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.