Dance Party and Horsey Rides...

So usually one night a week after supper...we just let things go. We turn on some fun music Ryan and I have a drink and we all dance. Levi is great at showing us his "dance tricks" and Maci loves to dance with her dadda. We also take turns doing horsey rides, and tiger fights. This can be quite entertaining and Luke gets scared of all the growling and ruckus. But what fun it is to laugh as a family and at each other and the kids are tired out for bed.

Levi's First Day of Preschool

Levi has started going to preschool at Orchard Hill Church and he seems to love it once he is in the door. He goes on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and those are very busy days for us. Maci misses Levi and says that she wants to go to school too...but the time goes by so fast and we are all loading up in the car to pick him up. Levi still has to get demagnetized as his teacher says...the leg clinging "magnet" has to get shaken off most mornings. It has gotten better and I have gotten smarter and leave the other kids in the car with this whole process.Levi thought it was funny that his teachers names were the same as his aunts...Ms Melanie and Ms Allison. Levi already was writing his name but practices that and also is excited for when he can be line leader. When I asked him each day what he learned he says " nothing.I know what they are talking about"...so I am sure that he will learn plenty of  new things soon..:)

Luke is 3 months old 9/6/12

 First Ride with Dada



 Bath time chair...comparing pictures with brother Levi



Levi August 2008

It has been a great blessing to have been off all summer to adjust and transition to our newest member of the family. But it is time for mom to head back to work one day a week now. I hope my experiences at home with a newborn will help my patients too. Luke has been a great baby the last couple of weeks and we are getting the routine down with all the kids. It has been a crazy summer and it went by so fast. Luke is cooing, smiling and interacting alot more. He loves to watch Levi and Maci play and to be outside. He is a snuggly little baby who is growing up so fast already. He sleeps in the morning and then takes an afternoon nap and sometimes a nap before supper. He drinks about 5 oz of milk and loves taking his bath.



Luke our sleeping baby boy...with milk drool. So precious to us!

Garden 2012

 Levi and Maci with their flowers.

 Levi pulled a carrot and it had 3 "horns" as he called it. We washed it off with the hose and we each had a bite. They both laughed and laughed.

Well lets just say the garden did not do too well this year. The combination of the extreme heat...lack of watering lead to a crop of a 3 cucumbers, a couple zucchinis, a pint of cherry tomatoes and a few carrots. The sunflowers did well though...next year we will try again. The kids enjoy checking on it and pulling up carrots..not knowing if it is a weed or not. We also like to pick flowers from our yard and see what is happening in the morning outside. We have seen turkeys, hummingbirds, rabbits, grasshoppers, snakes and caterpillars slugs,big bees, ants. We like to explore. Maci still gets afraid of the "eews" or bugs but Levi is more than happy to get them for us and show us.

Happy Birthday to Maci Jean! Two years Old!

 Blue Princess Gown from Katelyn..checking out her stickers too.

Happy Birthday..." I sit by Dora."

 Mickey and Minne Mouse Cupcakes at Half Moon Lake Party

 Pin the nose on Elmo game at Birthday Brunch...even Grandpa had a turn

"Look me Mama I a princess in the rain with a brella"



 Waiting to open presents at Koopmans party

I want to read books now Mama!

 Riding Bun Bun with dada!

We have been having alot of fun watching Maci the last couple of months. She has had a few milestones. We clipped the nipples off her pacifers and she has been without those for about a month. It was about a week of crying and carrying on with naps and bedtime but when she saw the pacifers she said" they broken" and through them on the floor.  She is a funny girl with a loud mouth sometimes..laughing and giggling. Dada likes to call her big boca. She has been also sleeping with Levi in her own big girl bed! We had her in a toddler bed for about a week and Levi would get upset because he was  sleeping downstairs and everyone else was upstairs sleeping....so we moved Maci downstairs into Levi's room. It takes a bit of coordinating at naps and bedtime but once they are asleep they sleep all night. Maci will go and read books in her bed before nap and bedtime. It is sweetest thing to hear her talking to herself about the stories. We had two parties for "princessa" another Ryan name for her. She loved her cupcakes and presents at each one. The barbie doll car was a hit at from Grandma and Grandpa Koopmans, and she got lots of clothes, a cleaning kit and a new dollhouse from Mom and Dad. Maci is really into dancing in her princess gowns, putting on jewerly and playing dolls. She loves to have her nails painted and "pretties" in her hair. Before her birthday Ryan and I took her and Levi to the mall( Grandma R watched Luke). She picked the bunny to ride on the carosel and said up and down about 100 times. We got each of the kids a new shirt, got a snack and let them play on the treehouse that they have there. They had a blast and it was nice to just have time with the older kids. Levi and Maci are quite the pair lately..they tell each other to go to time out and have their fair share of spats..hitting and hair pulling. But they can play nice with each other and Levi is alot times during the day holding his sisters hand and teaching her how to build blocks, read a story, or help her get dressed.

Luke is 2 months Old!

Good Morning...Lukie!

Spa day for Luke

Typical spit ups that were happening in the early morning and then at night. Thankfully no more of this.

Luke is getting so much bigger..! He is filling out in his cheeks. He still wakes up one time a night and he loves to be held. He can be a little fussy and we switched his formula because he was having issues spitting up . We had an ultrasound done of his stomach to rule out any problems and that was all normal. He is smiling all the time now and "plays" with Levi and Maci in the morning. Levi will read books to him or Maci will shake rattles in his face. He spends more time awake in the late afternoons and now does not seem to mind his bath. Luke sometimes takes his bath with Maci at night or he gets his special spa bath in the morning with both Levi and Maci attending to him.

New Ride!

Levi and Maci have been enjoying their new ride. They love riding in their new Jeep. Levi is a good driver and him and Maci can keep themselves occupied in this for a while. They take loads to and from the garage and garden. Most nights after supper if is is not too hot we will take a trip around the neighborhood. Levi and Maci cruising and Luke in the stroller while Ryan and I walk. Levi know how to reverse and change speeds..when Maci drives they have to watch out for the rose bushes..:)