Keeping Up

My Dad is one to always want to keep up with the younger generations. So last week he went to Radio Shack to buy himself an iPod. This is what he came home with. The guy who sold it to him promised that it was exactly like an iPod except:

1. It doesn't play mp3's
2. It is about 3 times as thick and twice as heavy
3. It takes 6 C batteries that need to be changed every 45-50 minutes

No one can say my Dad isn't hip anymore.

New Stroller

Not to be outdone by the Hoekzemas. We bought Reagan a new stroller also. It is nice and compact and will fit almost anywhere.

New Pictures

On Saturday we took the girls to get their 3 year and 18 month pictures taken. We were only 5 months off for Libby and a month off for Reagan. Libby was a such a great girl she listened well and loved to smile. Reagan on the other hand was a holy terror. She screamed and cried whenever she didn't get her way and wanted to only do her own thing. Amazingly the people at Portrait Innovations where still able to get quite a few pictures of her. As usual we left spending way more money then I originally wanted to. If you interested, you can view all 91 photos here.

Family, if you want any of the pictures we bought copies of #12, 22, 36, 48, 56, 64, 79, 82 and 85. Let us know which ones you would like and what sizes.

A few weeks ago the local Fox station came to our house around 7 a.m. to record some video of Beth's morning routine. They woke Libby up, showed her getting her pigtails in and eating breakfast. Both Libby and Reagan were so good for the camera, not shy at all. Later in the day they followed Beth to work and showed a little bit of what her typical day is like. Today the video aired. The story was about working mom's and if they can have it all. It was a flattering piece and Beth is hopeful that she won't be mocked to much at work on Monday.

Halloween Preview

Today Libby wanted to practice trick-or-treating. So while she got dressed, we decided to put Reagan in her outfit also. We attempted to get some pictures of them together, did not work out well.


Finally we just took individual pictures and they turned out somewhat better.

Reagan the monkey

Libby the butterfly.

Grandpa Pudding

After visiting Beth's Grandma's in Swartz Creek this weekend, we swung by Beth's parents house in Dimondale for dinner. For dessert, we had pudding, of which Libby helped make. Reagan got to sit with Grandpa and ate all of her pudding, plus some of his.

Tickle Toes

Since my brother Dave didn't find that last Reagan video amusing, I thought I would try again.

Reagan loves playing with peoples feet. She tried to tickle Libby's toes by hitting them and laughing. We kept having to tell Libby to pretend to laugh play along. Reagan found it hilarious.

Brown Squirrel

Last week in preschool Libby learned all about squirrels. For the past few days she has been serenading us with this song. It goes:

Brown squirrel, brown squirrel
Bushy bushy tail
Wrinkle up your funny nose
Hold an acorn in your toes
Gray squirrel, Gray squirrel

Raving Reagan

Brush with W

The President was in Ada today for a fund raiser. He was at the DeVos's house which is about a mile from where we live. I figured he would be driving down Ada Dr, of which our house backs up to. So when I noticed a lot of helicopters circling overhead and then saw the cops pulling everyone over on the street I ran outside (while the girls were sleeping) and got to the street just in time to see W drive by. There were about 15 of us at our corner and he waved to us. That is his hand you can see.

Dress Up

Libby and Beth played dress up today, and Libby wanted to be a purple princess, so she got her Ariel dress on along with her charms, her shoes, her purse and her purple flower hat.

Reagan then wanted to try on the fancy Nancy hat to fit in.

Stretch didn't want to feel left out, so we put the hat on him also. He loved it.

Hug

DIrty Baby

Yesterday we went to Carino's Italian Grill, formally known as Johnny Carion's for dinner. As usual Libby ordered mac n' cheese, Reagan realy got into it and ate more then Libby did.


By the time she was done, she was a huge mess. She had it on her shirt, her face, her hands, and her hair. These pictures barely do the mess justice. We had to take her out back and hose her off afterward.

Reagan wakes up from her naps sweating like a pig. Her hair is a big mess of curls and sweat.


But she always wakes up in a good mood.

Christmas Present

This is what I'm getting for my brother Dave for Christmas.

Pre-School

Libby started pre-school on Monday and absolutely loved it. We were lucky to get the last morning spot at our choice school because some kid had potty training issues. She will be going Monday and Wednesday from 9 until 11:15 a.m.

Libby has her own "locker" that she hangs her bag and jacket up at. She thinks it is pretty cool.

Libby walked in and started playing with the play-doh and never even noticed I left. The teachers said what a great job she did and loved playing with all the other kids.

A Deaf Latvian

I finally got some of the pictures emailed to me from the photo shoot Beth, Libby, Reagan and I were in last month.

Here is Beth pretending to give Libby an exam.

I'm doing an amazing job of being a deaf Latvian parent, making Libby a Latvian patient.


I am giving the sign for "third question", at least that is what I was told.

This one is Beth doing an okay job of looking like a doctor.

And finally here is Libby looking cute as a button playing with some of the toys in the waiting room.

Hopefully in the next month or so the final product will be coming out and I will share it with all, except for the tasteful nudes Anne took of me afterwards.

Brush Teeth

After bathtime, Reagan would love to sit and watch Libby brush her teeth. So we got her her own toothbrush. She now sits on the counter next to Libby and brushes her teeth for as long as we let her.

Birthday Present

For Libby's third birthday, we went back and forth about what to get her. We could not decide between a wagon and a power wheel jeep. After thinking about it we decided that since neither of us had a power wheel growing up, and our childhoods were lacking because of it, we got her the jeep.

She woke up on Tuesday and the first thing she said was, Mama, it's my birthday. We took her downstairs and she noticed this in the hearth room.


She was very excited to say the least. She spent the entire first day just playing with it inside the house. She explored every nook and crany on the jeep, putting "gas" in it, looking under the hood, changing tires, and playing with the working FM radio. It wasn't until later that evening when Beth got home from work did we take it out side and let her drive it around.

Bun on Your Nose

For those of you who wondered what Libby would look like with a plastic hotdog bun on your nose, you can stop wondering.

Peds Hem/Onc Picnic

Two weeks ago we went to the annual DeVos Children's Hospital Peds Hem/Onc Picnic. As soon as we got there Beth had to get in the dunk tank.



After all the poking and prodding that the doctors do to these kids, nothing do the kids love more then to be able to dunk them.

The theme of the party was pirates. Libby loved her sword, eye patch and hook hand. This picture was put on tee-shirts for Libby and Reagan to bring home.



Reagan seemed more interested in the bottle then her eye patch.
The highlight for Libby was when the fire truck and helicopter came. The kids got to climb in them and explore.

Even Reagan got to climb up onto the firetruck.

Crazy Bed-Head

Futures so bright

Gotta wear shades.

That's What She Said

This evening Beth, the girls and I went to the mall, while there we went to Pottery Barn to look for some new floor lamps. Here is a conversation I had with the saleswoman.

Saleswoman: "Do you know where the back door is?"
Me: "Ummm yes. (me giggling quietly) I think you guys should think of a better name for the pick up area."
Saleswoman: "You mean like the instant gratification door?"
Me: "I don't think that is much better."
Saleswoman: "Well you can pick you lamps up at the backdoor near Dick's"
Me: "You said dicks."

Print Work

On Wednesday, Libby, Reagan and I met Beth at the hospital to participate in a photo shoot that would help new patients coming into the hospital. Libby played a patient, I was a deaf parent, Reagan played a sibling of a patient and Beth played a doctor. I had to do the most acting. Libby did a great job, we were very proud of her. She can sometimes be very shy, but she did an amazing job of interacting with the photographer and nurse. They got tons of great pictures. We look forward to seeing the final product sometime in October.

Face-plant

Libby went down the slide face first, it didn't work out real well for
her.

It's huge...that's what she said.

My Dad and Mr T with Dale Jr.

I love Hummers.

NASCAR

New door mat

I think the new door mat is to small, Beth disagrees. What do you
think?

From the Mouths of Babes

For the past few weeks we have been letting Libby watch a few music videos from "On Demand" before she goes to bed. Today I chose Micheal Jackson's Bad.

She asked Beth

"Momma, who is that lady?"

Millennium Park

This afternoon we took the girls to a new park in Grand Rapids called Millennium Park. There is a great beach area and sprinkler park for the kids.

Both girls had so much fun playing in the sand and wading in the water, which was as warm as bathwater, or maybe a lot of people were peeing in it at the time we were there.
The sprinkler park was great fun also.

Reagan looks sad in the is picture, but I think the sun was just in her eyes because she was having a so much playing in the sprinklers, she didn't even mind when she got sprayed in her face.

Here is Libby collecting water in her bucket with a cheesey smile on her face.


Last but not least, here I am with my littlest princess


Here are a few things we learned while at the park:
1) Getting a lot of tattoos may seem like a great idea, but it really isn't. There seemed to be many people there who have gotten "drunk" tattoos.
2) I may not be in great shape, but am in better shape then most.
3) When finished the park will be twice as large as Central Park in NYC.

Eating a cupcake

How Appropriate

The caption over Reagan could not be more appropriate. About 5 weeks ago Reagan decided that she didn't need to eat anymore. She went from being a great eater who would try anything to eating only crackers, yogurt, frozen waffles (toasted), and miscellaneous pieces of bread. Not only would she not eat anything, she would take whatever you put on her tray and immediately throw in onto the floor with a look that said "screw you". And since we took her off the bottle cold turkey two weeks ago, she would barely drink anything out of her sippy cup.

All of the sudden on Sunday, she decided she was hungry again. Now she is eating and drinking like a champ. Hopefully now she will start to gain some weight and people will stop mistaking her for an 8 month old, or as my sister thinks, my grandma.

The Great Mustache Race of '08

Last week my entire family went up to Higgins Lake for a week of fun in the sun. My Dad rented two cabins for us and we all had a ball, even though the weather didn't always cooperate. You can read more about the week here. But the most important thing that happened was my brother Dave and I decided to grow mustaches. It was dubbed the "Dirty, Dirty, Mustache Race".

My brother connected his mustache to his sideburns while I went for more of an old fashion "zapata".

Here are a few things I learned about having a mustache:

• It never hurts to ask for a mustache discount. We got extra laps while go-carting and 2-for-1 miniature golfing.
• I tend to wear more denim when sporting a 'stache.
• My wife was sorta able to fulfill her teenage dream of making out with Burt Reynolds by kissing me.
• Women don't like it when you offer them free mustache rides.

All in all having a mustache was a great experience. I look forward to next years race, we are considering doing it for charity.

The mustache is now history as Beth made me shave it before our 12th wedding anniversary on Sunday.

We're moving!

We had hoped that we would be spending the next 15-20 years in this house, but it looks like that won't be the case. We will be putting the house on the market soon.

On Sunday I looked out the window and saw a wild turkey. For those of you who don't know I have a completely irrational fear of all birds and won't live near such a wild beast.

In this picture you can better see it's beady eyes and it's razor sharp beak.

The Jon is right dance

Monday was Beth's first day at work. All day Sunday I bugged her about picking out her outfit to make a great first impression. I thought she should either wear a suit or slacks and a nice blouse. I told her that you never know when you might get a picture taken or who you might meet on the first day. She said no, all she will be doing is Human Resources orientation, so jeans and a shirt will be ok.
The first thing they told her is that they are going to have to send her home because she was in violation of the dress code. After informing them that she was never told about a dress code and that the physician recruiter, who was Beth's main connect, didn't know about it either, they let her stay.
Other then that her first day went great. The second day Beth wore a suit.

Outages

Last Wednesday during heavy storms we lost our cable and internet. We now know how the Amish must feel. After five days of total isolation Comcast got everything back up and running on Sunday afternoon.

All things Aussie

My brother-in-law Rudi and his wife Erwin came to visit us on Thursday for their bi-annual 6 hour visit. While they were here Rudi mentioned how much he appreciates it when I call him anytime I see anything even remotely related to the Australia. Things like:

• Going to his favorite restaurant Outback Steakhouse
• Seeing a grill at the store called the "Aussie"
• Any sort of show on television at all related to Australia or Koala bears
• A man on a motorcycle with two stuffed kangaroos on the back
• An article on the web about how Australians create more green house gases per capita then any country
  

So next time you see a dingo or an Aborigine, be sure to give Rudi a ring.

Freebies

Being around my mother for about 32 years really rubbed off. She taught me that nothing makes you feel better then getting a good deal on something, it is even better if it is free. Two of my favorite bargain websites are Cheap Stingy Bargains (especially their freebie section) and Totally Free Crap. At least twice a week I get free stuff in the mail, it might be a sample of soap, cereal, or a flashlight.

Last week I got a sample of a new product. It is a single use container of caulk. Whenever I see this tiny white caulk sample on my counter I always think of my brother-in-law Rudi.

1 Year Pictures

On Saturday we took Reagan to Portrait Innovations to get her 1 year pictures taken. The appointment was scheduled for 11 am which should have been the perfect time, right after nap and before she can mess herself at lunch. Reagan was full of grins and giggles on the car ride there. As soon as the camera came out she clammed up and would barely crack a smile.

Usually we sort through 80 to 100 pictures and have a difficult time choosing which ones we should get as most of them are pretty good. This time we had about 50 to choose from and of those 4 or 5 were worth buying. Neither of the ones above were ones we purchased. At times I think she was channeling her cousin Julia. If you want to see the rest of the pictures feel free to look here.

Help Please

As the old saying goes "Many hands make light work". Next Sunday, June 22nd, we will be unloading the truck and trailer at the new house. So all of you in the greater Grand Rapids area who would like to help, please feel free to come by around 1 pm. Pizza, beer and sodas (or pop as you Michigananders call it) will be served. Email me if you need directions.

Dirty Baby

As you can tell from this picture, Reagan loves beans. We had to change her outfit and wash the bib before heading up to visit Beth at work for her 2nd to last call.

Libby on the other hand is quite fond of "orange chips", more commonly known as Cheeto's. While she is eating them she will chose one or two random chips and say that she doesn't like the looks of it and won't eat it. What an odd child, she must take after her mother.

1 Year Well Check Visit

Reagan went for her 1 year well check visit today. She weighed in at a feather like 2o lbs 2 oz (30th percentile), she is a vertically challenged 28 inches (25th percentile), but her head is a Mayes like 46 cm (75th percentile). She is now old enough and weighs enough to have her car seat facing the front now. This will make for a much easier trip to Michigan next week as she will be able to see the TV. During Reagan's examination the doctor found she had an ear infection, this would explain her screaming mimi fits the past couple of days before bed times.

Happy Birthday Reagan

Today Reagan turns one year old! It is hard to believe that she is no longer a baby, but is now officially a toddler. Here are ten things you might not know about her.
1. She didn't' fall on her face, that is a little patch of exzema that we have had a hard time getting rid of. Hopefully the third visit to the doctors this week will take care of it.
2. Reagan now has 6 teeth, as the top 4 came in all at the same time about 2 weeks ago.
3. Reagan hated baby food so we never fed it to her. We discovered that she would rather just have normal people food (thanks to her Grandma who figured this out for us). Now we can't get Reagan to stop eating. We have to set a limit or else she would continue to eat until she popped.
4. Reagan is hot or cold when it comes to sleeping through the night. She will either sleep from 8 pm until 7 am with out waking, or she will get up 3-4 times a night when her pacifier falls out of her mouth.
5. Beth has trained Reagan to only poop when she is at work. I have to change 2-3 poppy diapers a day, all between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm.
6. Reagan hardly ever plays with typical baby toys. She would much rather play with Libby's toys. Reagan can usually be found standing at Libby's doll house, kitchen, or nursery set.
7. Reagan's nicknames include Reggie, Reggie-Reggie-Roo-Roo (Libby's name for her), Raisin, Reginald, and Little Stink (see item #5).
8. Reagan has never spent a night in her crib. She has only slept in her bassinet, our bed, and her pack-n-play, where she sleeps now. She is looking forward to having her own room at our new house where she will be able to sleep in her crib finally.
9. Nothing does Reagan hate more then having her diaper changed. She is so wiggly that Beth can't change her by herself. It is like trying to hold down a greased pig.
10. In her first year of life, Reagan has flown to Michigan 8 times and has been well behaved each time.