Blanket Donation 2013

A couple of weeks ago we had our annual blanket donation for The Children’s Hospital.  It is always so much fun to get together with our good friends and celebrate the special hearts of the kids there at the hospital.

This year was quieter than past years.  We only managed to gather up about 130 blankets this year, but I’m glad we’re still doing it.  The kids gathered in the cafeteria and had pizza for dinner while we ran up to the new CICU to pass out some blankets.  Every time we go up there my heart breaks a little bit for the weary parents of those sweet kids, and at the same time I feel proud of them for toughing it out (as if there is any other option).  I look into their faces and wonder if I looked as tired and drained as them when I was there 4 years ago.

We had our traditional little party in the cafeteria.

Afterward we all headed out for Frozen Yogurt to celebrate the boys’ 4th birthdays.  It was a fun ending to a great celebration!

Adam Turns Four

On Monday morning at 5:15, a little birthday boy came stumbling into my room.  Glenn was out for a run, so Adam climbed up into bed next to me in the dark.  “It’s your birthday!  Happy Birthday!” I said quietly.  He smiled and said, “I know!”  We laid in bed in silence for just a moment until Adam spoke up in a very matter-of-fact voice, “ Well, I’m four now.  I guess I better start getting ready for my mission!”  This is a boy who has a vision for the future!  And it is a great plan!  At 5:15 in the morning!

We headed downstairs to the big birthday breakfast.  We were all settled in eating our bacon and pancakes when Glenn came in and informed us that Derek had left Adam’s scooter (his gift from Santa last year) out in the front yard and the garbage truck had just picked it up and crushed it.  The boys all stared at their plates in silence.  Derek (the guilty party) spoke up and suggested hopefully that Adam could maybe just ask Santa for another one.  I responded that Adam was hoping to ask Santa for something else while still having his scooter.

More silence.  Then Evan spoke up.  He said, “I can ask Santa for a scooter for Adam.”  When I responded that then he wouldn’t get a present, Evan swallowed hard and said, “That’s okay.  I’ll sacrifice my present for Adam.”  There was sorrow but courage in his voice as he spoke.  It totally melted my heart!  That boy can really be unselfish when his heart is in the right place!  I love that Evan!  I would almost like to see it actually happen!

Everyone felt the seriousness of the commitment Evan had just announced he was willing to make, and the boys all turned their eyes back down to their plates.  More solemn silence filled the room.

Pretty soon Adam looked up.  In a way that only Adam can, he said enthusiastically, “Do you remember that Chuck Norris movie where the two guys go over the wall and then (in a very dramatic voice) there’s Chuck Norris?  That was Hi-LAR-ious!”  We all just stared at him for a second, then the whole family burst into laughter.  That was quite the amazing change of topic!  Talk about brightening up the dampened mood!

And that is just a small sampling (all before 8:00 in the morning) of why we love Adam so much.  Our days are filled with Adam bringing laughter, happiness, surprise, and enthusiasm with him wherever he goes!  Really- I don’t know of a more cheerful and exuberant boy than Adam!  We are lucky to have him in our family!

Adam spent his birthday playing with his cousin Cooper who just happened to be in town.  Adam LOVES Cooper, so it was the perfect way to spend his big day!  We ended the celebration with a dinosaur cake and presents, all of which he loved (puzzles from Grandma and Grandpa Ludwig, Billy Twitter’s Blue Whale book from Grandma and Grandpa Roper, a football throwing game from Mom and Dad, and bubble bath from his siblings).

A very happy birthday to our wonderful Adam!

Karate Does The Trick

This morning Derek came running into my room.  I was still in bed (daylight savings time has helped them wake up early more than it has helped me).  “Mom!” he shouted with glee, “I was doing karate with Evan and I knocked his tooth out!”

Evan followed close behind, proudly displaying the tooth.  Ah, the joys of having boys.

The tooth fairy will be busy tonight!



P.S.  Lest anyone think there was an all-out brawl going on, the tooth was loose and getting ready to fall out anyway.  But still.  What a way to lose a tooth!

Halloween 2013

Here was what the Roper kids chose for Halloween this year:

We had the rough and tough cowboys…

Grandpa Roper provided the boots, hats, and weapons.  Grandma Roper made the vests and chaps, complete with a customized initial on each vest pocket.

I provided the mustaches.

Then we had our beautiful butterfly!

I couldn’t resist when I saw the tutu and wings not long after she was born.  I made the little feather things for her feet, her necklace, and her adorable antennae.  It should look vaguely similar to another 1 year old girl from Halloween past…

I know- I’m ridiculous.  But actually, I didn’t realize that I had duplicated my own Halloween costume until after Amelia was already going to be a butterfly.  The only thing I couldn’t resist copying was the pipe cleaner antennae.  My mom’s pipe cleaners must have been stiffer than the ones these days.  Amelia’s were bending and flopping all over the place!  And, my face was messier which probably means that my mom actually let me eat Halloween candy.   Hmmmm… I may have to rethink my hard, healthy ways!

Speaking of healthy ways, our boys got together and sold most of their candy to our dentist for $2 per pound.  The dentist sends the candy to the troops overseas.  The boys made $12, and they thought that was pretty fabulous since we don’t really let them eat all that candy anyway!

All in all, a very fun Halloween!