The Kok Family

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Lauren's First Gym Meet

Lauren and Coach Bianca

Lauren with Sammy, her best buddy from the team

Lauren had her first gym meet today and she was pretty excited. She's been a bit nervous the past few days and this morning decided it wasn't really a meet, just a performance...which seemed to make her feel better. Nana & Pa and Ryan, Megan, Hadley, & Carson all came to watch her and we couldn't be more proud. She tried so hard and took it all so seriously. She did a great job and had a blast! Nana & Pa took us all to Menchie's to celebrate afterwards. Such a fun time for our girl!

Teacher Love

Ben really loves his teacher. The other night he told me he wrote her a note on his homework. When I looked at it I died. How sweet is this?! I also love that he wrote his full name underneath and sounded out his middle name, which is Michael if you aren't sure:)

Love how much Ben loves his teacher and kindergarten!

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

American Girl Fashion Show

Last weekend Megan and I took the Hadley and Lauren to the American Girl Fashion Show to benefit Children's Hospital. It was such a beautiful day and the view from Newcastle Country Club was amazing!

**I know, I'm such a dork taking scenic pics but I can't help it, it was so beautiful!

Lauren was super excited because our friends were there too!

Fun to see friends from school!

Hadley & Lauren, practicing their red carpet poses.

It was such a great event and made quite an impression on Miss Lauren. They had a patient from Children's on stage talking about her life with a heart condition and it's all Lauren can talk about now. She is also trying to figure out how she can get herself in the fashion show next year!

Twin Day

Last Friday was twin day! Lauren and her BFF dressed identical and had so much fun. These two really are two peas in a pod!

Randoms

Lauren had this group over to play the other day- 3 of the 4 were in kindergarten together and all 4 were on the same soccer team. I just can't believe how old they seem lately- time is flying by!

Benny helped me make green cookies for St. Patrick's day! Now that I'm back at work we haven't been baking nearly as much as we did last year so it was fun to get to bake with my little baker again!

The latest game- Animal Hospital. Lauren is making signs labeling the animals names and while they are in the hospital. She bandages them all up with athletic tape and then signs their casts. It's pretty funny!

I had a few teachers over from school the other night for dinner! It's been fun getting to know people better and feeling like I'm part of a school again. Lauren LOVED that we had her current teacher and her teacher from last year over- pretty lucky girl!

I've been feeling so thankful for my job lately, so lucky to get to work at my kids' school doing a job I love with great people. I hit the jackpot!

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Trying to catch the Leprechaun!

The kids worked really hard on their leprechaun traps today. Ben's says "Free Gold Up Stairs" and he made stairs in his house to "trap" the Leprechaun. He even put some bubble wrap in his house so the Leprechaun wouldn't get hurt. He really wants to keep him for a pet;)

Lauren made signs to direct him where to go.

She's hoping he'll follow the tape and get trapped in her room.

Can't wait to see if we wake up the proud owners of a little Leprechaun tomorrow...we shall see!

Bus Riders of the Month

Lauren and Ben have the best bus driver ever! "Papa Bear" is retired from his career and is doing this job for fun, he loves kids and is so great with them. Every month he gives out the "Bus Driver of the Month" award and this month Lauren & Ben got it. They were over the moon. He wrote them both really nice cards and gave them key chains for their backpacks. He also called our house & left a message saying what great kids they are. I love that he takes the time to go the extra mile and make kids feel special.

Pics from the week

An amazing new park opened up the street from us, it is so fun! Every time we go we see tons of kids from school!

Kevin and the kids built the fort of all forts the other day!

She still sucks her thumb when she sleeps.

Don't mess with this chess player!

This was Lauren after Hadley's birthday sleepover! A sign of a good party for sure:)

Wednesday, March 05, 2014

Trap

Ben had a friend over after school today. They were pretty quiet for awhile so I came up to see what was going on. They had used 2 full rolls of scotch tape and a roll of crepe paper to make these "traps". Not exactly sure what they were trying to trap since they did it to Ben's room too, but it was pretty funny and they had the best time. Figured it was well worth the wasted tape;)

Wild Turkey

This guy has been trotting around our house today. I saw him in the backyard and tried to get a picture but couldn't. I told Kevin about it and he said perhaps I was drinking "wild turkey" and said "no picture, no proof". I was looking all over for him and didn't see him again, then as we were walking back from the bus stop this afternoon there he was! Poor thing was so freaked out and making crazy sounds. I was sad because as I took this he was running towards the busy hill. Lauren said, "we just might see a carcass on the way to the bus stop tomorrow." Unfortunately, we just might.

Build A Bear

On Sunday we met Hayley at the mall for lunch and Nana surprised the kids with a trip to Build a Bear. They had so much fun picking out and building their new bears!

Bingo Night

Last Saturday was Bingo night for our school and it was a Hawaiian theme.

Lauren was so excited to get to hang out with her buddies on a Saturday night.

Everyone kept asking us where we got these outfits! They were my parents and the clothes Ben & Lauren were were mine and Ryan's when we were kids! Fun that my mom kept them!

Crazy Hair/Hat Day

Last Friday was crazy hair/hat day at school. Lauren really wanted to color her and Ben's hair for the day. It was kind of creepy if you ask me, but they loved it!