BUSY FEBRUARY

We have been working really hard on the house.  Painting trim, painting window seals, and painting shutters and the garage door. 

Bryan went on a 100 mile bike ride around South Padre Island.  It was pretty windy and he came back sun burned.  Finished in about 6 hours.

 My cute little Valentine's.

Bryan took the girls to a Princess Ball one weekend.  Way better than going to Disney.  They got one on one time with each of the princesses and didn't have to wait in 2 hour lines.  Jane LOVES Moana.  Kate LOVES Ariel and Rapunzel.

Grandma Koplin got the girls a popcorn popper.  They love watching the popcorn and melting the butter for our weekly Friday night movies.

 Bryan's Valentine gift- a chocolate hand gun!

Bryan made the girls a bunk bed.  It is so awesome! The girls love it. 

For Kate's 5th birthday weekend, we went to South Padre Island and enjoyed some pool time, beach time, and relaxation.  It was a little cold and cloudy, but we had a heated outdoor pool and everything was all good.

 Pink cereal for Valentine's Day.

I took the girls to the Rodeo and Stock Show.  I am pretty sure their favorite part was watching the little chickens run around the cage.

Kate had a Little Mermaid birthday party with friends.  She got a cute Little Mermaid shirt from Jane, an easy bake oven from Grandma and Grandpa Koplin, a microphone/swimsuit/clothes/
climbing rope from mom and dad.

 My Valentine from Bryan.  It reads "Lets Bang".  It's made out of bullets.  So fun!

 South Padre Island Mermaid.

Kate turns 5

Kate is a beautiful girl inside and out.  She is a good helper in the kitchen.  She is a good helper with Jane.  She is a good listener.  She always does her homework and enjoys doing her homework.  She loves to dress up, put make-up on, paint her nails, and do fun things with her hair.  She always wants to wear a dress to school.  She is nice to everyone at school.  She knows how to count to 100.  She knows all her upper and lower case letters.  Sometimes she mixes up her b, d, p, and q's.  Kate always wants to go to church.  Her primary teachers say she knows all the answers.  She continues to love arts and crafts.  She draws pictures of our family and writes everyone's name down too.  She is quite the emotional one.  She feels bad when she hurts others.  Her feelings can be easily hurt.  She is pretty good at acting like a princess when she cries by running up the stairs and falling the the ground wailing for help.  Quite the drama queen we have.  She is getting good at performing in front of others, whether it is song or re-enactment of a movie.  I am so glad to call her mine.  She is a joy to be around and I love her very much.

BUSY JANUARY

I met up with my friends to do the Walt Disney World 1/2 marathon for the weekend. It was a blast.  Originally, I had planned to take the children with me. However, the cost was out of this world and I didn't have a babysitter for when I was actually running the race.  It worked out better this way and the girls weren't too jealous. 

 Jumping pose at Epcot. Almost done!

The weather was absolutely freezing!  Thank goodness Fran brought all these Good Will clothes to ditch when it starting getting a little warmer.  Also glad we had passes to stay in the warming tent before the run.  I would not have survived! 

Love this picture! Such babies!

 Tower of Terror in the background.

 Bryan also went on a little trip this month- Las Vegas, NV.  

 Bryan sent me this picture while I was in Florida.  The girls said they got to see Mickey and Minnie Mouse too! (at Costco)

 I brought home a little souvenir from Disney.  Candy! 

 Both girls exhausted...not sure what we did to wear them out!

 100th Day of School shirts

Mommy got a little creative, but I also wanted the girls to be involved.  What better choice than band-aids.

 Kate participated great.  Jane on the other hand needed a little help.  She didn't mind bossing me around on where to put the band-aids though!

 Wacky Wednesday at school. Aren't they the cutest?

Package from Grandma and Grandpa Koplin.  The girls LOVE getting mail. (hint, hint)

December 2017

We started the month off with the Rock n Roll San Antonio 1/2 marathon.  With both of us being pretty sick, pushing 2 kids, and not running over the last couple months we didn't do too bad- 2:01 I think?  We were supposed to meet some friends, but it was super crowded.  Sorry Fran and Nicole!

The girls went to BAMC for a children's Christmas Party.  There were booths throughout the medical mall where the girls could win prizes, eat candy, and make crafts.  It was fabulous!  Probably the best military function I have been to.

 Kate and Jane helped make sugar cookies to give to friends, teachers, and neighbors.  We assembled cookies, chocolates, and candies into these cute little Santa bags and delivered them before we headed to Salt Lake City, Utah for 6 days.

 We made the coolest gingerbread houses too! Thank you Costco.

We drove 22 hours from San Antonio, Texas to Lehi, Utah to visit family and go skiing.  It was a challenge splitting the time among our families with such a short stay.  On Sunday, we celebrated a cousin Christmas and had a special visitor- SANTA!   As usual, my children were spoiled rotten.  They got jewelry, jewelry boxes, chap stick, aprons, books, coloring books, markers, candy, watches, and so much more.

On Monday and Tuesday, Bryan and I went skiing.  We were able to go skiing with some of Bryan's family.  Monday we went skiing with Becky's family, Renae's family, Adams family, and Michael.  Tuesday we went skiing with Adam's family and Bryan's mother.  There was not a lot of snow, but it was a wonderful feeling being out on the mountains again. We even met Santa up there!

On Wednesday, we had a special breakfast at the Ahlborn's and then went swimming at the Provo Recreation Center.  Then we had to drive the 22 hours back to Texas! We are crazy- I already know that! I am not going to lie- the ride back home was a lot harder.

Christmas morning was a blast! The girls slept until 0730 and ran downstairs to open their stockings.  The girls got gymnastic rings, gymnastic mat, clothes, stickers, books, hungry hippo game, fingerling monkeys, candy, gum, matchbox cars and garage, bedding, underwear, earrings, and so much more!

Bryan got toys for his truck and Rebekah got toys for the kitchen.  I made the most delicious sweet rolls too! It's a tradition, of course.  Jane wouldn't eat anything, of course.  She was sleepy and ready for a nap by 9am- the little stinker. 

After organizing all the presents, we watched movies and played with our new toys.  It was a wonderful, relaxing day.

Merry Christmas 2017

2017 has brought about many changes. We now live in San Antonio, Texas. Bryan started an Optometry Residency in July.  He enjoys the different patient population and fitting scleral lenses.  He has taken an interest investing in real estate and building furniture.  Rebekah started working at Northeast Methodist in the intensive care unit.  It has involved lots of learning and re-learning after 3 years of not working while in Germany.  She has found joy in running, orange theory fitness, and shopping at Costco.  The girls are enrolled in preschool/daycare.  They enjoy their teachers, friends, and planned school activities.  Both girls were involved in swimming lessons this fall.  Kate loves arts and crafts, swimming, and gymnastics.  She is a loving older sister and a good listener.  Jane is our little stinker.  She loves to play hide and seek, run around the house naked, and steal Kate's toys or jewelry.  She is a good at snuggling and gives the best hugs and kisses.  We hope you have a

 MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

      

Photo credit: Angela Moore