Super Kole

Kole loves to wear his super cape. He can be heard several times a week asking if we would please put his cape on. Once he becomes 'SuperKole' he is commonly seen running around the house as fast as he can with his cape flying behind him. He has recently started wearing the mask that goes with the cape which can sometimes be a hazard because he puts it on himself and it sometimes impares his vision! Today he was also running with his sword and Holy Bible shield the sisters made him in Sunday School.

The Plunger Pest

Well, it has taken awhile for me (Travis) to write my first "Popken Post", but here goes nothing.

It all started one quiet snowy day in December. Rachel and I were sitting upstairs enjoying some uninterrupted conversation (rare).  When what did I hear? Banging from the basement. I assumed slamming doors...an accident waiting to happen. So down the stairs I bound to catch the assailants. The picture I see is a giggling 3 year old boy squishing a plunger to the outside of the bathroom door. Grossed out I immediately confiscate the plunger and ask him what he is doing.  Koleson says sister won't let him in the bathroom (poor Koleson).  I tell Ella to unlock the bathroom door. Ella screams out from behind the door, "No. Koley's going to get me with the plunger". Koleson sure does like to pester his sisters. I can't wait to see what he uses to scare them this summer...hopefully snakes and frogs!

Picking raspberries!

Kole and I had an exciting afternoon. We were able to go to a generous friends house and pick raspberries. Kole wasn't really interested when we got there, but after I let him eat some he got more into it. We had been at it for quite awhile and things were going well other than numerous scrapes from the thorns. Then trouble struck! There was a big bumble bee that was not real thrilled about us being in his space. He was buzzing around Kole and I thought I got him out of there in time, but he stung him right by his eye! I've included a pic of his poor eye! After I got Kole out of that area I went back and continued to pick. The bee then got me right behind the ear! Needless to say after that we were ready to go. In spite if the stings we had a nice time together and got 6 pints of berries. I think I see a raspberry pie in our near future!

Kindergarten Tales

Well Ella has been in kindergarten for a little over 2 weeks now and we have not had a shortage of stories. After the first day she came home to inform us that she had to have a discussion with Mrs. Rusch about line basics. We found this interesting since she had been practicing how to walk in lone that morning in the kitchen. Apparently she needed to be reminded that she keeps her hands to herself. She also informed us that you can only whistle outside at recess. When asked how she learned that, "well I was whistling in the room!"
Today however takes the cake. I got a call from my husband asking me of I knew what Ella brought for show and tell. She brought a nerf gun! There are no guns of any kind allowed in the school. When Trav walked by the classroom she was showing the class how to shoot it! Trav quickly informed the classroom aide and sub that what she had wasn't allowed. So then it was explained to the whole class that you couldn't bring toys like that to school! I think I might have to start checking her book bag before I let her out the door in the morning!

Dress Up Fun

Cousin Lily is over today and they are having fun playing dress up!

Our trip to the ER

Well Trav and I got some unexpected time together tonight.  I like spending time alone with Trav, but not this way!!  It all started when Ella and I were riding our bikes home from the pool.  I was showing her how I could ride no handed.  She was so impressed she wasn't watching where she was riding.  She rode her bike into the curb and crashed.   I looked back quick and stopped to try to get to her and I crashed as well. (I was riding with hands again by this point!)   My hands and chin came into painful contact with the street.  I got up as soon as I could to try to get to her since she was crying.   Quickly 2 questions came flying from her mouth, 'Why did you do that?' (as in why did you fall?) and 'Why are you bleeding?'  At this point she still hadn't told me if she was ok.  We walked our bikes the rest of the way home and then took stalk of our injuries.  Ella ended up with a small scrape on her elbow.  I on the other had have a small, but deep cut on my chin, two scraped hands, a scraped knee, an instantly bruised hip, and road rash on one of my hamstrings.  Trav got home little while later and thought I might need stitches on my chin.   He then went and brought a friend who is a nurse over to look at it as well.  She recommend that we go to the ER and get it checked out.  So we fed the kids supper quick and then they got to go play with some generous friend while we headed to the ER.  After waiting a long time I got 2 stitches in my chin.  I am noticing many more large bruises as time passes.  I believe I will be pretty stiff and sore tomorrow.    As Ella told me while trying to make me feel better, "It could be worse Mom, you could have been smashed by a car!"

The joy of being a boy

Within the last week Kole has discovered the joy of being a boy.  He loves to go to the bathroom outside.  Just a few days ago Trav and I were in the house and we saw some neighbors riding by on their bikes and then do a double take of our yard.   We then walk outside to find Koleson 'watering the lawn.'  This has become his new favorite activity.  He really likes to 'water' the apple tree in the backyard.  Lately outside is the only play he wants to go to the bathroom.  This morning I found him trying to get out our back sliding door.  I asked him where he was going and he informed me he was going outside to go stinkies!  We then had to have a little talk about how that had to be done in the bathroom!  Wow are raising boys different!