Well, five months later... I have appeared from behind the scenes at the "Live with Jason and Chrissy" show. Now that Fall has officially arrived (but with the central air running) I figured I am long overdue on updating the life of my children. Maybe I am over committed in my professional volunteer position that I have accepted, but I vow to keep this somewhat updated. Maybe I need to not update Facebook pictures, but blog instead. :)
We did some fun family events this summer. We traveled to Terre Haute a couple of times and even celebrated Carly's big number two there. We cheered Jason on as he rode his bike across Indiana with a fabulous group of guys, including "Uncle" Tim (the kids' Godfather). We traveled to Michigan's Schuss Mountain over Caitlin's big number 8 with Jeff and Lauri for four days, where the kids played in the sand and tubed behind the boat (all three of them). We took the kids to Kalahari, which is a humongous indoor water park. Marc and Sandy (Jason's brother and sister-in-law) visited from Canada. It was a great time for the cousins to get together. We also went to Cedar Point for a day as the roller coaster enthusiasts Caitlin and Carson rode their hearts out.
School came so fast this time, it just seems like time gets faster and faster. This time we sent two off to school. It is amazing that Carson went off to preschool at the Academy of Angels. The first two days were a bit scary with a lot of fears and tears. With a little help from a big sister that is upstairs in the second grade, Carson was safely delivered to his class led by the hand of Caitlin. It was a very proud moment as a mother to see her take over in such a mature way. Now the days are speeding by with constant stories all the way home from the pick-up line.
Fall sports are in full swing, but going in so many directions. Caitlin decided to stick with her two sports for one more year, cross country and soccer. The conflicts are minimal when it comes to her, but Jason and I are always in two separate places. He is also the coach of Carson's soccer team this year. I missed his first goal on Saturday because I was at Maumee Bay at a CYO cross country meet. I was so sad, but quickly recovered after seeing it did not even bother him that I was not there. So a sample schedule this past weekend was crazy, soccer pictures at 8:00 a.m. and a soccer game at 9:00, followed by an hour drive to a cross country meet for Caitlin. Carson had pictures at 10:15 and a game at 11:00. Then we had a birthday party in the afternoon when we finally arrived back together. It was so fun! Now it is time to do it all over again this weekend minus the pictures!! Cannot wait to see sleepy eyes at the cold 8:00 a.m. pictures.
As for the young one of the house, she is a gem... many stories and lines to share. Too many to post, too many to remember (reason for needing to stay on top of the blog). So here is to the lost blogs and the many more that I will try to create. She is happy in to be in tow to all of the events we go to her for her older siblings. She worships the ground they gallop, skip, and roll around on.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Good times, quiet times...
It has been a "quiet" couple of weeks around the Koomen house. By quiet, I don't mean noiseless, but uneventful. I did not make time to blog because it did not seem right to always blog about Carson's funny sayings, Carly's boisterous personality, Caitlin's negative attitude.
Caitlin is still in full "swing" of tennis two days a week. She has started soccer season which her father is still coaching her team. She has been so unhappy the last couple of weeks and she has given Jason and I reason to question our parenting skills. Her life is perfect. She has a loving parents and friends, a great school, excellent health, but still she can find the negative in everything. We are learning, as we do everyday, that parenting is not an easy task. So I spend time talking to friends and looking for things to read about how to get her to snap out of it. There is a lot of emotion to raising a girl, and something tells me that Caitlin will be the easy girl. The last couple of days have improved, we are just taking the "love" approach. Positive reinforcement and a lot of hugs. I guess being the oldest is not the easiest... the expectations are higher and the attention is less. We are working on evening that out a bit.
We went to the zoo on Saturday with 15 of Caitlin's fellow Girl Scouts. I am the fearless leader of the bunch (hmmmm... another thing I said "YES" to) and it was a good time. It was 85 degrees and sunny, not something we have been used to yet this spring. Carson and Carly went around the zoo with Jason. Carson insists that he should be a Girl Scout because he wants to do everything the girls do. OH NO!
Caitlin scored two spectacular goals at her soccer game on Saturday. She was happy and we were proud. Those were her first two of the season, and they happened all within 5 minutes. The field is bigger, the goals are wider, and the competition is stronger... we are having fun!
Carson has been enjoying his new ride, a "Trail-a-Bike." Jason's running partner gave him this tremendous bike for us to have for our kids. It hooks to one of our bikes and turns it into a tandem so that Carson, or whoever, can keep up. Carly sits in the bike trailer still, but Carson thinks he is the big stuff.
Carson has also found out the books with cars, trucks, trains, tools, etc. are things of the past. He is following in his big sister's footsteps and enjoys reading. He loves to hear whatever is being read. He still loves Mr. Roger's - the only TV show he enjoys with the exception of America's Funniest Home Videos. He found Mr. Roger's on the web and I can occasionally hear Trolley dinging in the den.
Carly, the communication giant of the house, is a constant chatterbox. If you don't hear her the first time, she screams it. She is loud and a screamer, where does this come from. She must do everything the big kids do and the trampoline is her favorite. I hear chants of "jump, jump, jump" always coming from the sliding door. She will spend the whole day on there, unless Carson is driving the Gator, and she must have a ride. She has started telling stories and information and she can put together almost any phrase now. Last night at dinner she heard the "ice cream truck" and said it right away. The baby phase is gone, welcome to the two's.... the terrific two's.
Caitlin is still in full "swing" of tennis two days a week. She has started soccer season which her father is still coaching her team. She has been so unhappy the last couple of weeks and she has given Jason and I reason to question our parenting skills. Her life is perfect. She has a loving parents and friends, a great school, excellent health, but still she can find the negative in everything. We are learning, as we do everyday, that parenting is not an easy task. So I spend time talking to friends and looking for things to read about how to get her to snap out of it. There is a lot of emotion to raising a girl, and something tells me that Caitlin will be the easy girl. The last couple of days have improved, we are just taking the "love" approach. Positive reinforcement and a lot of hugs. I guess being the oldest is not the easiest... the expectations are higher and the attention is less. We are working on evening that out a bit.
We went to the zoo on Saturday with 15 of Caitlin's fellow Girl Scouts. I am the fearless leader of the bunch (hmmmm... another thing I said "YES" to) and it was a good time. It was 85 degrees and sunny, not something we have been used to yet this spring. Carson and Carly went around the zoo with Jason. Carson insists that he should be a Girl Scout because he wants to do everything the girls do. OH NO!
Caitlin scored two spectacular goals at her soccer game on Saturday. She was happy and we were proud. Those were her first two of the season, and they happened all within 5 minutes. The field is bigger, the goals are wider, and the competition is stronger... we are having fun!
Carson has been enjoying his new ride, a "Trail-a-Bike." Jason's running partner gave him this tremendous bike for us to have for our kids. It hooks to one of our bikes and turns it into a tandem so that Carson, or whoever, can keep up. Carly sits in the bike trailer still, but Carson thinks he is the big stuff.
Carson has also found out the books with cars, trucks, trains, tools, etc. are things of the past. He is following in his big sister's footsteps and enjoys reading. He loves to hear whatever is being read. He still loves Mr. Roger's - the only TV show he enjoys with the exception of America's Funniest Home Videos. He found Mr. Roger's on the web and I can occasionally hear Trolley dinging in the den.
Carly, the communication giant of the house, is a constant chatterbox. If you don't hear her the first time, she screams it. She is loud and a screamer, where does this come from. She must do everything the big kids do and the trampoline is her favorite. I hear chants of "jump, jump, jump" always coming from the sliding door. She will spend the whole day on there, unless Carson is driving the Gator, and she must have a ride. She has started telling stories and information and she can put together almost any phrase now. Last night at dinner she heard the "ice cream truck" and said it right away. The baby phase is gone, welcome to the two's.... the terrific two's.
Monday, March 30, 2009
My Reason for a Perfect Weekend
Jason was able to help organize the first annual Pump and Run 5K here in town. He made wooden signs and took ownership of what he was in charge of. Part of him missed out on the run, but he is doing a full marathon next weekend, check blog next week. :) He also was able to watch the entire NCAA division II championship game on TV to see our Alma Mater, Findlay, win the game.
Chrissy got to go shopping with friends and eat at PF Chang's all afternoon/evening on Saturday. It was a nice break to prepare for a week without the traveling husband.
Caitlin started off her weekend by being picked up at school and bringing Lucy home with her. Lucy spent the night. They played outside for hours on the trampoline, and going around the neighborhood. She then participated in the Girl Scout Water Stop at the Pump and Run. It was a ton of fun! She was also able to hang out with big Carly all day at the Smith's house on Saturday. Carly is in 6th grade and Caitlin felt like big stuff hanging out with her.
Carson fun weekend started on Sunday with standing on the altar at church with mom and Stephanie. He was able to come up and stand with me the whole time during the scrutiny. He was so GOOD! Then the real deals came... his dad took him to the Train Show and the University of Findlay Jazz ensemble. He had a blast! He took lots of pictures, so I will be posting them later. What a ham... At dinner last evening he proclaimed, "the weather is just miserable" and that really made us chuckle.
Carly's weekend was pretty uneventful. She took her baby for a walk around the block in the stroller. It is just amazing how grown up she looks pushing that little stroller around!
Chrissy got to go shopping with friends and eat at PF Chang's all afternoon/evening on Saturday. It was a nice break to prepare for a week without the traveling husband.
Caitlin started off her weekend by being picked up at school and bringing Lucy home with her. Lucy spent the night. They played outside for hours on the trampoline, and going around the neighborhood. She then participated in the Girl Scout Water Stop at the Pump and Run. It was a ton of fun! She was also able to hang out with big Carly all day at the Smith's house on Saturday. Carly is in 6th grade and Caitlin felt like big stuff hanging out with her.
Carson fun weekend started on Sunday with standing on the altar at church with mom and Stephanie. He was able to come up and stand with me the whole time during the scrutiny. He was so GOOD! Then the real deals came... his dad took him to the Train Show and the University of Findlay Jazz ensemble. He had a blast! He took lots of pictures, so I will be posting them later. What a ham... At dinner last evening he proclaimed, "the weather is just miserable" and that really made us chuckle.
Carly's weekend was pretty uneventful. She took her baby for a walk around the block in the stroller. It is just amazing how grown up she looks pushing that little stroller around!
Is There a Professional in the House?
I would like to think that in a few years, there may be...
Caitlin came home from tennis lessons last week to proclaim to the housetops that Coach Hayes is moving her to the 9-12 year old group. Each group a proper name (current Future Stars), but I prefer to use the age group term because Caitlin is still 7. She said to Coach, "I am only going to be 8 in September, you do know that right?" Coach told "Catie with a C" (he is the only one who calls her this) that he goes by ability, not age. Caitlin was beaming to know that she was going to be with the "older" kids. We are so proud of her and she truly loves it!
I heard her at dinner last night groaning that basketball is over. I did not have the heart to tell her that soccer season was right around the corner, because I loved hearing her sadness over basketball being over. I love her enthusiasm for any sport that she plays. Her dad certainly does too.
I am sure I constantly gloat about the good things, and we all know there are good and bad. Caitlin is just doing so well in school and sports and we just want to savor these moments because it won't always be perfect. I know, the older they get the harder it gets.
Caitlin came home from tennis lessons last week to proclaim to the housetops that Coach Hayes is moving her to the 9-12 year old group. Each group a proper name (current Future Stars), but I prefer to use the age group term because Caitlin is still 7. She said to Coach, "I am only going to be 8 in September, you do know that right?" Coach told "Catie with a C" (he is the only one who calls her this) that he goes by ability, not age. Caitlin was beaming to know that she was going to be with the "older" kids. We are so proud of her and she truly loves it!
I heard her at dinner last night groaning that basketball is over. I did not have the heart to tell her that soccer season was right around the corner, because I loved hearing her sadness over basketball being over. I love her enthusiasm for any sport that she plays. Her dad certainly does too.
I am sure I constantly gloat about the good things, and we all know there are good and bad. Caitlin is just doing so well in school and sports and we just want to savor these moments because it won't always be perfect. I know, the older they get the harder it gets.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Changing of the Seasons
Spring has sprung, so that took us to Wal-Mart to go in search of a bigger "big-boy" bike for Carson. After going around the block with him on his little bike and seeing how exhausting it was for him to keep up with us, we felt it was time for a big bike. He was so excited to go shopping especially since his behavior had improved so much. (We did not have one timeout last week on the step - been a problem since his little sister encroaches in on his space many times). He even bought a kickstand to go with it since we were trying it out on two-wheels without the trainers. Exciting times!
You can also tell when spring has arrived since the big green box has been pulled from the shelves in the garage. The trampoline has risen again, with a new escape proof hatch for Carly. She now spends many minutes screaming at the sliding door to "JUMP." She loves to be on it just like her older siblings, but since the broken arm it makes me a little nervous.
It is also warming up when the kids are insistent that it is shorts weather, ugh! I am picking my battles so if you see the Koomen kids running around in shorts, they do really have parents with good judgement.
I forgot to mention the best part about the bike shopping, we left the class rabbit "Travel" in the bike section. Caitlin brought Travel home for the week from Mrs. Greer's class and we decided to take her out for a little adventure, oops! Well at least we remembered her before we left the parking lot!
You can also tell when spring has arrived since the big green box has been pulled from the shelves in the garage. The trampoline has risen again, with a new escape proof hatch for Carly. She now spends many minutes screaming at the sliding door to "JUMP." She loves to be on it just like her older siblings, but since the broken arm it makes me a little nervous.
It is also warming up when the kids are insistent that it is shorts weather, ugh! I am picking my battles so if you see the Koomen kids running around in shorts, they do really have parents with good judgement.
I forgot to mention the best part about the bike shopping, we left the class rabbit "Travel" in the bike section. Caitlin brought Travel home for the week from Mrs. Greer's class and we decided to take her out for a little adventure, oops! Well at least we remembered her before we left the parking lot!
The "Buppy" vs. The "Potty"
Who will win? Will she be able to give up the pacifer a.k.a "BUPPY" before she is 21 months, or will she be potty trained before the time expires with the "buppy?" She proclaims everytime the diaper comes off she wants to go potty... so now she does it and she tries even when she does not have to go. We have even had to sing the "bye-bye song" when she surprised herself and went #2. The pacifier has been downgraded to bedtime only use, so we have hurdled a major step. Stay tuned and see who wins the showdown. Did I mention they don't make Pull-Ups to fit that less than 20 pound teeny thing?
I Spy...
It is a famous game in our house, in our car, and sometimes in church in times of desperation. Carson and Caitlin love to play it. It creates the best distractions and passes a little bit of extra time that needs to be spent. This time though I am not playing the game, but spying a change in Carson... could it be? Do we have room for more of these in our house? Can a blondie really look cute with them? WHAT is IT you ASK? FRECKLES! Last week we were outside enjoying a 70 degree day for about four hours. I watched him play his hardest, then we came inside and there they were. The cutest freckles on his face. I remember when we moved to Findlay almost five years ago and it happened to Caitlin too. She started getting freckles and they were just a delightful little addition to that red hair. I mean do they really have a chance with Jason and Chrissy as parents who are loaded with freckles? Yes, a blondie can really look cute with freckles... he has enough cheek space for freckles beside those cute little dimples.
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