Happy 2nd Birthday Koen!

I feel so emotional. I can totally remember what it was like when they announced `It's a boy!'. My big baby boy (9lbs 7oz) had arrived and I couldn't stop crying. A brother for Kai. Another son for us. Such a blessing. He has brought so much happiness and joy into our family. He makes me laugh daily and my heart continues to be a puddly mess.

He is sweet. He loves hugs, cuddles, and kisses. When I say, `Koen, it's time for bed!'. He says, `No! Cuddles! Couch! Mommy!'. I'll take it:)

He is so quick to say `thank you' for anything and everything.

He loves bugging his big brother Kai and knows exactly what buttons to push:) It drives Kai nuts when Koen says, `Go Kai go!' so obviously Koen does it a lot.

He loves running around the house, just before bedtime, in his pj's, with his big brother Kai. Back and forth they go, giggling away. His biggest joke is to say, at anytime and anywhere, that someone has pooped. We were skyping with friends last night and the only thing he said was, `Mommy pooped'. Goofball.

He has slept in a toddler bed the last two days. It means that he is running around his room for a couple of hours but he has transitioned well! It brings me great relief that he has done it on his own as it is one of the steps of preparing for bringing another baby home...one day.

Kokies gets sick a lot and for a really long time. However, when he's sick, he's still super happy and actually enjoys blowing his nose:) He is easy going and will try anything. He is still using just three word sentences and is a big climber/jumper/thrower etc. He loves being physical.

Thank you God for this little boy. I always imagined that I would have kids but never imagined the depth of what that actually meant.

Koen, I am so thankful for you. Daily. You are so happy and so loving. You are so good at sharing. How can I explain that you have changed my life and made it 100 times fuller? You are so loved.

Love, Mommy (daddy and Kai).

A Beautiful Day

Happy first day of 2011! We went and got hot chocolate with the boys last night and then when they went to bed we had dessert, drinks, and watched Inception. Totally wished we could've had friends over....next year I guess! My baby turns 2 tomorrow and he slept (aka ran wildly around his room until 9pm) in his toddler bed last night. Just some photos from our day...

(The usual `round here. Koen trying to start a pillow `sight' (fight), Kai playing Tranformers in his corner. Daddy watching football.)

(We went to Derby Reach this morning. It was cold but beautiful!)

(Kai ended up covered in mud head to toe by the time we were done)

(My new gloves...they have spots for just your thumbs and pointer fingers to stick out which is perfect for taking photos in the cold! They are fancy lululemon gloves that I bought in Whistler.)

Have a wonderful day and check back tomorrow to see what cupcakes I made for Koen's birthday (even though his party is now a week away, I still made cupcakes:)!

Love, Louise

2010: A Great Year

The year began with the start to our adoption journey,

And now we wait, with excitement, to meet our baby!

Some fabulous road trips we did take,

From our vacation to Drumheller to relaxing at Green Lake.

Koen melted our hearts with his `I Lud You',

We loved his non stop cuddles, hugs and kisses too.

Kai decided that he loves to ride his bike,

Transformers, puzzles, and dinosaurs are also amongst his likes.

I started the year with hormones way out of whack,

But for the last two months, they have been right on track!

Gary and I had a nice getaway in Courtenay,

We enjoyed the spa and great food for our anniversary.

The basement was a huge undertaking,

And the drywall portion was extremely painstaking.

We finished it all and I think it looks great,

It cost a bit more than we wanted but we didn't finish late.

There were a lot of sicknesses amongst Koen and Kai,

Like hand, foot and mouth disease and pink eye.

We took well over 50,000 photos for GC Photography,

Being able to run a small business has been such a blessing to me.

We are so thankful for our health, friends and family,

What's in store for 2011? I can't wait to see!

*****

We were supposed to have a party here for New Years but cancelled due to our germ infestation. Koen's birthday party is also pushed back another week. Today we celebrated New Years Eve by taking Kai skating for the first time! He starts lessons on Wednesday so I really wanted him to know what it would be all about. We bought him skates and a helmet (Sports Replay...second hand). Kai is fearless in social situations and could speak in front of thousands of people no problem. However, he is afraid of new activities and so I was just hoping he would stay on the ice for more than one minute. I think he lasted 15 minutes or so. Although, at one point he was lying on the ice saying `I'll never ice skate again', I know he can do it.

I don't think I've skated for about 5 years and I had to rent terrible skates. Next time I will rent hockey skates instead....or, if Kai enjoys skating, I will just buy some hockey skates to go more often.

We figured out the best way to put drops in Kai's eyes and now I can do it by myself! Basically the Decepticons are in his eyes and we need to add some Autobots to destroy them. Works perfectly. Thank you, Transformers. This afternoon we added Bumblebee to destroy Starscream.

(Koen pretending to be Uncle Steve with his tool box)

A boring video but sort of shows him skating:) The goal this year is to learn how to make good videos and add music and photos etc. I know I can do it, I just feel that I don't have time to do it.

So, I need to go play Chutes and Ladders (I hope I lose!) so I will just finish by saying that I hope you have a wonderful New Years Eve and I look forward to seeing what 20111 has in store for all of us! Hopefully a baby for the Chapmans:)

Love, Louise

Pemberton

Gary and I had a wedding just past Pemberton (which is a half hour past Whistler). We had about an hour to spend at Whistler on the way up and again on the way down. Obviously it would be nicer if we had a free day to ski or snowshoe or just hike around....one day.

We definitely need to get away, just the two of us, at least once per year. The last two times have been for weddings (which doesn't count because we are just working and exhausted), but in March we did have a holiday. I guess we should make sure we get another in before we bring home a baby (which I'm thinking will happen October 2011...not for any reason, just a feeling.).

Gary's parents had the kiddos and they all had a good time. Kai has an extreme case of pink eye and I brought him to the doctor right away. They made us wait in the car and they let him take home the toy he had picked up at the doctor's office because they didn't want his germs. Kai was pumped about that as it was an Optimus Prime that lights up. Getting drops in his eye is a two man mission. He screams like we're torturing him but there's just no other way. We tried it the nice way and it didn't work. I'm assuming Koen will get it too as Kai is contagious for another 5 days still. Kai looks terrible but fortunately he feels okay. I'm so sick and tired of our family being so sick and tired. I'm still not completely over my cold that I started 3 weeks ago.

Anyway, so happy to be home safe and sound. There's no place like home. I missed home cooked meals. I missed my boys.

Have a wonderful evening.

Love, Louise

Get Fit: Week Five Check In

Sorry to do this one day late! Gary and I were working in Pemberton and just got back.

The final results for the 5 week challenge (which I'm actually just going to keep going on) is:

Weight: total loss of 6lbs (very happy with this! Would like to lose about 4 more just for some wiggle room). This was on Monday before we left on a three day trip with zero exercise besides walking around.

Fitness: no where near where I would like it to be. I can run 20 minutes comfortably but would like to continue exercising (elliptical, 30 day shred, yoga, running) so that I can run at least 30 minutes comfortably. I also want to get into shape for football which starts in just a few months.

Food: this is the biggest thing for me. I want to continue to make smart decisions while allowing for a small daily indulgence. This has made all the difference to my weight loss.

How was your weigh in this week? Your activity level? Boy, was it a food filled week! I am going to continue trying to get healthier but I'm not sure if I will have `Check Ins' each week. I'm thankful that a bunch of you were on board with getting healthier, it def. made me stick to a plan. Yay for getting more fit and losing a few pounds!

Christmas | Part II

Kai's favourite gift: A Trick Track. We have been checking it out every time we go to Costco and finally his dreams came true:) Kai also got 1000 piece lego set which we have been working on. It's really above his age level but Gary and I have had fun with it!

For Christmas I got a cookbook (Double Delicious...made the cookies already which have a whole can of chick peas in them!), boots from Gary (I'm such a sucker for boots..these are some nice brown leather flat ones with a few buckles) and some other great things (gift card for spa, money, Purdy's English Toffee).

Opening presents at Gramma and Grandpa's last night. Had another fabulous meal (where I exercised some great self control!).

This morning our friends Tessa and Simon dropped by with their super gorgeous son Riley. We tried out their new Ergo and he looks pretty cute and comfy in there! Did I mention how adorable he is?! I think I need to take about 500 more pictures of him...hopefully soon-ish:)

Gary and I are shooting a wedding in Pemberton in the next couple of days. I'm hoping that we are able to have some fun amongst the work as we will be without the kiddos for 2 days. I don't like leaving Koen while he's on antibiotics but I know he will be fine. Gary and I haven't been to Whistler for at least 4 years so I'm looking forward to it...even if it is work related.

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas. I know I am so blessed to have my husband and boys and our extended families. I'm thankful for this year, it was a gooder.

Have a wonderful week!!

Love, Louise

Christmas| Part I

Just a few things from the past two days...

{An attempt at a family picture before heading out for Christmas Eve festivities with my side of the family. Poor Koen just woke up.}

{All the Dekens grandkids. I can't imagine how many more there will be in 10 years from now...5 girls with maybe an average of 3 each...I guess 15 kiddos!}

{Finally put up my Uppercase Living thingy. Cute huh?}

{Giant cupcake I made today (using a mold from Bed, Bath and Beyond). I put Kai's head in there so you can see how big it actually is!}

{Sami. Cute.}

{Koen's first time bowling. He doesn't have an ear infection but is on antibiotics for his chest infection. I really dislike what it does to his digestive system but so far we are not having too many crazy diapers by giving him lots of probiotics. He has slept through the night the last two nights so that is a relief. I think Kai might be getting sick again. I'm so tired of germs.}

{Opi and Nana Jo with the littlest girls.}

{About a year ago, Uncle Steve wouldn't even come within a foot of a baby and look at him here! Good job Uncle Steve.}

{She's too cute.}

Now, I must rest up for all the festivities on the Chapman side! I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!!

Happy Birthday Auntie Jackie!

Have a good birthday! Looking forward to celebrating by bowling tonight:)

Get Fit: Week Four Check In

Well. We've been sick here. I've pretty much been sick for 2.5 of the 4 weeks that we've been doing this. I managed to exercise 5 days this week so not bad. I lost that last 0.5lbs for a total of 5lbs. I'm no where near as fit as I would like to be as this whole chest infection turned into a mass buildup in my sinuses that feels like it's coming out of my ears. Anyway, I'm liking the way I'm looking and thinking that 10 more pounds isn't really realistic (my married weight) so in the end, I'd like to just lose 5 more. That would be easier to maintain.

I have no idea how I'm avoiding most of this amazing food out there. This will be the most challenging week by far. Two huge Christmas dinners in a row (the week after has New Years Eve and then Koen's birthday party). Why wasn't this just a 4 week challenge? If I can be healthy these next two weeks, I will be my own hero:)

{this is from a few months ago but every post needs a picture:)}

In other news...Koen is sick. For two weeks he has been coughing and super congested. The problem is that he can't get a good night sleep so I've been holding him, in the recliner, for an hour or two each night. He's been up since 4am today. We are tired. In his crib, he will just cry and cry for me (which is NOT like him at all). I keep thinking that he will get better so I never booked a doctor's appointment. Besides, what's he going to say? Yes, it's going around, nothing you can do. I don't want Koen on antibiotics because last time he was on it, it was terrible. We have an appointment in two hours, we'll see what he says. We bought a better (super expensive but on for half price!!) humidifier today so hopefully that helps. I'm just worried because Gary and I are going to Pemberton for a wedding next week and I want Koen to be all better before we go. Also, I'm nervous it's going to turn into an ear infection.

My Donkey and My Assistant Coach

Yesterday was Kai's Christmas Party at preschool Gramma and Grandpa (Gary's parents) came to watch.

Kai was the donkey. He actually did have a line (they all did) and he did a good job:)

The picture below is funny, they are singing `Feliz Navidad' and they are at the `...from the bottom of my heart' part, but it looks like they are all choking.

Then I quickly went to watch a bit of Gary's bball game. It's the annual Christmas Bowl against another Christian school. It was great for Koen to see a bit of what daddy does!

The next pictures are just cute because Koen is acting as the assistant coach. He loved it! Drinking from the water bottle, holding the clipboard, and giving out high fives.

They lost in double overtime, good game though!

Well, off to a wedding! Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Love, Louise