July's update

I can't believe it's the end of July.... We just got back from a family vacation to Maui w/ Ted's parents... Our first trip w/ 3 kids- they are great travellers for the most part... Riannon s our party girl... For the majority of plane ride- we just walked up & down the aisles.... On the way home- she was fighting her nap big time & cried for an hour & a half.... that was rough...
But they were abolutely wonderful in Maui- we went to the beach & did the touristy stuff as it was our first trip to Maui.... Grant got stung by a Portuguese Man of War while he was playing in the ocean... Luckily a park ranger was there & sprayed vinegar right away & the stinging went away about an hour later.... He was still a trooper....Riannon is such a princess- she didn't quite like her feet sandy, so we took turns holding her... it was pretty funny.... She's talking up a storm & unfortunately hitting her terrible 2's a little early... Of course she's still the sweetest little thing, but her two favorite words at the moment are NOOOOOOO!!! and Mine! :-) Grant started 2nd grade and starts his first year of tackle football... Scary :-) Brett is as loco as usual... he's learning a lot w/ his day care 2x's a week... He almost knows all his colors & can count to ten... He's growing too fast... they all are.... well there's our monthly post.... I'll try to get some pictures of our trip- but I can't promise anything... hee hee
love to you all!

new pics

Finally, some new updated pictures of the kids & our princess. Everyone is doing really great! Grant is getting ready to end 1st grade- Brett has been going to Preschool/day care 2 days a week & is learning a lot- He can count to 10 and almost 20, but skips numbers.... Riannon is growing everyday- She loves to talk and is running around chasing her brothers...She's enjoying lots of firsts.... Her first Easter was a success- she loved carrying her Easter basket- she's a girly girl- she loves to carry around her little Hello Kitty purse and love shoes already....We will make our first trip w/ 3 kids to Maui in a few weeks... So looking forward to that.... I guess that's everything in a nutshell for now....

stats

Hi All- Riannon's latest stats... Her pediatrician is quite pleased w/ her progress & how well she's adapted and caught up developmentally & physically....
She is now 18 months.... 75%ile in height & 60th percentile in weight... She's talking up a storm & climbing on everything.... She thinks she's so cute doing it- but it's driving Daddy crazy....
Brett is definitely a terrible 2!! He is hilarious, crazy, and quite the challenge, but just love him to pieces... Grant is 15 days away from ending 1st grade- we'll have a month off- then it's back to the grind of football- his 1st year in tackle & starting 2nd grade.... wow what a year this has all been.... We're looking forward to have a mini reunion w/ the 2 other families we traveled to Bishkek w/ at the end of June- We just can't believe it was a year ago that we were running around like wild chickens with our heads cut off.... I promise to get pictures up soon- All our pictures are on the computer upstairs & I rarely sit on that computer- but I will force myself here soon....
Enjoy your Memorial Day!

reopened

Okay- I've re-opened our blog- As I've been yahooing w/ our Kyrgyzstan adoption group & reading other people's blog- I came to the realization that especially in the beginning stages of adoption- how valuable it was for us to read other's experience & to read the progress of the return home... so I've decided to try & keep up w/ the blog & use this as more of an adoption adventures home..... I'm hoping I can get new pictures of our Kygyz princess & her brothers (bio)...... Riannon is 17 mos.- She is walking, talking, and just a joy.... She's got the funniest little personality... She's spunky & sassy....I'll give more stats later- time for bed....

more pictures... Kiddos w/ Daddy- lounging on the couch & Riannon at 14 mos....

yeah... a post...

Riannon is officially a Californian... We readopted her today (Jan. 18th) in California- this just gives us a California birth certificate...And of course her California Girl status...
Just wanted to post some pictures of everyone.... The latest.... My Girlfriend's Kitchen is opening March 6, 2007... Angela & I spent 9 days training in Salt Lake City... We are excited to finally open our doors... We're starting to hire employees... Yeah.... Kids are great... We've all been going around with cold & cough, but other than that- busy and crazy as usual... Never a dull moment in the Koopman house...

Happy new year everyone.... Here is 2006 in a nutshell:
Grant: *turned 6 on April 11th *Started 1st grade in July *Played flag football for 2nd year as a cornerback
*Has his 1st loose teeth (not out yet) *Started riding a 2 wheeler (January 6th, 2007)
Brett: *Turned 2 on November 17th *Talking up a storm *Enjoying Barney (the show) *Loves to "shake his
"boody" & sing the "Filipino Song" *Has almost all his teeth
Riannon: *Became a Koopman on August 26th *Turned 1 on November 14th *started crawling *got her first 4
teeth. *pulling herself up *says Momma & Dada *got her ears pierced
Ted: *Switched jobs- keeping very busy w/ work *continues to be a supportive hubby in
all of Jenn's ventures *Pays the bills :-)
Jenn: *Changed schools to share a contract w/ a wonderful partner- I teach Monday &
Tuesday, & every other Friday *Continue to work w/ Angela to get My Girlfriend's Kitchen opened by Feb.
*Managing & overseeing home affairs :-)
We've had a blessed 2006, but also some sadness- Ted's Grandma Muriel Koopman past away in Virginia Beach. We are so sad that we weren't able to visit before her passing, but after we came home from Kyrgyzstan, Ted was able to go back to Pennsylvania to spend time w/ his family for her funeral....
We feel so fortunate to have such supportive and loving family & friends... Here's to an even more exciting & blessed 2007.....

me & my grandpa

Here's a picture of Riannon w/ Grandpa- yup she's got him trained :-) and Brett too- he knows who to ask for Candy....

long over due

Finally- a little bit of free time to update... I just can't keep up.... Riannon & Brett had their b-day parties last month- They had a blast... Riannon definitely knows how to work the crowd...And Brett is a ham....Riannon is full on crawling and has 4 teeth with 2 coming in... I just can't believe how strong she's gotten in these past 3 months...She pulls herself, gets on knees and sits perfectly.... She's starting to eat big people food, she's liking that.... She's just such a happy girl.... we all just adore her.. I do feel like our family is now complete... I just can't imagine my life without her in it.... Grant is very protective of her & in time I know Brett will be also-once he overcomes his Terrible Twos.... I'm going to post some new pix... yeah...
My Girlfriend's Kitchen is under way- we're getting ready to close our loan & found a great contractor who is already starting on construction next week... Yeah Progress.... so as you can see- my plate is full & now I have to work on Christmas cards :-) Happy Belated Thanksgiving & Merry Christmas..... Love you all!