TV trance

Our children love the tv. Seriously, L-O-V-E. There are times that I have seriously considered getting rid of the darn thing, so that Aaron doesn't ask to watch it all of the time! Then I remember that I really like the tv too!

We have limits on tv time and ways that Aaron has to earn time. For example, if he doesn't take a nap, he doesn't get to watch any tv. We started this when Aaron was having a hard time taking his daily nap. Now that he's in school, this may change. Generally Aaron watches 1-2, 25 minutes shows per day. We will often watch a movie on the weekends (and have popcorn), which he loves. Aaron didn't start really being interested in the tv until he was almost 2, but not Maggie. In all fairness, Aaron was hardly exposed to the tv before he turned 2, so he probably didn't really have much of a chance to know if he liked it or not! Maggie loves the tv already and will sit and watch with her brother!

Craft time

The kids love to do arts and crafts, so we try to make some time to get our creativity flowing!

This day we were making animal headbands with ears and noses. This was the first set that we made- bunnies with the big ears and we glued on the noses after this. We realized after trying them on that the ears that Aaron & Connor had were too big and wouldn't stand up, so we had to cut the down a little smaller!

Maggie's orange eared bunny!

The second one that the boys decided on were supposed to be leopards, I believe! I drew the ears with markers and then the boys cut them out (and I did hand over hand with Maggie to cut hers- she can't be left out of the cutting). Aaron decided to just cut squares around his and not cut on the lines this time!

These are the finished product of the bunnies with their cotton ball noses! So cute!



This was Maggie's first attempt at painting with water colors. We decided to paint on their Build A Bear boxes (which have since been re-purposed for wrapping birthday gifts.) After I took this picture, I turned around to help Aaron get his paints open, and Maggie was already drinking the dipping water for her paintbrush!!! I quickly got it away from her and was relieved to find out that the Crayola water colors are non-toxic! Phew.....

Needless to say, I helped her paint with water colors for another couple of minutes and then she moved on to markers!

Aaron is quite the little painter!

Family after flood

July was a very rainy month in Chicago, which lead to some flooding in our basement. Tony, Angie, Emma, Jacob, and Olivia came to visit on their way back from Ohio. The same weekend we had to ask my Dad to drive in for some flood assistance and my mom flew into Chicago on her way home from a trip to Canada. Though the flooding was unfortunate, the time with family was great!

First day of school and Mommy's 35th birthday

August 17th was an exciting day for the Coenen family. Aaron & Maggie had their first day of school at Goddard and it was my 35th birthday! I was worried about how this might go, but we all had a really great day! Aaron & Maggie did a great job letting Tim & I drop them off at school, Tim took me out for lunch and to pick out some new sheets for my birthday present, and our friends Amy, Chris, & Asher came over for the night so Tim and I could go to the movie theater to see Bridesmaids! Awesome!




Aaron practices writing his name when he gets to school


Maggie in her classroom


Happy Birthday to me with cupcakes from Sweet Mandy B's!

Boots before breakfast!

Aaron has been asking me a lot lately if he can wear his light up Cars boots! He and Maggie were wearing boots before breakfast this particular day.... we hadn't even traded the pajamas for clothes yet!

Thompson/Johnson road trip to Chicago

We had so much fun with Amy, Tabitha, and all of the kids when they came to visit a few weeks ago! These few days end up to be more time than we get to spend together in the rest of the year combined.... and we enjoy every single crazy moment of it! These girls are such a blessing in my life and I'm so thankful for them!

Sharing some pictures of our meals and water adventures!


7 kids around our little kitchen table!

Claire, Lilly, Ella, and Eli

Eli and Ella

Maggie having fun with Aunt Amy

Claire climbing through the tunnel

Do you think that Brett is having fun?!

Ready, set....

JUMP!

Tim, Brett, & Aaron


The Coenen fam!

Maggie's new skill

Would you believe that this sweet little 16 month old would learn to climb out of her crib and try that skill out over 70 times in one night?!


Yep- that's our spunky little Maggie! She figured out that she could climb out of her bed on Tuesday night and climbed out over 70 times before finally falling asleep! Tim was on duty on Wednesday night and it took Maggie over an hour that night to get to sleep. Night number 3 took about 45 minutes of climbing out and being put back in!

Crazy sleeper!

We always check on the kids before going to bed at night. This is the position that we found Maggie in! I have NO idea how she was sleeping like this!

Piggy tailed cutie!

This was my first attempt at putting piggy tails in Maggie's hair. She definitely has enough hair, but I was sweating by the end of this project! Maggie is certainly a little lady who is in motion. Isn't she darling?!