Serious Suckers

Today Esther wanted to have a sucker if she ate a good lunch. She did, and of course when she got her sucker, Peter had to have one too. I was thinking maybe I should send this to the Charms sucker company to see if they want to use it for an advertisement!

A Daddy Duck's Life

Apparently in Esther's mind, being a Daddy Duck is easy and fun. Yesterday morning we were out for a walk and saw a group of female ducks in the pond near our house. I asked her where she thought all the Daddies were and joked that maybe they'd gone out for breakfast. She responded, "No, the Daddies are all out flying their airplanes." This idea likely comes from the fact that Casey and several of his buddies have remote control airplanes or helicopters that they sometimes fly.

This morning on the way to church, we had to stop for a couple female ducks crossing the road. I asked her where the Daddies were today, and she said "They're still sleeping!"

Wow, it must be nice being a Daddy Duck...

Hat Boy after a Talk from Daddy

After having a lengthy discussion regarding the gender of hats with Daddy, Peter is now wearing the following.

Glamour Girls and Hat Boy

This morning Esther's friend Hope came over to play. They just had to wear their sunglasses when we played outside, even though it was totally shady in the backyard. Obviously they already know that shades are not just for blocking the sun--they help create a look!

If you read the previous post about Peter, you'll understand this picture. He wore the hat from 8:00 a.m. until nap time and did not want to take it off to sleep, so I just left it on. I couldn't resist taking a picture (sorry Casey!) At least he's snuggling with his "Baseball Dude" to show his manly side!

Hats and Shoes

Peter is really into hats and shoes lately. He loves to wear his Bob the Builder construction hat or any other hat he can find in the dress-up basket. He also likes to try on every pair of shoes that he finds around the house. Much to Casey's dismay, many of these hats and shoes are quite "girly," but Peter obviously doesn't know the difference and doesn't care.

Last night the inside straps for the construction hat came out of the hat, so he decided to just wear that on his head for about 1/2 hour. He looked like he should have been in some type of scientific experiment.

Today he spent quite a long time trying to figure out how Esther's Cabbage Patch Doll's shoes could fit on his feet. He finally tried walking around with them just on the ends of his toes. As you can imagine, it didn't work out all that well for him.

Two Fun Outings

Casey took a couple vacation days this week so he could have a 5-day weekend. Yesterday was his big "clean and organize all the tools/junk/stuff in the garage and basement" day. I took the kids away so he could work, and we went to the Meijer Gardens and to Robinette's for lunch with my parents and my sister Karen.

Today was our family day, so we went to the zoo. After we saw all the animals, Casey and the kids took a swan boat ride on the pond at John Ball Park. Apparently the warm sun and the lull of the boat were very soothing, because Peter almost fell asleep! We went to Russ' for supper and played in the backyard tonight. It was a fun day, and we're excited that we can still look forward to having Daddy home for 3 more days this weekend!

Sandbox

We finally got the outdoor item we've been on the lookout for all summer! Peter LOVES playing in the sand, so we'd been keeping an eye out for a used sandbox. We got a Little Tikes boat sandbox at our church garage sale this weekend. The kids tried it out today for the first time, and they both thought it was pretty cool!

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.