Sister Act

Sporting pigtails

These two have such crazy fun together. I can't wait until my littlest peanut can join in the sisterly fun!

P.S. The girl loves her ice cream

New Surroundings

We'vebeen taking walks here and there- whenever the weather permits between rain and heavy Kansas humidity and heat. Other than the park, the girls' favorite walking path leads right to this little pond near our house. It is a beautiful sight. All who enter must walk beneath this willow.

Then stumble upon a little garden that the owners of the adjacent house planted.

And the girls join hands while they begin their search for duckies.

But not before they pose on an old tree stump overlooking the pond.

And I lose their attention just as the duckies swim by on their own family "walk."

We attempt to feed them, but the mama duckie says "let's leave."

So we do the same.

Better Late than Never

Well, we've officially kicked off our "BUSY" season. It all starts with our anniversary in early July. Then we celebrate all 5 of our birthdays from July 29th through October 22nd- we end just in time to start the holiday season. So, as I'm sure you've noticed- I really haven't been keeping up with the posts. And since I use this as a "family keepsake" site, I'll go ahead and fill you in on some of our activities from the past few weeks.

The weekend of July 4th was not so much fun. We had great plans with friends, but our babies were smacked hard with the summer stomach flu. My poor Keira was sick to her stomach all day on the 4th. This little gal definitely got hit the hardest. I was really disappointed that she didn't get to experience any of the fun things we had planned for her on her first "real" Independence Day. Kenli had just gotten over the bug and Kaelyn was going to get hit the next day, so at least these two little firecrackers could get out do some sparklers and other small fireworks.

She loves her sparklers!

She's just happy to be out with the family.

Ahhh, I' can't look at the smoke bomb!

Those two really enjoyed watching the "show" together.

Ewww, it won't go off in my hand... will it?

Answers

For those of you wondering, I thought I'd let you know the answers to the who's who collage.
Starting at the top left and going across the top row
Kaelyn, Kenli, Kenli
Next row starting at the left
Keira, Kaelyn, Kenli
Next row starting at the left
Keira, Keira, Kaelyn

Who's Who

There are three pictures of each girl at various ages in this collage. If I weren't their mama, I might have a hard time telling who's who in these pictures!!

Cousin ZBC

Cousin Zada and her mama came to visit us this past weekend. There was too much fun to be had. They all loved running through the living room-entryway-kitchen "circle" path in our house.

All four Copeland girls spent the weekend giggling and playing hard. We were able to pause for just a few minutes and have the girls sit and pose for some pictures. They are quite silly when they're all together!!

*click on one of the pictures to see them enlarged!

Ice Cream Girls

We are participating in the library's summer reading program. The girls are reaping the benifits by enjoying their ice cream prize. Much enjoyed by all!

Funny, Funnier, and Down Right Scary Funny

Funny:

When Kaelyn gets excited or anticipates food, she pants like a little puppy who just got done retrieving a ball. This has been going on for a few weeks, but lately it's just gotten out of control. She seriously sticks out her tongue and breaths real shallow and fast. She makes me laugh just by being her silly, crazy self.

Funnier:

Today when I was changing Keira's poopy diaper, I discovered a tickle spot. I was simply whipping her little tushy cheek when she broke out in a hysterical laughter. I was confused at first because usually the only noise I hear while diapering is a few screams-- definitely not laughter. What a nice change of pace.

Down Right Scary Funny:

Okay, I had one of those conversations with my eldest-the one where I'm stunned and amazed at what she knows. Here's the little synopsis of our morning conversation:

Kenli is sitting at our dining room table in her little red booster seat eating her breakfast quietly. I am busy doing something at the adjacent kitchen counter when I hear, "Mommy, when my boopies grow?"

I look over at her little face quizzically staring at mine. "What," I say as she peels her spaghetti strap off of her shoulder and reveals the right side of her chest.

"When my boopies grow like mommy's," she asks as she inspects her "boopie."

My mouth gaping open now, I tell myself 'keep it short and simple."

"Well, honey, they'll grow before you're a mommy."

"Oh," she said.

Whew, that wasn't so bad. I know there will be plenty more to come. This one just completely caught me off guard--so much so that I was really too stunned to laugh when it happened. I am laughing now.

I just love how they make any old boring day-- well, not so dang boring.

Celebrating Dads- a Bit Early

In the new Parents magazine I came across an article, "The New Face of Fatherhood." It focuses on the slowly-changing role of dads in the 21st century. Dads today are cutting their working hours or quitting altogether to stay home or to at least help raise a family. Today's dad is quite different from his predecessors and he wears the spit-up badge of honor proudly on his sleeve.

If we look into the homes of today's family, more and more often we're seeing women and men working, or women working and men staying home to raise children. As the article points out, "lots of today's young dads are the sons of working mothers and grew up with more flexible views about gender roles." So naturally, they are expected to help with home and family.

Dads used to be the one who brought home the bacon, raised his hand to discipline, and was responsible for decision making. The way he is depicted almost makes him seem like a third wheel to the mother/child couple. And this isn't something from the 1950's; just 30 years ago dads were spending an average of 2.6 hours per week with their children. I'm still trying to figure out what they were doing with the other 125.4 non-work hours of the week.

Although the numbers aren't high enough to say it's common, more and more new dads are taking active roles in their children's lives and staying home with them. Others are choosing to work and still spend their time playing tag or giving a bath and not working extra hours or fishing. Now spending an average of 6.5 hours a week (still low if you ask me and my hubby), children today rely on their dads and moms equally. Now he is not just a financial supporter on the sidelines; today's dad is just as proud to actively participate in child-rearing as his wife.

Diapers, burping, feeding, laundry, grocery shopping, dishes, cooking, and doctor's appointments, are all typical motherly duties-- especially 30 years ago. Yet dads with young children today are stepping up and helping, or even taking over these roles. And I can assure you that my husband has fulfilled every one of those duties a number of times in the past 2.5 years.

It all began when we made the decision to go to all of my ob checkups together. I never thought of it being any other way- it never even crossed my mind. Yes, this child was growing inside me, but she was our child. Her well-being should be a concern to both of her parents. According to the article, this is how "today's" dad starts off on his active-role path.

He continues by cuddling his new baby, cooking when his wife is too tired, getting up with a sick child, coming home early just to take the kids to the park, and even sharing in the joy of snot, poop, spit-up and urine stained clothes.

To me, this is what a father is- someone who shares in the ups, downs, and everyday life of loving and raising a family. Whether he is married, divorced, widowed, or single- dads can be as active as they want to be. And I'm thankful everyday for my 21st century, chore-sharing, bath-giving, snot-wiping, grocery-shopping, loving husband.

A Whole Dang Year!!!

It hit me today that it was about a year ago that I started to blog. So I checked it out and my first post was a year ago yesterday. And I know that I'm not the most consistent blogger, but this will be my 54th post. I suppose I can say that I average about one post per week.

Originally, I wanted to start blogging to serve two main purposes- 1) to keep a "scrapbook" of my family's lives and 2) to keep friends and family informed and updated. These hold true today as well, but I have included a third reason- to maintain a part of myself that I thought was once lost.

Writing has always been a stress relieving, mind clearing, enjoyable passion. Upon entering motherhood, I discovered that I could very easily lose part of myself with the upkeep of day to day child-rearing and house maintenance if I did not make time to write. I did not want to forget something that I used to practice freely everyday, so I fit it into my life.

I began writing in a journal for each girl after they turned one (before they turn one I keep daily notes about their development on a calendar) telling of funny stories about them, life lessons, stories from my past, or just to tell them how much I love them. My disability to put my thoughts eloquently on the page kind of disgusted me. I do have two degrees in education for language arts and I couldn't begin to open the thesaurus that once occupied my head. I was at a loss for words. My creativity was slipping away from me.

As the past year has flown by, I realized that the third reason for writing this blog was disguised by what I think of as my motherly duties. I feel as if there is something more though. In addition to keeping notes about our family for all to see, I have allowed myself to continue with a passion that I had long before I became a mother. Writing has been a part of my soul since I can remember. So whether I'm ridding myself from stress, telling you a funny anecdote, or describing one of the girls' milestones, I am fulfilling one of my needs-- to write.

Thank you to all of my readers for putting up with my entering the world of writing again. I have no idea who reads this or how many of you there are, but I do know that this is one of the best and easiest things I love to do.

Wow, has it really been a month since I've sat down to write? And really, I can't claim that last post as much writing- I was really just bragging.

Since the last time I posted we have move into our new house. It is still not "settled" by any means, in fact we are separated from some of our stuff that remains at our old house. I did, however, reunite with my sewing machine. I have not had time to make anything yet, but I did buy the fabric for my next piece- KG's pillow.

There have been some changes I've noticed with the kids since we made the move. Kenli stopped sleeping through the night and she started to have more "accidents" with pottying. She's had so many that I'm thinking she can control what is going on. I'm cutting her some slack because I feel like we uprooted her from the only home she's ever had (that she can remember), and I think she is a bit confused. She has mentioned a few times that she wants to go "home," which I'm guessing means our old house. This makes me sad for her, but I think she really does enjoy her new surroundings.

As do the other two girls.

Kaelyn celebrated her 1/2 year birthday as I sat there and tried to remember where the last 6 months have gone.

Life gets so incredibly busy once babies arrive, and it gets busier the more you have. It makes sense when I write it all out, but really I didn't realize how much busier going from 2 to 3 would be. I would even make the argument that the last 3 months with three kids has been much more hectic that the first three months with three children. Not just because we've had our house on the market and I started back to work, but simply the sheer responsibility that comes with raising three kids instead of two. In the past, if one was down for a nap or out with dad, I would have one child with me. And once you have two or more children, having just one with you for a while is stupid easy. But if I take one out of the equation now, I still have two children who are young and begging for my attention! But you know there's no way I'd ever have anything different. They are the loves of my life!

ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK!!!

My boys are goin' to the big game. We ain't Roy's Boys anymore- we're too good for that name. We took Roy's Boys and we ran them to the ground. What a sweet victory.

I'm not one of those bitter fans who is still hanging their head about Roy's choice to go to UNC. In fact, when he made that choice I was sad and mad to see him leave, but who am I to tell a coach where to live out his dreams. But I am so thrilled to show him just exactly who and what he left behind.

I was born a Jayhawk and I've always been one, but what a great time to bleed red and blue.

I wish I could've been in Lawrence tonight, but the atmosphere still surrounds me while I sit in my own living room. Just minutes after the game ended I heard what I thought was my daughter falling out of bed. Turns out KU fans were outside shooting off fireworks. I could even see a few pre-teen boys down my street with red and blue lights singing "Roooock Chaaaaalk, Jaaaaayhaaawk, KU!"

The spirit is around- and it's alive louder than ever. Yeah, we've been in the championship game before, but we've been waiting to play Roy. The chance to play him could've only been better if it were the championship game. But I'll take this for now!!!

Rock Chalk Jayhawk Go KU!!!

April Fools

I've been plotting a year.



In the weeks leading up to April Fools Day last year, I got the idea to play a really mean joke on my poor husband. The tool I needed was a positive pregnancy test that I still had from finding out about Keira.



I'm sure you can guess: I was going to tell Matt we were pregnant with our third. Then, the Karma Police got me first when I found out about two weeks before April Fools that I indeed was pregnant with my third child. HA HA joke's on me.



So, I've been planning for over a year to pull this prank.



After a morning at work, I couldn't wait to get home yesterday and put my plan into action. This was going to be good. But before I could get home I had to run out to his work and trade cars with him.

I'm about to leave the parking lot through a tight and tiny exit ramp when all of a sudden I heard an awful noise -my van was sliding along the concrete wall as I was turning onto the exit ramp. This space is incredibly crazy to imagine getting a van through- so much so that when I started to exit, I had to back up a little and then pull forward again in order to try and make the turn. And that's when I damaged our van.



As I realize that the Karma Police are out to get me again, I start debating whether or not I should continue with my mean joke. Should I even bother with my prank or should I just not bother since I'll be having to tell some difficult news that is REAL! I decided that since there was only cosmetic damage done to the van, I should go ahead and continue with the plan. Besides, I figured he'd be so relieved that we aren't expecting that he'd not mind a few scratches and dents on our new van.



I arrive home and send this email to Matt:


"Hey-
I have to share this with you. I discovered this after you left this morning."
and this picture was attached

He wrote back:

"April Fools."

I write back about how tired I've been lately and tell him about our (fake) appointment in a couple of weeks and how sorry I was that I couldn't be more creative on how I told him the news. (In reality I couldn't tell him to his face because I don't have a poker face).

He writes back, "funny." And I decide to call him.

I've been planning this for a year, he can't know that I'm joking just yet.

I call him and slowly begin to convince him that I am pregnant with our 4th child in three years. I realize this because as our conversation progresses, he keeps saying, "Really?" in a lower and lower tone.

I'm satisfied with how far this joke has gone and I start to worry that he's on the verge of major trauma trying to wrap his brain around the news. I then blurt out "April Fools."

"Really?" he says, in a more up beat tone.

I assured him that we aren't pregnant to which he said, "Good, because my hands were starting to sweat."

And then I told him about the van. He didn't seem too upset.

He soon came home from work and took a look at the van. We sat down together and he said, "Well, the van will be a lot cheaper than another baby."

He's got a point. But at least a baby is a blessing.

Egg hunt- Copeland Style

Here is the what remained of our place settings. The girls had fun smashing the hard-boiled eggs- but they didn't get to these before I was able to snap a photo.

Happy Easter, girls! "Presents for me, mama?" -Kenli

Here is Kenli sporting some of her new Easter gifts.

Kaelyn was just enjoying watching everyone with their Easter baskets.

And the hunt for eggs begins. Keira needed some assistance from Aunt Allie.
She found plenty of eggs for her bucket.

Kenli and Skyler were neck and neck looking for eggs. These two will be leading the egg hunts for many years to come.

"Look what I found, mama." -Kenli

"Keira, what did you find. Can you show me what's in your bucket?" -Lara"It looks like you found lots of eggs, Kenli." -Lara

"Skyler, what's in your egg?" -Lara

And since Kaelyn couldn't go on the hunt, here is her little egg. That's a pig's behind you see holding the egg. The face is in the front, but I couldn't get her name to show by putting it in the front. So you get to see her name and a pig's rear.

Some Firsts

We have been busy experiencing some new events.

Kaelyn started eating solids about a week ago and she is the best eater I've ever seen. Of course she is being compared to her two older sisters, but that's really the only knowledge I have on this subject. Kenli and Keira were both finicky eaters who didn't much care for solids. The majority of the food would end up on their hands, face and high chair and not in their bellies. I can't remember ever reaching the bottom of the jar with either of them. They would much rather drink their bottles.

Kaelyn on the other hand, is a pro. The first time I sat her in her little bumbo seat for a meal she did amazingly well. Her first food was applesauce mixed with rice cereal. She ate the food from a spoon so well, it was like she had been doing it for months. There was no mess all over her face. In fact the following pictures are not what I was expecting her first "solids" experience to look like. Like the other two girls, I thought she'd have food spread from ear to ear and nose to chin.

She also enjoys the overall experience, unlike those silly older sisters. She only fusses when I'm not getting the spoon into her mouth fast enough.

We also experienced Keira's first time feeding the ducks. The other morning all three girls and I ventured out to a pond to feed the ducks. Keira and Kenli were both mesmerized with the creatures. Keira pointed to them while Kenli fed them.

The older two each received a balloon from our previous errand. Definitely the biggest hit of the day.

After duck-feeding, we went to mommy's work where the girls played in the discovery area. Here is Kenli getting the dishes ready to feed everyone on the (pretend) train.

And my KP had her first shot at dying Easter eggs. This was the first year since I've had children that we were able to dye eggs. I thought that Kenli was old enough to maybe get some fun out of the experience. And of course Keira gave it a shot, but really could've cared less. She likes the plastic eggs that have chocolate inside them. Who can blame her?

Here is the finished product.

We hope your Easter was as blessed as ours!