National Adoption Month

November is National Adoption Month.  I've read about it on the internet and even though we adopted Isaac we've never really "celebrated it".  In early November I received a call from a writer from the Lyon County Reporter.  She indicated they were doing a story on National Adoption Month and wondered if she could come interview me.  She came out that day and asked a few questions and got to meet both the boys and take their pictures. 

The story made the front page of the paper and one of the pictures on the front page was of the boys.  I think she did a great job with the article and I know it's a story Isaac will treasure some day.

Lyon County has many families who have taken children in that are not biologically theirs but called them their own. Children all over the world are brought to a new place to love and be loved and to have a place to call home. Three couples share their stories and experiences during National Adoption Month about their adoptive children.
In Iowa
Amber and Ross Kooiker of George had tried for a while to get pregnant. They decided it was time for an alternative and adopt. From the time they went to their first information meeting in 2007 to bringing their adopted son Isaac home was nine months. The couple made a detailed profile about themselves. The adoption agency asked the birth mother what traits she would like to see in a family for the baby. The agency picked out three profiles similar to the mother’s preference for her to look at. The agency called the Kooikers the day after Isaac was born asking if it was all right to show their profile to the woman. Isaac’s mother saw the Kooikers and knew it would be a perfect fit. That same day the social worker called to tell them the mother picked them.“We went to the hospital that night and spent time with him,” Amber said. The mother had 72 hours to sign the papers, and three days later they brought him home. When the Kooikers received the call, they were in shock and didn’t come to full terms with everything until they brought Isaac home. “When you bring an adopted baby home, the bonding is different,” Amber said. “It took a couple weeks before I felt he was really mine.”When Isaac was six days old, Amber found out she was pregnant.
“It’s a great thing,” Amber said. “They’re the best of friends. It couldn’t have happened a better way. The first year was probably the hardest because they were on two different schedules.”Isaac is now four years old. He stays busy with farming, playing with anything with wheels, music, family time, and Wee School. Isaac is outgoing and active while his brother Caleb is shy and laid back, complementing each other.
“We don’t focus on the fact that he’s adopted,” Amber stated. “That’s always going to be a part of him but it’s not who he is. Isaac is a definite blessing to us, and he’s a perfect fit for our family.”

Halloween

Halloween is finally here.  Last night we finally carved their pumpkins.  Isaac had gotten a pumpkin carving kit from cousin Kim and Emily for his birthday.  It was a fun time.  Caleb loved putting his hand in and digging out the guts, Isaac did not like the touch of it though.  I can't say I blame him.

I had ordered Isaac a Spiderman costume in early October and he had seen it when it came in the mail.  That was a big mistake.  He ended up wearing it around the house all that night and even wore it to bed.  He wore the mask too and I went in his room later in the night to take it off so he wouldn't get so hot.  He ended up waking up and coming into our room in the early morning (2 or 3 am) insisting on having his mask.  I admit it, I lied to my child and told him I had to send it back and the mailman would bring a new one.  I think the boy asked me numerous times a day until I finally gave it to him on Halloween.  Wow.  Then after Halloween he wore it constantly.  He talked about Halloween every day the following week.  I made another mistake and told him that maybe next year Caleb could be Spiderman and he could be something else like Batman.  So Isaac then got it in his head that the Mailman was bringing his Batman costume soon.  He still asks me about once a week when his costume is coming.  Oh boy does he get fixated on things.  That's a toddler for you.

Caleb went as Baby Bear and was quite adorable.  Pretty sure that's the last year I'll get him to wear anything "cute".  On Halloween Ross was still in the field so Grandma Kooiker and I walked with the boys through the Halloween parade and boy did they get a load of candy.  After that we went to George and went to a dozen houses or so.   They hit the jackpot.  Isaac was so excited running from one house to the next.

It's so hard to believe October is already over.  It's going to be Christmas before we know it.

Isaac's 4th Birthday!

Today we celebrated Isaac's 4th Birthday.  Today marked exactly 4 years ago that we brought him home from the hospital.  I can't believe 4 years has passed us by.  Our boy sure has grown and matured in 4 years.  He's not a little baby anymore, he's turning into an amazing little boy!!  He's still the most active little guy I know but we don't know what we'd do without him.  He's changed our lives in more ways then he'll ever know.

We had another small family party.  Grandma and Grandma Bronson, Grandma and Grandma Kooiker, Great Grandpa Winter, Uncle Nolan, Aunt Gina, Uncle Brad and cousins Kim, Emily and Caden were able to make it.  Isaac wanted a firetruck cake.  Grandma Bronson made the cake and it turned out so good and he absolutely loved it.  He got a lot of fun new toys like his Imaginext Spaceship, real pliers, Fireman dress up outfit, Spiderman lunchbox and sunglasses, pumpkin carving kit, Firetruck book and puzzle, jeans and a few others I'm sure I forgot to mention.

It was a good day and Isaac enjoyed being the center of attention.  He loved it when we sang happy birthday and loved having maidrites, chips, birthday cake and icecream!

Happy Birthday little man we love you!!!

Poppe's Pumpkin Patch

Today Ross and I were able to take the boys to the Pumpkin Patch by Lakefield.  This is the first year we've taken them and they had a blast.  We left straight from church and were hoping they would take a nap on the way over but no such luck.

There was a lot for them to do at the Pumpkin Patch.  They were able to ride the train a few times, play on the swing set and sandbox, ride some big trikes around a track, ride the horse swings, go in the storytime buildings and take a hay ride out to the field to pick out our pumpkin. 

By 4:00 or so the boys were getting quite tired but they really did enjoy their time there and we even got a good family picture surprisingly.  Now we have to decorate our pumpkins.  The boys can't wait!!!!

Boys photoshoot/Isaac's 4 year photoshoot

I know it's a little early to get Isaac's 4 year pictures taken but the boys were dressed in their cute fall Church clothes and after eating in town I couldn't resist and took them to the Courthouse to have their pictures taken.  I got some really good shoots even as they were getting tired and ready for naps.  Isaac has grown up so much over this past  year.  It's so hard to believe he's almost 4.  Both boys start "Wee School" next week.  Although I'm excited for them to start this "next journey" of growing up, I'm a bit sad too because my babies are growing up.

Onto the pictures.  A few were taken in front of a building at our place and the rest were at the Courthouse.

July/August Birthday Bash

My sister-in-law and I decided to organize a small gathering for the July/August birthdays for the little ones.  Caleb turned 3 on July 2nd, my nephew Bjorn turned 3 on August 4th and my niece Norah turned 5 on July 24th.  Since my brother and the family probably won't be home in October and since Isaac is too little to understand we decided to include him as well since his birthday isn't too far off.  We ordered an ice cream cake and they had a few hours to play in the pool.  The boys loved playing with their cousins.  Who would have thought my brother that is 8 years older would have a child the same age as my children....pretty neat in my book.

Nephew Bjorn

 

The cake

Eating icecream cake

 
















Jumping in the pool ribs and all

Grandpa pouring water on Isaac

Isaac eating icecream cake

Kiddos sitting on the couch

~Emily, Norah, Kim, Bjorn, Caleb & Isaac

 The littles~ Norah, Bjorn, Caleb & Isaac

 Mom had to get a picture of the 3 siblings

~Chad 41, Amber 31, Ryan 39

Pioneer Days fun

Pioneer Days has always been a fun event to attend.  This year I decided to get the boys involved.  Okay so maybe the Kiddie parade would have gone better had I started the project more than the day before.  My best friend Sheila and I had talked about doing the Kiddie parade with our kids last year but of course time got away and here we were a week before the parade and just discussing it.  I'm pretty sure we didn't even know what we were going to do until a few days before.

Thanks to my awesome niece and babysitter Kim I was able to leave the boys at my parents with her while I got the necessities to make the "boat".  I decided to do a summer/fishing theme and made the boys wagon into a fishing boat.  My friend Sheila also pulled her daughter in a wagon wearing an adorable bumblebee swimsuit.  It was fun but unfortunately we weren't creative enough and didn't place.  I have no clue what to do next year because I'm pretty sure at 4 and almost 5 years they aren't going to want to ride in the wagon!

It was a hot walk during the Kiddie parade but the kids had fun.  Afterwards we had hotdogs and then  they picked up their tyed dyed shirt and balloon.  It was a little overwhelming for Isaac so we didn't stay real long.

Saturday morning I had the pleasure of running/walking a 5k race with my niece Kim and her Mom Kathy.  It was quite humid and buggy out so my run wasn't the best and I came in at about 37:00.  I had fun though.

Later in the morning we all went to the big parade and the boys really enjoyed it and the candy of course.  They were able to get a free rootbeer float afterwards.

All in all it was a fun weekend and the boys enjoyed it.