Here is part two of the summer photos I have been trying to catch up on.  

strawberry picking, Mom did most of the picking and Olivia did most of the running around and dropping berries on the ground

enjoying the fruit of our labor, with whipped cream , of course

Swim Lessons! 

Olivia took swim lessons thru the Oswegoland Park District.  She is a successful graduate of Preschool Level I.  She proved herself to be a brave and mighty swimmer.  I was proud of her for trying things she doesn't like (like the back float) and for showing with gusto her strength (blindly leaping into deep water and going all the way under).  She had to endure several classes with some pretty frigid pool temps and a nice summer rain, but she endured and didn't give up.  Way to go our little fish!! 

Another big deal this summer was Olivia and her good behavior chart.  We had some struggles a few months ago with Olivia's listening- the memory that sticks out in my mind as the breaking point was when in the middle of yet another particular dinner where Olivia didn't want to sit in her chair and eat, she decided she had to go potty....but rather than go potty, she just went into the bathroom, stripped naked and ran around pretending to be a race car all around the kitchen table while Jon and I tried to eat our dinner without breaking into tears from laughing.  At two, I would have have let out the laughs, but at 3 1/2 we broke out the "behavior chart" .   

Olivia earned stickers for good behavior, her bullet points were

• getting dressed nicely (without Mom having to chase you around waving underpants around)
• Good listening to Mommy and Daddy
• Staying in your chair during dinner (no tantrums over food, and running off to her bed) 
• Being a good helper

The chart worked like a charm for our tenacious Olivia and once it was filled, we headed to Olivia's dream restaurant   CHUCK E. CHEESE!

Olivia with her full sticker chart!  So proud!! 

Summer is flying by

Well its already mid July.  We have been having a very fun and busy summer.  Jon is half way thru his MBA program at NIU, he is in the midst of his summer break.  We have been utilizing all of his extra time  with us to catch up on those home projects that have been needing to be done, getting the new baby girl's nursery painted and ready to go, and of course lots of family fun and travel.  Here are some pictures from all of the fun we have been having so far!  

painting baby's room

pony rides

petting zoo at Prarie Fest

Olivia with Grandma

Dad and I on Father's Day weekend

tea parties with Nana

relaxing in the hammock with Papa

four generations

Great Papa and Great Gramme with O

These pictures only show thru Father's Day, more to come :)  but I have to run now Olivia is up from her nap and the swingset is calling us.  XOXO

here goes nothin

Well, I have decided to start a blog.  I am doing this for the purely selfish reason that I want to have my own little place to sit and write and post pictures of all of these great memories that just roll by much too quickly.  When my Olivia was born, I started writing her a journal, from me to her, in hopes to give it to her when she graduates from high school or perhaps college.  I want her to have something handwritten to hold on to of all the amazing moments I have had getting to be her Mom.  Unfortunately, the entries in the journal are not as often as they should be.  I know realistically that I am more likely to get on the computer and type then to sit and write.  (although miss Olivia , and sweet baby girl #2 on the way, I promise to still deliver on those journals).   The non-selfish reasons for this blog are that I think this will be a great platform for me to share the little snippets of life with all of those loved ones out there that unfortunately we don't get to see on a regular basis.
        I do not expect to change any ones lives with my stream of consciousness way of writing, or to suddenly rake in bags of money, but if you want to catch up on some of the Koepke's day to day lives, this will be the place to be.  I plan to write honestly, because when I come back to these posts years from now I want to remember how it really felt to be in these moments.  I count my blessing every day- how did I get to be so lucky to have a happy healthy family, wonderful friends and sleep next to the love of my life in a beautiful house every night??  My ultimate goal from this blog is just make it a little bit easier for myself to hang onto these memories.
        Disclaimer:  I am learning as I go how to set up my blog page, so please bear with me as I stumble along :)  XOXO