New Start

Well, it has been way too long, but it was always my intention to get back to blogging. Life is a little slower now and I was reminded today that life is too short. I want to keep track of it better for me and all my kiddos. Thank you to God for my wonderful and unique children. Malcolm - for all the fun and happiness you have each day! You make me smile everyday and I love listening to all your ideas! you will always be my shining star! Maura - for your love and caring concern for everyone. For always wondering what is next in life and your intensity. You will also be a pretty smart princess! For my sweet redheaded Mr. T, for your calmness and curiousness. You are so full of energy and are always busy! You are kind and already care about other people and what they need. You can find anything! I love you and thank God for every moment and day He gives us together. Thank you God you starting me new again

Spring Break 2008!

Sorry I did not blog last week. We took a trip home to Springfield MO and we tried to do as little as possible and unfortunately all of us were sick during the week at one time or another. It also rained a lot, so we did some major couch potato and game time. We enjoyed visiting our family and getting to go on a trip.

We started out the weekend with a St. Patrick's Day Parade(sorry forgot the camera). It was cold, but the kids enjoyed dressing up in crazy green gear and having candy thrown at them. That night we went to see the movie Horton Hears a Who! with the Dulas. We all enjoyed it. Dr. Seuss is our favorite author, we read his stories all the time! Malcolm and Maura were glued to the screen. (Thomas and I took a little nap, halfway through it...I got up to early to drive.)Malcolm and Maura got to spend the night with their cousins! They love to go spend time with them. The next day we went to see a new working farm park, just outside the city. The kids loved playing with the animals. (see pics) Later that day we all got a chance to nap and get refreshed. After a couple of days of hanging out with each other and our family, we traveled to Branson to spend some time with more family. It finally was warm and sunny so we got to be tourists! We planned to go to Silver Dollar City, but so did everyone else in the Midwest, I think! It was crowded so we decided to ride go-carts, mini-golf and get some ice cream! (see pics) We had a lot of fun and enjoyed the time off our normal schedules. We were so grateful to get the opportunity to visit our family!

Spring is Here???

Today was a gorgeous day is OK! We went to the park and enjoyed the fresh air!

Weekend Update

Well, the Koehler house has been pretty yucky over the last few days. We have all gotten sick, except Mike, and we are closely watching him! Hopefully it is all over, just in time for Spring Break! Here are some pics as we hung around. (Malcolm got the sickness the worst and did not feel very photogenic!)

Thomas is loving reading the chapter books, just like his brother! He also loved taking a bath with sister! Look at Thomas pulling up for the first time in his crib!

Friday Fun!

Last Friday, Malcolm had Decade Day at school! He looks like totally far-out in his 80's gear!

Maura and Thomas went to see Sesame Street with their good friends Bryson and Carter(pictured with Maura). We had a fabulous time. After the show we went to Coney Island Hot Dogs (a fab hole-in-the-wall OKC eatery). On the way to the hot dog place, Maura watched the snow that fell for about 10 mins and played I Spy with the binoculars!

Thomas' Pics, too!

Mr. Thomas...happy and smiley is the best way to describe him. He can turn your day right side up with just his smile. February was a very busy month for him, too. The first Saturday he sat up on his own, the next Saturday he got on his knees and starting rocking, the next Saturday he began to crawl and the final Saturday he pulled himself up to his knees. Every time I had been gone and missed it, however Mike said it was good I was gone. It seems the only way for him to develop is if I leave him. Ok, Ok I hold him a lot, but he is so cuddly, I can't help it. This past week he has learned to wave to you from across the room and to clap his hands. He gets very excited when he does this and almost rolls over. He loves real foods and has a smile the whole time he gets to feed himself.

Maura's Pics

Maura has been busy, too. She may not have school but she keeps herself busy all day. She loves watching Dora the Explorer and Wonder Pets! She loves playing with her princesses and her cars. She doesn't play with just one at a time she has to have all the cars or all the dolls. She is also very creative when we are out and we don't always bring toys. She can make a family out of anything! My favorite thing she made a family out of was tools. She is learning to do so much by herself and is beginning to read. However, occasionally she wants me to help her. The other day she came in and announced she couldn't go to the bathroom because the light was off. I asked her "Let's think, what can you use to help you turn on the switch?" (I had just gotten a step stool just for this purpose.) She pondered for a second and said, pointing at me, "YOU!!" I couldn't help but to laugh. She's a smart one!

The pics include one of my favorite pics of her close up. There is another one of her at our Mom's Day Out Church Group Valentine's Day Party. There is also one of her and one of her favorite friends, Camden. They are looking out with their "goggles". The last one is when Mike told her to look gorgeous!