Ice cream

It is not s summer night until you have ice cream. It seems like we have ice cream alot in the summer.
We love ice cream and I love these pictures of the kids.

 

 

 

 

The Best Dadda!

Love this One!

 

 

We SCREAM for ice cream!

Luke Ryan One Year Old June 6, 2013

It is so hard to imagine that Lukie is one already! What a fast and enjoyable year it has been watching Levi and Maci turn into such a great big brother and sister and also as we transitioned into a family of five. Not saying it has not been crazy, messy and loud at times but once the craziness passes we then  then realize how blessed we really are. Luke is loving being one. He claps all the time, waves by by, makes a monkey face, loves ice cream, is moving along furniture, wants to be outside all time, gets into the cupboards, loves doggies and hits his sister and brother to stand up for himself. He makes all sorts of babbling noises and says, hot, ut oh. We had a birthday brownie and ice cream on his birthday night with hot dogs for supper, one of his favorite meals which he has been know to eat 2 hot dog at a time. He got a Duplo block set from us which all the kids really like playing. Luke likes the truck parts and will push that around and also the dog piece.

 Happy Birthday to You!

 Was a proud and Happy Boy when we were singing to him



Pointing to the Doggie on the box of Blocks



Levi's 5th Birthday June 2, 2013

On Levi's real birthday morning we had cinnamon rolls at his request and opened more presents. Levi got to use the red "you are special plate" and loved that it was his special day. We were excited to give Levi his "new" big petal bike. I actually found the bike at a garage sale and Ryan spruced it up a bit, new pedals from the store and it was a perfect surprise for Levi. Levi was worried that he would need training wheels to ride it but we told him that since he had been riding his balance bike he would be good to ride this bike. He didn't want to try at first but with Daddy's help and a few pushes to get some speed he got it down within a few minutes. We were impressed and he was so proud. NO training wheels for him. What a big boy! He was tired out the first few days on it but now he is Mr. Speed. It is fun to see him go. After breakfast that morning we went downtown to the Construction Truck petting zoo. They had all sorts of trucks open for viewing, climbing and honking horns. Levi was scared to climb in any trunk but Maci was more daring. Luke just took it all in. They had snacks and activities for the kids and Levi loved that he got a free truck coloring book to take home.

New Ride

 

 

 

 

 

Checking out Garbage Truck

 

 

In the snowplow shovel

 

 A little nervous in the dozer

 

 

 

 

Birthday Celebration

We had a joint birthday celebration over Memorial Day Weekend, for Levi, Luke and Alexa this year because their birthdays are only a few days apart. We celebrated with a breakfast party at John Ball Zoo. It was supposed to be at Millennium Park but we didn't realize that there was a run going on that day. We diverted everyone over to the zoo park and it worked out really well. The Roedema's, Kramer's and Koopmans' sides were all there. It was a beautiful morning to be outside and play and celebrate and enjoy our kids. We had all sorts of breakfast treats, donuts, casseroles, cheeses, fruit and drinks for the kids and so many fun presents.

Gramps Koopmans with Luke

Grandpa Roedema with Levi
 

Me and the Birthday Boys



 Singing Happy Birthday

My 5 Year Old Monkey

One Five Year Old Ready for Presents

 One, One Year Old not so sure about the presents

Spring Time Random Activities

                   We usually head to a few garage sales during the week. Here is a cute and dirty baby for sale.

Levi and Maci playing camping or "family" together



 A Family Super Picnic Outing To Hagar Park



 Jeep Rides After Supper..Now three times as long to wait for a ride.

Sprinklers

Hagar Park Burning off Steam

"Dancing in the Drops"..as she was singing this.



Luke enjoying the swings at Hagar Park

Ryan and Luke taking a break while I was keeping tabs on the other two monkeys at Hagar Park

Luke's Tubes 5/13/13

Luke got his tubes a few weeks ago and what a difference it has made. Ryan took the day off and we brought him in for his procedure. By the time we sat in the waiting room no more than 15 minutes and he was waiting and crying for us in recovery.  Everything went well and Dr. said that there was alot of fluid in place that was not coming out without tubes. We had the follow up appointment this week and tubes are in place and will follow up in another six months. We can already tell he can hear better, is more mobile and is all around a happier baby. No more fluid causing problems and also no more questioning if he has an ear infection or not now.

End of Preschool Highlights 2013

We ended the school year at Orchard Hill with many fun activities. We are so proud of Levi and the progress that he has made at preschool.
We had a Mother's Tea at his school where Grandma Roedema and Koopmans came. Levi sang songs and made a self portrait of me...I was holding a cookie and my hair was straight up. He also made me a tote bag that had "Mom" on it with his hand and fingerprints. Maci and Luke came too and we had cookies and punch.

 

We also had an end of year picnic at Millennium Park. Maci came with me and we played and we met some of Levi's friends and said goodbye to them and the teachers.

 Orchard Hill also had a graduation ceremony where the had a slide show of the year, sang songs, and said their Bible memory work and prayers from the year. They called each child's name individually to get their graduation badge. Levi had to be coached through the crayon arch but he made it and showed his excitement by jumping down the stairs.

 

Levi and Ms. Melanie. He always like to be "demagnetized" from me each morning by her. She would shake him off my waist or hand. They made each child a photo book from the year with accomplishment and progress from each month of school. Neat to see how his handwriting of his name has changed and how he makes his letters.

Last day. Ms. Allison , Ms Jenny and Ms Melanie. Maci had to get in too..since alot of time she would come inside and wave and wait for Levi to come or go to school. What a fun and special first year of school!