Sledding fun

Grandma and Grandpa K went on vacation for about 10 days so we had the luxury of borrowing their 4 wheeler.  The boys had a blast, especially when Daddy hooked their sleds behind and pulled them really fast.  They laughed and giggled the entire time, even when they tipped over.  After a few days the snow was really beginning to melt so there wasn't much to sled on but they certainly tried!

Happy Valentine's Day!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Roller Skating

A couple days ago it was Roller Skating with the Awana group from church.  I wasn't exactly sure how this was going to go with the boys, especially with Isaac's shoe sensitivity.  When we got there we tried on a pair of regular skates and as suspected he hated them.  Luckily they had the type of skates that could attach right to his shoes so we went that route and that seemed to satisfy him. 

I wasn't sure how actual skating was going to go based on the first few minutes that all 4 of us were on our skates.  We were skating on the carpet to get over to the rink.  Isaac was behind me and to prevent himself from falling he grabbed onto the back of my t shirt which as I'm sure you can guess, caused me to fall almost on top of him.  We had a discussion about why we don't do that and then went to the rink.  Caleb skated by me and did an awesome job, he hardly held on to my hand.  Isaac went with Ross and surprisngly he did hold onto Ross most of the time.  The boys had a blast.

Christmas 2011

Both Isaac and Caleb were in the Christmas program at church on Christmas Eve.  They didn't have speaking parts this year but they sang a few songs and did great.  They had practiced the way to line up the week before and there was supposed to be another boy in between Isaac and Caleb.  Apparently that didn't go over so well because the night of the program they came walking down the isle holding hands!  They did a great job.  After the program Isaac said he wanted to sing with the microphone so he practiced after church, good thing the mic wasn't turned on :-)  He's determined to sing by himself in front of church!

After the program both my parents and Ross' parents came over and we had pizza.  The boys left cookies and milk out for Santa and sprinkled reindeer food outside.  We had to leave a carrot out for Rudolph too.  It was a lot of fun because they really understood the concept of Santa this year.

The boys were up super early and I headed downstairs first and got the video camera ready to see their expression when they saw their new barn.  I spent a lot of time painting it and think it turned out great.  They were excited but I think they were a little overwhelmed with all the gifts.  One other favorite gift we got them was their Leapsters so we had fun playing those all day.  Isaac really caught on fast, we still have to help Caleb quite a bit but I think it's going to be a fun learning game for them.  We had a wonderful day at home together and then went to Great Grandpa Winter's Christmas night.  The boys ended up getting a magnetic set and some hot wheels so they were pretty happy about that.

December 30th and 31st we had our final two Christmas celebrations.  On the 30th we headed over to Brad and Gina's in the evening and had Christmas there.  The boys were excited to play with Caden.  They got a lot of new fun stuff.  The biggest thing was a new trampoline and a batcave.  On the 31st we had a Christmas gathering with Ross' extended family, aunts, uncles, cousins and more!  The boys got a small remote control hummer.  The adults played bingo and since they were too little Ross and I just brought the gifts for them to open.

It was definitely a great Christmas this year and the boys had so much fun.  Isaac even asked me on the 26th if it was Christmas anymore and when I told him it wasn't he cried and said he wanted it to be Christmas everyday.  To me it didn't feel like Christmas.  I'm not sure I've ever experienced a Christmas with no snow!

Christmas/Birthday celebration

Yesterday we celebrated Christmas with my family.  We had a great time.  We were only missing Josh, Joel & Ayla and Daryan this year.  Isaac, Caleb & Bjorn had a blast this year.  They've always loved playing by each other but this is the first year they've really played together.  All 3 are about the same size, it's so funny. 

Norah was under the weather with just getting over a touch of the stomach flu and then coming down with strep throat but she seemed to like all her presents which was good. 

Kim and Emily and Chad were able to make it so that was good.  The girls are growing up too fast.  It's hard to believe Kim is in High School and 15 already.  Emily is now in the Middle School in 5th grade and will turn 11 in February. 

The boys got a lot of nice gifts.  They came home with a Cars puzzle, tool set, Melissa & Doug number game, Batman car, Batman movie, Spiderman truck, football and truck and trailer.  Isaac is obsessed with Batman right now and he even took his Batman to bed, church and hasn't really let it out of his sight yet.  Caleb had fun with a variety of things.  He doesn't get fixated on one thing like his brother does :-)

We had a surprise birthday celebration too.  My Dad turned 70 on the 14th and my brother Ryan turns 40 on the 29th.  We surprised them with birthday cakes and singing.  Ryan and Michelle, Chad, Ross and I all went together and got my Dad a combined gift.  We got him a Kindle and he was beyond shocked.  He loves to read so I think it was the perfect gift.  It was a great night and the boys were sad to be separated but hopefully we can spend more time together in the near future.

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!!!!