Grandpa Knows All

Conversation between Esther and Mommy after Esther asked a question and Mommy said, "I don't know."

Esther: How come you don't know?
Mommy: Because I don't know everything.
Esther: How come you don't know everything?
Mommy: Because only God knows everything.
Esther: And some Grandpas too?

Wow, Esther must think her Grandpas are pretty smart guys!

Sweet Precious Miriam

I found a website where I could definitely waste time... but it's super fun! I'm not really into scrapbooking. Putting pictures in an album and writing a few things on the memo lines next to them is about as fancy as it gets for me. However, I think I could have some fun with this! Here's my first quick attempt. Check out the website: scrapblog.com

Fun with Friends

We had a great time getting together with good friends last weekend. One family is from Detroit and the other from Minneapolis, so we usually only get together once or twice a year. We always try to take a picture of all the kids, and this was probably the most cooperative they've been! It's fun to see how the group has changed in the last few years and we always enjoy spending time together and catching up on each other's lives.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my Dad's birthday, so my parents came over for dinner tonight. Esther guessed that my Dad was 40. He was pretty happy with that. Then I told her to guess a little higher, so she guessed 80. She had fun giving him the card she had made for him and we also all enjoyed a walk/bike ride together after dinner.

Amazingly, all 3 kids cooperated for a picture with my Dad, and it even turned out well!

Happy Birthday Dad! Thanks for being such a wonderful father and grandpa. We love you!

The Towel

My cousin Betsy has always done amazing things with cross stitching. One of our favorite baby gifts for each of our children has been the hooded bath towel that she made for each of them. Betsy embroidered their name and water-related pictures on the hood and they are so cute! Since they are full-sized bath towels, they are really cozy for them now, and they'll be able to use them for a long time.

Betsy brought Miriam's over today, so she tried it out tonight...

Hiking

This afternoon we ventured over to the Calvin College Nature Preserve for a hike in the woods. We packed our backpack with snacks and water and headed out on the trail. Along the way we saw...

• Many beautiful flowers
• 2 snakes, both spotted by Esther
• 1 chipmunk
• 1 Daddy Long Legs Spider
• Lots of butterflies and dragonflies

I asked the kids what they liked best about our hike...

Peter: "I see the animals. I saw the frogs." We kept looking for frogs in the ponds, but didn't see any. Apparently Peter did though.

Miriam: "I liked being able kick my legs like crazy while hanging out in the front pack!"
(I'm pretty sure that's what she said when I asked her.)

Esther: "The ponds and the dragonflies and the snakes."

I think we need to teach the kids about animal habitats because as we were leaving, Peter asked if we were going to see any cows. Maybe he just wishes he was back in New Jersey!

Tricycle Taxi

Esther and Peter love riding this tricycle at my parents' house and giving each other rides. (This video if off my phone, so the quality isn't very good, but you get the idea...)

Vacation Wrap-up

For those who were concerned after reading the previous posts, yes, we did make it back, no, we did not leave any children in NJ, and yes, we had tons of fun.

Highlights of the trip:

1. Again staying at Uncle Case and Aunt Henny's home....first class accomodations!

2. Hanging out with the NJ cousins I grew up with (and having their kids entertain ours!)

3. Seeing an old family friend, Mrs. Joseph, and watching Peter and Esther catch their first fish in her pond!

4. Attending the 50th anniversary of Sussex Christian School, where I attended through 7th grade.

5. Hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa K on vacation.

Interesting facts learned on the trip:

1. Esther is as stubborn as her Daddy. No matter how hard cousin Rich tried to get a hug from her, he wasn't going to get it. "Boys are yucky!" (she did however pose for a picture with him on the scooter.)

2. Peter can go 4 nights in a row going to bed after 10:00.

3. Peter can lose his cool pretty quickly after 4 nights in a row of going to bed after 10:00.

4. When you are in the hotel, it's 10:05, and Peter is standing at the hotel room window pointing out all the trucks on I-80......it's too funny not to laugh.

5. Though one would think that if you drive home through the night and your children will sleep the whole way, it is entirely possible to be wrong. It is possible to see your children watching DVD's in the back seat from 11:00 PM - 3:00 AM.

6. 5 cups of coffee and a Mountain Dew will keep you up the whole way from New Jersey to Michigan. It also results in 4 potty stops for Daddy.

7. Miriam is the most easy going baby I've ever met.

(slide your mouse over the pictures to read the captions)

Are We There Yet?? Part III

Some hotel math:

1 King Size Bed + 1 Pull Out Couch + 1 Air Mattress + 1 Pack and Play should = Everyone in their own bed except Mommy and Daddy.

The reality?

First, Mommy, Daddy, Peter in the big bed, Esther on the pull out, air mattress is empty.

Screaming happens at some point from the region of the pull out, Daddy joins Esther on pull out....feet hanging over the edge. Peter was somehow hogging the whole king bed anyway.

At some other point Peter decides to go on the air mattress.

At 6:15 when EVERYONE is up, the king bed is empty, the couch has Daddy and Esther, and the airbed has Mommy and Peter. Miriam was the only one who got her own bed all night long.

I'm sure G&G enjoyed their night two doors down the hall.

Are We There Yet?? Part II

6:15 AM Depart for NJ

6:42 AM Miriam begins whimpering

6:44 AM Whimpering turns into screaming

6:46 AM Screaming turns into full scale siren like sound (cars were pulling out of our way because they thought we were an emergency vehicle).

7:30 AM Miriam has fallen asleep, well, or maybe passed out from lack of oxygen due to screaming. Either way, it's quiet....we aren't picky at this point.

8:15 AM The first "I need to go potty" sound is heard. We have made it as far as the rest area in Howell. All in all, much better than I had expected.

8:28 AM The potty stop has allowed Grandma and Grandpa K to catch up (and, amazingly, Grandpa's bladder must be the same size as Esther's, because he was very happy for the stop). Esther elects to ditch Mom and Dad and ride with G&G.

8:30 AM Back on the road. Daddy has already learned to let go of the "when we stop, we get gas, food, and go potty!" mantra. Apparently, it isn't going to happen this trip.

8:42 AM The siren known as Miriam has returned.

8:57 AM The siren has fallen asleep or passed out again....either way.....it's quiet. Peter is still happily watching a DVD. Doesn't even appear to notice that his older sister is no longer riding in the back seat with him.

9:52 AM Breakfast stop at Bob Evans just north of Toledo. Hmmmmm.......used to make it that far in less than 3 hours. Daddy still trying to remember not to "time" the trip.

9:53 AM Peter notices Esther is back.

10:30 AM Everyone is fed an pottied, back on the road. Esther ditches Mommy and Daddy again, apparently she has alot she needs to say to G&G.

10:31 AM Peter is watching a DVD (theme for the trip)....looks at Esther's empty seat....doesn't seem concerned, rather, seems content.

10:32 AM Mommy is entertaining Miriam.

11:02 AM Miriam screams

11:03 AM - 12:48 PM: Driving.....no major concerns.

12:49 PM - 1:20 PM Potty stop. We do also actually get gas on this stop, so Daddy is somewhat satisfied.

1:20 PM - 3:01 PM Esther still not riding with Mommy and Daddy....Peter still doesn't care, he's on to his 52nd DVD of the trip....eyes starting to look a little glazed. At some point, everyone except for Daddy falls asleep. I tried to take a picture of them while driving......not recommend at 80mph on Route 80.

3:02 PM - 3:15PM Potty stop, late lunch. Peter sleeps through entire stop. Esther decides to rejoin Mommy and Daddy. Daddy notices the "estimated time of arrival" on the GPS keeps getting later and later.

3:39 PM Esther has to go potty....seems pretty serious about it. Stop....again.

4:15 PM Arrive at Holiday Inn Express in Clearfield, PA. All Kuperuses are accounted for.

Spend rest of the night swimming in the pool.....Mommy and Daddy now praying children will fall asleep.