I am SO behind in blogging for you my kiddos.
Today is the last day of school!
Kiki you are a tall, beautiful girl,  taller then everyone in your class except for one boy. My girl you worked hard at school and you are a very good student. Good job! Reading is one of your favorite things to do. Your best friend is Michael Brandt. The two of you enjoy playing monopoly and Wii. At recess you, Michael and Timothy have enjoyed pretend games, shadow tag and working on digging out a big rock buried in the dirt.

Alex you are my tall boy too, still taller then Kiki, but not the tallest in your class. You have worked so very hard this year in school and we are so proud of you! You are especially great at typing. You have enjoyed reading about Babe Ruth for your biography report and the book Hatchet by Gary Paulson that your class read. You enjoyed spending time with Alex R. The two of you are huge Sharks (San Jose hockey team) fans. There was lots to talk about as the Sharks almost made it to the finals for the Stanley Cup. You have liked spending time MAtthew K. We spend a lot of time with his family. You and Daddy and Matt and his Daddy often play baseball or basketball together.

May 13, 2010

A big day. Alex got his braces today! He has four across his front teeth. Currently the San Jose Sharks are in the play offs. He follows their games closely. In honor off the Sharks, he selected teal colored rubber bands to go on his braces.
He was sad when they  reviewed the HUGE list of foods that he is not supposed to have while the braces are on. That will be a challenge as the list contains lots of his favorite foods.
He had to take medicine, Demerol, one hour before we went to the dentist. He was active and playing basketball before we left. Later he was quite tired and fell asleep in the car while we waited for Daddy to finish working so we could go out for lunch. We went to The Creamery an Alex had a (huge) side order of french fries and a giant cookie dough ice cream milk shake. He was dipping his fries in his shake-Dad and I weren't sure if that was something he'll try again or of that was an idea that seemed good only because of the Demerol.

Happy Mother's Day

I have had wonderful morning the Mother's Day!

Pops and Al went shopping early this am while Ki stayed and cuddled on and off with me while I snoozed.

I was later awakened by my kiddos with a plate filled with a homemade breakfast mcmuffin (english muffin, egg, ham and cheese), cinnamon roll and strawberry. I got my coffee and read my paper in bed. My brown dogs joined me on and off and cleaned any  food items that strayed from the plate.

Aj got 2 bouquets of flowers at eh store-one for me and one for Granny. He awoke her by bounding into her bed with a top volume, off-key song about Mother's Day. The fact that she is still with us after awakening clarifies the fortitude of her physical make up.

Ki presented me with a mug that she colored herself that contains sprouting cosmo seeds. Her decorated card reads:

terrific, hugger, pretty, smart, amazing, love.

She is so open about her feelings, "I love you so, so, so very much Mama." She is my sweet pea.

Aj gave me a letter he wrote at school. It reads:

Alex K                             5/17/10

Here are some reasons why I love my Mom

1. She cheers on me when I get a hit, a basket, or a goal. Shes the loudest cheerer in the fans. She is very loud.

2. She helps me on my homework. Even though if it was 9:30 at night, my mom can still help me with my homework. She wants to get my homework done.

3. She gives me lots of hugs and kisses. When I've done something, a really hard thing, she gets so happy she cries. It is so cute.

I love you every minute of my life.

Love,

Alex Koeppen

xoxoxoox

To My Family

Kurt, Alex and Kianna,
This is the beginning of my documenting the happenings of our family. My goal is to create a written and photo journal to tangibly record our family story.


I love you all dearly,
Mommy

Twas the Night Before Easter

Ki and I are here in a hotel in Rancho Bernardo (San Diego).

Ki asked Pops to leave a note for the Easter Bunny explaining that she was not in Redwood City-but rather in Rancho Bernardo.

We are both wondering if and how the Easter Bunny will leave a basket and/or eggs in a small hotel room...But I have faith he is a creative fellow.

Wikipedia

This Alex's new joy. He loves looking animals and reading about them and looking at pictures.
Yesterday he closed the lap top and declared, "Well it's official. Big horn sheep do live in California."

Letter to family Feb 12 2010

Hello Dad and Altha-

I have been out of touch and taken fingers to keys to write.

It is Friday am and kids and I are home. No school today due to Lincoln's Birthday. Alex is alternating between watching a cartoon and bear hunting on the "hunting channel". Kianna just got dressed and is wearing one friends son's shoes, another friends son's pants and her brothers hand-me-down shirt. My Mom is having coffee and toast and her regular morning crossword puzzle from the Chronicle. Bear the cat is at his post in front of the heater. Java is snuggling and licking Alex on the couch. Tess is trying to lure Java to come play.

We had a nice visit with Rich-a quiet visit. We went out for dinner and lunch a few times and Rich went to the kid's Saturday basketball games. We introduced him to a new food! Salvadorian pupusas. 

Kianna  was busy selling Girl scout cookies. She and Alex are both in the school play, The Somewhat True Tales of Robin Hood. A comedy spoof on the original. Kianna is one of the Merry Men and Alex is Little John. He is concerned about the part where he is supposed to pick his nose in one of the scenes. Of course I have been trying to extinguish this behavior for years and now he is concerned.  My main job will be working behind stage. I really enjoy getting to know the kids and seeing the play come together. Hopefully I won't drop the curtain on some kid head. 

As the play performances wrap up the softball and baseball seasons will start. Kurt is the assistant coach for Kianna's softball team and I'll be helping out as well. My business, Sage Therapy, is the sponsor. Kind of fun to see my business name on the back of the uniforms. 

We are off to run errands.

Winter break

One day a bouncing good time at Bounce U as organized by SEPTAR (Shannon). This was followed by lunch at Burger King with Mary Beth and her kids Sarah and Alex. Then we were invited to their house to play and Alex and Alex had a wonderful time together playing computer games. Ki played too, and she put together a Lego project. We all had a lovely time.
Kianna had a play date with her one of her most favorite people, Ryan  Schackel. They played at his house and enjoyed Star Wars light sabers and Lego. 
Alex and I did bday shopping for BG (Beautiful Grandmother-my Mom) and Kiki. BG's birthday is New Years Eve. We went to Kowalsyk's for dinner and took crab and salad to go along with finger appetizers (baby corn dogs, chicken wings etc.) Allison made apricot rolls, homemade lavender colored marshmallows and raspberry Jello. We also brought a cake and all sang Happy Birthday to BG. Bday gifts for BG included a new fleece nightgown, new slippers, a puzzle of San Diego (picked out by Alex) and a new day planner. The Kowalzyk kids came over to play for the afternoon. Lots of art, coloring, playing outside and Wii/playstation. I love these kids.Four-year-old Angela washed my windows and Matthew commented on our new entertainment center, "I don't know how much you paid for that, but it was totally worth it."