WOW- where does the time go?  I am a stay at home mom now, so I should have tons of time on my hands right? – HA!  I honestly think back to when I used to work full time (or even a couple of years ago when I used to have a full time job AND part time job) and wonder how I did it.  But I digress.  Over the past month, we have been having so much fun with friends and family, that I have just completely forgotten to update the blog.  So here is a month’s worth of action in about 50 pictures…

A Trip to the Pumpkin Patch- Orchard Hills

We kept a tradition going and when on a hayrack ride. Whenever we say this around our MI neighbors though, we get laughed at, because apparently it is just called a Hay-ride. Whatever. You say Tomaeto I say Tomato

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Walk-A-Thon at Marshall Elementary School

This is the big annual fund raising event for Cooper’s school, where students raise money and then walk around the gym in the school for about 30mins.  He walked with us for a bit but then wanted to walk hand and hand with his friends.  To raise money, Cooper had asked family and friends for donations and thankfully, received $165 of generosity.  We found out later that Coopers’ school had a competition going for the students who could raise the most $$.  It turns out that he raised the 3rd most and was fortunate enough to win a scooter.  Oh my- we are very happy he won, but he already thinks he wins everything so this does not help us when we are trying to teach him you can’t always win.  Our Cooper can be quite the good luck charm.  Play a game of Candyland with him and you will find this out the hard way.  Wanda would tell us that he would usually win somewhere in the neighborhood of  9/10 games played at daycare.  Regardless, the scooter is awesome and we have all tried it out!

Grandpa Crandell, Uncle Chris and Uncle Eric came to visit for a weekend of fun.  We celebrated Chris’ 30th Birthday early.  The kids loved showing them around town.  We went to Lake Michigan (Tunnel Park) and fed the seagulls.  Cooper was such a beach boy- he was loving it.  Bella…. not so much.  The kids loved watching the boys play football, soccer, driving remote control planes and boats.  Uncle Chris brought Bella 2 fairy dolls and Cooper a remote control boat- they of course were very excited.

Halloween fun

Look at those muscles!!! Super pumpkin time

We were also excited during this month of no-blogging because Grandma and Grandpa Crandell came to visit for a weekend.  They arrived Friday and the kids had a fun night chasing Grandpa around the house playing Zombie (basically tag).  On Saturday, we spent the morning going to Grand Rapids Public Museum.  We saw the dinosaur exhibit and rode on the merry-go-round.  We left just in time to grab lunch and watch the Hawkeye football game, priorities!  After the game, we went to Lake Michigan (Oval Park) so Grandma Crandell could experience our version of the ocean. It was beautiful but we literally got out, walked up to the water and then quickly returned to the warm car because it was a bit chilly and very windy.  We had a lot of fun with them.  So much fun in fact, that we managed to take zero pictures (how can that be, so sorry).  The great thing is that I did get the Zombie game on video, so I am sure that will get watched over and over.  Grandpa running around and Grandma laughing.  Thanks for visiting!

Random pics to catch up from the past month of not blogging

Thanks for the stickers Aunt Krista!

Bella’s new thing- after she eats she stands up and says, “Check it out.” She is showing us how well she is growing.

Thanks for the monster hat Gramy and Gramps Gale- Cooper has enjoyed scaring his friends at school

We celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary. How did we celebrate 16 years of being together? Kids in bed, wine and Breaking Bad. Yes that is love 🙂 We showed the kids our wedding album and days later Bella asked, “can I see the Princess book?” I wasn’t sure what she meant until she showed me our wedding album- I LOVE HER

Princess warrior

Pizza Hut Book It!!!! I loved this as a kid- the tradition continues

This is what it looks like when Daddy gets me ready for game day

1 of our friends that we get to play with on Wednesdays

Can you tell we love dress up? I have saved most of my Betty Hill dance costumes and Bella loves when I put them on.

Muffins with mom

My independent girl…she loves picking out her clothes and usually changes throughout the day

Looking forward to visiting family for Thanksgiving!

Pizza Ranch and ice cream- we can’t wait to come home!

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Our 1st meal at Marshall Elementary as a family

Cooper was star student of the week in kindergarten last week. He was the line leader the entire week, shared 5 pictures of himself from newborn to now, and we even got the chance to join him for lunch at school. It had been a long time since John has had a school lunch, I used to eat at the school lunch sometime at St. Francis, but we were both very impressed by the choices the students are given.  They are able choose as many vegetables from the salad bar as they like, you receive a hearty main entrée and a side, plus they can choose a juice or milk. So Cooper my non-milk drinker (he drinks soy) is happy he can choose the juice. They don’t know how good they have it.

Our silly boy!

Backyard fun

Resting in Mom and Dad’s bed on his 1st sick day of school. He looks so serious

Cooper had his 1st sick day of the year. He rested the whole morning and then wanted to go outside in the afternoon. Cooper learned our rule about staying home from school and didn’t like it, no going outside. It was a day of resting, reading and a movie.

My little boy the reader! He may have been home sick, but he still loves reading the books his teacher sends home.

This is how happy Bella looks everyday on our way out the door to pick up Cooper from the bus

Put me in coach, I’m ready to play!

John was invited to play softball for the first time in MI! He has been waiting for the call up and finally one of his friend’s out here needed an extra player.

Super girl!

Halloween is right around the corner. Cooper made it easy on us this year and decided to be Superman, which is one of the costumes our neighbor gave to us. I was trying to convince Bella to be Super girl, but she of course insisted on being a princess. Well, I ordered both knowing that I can easily return the one that we don’t use. Lo and behold, our Princess Bella, did not like the royal dress! She is very excited however to join her Super Brother and fight crime on Halloween night!

Swinging at the park

John was away for the weekend at the Iowa vs. Michigan State game. Bella and I took Cooper to the park that we have been going to for picnics during the week. It was a rainy morning but it held off just enough for us to get out for some fresh air.

Feeding the ducks

We have some fun things coming up!

Cooper’s Walk-a-thon at school
This is the fundraiser for his school. He will be walking on Oct. 18th at school to help raise money. We are hoping he can earn over $100.  Please consider donating!!!! 

Chris and Eric are visiting the weekend of Oct. 18th
Grandma and Grandpa Crandell are visiting the weekend of Nov. 8th

We were looking forward to heading to Iowa for a visit but WOW it was much more than we could have expected and we fit so much into 2 days!!!!

We left our home in Michigan bright and early, 5am EST. Unfortunately, the kids did not sleep like they did last time so that made for a longer ride for them and a few more whines than we were expecting to deal with.  We arrived in DSM at 11am CST and immediately went straight to Wanda’s house

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This has been truly Cooper and Bella’s home away from home for many years. They walked up and began playing as if nothing has changed. Lily and Sadie (the dogs) remembered them immediately (Cooper loves Lily). Bella played with Malaya and Josie. We loved being flies on the wall as we listened in to Bella sharing her stories of her new home. We are so blessed to have had Wanda and Tiffy in our children’s lives for so long and I am grateful they can come back and visit. Cooper played legos with Owen Louis, who is a 2nd grader Cooper has been looking up to since he was a baby. They hung out for the afternoon while I went to my Aunt Jeanne’s to get my hair cut and John went to lunch with his mom, dad, and brothers.

Henry is so sweet, he grabbed Bella’s hand. What a sweetheart for including her 🙂

We spent Friday evening at the Dowling football game. Henry, Cooper’s friend, joined us so that they could see one another. We saw my cousin, Sam, play center and he had quite the fan club!

Sugar coma with cousin Davis

Friends forever

My little football fan

On Saturday, my mom and dad hosted their first big get together at their new home. Anyone who knows my mom knows how much preparation and thought goes into these events and she did not disappoint! She had the best brunch prepared with casseroles, honey bun cake, fruit and mimosas!! Yummy!! My whole family and most of John’s enjoyed a meal together and tried to fish in the pond between the sporadic rain. Cooper’s friend,Broc and his mom, Marci came to play for the morning.

Cooper, Bella, and Broc watching Chris fish in pond behind Gramy and Gramp’s house

Rainy day fun

John and I left for Iowa City and Bella and Cooper stayed with Gramy and Gramps for the night. John and I got to join friends at Kinnick stadium to celebrate the marriage of Tony and Amanda. The great thing about John’s friends is that we always seem to pick up where we left off. I was never interested in Greek life but this group of guys really give it a good name!!!! We had an adult night out (it had been way overdue).

Empty Kinnick Stadium

ATO

A weekend in Iowa refreshes me and brings me hope that we can stay close with friends and family. We don’t have our next visit planned and I worry that it might be Thanksgiving (because that seems too far away).

Please remember we will welcome visitors!  This room is waiting for you…

Bella will show you her dance moves too…

Many have asked for more pictures, so here is our week in pictures…

Bella confidently leaving her 1st ballet class

She loves her Gossie boots! It is hard to get her to wear anything else

Donuts with Dad at school

We were going to dinner at a friends house. Bella in her pretty pretty dress and Cooper being the helpful loving brother.

I love these silly kids

popsicle mustaches

What are the advantages of working from home? Hugs from Bella in the middle of the day!

trampoline time

Sitting in a real race car- Cooper was so happy!

John had to change my flat tire. There is a long story that goes with this but all that needs to be known is that my tire is now fixed and there is only a little dent in the garage floor.

Diva pose

This power wheel is now on Cooper’s Christmas list. This is one thing we have noticed about Michigan- there are a lot of toys (4 wheelers, snow mobiles, etc.)

Bella’s favorite place in our backyard

Cooper’s 1st tree climb

A walk in the park

Feeding the ducks

We are coming home to Iowa in 1 day!!!!!!!

School has begun and so have the days of trying to create a schedule. As the days go by I am more and more grateful of the opportunity to be home with Bella  and to be able to walk Cooper to and from the bus stop. My whole focus is on my family, such a weird but amazing feeling!

We celebrated the 2nd Iowa Hawkeye football game of the season by inviting our neighbors over. This was the 1st time we had entertained our new friends. John, Cooper, Bella and myself were all wearing our Iowa Hawkeye gear. Mason, our 2nd grade neighbor, pointed at the Tiger Hawk on our shirts and said “why does everyone have that on their shirt?” This shows you exactly how far we are from home! We explained to him all about the Hawkeyes and he was a fan immediately, he even asked John if this will happen again. John of course replied, “Yes, every Saturday.” Mason asked to come back again. We are spreading the Iowa love in Michigan territory. Two more of our neighbors, Ryan and Kelly, brought us a Michigan flag. I thought they were very nice to think of us and took it as a welcome gift. On the other hand, John responded, “Thanks we were low on toilet paper.”

This week has been full of signing up for activities for me and the kids. We have found a church, St. Sebastian, to join. Cooper started his first gymnastics class and the teacher came up to us afterwards saying that it was obvious he had taken gymnastics before (we were so proud). Bella is signed up for Ballet and Kindermusik. I am beyond excited to take her and have been checking our doorstep each day for the ballet shoes and leotard I ordered for her to wear. It finally arrived and Bella was very excited to start dancing right away.  Now, I want my children to make their own choices on the activities that interest them, but I can do everything I can to persuade right?

Bella modeling her new ballet leotard- this was actually a video but it wouldn’t let me upload it 😦

We also bought a family membership to the YMCA, which has been on my to do list for years!!!! I felt that I was in good shape before Cooper was born and then have just continued to drift farther and farther from feeling energetic, flexible, strong, etc. I have already gone to a cardio kickboxing class, Zumba, and Step. Our goal is to go every morning after Cooper goes to school. Bella can go to the Kid Zone, which we are calling her school because she of course wants to be just like Cooper.  Change can be hard and Bella has had trouble at the Kid Zone.  She doesn’t want to go and screams and cries, it breaks my heart but I keep telling myself it will get easier (and it is only 45 minutes).

Friday night was our 1st Byron Center Football game. It was Marshall Elementary night (Cooper’s school), so the kids gathered on one side of the football field and ran to the other side. They then got to cheer on the players as they ran onto the field. Cooper was pumped for the game and asked “can I do this again Mom?” This is a once a year thing so he was a little disappointed, but not as much as his mom because of the Byron Center colors. For those reading who are familiar with Dowling Catholic you probably know that their main rival is Valley. So can you guess the colors of our school district??? Yes- orange and black (same as our high school rivals). I am an open minded person, but it just doesn’t feel right cheering on an orange team…change can be hard!

Cooper showing off his school colors and bulldog tattoo

 Breakfast for the 1st day of school- WAFFLES AND EGGS!

Okay, maybe it is the mother in me or the fact that I have had 7 years teaching Kindergarten and picturing my son as the crier on the 1st day, but I was so worried for the drop off on the 1st day.  Cooper has always been our cautious child always needing reassurance that everything would be okay.  Unlike at Saint Francis, parents were not allowed to come in to the school to drop off on the 1st day.  I contemplated breaking the rules and doing it anyway OR pretend like we were running late but I didn’t want to make a bad first impression.  I talked to him and read him a lot of books about the first day of school so I was praying it he would go smoothly.  Well, the moment came AND… he did better than I could have ever imagined!  The bus pulled up and he got on with a pep in his step.  He blew us a kiss and smiled and his school journey began SMOOTHLY!!!!

I believe that the reason for the success was because he had many friends at the bus stop.  Our neighbor Owen was going to 1st grade, another neighbor Mason was going to 2nd.  The neighbor across from us Eli, was going to be in kindergarten, another neighbor girl Rory was also going to be in kindergarten.  Cooper also had a play date with a boy down the street that was going to be in his same class, Jacob.

Well…As you can tell by the lack of posting we have been busy!

We figured with moving we would have lots of downtime (because I knew NO ONE here) but it has been quite the opposite.

Our very friendly neighbors have taken good care of us.  We share backyards with the most wonderful people (Ryan and Kelly & Jodi and Scott).  They have invited us over for dinner, movie night, and lots of play dates.  Ryan continues to mow our lawn because his riding mower can do the job in 15 minutes while our push mower will take 2 hours + (we will be investing in one next spring…probably).  

We came  back to DSM only 5 days after moving to MI to celebrate my cousin Travis and his new wife, Ginny.  It was Hawaiian theme at the Kouri’s.  Steve had decorated his backyard so wonderfully that it felt more like a wedding reception than a shower.  We enjoyed great food and games with my family.  The kids went to Wanda’s for the afternoon to play with friends.  Cooper went to Broc’s 6th Birthday party and had a blast (we are still using the awesome water gun and eating the candy).  It was a visit filled with some family and friends in a very short period of time.  Our next trip back to DSM is Sept. 27th.  We will be going to the Dowling Catholic football game to see Sam Kouri play and going to Iowa City to see Tony Fossum and Amanda get married at Kinnick Stadium.

I am finding it is best to have some visit to look forward to.  It isn’t that I am sad (there really hasn’t been time for that) but Iowa, and most importantly the people there, are incredibly special to us.  This experience is making us all grow and step out of our comfort zones.  I am having to be more outgoing.  Cooper is doing the same and his confidence has flourished (my boy who used to be afraid to go downstairs on his own is now wanting to take short cuts and “meet us there” when walking to the campsite behind our house).  Bella is learning to get along with neighbor girls that treat her like a sister (bossy-she does it right back).  John is working his butt off to prove this move was worth it.

Gramps, Gramy, Cooper and Bella

The visit home the 1st weekend was refreshing but having my family (Mom, Dad, Jenna, Barry, Davis and Krista) come to visit us was beyond exciting.  I felt this was home for the 1st time.  They met some of our new friends and helped with our large yard (Mom is a weed picking fool).  I found it special to spend the whole day  and night together. When we lived in Iowa we were so close we would spend a few hours together, go home and think nothing of it.  Now it is like I am a kid again!  I was also able to fully use my new beautiful and large kitchen to it’s fullest. 

Finding the good during life’s challenges is important.  I am still missing life like it used to be but I feel that this has been a positive move for us.  I have a healthy family, dream home and the ability to spend all my energies on both- I am blessed!

August 12, 2013

Happy Moving Day! We go to our new home in Byron Center, MI at 7:30am to get the keys and explore. It is raining and will rain throughout the day with a few downpours mixed in. Cooper happily picks out his room and Bella finds a closet to hide in. The movers arrive a little after 8 and we watch as they carefully drive John’s car off of the truck. For the next 5 hours we hang out in the bathroom playing with cars, in the laundry room playing trains and the play set when the rain lets up so that we stay out of the movers way.

The swing set is by far Cooper and Bella’s favorite part of our new home. It is a simple 2 swings and a slide but they have always dreamed of having their own “playground.” It is so green in MI- you don’t see the burnt grass very often.

After the movers leave we decide to go to Art Van, a furniture store to look for a bunk bed, bed set and couch.

Of course, after getting furniture and dinner the kids were ready for the swing set. When we got home we went directly to the backyard to play. As we were playing we met both sets of neighbors. Ryan (from Sioux City,IA- there always has to be a connection to Iowa) and Kelly (met each other in Iowa when they were at Palmers college becoming chiropractors) with their 3 kids Owen 6 (yes- Cooper now has 3 friends named Owen- he was immediately comfortable), Lauren 4 and Sydney 18 months. Scott (high school principal- connections for later?!?!) and Jodi with 1 of their kids Mason 7. They baked us cookies and rice krispies. The boys were very sweet to Cooper letting him decide between tackle or touch football.

Maybe this move will be okay!!!

August 11, 2013

Today is a day we have been anticipating with many emotions (excited, nervous, scared, impatience, etc.). We started our journey at 9:00am leaving Gramy and Gramps house in Altoona, IA. But before leaving Cooper and Bella had present #1 to open from Gramy and Gramps. This gift idea was perfect for the long car trip ahead because every hour they were entertained by a new surprise. Cooper received a Monsters University book and Bella a Minnie Mouse book.

The drive was fairly easy. John drove and I distracted the children. We stopped in Peru, IL to eat at Steak and Shake. This little city will probably be a popular stop for us because it is the half way point and has lots of eating choices.

We arrived in Grand Rapids, MI at the Courtyard our hotel for the evening. We went swimming and ate pizza. Then bath and bed because tomorrow is a BIG day, we will see the house together as a family for the first time.

Here is a list of the presents (best idea ever):

Cooper
1. Monsters University book
2. “keep on trucking”- Hot Wheel trucks
3. “Sweets for a sweetheart”- ziplock bag with a random selection of candy
4. “Silly Billy”- silly putty
5. “What do these begin with?”- gummy worms
6. “Flying down the highway to your new home”- Dusty the airplane character from Planes
7. “I can hear you crunching from here”- container with crackers

Bella
1. Minnie Mouse book
2.”This is for all your treasures”- pencil case with marker to color it (she spent 30 minutes focused on coloring every space)
3. “Sugar and spice you’re everything nice”- ziplock bag with a random selection of candy
4. “I love it, I don’t care (Bella’s favorite song)- silly putty
5. “Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle”- gummy worms
6. “Cuddle up with this and make sure mom and dad hear it LOTS”- baby that makes giggle noises
7 “having fun? See how loud you can be with these.”- crackers