Let the Games Begin!

Our family celebrates one big combined "birthday" party each year with friends...

Today, on the final day of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games and in honor of our Young Athletes, we hosted an "Olympic Celebration". We had so much fun with our 11 young friends in our very own "Olympic Village", decorated with snowflakes, international flags and Olympic rings. The adults enjoyed watching USA v. Canada in the gold medal hockey game
while the young athletes made Olympic torches, competed in speed skating (shuffling to the finish line on paper plates), Olympic "ring" toss, and decorated their very own gold medals.

We thoroughly enjoyed celebrating with good friends - a fitting end to a fantastic 2010 Winter Olympics.

6 Months

Our Baby Boy is 6-MONTHS-OLD!

Kolpin continues to be the perfect fifth baby - super cuddly and super quick to smile :)
Our six-month-old:

coos and "sings", reaches for toys and immediately stuffs them in his mouth, scoots,
always sleeps with his head against the crib rails,
rolls-over and can roll quite a distance across the floor,
constantly has his fists in his mouth, giggles, splashes in the bathtub,
has been fussy over his new teeth,
has 2 teeth, prefers to stand, is very close to sitting independently,
and has successfully sampled rice cereal.

I think this boy will be adding some solid foods to his diet soon... We would love for him to nurse exclusively for a little longer, but this guy is HUNGRY! After sleeping through the night for a few months, he recently decided he's hungry at 3:00 every morning. He's a growing boy! Hmmm... I guess we'll add one rice cereal meal each evening - each baby is different and if he's ready, he's ready.
Our big boy is hitting the top of the charts at 16-1/2 pounds and 27-3/4 inches!

We love you, Special K!

The Crew

Our family has grown a lot in 20 months!

These five kiddos are such a blessing and a joy (and a challenge!).
These kiddos love being together and are so much fun to watch. We love watching them as they learn how to love, care for, work together, (push buttons and frustrate), comfort, entertain ,
(create mischief), and protect each other...we're watching friendships develop!
(And you should see them walk across parking lots hand in hand...it's quite a sight!)

We love these kids!

Robot

This is the favorite shirt - worn most, washed most, "Robot".

The Littles

Kolpin is closing-in in weight...Maegli still has him in height..

Ahhhh

Party!

Hendrick had a super special 6th Birthday weekend with a visit from Gramma!
We celebrated all Valentine's weekend with a Saturday trip to Nashville for the Adventure Science Center and Sitar Indian Restaurant, and a Sunday (as requested by Hendrick) dinner at Red Robin and a family "Ben 10" birthday party.

"Ben 10" is a cartoon/video game figure...we haven't watched the cartoon or played the video game (I think it's intended for older children). Hendrick knows "Ben 10" through the comic books, chapter books, and action figures. Our big boy, Hendrick, planned his whole party - a black and green "Ben 10" cake, "Ben 10" coloring, and "pin the watch on Ben 10" game - he was so excited!
His new prized item: a "Ben 10" t-shirt - Thanks Gramma!!!

Two Toofers

Our 5 -1/2 month-old has been very busy!

Sticky

2 . 3-year-olds

+
1 . hour "nap"
+
1 . jug of maple syrup

=

a sticky mess!

6

A very Happy Birthday to our Hendrick!It's hard to believe 6 years ago, our first child was born - we didn't make our Valentine's Day dinner reservations...and since then, our Valentine's Day has taken on a new meaning - our Son's Birthday!
It has been a joy to watch Hendrick grow, develop and blossom. We need to remember to treasure each day with our son - time moves so fast, and before we know it he'll be a young man. Hendrick is so excited to grow up, he reminds us that "I'm almost a teenager!" - please don't rush that!

Our Hendrick:

. has an amazing imagination . loves to read . wants to be a scuba diver .
. builds amazing Lego villages and castles . is digging for dinosaur bones in the backyard .
. creates animal habitats for backyard creatures . likes to make his own lunch . loves getting mail .
. studies science . loves rock & roll music . is a budding artist . has LOTS of energy .
. is planning his next camping trip . plays games on the computer . reads books to his brothers . can lift his sister out of her crib . roots for the Cincinnati Reds .
. loves board games . loves to help out .

He is a strong boy with a gentle spirit, a giving heart, and an enormous amount of love. Hendrick sets a wonderful example for his siblings. He is a blessing to us.
We are thankful for the glimpses of the young man Hendrick is growing into. We know God has big plans for our boy.
We are so proud of our Hendrick!

Our sweet boy - 5 years ago...

Valentines

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

We are in the world, but not of the world. Our home is with our Heavenly Father.

Spread the LOVE!!!

A Rose by Any Other Name...

...Would Smell As Sweet.What a fun, simple, and rewarding project - Love these sweet rose barrettes!

My God

Please excuse the video quality...and enjoy our Burke :)

Pretty Girl

Mike is a wonderful daddy to this sweet girl - they definietely have a special bond.

Until marriage, a father is the most important man in the life of a daughter: helping to shape her sense of value and self-worth. Our daughter is beautiful in the eyes of God, created for a special purpose.
Mike wants to protect this precious girl and assure her of her beauty
and help her to see herself as God does.

Mike is constantly reminding Maegli just how "pretty" she is.
She is beautiful!

Say "Cheese"

Burke's 3-year Portrait

Portrait Sessions

Art is one of our favorite subjects at Young Lives Academy. This week, we have been learning about mixing colors, blending colors, and portraits. We enjoy looking at works by the masters Rembrandt, Picasso, and Van Gogh; learning from them, and copying techniques.
It is also so much fun to work with different art medias.

We were so impressed with Hendrick's self-portraits. After looking at several artists' portraits, he studied his own features in the mirror and translated them to paper.
The first day he worked in crayon, and then we moved on to paint...

Our 5-year-old is a budding artist!