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!

happy birthday brett!

Happy 2nd Birthday to Brett- Wow our little guy is growing so fast... He's a total nut... He dances & sings "Shake your boody" while shaking his boody... He's a bit of a brut but he has to defend himself w/ an older big brother...I hope he breaks the bullying soon.... Brett always makes us laugh- even when he says "NO" :-) He loves kicking everything (we're trying to focus his kicking more on footballs & soccer balls).... He really had a great time Trick or Treating this year- it was his first one walking to doors holding Grant, Christian, Leo, or Madysen's hand & he couldn't say Trick or Treat- so he'd say More Candy Please... either way - it was too cute...
I just can't believe he's TWO.... Wow 2 posts in a week :-) This is an old picture of his 1st haircut back in August- he's really not cross eyed :-) hee hee

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!!!

Happy 1st Birthday to our Princess Riannon.... I know I haven't posted in awhile, but life is quite busy here and I can't keep up w/ the blog & even downloading pictures on to our computer.. I wanted to post pictures from Halloween, but sorry- not this time- hopefully this weekend I can go picture crazy & get some updated pix of the boys & their sister.... So here is the latest- Riannon is having many firsts ...
*1st two teeth have come in.
*she pets her dog Bailey instead of crying...
*She got her 1st flu shot- she's high risk w/ her asthma & chronic lung disease...
*she survived her 1st season watching big brother Grant practice & play football 4 times/week.
*She kind of crawls- she'll get up on all 4's, ROCK back & forth, then lay back on her stomach & army crawl EVERYWHERE....
*she had her 1st Halloween & Trick or treating w/ her brothers & friends: Riannon was Tinkerbell (Thanks Shelley for letting us borrow), Brett was a pirate, & Grant was a Storm Trooper...
*She"ll have her first BIRTHDAY party this weekend- of course shared w/ brother Brett who turns TWO on Friday....And boy I'm feeling the "TWO" STAGE...
*She's ONE.... I just look at her & the boys & feel so blessed.... She is so happy & her smile lights up a room & just melts your heart....The boys are very protective already, especially oldest brother Grant- who sometimes has to protect her from her sneaky "Terrible Two's" brother Brett who likes to snag toys from her- but he still loves her of course... I'm enjoying my part time teaching position- love my school & my partner- Ted is constantly on the go w/ work
.... No sports probably until after the new year... I'd like to get Brett signed up for Bumble Bee Sports & maybe a Spring sport (low key) for Grant until football season starts over the summer- just want to focus on the family & getting My Girlfriend's Kitchen open....
Love to you all! Here's a month old pix from the pumpkin patch & her adoption announcement- but just love her facial expression...

Riannon is doing well- she turned 11 mos. on Saturday & got her first 2 bottom teeth.. She took her first trip to the pumpkin patch w/ her brothers & friend Christian and had a blast....
She is rolling everywhere, sitting up very well, and beginning to "rock".... Maybe she'll crawl by her 1st birthday (though, we're not in any hurry :) I've started my half time position, teaching Wednesday, Thursday, and every other Friday... It's been very nice... I'm even going to help out in Grant's classroom next week- teaching a guided reading group w/ his teacher... I'm looking forward to that...We're getting ready to plan a double birthday party for Riannon & Brett next month...Grant is still playing flag football.. Pretty hectic schedule we're on, but I have to say everyone has adjusted really really well..... More later....

1 month home

I can't believe we've been home a month.. Riannon is doing very well.. She's adjusted to her new home, her brothers, all her relatives, and friends, and has finally gotten used to her doggie Bailey...The first few nights home were rough- she was pretty jet lagged. She sleeps through the night and has a pretty predictable schedule....She's becoming stronger and stronger and is always smiling (even in this picture after peas & rice) :-) So sorry I haven't posted in a while, but with 3 kids- 2 under 2 and a football playing 6 year old, our days are pretty late....
We went to a reunion picnic for Adoption Options
We meet the neatest people who are just starting the process, soon to be travelling, or just wanting info to make a decision...and of course the the children who have been home for a long time...Riannon worked the crowd quite well... We even got to see her friend Sam- from her orphanage...Amazing how much they change in a month..She's not crawling yet (but to be honest I'm in no hurry) :) and is starting to get her first tooth...Hopefully more later...

Mommy's last trip to Kyrgyzstan

Mommy & me - one last time at FatBoys Restaurant... nothing fancy like the 4 Seasons.BUT it's where our GroundHog Days began with breakfast every morning and they have pretty good potato skins and peach smoothie (which is pretty much like frozen peach juice w/ crushed ice) which you're pretty lucky to find ice in Kyrgz...

Daddy in Kyrgz

Daddy & Riannon at the 4 Seasons Restaurant....

First week back to work

Wow, what a week- I went back to work this week. I transfered to a new school where I am sharing a 50% contract in 3rd grade. In about 2 weeks, I will begin working 2 days a week and every other Friday.... I wanted to be prepared for when My Girlfriend's Kitchen finally opens sometime this fall/early winter....The 2 little ones have done especially well w/ Grandma & Grandpa Koopman.... They're both on a pretty good schedule and it hasn't been too tiring (at least that's what G'ma says :-) but we are so thankful....It's so wierd- we've only been home 2 weeks, but it seems like we've been a family of 5 from the beginning....She just has been so easy and has adapted to the pretty hectic schedule we have w/ Grant's football practice & games on Saturday... Grant is playing flag football again this year, but this time he was one of the seasoned players and plays all the time... They're trying him out as full back this week, so we might get to see him run the ball a little...Exciting...Brett has really taken his big brother role seriously... The first thing he says when he wakes up is "Baby?" and wants to go to her room.. He helps w/ getting the diapers and even throwing up the dirty ones... He's just such a cutie...
Riannon is really flourishing... she seems bigger already and her legs have gotten a lot stronger... We have an appt. next week w/ our Pediatrician to do a complete physical and vaccinations...She is just precious....That's all for now... thank you to everyone for all your well wishes and coming to visit her... she's already pretty spoiled by everyone.... I'm trying to get myself organized to send thank you notes to people.... Let me acknowledge the cute outfits & giftsthat are already coming her way... THANKS TO Grandma & Grandpa Koopman, Nana, Great-Grammy Dioquino, Aunt Tricia, Uncle Eric & cousins, Auntie Joyce, Kirsten (mommy's friend from MGFK), Miss Shobna (friend from football), and of course thanks to all of you for checking in and for always supporting us...

first week as a family 5

Wow, what a week.... Our first week as a family of 5 has been a success... The first night for Riannon was very rough, she cried for 3 hours- just very confused I'm sure... she was a trooper during our long flights to get a home- she just wanted to party...
Finally at 2 a.m. I finally had to put her down and she did get to sleep about an hour after that... She slept for the latter part of Friday- jet lag I'm sure... She's pretty much got a night time schedule down.. Bed at 8:00- tiny fuss for about 5 mins. then she sleeps until about 6-6:30 a.m. we're pretty lucky... Grant & Brett adore her... They're both very good with her and always kissing her... Brett has been a little whinier that usual and clingy (but he was like that before- since he is such a mama's boy)... but other than that, they love her...I go back to work next week... I'm ready, but I just hope that Grandma will be okay with the 2 little ones... Thank you all so much for your support throughout the process- we trully are blessed... now you can just keep up with the blog on family events... we thought we were busy before :-)

Welcome to your forever family- our little princess!

One more night...

One more day..... Whew, what an experience this has all been.... We are one day away to finalizing everything then getting on a plane... everything for the most part has been smooth, a couple annoying events/glitches Right now is Tuesday evening 6:30 (about 5:30 a.m. your time), we are in Almaty, Kazkhstan for one night. We woke up at 4:30 a.m. to leave Bishkek for a 4 hour bus ride to Almaty, come to find out that we have single entry Visas to Kyrgz (my first annoying snag) luckily it all worked out & we were able to get a Visa at the Kyrgz embassy in Almaty, but a stress that we really didn't need )... anyway had to vent.... We arrived in Almaty at 10 a.m. and we went right to the medical center for Riannon's medical check up, all was well- she's had a little bit of a cough this week, & they said her Respritatory level was a bit elevated- but it was okay (I'm thinking another seasonal asthma child :0 Then we ran around getting our Kyrgz Visa so that we can get on our flight Thursday.... Tomorrow the plan is to go to the American Embassy where we will have an interview and process Riannon's paperwork & issue her Visa..... Then back to Bishkek for our last night to come home... We are ready... we are missing everyone, especially Grant & Brett... Riannon is pretty mild tempered- she's getting a bit spoiled, being held and sleeping in our bed (the Hyatt only had 2 cribs & our other 2 friends got them first) which is okay for now... The week home we will be working on getting her on a schedule as I am going back to work on the 18th... lots of changes and MGFK work to do... Angela has really held down the fort... I am so grateful, but I know I'll have to catch up :-) Well, little Miss thing is starting to fuss- time for dinner...... We will see you all when we get back... Thursday at 8:00 p.m. is our flight, my mom has all the flight info.... Love you all & thanks for your comments- they keep us going through this emotional, but worth every bit of it time.......

We're here...

After a 12 hour layover in Moscow- we are finally here.. It is 6:15 p.m. (4:15 a.m. your time) and we've just been unwinding & headed to the US Embassy to process our paperwork so that we may go to Almaty, Kazakhstan for Riannon's medical visit, immigration interview, and to get her US Visa.... That took about 2 hours.. tomorrow is a national holiday so we will not be able to get her yet, but we will run a couple more errands- getting our Kazkhstan Visas and getting Riannon's passport.... Then finally Friday morning at 8:00 a.m. (6 PM your time Thursday) we will finally pick her up and bring her back for the weekend... Then we will head into Kazakhstan sometime Monday & stay there for 2 days & head back to Bishkek Wednesday late & get ready to go home... Hopefully everything is in order and we'll be home before you know it...
We'll try to get here to the internet cafe sometime over the weekend.... Love to you all! Please kiss the boys for us & tell them we love them & miss them..

last night as a family of 4

Well, our last night as a family of 4... We are off bright & early for the 2 day trip to pick up Riannon... I hope we get a chance to stop by the internet cafe to update the blog while we're there... we just don't know if we'll have a whole lot of lul time like we did last trip.... This trip sounds like a ton of paperwork & meetings... we'll see.. but it's the last & final leg of our journey to bring home our daughter.... Again thank you all for your continued support & prayers... We'll be home soon on Sept. 7 to be exact... as a family of 5 + doggie :-)
Love you all!

daddy's girl

She's already DADDY' s little girl...