the graduate

Liam is a preschool graduate! One of the first of many milestones that he will accomplish in his school years.  We give Kingdom Kids Preschool two thumbs up.  His teachers were fantastic and did a great job praising and correcting him.  (I was glad to not be the only one doing the praising and correcting everyday. Worth the cash dished out!)  He looked forward to going everyday and learned a lot.  A great first step into his school years!

 love this booger

mine's that studly kid wearing the orange shirt in the middle

 a little singing...Liam was the best one...and I'm not biased

 diploma time

 support from the sisters

 funny paper grad hat they passed out after graduation

 a little refreshment after the grueling 1/2 hour ceremoney :)

 Liam and his classmate Lucas

big hug for his teacher Mrs. Kehl

Liam is a super sharp kid and approaches school (and life) with gusto.  Mrs. Kehl praised him on his eagerness to learn and positive attitude. (valedictorian material if you ask me.)  The assistant teacher, Mrs. Patterson, said he always came to school with a smile on his face.  I love to hear good things said about him.  It makes me think... ok, I can push him out of the nest a little and he won't crash.  Time to push him out a little more into kindergarten.  

In September he will step into the world of public school and start kindergarten at Washington Elementary.  He will go half days Monday through Friday.  That is if we can survive the summer together.  Battle of the wills continues on with this child.  I can tell you how it ends.... I WILL WIN.  I've got some serious parenting strategies up my sleeve...prayer, prayer, and a little more prayer.  Watch out child...  

birthday girl

Happy 1st birthday to our sweet Harper Claire!  She turned one on Monday.  Her first year has breezed by so quickly.  I don't want her to grow up so fast!  I nursed her for the last time today too.  Feeling a little sentimental...  

Harper Claire - April 9, 2011

I still remember the pain it took to bring that child into this world.  But of course worth it!  She is a jewel and we had a great day celebrating her.  Will took the day off and we had some fun family time.  The Shotts joined us for dinner and cake.

 storytime in the morning (wearing her new outfit from Pa and Nini)

pizza with Daddy for lunch

 Party time!

 smash cake

 Mom, enough pictures.  Hand me the flower.

 What is this?

 A little more

 A lot more

 Me likey

 Birthdays are the best

 All done and quite happy

 washing off her little frosted self

 new Toms from Pops and Nana

playing with her present from Zeke, Laura and Evie

I love you Harper Claire Copeland.  And the latest development in her life - one that she is unaware of - Harper is going to be a big sister!  Will and I saw the sweet little heartbeat of Harper's baby bro/sister today.  We are so excited!  Baby due Novembr 10th.  Fourth and final...I think...

a happy Easter

I love having my family together on Easter.  Will has had to work the past two years on Easter so I was pretty thankful to have him home this weekend.  It would have been great to be with grandparents too but that's not in the cards when you're across the country from home.  I feel a twinge of sadness when several of my friends are with their parents celebrating Easter.  However,  I LOVED having our little fam of five together.  We colored eggs on Saturday night.  The kids get totally into this.

We tucked the kids in and I played Easter bunny - which I love.  I get my love for basket/stocking stuffing from my mom.  She always made us the best Easter baskets and Christmas stockings.  It's fun to think of little things for each kid that will surprise them.  Passing on the good memories!

This weekend Liam said, "I know you're the Easter bunny."  I said, "How do you know?"  He said, "Because you hide the eggs."  I'm not really sure what he meant by that but I said, "You're right, but isn't it fun to pretend?"  Will couldn't believe that I didn't try to keep up the ruse that the Easter bunny is real, but Liam didn't seem to care... and I can guarantee you that if Liam doesn't believe, nobody in our house will stand a chance to believe.  That bubble has been burst.  Hayden was actually put at ease when she realized the scary giant bunny from the grocery store wasn't really going to sneak into her house to fill up her basket.

Shoes and treats for all

Sunday morning the kids checked out their baskets and then we made the mad dash to get ready in our Easter best for church by 9:30.  People up here don't seem to care much about dressing kids up in new spring clothes for Easter - part of the low maintenance midwest I guess.  And you better believe there is not a single smocked jumper on any kid up here.  For one thing, it's still kinda cold in April.  I think on Sunday it was in the 50s and super windy.  I still put my girls in matching dresses and sandals.  A tiny piece of home.  

Silver sandals and goldfish!  Thanks Easter bunny.... I mean Mom.

matchy matchy

Hayden - 3, Harper - 1, Liam 4.5

happiness

It looks like a warm spring day but Harper's face tells the truth.  A cold wind can make you frown.

We went home and Will grilled some yummy steaks for our Easter lunch.  I made potato casserole, asparagus and chocolate peanutbutter pie.  Everyone napped and then we had a little egg hunt in the backyard with a few friends who didn't have extended family in town.    

Liam and his buddies - Ezra, Jude and Ethan

checking out their loot - a massive sugar rush ensued

 Evie and Laura

 Harper cleaning up fallen treats.  I fished several jelly beans out of her eager little mouth.

The kids had a big time.  They eventually crashed from their sugar high.  Will and I promptly put them to bed and then stayed up late watching a movie... because Will had Monday off of work too!!  Vacation day for Harper Claire's birthday.  More to come...

Big boo boo and spring in MN

Harper suffered a bloody injury today.  It was 9:45 and I was running late getting ready for church.  I was supposed to teach Liam's Bible class at 10:30.  Will was at work.  I was putting my make-up on for church when I heard a loud cry and walked out into the living room to see blood dripping down Harper's head and face.  This picture doesn't really do the moment justice.

I didn't know where all the blood was coming from and I was trying not to freak out.  Apparently Hayden had rammed Harper with her metal shopping cart.  And Hayden has had a bad track record with being too rough with her little sister.  I was saying, "Oh Hayden!!!! What have you done!!  Do you see this blood!!"  I was trying to take a picture of Harper's head to send to Will and I accidently got this one of Hayden.  She was obviously remorseful for her offense.  

Will looked at the picture I sent him and of course said it was fine and not to worry about it.  I was thinking, "you may be a neurosurgeon but I'm a mom and someone needs to look at her!"  But we went on to church with Harper looking like a head banger.

And she of course was fine and didn't skip a beat.

I still went by the hospital after church just so Will could lay eyes on her and give me a more official word that she didn't need a stitch or two.  

In other news... it's spring in Minnesota!  I love spring here.  It was a mild winter this year but spring is still so refreshing.  I never appreciated the four seasons until I moved here.  A little spring action...

Como Zoo in the cities

 

building train tracks on the deck

 a little spring wardrobe

 walk to McDonalds for ice cream.  Hayden sporting her new Crocs.

 fuzzy head Harper

 swimming lessons at the Y...Instagram pic

 sisters eating cheerios

Harper playing with the very weapon that took her down today

 

 Liam wears this shirt every day that he posssibly can regardless of the weather.
"The Thing" is his favorite.  ??

Easter bunny at the grocery store.  Liam was the only one excited and Hayden kept a safe distance at all times.

the Momma store...The kids aren't really saving up tickets for dates with Dad or movie nights.  In this picture Liam bought a plastic snake and two Airheads.  So guess what Hayden bought...  she didn't go for the cute little pink pot with the daisy seeds inside or the animal coloring book.  She got a rubber spider and two Airheads.  

Tickets, please! Tickets!

I'm in the process of establishing a ticket system at the Copeland house.  Do a chore - earn a ticket.  Show kindness - earn a ticket.  Obey right away - earn a ticket.  I'm easy to please and give freely.  :)  The tickets can be redeemed for screen time (tv, Wii, Leapster) or saved to be spent at what I'm calling "The Momma Store".  The Momma Store's grand opening is tomorrow and will only be open on Saturdays.  The shelves will be stocked with random garbage that children like - suckers, bubble gum, $1 prizes.  Pictures of big ticket items will also be on display - movie night, date with Dad, McDonalds trip, game rental.  Personally I'm saving up for the date with Dad.

This was inspired in big part by the constant bombardment of Liam asking to play the Wii ALL DAY LONG.  I can't take it anymore.  Opening day of the system was brought on by Liam waking me up at 6:30 am saying, "Mom, can I play the Wii?  Mom, I'm ready to get up so can I play the Wii?  I never got to today."  That's because it's 6:30 in the morning crazy-face.  That's not what I actually said.  Here's what was actually said.

  

Me: Liam, starting today you can only play the Wii if you pay me a ticket.

Liam (with big eyes and raised eyebrows):  But how do I get a ticket?

Me:  You earn them.

Liam (with a slightly more intense tone):  But how do I earn them?

Me:  Well, you do things around the house that are helpful.

Liam (almost yelling):  Like what?

Me:  Like get dressed in the morning. (an easy one)

Liam (yelling with glee): I GOT DRESSED!! 

He realized he had just scored.  This is basically a hand out for Liam because he pops out of bed at full speed every morning and is dressed in 5 seconds.   So I promptly handed over a ticket.  I told him he could also put his pajamas in the hamper and brush his teeth and he whizzed through those tasks for two more tickets.  I explained the whole system and when I told him about the Momma Store he was very intrigued.  However, he has no will power to save tickets.  In the first day he earned 7 tickets and spent 7 tickets.  Sweet Hayden was playing along with us too.  She earned 4 tickets and spent none of them.  Classic.  

earning tickets putting silverware away

Liam is super in to earning tickets right now.   We have made a shift from the never ending question of "Can I play the Wii?" to "Can I have a ticket?"  Still driving me a little crazy but at least spurring little hands on to be productive.  I'll keep you posted on the Momma Store's grand opening.  

Here's where I got the idea:  http://www.tipjunkie.com/chore-charts/