Happy April

It seems that April only just started....but my calendar is telling me we are ready for the month of May!  We have been so busy with new things, new sites, and finally enjoying outdoor weather.  We all took turns being sick, GI bugs, rashes, root canals (I'll count this as sick, since it laid me up for 4 whole days), and just the good ole Michigan crud.  I'm hoping to open my windows soon and air this place out.  There are many things I didn't catch on film....like Lucy riding her bike along side me while I pushed the double stroller (it makes me get a few less sympathetic and/or crazy looks while we are out walking (I had been pushing the double stroller and having TJ in the too small front pack...I'll admit, I must have looked quite funny).  The girls making mud pies, Theodore enjoying his swing, playdates, and time with grandparents. 


In April TJ turned 7 months old, and has gotten 2 teeth in the last week (and this is how it has made our otherwise happy boy feel)



He graduated to the big boy tub



We decorated easter eggs.  Kadence loves being in the "titchen" and helping.  She is so loving and sweet.  She loves to watch out for Theodore and make sure he only has "fafe" (safe) toys



Lucy and Theodore were having more fun playing peek a boo, one of his favorite games

Lucy got to ride the bus before KINDERGARTEN orientation.  She is so old, and cracking jokes to make us laugh

He is reaching for EVERYTHING, and this morning has learned how to scoot.  He has been rocking on his hands and knees maybe a month, and prior to this gotten everywhere by rolling.  He's fast, and I see crawling and climbing right around the corner.  He also likes to find wires, outlets, heater grates....those are his favorite toys right now!

How handsome!  His first easter!

Love them so much

Easter egg hunting with the Koops cousins...minus the 3 littlest ones

We celebrated birthdays.  Can't believe Joseph is 2!

Finally remembered to get a picture of the 5 of us

and the zoo...I forgot to take a picture at the zoo....but since it was Theodore's first time we had to get physical evidence of it, so this is getting all comfy for the car ride home (seriously girls, it's 10 min)

pretty much what he thought of the zoo

My ode to Kadence

My cute girl with the dimples



your favorite hairstyle is your "piggies"



I'll always remember you with your thumb and "der-dee bwankie"

Kadence,

  You are the sweetest little momma's girl around.  You have just started to stand up for yourself around here.  We're working on using words, and slowly the screaming is starting to decrease.  AHHHH, finally.  I looked back on posts when you were a baby, and I think I rarely said much about your screaming.  I remember not wanting to write about it, maybe because then I hoped I would forget, and also because I never wanted you to think I loved you less because you screamed every day all day for almost a whole year.  I'm glad that I wrote about all the positive things, and didn't settle on the loudness of our house.  

  You are very vocal still, but with funny jokes, eye spy games, and kind words.  You look up to your sister, and love being at her side.  You guys play so well together.  Your favorite things to do are to play with princess figurines and little dolls.  You make them talk to each other, and you say the funniest things.  You love your brother, and you have fully embraced being a big sister.  

  I love you smile, your hugs and kisses, and I even have learned to love not being able to be leave you without you being so tearful.  You are a brilliant little girl, who likes to keep everything you learn to yourself.  Funny I just found out the other day that you can sing every song that Lucy has learned from school, count, and say your ABC's.  You would rather play indoors than out, snuggle and read, and play candy land and eye spy.  

  You are an amazing little girl, and I am so proud to call you my daughter. 

Love you K-K,

mommy  

holding his own



Theodore "talking" at the dinner table...his sisters have taught him so much

His newest thing is to shake his head...wonder how much he really understands

My Mexican Fiesta

I was invited, (as were all the other mothers) to Lucy's school last Friday for a mexican fiesta.  Even with all the snow days, and one day weeks for the month of February the kids were able to put together such a wonderful party.  They had made us vases, flowers, worry dolls, birds; all of which made gorgeous table decorations.  Lucy's favorite part was their mexican hat dance (see the video below).  My favorite part was all the songs that they sang.  It was fun to see Lucy so quiet and timid in the risors....since at home she belts out the songs with all the motions like she is on stage in a broadway show.  So much in fact that Kadence knows every word to every song.  All the table decor was a surprise, which Lucy kept in until the day before :)   What a blessing Ada Christian has been to our family! 

Their performance

making maracas and just hanging out in her classroom

My sweet little Lucy....you can see behind us the beautiful vase she made, and the green bird as well

catching up

This is quite a hodge-podge of pictures....February has flown by.  In the last week Kady has had the flu, we started a home improvement project that was interrupted by carbon monoxide/furnace shutoff (this led to an overnight stay at the hilton--complete with a 230 fire alarm), and TJ getting breathing treatments for RSV.  We have created many memories along the way, swimming in the pool, getting "new" bathrooms (and thankful for working tolites), and many days at home.  AHHHHH, that was all in addition to our "regular" lives.  So here is to the start of March, warmer weather, and a return of health to the Koops household!

My 3 valentines

My 33rd birthday

cuddling in bed

My creative girls

Kadence loves to be a big sister as well.  She often gets upset when Lucy tries to steal "her time" with Feedore

Game night...even TJ likes to play sorry

Big sister reading to Theodore

More snuggle time

bathing beauty

5 months old....still so happy!

literally

Not quite what I meant when I asked Lucy to "lay out" her clothes for school....I love the way kids think!

Let it snow!

 Sorry the pictures are a little mixed up...couldn't get them to cooperate today!

Lucy was loving all the snow!

It was up to Lucy's shoulders in some parts

This was the mound I shoveled right out of the garage

Kady was helping me shovel....to no avail.  They wanted me so bad at work, they sent someone to get me!



The drifts by our front door







Jim was proud of all his hard work....no snow plow or blower for us...WOW





I love the walls of snow surrounding our driveway.  The girls played on them forever today!





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The picture doesn't do it justice.  The snow was above the bumper of the cars.....sorry work, not even attempting  to get out of my garage.



My mom likes to tell me about the blizzard of '78...the year that I was born.  She shows us pictures of cars buried in the snow, and the walls of snow surrounding houses and driveways.  She tells me about plowing down B ave so they were ready if I came.  I love hearing those stories. 

My memories of the snowpalooza, blizzard 2011 will include having to work....deciding I couldn't get out, and having the hospital come bring me in.  The nurses that had to stay and sleep there, because they were not releasing anyone home, and thankfully that I was able to leave at the end of my shift.  I love to see my kids play in snow up to their waist.  Jim's shear joy in posing for pictures after all his hard work shoveling to clear our driveway...and everytime the snow plow has come now to clear the rest of our street.  

Bring it on...if it's going to be cold, and it's going to be winter...let it snow!