Reading Nook

Today after lunch Esther decided that she wanted to go up for some quiet time in her room to read books. About 5 minutes later Casey went up with Peter and he didn't see her in her room. He called for her and heard a voice coming from her closet. She was in there with the light on and the door closed, reading a pile of books. When Casey asked her why she was in there, she responded, "It's too bright in my room, so I'm reading in here!"

Fire Truck

Today Casey had to work for the fire department at the Metro Cruise, which is an event to showcase old cars. We stopped by with my parents for a little while to see Daddy and the old (1949) fire truck, which is now just used as a parade truck. Esther even wore her pink fire helmet, but of course didn't want to wear it in any of the pictures!

Camping Trip #2

Here is a Summary of the Final Camping Trip for 2007

Friday

4:30 PM Leave for Triponds Campground. All members of the Kuperus Family are happy.

5:00 PM Stop at Wayland McDonald's for Dinner. The little Kuperus members are now very happy.

6:00 - 9:00 PM Set up campsite and play with friends. Dad sets up tent, Mom makes beds. Kids track dirt into tent. Kuperus family still enjoying life at the campground.

9:15 PM The youngest member of the family refuses to stop screaming in the tent. Sits on Daddy's lap at the campfire until he falls asleep sometime around 10:30.

10:31 PM All Kuperus children are asleep in the tent. Mom and Dad are VERY happy.

Saturday

12:00 AM Mom and Dad decide to head to bed.

12:27 AM Esther's rolls off the edge of her airbed. Said airbed flips on top of Esther. Apparently, this is quite a traumatic experience for a 3 year old. Ear piercing screaming ensues.

12:28 AM Daddy has quieted the screaming. Begins to breathe again because Peter has not woken up. Esther decides it is safer to sleep in Mommy and Daddy's bed with them.

12:34 AM Mommy and Daddy's bed has gone completely flat. (Perhaps the hole in the bottom was caused by a 1-1/2 year old jumping on the bed earlier.)

1:01 AM Daddy is woken up by being hit with a 3 year old's elbow.

1:27 AM Mommy is woken up by being kicked by a 3 year old.

1:49 AM Daddy once again is wondering if a little Princess airbed can support his weight. Decides it won't; makes a mental note to lose weight before the next camping trip so he can sleep on the Princess bed next year.

2:00 - 3:00 AM Mommy and Daddy continue to be woken up by a squirming 3 year old. 3 year old appears to be "sleeping like an angel."

3:02 AM Peter wakes up screaming.

3:02-3:28 AM Mommy rocks Peter....prays that this Christian Family Resort Campground is truly filled with understanding Christian Campers that don't mind being woken up.

3:29-3:47 AM Daddy takes his turn with Peter. Constantly reminds himself that camping is a good family exercise. Also reminds himself that somewhere deep down, he still loves his children.

3:48 AM Esther joins Peter in being wide awake. Sleep is no longer an option to discuss.

4:02 AM After a debate over whether the kids could stay in the tent by themselves, Mommy and Daddy put the kids in the car and drive home.

4:52 AM Kuperus family is sleeping soundly.

10:00 AM Kuperus Family arrives back at campground. Camping friends still appear friendly. They remind us that with their trailer doors and windows closed, and their heaters running, they never heard the Kuperus children.

10:01 AM Daddy makes mental note to either no longer camp with friends that have trailers or to find a trailer to borrow next year.

10:02 - 4:49 PM Kuperus family spends joyous time playing and doing camping things. Almost forget about previous night.

4:50 PM It starts to rain.

5:00 - 6:45 PM Dinner is eaten under screened tent. Mommy and Daddy take turns chasing Peter through the mud.

6:46 - 7:56 PM Daddy takes Peter out for ice cream. This is easier than chasing through mud. Still raining. Esther and Mommy go on a tractor-pulled wagon ride in the rain with some of the friends.

7:57 - 8:17 PM First attempt at putting Kuperus children to bed. Esther falls asleep in 2 minutes. Peter.....not so much.

8:18 - 9:02 PM Peter sits on Daddy's lap around campfire. Still raining lightly. Peter looks at mud and wants to play.

9:03 - 9:39 PM Daddy takes Peter for a ride to put him to sleep. Daddy mentally debates driving home. Decides that would not be in the best interest of marriage. Goes back to campsite. Now raining harder.

9:40 PM Peter and Esther are both asleep in tent. Daddy wonders about how waterproof tent is.

9:41 -11:02 PM Sit under screened tent with friends. All children sleeping soundly.

11:03 PM Esther screams....goes back to sleep.

11:25 PM Mommy and Daddy decide to go to bed.

11:26 PM Daddy notices that the patch didn't hold on airbed. Blows up second airbed.

11:39 PM Daddy climbs into bed.

11:40 PM Water drips onto Daddy's nose.

11:41 PM Water drips onto Daddy's head.

11:42 PM Mommy and Daddy throw all camping items into back of van. Wake up children and drive home.

Sunday

12:58 AM Kuperus Family sleeping soundly. Another camping season closed.

Mr. Giraffe

This week is Members' Appreciation Week at the John Ball Zoo, we we decided to take advantage of it and go this morning. They had special things just for members including snacks, crafts, and face painting. Esther was really into the popcorn, but not so sure about getting her face (or arm or anything) painted. Peter, on the other hand, actually sat amazingly still while his face was painted. We figured a giraffe to match his shirt was a good choice!

Two Fun Pictures

Esther and her second cousin Jordan

being train engineers.

Peter giving his friend Anna a happy 2nd birthday kiss!

I've Been Tagged!

I've been blog tagged by my friend Tracy.

THE RULES:
1. Post these rules before you give your facts.
2. List eight (8) random facts about yourself.
3. At the end of your post, choose (tag) people and list their names (linking to them).
4. Leave them a comment on their blog letting them know they’ve been tagged!

EIGHT RANDOM FACTS ABOUT LAURA:

1. I've ridden my bike across the state of Iowa 3 times with my Dad.

2. In 5th grade I played "Calamity Jane" in our elementary school musical and sang a solo. In 8th grade I played a "Star" and got to be on a ladder behind a curtain so other characters could "wish upon me".

3. I loved The Muppet Show and The Cosby Show growing up.

4. My best friend from elementary school, Kris (DeYoung) Monacelli, and I became friends when we were assigned to work together on a project on Kentucky in fifth grade. Good old Kentucky!

5. My sister Karen and I used to play store when we were little. We saved all kinds of empty boxes and packages from food and labeled them with prices. We played so much that we had all the prices memorized!

6. I lived in a suburb of Indianapolis for about 1-1/2 years when I was in pre-school and kindergarten. I still keep in touch with one of my friends from there.

7. I love popcorn, nachos, and chocolate anything, especially with peanut butter. I married a guy who doesn't like nuts or peanut butter!

8. In middle school I ran for a class officer position (can't remember which one) and I lost. In college, I ran for dorm president with Casey as my running mate for business manager. We won! Oh wait, we were actually unopposed.

I tag:
Shelley

Esther's First Portrait

Esther has been recently getting a little more into drawing specific things instead of just scribbling. She's mostly drawn flowers and balloons, but this morning she decided to draw a picture of Daddy. I was actually quite impressed with her circle for the head, and then she added the eyes, nose, and mouth. I had to kind of explain to her how to add the rest of the body, but she did it on her own. She also added an "owie" on his forehead (the brown dot). Then she wanted to draw a house for him to live in, and some flowers outside the house. I had to label those for her.

My favorite part was her quote when she was finished:

"This is a picture of my Daddy when he laughs crazy!"

Happy 65th Birthday Dad!

My Dad is 65 today! He just finished RAGBRAI, the bike ride across Iowa, for the 22nd time. He runs around and plays with our kids. He stays busy with his work and community service. He doesn't seem like he's 65! Since his Dad lived to be 98, I pray that God will give him many more years as well.

Yesterday Karen and I took him out for breakfast to the Sundance Grill.

In the evening we celebrated with a steak dinner (which he had to grill himself!). We had a birthday rhubarb pie (Mom's specialty and Dad's favorite) for dessert.

Today we are heading out to Lake Michigan for a get-together with his side of the family. It's really because a bunch of my cousins are in town this week, but we keep telling him it's a big birthday bash for him.

Happy Birthday, Dad and Grandpa. We love you!

The Birch Tree

There's a birch tree in my parents' yard that has a crook which is perfect for sitting. My sister and I played in the tree when we were younger and we often had our picture taken by the tree or sitting in it. Yesterday we were at their house so we took some pictures of the kids in the tree. Here are Karen and I (ages 3-1/2 and 6-1/2) and Peter and Esther. The tree has definitely aged and grown in the last 26 years!

Pasta Peter

In case anyone was wondering......
Peter loves pasta!