler and Natalee Olsen reached out to the Orleans Hub about the special Valentine’s Day planned for the two kids who became best friends in kindergarten.

The Traxlers appreciated someone donating a Power Wheels car after Cooper’s mom Jamie posted on Facebook that he wanted to take his date through the drive-through and order their meal like adults. The car was left in Cooper’s dad’s truck with a note from a “Hopeless Romantic.”

The families asked the Sheriff’s Office to provide an escort for Cooper and Natalee to make sure they were safe in the drive-through. Deputy Jeff Cole and his K-9 Otto rode in front of the two in their toy car with Lt. Steve Fox behind.

After Cooper and Natalee made a loop around the McDonald’s in the toy car, they went inside to eat their cheeseburger Happy Meals. Cooper decorated a table and had flowers and a gift basket for Natalee.

“I just thought that with all the negativity going on, this story would be truly heartwarming and cute to cover,” Mrs. Traxler said.

Cooper Traxler and Natalee Olsen settle in their decorated booth at McDonald’s. Cooper wants to be a K-9 handler and wears a jacket courtesy of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office from a couple years ago when he met K9 Otto and handler Jeff Cole while Cooper was in preschool. Cooper had on a dress shirt with a tie under the jacket.

Mrs. Traxler is amazed how fast the story spread with more than 1,200 shares on the Orleans Hub Facebook and more than 1,600 likes.

“We all need to see heartwarming events like this after the year that we had,” Mrs. Traxler said today. “That something so innocent and pure just pulls on the heart strings. Seeing their story puts a smile on everyone’s face. It is not something you see everyday.”

She and her family are grateful the story has connected with so many people.

“Let this story soar to bring joy, love and smiles to everyone!” she said.

Ciara Olsen, Natalee’s mom, said she has heard from many in the community how the Valentine’s Day date was “super cute” with the two kids dressed up in fancy clothes once they were inside McDonald’s.

“I didn’t expect it to be like this,” Mrs. Olsen said about the article’s popularity. “Usually what we read in the news isn’t positive. But this is bringing people together.”