say cheese; or don't

I've been meaning to write this post for several weeks now. But as you are well aware, I've been running a bit behind on life. So it should come as no surprise that this particular post has been *on deck* once something less interesting/exciting was already written about (and don't think I don't know how interesting AND exciting my post of all lost items was the other day!)

But having a daughter in pre-school has brought along many firsts. First day of school, first fundraiser, first fall break, first parent/teacher conference AND first school picture.

First of the firsts would be the parent/teacher conference. I'll tell 'ya what... its been a LONG time since my buns tried to squeeze onto one of those mini plastic school chairs. My guess is that the teachers have a good old laugh at us moms who could stand a chair a size or two bigger, thankyouverymuch! Anyhoo... the report was actually really good. I didn't expect to hear anything crazy like that Olivia is bullying others or disobedient or even disruptive. But I WAS surprised to get the report we did. Her teacher started out by saying, "Well isn't Olivia just the cutest, quietest, most petite little thing?!" Yeah, well duh, she gets that from me!

The teacher went on to say that Olivia is the youngest, smallest and most quiet in the whole class. (She is in a classroom with other kids 3-6 years old and she is one of only two 3 year olds.) She said that she does her work diligently and is "cautious." That didn't surprise me but what did surprise me is how she kept saying how quiet she is. Girl must save it *all* for me then. 'Cuz she can run her mouth with the best of 'em.

I tried SO hard not to be that mom that steps in and corrects the teacher by bragging about her large vocabulary or that she's been saying "Go Buckeyes" since she was 18 months old. I mean, I have no idea how she operates when she gets to school. And apparently, she operates as a mute. Hmmm... who knew? The teacher also said she won't let the other kids push her around, get in her work or cut in front of her in line and that she can really use her body to block the other kids out. YOU GO GIRL! Now that's what I like to hear!

On a different note, we also had our first school picture day. I was SO excited! She wore an adorable dress, had cute hair and *loves* to cheese for a photo. I had to order sight unseen, so I figured I'd go ahead and think about some Christmas gifts for family. So, I spent $30 on this...

dontcha think a professional could have gotten my daughter to flash even a fake grin???

Seriously, if this is the best they could do, someone should be fired.

Oh well, lesson learned. Next year we'll skip buying the school pics and march straight to J.C. Penny's.

For real. This picture looks like a most wanted shot. Probably wanted for boxing out a 5 year old for cutting in line.

Hey, if 'ya mess with the bull, 'ya get the horns!

Has anyone seen my self-respect?

Because it seems that along with Turner's shoe and Olivia's Halloween costume, that too has come up missing this week!

And this is why...

I took my family to Kroger last night, FOR DINNER. And you may think, "Well, its a grocery store, of course you bought your dinner there."

I mean... we actually ate dinner on samples last night. And not a one was healthy.
This is the 2nd annual, Koproski family fun night at Kroger and obviously I was counting on a better showing than last year. In my back pocket was the knowledge that since our Kroger has remodeled, there is now a cafe, we could always get some chicken fingers and mac 'n cheese and call it a night.

But lets just say, Kroger Freshfare did not disappoint!
While I'm a bit embarrassed to say that my whole family had ONLY sugar for dinner, it was a true treat of an experience!

There was a pumpkin decorating station, a cookie decorating station, employees dressed up like a bride and groom handing out "wedding cake" and "diamond rings" (she even threw the bouquet and O was heart broken that some other girl "got to take those flowers home with her." Yeah, it won't be the last time, kiddo!)

Turner was mesmerized by the chocolate fountain. And to his delight they gave him a chocolate covered pretzel rolled in Halloween sprinkles (2nd course on the all sugar all the time dinner.)
Quinn, who won't touch a veggie or a fruit to save his life was in hog heaven as we hit the Chex Mix station as well as the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches cut out in the shapes of a black cat. (Can I count PB&J as health food? MMmmkay, thanks!)

Although it was hard to get him to come out of the car cart, he popped out if there was a *something* dipped in chocolate to intrigue him. Are you SURE I didn't birth this child??
Even Steve declared, "I'm ashamed of myself" as we rolled ourselves back into the van, once our shopping was finished. And I confess, Weight Watchers, please forgive me for I have sinned. However, YES! I did, in fact, get my weekly shopping done. It just took us an hour and a half to get there.

Lo and behold, don't you know the culmination of the night came 10 minutes before we walked out the double doors because me oh my, there was FACE PAINTING!

As you may recall, Olivia has been transformed into a butterfly no less than a half a dozen times in the past 2 months.

I was hoping to sneak out of the store without her knowing there was face painting, but she is much too observant for that. So with only a half hour before shower time to enjoy her butterfly self, she made every moment count.

As much as last year was an utter failure, Kroger has redeemed itself in my eyes as a viable option for some sugary, self-indulgent fun. Have mercy!

Retro Quinn

I was goofing around on the computer just now and I unearthed some pictures that I never posted from our trip to China this summer.

I have to laugh at how totally silly Quinn looks with that buzz cut. Oh my!
I know that Steve will disagree, but I'd say that those $12.50 "luxury" haircuts have been worth it for the boy!

It was really fun/ startling to look back and see how happy Quinn was right from the get go (minus Gotcha Day.) What a blessing.

That little smile will melt a heart, I tell 'ya. And in one short week from today, that smile is going to get even better. Gulp. Next week at this time *hopefully* Quinn will be coming out of his surgery with a new and improved smile.

It seems like a million years ago that we were here... in Guangzhou, China. A million miles from the other 2 kids and a million miles from home.

Tomorrow marks 12 weeks home. Time flies when you're doing life.

Don't judge a book by it's cover!

Because I know you think this is going to be a post about some hayride I took with Olivia and Turner (while Steve and Quinn were down in Cincinnati for some pre-op appointments, how rude.)

Truly, these pictures are pretty self explanatory. We rode a wagon covered in hay, picked a pumpkin or two, saw some animals, and froze our buns off. (Note, I had my winter coat and let my kids wear sweaters and sweat shirts. Mom of the year, at your service.)

But because I'm so far behind in life, I'm just now posting the pics for family to see. *Side note, after viewing the pics, I promptly headed off to get my daughter a haircut. Funny how you can see them everyday and not notice the need but when you see the hair in pics, it screams, "Cut me!"

No, the REAL story of the day is my rude cashier at CVS today. She's really got me in a bunge and I need to do some blog therapy right here, right now.

Due to my busy life (places to go, people to see) I didn't know how I was going to *squeeze* in a CVS run today. You see, there was a nice little candy deal going on (coupled with a few coupons was going to make me fat and happy) but it ends today.

But because I have a chiropractor appointment this afternoon and after that the kids and I are going to hit our second annual Kroger Halloween party I just didn't know how I was going to make it happen. So after working out and before picking Olivia up at school, we hit a nearby CVS (not my normal one.)

I had my game plan all mapped out. It included using a $5 off a $25 purchase from Rite Aid. My usual CVS takes competitor coupons. I was aware that this one may not, but I didn't have time to go to the one near my house.

When I got up to the cash register I could already tell this woman was annoyed when she saw my coupons and ECBs in hand.

I politely asked her if this location accepted competitor coupons. She looked at me like I was speaking to her in Chinese. "WHAT?" So I repeated it again and explained that my local CVS would accept my Rite Aid coupons and would she?

She sighed the biggest sigh and said in a real snippy voice, "Well, I'm gonna have to check on that." Okay.

So she rang me up and gave me my total. I handed her all of my coupons and then she gave me my new total. I then politely asked her, "Would you mind checking to see if you can take my Rite Aid coupon?"

Another HUGE sigh. "Fine." She called up the manager in her best annoyed voice. Let me just stop right there and say that this was a victory for me. There would have been a day when I would have felt badly about asking in the first place, let alone pursuing her to check for me. And FORGET IT if she had been annoyed. I probably would have apologized profusely and then just moved on.

Instead, I stuck to my guns and let her DO HER JOB for crying out loud. As it turns out, they did not take my $5 coupon. Which really was a bummer. I'll go ahead and admit that I've spent and re spent that $5 100 different ways since 10:45 this morning. But whatever, I'm still richer for having stuck to my guns and not let that lady getaway with her attitude.

Moral of the story: Do anything for a free bag of candy, stick with the CVS you know and love and ALWAYS put a winter coat on your kid before a hay ride.

Oh, and get your kid a haircut before it looks like THIS in a picture. THE END

One more thing I forgot...

Our final step in making Quinn an "official" American citizen.

While he immediately became an American on August 5th when he crossed through customs in New Jersey, there were a few more formalities to go through in order to get him a social security card and an American birth certificate.

So a week ago last Friday the 5 of us went to court. (Olivia was protesting and decided not to be in the picture. Whatever!) The lady on the phone encouraged us to "bring everyone" since this is the first time in all the official court stuff a camera was allowed.
*Luckily*? Olivia was out of school and so she was able to join us. But I have to say, the lady on the phone seemed a bit more positive about having young kids in the court room than the Judge did. Although, I have to say, O was NOT on her best behavior! If you look hard over my shoulder in this picture you will see her crawling all over the benches. She also messed around with microphones and the jury box before she got reprimanded by the Judge.

In my defense, how the heck are you suppose to discipline your child in a COURTROOM before the JUDGE who is deeming you fit to adopt a new child?!?

While I wanted to flick her ear or spank her buns, I didn't dare do either. So before she pronounced us Quinn's parents in the eyes of Montgomery County (a mere formality at this point) she tongue and cheek gave us a hard time about the behavior of our kids. (Which mostly just ticked me off.)

Apparently, the Judge is a few years past 3, 3 and under.

Quinn got to meet the Judge and she gave him a tiny little gavel as a keepsake.

As for me, I'd rather forget the whole mess! The court date that is, not the adoption!

Congrats, Quinn! You made it kid. You are a true Buckeye now!

Missing: Snow White

If you happen to find her, please return her to our house.

I *may* have mentioned that I am organizationally challenged a time or two, right? Well, this week, I've officially lost my mind (and several rather important items.) And I'm even annoying myself right now.

I've spent the better part of my relaxing Sunday afternoon looking for several items I've *misplaced* this week. I like to think that one of the three kids is really the culprit (and for 2 of the 3 items, they may be) but as for ALL OF MY WINTER SHOES, SCARVES AND HATS, probably not. Shoot.

After nearly 45 minutes in every closet in the house (let's just say with an old home like ours, storage is NOT an issue) I finally found them. Neatly tucked away in the attic in 2 large Zip Lock storage bags and one diaper box. All appropriately marked, no less. Ha! This time I was actually too efficient for my own good. I never thought to look for them, put away.

As for Turner's other shoe... it may have gone to be with all of the missing socks in our house. A kind of laundry purgatory if you will. But I'm really sad that we can't find this shoe. Mostly because its the only fall shoe we have for him, currently. And its cute. But it loses its cuteness when its frustrating the crap out of you that you can't find its mate.

Then there's the issue of the lost Halloween costume. I was so so so proud of myself this year. I took Olivia out nearly a month and a half ago to a consignment shop to get a jump on a good used costume. We found a lovely Snow White dress. (Shocker, my daughter is insisting on being a princess for Halloween.) And we are now totally committed to the Snow White thing 'cuz the brothers are going as Happy and Bashful dwarf (Steve's aunt MADE their costumes, so cute, ...no turning back now.) I've only let her wear it twice because we're "trying to keep it nice." It occurred to me a few days ago that I have not seen it around lately. But with a lot going on this week, I just didn't spend the energy to go on a dress hunt.

Today, I did. So I'm pretty sure that up in laundry purgatory there is an angel (are there angels there?) wearing one size 7 brown Merril tennis shoe and a Snow White dress up. The angel was hoping to wear a scarf and a winter hat too, but I foiled her plan by discovering the box in the attic.

So if you're trying to find me later this week, I'll be at Target buying a Snow White costume and some shoes. And maybe a new brain.

Under the Sea

My kids are currently glued to The Little Mermaid, Steve is cleaning the upstairs bathroom and since I finished unloading the dishwasher and unpacking from our overnight getaway, I thought I'd take a moment to blog.

Steve, the kids and I went with the group of people we work with on an overnight getaway to "bond." We wanted to go somewhere to enjoy the peak of the fall foliage. And while I complain and make fun of Ohio, THIS is one time of the year it is glorious to live here.

Steve is the king of Internet deals and a few weeks back he booked the group of us several suits on the east side of Columbus. The group checked into all kind of fun outdoors-y kinds of stuff to do (which isn't easy with 5 kids 3 and under and a 6 month old.) It was even more challenging when it began with a torrential down pour yesterday morning and continued on all night.

We went to Granville, which is a beautiful college town... which we saw from the inside of our vehicles. There were several laughs over failing GPS' and washed out roads. We finally made it to a mall where the kids played. Okay, at this mall I discovered perhaps the 9th wonder of the world. A children's clothing store called Crazy 8. HELLO... why has no one told me about this store???

It is a daughter company of Gymboree. Gymboree cuteness without Gymboree prices. I'm in l.o.v.e. Now who do I talk to about getting one to move Dayton? With the promise to spend lots of money there? If you have kids and you like to dress them cute but hate to spend the ridiculous prices out there, I'd HIGHLY encourage you to check this store out. MMMmmm... total kid yummyness.

It was a late night for the kiddos with lots of playing and fun stuff. This morning brought more clouds and threats of rain. But we braved it and off we went to Ohio's largest festival (or so they say) Circleville's Pumpkin festival. It was a virtual sea of humanity with all things pumpkin being offered. Quinn's favorite thing this week has been to point out pumpkins. Fun when you're NOT at a pumpkin festival. When you are at a pumpkin festival it's just downright annoying. "Yep, there's *another* pumpkin, Quinn. We're at a pumpkin festival. You just might see a few. Stop telling me about it."

We watched a pie eating contest that was all too eerily familiar to the scene in Stand By Me with Lard *ss. We ate pumpkin doughnuts and fried bologna sandwiches. It was too cold/too crazy to take pics. So I'll spare you the snotty noses and wind blown tears, I'm sure you can imagine.

So now we're home, unwinding and warming up. We may even carve our own pumpkins tonight. If we're feeling crazy. Thankfully the rain has stopped and we still have one more day of weekend. And all God's people said, "Amen!"