Keeping up with the Kopers

The Long-Lost Christmas Post

2012-01-23T13:15:00.001-06:00

Christmas was almost a month ago. But given the month we’ve had since, it should not be a surprise that I’m just now getting around to posting the pictures. The fact is, today was the first time that I actually LOOKED at the pictures we took over Christmas. No joke. I dusted the camera off, turned it on for the first time in almost a month and looked at the pictures on it. It was actually kind of fun. Kind of like Christmas. So, without further adieu, here is how the Koper Family spent Christmas 2011:

The week before Christmas, my parents came to Abilene and spent a few days with us. But apparently, I didn’t take any pictures during this time. Then on some day before Christmas, I don’t remember exactly when, my parents and the kids and I drove out to McKinney to stay with my sister, Holly and her family. Steve came out the next day…or a few days later. I can’t remember, now. What a great story this is turning out to be. But anyway, we had a fun few days just hanging out as a family.

This was the first time my parents were meeting their newest grandchild, McKenna Jade. She was a big fan of my dad holding her like “Super Girl”

Grandpa Koper came out to spend a few days with us, too!

McKenna was a big fan of her Grampy.

Uncle Steve enjoyed picking sock fuzzies out from between McKenna’s toes.

My mom helped the kids make Christmas cookies. There were super messy and super fun and super yummy.

Dad’s just here for the cookie dough.

We have two family “traditions” we have started. This was our second year to do Advent, which is done every Sunday leading up to Christmas, where we talk about the Hope, Peace, Love and Joy we have in Christ and light a candle for each. And this was the first year we’ve counted down to Christmas day with books. I had 24 wrapped Christmas books and each night before bed, the kids picked one, opened it and we read it. Some of them were old, ones we have had for years; some were new; some where silly, about snowmen and reindeer; some were meaningful, about the birth of Jesus; some were cheap, from the dollar store; and some were beautiful, hardcover books that Jack (our book-ripper) wasn’t allowed to touch. I think it was a big hit and we will be doing it again every year. Especially since we now own 24 Christmas books.

My handsome nephew, Nolan enjoying a Christmas book.

Story Time

We went to a Christmas Eve service at Holly and Stan’s Church. Since we were all dressed up, it was the perfect time to take some family pictures before we left.

Picture time took a while.

Eventually, we got it right.

Somehow, Grammy and Grampy got theirs right the first time!

Holly and Stan weren’t so lucky.

But they got it in the end!

Our 8th Christmas as man and wife, and my parent’s 30th.

Christmas Eve was also the day we celebrated my sister, Holly’s birthday.

Nolan was pretty excited when the cake ended up in front of him!

My beautiful sister and her babies.

On the bottom of her gift from her hubby, was a map showing where he and Steve had traveled over the course of many hours to find her gift. They were awesome enough to wait until December 23rd to go out and find a camera and ended up all over the the Dallas area into the wee hours of the night.

Jack really enjoyed the birthday cake and ice cream. He made sure to get every drop out of his bowl.

We had Christmas. I do remember when that was. And I do remember that we all went into the living room to open presents and then Gabby decided that she needed to go potty. So we all waited before starting the festivities. And waited. And waited. She must have sat in there for a good 15 minutes. But we waited. And eventually she emerged, triumphant and ready to start opening presents. I wanted to make sure and document that story so that when she’s 16, she can be super embarrassed that I told that story to the world.

First glimpse of the loot.

The boys playing patiently while waiting for Gabby to come out of the bathroom.

“Let the wild ruckus begin!”

Grammy crying over her calendar of Grandchildren pictures.My mom made us these profile pictures of the kids – can’t wait to put them up when we move into a house again….eventually.One of the day’s most popular gifts – Steve’s ping-pong set for the table. There was quite the tournament.

We are so blessed by our family. Our time together with them over Christmas could only have been better if Cara and Kyle Thornton had been there.

Whew! I did it! I blogged our Christmas. I can check it off my to-do list, at last! Up next: Move #1 of 3 for 2012. Our first move of the year will be documented with pictures and everything, but for now, You’re All Caught Up!

An Explaination to Why My Children Have Watched an Unhealthy Amount of TV This Week

2012-01-13T09:27:00.000-06:00

I know that many, many women walk through what I am walking through right now, and they don't share it. I know it's not something people like to share. I'm not sure why. I'm a sharer. I'm sharing. So here it is.

It's been a rough couple of weeks for The Koper Family. On December 26th, we found out that we were expecting baby #4. But within a few days, I knew something wasn't right. After one middle-of-the-night visit to the emergency room and 2 follow up appointments, we have come to realize that this pregnancy is not normal and we will not be meeting this baby here on earth. God's peace and comfort have covered us. We are sad but we know that nothing is out of God's control. Thanks to everyone who prayed for us before our first followup. I know a few of you were freaking. right. out after I asked for prayer on Facebook. But I'm fine and healthy and even getting through this loss pretty well. I'm still in a lot of physical pain some days, and I'll be glad when that is over and I can really start to heal and move on. You know you've been resting too long when you're sick of Pinterest.

Going through this has shown me a lot of things:
                My husband is the most supportive, loving, kind and encouraging person I could every ask for. When I woke him out of a dead sleep at 2:30am and said I needed to go the ER, he didn't ask, "Are you sure?" or "Why?" He just jumped up, got the kids ready and got us out the door within 15 minutes. We had lived here less than 48 hours and didn't even know where the nearest ER was, but he and his iPhone got us there in record time. He has been nothing but caring and sweet through these last weeks and I am so thankful for him.
                 My parents are the most prayerful, faithful people I know. I know that I was covered in prayer before, during and after each of my follow up appointments, as well as during every day of the last few weeks. I am so thankful for them and for their constant prayer over me and my family, not only during this time, but always.
                The children God has given me are so amazing. They sat in the ER for 4 hours in the middle of the night as well behaved as ever. Since we have lived here less than 2 weeks and have no babysitters, they have sat through 2 follow up appointments getting constant compliments on their excellent behavior. They are so sweet and thoughtful and funny and beautiful and I am so thankful for each of them.
                My favorite verses have helped me though many tough times, and this is no exception. I love Paul's words: "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:3-5

I'm sorry that I haven't even posted Christmas pictures, let alone pictures from our move. But I will, soon. I'm sure in another week or two I'll be back to normal and be ready to share our recent adventures with the world! So be ready!

Koper Boy Kidisms

2011-12-09T16:06:00.001-06:00

Dad (to Steven watching a cartoon): “What is this?”

Steven: “Adventure time.”

Dad: “When have you seen this before?”

Steven: “September 12th, I think.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Steven: “Dad, are the Cooper Cougars NFL or College?”

Dad: “Neither, Buddy. They are High School.”

Steven: “Whoa…..”

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Steven: “When Addicus (his best school friend) wears his sweatshirt hood, he looks like Dark Gator from Star Wars.”

Steven: “Those Beaver-Ages look funny”

Dad: “That says ‘Beverages,’ Buddy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Me: “Gabby and Jack, did you know that Nolan is coming to our house tonight?!” (waiting for cheering and jumping and yelling)

Gabby: “Are you kidding?”

Jack: “Are you playing around?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jack:” Buuuuuuuuuuuuuurp…..Ew. I farted.”

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Steven (about the girls at school that call him Steven-Justin-Bieber): “I don’t even know who Justin Beaver is.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dad: “What is a nativity?”

Jack: “Jesus’ Bull-fight (Jack for birthday)”

Remember Thanksgiving?

2011-12-08T07:34:00.001-06:00

So, Thanksgiving was a few weeks ago. It seemed like no one noticed because everyone in America thinks that Mid-November is actually Christmas time. But it’s not. It’s fall. And it’s Thanksgiving. And it’s awesome. Here’s how we spent ours: taking tons of pictures of the kids together (mine and my sister’s) since it will be one of our last visits together for a while.

Oh, and playing Wii, too.

Last weekend, we put up our tree. Since we will be skipping town very soon after Christmas, and quite possibly leaving our home before the day gets here, we opted to put up a mostly disposable tree so we won’t need to pack anything away when it’s over. We bought a real tree for the first time in years, and the kids and I made all of our ornaments. We strung popcorn and gumdrops, we made ornaments out of paint sample cards from Home Depot and spray painted pine cones from the park.

Other than our hokey, hill-billy tree, our mattresses and our couches, our house is just about empty. We have moved most of our stuff into a storage unit. It’s kind of depressing. But I am excited to get this show on the road and start our little adventure as a family! Until then, we’ll be here in our almost empty home smelling our Christmas tree and looking at the dirty half-melted snow in the backyard.

And now you’re all caught up!

Caprock Canyon Camping with the Kopers

2011-11-29T21:42:00.001-06:00

Life is a little crazy for the Koper family right now. But a few weeks ago, before things got too crazy, we decided to take a little family trip to relax (sort of) and spend some quiet time together. We left on Friday morning and drove about 3 1/2 hours with a rented camping trailer behind us. We arrived at Caprock Canyon State Park, set up camp, ate some lunch and immediately hit the trails.

The first day we hiked about 6 miles and only saw 2 other people the whole time. It felt like our little family was completely alone in the canyons. We were so proud of Gabby and Steven – they were troopers and walked the whole thing. We hiked up steep inclines, down hills and across dried up river beds. We took lots of breaks for the kids to play and rest.

We were absolutely awestruck at the beauty of the land. It’s amazing that less than 200 miles from Abilene (not exactly the prettiest place on earth) is this beautiful and rugged place.

The kids loved seeing the bison. Jack yelled “Bye-bye Bison!!!!” for several minutes after we left the park. He was enthralled.

Steve and Steven took 2 hikes up very steep canyon trails while I waited at the base with the little kids. They are so manly.
In the evenings, the kids laid in the bunk and watched a movie and snacked on popcorn. It was very cozy in our little camping trailer. This was the first camping trip we’ve taken with a trailer and we really enjoyed it. Even more than the trailer, we enjoyed our time together as a family and our time in the beautiful fall air enjoyed in the beauty of creation. It was a trip we will always remember.
And now you’re all caught up!

I broke a nail while typing this post

2011-10-28T22:35:00.001-05:00

I haven’t been blogging much lately because I don’t feel like I have anything interesting to tell the world. But one day, years from now, I will look back on October of 2011 and think, “What on earth were we doing?” So, for my future self, here’s what life has been like lately:

- Steven has become very interested in baseball this season. He went to 2 Texas Rangers games with Steve, Uncle Joe and Grandpa this year. Then the Rangers made it to the World Series. Tonight is Game 7 and Steven has made it through 7 innings of the Rangers stinking it up and hasn’t lost interest, yet. It’s pretty impressive how his attention span has grown. I’ve totally lost interest.

- Gabby and I went for a walk around the neighborhood tonight. One of her favorite activities is walking with me and “our babies.” She pushes her stroller with her Build-a-Bear Doggie in it, while I push Jack in my stroller. For the entire length of our walk, she tells me about her baby and her little pretend family. Tonight, she was pushing her 2-year-old daughter, Angela who loves Monster’s Inc and pizza. She has another baby in her belly, her older son, Steven is 15 and plays basketball for the UT Longhorns and scores 100 points because he’s really good. Her husband, Steve works at a place where he makes soup for a living and they have a kitty. I pretty much love listening to her little make believe life.

- Jack has recently started speaking in full sentences. Yesterday, he was coloring with a friend and I noticed marker on his face and asked him if he colored on his skin (which he knows is naughty). He said, “No, that boy colored on my forehead.” I was pretty impressed with the complete 8-word sentence. Understanding all of his words is sometimes challenging but very entertaining.

- Earlier this month, I spent a week in McKinney for the first week of my new niece, McKenna’s life. It was such a great week spent holding sweet McKenna, playing with Nolan and spending time with both of my wonderful sisters. It was the first time I was away from the kids for that long. Steve was a wonderful stay-at-home-dad for the week. And the welcome I received on coming home made me feel pretty appreciated and loved – it was great.

- Our house has been on the market for 6 days. We’ve had 2 showings so far – both the same person. I just really hope we will get some more traffic through here soon. We want to sell before it’s time to head out in January.

- Having a house that needs to always be show-ready during the day in case of that last minute call from a realtor wanting to show it is exhausting.

- Steve woke up yesterday with water on the knee. It was random and we don’t know what caused it, but I find it intriguing. His knee cap seems to just be floating around in this giant pool of fluid in his leg. I looked videos up on YouTube of people having the fluid drained. It was disgusting…and awesome. I hope that if he has to have it drained I get to watch.

Okay, future me, I think I covered us all….and now you’re all caught up!

FOUR!!!

2011-10-07T10:12:00.002-05:00

My sweet little Gabby-girl is 4 years old today!

I asked Gabby for a few of her favorite things. Here they are:

Favorite song: My God is so Big, so Strong and so Mighty

Favorite Book: Charlotte's Web

Favorite Movie: The Little Mermaid (which she has never seen)

Favorite color: PINK PINK PINK

Favorite Food: Pizza

Favorite Drink: White Milk

Favorite Person: Aunt Holly and Uncle Joe and Nolan

Favorite pastime: Coloring

Favorite outside activity: Play soccer

Favorite TV Show: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

Favorite outfit: Pink Dresses

Favorite hairstyle: 2 french braids

Favorite dessert: Cookies and brownies and ice cream

Favorite restaurant: Mr Gatti's

After I asked her all of these favorites, she went on to tell me the following on her own:

Could you ask me what is my favorite toy?

Favorite toy: My baby dolls

I like slides at the playground

See-saws at the playground

And I like swings at the playground

And monkey bars

And the tire swing

(looking at the screen) Wow, that's a lot.

And I like rock walls

I love God and Mommy and Daddy and Jack-Jack and Steven

I really like to have snacks and play video games

I like to play with Steven

Gabby spends about 75% of her awake at home time sitting at the dining table coloring. Just coloring.

She still sucks her thumb, which we are about to start trying to break her of. She does not know this yet.

Her requests for her birthday this year included:

A pink princess cake

A pink Dress

A pink Sword

Playing and pizza at Mr Gatti's

At age 4 Gabby knows what she likes and what she doesn't. She has amazing thoughts and ideas about things and is very creative. She is quite clever and very messy. She sings all the time and still takes 1 1/2 to 2 hours naps most days.

We love her so much and are so thankful for these 4 years we've had with her. God gave us so much when he gave us our Gabby-girl.

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Two Random Videos

2011-09-23T14:18:00.001-05:00

Two random videos of my two favorite boys:

Jack fell asleep at lunch today. It was too cute not to record.

Steven had a blast at our little trip to The Great Wolf Lodge this past weekend. Here's the proof.

The End.

Wrapping up the Summer!

2011-09-06T16:46:00.001-05:00

To bring to a close the busiest summer on Koper Family record, I will share ~~a few~~ a boat-load of pictures that were were all taken within the last few weeks.

Aaaaand, here we go:

This boy is now potty trained! Yay!

Steve bought a new (to him) car. He fondly refers to it as his “cute, fun and adorable” car. It may not be manly or tough or rugged, but it is pretty amazing on our gas budget!

Little known fact: Flight suits make GREAT baby slings.

Chuck E Cheese has found a very important place in our lives:

Steve and I went on a “Couple’s Retreat” sponsored by his work. We spent 3 days and two nights doing this,

a little of this,

and a lot of this

We also did this:

(Warning to any Real Golfers that may Keep up with the Kopers – this video may be painful to watch.)

When we got home, this guy started Kindergarten. Can’t believe he’s so big!

We found out that we will soon be saying so long to The Mighty Herk.

Steven had a very fun birthday celebration, including a cake made by his Dad!

Birthday morning started out at The Home Depot Kids Workshop with my little family of carpenters.

We went from Home Depot to go get ice cream for lunch. On the way, Jack put his shades on himself. He is super cool.

After ice cream for lunch, we hit up the zoo. Steven is six now, so it’s about time he starts chipping in and pulling these other kids around for us.

A ride on the zoo train made our hour in the heat worth it.

We spent the evening playing at Mr Gatti’s.

There were bumper cars,

Air hockey,

Basketball,

Bowling,

and a roller coaster simulator that was apparently just as impressive from the side as from the seat!

Then there were the presents. Oh, the presents!

Even Grammy and Grampy were able to watch the festivities!

Next came the awesome soccer cake decorated by Dad!

After cake and ice cream, we went out to try out the new soccer goal. Somehow soccer quickly turned into hool-a-hooping…

Which quickly turned into hool-a-hoop wrestling between Steven and his friend.

Pretty sure Steve was more excited than Steven to start in on those new Legos!

Thankfully our super fun birthday celebration was followed by a few days of bearable weather! More than bearable, actual pleasant, beautiful, refreshingly cool, wonderful weather! We did everything we could to soak it up!

Hiking Abilene State Park

Steven and the bigger kids even camped in the yard to take advantage of the cool night.

We also went on our first family bike ride in a LONG time. It has been too hot to get out on the road since May. The little kids and I went for another one this morning and it will remain a regular thing as long as the weather stays cool!

And that concludes our summer wrap-up!

Now you’re all caught up!

SIX!!

2011-09-03T09:47:00.001-05:00

My Steven Ray is six years old today. Do you know what freaks me out the most about that? It’s that I REMEMBER life at six. Which means that he is making memories right now that he will have as an adult. That freaks me out.

As far as six-year-olds go, Steven is a pretty awesome one. He’s an excellent reader, can do simple math, loves to be read to (we are currently reading The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverley Cleary), he enjoys watching just about any televised sport with his dad, he plays soccer with great joy, he thinks racecars and sports cars are awesome, monster trucks are pretty cool, too. Steven thinks girls are pretty but thankfully still prefers to just hang out with the guys. Sadly, he is outgrowing his interest in pretend-play with Gabby. He is a morning person. He wakes up WAY. TOO. HAPPY. for the rest of us at 6:15am. He has a never-ending source of energy and the smelliest feet on the planet. He likes to wear his Texas Rangers Baseball cap and his favorite t-shirts feature skateboarding graphics. And sometimes he says things that crack me right up.

Stevenisms:

Me: What do you want for your birthday?

Him: One of those screens like at Chuck E Cheese where you race.

Me: You want an arcade game?

Him: Yep.

Of course he does, why didn’t I think of that?

Steve: Do you know any of the States in America?

Him: Yes, Texas.

Steve: Good, what are some other ones?

Him: Afghanistan?

What it is like to turn 6 in the words of Steven:

“It makes me feel bigger and it helps me make me think that I can run faster than a 5-year-old. It makes me think that I’m like a grown up.”

Happy Birthday to my first born son. There are few things in life that bring Dad and I as much joy as watching you grow into a big boy who loves the Lord, loves his family and loves life. We love you so much, Buddy!

The Start of Our Journey

2011-08-12T10:00:00.002-05:00

Eight years ago today, I accepted a ride on a motorcycle from a guy I worked with at Applebee's. I had worked there for about a year, had known this guy for that duration and knew that if I accepted this ride, it would not be just a ride. So for months any time he asked if I wanted to go for a ride on his bike, I declined. It scared me. Not the motorcycle, but what I knew it would start. On my way out of work, eight years ago, today, I told him I was ready for that ride on his bike. I did it out of fear – fear that I’d go the rest of my life wondering what would have happened if I had gone. I put my purse and paycheck on the seat of my car – my car was at work, I didn’t need the ride – and got on the back of the motorcycle. I told him I just wanted to go around the parking lot. I was scared. Not of the bike ride. 60 seconds later, we were going 90 mph on Loop 306. He was in control and he was not scared. 5 hours later, after gas stops, dark paths full of beautiful deer, a mid-night dinner at IHOP, and a walk down a quiet street, he kissed me under a street light. Eight years ago, today we started down the journey.

Seven years ago today, I put on a pretty white dress. I drove out to a lake-side white tent. I had butterflies in my stomach. But I wasn’t scared. Seven years ago today, I looked my best friend in the eye and told him that I would love, honor and respect him for the rest of my life. He looked at me, with rarely serious eyes, and told me the same. Seven years ago today, we started our life together. I never would have believed it to be possible then, but today – seven years later, we are more in love, more respectful of, and more thankful for each other than we were that day. We have grown greatly in these seven years and God has showed us and taught us so much about marriage and about life. Some of it easy to learn, much of it difficult. Some of it full of unexplainable joy, some of it streaked with tears. I know there are many more lessons to learn, filled with more laughter and more tears. And I look forward to them all.

I am thankful today, that eight years ago, I got on that motorcycle. Happy Anniversary, Steve.

Mama Tried

2011-07-28T08:17:00.002-05:00

Hi. Remember me? I used to blog here. I used to write things and post pictures and enjoy it. But now? Well, not so much. I blame in on a few things. First of all, my husband was away for 8 months over the span of only 11 months. He has been home for almost 2 months (in which he did leave for one week) now, but I still feel like he’s this awesome visitor in my house and when he’s home, I want to just spend time with him, and not with my computer. This limits me to day-time blogging when he’s at work. He does spend a lot of time at work, though. What, with getting ready to deploy again. For the third time in a row. But I’m not going to start on that. Because that would be neither productive nor pretty. So, that leaves me lots of daytime hours with which to sit down at my computer in peace and quiet and blog my little heart away. Except. It’s summer, so Steven is not in school. I think our little West Texas town is on its 1000th day of temperatures over 100 – mostly close to 105 and is way too hot to be outside most of the day. This leaves me with a two-year-old, a three-year-old and a five-year-old inside 1500 square feet trying to share toys and not jump on the couch. Which leaves me with 8 hours of my day spent saying “Why aren’t you sharing?” and “You need to stop jumping on the couch.” But right now 2/3 kids are sleeping and the other is watching PBS so I have a few minutes. A few blissful minutes, smelling Baked Oatmeal in the oven, sipping my green tea and honey, and blogging .

I have a few Koper Kidisms to share. I went to a retreat for my MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) group a few weeks ago, where we planned out our next year of ministry. When I came home, Steve had taken a few notes. Apparently while making the kids dinner (and by making dinner I mean microwaving hot dogs and not even bothering with the tater tots I left out for them), the kids said some things he needed to write down.

Steven – Real kids don’t like mustard.

(Steven does like mustard, which he feels really sets him apart)

Gabby (in awe) – How do YOU know how hot dogs are made?

(What? Daddy knows how to use the microwave? Does Mommy know this?)

Jack – I DID IT!!!!!!!! (After passing gas at the table)

(Oh, boy.)

And with that, 2/3 of kids are awake and only one is sleeping. So it’s about time to wrap it up. Before I do, here are some pictures of our recent trip to see my family. We had a great time and the kids had a blast with Grammy and Grampy.

Before

And after – Steve and Stan worked tirelessly on this floor.

Jack and his super-cousin.

Watching Dad, the grill master

Gabby and her GrampyThe kids LOVED the splashpad.

Jack in the sprinkler.

Oh, my Jack-Jack.

Ice cream with Grammy

and Grampy.

This is Jack’s “silly face” He makes in on request.

Mama tried. Then I gave up deciding that there is no such thing as a good picture of 4 kids all smiling and not playing with their belly buttons.

Reading with Grammy and Grampy before bed.

This was Steve and Stan’s favorite break-time activity, Stratego.

Hopefully it will not be so long before my next post. But it probably will. But at least for now,

You’re all caught up!

McKinney

2011-07-16T21:07:00.004-05:00

It is our last of 8 nights at Holly and Stan's house in McKinney with my parents. It's been a fun week and to wrap it up, I feel like spreading some of my thoughts out in word form. So, here they are:

- Laying 1100 square feet of bamboo floor is a lot of work. I did about .005% of the work and it was exhausing. Steve and Stan did a great job. Holly and Stan's house is starting to look beauitful.

- Getting 4 kids to sit still for pictures with their grandparents is pretty much my least favorite thing to do. I'm so glad my parents are putting the kids to bed tonight, because after 30 minutes of picture taking, my putting them to bed would have been fun for no one.

- Ikea is about 15 minutes away and I've been 3 times. It's a good thing my husband has me on a budget or we'd have no money left. I love that place.

- Steve and I went to a movie last night, and it was the opening day of the latest Harry Potter movie. There were a lot of people standing in line for a long time. It made me think of movies that I've stood in line for. I've stood in line for two movies in my life. One was the last Matrix movie and the other was the last Lord of the Rings movie. I was not a huge "fan" of either of these trilogies. I enjoyed them, but was not the kind of fan that was counting down to the opening. I stood in line for one reason and one reason alone: I like watching people. People that stand in line for hours for a movie are some of the most entertaining people in the world. My favorites are the ones who dress as characters. Or bring props. Or quote things. It tickles me. It made me wish I could spend more time with the HP line-standers. Have you ever stood in line for a movie? Which ones?

- My parents are AWESOME grandparents. They put the kids to bed most nights this week. I haven't given a single bath - and my kids are clean. I've changed very few diapers. They took them to a movie, they bought them lots of clothes for the fall. They played and sang and read and tickled and laughed and prayed and loved all week long. It was so fun to watch.

- I got on FB for about 2 minutes tonight and apprently it rained in Abilene today - about 57 of my friends said so.

- I'm scared to step on the scales when I get home. My waistline is telling me that the nonstop food my mom, sister and I have been cooking this week has caught up to me.

- I love being with my family but it never feel just right without everyone here - we missed Cara and Kyle a lot this week.

- Holly is a great hostess and we love staying here, but I will be very glad to be off of our slowly leaking air mattress and out of a shared room with my kids and into my bed tomorrow night.

Two

2011-06-30T11:13:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday to my sweet baby, Jack-Jack.

It is hard to believe that you are two years old, today. I don’t know where the time has gone. I still look at you and see my little baby. I still refer to you as a baby. I don’t know if I will just always think of you as my baby since you are my youngest, but I can’t imagine you being anything else. But today you are two years old, and it’s hard to call you a baby today.

You are so busy at two. Your days are very full. Most days you roll out of bed around whatever time your sister does. She wakes you up because Quiet is not a concept she understands. Once in a while, you’ll sleep later than her. One day last week, you slept until 11am. As if you were 15. Once out of bed, you give a smiley hug to me and always answer “yeah” when I ask if you slept well. It doesn’t take you long to demand your ba-ba. Your ba-ba is a sippy cup of milk. I don’t know why you call it a ba-ba. But you do. And it is very important to you. You need one when you first wake up, before you can go to bed and any time you are tired or upset. You love your ba-ba. You also love your brother and sister. You call Steven “Wee-wee” and Gabby “Bobby.” If they leave your sight, you ask where they are, “Where Wee-wee? Where Bobby?” Daddy thinks it’s funny to ask you to say Gabrielle. “Blab-blel” you reply as if it is exactly what he asked you to say. There are a few things you say throughout the day that I get mixed up. Strawberry, granola bar and Gabrielle all sound very similar. Lots of “blah”s in each of them. You refer to yourself in 3rd person as “Da-da.” You say Mommy and Daddy perfectly.

You love dogs. And airplanes. You get very excited to see both. Many times a day you yell out, “Doggie!! Doggie!” Always followed by, “Bye-bye, Doggie” as the dog leaves your sight. Same with planes: “Ray-ray! Ray-ray! Bye-bye, ray-ray!” You call all letters and numbers “E.” Which is why you are getting flash cards for you birthday. We’re going to start working on that. I love to listen to you talk. I love that I can understand most things that you say. And I love that you can communicate so many of your precious thoughts to me.

You sleep in a big boy bed, the bottom bunk of a small bunk bed you share with Gabby. You sit in a booster seat at the table, and when Gabby is not present, you prefer her booster seat to yours. Your incredible eating has slowed down a bit in the last few months. You are beginning to be more picky and we are no longer quite as shocked at the amount of food you can consume in a short amount of time. You don’t like green vegetables very much. If we can get you to take a bit of one, you will usually just hold it in your mouth for an eternity.

You had your 3rd haircut just last week. You complained one day of “hair…eyes” because it was getting a little long. But I just love your long, blonde curls so much that I keep it pretty long. I only trimmed enough to get it out of your eyes. I love that you still look like a beach bum. I’m sorry that strangers occasionally think you’re a girl.

Today you are two, my sweet baby Jack-Jack. I love you so, so much. Happy Birthday, my sweet baby.

Vacation 2011 Part 2

2011-06-24T12:22:00.001-05:00

Part 1 left off on a high note – Steve and I sitting by the fire on the beach listening to the waves and holding hands. Aww. The night went downhill from there. We went into the tent, where 3 children were supposed to be sleeping. There was much tossing and turning and a bit of sitting up and talking and playing. And not as much sleeping as I had hoped for. Then Steve and I laid down. You see, usually we take an air mattress when we camp, but on this trip we did did not bring it for 2 reasons: a) We were packing light so that we could fit everything in the car. This was a long trip, with lots of stops and we needed a ton of stuff, so packing light was important and b) We figured “We’re sleeping on SAND! Sand is soft, right?” Well, turns out all the walking around in the tent we did when setting up the sleeping bags, sweeping all the sand out of the tent, putting the kids to bed etc., left the sand under our tent quite hard-packed. Around 3am, I asked my wide-awake husband for the time and found that time had STOPPED MOVING. I was hoping it was almost morning and I could just get up and be done trying to sleep. So, I did the responsible thing and helped my family the best I knew how. I moved to the truck and passed out in the front seat. It was a selfless move because if I was too tired to even be nice the next day, the vacation was going to stop being fun for everyone very quickly. I’ve never been so thankful that Steve insisted on finding a Ford Expedition with a front bench seat. I got a good 4 hours of sleep after that. Steve also slept better once my tossing and turning and whining was gone. And the kids – they can sleep anywhere. So around 7am, Steve scared the living daylights out of me by knocking on the car window to wake me up. Pretty much the most confused I’ve ever been.

We got up, packed up the tent, and quickly gave up on keeping the sand out of the car or keeping the sand off of anything. As with when we arrived, it took us FOREVER to maneuver our front wheel drive truck in the sand. It was a careful system of driving forward to get momentum, backing up, getting out and digging the sand out from around the sunken tires, then repeating. Many times. We left the beach feeling gritty and sweaty and stinky and gross. I’ve never wanted a shower more in my entire life. But all of our searching for a shower house was in vain and we finally gave up on the idea of personal hygiene. It was around 9am when we left our campsite and we could not check into our condo (where we’d be spending the next 2 nights) until 2pm. We begrudgedly drove into Port Aransas to kill time for 5 hours and ended up having a wonderful time. We stopped at a long pier and had a picnic breakfast and walked up and down the pier. That’s when I noticed Gabby’s hair.

I quickly gave my dirty haired little girl some pony tails and then we then went into a few cute surf shops and browsed the overpriced clothes. The fun level really picked up when we rented Bevo, the UT Buggie. We drove it up and down the beach and through Port Aransas. We went out to lunch and picked up some groceries for our condo stay.

We were so excited to finally check into our condo. While I unpacked and finally got my shower, Steve opted to take Steven and Gabby down to the pool. Then I made us a home cooked dinner for the first time all week. It was great. We hit up the pool a little after dinner and then everyone got cleaned up and we played cards. Our time in the condo couldn’t have been better. We spent most of our time at the pool, ate home cooked meals and walked past the pool out to the beach once. I got attacked by THESE little boogers and that ended my attraction to the ocean. Thankfully, I didn’t get much of a rash, and even more thankfully I was holding Gabby when I got attacked and she didn’t get any at all. Just me. Because I’m special. Because I’ve never swam in the Gulf Coast without being stung by something.

The view from our balcony, the ocean in the background

Our 3 days in the condo ended all too soon. We packed it up and hit the road again and drove up to Randolph AFB for the night. We stayed in TLF and drove around the base and surrounding area a bit. We lived at Randolph AFB for a little over a year back in 2008-2009 and it was fun to go back and eat at our favorite sub shop and go to a Target that doesn’t reek of fish (Is it just me? Does anyone else smell that horrible stink in the Abilene Target?) and Steve even took me into Best Buy there and bought me this nice new laptop that I’m blogging from right now. My 4-year-old Dell just wasn’t cutting it anymore. And by cutting it, I mean going 20 minutes without crashing.

The next morning, we got up and around lazily and got to Sea World around 10:30. We were out of there by 3:00. We saw the shows, tried unsuccessfully to put the kids on a kiddy-ride and then we were out. We are thankful for our free yearly tickets because we can go for just a few hours and then leave without feeling like we wasted money.

After Sea World, we headed back to Abilene. After a wonderful week of fun in the sun in beautiful 90 degree days, it was a big wake up call to drive into the dry 106 degrees of Abilene. But it was good to sleep in our own beds.

We made some pretty wonderful family memories during our week and are so thankful to the Lord that Steve is here with us and that we had that time to bond with him again. God has blessed our family so, so much and we are just thankful to have had that time to just be in His rest and love and enjoy His gifts.

And now, you’re all caught up!

Vacation 2011 Part 1

2011-06-21T09:41:00.001-05:00

We’ve been home for over a week, now. So I guess it’s time to post the pictures of our wonderful vacation. The task has felt a little daunting to me since Steve is a little camera-happy and took about 400 pictures during the week.

Since posting pictures of everything we did would result in a post so long you’d just stop reading since you need to do things like eat and work today, here is just the first half:

On the first day, we left Abilene early in the morning, drove down to beautiful Canyon Lake, met up with Steve’s Dad who brought his jet ski, rented a pontoon boat and spent 6 hours on the water. We had a picnic lunch on the boat, spent a lot of time swimming in the clear, clean water, played on the jet ski, swam to an island where Gabby collected sea shells, and rode around on the boat with the wind in our hair.

That evening, we cabin-camped at the lake. Grandpa had the cabin right next door to ours and the big kids slept in his cabin, because Grandpa is so much more fun than Mom and Dad. Apparently, we’re pretty lame.

The next morning, the kids enjoyed one of their all-time favorite activities: throwing rocks into water. Oh, the fun.

It didn’t take us long, though to change out of real clothes and back into our swim suits to hit up the sandy beach of the lake and spend the morning swimming and running from geese.

Jack napped on the picnic table. Vacationing is exhausting when you’re almost 2.

My little under-water swimmers.

That afternoon, Steve and I kissed our sweet children goodbye and left them with Grandpa where they camped for one more night in the cabin, did some more swimming and apparently went our for a pizza dinner where Gabby did not share her pizza with Steven, the bottomless pit. This is all hearsay since I was not there and am only gaining my information from the arguments of a 5 and 3-year-old.

Steve and I left the lake and spent our evening holding hands, laughing, having uninterrupted conversation and basically pretending we don’t have any kids. We stayed at a beautiful hotel on the Riverwalk in San Antonio with a rooftop pool, which was our first stop.The view from the pool was amazing.

After relaxing in the pool, we got dressed up and walked out of the lobby right onto the Riverwalk and found a place to eat some food without kids menus or high chairs.

We spent the rest of our evening walking around the Riverwalk and the highlight of the evening was when I noticed about 5 gray hairs in Steve’s beard. He was elated. He’s been wanting to go gray for years. He seriously can’t wait to have gray hair. I took a picture so he could see them. He put on his super-excited-face for the picture.

The next morning, we went out and did a little shopping before meeting the kids and Grandpa for lunch.

We were a little sad to leave our beautiful hotel and go back to carseats and diaper bags and boogers.

After lunch, we said goodbye to Grandpa and we headed out - just us and the kids - and drove down to Mustang Island State Park where we camped on the beach for the night.

My husband is a genius. That, and he’s been to SERE where he learned to stake a tent in the snow, which helped him prepare for staking a tent in loose sand. He got to work as soon as we got there and got our tent staked down good and tight very quickly. Then we hit the waves. Oh, how my children love the seashore.

For dinner that night, Steve cooked us hotdogs and jalapeno poppers over a fire he built in the sand. Have I mentioned his high level of awesomeness?

After dinner, we played in the sand and waves some more and then I showered each of our children off at a near-by outdoor shower with freezing cold water and put them to bed in our tent, where they stayed up playing for the next several hours. Steve and I sat by our fire after dark and listened to our camping-neighbor play her guitar and sing with the waves playing back-up.

That was the first half of our trip. Stay tuned for Part 2!

Wrapping Up My Thoughts.

2011-05-25T13:19:00.001-05:00

I started typing up a long, detailed post full of deep thoughts and nice sounding words. Things I’ve learned and things I’ve struggled with in these last few months. But the more I typed, the less I liked it. So here are the main points in their most simplistic form:

*Our current deployment is almost over. Praise the Lord. The thought of life returning to normal brings tears of joy to my eyes. (Although that's not saying much. My emotional and stress levels are at an all-time high and my mascara gets reapplied many times a day.)

*This deployment has been harder than the first one; partly because he was only home for 3 1/2 months between them; partly because of the waves of ALL. THE. THINGS. GOING. WRONG. AT. ONCE; but mostly because I miss my husband so, so much.

*There are some things that the Lord has shown me in these last months:

1 Samuel 12:24 But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.

2 Samuel 7:18 Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?

These verses spoke to me when I started to feel sorry for myself. God has brought me so far. He has done so many great things for me. And why? Because I’m good? I’m not. Because He made a mistake? He doesn’t. Because He wants me to be a really happy person? No. Because He loves me. Because He has set me apart. He has anointed me. He has called me to His purpose. Because He has brought me this far.

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

So as it turns out, I don’t have to try to be strong all the time. And then wonder why I fail. In fact when I try to be strong all the time, and don’t acknowledge my weaknesses, I’m not letting God’s power be used and shown. I’m not great at asking for help. But this deployment I mastered the “Can you take the kids for me” text to my sister and father-in-law. Something I had done on occasion before, but always felt like a burden to do often. And I even let someone get me some milk at the store once. Something I never would have felt comfortable asking for before. But then I got to see God’s power. As if he was saying, “See? Just let me help. I can do it so much better than you can on your own!”

Deuteronomy 32:6 Do you thus repay the Lord, O foolish and unwise people? Is not He your Father who has bought you? He has made you and established you.

God hears my cries and He gives me comfort when I am sad. But when I start feeling sorry for myself, this verse reminds me that He has established me. Who am I to whine about the life he has given me? He has given me this life and put me in this place for His purpose and His reason; even if I don’t understand His purpose or reason, yet.

*I still stand by my 3 rules of deployment. When your husband deploys the following things WILL HAPPEN:

1. The kids will get sick. Each one of them. Multiple times. We had hand, foot and mouth disease, ruptured ear drum, a few stomach episodes, one allergic reaction to ant bites, one undiagnosed rash that I chose to ignore because I was OVER. IT.
2. Appliances/Vehicles will stop working the way they should. We were without air conditioning in our home for almost 2 weeks – in May – in West Texas, the roof of our home was completely totaled in a storm – not an appliance but falls under this heading, but at least the vehicle has been reliable – so far. And by reliable, I mean guzzling gas one $100-tank at a time.
3. Time will crawl. This deployment, I decided not to keep track of days or weeks or even months until he came home or since he had left. We had our Daddy Day chart with activities on it for each week – but we started with 20, and I didn’t count them or look at it much as we went, so as not to know how long until it was over. I’m not sure if this helped or hindered the waiting. It still feels like I haven’t seen my husband in forever. It still feels like every day gets longer and longer. I hear people say, “It’s already the end of May?!? Where did the time go?” and I think, “Oh my gosh, it’s only Tuesday! Why did time stop moving!?!”

*Today we are going on our very last Daddy Day. We will be hitting up Chuck-E-Cheese this afternoon for some good, family fun and to possibly pick up a case of who-knows-what as we touch everything we see and then put our fingers in our mouths and noses. It’s going to be great.

*This will probably be my last post for a few weeks. But I will be back later this summer to post pictures from our upcoming Most Awesome Koper Family Vacation Ever. So be preparing yourselves for some awesomeness.

Whew!

2011-05-18T23:06:00.001-05:00

So far, May has been a busy and exciting month for the Koper Four. Thankfully the sooner May comes to a close, the closer we are to being the Koper Five once again! Here’s a recap of our month so far:

The kids and I drove up to Kansas, to see my BFF (cause, you know – we’re 7th grades), Michelle and her hubby Kenny. I was so excited to visit with them before they have their baby, even if it was just for a few days and even if it meant 16 hours in the car with my kids. It was totally worth it. I had a blast with my sweet, sweet friends. They loved on my kids and were gracious hosts and fed us well! I sure wish we could get together more often! Michelle and Kenny – love you guys!

While we were there we went to Tanganyika Wildlife Park. It was the coolest place! We may have paid $2 for a craisin but it was totally worth it when we got to feed it to a Lemur, and when Michelle was smart enough to tear the craisins into even smaller pieces and make the most of it!

(If you know me well, you know this was a huge – to hold Gabby up and help her feed a bird – I am not a big fan of birds! In fact a second after this picture was taken, Michelle touched my leg and I screamed and nearly dropped Gabby. The bird feeding was then over! I will take my revenge on Michelle when she least expects it.)

After the park, we went for a walk and Steven took his job of walking Brea VERY seriously. He was such a big boy!

Our weekend was way to short. I hope to see Michelle and baby Carson later this summer, though!

This past week, my Aunt Sheila and my cousin, Alicia came out to visit us from Indiana. I may sound like a broken record but we enjoyed out time with them so, so much. The time they spent here just went by too fast! We didn’t do anything exciting, unless you consider the Abilene Zoo and Jason’s Deli to be exciting. I do. But we had great conversation, recalled wonderful memories and got a little motion sick watching home movies. We laughed until we cried. And it was such a sweet time as 4 Marsh’s spend a great week together.

May has been a great month so far; full of wonderful friends, awesome family, a lot of laughter, new memories made, and now an air conditioner that has been broken for over a week with a forecast of mid-high 90s for the rest of the week. Guess I can’t have it all.

Wah-Wer!

2011-05-11T21:35:00.000-05:00

Haphazard Cogitations

2011-05-10T22:45:00.007-05:00

In the last 5 days, I have spent about 20 hours in the car with my children.

I had to stop in the middle of the highway tonight to avoid hitting some goats. Yep, goats.

I have pictures, which I will upload and share soon, of my kids feeding crasins to a lemur. And riding a camel. I can feel your anticipation rising.

My sister and I took a trip down to San Angelo today. I said things like, "that's where Steve and I met" and "That's where Steve and I had our first date" and "that's where Steve and I had our first kiss" and "Steve and I used to eat there" ALL. DAY. LONG. It was very sweet, and I'm sure annoying after a while. I miss my husband. A lot.

My kids are great travelers. Praise the Lord for that!

I was drinking a coke today and Jack came up and asked, "Coke?" Wow. I must drink a lot of soda if my son who doesn't even say his brother's name, can recognise a soft drink and call it by name.

Steve and I have been talking about getting a new car, lately. It turns out the Ford Expedition - not so great on gas. We can't decide on one to start looking at because as it turns out, anything that can seat 3 kids comfortably - not so great on gas.

My sister, brother-in-law and nephew are moving away this month. And for whatever reason, I am now in time-to-move mode. Closets are being cleaned out, stuff is being sold, I caught myself going, "I should keep this big diaper box instead of putting in the recycling. It'll be good to pack stuff in."

My insurance adjuster (he's not really mine - he's ours...or just the...the insurance adjuster...) came to my house and informed me that we need a whole new roof. Cool! You mean people will be walking around and hammering up there for days on end and my children will not be able to nap?! I can't wait! He then asked me a bunch of weird questions about my house: "Are you walls painted?" Um, no sir. We just have bare drywall. Paint's over-rated.

Steven is going through a growth spurt. We stopped on the road at Cracker Barrel, where I ordered him a full-size meal, not a kids meal. He ate the entire thing and then began licking crumbs off his plate. Jack, on the other hand is disgusted by anything on a plate or in a bowl. He is living on little more than sunshine and milk right now.

I heard Gabby inform Steven the other day that if you draw something for your mommy and then you don't like it, you can just un-race it and draw something different.

The End.

Our Princess Wedding Tea Party

2011-04-29T11:18:00.001-05:00

Gabby and I made hats yesterday to wear this morning while we watched a princess marry a prince.

Our inspiration picture

Gabby picked out our dresses and we put on our hats to watch

We had our tea

Gabby was enthralled. She told her daddy on the phone that the princess wore a pretty, white dress.

Gabby loves all the Disney Princesses so it was very fun to show her a real princess and all the pretty things at the Royal Wedding!

Easter Sunday 2011

2011-04-24T18:53:00.001-05:00

3 Beautiful Kids all dressed up

Gabby helped Jack find his basket

I told Gabby that she was warmer and warmer…

I had to tell her over and over that the dryer was RED HOT and that she should look in it. She did not believe me. She said, “No, it can’t be in there.”

I finally convinced her to look…

Steven found his before I could get the camera ready!

They were all very excited with their Easter baskets!

Jack practicing blowing his bubbles before they were open

All three kids had to try out their power toothbrushes right away

Steven got a Reading Level 1 Disney book that he can read all by himself. Gabby got the Sleepy Kittens book from the Despicable Me movie (see scene of book being read HERE, if you don’t know what I’m talking about)

At our Easter Breakfast at church with Uncle Joe

Such a handsome boy

Gabby with her Aunt Holly

After we ate our breakfast, the kids were getting restless so we took them out to the church playground until time for the service

The Super Cousins (defined HERE – it’s for real!)

After church, we went over to Grandpa’s house for a big Easter dinner and an Easter Egg Hunt. Our hunt was delayed by about 5 minutes by a bit of rain – but with the drought we’ve been in this year, we were thankful for it.

The Egg Hunt-delaying rain ended up being only the beginning. It stormed for several hours this evening. Thankfully, the hail didn’t start until I had my truck in the garage! The kids and I went and took these pictures early in the storm. By the time it was really bad, we were in the closet because of the tornado warnings. The hail actually got bigger and worse than these pictures show.

We had a wonderful day celebrating our Risen Savior!

The only thing that could have made today better is having Steve home…and maybe less roof-damage.

A Special Birthday Message

2011-04-23T08:37:00.001-05:00

Grandma, you’re awesome – what more can we say?

Grandma, we love when you come to see us and play,

You are our Grandma and for that we are glad!

You sure did a great job raising our Dad!

You are so much fun and we like being with you,

We love you so much and our parents do, too!

We miss you a lot when you are away,

We hope that your birthday is a wonderful day!

Love, Steven, Gabby and Jack-Jack

Poor Gabby-Girl…Again.

2011-04-19T18:22:00.001-05:00

Remember THIS? Well, it’s been over a year and a half since Gabby has gotten an ant bite. I’ve always kind of worried about how her little body would react if she got bitten again. The first time was so bad. Last night she got bitten pretty bad in our back yard. If the swelling isn’t down by tomorrow, we’ll be going in to see the doctor for some steroids to get the swelling down.

Her left ankle got the worst of it. You can’t even see her ankle bone under all the swelling

Poor, poor baby

She is currently here, with a baking soda paste and bandages on her bites, taking oral Benadryl every 6 hours, and Motrin every 4 hours for pain.

Watching Beauty and the Beast.

Please Pray for Gabby. Pray for her to be comfortable. Her little feet hurt so badly. Pray for the swelling to go down. And pray for me to be a comfort to her. I’m having a hard time keeping her distracted. If she starts thinking about her feet, she starts crying and doesn’t stop until I find another distraction. She has been whining or crying on and off for about the last 8 hours.

I feel like we’ve gone from one thing to the next these last few weeks, with the HFM Disease, Jack’s ear infection (which ended up rupturing his eardrum…again) and now Gabby’s ant bites. I’m starting to feel worn down by the constant health issues of the kids. I’m starting to feel like this deployment has been going on for an eternity. I’m starting to feel tired….oh, wait – I’ve been tired for 5 and 1/2 years.

Tales from the Desert

2011-04-18T15:29:00.001-05:00

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to eat a taco from a Taco Bell found in the war-torn capital city of a middle eastern country? If so, you’re in luck. Because I happen to have a husband with a LOT of time on his hands between flights. He occasionally uses this time to give me extremely detailed accounts of parts of his day. Today, The Story of the Taco as told by Steve Koper:

“…our flying security went over to the local taco bell since we shut down engines to get gas (we usually keep engines running to load and unload to save fuel and time). i was so excited to eat taco bell. i didn't have cash, but the security guys offered to pay for everyone. i only asked for 3 crunch tacos cuz i didn't want to ask for things i'd get back home in the event they didn't have them. like the subway at our base is limited, if that makes sense. anyway, after like 20 minutes., dude came back with the food. i quickly gathered my first taco and starting unwrapping it... it (the taco) seemed unusually light... i got to the taco shell... i felt said taco and taco shell...the bottom was almost transparent from the grease and kind of soft... the top however, was still hard and crunchy... i noticed what appeared to be an empty taco... i was right... there was nothing but grade D edible meat and a few sprinkles of cheese that appeared to already have been melted into a different consistency and then somewhat rehardened from being cooled from not being under a heat lamp... fast dude said they had no lettuce... "what the crap?" i thought to myself... i looked back at the pathetic excuse for a taco that i held gently between the fingertips of my index, middle, ring finger, and thumb (my pinky was slightly out as usual) ... there, under the void of where the simple taco toppings should have been, laid what looked like a turd covered in cheese... i realized i didn't care and began to eat the taco.... my teeth confirmed what my hand had already told me... the bottom of the taco shell that soaked up the grease was not crunchy, it was moist... i still continued to eat... after the first bite at the bottom corner of my taco, i figured i only had 2 more options of next moves, 1) i could go for the opposite corner, or 2) i go for the area adjacent to the original bite... in honor of not having to reposition the taco or my hand, i elected to go for option 2 and bit into the empty void where unmelted cheddar cheese, shredded lettuce, and diced tomatoes would normally have been... instead my upper and lower teeth simultaneously made contact to the outer, upper, crunchy shell. immediately, both sections of taco shell snapped sending both pieces of fried corn tortilla hurling at one another inside my mouth where they collided and i proceeded to chew them up... essentially, i could have had the same result by taking 2 tortilla chips and eaten them... needless to say, i ate all three tacos in much the same manner, although by the end of the first taco, i came up with the technique of taking a bite of the soggy-bottom "meat section" followed by a quick bite of empty void "crunchy" section to enhance the experience of eating a "crunchy" taco bell taco…”

Is it weird that the story kind of makes me want to go to Taco Bell right now?

An Update about Nothing

2011-04-11T19:16:00.003-05:00

I feel the need to update my blog. However, I have nothing very interesting to say. Life in the Koper house has been business as usual. As long as usual includes the following:

Jack and Gabby both got a case of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease. They had it very mildly and got over it pretty quickly. Jack’s feet were the worst part on either of them. He had some pretty good blisters. But they didn’t seem to bother him very much.Jack’s HFM Disease blisters

A few days after getting over HFM Disease, Jack moved on to an extreme ear infection. This was much harder on him than the HFM was. He spent one whole night up screaming. I gave him Motrin every few hours, but when it would wear out, he’d wake up screaming again. Thankfully he’s getting old enough to communicate with me enough to tell me his ear hurt. It was the sweetest, saddest little thing to watch. I’d say, “Jack, do you have an owie?” And he’d point to his right ear. Sometimes he’d say “Eaaa.” I recently purchased an otoscope, which I used to look in his ear. Since I’m not medically trained, I have no idea what an ear infection looks like, but I do look in the kids ears a lot when they’re healthy so I know what a healthy ear looks like and OH. MY. WORD. His ear was GROSS. A few days of Amoxicillin later, and he’s just fine. Currently sitting beside me at the table, sticking crayons up his nose.

This picture has nothing to do with him being sick, but it is so cute. He was texting on my phone with his feet up and his little tongue out.

Steven decided to test how strong my will really is. Since I’m not nearly as scary as Dad, why should he listen to me anyways? I think we’ve reached an agreement now and things are much better. But there for a while last week, I was thinking about getting rid of him, or at least locking him a closet.

A self portrait I found on the computer.

Gabby has stopped talking. She only yells. ONLY. YELLS. I’m not a fan.

Gabby had dressed herself and done her own hair. She has quite the fashion sense.

Last night, Jack and I went out front to water our garden. The bigger kids were in bed already. Upon reentering the house through the garage, I noticed the freezer door was open where I keep all my stock meat. There was blood dripping out of the bottom of the freezer. All the meat in the freezer had thawed. It was all still a little icy so it wasn’t bad yet, but I knew I couldn’t re-freeze it and I didn’t know if it had gotten too warm to keep in the fridge for long. Plus I have some food in my fridge and didn’t quite have room for 3 huge bags of frozen chicken, 4 pounds of ground turkey, a package of pork chops, and a pound of bacon. So at 9pm yesterday, I began to cook. And I cooked it all. By midnight, I was done. I refroze all the prepared meats and meal planning will be super easy this month. Not quite how I wanted to spend my Sunday evening, though.

When we talk, Steve and I are planning our summer vacation. It’s exciting. I can’t wait.

This place looks gorgeous!

Our Daddy Day Chart is getting more and more empty as the weeks go by. So far we’ve been hiking, Mini-golfing, we’ve had 2 movie nights at home, one in the theater, gone out for pizza, gone to Mr Gatti’s, the zoo and the Grace Museum. Not too many more to go. Our little weekly activities sure make our countdown exciting for the kids.

Lots of fun on some of our Daddy Days!

Jack’s current favorite topic of conversation is his bike. His red tricycle. He tells me often, “I bie, I bie” while pointing toward the garage. If we go out there, he’ll run over to his bike and point excitedly, “I BIE! I BIE!”

Jack’s hair grows so fast – wearing Gabby’s headband.

Steven instant messeged with Steve on Skype, tonight. Here is their conversation. Notice the times – how long it took Steven to find all the letters and type what he wanted to say. So sweet!

[7:35:27 PM] steve k: hi buddy

[7:39:49 PM] Leah Koper: at my soccer gaym i a gol

[7:40:21 PM] steve k: good job

[7:40:37 PM] steve k: what did you do today

[7:43:53 PM] Leah Koper: culrd

[7:44:12 PM] Leah Koper: fun

[7:44:18 PM] steve k: cool, what did you color

[7:45:44 PM] Leah Koper: a red car

[7:46:31 PM] steve k: do you want to go camping when i get home

[7:47:01 PM] Leah Koper: yes

[7:47:14 PM] steve k: where do you want to camp

[7:50:03 PM] Leah Koper: woods

[7:50:24 PM] steve k: do you want to go to the beach to camp

[7:52:23 PM] Leah Koper: yes i haf to go to bed

[7:52:42 PM] steve k: ok, i love you buddy

[7:53:40 PM] Leah Koper: love you to

And now you’re all caught up!

I Miss My Husband

2011-04-04T17:30:00.001-05:00

My goals for today:

Fold and put away three loads of laundry.

Finish the leftovers in the fridge for dinner before it's too late and they go to waste.

Have each of my children in bed by 7pm. Yes, 7pm.

Watch a movie on the treadmill - currently my way to pass a long evening alone.

Go to bed early so I can wake up early enough to catch him on Skype.

Stop feeling so blah.

Be happy that we're half way through.

Look forward to him coming home.

Be thankful in all things.

Enjoy sleeping in the middle of the bed.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

Koper Kidisms

2011-03-21T17:30:00.009-05:00

Steven: Why do the letters on your shirt look like that?

Me: Because the people who made it thought it would make the shirt look cool.

Steven: Oh, did you buy that shirt for Dad?

Me: I can't wear cool shirts? If it's cool, it must be Dads?

Me: Steven, put your backpack and folder away, por favor.

Steven: What's por favor?

Me: It's Spanish for Please (Has he learned nothing from years of Handy Manny and his bilingual tools? Because I really have.)

Steven: Is seemo a salamo a word in Spanish? (basically, he started making up sounds and asking what they meant in Spanish)

Me: What did you do at school today that was fun, Steven?

Steven: Learned the letter U.

Me: Cool

Steven: (yelling!) And we have UNDERWEAR in our U-box!! (basically the most excited he's been in a while. Underwear are hilarious!)

Gabby: "Can this be for mine?" (Translation: May I borrow this?)

Today I read most of the first two chapters of Wuthering Heights outloud to Gabby. Not that it's literature that I find appropriate for a 3-year-old, but because she was snuggling with me while I read it and asked me to read to her. She sat quietly through paragraphs and pages about atmospheric tumult, Mr Heathcliff soliloquising an undertone of peevish displeasure and outbursts such as, "you deserve perpetual isolation from your species for your churlish inhospitality." I assumed she was asleep when she suddenly asked, "What does that word mean?" As if she had understood everything perfectly well up until a particular word stumped her.

Jack's current words/phrases:

Me...me...me...me...me...me...me - said while pointing to item he wishes to have.

Daddy! - When Daddy is on Skype.

Daddy, all done? - When we're done talking to Daddy.

Hi! Bye! - to everyone in the grocery store or post office or wherever we happen to be. Usually accompanied by waving.

Ineehop (I need help) - while bringing me the Jack in the box and wanting the clown to go inside, or a container he can't open, or when wanting out of his carseat and pulling on the straps.

Saw-eee (Sorry) - when told to say sorry to Steven, Gabby or myself after we've been hit, pushed, pinched or wounded by close-range projectiles. Many, many times a day.

Yay! - When excited.

Kee-kee!!! (cookie)- this is cried out in desperation while franticly pointing the area of the counter where I keep any cookies we have.

Doggie - when seeing a dog...or any other animal.

ckkkkkkk (like in his throat, like he's trying to clear it) - He watched Steven growl loudly at a black bird once to scare it away from our car in the Walmart parking log. Now this sound is directed at all birds Jack sees. And it's what a lion says if you ask him.

Owwie - Usually said while crying and pointing to a bumped head or pinched finger. It is very sad.

he-go (here you go) - when handing me anything - a slimy piece of banana he's not interested in anymore, or a pair of scissors I didn't know he had.

Mommy - that's me. This is my favorite of Jack's word. I love to hear him talk to me, look for me, pound on the bathroom door screaming for me while I beg for just a minute alone. Okay, maybe I don't always love hearing it. But most of the time.

I can’t decide…

2011-03-14T20:55:00.001-05:00

I can’t decide which of these videos is cuter. So I’m posting both. I’m sorry that this is probably totally boring to anyone who did does not share DNA with this child. But I think he is precious.

One of Jack’s favorite games : “Where’s your….?”

He knows elbows – really, he does. Just tonight he got hung up on Elmo vs Elbow and I had to get it on camera!

And this is Jack watching the above video on my computer, still playing the game along, saying “hi” and “bye” to himself and then trying to recreate the scene with the pillow that was in the background and of course, Elmo. Oh my gosh. He’s so stinking cute!

Soccer Videos

2011-03-13T17:57:00.001-05:00

This post is mostly for Steve so he can watch his son play. The rest of you are welcome to enjoy it, though. As I was putting gel in his faux-hawk before the soccer game, we talked about the importance of David Beckham hair. I think it helped. Steven is #8. Please ignore the screaming soccer mom.
Steven scoring a goal:

Steven bowling a kid over with the power of one kick. Not that I’m glad he knocked a kid over or anything. I was just impressed with how hard he kicks. And the kid was fine. Don’t judge me for posting this. Or being strangely proud of it.

Steven shooting (and Gabby seeing a butterfly!):

…and missing.
Steven scoring a goal:

Steven scoring a goal:

Keeping up with the Kopers: Soccer Videos

Truly Random

2011-03-09T00:08:00.001-06:00

I took the kids on a hike at the State Park this afternoon. I, of course, forgot my camera. I wanted to share our adventures with Steve so I took pictures on my phone which doesn’t take the best pictures, but it works. I am totally behind technology and don’t have a smart phone so moving pictures from my phone to my laptop takes an extra step or two, but I did it today to share the pictures with Steve. Since I uploaded all the pictures from my phone, I looked through them and enjoyed looking at some of the old (and very random!) pictures that I had long forgotten were on my phone. Join in the fun:

Jack before his first haircut

Gabby playing outside with no pants.

Jack’s weird way of enjoying his new stroller.

Some shoes I thought were cute and thought about buying for Steven and took a picture to think about it some and decided against them.

Gabby’s bruised up face after falling face-first on the sidewalk

Steven’s random swollen eye

Something I wanted for Christmas…and got thanks to the picture emailed to Steve.

And finally, our hiking trip today:

Jack’s Driving

2011-03-04T11:39:00.001-06:00

The kids were playing outback on their own this morning. Gabby was at the door and I heard the Power Wheels going. Which meant only Jack could be behind the wheel since Steven is at school. I grabbed the camera and here it is. He has no fear.

I don’t even have female servants…

2011-03-01T10:58:00.002-06:00

So, yesterday I was skimming Proverbs 31 for some verses to share at my MOPS group. We were talking about the "Lost Art of Mothering" - things like making our kids' clothes, growing our own vegetables, baking from scratch, making candles, etc. Basically, things I don't do. Things I want to do. Things I make excuses for not doing. "My husband is deployed (my current FAVORITE excuse for getting out of just about anything), I have three kids and I don't have time...I kill plants, I don't know how to garden..." So, as I was already feeling a little convicted about my lack of homemaking lately, I read through Proverbs 31. I didn't really read it, I just skimmed through it quickly looking for a few key words to share with the group before I demonstrated how to make homemade apple sauce.

And there she was. The Proverbs 31 Woman. She was staring me right in the face. She was asking me how my excuses were really working for me. She wanted to know why I wasn't giving my family my best. Why I wasn't giving God my best. And it stung. I sat there as the ladies were starting to file into the room. I knew things had to change. I have to change the way I do things on a daily basis. I have to change my schedule. I have to make time for the things I'm called to do, and stop doing things that I do because I'm too tired, or too sad or too stressed to do the things I'm called to do.

Proverbs 31:10-31 is where you can find the Proverbs woman and all that she is. Here are just a FEW of the verses that I’m focusing on today. My starting blocks.

¹³ She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
¹⁵ She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.

¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
³¹ Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

She’s sewing, she’s cooking, she’s working eagerly and vigorously. She does not eat the bread of idleness. She clothes her household, herself and her bed. Almost everything she does is with her hands or with her words. How busy and productive and hard working are my hands? How wise are my words?

Today, I set my alarm back 30 minutes. Up while it is still night. I have homemade chicken noodle soup starting in the Crockpot. I plan to clean my house – make it a peaceful place for my family, today. I plan to get out my dusty sewing machine and mend some clothes that have needed to be fixed for months. I plan to clean out the closets and make sure everyone’s wardrobe is ready for spring and make lists of what we need to buy to get there. I may not select wool and flax or hold the distaff and grasp the spindle with my fingers, but I can hit up Dittos for Kiddos consignment sale this week, and mend some torn clothes. I may not bring my food from afar – but the chicken was all the way in the freezer in the garage. It’s a start.

Did I ever tell you….

2011-02-15T13:37:00.000-06:00

…about the awesome snowman walking his snow dog that we made a few weeks ago?

….about the tiny snow family?

…about what Jack did while we built our snowman and snow dog?

…about how Dan and Julia and their kids came up for Super Bowl Sunday and the only picture I took of their visit was of Harvey after he crawled into my bathroom and got stuck behind my toilet? (and yes, he was pulled out quickly, stripped and scrubbed afterwards because….gross!)

…about when we took the kids to the Grace Museum only to get there and find that the children’s part was closed so we left and walked around downtown,

and played on the statue,

and took lots of pictures of the kids together,

and of Steven jumping off of things?

….about when we played on the railroad tracks?

…about how we went to The Jump Around and…well, jumped around?

…about how Jack has discovered that it’s fun to crawl around and bark like a doggie, since doggie is one of his favorite words?

…about how Jack copies everything he sees his sister and brother doing?

…about how today is our first “Daddy Day.”

…that Daddy Days are a day each week (or so) that I pull an activity off of our Daddy Day Board, which is covered in activities that we like to do with Daddy and that will make us think about Daddy, and we go do that activity.

…about how it helps the kids see how many activities are left until Daddy comes home, and they can see the board get more and more empty as the weeks go by?

No? I never told you about any of that?

Maybe next time.

More Kidisms

2011-02-12T22:03:00.005-06:00

I'm so thankful for my 3 little gifts. They keep me so busy, and they make me laugh every single day.

Last night, Steve was tucking the kids into bed. As he knelt over Gabby, his love for his sweet little daughter overwhelmed him and he shed a few tears that landed on her face. About this time, Steven asked from the bunk above, "Dad, are you crying?" Gabby said, "No. He's not." Steven said, "Dad, it sounds like you're crying." Gabby said, "Nope. He's not crying. He's just really sweaty." Steve laughed so hard.

Steve was sitting with Steve on the couch one afternoon when Steven informed him, "I farted like a whisper so it won't stink."

Steve started trying to get Jack to repeat "I love you." It went like this:

Steve: "I LOVE YOU."

Jack: -------

Steve: "I"

Jack (yelling): "IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII"

Steve: "Love"

Jack (yelling): "IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII"

Steve: "You."

Jack (still yelling): "IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII"

So, Jack says "I" really well.

This afternoon, Steve recorded this book for the kids

so as they turn each page, his voice reads the story. On the dedication page, he recorded a little message to them about how he loves them and misses them and will see them soon. Tonight, we listened to the book for the first time and as his voice played the message to them, Gabby kept trying to interrupt to ask him a question. Steven asked if he was on the computer looking at the words on the screen (the computer was nowhere near by). To say they were baffled by this technology would be an understatement.

Snow Day

2011-02-03T09:50:00.003-06:00

Today is Day 3 of February Snow Mess 2011. Day 3 of no work for Steve, no school for Steven, cancelled appointments, cancelled vacations to the Great Wolf Lodge, and day 3 of no snow plow coming anywhere near our neighborhood. We are starting to feel a little bit of cabin fever. I rarely spend an entire day at home because it makes me crazy. I have to get out every day. Even if it’s just to go to Hobby Lobby or a grocery store or to browse around the mall and not buy anything and let the kids play in the play area. So, here’s how we’ve been fighting the craziness and keeping ourselves busy during these snow days.

First, we played.

There was a lot of falling.

It took over half an hour to get the kids bundled up.

Next, came the snow fort.

Which didn’t last long, It soon became snow bricks for throwing.

I took these pictures from the window where I was inside keeping quite warm. You can’t see Steven’s face but you should know that he thought it was VERY funny to be hit with these giant snow bricks.

Here’s Steven seeking revenge on his father.

Playing outside was always followed by lots of Hot Cocoa. Yum.

As well as lots of House Hunters and Design on a Dime on HGTV. Thank you, Lord for cable television.

Next on our Snow Day Activity agenda, an indoor fort. With an opening facing the fire in the fireplace.

Complete with pretending to be hibernating bears.

The chill that I just couldn’t shake off even motivated me to hit up my Couch to 5k program. It sure did warm me up.

And the climax of our day, yesterday was our attempt to get out of the house. We made it approximately 1/2 a mile from our house, got stuck in an icy rut and decided that was enough excitement for one day.

Monopoly Deal, which I am determined to win one of these days, has also been added to our list of boredom busters.

And Jack has spent the last 3 days cutting 4 eye-teeth at once, running a low-grade fever and being grouchy to an extreme degree (also, having a little booger hanging out of his nose, but that’s okay). So, basically he’s been super fun. He’s had a lot of Motrin, and a lot of cuddling. All 4 teeth have finally broken through the gum, so hopefully today will be a bit better.

And our future goals include the following:

Yep, we are planning to attempt another road trip, today. Steve and I are craving junk food and a trip to the mall where we can let the kids play and maybe buy some junk we don’t need. We aim high, people. We’re real dreamers.

And now you’re all caught up!

Love

2011-01-26T22:42:00.005-06:00

I love when I come home from a playdate with the kids to find him watching HGTV instead of his regular ESPN.

I love when I'm dealing with a disobedient child and he steps in from out of nowhere and takes care of the discipline.

I love falling asleep to the sound of his laptop clicking away at homework.

I love making him open-face peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at 10pm.

I love watching him wrestle with our boys and play rough with them, making them laugh and laugh.

I love when he comes home from lunch during his work day.

I love when he gets a little whiny because I have to go somewhere in the evening and he doesn't want me to leave.

I love watching him snuggle with our daughter, and hearing him tell her how beautiful she is.

I love when he makes me laugh so hard that I cry.

I love when he says, "Let's get out of the house" and takes us on random trips around town just for a change of scenery.

I love when my back hurts and he can pick me up and make it pop and feel a lot better.

I love the way he smells. Unless he just worked out.

I love my husband and I'm using these next few weeks to soak up all the things I know I will miss so, so much.

Because that's a better idea than focusing on the things I'll be okay with missing, like tripping over his boots in the dark and playing the if-I-were-Steve-where-would-I-have-put-the-keys game.

Yeah, it's always better to focus on the love.

I hate running.

2011-01-24T13:31:00.004-06:00

Steve and I recently purchased one of these. And it's in our master bedroom, which I hate. During Steve's last deployment I felt like I finally got our bedroom, the last in the house to be finished, looking the way I wanted it. Now, there's a treadmill in it and all my hard decorating work went to crap. However, during his last deployment, I also did something else. Gain weight. And I kept gaining after he got home. I now can only fit into a few of my jeans. Enter treadmill. Today was day one of my Couch to 5k program. I have no intention of running a 5k for sport infront of people anywhere. I just intend to drop 10 pounds. And I figure running is a good way to do it. And the couch to 5k program is a good way to ease into running. So, that and eating better are my weapons of choice against the flab that has taken up residency in my mid-section.

I really don't plan to blog any about my eating better and running because, well, that's boring and I'm the only one who finds it at all interesting. I just hope I can stay motivated. Right now, my skinny jeans are my motivation. Can't wait to put those bad boys back on. I just don't want to get back into them and then forget all about maintaining my healthy weight and gain a bunch back just because Steve's gone and chocolate chip cookies make me feel better when I'm blue. So, wish me luck. Or pray for me. Or just laugh at me and think how glad you are that you don't have a big, ugly treadmill in your bedroom.

Koper Kidisms

2011-01-21T14:50:00.001-06:00

Here are a few conversations we’ve had with the kids recently.

Steve asked the kids to clean their room. They are notoriously slow at this task. As motivation, he set the timer and told them to finish before it rang (we do this a lot). Steven and Gabby actually finished before the timer rang – quite an accomplishment. Afterwards, Steven told Gabby, “Do you know why it didn’t take too long to do it? Because I prayed to God that it wouldn’t.”

After listening to some audio stories in her room for quiet time one day, I asked Gabby what her stories were about.

“Jesus was in the well,” she replied.

Huh. I don’t remember that one. “He was in the well?

“Yep.”

“What was he doing in there?”

“He prayed to God. And then he got spit up.”

Hmm. “Was he in the WHALE?”

“Yep.”

“And was his name Jonah?”

“Yep.”

Gabby and Steven love one-liners from movies. They will pick one line from a movie that they think is VERY funny and repeat it ALL. DAY. LONG. I’ve posted before about telling Steven that if he yelled, “ONE CHAMPION!” from Cars on more time, he’d be in trouble. Current favorites include “What the What?” from Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, “Oh Yeah” and “Oh, Poop!” both from Despicable Me, and the following little gem from the end of Toy Story 3. During the little “bloopers reel” during the credits, some toys climb into the storage compartment of Mr. Potato head. He yells at them, “I’ve told you kids to stay out of my BUTT!” Gabby yelled this a few times in the grocery store today. I had to tell her it was inappropriate and that she was not allowed to yell it anymore. Oh, my word.

This is Jack, sometimes:

Except for the using-my-first-name part. Although, thankfully I still think it’s adorable and I’m not quite as annoyed by it as poor Louis. Although, it doesn’t matter how many times I answer him, when he’s in a “Ma? Ma? Ma? Ma?” mood, there’s no stopping it. But it always makes me think of this clip and laugh.

Gabby and I were washing our hands one day this week. As she scrubbed, she told me, “I have to wash my ankles, too.” Then started scrubbing her wrists. I didn’t correct her right away. But over the course of the day, we used our WRISTS and she got it. She then spent the next few days telling people, “THESE are my wrists. And THESE are my ankles” while pointing both parts out, properly.

Steven brought me a picture he had colored of my sister, Holly. He handed it to me and said, “Let’s put this on Facebook so your cousin can see it.” Um…okay. What do you know about Facebook? So, it may not be on Facebook, but here you go, Alicia. Steven wanted you to see it. It’s Aunt Holly driving a car.

Oh, they make me laugh.

Tough Stuff

2011-01-14T08:55:00.002-06:00

Lately I've been thinking about how easy I have it. I have a pretty easy life. I get to stay home and take care of my kids. My husband provides well for us and we have everything we need and so much more. I have three beautiful, healthy children and a handsome, loving husband. We are all healthy and happy. We have a wonderful church where we are being fed and challenged constantly as we grow in our faith. I have so much to be thankful for. The tough times in my life are nothing like the tough times so many others go through. I've never lost anyone very close to me. Our marriage has never been rocked.

This week I'm trying to "be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances..." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18a). For me, in my cushy life with the blessings God has given me, I know it shouldn't be that hard.

Steve is deploying, again. He's been home for less than three months right now and will be leaving in less than a month. It makes me sad. Really, really sad. But it also makes me realize how much I have to be thankful for. I've met more than one person who's said to me, "I wish my husband would deploy. He's driving me nuts" or something along those lines. The fact that I'm sad he's leaving is good. He is such a wonderful husband. He loves me so, so much and he is such a blessing to me. I'm so thankful to have a marriage that has been blessed so much. We are so happy together and we hate being separated. That is something to be thankful for because I know there are many marriages our there that are far different. Another thing to be thankful for is that this time, Steve will not miss any birthdays or anniversaries. He will be home for the summer and that is exciting since he missed last summer. Also, he will be gone four months again, not six or twelve. We've done it before and we know we can get through it, again. I can be thankful for the strength and grace and patience that the Lord gives that gets me through these times. I am also thankful that we get another homecoming day. Those are pretty great.

I've been dealing for the last year or so with the decision to have more children. A lot of prayer, a lot of tears and a lot of talking with Steve and we know that we are done. It's a hard transition for me. Pregnancy and babies are what I do. I feel like that's who I am. To transition into Mommy of bigger kids is a hard one for me. But I am working on it. I know I can be thankful that I'll never have 3am feedings again and I'll never have to loose baby weight again. We can go on trips that were too hard with a baby, like Disney World. It makes me sad that I'll never be pregnant again or have a newborn baby again, but I have been so blessed with my three.

So, the last week has been a tough one, with the news of the deployment and the decision being made that we are done having kids. But I have so much to be thankful for and the Lord has blessed me so richly. So, I'm being thankful.

Let the Battle Begin

2011-01-07T18:34:00.004-06:00

Optimus Prime: Hey, Cinderella. You want to fight Buzz Lightyear with me?

Cinderella: Sure. I'll fight him.

Buzz Lightyear: Boosh, Pow, Pow, Bosh, Boosh. (fighting)

Cinderella: Ahhhhhhhh! Transformer! Transformer!

Optimus Prime: Do you want me to help you?

Cinderella: No, you're lame.

Optimus Prime: Okay, you just do whatever you want to do.

(more fighting)

Cinderella: Guys, stop fighting!

Buzz Lightyear: We're just fighting because somebody's winning. Boosh, Boosh, Pow....

Christmas Recap 2010

2011-01-02T16:24:00.001-06:00

Hi, remember me? My name is Leah. I used to blog. I used to upload pictures - videos, even. They were of my kids, or what I made for dinner or things I thought were cute or funny. And then something happened. It was that third kid - once he was mobile, it was all over. No more blogging. No more uploading, no more Not Me Mondays or Top Ten Tuesdays. I miss it. I want to blog more. I do not make any kind of New Year's Resolutions. But if I were a revolutionary kind of girl, I'd say that I'd like to be better about blogging. And get in shape. And grow my hair out. And cook dinner at home more often. And smile more. But like I said, I don't do that.

However, if you watched KTXS news at 10 last night, you saw myself and Steve for approximately .4 seconds being interviewed about New Year's Resolutions, in which I do mention my desire to get into shape. Which I really do plan to do. Really.

Okay, now for the point. Christmas. Yep, we had one. There were presents. There was food. There was our wonderful family. It was everything that makes Christmas such a wonderful time of year. Celebrating the birth of the Savior of the world gets more and more exciting as the kids get older - watching them grasp the reason for our celebration through our Advent devotions was so sweet. Watching them enjoy the time with all our family was wonderful. Watching them tear through gifts like wild animals hyped up on sugar was a little scary. Sorting through all the clothes and toys in their room to make room for all the new ones was exhausting. Taking down the tree down was a relief. And my mom's cooking was delicious.

Now for the pictures. In these pictures you will see: the five of us Kopers, The Other Kopers (my sister and her family), The Thorntons (my other sister and her hubby), my mom and dad, and Steve’s mom and dad. So, now that you’ve been introduced to everyone, enjoy the pictures!

The Week leading up to Christmas:

Steve putting the finishing touches on Gabby’s gift

Gabby putting up her new ornament from Grammy.

Steve chose the ornament from Disney’s Prep and Landing – his favorite Christmas cartoon this year.

Jack’s new ornament was Piglet to remember how little he was this year.

Decorating our Christmas Cream Cheese Icebox cookies. Yum.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Christmas Eve:

Making Christmas Eve brunch under Cara and Kyle’s watchful eye

Making apple pie with Grammy and Grandma

Grammpy was a horsey all week

Dad with his 3 girls

Reading with Grandma

Steve helping me make dough for 6 pizzas for Holly’s Birthday Dinner

The family playing cards while we made dinner

Holly’s birthday is Christmas Day but we always celebrate on Christmas Eve.

Happy Birthday, Holly! I made her an ice cream cake and it was goo-ood!

Our attempts at a Christmas PJs in front of the tree picture

Jack’s Christmas Eve breathing treatment. Such a good boy.

Our Christmas Eve Devotion

Reading ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas

Jack had to spend some time in the corner on Christmas Eve. I just think he looks so cute in the corner. But that’s not why he was there.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Christmas Day

~~~~~~~~~~~

The week after Christmas

Grandma babysat the kids so we could go to a movie. Thank you, Grandma!

Jack’s Haircut:

Before

Cheese!

During…

After!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New Year’s Eve:

Whew! Happy New Year and hopefully I’ll be back, soon!

Until then, You’re all caught up!

7 Years of Koper Family Christmas Pictures

2010-12-10T22:39:00.006-06:00

This is a re-post of a post I posted (yep, I just typed that) last year. I added one more picture to the end and a few more comparative comments. It's still fun to see us change.

When I posted this last year, my sister Cara commented on how the photography seems to get a little better with each year, which seems to be true. This is the first year we've used an ACTUAL tripod. In all other pictures, either someone took it or the camera was stacked on a tower of household items.

Without further adieu, here we are, 7 years of the Kopers at Christmas.

2004

Steve and I had been married for 4 months. We were living in a tiny 1-bedroom apartment in Phoenix, Arizona. About 3 days after this picture was taken, I took a pregnancy test and saw a little plus sign.

2005

Steven was almost 4 months old and Steve and I weighed about 100 pounds more than we did the year before. This was taken in front of my parent's Christmas tree since we spent Christmas with them in Florida.

2006

We were so happy with our little monster, 15 months old. We were living in a very small, cute little apartment in Austin, Texas. We found out we were expecting Gabby about a month after this picture was taken.

2007

Gabby was almost 3 months old, Steven was 2. This was in our 2nd, bigger 2-bedroom apartment in Austin, Texas. This was Christmas Eve and Steve had just returned home from 10 weeks at OTS the day before. Having him home felt like a dream. It was a wonderful Christmas. Even with our Charlie Brown Christmas Tree.

2008

I was about 12 weeks pregnant with Jack. Gabby was 14 months old, and Steven was 3. We had lots of family to visit in our sweet little base house at Randolph AFB. The kids were both old enough to really enjoy Christmas and it was a very memorable one.

Our tree was leaning to the left.

2009

Jack was 5 months, Gabby was 2, Steven was 4. This was the first of many Christmases we will spend in our current home. My family came to visit for Christmas and it was a great time.

2010

Here we are this year! Jack is 17 months old, Gabby is 3, Steven is 5. Unlike every other even-year Christmas picture, I am neither pregnant nor about to find out I am. We will be spending Christmas here at home this year with my whole family and almost all of Steve's family. It's going to be a great, big, wonderful family Christmas!

This is the first year that our Christmas picture doesn't have anything Christmassy (it's a word)in it. It's not often that we take a family picture and I don't like being limited to only using our Christmas picture at Christmas time - so, this year we went neutral with the background. Also, it should be noted that I was going with a black/white/grey theme with the outfits, but if you notice Steve's outfits in the first three years, I'm doing good just getting him out of undershirts or hooded sweatshirts and superman capes for family pictures. So, his green plaid shirt can't really be complained about... but it was frowned upon.

Monday Evening Thoughts

2010-11-29T21:09:00.004-06:00

* Sometimes my job entails answering weird questions. Today, "Umm...I'm not really sure if rabbits are afraid of heights, Steven."

* Tonight Gabby put her blanket over her shoulders like a cape then danced around the kitchen singing, "I'm a queen. I'm a queen. I'm a really nice queen." 10 minutes later she was meowing on the floor. I love her imagination.

* Jack has started calling, "Ma-ma. Ma-ma. Ma-ma." It melts my heart. Even if it is a little whiny.

* Immaculate Baking Co. makes HANDS. DOWN. THE. BEST. EVER. break-and-bake chocolate chip cookies. I get a package every time I go to HEB. They are AMAZING. See all the CAPS? They're THAT good. I ate 6 tonight.

* Gabby hasn't willingly eaten dinner in at least a week. She did not get to partake in cookies tonight. It doesn't matter what's for dinner, she's not eating it.

* Why isn't the CIA just taking out this WikiLeaks guy and making it look like he slipped in the shower, or something? That's what I've been wondering, today. Apparently the CIA does not do what I thought they did - or that guy would've been gone after the last leak.

* I think I know approximately 147 pregnant women, right now. I have 2 baby showers in a row on Saturday, this week. I actually have to leave one a little early to make it straight over to the second.

* We have not put our Christmas tree up, yet. Maybe this weekend. I love Christmas, but I'm in no rush to put a giant tree in the living room just yet. We did start Advent last night, though. Steve led us in a great first night of Christmas devotion about Peace. It was really nice.

* Steve and I have been doing 7 Minute Abs in the mornings the last few days. My abs hurt. A lot.

* Steve and I watched Inception this week. It was weird. But I enjoyed it - It was very interesting. We also took the kids to see MegaMind. It was adorable.

* I think I would love this West Texas wintry weather if it weren't for the wind. Temperature in the 50s, clear, sunny skies - all good. 40mph wind knocking the kids over and slamming the car doors on me when I open them - not a fan.

* Steve just got home from his night flight. Yay!

* And now you're all caught up!

Another Jack Post

2010-11-18T17:43:00.001-06:00

So, I feel a little like it's been all about Jack, lately. In my defense, he's just at that age. He's just starting to do new things, figure out new interests. Poop in new places. And so my story begins.

This morning, Jack was wandering around the house in his cute Carter's footed PJs. They are dark green and brown with little paw-prints on them. They are adorable. In case you don't know Jack well, or haven't seen him in a while you should know that he is small. In fact at his 16-month check up the other day, his pediatrician let me know that Jack is not on the growth chart at all for his weight. And barely on the chart for his height (his head was in the 85th percentile, but his giant head has nothing to do with today's events). Jack's footed PJs are size 12 month. They are very big on him. Sometimes when he climbs and plays around in them, he gets both legs up in the body of the PJs and gets stuck trying to get his legs back in their appropriate compartments.

Gabby is The Nose of the family. She is the first to let anyone know if they have stinky breath or smelly armpits. This morning she informed me that Jack smelled and that he was probably poopy. I was doubtful of this since I had just changed his poopy diaper about an hour earlier. But I never doubt The Nose, so I took him in to be changed.

Upon unzipping his PJs, I made a strange discovery. No diaper. Commando. Like the Tom Petty song goes, he was "♫ Freeeee, free ballin’ ♫" I've been changing diapers for 5 years. With no break. Not even a little one. I have had at least one child in diapers for the last 5 years. Diapering is second nature. It's like breathing. But smellier. There is no way that I would remove a soiled diaper, wipe him clean and not put a new diaper back on. I may be scatter brained at times, but that is just not possible. As I tried to figure out what had happened, I removed one foot from the footed PJs and found the missing item. There was the diaper, around his foot. I'm not sure how. But there it was. I was relieved to find no poop. Clean hiney, clean diaper. Crisis averted. The Nose had been mistaken. In my attempt to reapply the diaper, I removed his second foot from the footed PJs. And regretted it. There it was. The poop The Nose had smelled. Somehow... somehow Jack had managed to move his diaper down one shaft of his footed PJs, and poop down the other. It was smushed between his toes. With lint mixed in for a great consistency. I peeked, scared, down the leg of the PJs and found a footie full of poo-poo.

After 5 years of diaper changes, I thought I had seen it all. Apparently I had not. Maybe now, I have. Although I kind of doubt it.

Jack’s Dancing

2010-11-16T12:49:00.001-06:00

I recently posted a video on Facebook of Jack “dancing.” Here it is, if you missed it:

I just love to watch him “dance.” But more than that, I LOVE when he hums to himself while sleepy and sucking his thumb…and “dances” to his own tune.

Oh, man. This kid cracks us up.

2 Weeks: Part 3

2010-11-10T22:12:00.003-06:00

The final post about how we spent our two weeks is all about our trip to:

We went for 3 days and 2 nights. We never left the hotel. We never had to. The hotel had shopping, restaurants, endless hallways full of running and racing fun, a bedtime animatronics show and bedtime story for the kids, and of course an amazing waterpark. Not to sound like an advertisement - but it was one of my favorite vacations to date. It was just what a vacation should be. It was wonderfully relaxing and very fun at the same time. We've taken the kids to waterparks many times over the years, including Sea World this summer, Redneck water park in Arkansas when I was VERY pregnant (remember?), and Schliterbaun. But this was our first water park experience that was genuinely relaxing. When we got tired, we walked up to our comfortable room and napped. We didn't worry or think about sunscreen once. We didn't lug 6 bags full of towels, snacks, suits, dry clothes etc. to the waterpark. We just put our suits on and walked down stairs. It was great.

The kids cried when it was time to leave the "waterpark hotel" and honestly, Steve and I were kind of sad to leave and get back to normal life. My only complaint about the hotel would be that the water was a little cool for me and Steven. We are both the cold-natured and I got chilled in the waterpark quite a bit and I often noticed Steven with his tell-tale purple lips, which he gets the minute he's just a little cold. Otherwise, we had a great time and enjoyed every minute of our family trip.

Here's a nearly endless slideshow featuring about 1/3 of the pictures we took on our trip. Did I mention that we had a lot of fun? Well, we did.

(If this slideshow won't load for you - it doesn't on my computer - and you want to see our pictures, just click on "view all images" and it'll take you to slideshow on the photosharing site - sorry about the trouble but I just was way to lazy to upload 50 pictures on here)

2 Weeks: Part 2

2010-11-08T21:51:00.001-06:00

When we arrived home from picking Steve up, he had arranged for a gift to be waiting in the garage for the kids. Having Grandpa in town is quite convenient.

It has provided hours of fun for the whole family.

On Halloween, we went to Holly and Jr’s house and took the kids trick-or-treating with their cousin, Nolan. Steven was an aviator, Gabby was Cinderella, Jack went as a Jack-in-a-Box and Nolan was Charlie Brown. They were the cutest group of trick-or-treaters out there!

Our overly-enthused candy-hander-outers

The day after Halloween, we went on a trip that I will post all about in Part 3. After our trip, we had a birthday party for Steven and Gabby. We rented a jumpy castle for the yard and grilled outback. Nothing too fussy but just enough fun for the kids. After the party guests left, we opened gifts from Grammy, Grampy, Grandma, Aunt Holly, Uncle Joe, Nolan, Aunt Cara and Uncle Kyle. They each had opened a few gifts on their actual birthday, but we saved most of them for the “party with Daddy.”

They may be a little spoiled.

Coming soon: Part 3: Our trip HERE! I know all three of you are on the edge of your seat.

Two Weeks: Part 1

2010-11-06T17:28:00.004-05:00

Two wonderful weeks ago our hero came home to us. It was such an amazing moment. Words cannot describe the feeling of seeing him walking up to us. Feeling his hug. Watching him hug and kiss our children. 4 months is a long time, but without those 4 months apart, we would never have had that one amazing moment. Everything else disappeared. Even the sweet people all around us who were thoughtful enough to take tons of pictures for us. I didn’t even know they were there. – Thank You, Thank You, guys!
Our Garage Door decorated for Daddy
Me and a few of my fellow spouses. Love these girls. We were all so jittery waiting for our hubbies.
Daddy’s plane landed!
So many uniforms, just looking for ours!
Found him! Such a happy family!

Steve was given 2 weeks of “recon” (basically time off) to just spend with us. Monday will be his first day back at work. More on how we spent our two weeks to come. Stay tuned for Part 2!

Best Day

2010-10-23T10:50:00.001-05:00

Thanks for the Memories

2010-10-19T22:19:00.001-05:00

Dear Skype,

Soon, very soon, I will no longer be needing your services. Please know, however, that I hold you in the highest esteem. You have been a wonderful addition to our family. Through your eye, Steve witnessed some of his son’s first steps, 4 birthdays, one wedding anniversary, one first day of school and saw countless new toys, colored pictures, owies, new clothes, new teeth and talents. Through your ear, he heard songs and stories, baby babble and crying. With you between us, our family was able to have conversations both silly and serious.

Through your instant message feature, my husband and I came up with our own IM shorthand that became almost second nature to my typing fingers. There have been many times that I’ve almost used it when sending other people messages before I realize that only my husband would understand my seemingly random string of letters. Thank you for that near embarrassment.

Thank you for the tours of the dorm room. Maybe we could work on some kind of “blurring” feature, though. For the half dressed woman on the poster on the wall of said dorm room. Or for the time some guy walked by in the background, half dressed. A blurring feature would have been much appreciated at such times. Perhaps bleeping feature, too? Just for when other people come into my husband’s room and use foul language. And maybe some kind of feature enhancer? After a long day, I love to chat “face to face” with my husband but would love to look a little better for him. Let me know if you come up with anything in that area before the next deployment. Okay?

To those rarely separated, these pictures may not seem like much. But to those of us who know this separation all to well, these pictures have meant more than words to us, at times. So thank you, Skype. Thank you for these.

And I know Steve is thankful for these images.

As much as you’ve meant to us these last four months, the thought of not needing you anymore overwhelms my heart with joy. I have butterflies in my stomach and a flutter in my chest. My webcam may get dusty in the desk drawer. But chances are, one day all too soon, we’ll open your files again and your technological wonders will bless our family again and again.

Sincerely,

Username: Leahanne638

All silliness aside, our four months apart are ending very soon. They have been the hardest four months I’ve ever been through. I’ve missed my husband more than I know how to express. And he’s missed us more than I will ever know. But during this time, I’ve seen God’s love for me so clearly. He has sent Godly, wise and obedient people into my life to show me His love. People who have reached out to me, helped me and encouraged me, not because it makes them feel good, or even because it makes me feel good, but because they desire to bring God glory. What a blessing these people have been. What a loving God we serve.

I didn’t finish half the projects I had for myself. It didn’t go by quickly, at all. And these last days are D-R-A-G-G-I-N-G. But we did it…almost.

If a Picture Says a Thousand Words, What Do a Thousand Pictures Say?

2010-10-12T22:20:00.001-05:00

I don’t have any interesting information or funny stories to share. No profound thoughts or random tidbits. What I do have is a TON of pictures. So here you go, blog world. It’s time for Koper Kid Picture Overload. There should be theme music.

Steven and Gabby enjoy dress up clothes to play in. Steven was thrilled to get his own flight suit so he can “be the daddy” when he and Gabby play “family.” He wears it every chance he gets.

He may need to work on his salute.

My sweet, big boy.

Last week, I took Gabby and Jack to a squadron playdate at The Pumpkin Patch. We got some pretty cute pictures, take a look!

View Full Album

We have been loving this fall weather! Our favorite pastime right now: Playing Outside! I love Autumn! Here’s an album of our riveting outside activities. Also, note Jack in his NEW BIG BOY CARSEAT!!! He finally (at 15 months!) hit 20 pounds and got to turn forward facing in the truck! Take a look!

View Full Album

Here’s Gabby going to bed on her last day as a 2-year-old. So sweet.

And here’s an album of her little mini-birthday-celebration. Grandpa took us to Mr. Gatty’s and the kids had a blast!

View Full Album

When Steve saw this picture, he was struck at how much Gabby and Jack look alike. I had never really thought about it, but they have the same cheeks, forehead, chin and nose. You can really see it, here. Man, I have cute kids :-)

And Jack’s hair – thoughts? My thought: Crazy. It is crazy.

Okay, if you looked at every picture you get 5 bonus points.

And now, you’re all caught up!

Three

2010-10-08T15:26:00.001-05:00

Today in the car, Gabby said, “Ohhhhhh. I am SO tired.”

Gabby started sleeping 6 hours straight at night when she was 3 weeks old. By 6 weeks of age, she was sleeping between 9 and 11 hours at night.

Gabby can and will sleep anywhere.

Gabby usually needs 2 things to sleep well: her thumb and her blanket.

But in her daddy’s arms, she sleeps the best.

Yesterday, our Sleeping Beauty turned three. She’s spent some time awake in the last three years, but that’s another post.

Football, Oh Football...

2010-09-25T13:49:00.008-05:00

So, there I sat. Soaked down to my Hanes Her Way. A screaming, shivering 1-year-old on my lap, wet curls matted against his forehead. Next to me on cold metal bleachers, a whining, 2-year-old covered in goosebumps; not even to be distracted from her intense misery by the new Hello Kitty rain boots on her feet or Little Mermaid umbrella over her head. My umbrella proved futile against all attempts at dryness. Warmth was a lost cause. And then there was Steven. Poor, poor Steven. Rain running down his face, lips as purple as his Wylie Bulldogs jersey. After the first half, he stopped moving. Coach put a big purple snuggie over him and let him stand on the sidelines. I wanted to go scoop him up and leave. But from where I was in the stands, I couldn't get to him or get the attention of his coaches. You see, only coaches and cheerleaders are allowed on the track or field. They announce this over the loud speaker every 5 minutes so that no one is confused. So there I sat.
We are home, now. Our hot water heater has been emptied. Sweat pants, blankets and movies are our present. The rain and misery is our past.

Football, oh West Texas Football. When will you learn that Pre-K flag football is not the NFL. That it is not that important. That canceling a game because of pouring rain in 65 degrees is really, really Okay. I won't judge you.

Not Me Monday

2010-09-20T22:20:00.003-05:00

So I used to do Not Me Mondays with McMama's blog. However, I haven't really been reading McMama's blog lately and I'm not even sure if she still does them. It's probably been over a year since I've done one, so I thought I'd give it a try. Sometimes it just feels good to let everyone know that you are in fact a perfect person and that you NEVER do anything you shouldn't.
A few things I have not done in the recent past:

I certainly haven't started putting pull-ups on my 5-year-old at night. I am a potty-training champ and that would be totally lazy of me.

I have not eaten in a restaurant ALONE recently. And if I had, I certainly would feel lonely and not at all enjoy the fact that I was alone with no one was singing to me, eating off my plate or needing to go to the bathroom 14 times.

I have not helped Gabby pee in a parking lot because the thought of hauling 3 kids back into the store after we left it was too much.

I did not bake 8 break-and-bake cookies today with the idea that the kids would each get one and I would eat the remaining 5 for dinner. I did not follow through with this plan. Or enjoy every chocolaty morsel.

I did not go for a walk one morning and while speed-walking with the double stroller, pass a JOGGER and kind of want to point at her and yell, "Sucker!" That would not have been a kind thought.

I have not gone 3 days without bathing my kids. Steven does not stink. Like sweaty boy. It is not gross. He is not going to school smelling like a gym towel tomorrow.

I have not triple checked my DVR settings this week to make sure it is set to record new fall shows that start this week. TV is not very important to me at all. I don't even watch it, really.

I did not get the calendar out and count how many days Steve has been gone. That would make me too sad. Therefore, I do not know that Wednesday will be his 100th day away.

I did not take a shower and get into my sweat pants all ready for bed BEFORE going to a MOPS Steering meeting tonight just so when I came home I could crawl straight into bed. I always try to look my best when outside my house.

I was not bending over, cleaning stuff off the floor the other morning, wearing an over-sized t-shirt and underwear when I heard the lawn mower and realized a deacon from my church was mowing my lawn right outside the window I was in front of. I totally close my blinds when I'm not properly dressed.

Steven did not run out of clean socks this week due to the fact that I hadn't done laundry in over 2 weeks.

I did not find a sippy cup with milk-residue in it under the car seat. I did not gag as I tried to rinse the solid milk from the inside.

I did not go to the tax assessor's office to renew my truck registration 2 weeks after it expired. I was not informed that I've been driving around with expired license plates for TWO YEARS. I am not still driving around with the expired ones. The new ones are not still sitting on the floor of my car.

Thanks for letting me share about how perfect and wonderful I am. It feels really good. And just to let you know, I am not going to go crawl into bed without brushing my teeth, now. Good night!

Steve's Head

2010-09-09T20:47:00.002-05:00

What this article fails to mention is that the back of the head in the bottom left corner of this picture, is that of Lt Steve Koper. It is very important information, really. Thought some of the family - or whoever - may enjoy seeing the most recent picture of him I have. His hair looks nice. Is that a bald spot? You can see the full article HERE.

A Rant, a Bus, a Song and Some Steps

2010-09-01T20:22:00.003-05:00

Today, I miss my husband so much it physically hurts in my chest. He moved to an "undisclosed location" a few days ago and all I know is, this place has a crappy internet connection and he's very busy. I've hardly heard from him in the last 3 days and it's really hard for me. This has left me feeling emotionally overwhelmed and mentally drained. I can't wait for this to be over. I'm tired of smiling and saying things like, "Oh, it's going well. Time is flying. Things are great." Because right now, things suck. I know tomorrow is a new day and I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength. So, tomorrow I'll put my smile back on and the Lord will get me through another day. But for the record, this is difficult and I hate every minute of it.

On a more positive note, today Steven Ray went on his very first field trip. Riding on a school bus has been a dream of his for years. Today, he did it. He rode that big yellow bus full of 4-year-olds out to Miss May's Farm. Gabby, Jack and I followed behind in our vehicle along with several other parents to "help." I'm sure the other parents were helpful - I'm not sure that I was. I was really just there to see Steven and spent most of my time caring for Gabby and Jack. It was great to see Steven interacting with his peers and teachers. He is my little social butterfly and he just loves being around other kids. He has a little best friend, who Mrs. Sanchez has told me is rarely far from his side. This best friend is a girl. In fact all of Steven's friends are girls. Maybe it's from having a sister he's so close with? Maybe he's inherited his dad's flirtatious nature? I don't know.

Getting on that bus.

Tonight at bed time, I asked the kids what they wanted to sing. Usually this means, they pick a song and I sing it to them. Tonight, Gabby decided that she'd sing for us, instead. She chose a family favorite, Hush Little Baby and proceeded with this:

Hush little baby, don't say a word. Mommy's going to buy you a mocking bird,

If that mocking bird won't sing, Mommy's going to buy you a looking glass,

If that looking glass gets break, Mommy's going to buy you a diamond goat,

If that diamond goat won't sing, Mommy's going to buy you a mocking bird....

You're welcome for that.

And lastly, here's some video of Jack's progress in the way of upright mobility.

...And now you're all caught up!

Does there have to be a point?

2010-08-29T17:04:00.002-05:00

* This afternoon, Jack walked a record-breaking 10(ish) feet. We were out back and he really wanted to get to the playhouse and felt sudden motivation to do so upright. I was beyond impressed. He is officially walking.

*Gabby is, right now as I type this, sitting at my feet meowing. She just stopped to inform me that "the kitty wants a bone." I think my pet-deprived children may be a little confused.

*Steven Ray will be 5 on Friday. Every year on the kids' birthdays, I do a mushy, lovey, lookback over the year with pictures and tears and all the works. I don't think I can come up with another such post after the letter to his teacher just last week (which I did give to her; she actually asked for a letter and her request was my inspiration for the blog post). He requested to postpone is birthday party until Daddy is home, so he and Gabby will be having a joint-birthday celebration sometime in late October.

* I took the kids shopping yesterday and bought Gabby and myself boots. Yeah, it's 95 degrees out and I'm buying boots. I'm kind of over the heat, the summer, flip flops and tank tops. I am ready for sweaters, boots and hot cocoa. I won't hold my breath, though. We've got a few months to go.

* Jack is cutting his 8th tooth. It is not pretty. He is by far, my worst teether. Steven was fussy when teething. Gabby had a mouth full of teeth before I even noticed. Jack is another story entirely. Fussy doesn't seem to do justice to his current condition. The bottle of Jack Daniels in the freezer may come in handy tonight. I may rub some on his gums....or pour some in my glass. Depends on how bad things get (Hi Mom. I'm just kidding about that. I don't even know who Jack Daniel is)

*Wednesday, I will be able to say, "Steve will be home next month." Yay! I am so glad that another month has come and gone and we are that much closer to having our family together again.

* Steven: "I can draw God."
Me: "What do you think God looks like?"
Steven: "He has really big legs (as he draws a line from top to bottom of the paper)....this paper's too small."