Plopper Family

Spring 2011

2011-06-12T10:54:00.000-07:00

Hello, everybody! Josiah here. Since this is Minnesota weather, I'm not actually convinced that spring is over. I mean, we had 104 degree temperatures on Monday and Tuesday followed by 60 degree highs on Wednesday and Thursday. Regardless, the calendar claims that summer is near, so we finally put together our spring video (below).

The spring started with Genevieve's second birthday, ended with Annabelle and Lilia's 4th birthday, and was sprinkled with plenty of activity throughout. I (Josiah) have been busy at work rolling out some of my first projects in my new position at work. Meanwhile, I have been working on another tech certification ( Cisco's CCNA if anyone cares). I also joined the Twin Cities Ultimate League and have been playing with advanced college players once a week. I've played ultimate for a few years now, but the team strategy is taking a bit for me to get the hang of.

Vanessa continues to diligently tutor her 5th grade student once a week and will continue to do so throughout the summer and into the next school year. She has also been hard at work on her latest crafty endeavor. Her new online store - Sew CAPtivating - will be open for business in a few weeks. She's also going to be selling her creations at the Jordan Art Festival at the end of June.

Life with the kiddos continues to be challenging, rewarding, frustrating, hilarious, and just FULL. Life is good :) Stay tuned for our summer adventures, which will include a family vacation to Colorado and Evie's attempts at potty training.

Spring 2011 from Josiah and Vanessa Plopper on Vimeo.

2011-04-01T18:24:00.000-07:00

Greetings friends and family! We apologize for the lengthy delay in posting these videos, but as everyone knows..."we sure have our hands full." Anyway...back by popular demand, here are 3 Plopper vids for your viewing pleasure :)

Footage of the kiddos from this past winter

Winter 2010-11 from Josiah and Vanessa Plopper on Vimeo.

A montage of Genevieve's 2nd year (played at her bday party)

Genevieve's Second Year from Josiah and Vanessa Plopper on Vimeo.

Here's a quick highlight video of Genevieve's Strawberry Shortcake party for those of you who couldn't join us

Evie's 2nd Birthday Party from Josiah and Vanessa Plopper on Vimeo.

Summer and Fall

2010-10-20T12:01:00.000-07:00

Hmmm...can you say "busy"? Yeah, we know the feeling! The summer seemed to fly by and now fall is also coming to an end. Where does the time go?

Here are our most recent videos that give a glimpse into what we've been up to since the spring. Enjoy!

Hooray for Spring!

2010-04-15T11:05:00.000-07:00

The grass is green, the birds are singing, the flowers are blooming - ah, yes...spring is finally here! After a long winter mostly indoors, we are very excited to resume our daily adventures outside. A little warmth and color certainly make the days more enjoyable for everyone.

Annabelle and Lilia are really beginning to look, sound and act like the almost-three-year-olds that they are. We carry on very detailed conversations these days about...everything! Curious is an understatement concerning these two :) Right now they're working on mastering their letter sounds, using complete sentences and understanding gender distinctions (man/woman, boy/girl, he/she).

We are also thrilled to announce that they are potty trained! In March we felt that both girls were more than ready (Siah and I were too!) to say "goodbye diapers" and "hello potty ". Josiah and I came up with a detailed battle plan in hopes of making the whole process as short and painless as possible. So after one weekend of intensive training (no diapers, no pants, lots of accidents) and a few weeks of "hit or miss" we finally are at a point where both girls are consistantly using the potty. They're even staying dry/clean through the night! Whoot, Whoot!

Of course, the coming of spring also marks the birthday of our beloved Evie Lynn, who turned one on March 26th. As a special treat, Pa-pa and Nana Warren and Uncle J.T. flew in from CO to help celebrate :) She also had a surprise visit from her Great Aunt Debbie, who also lives in CO. Our thanks to all for showing your love and being a part of Evie's special day.

At 12 months, Genevieve is not quite walking but she loves to pull herself up onto chairs and tables and stand like a big girl. Our hardwood floors are admittedly a little slippery, so learning to toddle during the summer, when little feet can be bare, will probably prove helpful. She loves to chatter and has a few distinct words in her vocabulary (Mama, Dada, hi, bye, uh oh). Evie is also quite the soundbox and can "bark" and "quack" not to mention give "kisses" and imitate her older sisters when they let loose with a not-so-lady-like "toot".

As you all have probably heard by now, we are expecting our fourth child in late September. "4.0", as this little one is being affectionately called, is doing well and getting BIG. In a few weeks we'll find out what we are having...so stay tuned.

Siah is forever working hard and finding the balance between his job and family. In recognition of his outstanding work ethic and certification success, he was given a well-deserved raise this past month. The girls and I are SO proud of him! His plans for summer include playing on the church softball team, going on a canoeing trip with his good friend Matt Baxley and attending his younger brother's wedding in August. Congrats to Anthony and Megan on their upcoming nuptials! We are so excited for you both and can't wait to have Megan as our sister :)

As for me, I will continue to tutor through out the summer and work on growing my business called Liabelle Eve. There are several opportunities that I am very excited about and busily preparing for. The first is a new clothing and gift boutique that just opened in Jordan called "Needful Things". The owner is looking to offer customers fun and unique items that they can't find anywhere else. I'm currently creating some custom frames for her shop - and am totally psyched by the prospect of Liabelle Eve being sold in such a cute and classy store :)

Every June our little town of Jordan has a 2-day art festival. One of the city streets is closed down and artists from all over the Twin Cities area come and set up booths in order to display their wares. There is live entertainment, food vendors and fun family activities throughout the weekend. This year I applied to be a participating artist and was accepted! Yes, Liabelle Eve will have a booth at the festival - so if you're passing though Jordan on June 26 or 27 - stop on by!

Spring and summer look to be fun and busy for our family, so please check back soon for 4.0's big announcement, Annabelle and Lilia's birthday and future footage of our summer adventures :) For now, enjoy our early spring video and a special bonus feature that highlights Genevieve's first year!

Christmas in a Winter Wonderland

2010-01-12T08:40:00.001-08:00

Hello loved ones near and far! We hope you had a wonderful holiday season full of family and fun.

I think it safe to say that we enjoyed a VERY white Christmas this year. After a solid week of heavy snowfall in mid-December, the ground remains covered in a heavy blanket of white - perfect for sledding, building snowmen and eating (just ask Lilia... who can't seem to help herself). We cheer when temperatures climb above 20 degrees - those are the days we bundle up and brave the wild winter weather. If it were up to Anna and Lili, they would stay outside all day long. Promises of hot chocolate are the only way to lure them back inside :)

Evie is now 9 months old and on the move! She is a master of the army-crawl and can roll, twist and turn her way into all sorts of trouble. In the last few days she has also displayed her new climbing talents and it's only a matter of time before she starts "cruising" (pulling herself up to standing by using a piece of furniture and then taking sideways shuffling steps). She is most definitely a Mommy's girl, but her face never fails to light up when she sees her sisters. Playing peek-a-boo with them is one of her favorite activities.

Josiah is still hard at work at Vital Images. When not at work, he enjoys ultimate frisbee (yes, even in the winter). He has also taken the girls sledding a few times this winter and they LOVED it. When it's too cold to go "for real" sledding, he takes the girls sledding inside. This consists of pulling them around the house on a blanket. Since we have wood floors, this works pretty well.

I (Vanessa) am still a woman of many hats. My one-on-one tutoring sessions with Mara, my 4th grade student, are going well and she is making progress. Being able to teach, even in such a minimal capacity, is really meaningful to me and good for the soul.

Being home with the girls is getting easier by the day as A. and L. become more self-dependent and Evie adopts the same eating/sleeping schedule as her sisters. The twins are beginning to pay a little more attention to baby sis...but mostly they just like to boss her around. Sometimes poor Evie must feel like she has 3 mommies!

Liabelle Eve (the framing business) continues to be a pleasant hobby for me. I took a small break for the holidays, but plan to get back to work soon. A local gift shop is interested in selling some of my newer designs...which is really exciting! In the next few months I also will begin adding more frames to my Etsy shop and gearing up for the Jordan Art Festival (June 26th & 27th).

And now, as usual, here is our latest video. Enjoy!

Fall 2009

2009-11-03T17:19:00.000-08:00

Goodbye Swimsuit - Hello Scarf :(

We were sad to see summer go, but there were plenty of fun fall activities to keep us busy! Take a look at the video for a brief glimpse into our awesome autumn!

p.s. The girls are constantly getting into mischief and making us laugh and shake our heads at the same time . There was too much footage for the fall flick, so we decided to feature each of them in a small video clip. Enjoy!

Fall 2009 Footage

Genevieve Digs the Momma Peek-A-Boo

Lilia's Not Scared of that Fly!

Annabelle caught red handed!

Summer Fun

2009-09-17T19:06:00.000-07:00

The rest of summer after the Plopper family reunion went very quickly. Summer highlights include Vanessa's trip to Rhode Island and Josiah's completed certification. In late August, Vanessa and Genevieve flew to visit Carin (Vanessa's close friend from high school) while I (Josiah) watched the girls. Okay, I did have some grandparental assistance by bringing them to my parents house, but I did watch them for a full day and night on my own. :) Also, I managed to finish off my Microsoft certification, which I started back in January. It was five-test certification that ended with some quality knowledge and a sweet logo (left).

Most of summer, however, was spent here in Jordan, over in New Prague, or down in Rochester with family. In Jordan, we enjoy hitting up the parks, playing in our yard, or going on walks. The girls love to collect "pops" (dandelion puffs) or "piecones" (pinecones) and then bring their loot back to their castle in the backyard . "Paydough" (Play Doh) is also a big hit these days. A & L are now pros at "rolling and stamping" and only on rare occasions try to eat their creations :)
Vanessa has been working like crazy on a hobby/business of making custom frames. As with everything Vanessa does, they're extremely high quality and incredibly creative. If you haven't seen her Etsy site or pictures of her frames, you should definitely check them out - your eyes are in for a treat! She currently has her work displayed at a local framing/gift shop called "The Main ARTery" so if you are passing though Jordan, stop on by!

When we're not sticking to our routine in Jordan, we may be over at Gma and Gpa's in New Prague. The girls have a blast splashing in the pool and tossing beans (a Midwest lawn game) just like the grown-ups. It's refreshing for all of us to sit outside in the late evening enjoying quality grilled food. If we go out of town, we most likely travel to Rochester to hang with Grandma and Grandpa. Endless hours are spent in the sandbox, on the swing set, or just eating fresh produce that seems to be growing everywhere there. We always come back so revitalized after getting away and being with close family.

That's about all from us. Enjoy the picture album and video below.

Click for our Summer Photo Album.

If you want to download the QuickTime version of the video from my dropbox, click here.

June Birthdays and the Family Reunion

2009-07-05T19:19:00.000-07:00

June was a fun-filled month for our family. Our little sweethearts, Annabelle and Lilia, turned two on the 7th of June. Wow, how time seems to fly! My babies are growing up fast and becoming such curious, bright and feisty little girls. The twins were very excited about their "Thomas the Train" party and seemed to catch on quickly that the day was all about them :) Here is a video that captures a bit of the celebration. We missed those of you who were not able to join us - but thanks again to everyone (near and far) who helped make it a such special day for the girls.

The Thomas Party

The end of June was also a time of celebration and family. The entire Plopper/Gaetano clan gathered at the farm in Rochester for what affectionately came to be called "Plopper Camp". We all were able to reconnect, hang out, and do some fun activities. A favorite with the kids (and adults) was a place called "The House of Bounce". I'm sure you've all seen those incredibly large, inflatable bouncing houses at one time or another...now image an entire warehouse space filled with them! Yes, it was pretty awesome and as the video will show, I think the big kids had just as much fun as the little ones.
There also was a "Ladies' Night" where all of the girls were able to get out for awhile and leave the kids with the guys. We decided to take a walk on the creative side and visit a place called "Color Me Mine". Each of us picked a piece of pottery and created our very own masterpiece :)
Back on the farm, playing outside and enjoying wonderful meals were popular pastimes. Annabelle and Lilia LOVED running wild with their cousins. Lets just say that they slept VERY well each night. It was also cute to see all of the baby cousins meet for the first time. Abigail (9 months) and Cate (7 months) are already crawling, but it won't be long until Evie (3 months) catches up. In no time these girls will be like the 3 Musketeers - causing mischief together and being the best of friends.
It was wonderful to see everyone and slightly bittersweet knowing that it will be quite awhile until we are able to do it again.

Here is a highlight video of the reunion for those who might be interested.

Plopper Family Reunion

Spring Adventures

2009-05-31T16:48:00.000-07:00

We're back! For those who check the blog monthly, our apologies for not posting an April video - we've been busy! The footage that you will see in our most recent video is from April and May.

Spring has just flown by for us. I (Vanessa) have recovered fully from my surgery and am now getting back into the exercise groove. My goal is to lose all of the weight I gained with Evie by mid July (and my 10 year class reunion). If I reach that milestone, I will then try to tackle the 10 or so extra pounds that hung around after the twins were born. Oh to have my old clothes fit normally again... I am also motivated by the fact that I have more energy to keep up with the girls when I exercise regularly :)

Siah continues to chip away at his certification, dedicating one night a week to staying late at work and studying. He also has been hard at work developing a budget plan for us. I'm not sure if you've ever heard of Dave Ramsey, but he is Siah's current hero. Ramsey has written books and has a radio program dedicated to helping people manage their money and become debt-free. Siah has been very encouraged by some of his strategies and has created a plan to keep us on the path that rocks (meaning we pay off all our debts and start saving to become millionaires! :) No really though, it is helpful to have a financial game plan for the next few years since money is definitely something that can create a lot of stress in a marriage. I am grateful to have a husband that is looking out for us and always thinking one step ahead.

Even though things are busy with 3 little ones, I have been blessed with a very good-natured baby. Evie is content with her schedule of sleep - be changed - eat - be held. She is already sleeping 5-6 hours a night, much to the joy and relief of her Mommy. Her biggest complaint is being left alone in a quiet room for too long - I guess she is used to the constant noise that her sisters create. If you look closely while watching the video, you can see subtle changes in Evie (mostly just her cheeks getting chubbier!) I'm not sure how much she currently weighs, but she has outgrown her newborn clothes (which means she's at least a 13 pounder!) I love hearing her little voice when she coos and if the mood strikes her, she will bless you with one of her beautiful grins (although it might just be due to gas :)

Anna and Lili are fast approaching their 2nd birthday. They are currently in love with trains (Thomas in particular) so we decided to make them the theme of their birthday party. Words are becoming more clear and are beginning to be put together into sentences. Gosh! Our babies are on the brink of becoming little girls.

Even though they are developing by leaps and bounds, there are still times when they become frustrated with their inability to communicate what they want/need. This usually results in what we have come to call "fits". To give you a visual, imagine 30 pounds of inconsolable toddler throwing herself on the ground, spinning in circles and screaming at the top of her lungs. And to make things even more interesting, Annabelle is currently in a funk where she will throw a fit for no reason at all (sigh). I am assured by others that the "terrible twos" are merely a phase and that "this too will pass".

Just this weekend we converted the girls' cribs into toddler beds. Let's just say that there were a few "incidences" that convinced us they were ready for the change. In the past week, both girls successfully busted out of bed and ended up landing face-first on the floor (ouch). That first night was a little rough since Siah and I had to keep reminding/disciplining them to stay in their own bed. They always think it is great fun to switch and be in "sissy's bed" (even though the beds are identical - go figure).

Well, we hope you enjoy the new footage. Stay tuned for scenes from the big birthday bash!

2009-04-04T16:14:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

Well, as you can guess, our biggest news this month is the arrival of our sweet Genevieve Lynn. Much to her Mommy's delight, she decided to come during the day rather than in the middle of the night or very early morning. For those who are interested, the story of her birth is as follows...

I (Vanessa) had been having "fake" contractions for 3 weeks or so before Evie's birth and had thought on several occasions that those annoying contractions might be the real deal. So when I was contracting again on the night of March 25th, I ignored the twinges/cramping and went to sleep. On the morning of the 26th, I awoke at 7:45 AM feeling more severe contractions. I was just getting up to start the day and get the twins out of bed when my water broke. It was a strange experience but I was psyched because I knew that I would be meeting Evie sometime in the next few hours. Siah had already left for work, so I had to call him home and also contact my parents, who were standing by in order to watch Annabelle and Lilia.

After arriving at the hospital, my labor pains and contractions continued to increase. My birth plan was to try and deliver Evie naturally. The twins had been born via c-section, so the type of delivery I was attempting is called a VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section). There were some risks that the doctor pointed out (such as rupturing along the scar tissue from the previous c-section) and also some limitations that made my labor a bit more complicated. Women attempting VBAC cannot be given drugs, such as pitocin, to help the labor progress because of the risk of rupture.

After 7 hours of labor and painful contractions, my cervix was still barely open. The doctor measured my contractions (using a special device) and confirmed that they were not strong enough on their own to get the job done. As I mentioned before, I was not allowed to have any drugs to assist my labor, so it became pretty clear that our best option was to deliver Evie via c-section. To be honest, after laboring unsuccessfully for that long, I didn't care how she came out - just that she came out SOON!

Preparations for the c-section went very quickly and I was whisked into the operating room. The surgery went smoothly and Genevieve was delivered at 5:49 PM. She had a great Apgar (newborn health test) score and was wide awake when placed in her Mommy's arms for the first time after the surgery. Seeing her beautiful little face made all of the pain worth it :)

As for me, the first few days after the surgery were the most uncomfortable, but it amazes me how quickly the body can heal. My biggest frustration is the fact that I am not allowed to lift objects that are heavier than the new baby for a least two weeks. This was very hard to explain to the twins, who are used to Mommy being the one to lift and carry them around. I have to repeatedly show them my tummy and tell them that "Mommy has an owie and cannot pick you up". I'm not sure if they fully understand, but they now like to point at my tummy and say "Momma owie".

All I have to say is THANK GOODNESS FOR FAMILY! My parents volunteered to watch the girls while Siah and I were in the hospital, which was so helpful. Annabelle and Lilia had a great time at G-ma and G-pa's house :) This past week Siah's mom, Cindy, came and stayed with us in order to help out as I recovered from the surgery. She was such a blessing - taking over the cooking duties and helping out with the girls. I don't know what we would have done without her!!! Siah has also been able to be home and has been such a good Daddy to all of his girls.

Lastly, I would like to thank everyone for their calls, gifts, and well-wishes. It is such a joy to be able to celebrate such a wonderful moment in life with loved ones. We hope you enjoy the video featuring the newest member of our family :)

A family of five

2009-04-02T20:16:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, Genevieve Lynn!!!

2009-03-28T08:35:00.000-07:00

She's here! Genevieve Lynn ("Lynn" in honor of her Nana Warren who also has the middle name "Lynn") has arrived. She was born on March 26 at 5:49PM. She weighed 6.9 lbs and was a little over 18 inches long. The birth was by C-section and everything went very well. Vanessa will be coming home Sunday morning with "Evie" and the family of five will begin to get settled. Of course, we'll be putting together a video later, but in the meanwhile here's a few pictures for anyone interested.

Genevieve Lynn

January and February Highlights

2009-03-02T10:18:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!

Sorry it has taken us so long to publish an update, but we have had a busy couple of months! Vanessa has been hard at work preparing for the baby since it won't be long now till Evie is here! She spent a few weeks painting and decorating the nursery in a "garden theme"(to see pictures, click on the album below). Annabelle and Lilia have their pink and purple "butterfly room" so we thought we would do something a little different for Evie. Going with green and blue as our main colors, we added other vivid shades in the form of daisy flowers. From all the kicking and movement that she has displayed in Mommy's tummy, it seemed only fitting that her room be vibrant - just like her. The countdown is on...only a matter of weeks (or days if she decides to come meet everyone early!) and then everything changes once again. If anyone would like to volunteer for the 2 AM or 4 AM feeding, just let me know :)

Genevieve

Siah has been busy around the house and at his job. A network update project that he was part of recently kept him at work till 4:30 in the morning!!! He also has been studying quite a bit in order to obtain additional computer certification - which we are told, makes him more marketable. Siah passed his first test with flying colors and is currently studying for test #2, which he will be taking in a few weeks. In addition to all that, he also tackled our taxes, wired up PC compatibility with our TV, and taught the babies how to spin around in circles till they fell down dizzy - yes, he's a man of many talents.

Annabelle and Lilia continue to grow and change at a crazy pace. As you will see in the video, they LOVE to color and are also now able to sit and focus on things (books, puzzles, TV shows, etc.) for a longer period of time. Part of our daily ritual is watching Sesame Street. They know all of the characters, but Elmo is still their obsession (see video for proof). The girls also love to read, which is very rewarding to see as a parent. They are experts on identifying various animals and knowing what sounds they make. In the past few weeks, they also have been learning shapes, colors, and how to count to ten. We also have been talking about the potty a lot, but they are not quite able to tell us in advance when they need to use it - maybe in a few months. We're not sure what their reaction will be to having another sister, but they are becoming quite the little helpers around the house with cooking and cleaning. Perhaps they will enjoy helping Mommy with baby sister too.

Well, stay tuned for an announcement in the near future...and a video next month that will feature the newest Plopper!

Enjoy the video below...and keep watching after it ends to see some special Elmo footage.

Josiah Visits Oklahoma

2009-02-12T19:27:00.000-08:00

Recently I took a trip to visit my brother, Anthony in Oklahoma. It was a blast. Just wanted to post the video and let you all know that I'll be posting the next twins video soon.

Christmas Goodness

2009-01-10T14:25:00.000-08:00

December was a month of family. We spent time with my parents both in Rochester and here in Jordan. My brother, Anthony, is back from college for the winter break, so we were able to catch up with him as well. On Christmas Eve, we celebrated with Vanessa's side of the family (the Murtaughs). Vanessa's grandmother from Colorado was also visiting MN for the holidays so Lilia and Annabelle were able to spend time with their Uri! The girls, of course, got more presents than they (or we) know what to do with, but we greatly appreciate everyone's generosity.

Here are some photos and a quick video from Christmas. You can click the photo slideshow if you'd like to see larger pictures. Enjoy!

High Quality

Regular (Slower Internet Connection)

November Thankfulness

2008-12-04T18:29:00.001-08:00

November was excellent. We got our first snowfall early on, and as the girls repeated, "noe (snow)", we watched and celebrated. It was as if a million diamonds had been scattered about Jordan. The beauty alone was reason to celebrate, but we also celebrated our birthday. For those of you who don't know, Vanessa and I have the same birthday: November 9. As Vanessa and I turned 28 and 26 respectively, we welcomed Catherine Rose (our new niece) to the November 9th birthday club. What a great present!

Towards the end of the month, we drove to South Bend, Indiana where were celebrated Thanksgiving with Josiah's side of the family. My older brother Eli is pursuing his PhD at Notre Dame and so lives there with Kathryn and his three delightful kids. Although the drive was long, it was worth it. We got to stay in the "party house"- so named because Kathryn's parents own and rent it out for Notre Dame-related parties. With a finished attic, decked out basement, and spacious first and second floor, we had plenty of room to visit with everyone. The food was fabulous and the Wii system was thoroughly entertaining. The coolest thing was all of the kids. It seemed like there were kids and babies EVERYWHERE. Although somewhat stressful, I consider this one of the greatest blessings on earth.
Back in Jordan we're now gearing up for Christmas. We bought these cool lights for outside, but I haven't had time to hang them yet. Maybe this weekend. We'll get a tree too. In my opinion, a real home needs a real tree for traditional Christmas goodness to manifest (wow, I should copywrite that). Anyway, we're doing well. Thankfully, Vanessa continues to feel well as our baby girl grows bigger daily. We've been discussing various names for the new baby, but haven't decided anything yet. That's all from the JV Plopper Co. Until next time, this is Josiah signing off. Enjoy the vid (the top one is normal quality and the bottom one is high quality)

Normal (slower Internet connections)

High Quality (faster connections)

Announcing...

2008-11-10T19:16:00.000-08:00

On November 7th we had our 20 week ultrasound. This is the "big one" where the doctors look to make sure that the baby is growing normally and all of the major organs are functioning. Since there was only one baby this time, the images were much clearer so we could see what was going on with the little one. All four chambers of our baby's heart, the kidneys, the brain, and much more were revealed through the marvels of technology - amazing.

Everything is right on track and looking great :) With no trouble at all, the very nice woman conducting the ultrasound was able to see that we are having...another GIRL! Yes, the girls rule around here and Siah remains greatly outnumbered. Maybe next time...

Ouch!

2008-11-10T18:33:00.001-08:00

Typically, we don't post more than once a month. I thought this video warranted an early viewing...

We thought this video bears a striking resemblance to the infamous "Charlie bit my finger" youtube video that you can see here...

October - Beautiful Autumn

2008-11-04T17:03:00.000-08:00

October has come and gone here in Minnesota. As we await the cold of winter, we reflect on the last season. This year was particularly gorgeous as temperatures ranged from 40-65 degrees, and the colors on the trees lasted for about three weeks. We did our best to take advantage of the colorful outdoors.

One weekend, we went to the apple orchard about 5 minutes from our house. The girls took their first wagon ride, enjoyed some fresh off-the-tree apples, and eyed up some massive pumpkins. That same weekend, we also had a house-warming party. Most of Vanessa's extended family attended. After a tour of the house, we all headed to the Jordan park where adults talked and Annabelle and Lilia played. Finally, at the end of the month we took the girls for their first trick-or-treat experience. Walking up to each door, they'd say, "Dang koo, Dang koo (thank you)", and hold our their bucket. It was overwhelmingly cute watching our little pumpkins in action.

I (Josiah) am still working away at Vital Images. The work continues to be stimulating as I learn more and more. I've been listening to podcasts during the commute. Some of my favorites are NPR's Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me, Stuff you should Know by howstuffworks.com, and The Moth podcast. Vanessa quit her tutoring job at Sylvan because it was...well...really not what she was looking for (seriously, stuffing envelopes?). Right after that, she connected with a couple of students for "homework help" tutoring. She currently tutors two students for a total of 6-8 hours a week. She's loving the creative outlet and the extra money is very nice, especially with Christmas just around the corner.

And last, but not least, let's not forget our third child whose big day draws nearer. He or she is about six inches long now and giving Vanessa the occasional kick here and there. This Friday, we have Vanessa's twenty week appointment where they should be able to tell us the sex of the baby. We'll announce it once we know.

That's October in a nutshell. Enjoy the video!

September - Babies Groovin'

2008-10-04T10:32:00.000-07:00

Fall is now upon us here in Minnesota. As nature slows in preparation for the cold winter ahead, the babies are becoming increasingly active. And by "babies", we mean all three!!! Yup, that's right, we've got another one on the way! Vanessa is about 15 weeks along (due date = March 29, 2009) and feeling pretty good. She had her first appointment and the baby is healthy and growing well.

As for the girls, they're trotting around the house with ease, climbing stairs chattering "ub, ub" (up, up), and even dancing once and awhile.

Click the album below to check out some fall pictures.

Fall, 2008

We had a great first month in our new house. There was a couple of parades that came right past our house: the city of Jordan parade and the homecoming parade. Annabelle and Lilia just soak up all the action with smiles an giggles. The girls also went to the New Prague parade with Grandma and Grandpa Murtaugh. On the other weekend, we went to visit Grandma and Grandpa Plopper where we visited the Byron zoo.

Besides the girls, life is cruising along for V and me. I'm continuing to learn new techy things at work and listening to a variety of Podcasts during the commute. Vanessa is cooking like an all-star and working a few hours every week at Sylvan Learning Center. We're still hoping she can get a few students of her own as a private tutor.

That's about all from us. As always, here's the video for September.

August Move

2008-09-05T10:44:00.000-07:00

Life has been good this last month. The girls are walking, chattering, and playing more like little girls and less like babies every day. The biggest update, of course, is our new home in Jordan, MN. The drive to my work takes about 30 minutes now (check out my route), but it is well worth upgraded living. I've been listening to audio books on the way to work, which makes the drive much more enjoyable.

View Larger Map

Vanessa has been a busy bee: taking care of the girls, spiffing up the new house, exploring our new community, and working part time as a tutor for Sylvan Learning Center. She also has been in contact with some of the local schools in attempts oto secure some private tutoring. Below you'll find a short tour of our home (beautifully narrated by Vanessa) as well as the video footage of the girls from August. Enjoy!

Fun in the sun: July babies

2008-08-03T18:23:00.000-07:00

July was a fun month of new experiences for the girls: dancing to music, learning to stand alone, swimming in pools, and playing with friends. They're really starting to interact with each other now. Last week they were taking turns chasing each other around the house, giggling nonstop. And the week before that, they were pulling on each others hair, crying like...well...babies. They're also consistently using some words now. Some of their words include "Cahka" for cracker, or "Woof-Woof" for dog (or any animals really), or "SisssSisss" for sister. It's always fun when they learn new words.

Meanwhile, Vanessa and I have been gearing up to move to our new house in Jordan. We've been finalizing the details of the sale as we close on August 18th. We'll be moving in approximately three weeks, so we've been gathering boxes, making checklists, and packing some non-essential items.

The following video capture some of the highlights from July. Enjoy!

A trip to the Zoo

2008-07-29T20:00:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, we went to the Minnesota Zoo. We got a couple free passes from a co-worker of mine, so we figured we should check it out. It was well worth it! I think we appreciated the HUGE variety of animals more than the girls, but they were impressed by plenty of other things. They were very fond of the giant sprinklers (which Mom drove them through!). They also seemed to be amazed by the fish in the aquarium. At any rate, we took a bit of video footage. That's always more fun that reading my account. Enjoy!

June in Retrospect

2008-07-07T18:20:00.000-07:00

After the girls' 1st birthday party, Vanessa and I got a little present of our own. We finally found (and bought) the house that we just love! Click here to see the MLS photos. Okay, if you clicked the link, you just discovered that MLS# 3557712 was not found. Uh yeah, that's because WE BOUGHT IT! Here is a pictures that I scanned in...

The house is about 35 minutes from my work, so it looks like we're in the market for a little beater car as well. I was thinking maybe a Mazda Miata MX-5, but I don't want to skimp. After all, you get what you pay for. :)

The babies are growing up so quickly! They are now jabbering non-stop, stealing toys from each other, and walking with the assistance of furniture. I love it when they're sitting and they reach up as if to say, "Hold me. I want to be held now!" The other highlight is listening to them laugh. They experience so much joy from the most simple things. Check out the video below to see what I mean.

The joys of June were topped off with a wonderful Plopper family reunion in Rochester. Vanessa and I even left the girls with Grandma and Grandpa for an overnight date to La Crosse and the Murtaugh's cabin. The rest of the week was spent playing games, eating delicious food, and enjoying the rare chance to see siblings from all across the country. We played games like ladder ball, croquet, ping-pong, frisbee, or cards. We even hosted a ping-pong tournament where I got rocked and Eli reigned supreme. The food was fresh...as in twenty five feet from the house fresh. We ate fresh strawberries, lettuce, and chives mixed with the delicious entrees. The best thing, however, was just being with my family. Check out the video below to see some of the highlights.

Happy Birthday Babies!

2008-06-10T19:23:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we celebrated the girls' first birthday. We used the apartment clubhouse where we could use the grills, big screen TV, and extra space. There were about twenty people in attendance for the shin-dig, and the girls just soaked it all in. They seemed to enjoy all of the attention as well as all of the frosting they could pack down. Unfortunately, our digital camera is in the shop, so the video below was made with love from donations of photos and videos. Enjoy!

Mothers Day

2008-05-11T10:12:00.000-07:00

Happy Mothers Day! Obviously, this day absorbs even more meaning once you have your own kids. If you're reading this and you're a mother, then please accept our warmest praise. Mothers make the world a great place.

This last month's highlight's included:

Hanging out with the extended family in Rochester
Touring numerous houses in our seemingly endless search for a home

First off, the time in Rochester was grand. My brother Eli and his two kids, Stephen and Eliana, were there for the weekend. My sister Amy flew in with her son Dominic for the get-together. And let's not forget the grandparents, Steve and Cindy, who graciously hosted the shin-dig. It was especially fun to watch the cousins interact now that they're becoming more sociable. As the children played, I had this strange moment where I realized (once again) that I'm the "adult" now. See, when I was growing up, there were always two main groups at family get-togethers: the adults and the kids. The kids were always the ones running around the house, playing on the floor, and generally causing more noise. The adults, meanwhile, were always the ones doing boring stuff like sitting around and talking. This weekend, I was sitting on the couch talking to my siblings while the kids were playing on the floor. How weird...I am an adult now! It's the circle of life I guess. (do you hear the Elton John music?)

The other big adventure has been house hunting. Vanessa typically peruses the MLS realty listings for anything that might match our criteria. After she adds all of the houses from a given area to her favorites, we look through them together. With that list in hand, we usually take a family drive to the houses and check out the neighborhood. If we like everything we've seen, we set up a tour of the home and take plenty of pictures. We haven't found the right match yet, but we're still looking and we've got time.

Well, that's about it from Minnesota. We hope you enjoy the video for this month.

Spring House Hunting

2008-04-14T17:03:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Minnesota!!! Two snow-storms later, the temperatures are finally staying above freezing. Yesterday Vanessa and I relaxed on the patio discussing our latest venture -- house hunting. Yes, it's true. We've been looking at houses online, driving through neighborhoods, and taking tours of homes with our realtor. We've also been crunching the numbers in attempts to determine how much we can afford. At first it was quite intimidating due to our ignorance, but now I think we're gaining the confidence to enjoy the whole process.

Meanwhile, the girls are changing every day. Although they haven't mastered the typical all-fours baby crawl, they're both quite proficient at the army-crawl. I suspect they'll simply skip the whole crawling business and go straight to walking. Lilia is already pulling herself up on anything she can get her hands on. There's a certain love/hate relationship between Lilia and the coffee table. When she's using it for support to shuffle sideways, she loves it. When she loses her balance and hits her head, she hates it. Such is life, baby girl. Annabelle is a bit more reserved about things such as standing. I'm sure she's performed a cost/benefit analysis and determined that attempting to stand right now is just not worth it. After all, Lilia has "bonked" way more times than Annabelle. Annabelle has decided to rock the jumper and postpone walking until a later time.

My job is still going well. I learn new things everyday and love the endless technologies. I've been (slowly) making my way through a Microsoft credential book (MCSE), but after a long day at the computer(s) I usually opt just to hang out with the ladies. My other great enjoyment during the week is ultimate frisbee every Saturday. The sport is far more enjoyable at 50 degrees than at 0 though! (yes, we played all winter) Vanessa has developed quite a knack for cooking. Though her high standards make learning the art difficult, she's really quite an ace in the kitchen. Last week we had chicken wellington, beef stir-fry, chicken dumpling soup, cauliflower and cheese soup...just to name a few. Between cooking, cleaning, and the babies' demands, she hasn't much time. She loves going for walks with the girls some days, and taking solo trips to the library or mall some nights.

Well, the video this time is pretty short due to lack of quality clips, but it does show the girls and their beautiful changes. We hope you enjoy it.

Marching into Spring

2008-03-16T14:58:00.000-07:00

Ah, spring is (almost) here! Just last week, I got into our minivan after work and it was already (slightly) warm inside! Imagine that! And then, just to be bold, I (barely) cracked my windows and (nearly) took off my jacket. I think the temp was around 45 degrees (and dropping). Beautiful! The girls are digging the warmer weather too. They get to go on walks with Mom somewhere other than the mall. As you'll see in the video, they're exploring everything in their line of sight. Earlier this morning they "assisted" me in tearing the insulating plastic off the patio doors. I was planning to wait a bit longer (in case we get one more cold snap), but I guess the girls had their own plans. I was typing at the computer when I heard a "riiiiiiiip" as they pulled about two feet of plastic off the pane. I guess they're anxious for (real) spring too.

Life in February

2008-02-17T11:19:00.000-08:00

February, 2008

A great game for a great weekend. That's how Super Bowl weekend went down in Rochester. I took Monday off, so we were all able to spend a full-weekend there and still have extra time for driving back. With the pellet stove on full blast, we stayed inside and out of the sub-zero temperatures. The home-cooked food was, as usual, simply amazing and the company was fine. We watched movies, played cards, ate food, drank coffee, ate food, drank more coffee and even got a few games of ping-pong in.

The last couple of weeks since then have been pretty chill. I (Josiah) am getting busier at work. I just had my first week of being on call. I cover the IT support line from 4:30-10PM every night, and on the weekend from 8AM-9PM. If anyone calls or emails, it's my job to get them all fixed up. It pays a little extra through, so I don't mind. Vanessa has been busy at home with the babies. She, more than anyone, wishes spring would come. They're all sick of being cooped up in the house while it's too cold to go outside.

Well, the following video roughly captures the day in the life of the girls...minus the dirty diapers, extra feedings, and occasional crying jag. Enjoy.

January - PICTURES, NEW VIDEO

2008-01-31T18:42:00.000-08:00

SETTLING.4 a: to become quiet or orderly b: to take up an ordered or stable life

January, 2008

It feels like life has calmed down a bit now. The newness of moving has begun to fade, and we've established a normal routine. Our life experience is larglely an outgrowth of that schedule. I typically get to work between 7:30 and 8 (unless I work out beforehand). The babies wake up around 7AM. I'm answering phone calls, setting up computers, and attending meetings all day. Meanwhile, back at the house, Vanessa works hard to feed the girls, change diapers, bake goodies, do laundry, and clean the house. I get home around 5ish, and we all sit down to dinner. Following dinner, the girls play (meaning, they roll around on the floor) until 6:30 or so. We feed them their final bottles and they're off to bed around 7. After 7 Vanessa and I will typically watch TV, read, surf the internet, or chat about the day. We then hit they hay around 10 and the cycle starts anew the next morning. Some people hate this type of life...we love it! Time flies by!

We're also starting to meet people. We went to lunch with a couple from church (Georgia, Jason, and 6-month-old Lucy) and had a great time. Vanessa has since gotten together with Georgia and Lucy a couple times. As expected, I'm starting to get to know more and more people at work. We still regularly visit our parents. It seems we're seeing Vanessa's parents or mine nearly every week. Either we go there or they come here. That aspect of living in Minnesota is delightful. On the other hand, it was -15 F the other morning with a -40 windchill...not so delightful.

Finally, as a part of our settling, I've sold all of my video equipment and we bought a new desk, chair, and iMac. We love the iMac! It's so slim, smooth, fast...yeah, I could go on for awhile, but I'll spare you. We do have Skype though, so if you ever would like to video chat zip us an email and we'll get connected! Skype is free and video-chatting is sweet! We were without a home computer for awhile though, which is our excuse for not posting in some time. Hopefully, we'll be posting every couple of weeks. In the meantime, enjoy the video. As you can see, the girls are certainly laughing a lot!

Babies' First Christmas + NEW VIDEO!

2007-12-29T12:18:00.000-08:00

It's Christmas Eve. The Plopper family is gathered around the table enjoying yet another delicious meal. The ornate candle centerpiece glows with a warmth symbolic of the wonderful communion. While the adults are chatting about their lives, Lilia and Annabelle are having a conversation entirely their own.

"What IS that!!?? It tastes soooo good!" Lilia exclaimed.
"Mmm... I think they called it cray-on-berry sauce, and it's okay. The stuff called mashed potatoes is really to die for." Annabelle replied.
"Na, I'll stick with the red sauce. Mmmm....," as Lilia gobbled up some more, "I think I like it even more than the stuff in the bottles."
"Well, don't tell Mom that." Annabelle cautioned, "She'd be offended."
"Don't worry, sis, they can't understand our secret twin language anyway."

Christmas was quite lovely down in Rochester. We certainly had no need to "dream of white Christmas," for the ground was covered in a nice blanket of snow. It was so sweet to see all of my siblings and their families: Antho from Oklahoma, Eli and Kathryn from Indiana, and Amy and Matt from Pennsylvania.

In retrospect, three events mark this Christmas in my memory. First, we had a great sock exchange. Rather than using traditional red "santa" stockings, we actually stuffed dress socks full of treats and gave the whole thing as a gift.

Second, we each decorated a coffee mug for future personal use. See, my dad (Steve) got sick of repeatedly washing coffee cups. Indeed it would be so easy to use one's mug again except for the fact that it's terribly difficult to remember which is yours. With each person having his or her own personalized mug, this should never be a problem again!

Finally, my parents just got a ping-pong table, so we spent countless hours in the newly finished basement batting the ball Anthony and I even arranged a family-wide tournament. Anthony and Amy currently reign as champions of the men's and women's divisions.

The video below includes footage from most of December. Enjoy.

Thanksgiving and December life

2007-12-08T20:56:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving. It's a classic American holiday stuffed with family tradition. You know what I'm talking about. Smell that turkey baking in the oven; hear the football games playing in the background; see the overwhelming spread of food on the table. Everywhere you look family, to everyone you speak, joy. This year, back in the Midwest, Vanessa and I remembered why it's so wonderful to live near family. After spending time with both of our families, Vanessa commented, "That's how Thanksgiving is supposed to be done." I felt it too. The sense of wholeness and belonging found uniquely within a family unit.

We spent Thanksgiving day in New Prague with Vanessa's family and the extended weekend with my family in Rochester. Anthony, my younger brother, was back from college for the long weekend, so we were able to bond over Wiffleball and computer games.

In the couple of weeks since then, we haven't really done much to speak of. We're getting settled into our new church and are continually meeting new friendly people. I, Josiah, am still loving my job. The more I learn, the busier I get, and the quicker time flies by. I'm also starting to feel like a have a legitimate place...like I belong on the IT team there.

Vanessa is also loving life as a full-time mother. She's been experimenting with new recipes, teaching the babies how to roll, and doing Christmas shopping. This evening, she got a nice break from the norm when she went to a Jars of Clay/Third Day concert with her mom (who won the tickets on the radio). Other than that...we're looking forward to Christmas - family time all over again.

P.S. There's also this new video with footage from late November and early December...enjoy!

Birthday weekend and NEW VIDEO

2007-11-18T10:11:00.000-08:00

And, WOW, two more weeks have flown by! Last weekend--our birthday weekend--was a blast. On Friday night, Terry and Tom took us out to eat at a fine midwest restaurant called Timberlodge. The girls behaved like angels as we all dined like warrior kings. Vanessa cracked and pulled at some king crab while I sliced and dipped prime rib. Mmmmmm. So good. The girls looked like they wanted to eat our food, but they seemed equally satisfied with their milk and rice cereal mix.

On Saturday, I played ultimate with the Eden Prairie group. I'm still getting used to playing in the cold, but it's great exercise and wonderful fun. When I returned, my parents were here. They volunteered to watch the girls as Vanessa and I went out on a date. Afterwards, we all enjoyed a fine evening with great food and AWESOME ice cream cake (all made by Cindy). They stayed Saturday night and on Sunday morning, they again watched the girls as Vanessa and I went to a new church. We really liked it. It was so great to be welcomed from the moment we stepped out of our car. I think we met 10 people who all said something to the effect of, "I don't believe we've met; are you new?" As you may have guessed, the church is small. I'd guess 300 or so.

After church, we returned home to the smell of freshly cooked Plopper-style chili. We sat with our bowls of fritos, sour cream, and chili and watched the Packer completely annihilate the Vikings...how satisfying. It was a fine afternoon to be sure. After my parents left, we went for a walk around the lake here in Eden Prairie. It definitely felt like late fall: leaves crunching under foot, cool moist air making our cheeks rosy, and the sweet smell of decaying leaves and wood.

The week since our birthday has gone quickly. I'm getting more familiar with my job, and the days go more quickly than ever. This current weekend has been filled with normal chores and routine. We got a bookshelf yesterday at Target and filled with with our books that have, to this point, been chillin in the closet. We also went to the church (called Prairie Hill Evangelical Free) again. We really enjoyed the sense of community. The girls even made it through the whole service without crying. Apparently, they approve too. It looks like we've found a church home.

Lilia tries SOUR Skittles!

2007-11-06T17:23:00.000-08:00

Halloween and Hangin Out!

2007-11-04T07:44:00.000-08:00

Halloween has come and gone. The girls dressed up in their "First Boo" onesies and watched as we adults carved pumpkins. Some of Vanessa's family joined us for the carving goodness. The girls didn't actually go trick-or-treating thought because we weren't sure where to go and no one seemed to go trick-or-treating around our apartment complex. Nevertheless, I think they enjoyed the day and look forward to carving a sweet pumpkin next year.

This weekend, we were visited by some very good friends. JJ and Erin came to visit all the way from Oshkosh, WI. Matt also came from Hudson to hang out with us. We went to Staring Lake and walked some of the trails there. In the evening, all of us guys (JJ, Matt, and I) went out for some "guy time" while the ladies hung out adn ordered pizza! Indeed, it was a wonderful time.

New Video!

2007-10-26T19:08:00.000-07:00

For some reason, we didn't have much October footage...
but here's what we got. Enjoy!

Amy and Dominic Come to Visit!

2007-10-26T17:32:00.000-07:00

Friday night is here! It's strange...that means so much more now that I'm working full-time. It's difficult to believe I've been working at Vital three weeks already. As I walked by the "interview room" today while answering a trouble call, it seemed like I had just been there a few days earlier. I feel like I'm getting more familiar with the place, the people, and the job. But there is so much more to learn. I am pumped to pursue my MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer), which Vital has said they'll pay for. How sweet!

In addition to work, this last week has been busy with plenty of socializing. We spent last weekend in Rochester with my parents. And not only with them...but with Amy (my sister) and her son Dominic as well! She came all the way from Philadelphia to see us. As usual, it was a time of wonderful food, delightful company, and sweet relaxation. Oh, and Annabelle decided to do the laundry for us too.

On Sunday night, Amy and Dominic came to our home here in EP. Dominic bonded with his cousins, and Amy and Vanessa enjoyed cool Autumn walks together. On Monday, they all came and visited me and Terry at work. It was awesome to see them in the middle of the day. I took them all around the office, showed them where I worked, and introduced them to tons of coworkers. Amy flew out on Tuesday, and we spent the rest of the week getting back into our normal routine.

This weekend, we're just going to chill out a bit. I'm playing ultimate with a group here in EP on Saturday mornings. And we're also going to carve up some pumpkins with Grandma Terry on Sunday. More than anything though, we're just going to enjoy this beautiful thing - this wonderful gift of God - called family.

Getting Settled In

2007-10-11T15:52:00.000-07:00

The door swung open. Smells of fresh paint and new carpet filled our noses. Our new apartment welcomed us with endless possibilities of empty rooms. One by one, we unloaded boxes from the U-haul trailer. The seemingly endless stream of material possessions flowed into our new apartment. And eventually, when the van and trailer we empty, our ever-helpful parents left. And we looked around...piles of mysterious boxes were stacked everywhere! And now, just a week later, those boxes have been transformed. They have been emptied, their contents scattered; they become the place we call home.

And just four days ago, I (Josiah) started work at Vital Images. I was so nervous Sunday night that I had some problems falling asleep. My racing mind thought of all the things that could go wrong on that precious first day. After about twenty minutes of mind-racing, I got tired. Then I fell asleep. Of course, my issues falling asleep could have been due to the Packers' lethargic performance just a few hours before. At any rate, Monday has now come and gone. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday have similarly passed and all of my anxieties are being quickly replaced by routine. I really enjoy the job. I love working with technology and being around tech gurus. I am a Systems Administrator, which means I'm responsible for keeping employees' computers working well so they can be maximally productive. I troubleshoot application problems, fix hardware issues, and set up new machines for new users. I can't wait to get to the point where I can use some of my creative powers to solve technical problems on a system-wide level. Or maybe I can give training presentations on various applications. After that, I think I'll try taking over the world. All in due time.

The babies seem to enjoy their new home. Ever since we've been here, they've been sleeping through the night. We lay them down at about 9:30 and they sleep until 7Am or so. Someone once told me that sleep is a great gift from God. I've never agreed so strongly as when I had babies.

They also continue to crank out the sounds. The first video shows Lilia singing along with a Jewel CD that Vanessa was listening to. I think she was even singing in Italian. (Yes, my babies are geniuses...just like everyone else's.) The other video shows Annabelle displaying her intense enthusiasm about the the new apartment. I don't think I've ever seen her so excited! In about the middle of the clip, she screams and then laughs. The new noises (which Annabelle first made before we started recording) scared her sister, Lilia, which is why she's crying in the background. Enjoy!

Big News!

2007-09-28T18:28:00.000-07:00

Alas, two months filled with some major questions are quickly coming to an end. Indeed, the job searching is over, and the apartment searching has yielded some exciting results.

First things first...I (Josiah) was offered a position with Vital Images. Check out that link if you have time. They are a company that creates imaging software for doctors. It's amazing stuff. I will be a Systems Administrator maintaining their computer network and desktops. Honestly, I couldn't be more excited for this opportunity. The people seem great, the work seems dynamic, and the company is medium-sized and growing. I'm really looking forward to learning as much as I can in the ever-evolving world of technology. I start October 8th.

Secondly, we found an apartment. After looking on Thursday and Friday, we landed a sweet pad in Eden Prairie, about 20 minutes from my work. We'll be moving sometime mid next week, and hopefully we can get mostly settled before I enter the corporate world.

Meanwhile the babies are growing like crazy and they're chattering quite frequently! They can both hold their heads up very well and are sleeping 7-8 hours every night. It's so hard to convey all of the changes...perhaps this video will help.

Another Video!

2007-08-29T12:54:00.001-07:00

Hey All! Not a whole lot to report on. I (Josiah) am taking my A+ test (part 1) on Thursday, so I've been studying pretty hard for that. I'm also continuing to job search...there have a been a few leads here and there. Vanessa is anxious to get settled into our home. I keep telling her, "be patient...hang in there...we'll know more soon." The girls are just hanging out and displaying their mega-cuteness for all to see. They're starting to sleep through the night (around 7 hours straight) which gives mom much needed rest. And speaking of the girls....here's the next video. Most of the footage is from August.

A Family Reunion

2007-08-23T14:52:00.000-07:00

The two weeks in Rochester were wonderful. It was so nice to have the whole family together. The days were filled with croquet, wiffleball, good food, sweet conversation, and an boundless feeling of belonging: this is family. We were also able to see some very powerful storms come through. Such forces have a way of making one feel small, and in the country the effect is all the greater. Anyway, enjoy the slideshow below. If you would like to see the actual picasa album, click here. There are about 75 pictures with captions. Enjoy!

A great Storm in Rochester

2007-08-12T06:51:00.001-07:00

Last night we sat on the porch and watched this incredible storm roll in. I'm not exaggerating when I say it was the most intense storm I've ever seen. The lightening was non-stop, the wind came in pretty strong gusts, and the largest hail pieces were about an inch and half in diameter...like golf ball sized. Below are some pictures of the hail and a short video (2 minutes or so) of different phases of the storm. As is usually the case, it's not nearly as incredible on the replay but it's better than just reading about it. :) Enjoy.

A Family Reunion

2007-08-11T07:15:00.000-07:00

Vanessa and I are now staying at my parents' in Rochester. Eli and Kathryn (with Stephen and Elliana) arrived yesterday, and Amy and Matt (with Dominic) will arrive on Monday. It's been the first time in over a year that we've all seen each other. Needless to say, everyone is savoring this time.

Everyone loves the twins. We've heard, "Your babies are beautiful!", or "How cute!" Stephen and Elliana have grown so much since we saw them last. Stephen is talking like crazy, and Elliana jabbers non-stop. They're both so cute. It's hard to believe that our babies will be like that soon.

In other news...Eli brought some elastic material with a plastic funnel, so all of the brothers (Antho, Eli, and I) will try to make a water balloon launcher sometime this week. Also, Eli brought some fireworks. We launched a bunch of them last night from the house to the gravel road out front. We've also already played some wiffleball. Antho pulled off the upset in the bottom of the 6th just before it was pitch black.

Anyway, we all look forward to a fine week of relaxing and enjoying family. It's hard to imagine life getting any better.

A week in New Prague

2007-08-04T08:46:00.001-07:00

This past week Vanessa and I were at the Murtaugh residence in New Prague. I (Josiah) looked for work and studied for the A+ exam. I also got to spend Thursday afternoon with my good friend Matt, who lives in St. Paul. We played some disc golf, but I think we spent more time looking for discs than actually playing the course. :)

Vanessa enjoyed a couple of walks with the girls into town, and we even got to go out for coffee and pie one night as Terry and Tom watched the girls. Next week we head back to Rochester to stay with my parents for awhile. Eli and Kathryn will be in town the first week, and Amy and Matt will be in town the second week (with a three day overlap). Everyone is very excited, as this is the first time in over a year that the Plopper family has been together.

That's it for now...stay tuned for further updates.

A relaxing weekend in Rochester

2007-07-30T09:38:00.000-07:00

Vanessa and I spent the weekend in Rochester, MN with my parents Steve and Cindy. Their newly built house looks great and the country living is soooo relaxing. From their house we could see almost a 360 degree view of the horizon. The sunrises and sunsets are amazing! At night, you hear mostly crickets and see tons of fireflies. Anyway, it was a fine time of visiting, eating, and relaxing.

The Great Move!

2007-07-25T09:51:00.000-07:00

We have moved! It's all finished, yet it's only just begun.

(along with Annabelle and Lilia) flew out of LAX on Friday around 1AM.All of our packing and unpacking is finished...at least for the time being. Vanessa and Terry Minneapolis around 6AM. My dad and I finished packing the van and trailer the following morning, and began our 2000 mile drive to Rochester, MN. The ladies' trip and the guys' trip both went extremely well. The babies slept the whole flight and the new minivan han They arrived indled the heavy trailer like a champ. We took the southern route to avoid the steep mountains, so we got to see Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa on our way. The trip took three days.

Vanessa and I are now staying with her parents in New Prague. We're in the very early stages of looking for a place to live and finding work for me. In a very real way, our life is like choosing a TV channel on cable TV. There are hundreds of possible channels all vying for our attention. "Choose me!," they all say as we scroll through the guide. And somehow we're supposed to find one option that packs more appeal than all of the others. Choosing such a fine channel is hard to do...how much more so with major life decisions!

In the meanwhile, we're trying to enjoy this unique time in life. No work, lots of friends and family, two beautiful baby girls...those aren't exactly great trials and tribulations. It's more like an extended vacation. :) And so the next chapter in our life begins. Word by word, sentence by sentence the pages slowly are being written.

Time with the Warrens

2007-07-12T22:12:00.000-07:00

Well, the Warrens came and went. The time with them was quite fun! The first day they were here, JT and I swam in the pool at our apartment complex quite a bit while Chuck, Trish, Vanessa, and the girls soaked up some California sun. We made shishkabobs on the grill that night and ate by the pool. It was some fine dining indeed!

The next day, we hung out at our apartment and played some Nintendo Wii (compliments of JT). I think my arm is still soar from swinging the Wii stick so hard in baseball, tennis, and bowling. Needless to say, I got schooled by JT in most of the sports. There's always next time, I guess. Also, I went to play some Ultimate Frisbee at Biola and the whole gang came along and watched for awhile. I tell the girls that the first step in learning any sport is to observe...so I guess that's what they were doing. Either that or spacing out, hoping for some more milk. :)
For dinner, everyone went to the Mexican food place in La Mirada. Lilia and Annabelle did wonderful in their first out-to-eat experience. They sat in the car seats and slept the whole time! yup, those are our babies!

On Monday, we went to Newport Beach where JT and I battled the ocean for a bit. We also took the Ferry to Balboa Island and enjoyed some tasty salt water taffy. Mmmmmm. Everyone who saw the girls were like, "Ohhh, they're so small", or "They're adorable...how old are they?" I felt a bit like a celebrity with all that attention. Anyway, we went out to eat at Outback after an eventful day by the beach, and we even fed the babies their bottles at the restaurant. Once again, they were quite peaceful all through dinner. Very cool.

On Tuesday the Warrens took a trip to San Diego where they toured the battleships and greeted Shamu. They said it was quite a time--full of amazing sites and well choreographed shows.

On Wednesday, we all got together again and hung out at the apartment some more. They really blessed us by giving Vanessa and I a gift card to Red Lobster. They watched the babies while we had a date night. It was so great to spend some one-on-one time together. We came back refreshed and energized.

So this blog entry goes out to the Warrens. Thank you, Chuck, Trish, and JT for the great and wonderful week of endless treats.

Video

2007-07-09T11:46:00.001-07:00

Hey Everyone! We're having a fine time with Vanessa's family from Colorado (Chuck, Trish, and JT). We'll be uploading some of those pictures and giving the updates on how all that went soon. But in the meanwhile, we thought you might enjoy this short video made by Josiah.

I think we're alone now...

2007-06-28T20:37:00.000-07:00

My mom (Cindy) visited us right at the end of Terry's stay. For a couple of days there, we had five people hanging out in our one bedroom, 800 sq foot apartment. Needless to say, it was cramped. The help, however, was wonderful. Both mothers contributed so much to this transition time. Cindy stayed until last Monday and then she was off to Minnesota. We'll join them soon.

Since her departure, we've been getting adjusted to being "alone." The babies continue to be little angels for us. Of course, that comment is coming from a guy who's wife has been doing the majority of the feedings, diaper changes, and 2am wake-ups. No, but seriously, they're really "happy babies." Most of the time, they only cry when they need something. The rest of the time, they're either sleeping or just looking at things with a dazed look. Pretty cute really.

I put in my two weeks notice at Time Warner yesterday, and they're actually going to have this Saturday be my last day. BUT they still pay me for the two weeks that I had planned to work. Sweet deal, huh? That's especially nice as Vanessa and I ramp up for the big move. We can all hang out and prep for the next change--a move to Minnesota and all that entails.

Hanging Out

2007-06-15T10:35:00.000-07:00

The Plopper family has just been hanging out this past week. The girls are doing really well. They eat about every three hours and, with the exception of a dirty dirty diaper or hunger pains, they don't cry much. We've been dividing the night into two shifts: early and earlier. I've been taking the first shift from 10PM to 4AM. Grandma Terry has been taking the earlier shift of 4AM to 10AM. I've actually been managing around 8 hours on this schedule. Of course, that's without work, which I return to next week.

Grandpa Tom flies in tonight for the weekend and Grandma Cindy will be flying in on Monday for the entire next week. It's so wonderful to have family helping family in big transition times like these.

The Birth Story

2007-06-12T10:32:00.000-07:00

Vanessa and I went into the hospital on Wednesday, June 6th for a baby checkup. Vanessa had been feeling a little different all day and just wanted to make sure both girls were doing fine. And so Vanessa got strapped to the baby monitoring machine and the medical people observed her. She was having slight contractions, so they hooked her up to an IV. Apparently, false labor contractions stop once the person is more hydrated. In our case, however, the contractions just got stronger! I felt like a day trader rooting for my stock pick to go sky high. With every contraction we were that much closer to meeting our girls.

Finally, the doctor came in and looked at the baby monitor. Noticing that the contractions had increased, she gave to official word. "Congratulations! You're going to be having a couple of babies tonight." We were pumped. They wheeled Vanessa off to the labor and delivery department and started prepping her for the c-section. The anesthesiologist informed us about how the epidural works. He wanted to wait until 2AM to do the c-section because that was 8 hours after our last meal. The nurses further prepped Vanessa for the surgery.

Before we knew it, Vanessa was in the Operating Room and the medical staff was hard at work getting ready for the procedure. There was a curtain that prevented Vanessa from seeing all of the details of the C-section. I kept poking my head over the curtain to see what was happening. Then I'd give Vanessa the update. The whole experience was very surreal. On one side of the curtain, I saw Vanessa. She wasn't really experiencing any pain and was asking a lot of questions like, "what are they doing now?" or "do you see the babies yet?" On the other side of the curtain, I watched the doctors at work. After about ten minutes of cutting, they pulled Annabelle out. If my memory serves me correctly, I think they pulled her out by her leg. Then they rushed her off to a special table where two medical personnel took care of her. Shortly after that (as in one minute later) they pulled out Lilia.

Then they showed both babies to Mama as they took them to the neonatal intensive care room. As Mama was getting stitched up, the babies were monitored for all sorts of things. After an hour in the neonatal care, they took the babies to the nursery where they gave them their first shots and baths. Meanwhile Vanessa was moved from the recovery room to her hospital room. Finally, at about seven in the morning, the babies were wheeled from the nursery to see Mama. It was a joyous reunion.

We spent the next few days in the hospital. The time went quickly and Vanessa was doing everything in her power to get out of there and get home. Sure enough, on Saturday, we were given the OK to go home. I've never driven more carefully in my life. I think I even drove more cautiously than my drivers' test. We got home safely (that's what really matters) and began to settle in. We're still settling in.

Terry flew in on Saturday night and she's been a wonderful help cleaning the house, changing diapers, feeding with the bottles, and cuddling the babies.