Praying Mantis

Hi everyone, it's me Josh. Today I was on the computer looking at Halloween Costumes when my mom screamed "AAAH LOOK AT THIS BUG!" I grabbed the camera and ran to see what she was talking about. This is what was climbing on the window...

A Praying Mantis...

First, we took a video of it from the inside...

Then, we took a video from the outside...(Watch - IF YOU DARE...this one is scary)...

After filming this video Jason ran inside screaming "it's going to eat us alive!!" (LOL)

Here are some things, I bet you didn't know, about Praying Mantises...

• A Praying Mantis can be anywhere from 1 cm long to 12 inches long.
• It is a close relative to the cockroach and stick insect.
• The Greek word for Mantis is "prophet".
• A Praying Mantis uses camouflage for survival.
• They can see movement up to 60 feet away.
• The praying mantis is a carnivorous insect. It eats other insects, and animals like frogs, lizards, and even small humming birds.

More Elli...

Elli looking very pretty in the dress that Aunt Lisa gave her...


Elli saying "I am tired of this rice cereal"...
Elli thoroughly enjoying a popsicle with Joshua...

Autumn is here...I think.

I experienced the Fall Season in Ohio, and it is my favorite season. So many colors, the crispness of the morning air, the animals going crazy gathering food for the winter, and the anticipation of snow and Christmas. I am anxious to see if New Jersey celebrates Autumn like Ohio. This morning when I took the boys to school it felt like Autumn...
Leah and I have also noticed lots of squirrels in our backyard gathering the acorns from our Oak trees. Definite signs of Autumn:).

And now, I have to post this video for the people who visit my blog and not my husband's. For those of you who have seen this video on Chris' blog, I am sure you won't mind watching it again!

Elli...

Growing up in a house full of boys is going to be interesting. On one hand, you have the boys totally spoiling and loving up Elli. She knows that she doesn't have to cry long before one of the boys will drop what he is doing to pick her up. In fact, she is so used to being held that she gets very upset when the boys put her down to go do other things. On the other hand, you have scenes like this one...

I wonder if some day Chris will have to have one of these talks with our Little Elli...

It's Football Season!!

Yesterday was Joshua's first Flag Football practice...
There weren't very many kids that showed up for it, but Joshua had a great time practicing with the kids that did show up...

He even caught a pass for a touchdown for his team - WAY TO GO JOSH!!

Jason, Reagan and Elli were dressed for football. Jason and Reagan each wore a Dallas Cowboys Jersey, and Elli wore the Dallas Cowboys skirt that Aunt Hopi bought her...
Jason spent his time during Josh's practice catching and throwing footballs with Daddy...
Reagan spent his time during Josh's practice collecting things like acorns...
and SILLYBANDZ...(which he promptly presented to Josh after football practice)...

Jason stopped playing catch for a while to see if he could find a Silly Bandz. He thought he found one...
However, when we told him that what he found was a band from a gallon of milk, he quickly went back to practicing football with Daddy. Elli played in her stroller and looked cute all day...

Funny Times in the Kopp Household!

My weird sons!

Brandon and Trevor think they can fool you into thinking they are on a roller coaster...

Did they fool you?

Today I am playing a little bit of "catch up". I finally figured out that the videos I was trying to post were simply too long. Brandon is going to have to teach me how to edit them and then I will try posting them again. For now I will post a few pictures from this past week...

Brandon had his first Baseball game this past Saturday. He is #33(his dad's old #) on the TIGERS!
Brandon presented the American flag with his Civil Air Patrol Color Guard group during the Memorial Service on September 11th...

Elli is learning to wear shoes - and not enjoying it. She kicks them off every chance she gets;).

You can see a little of Elli's belly chub in this picture...

Elli looks so pretty in her jean jacket!

Elli has also learned how to use a sippy cup (I dropped some ice in the background, so you might want to turn down your sound;))...

Yesterday we travelled to Pennsylvania to help celebrate some birthdays. Uncle Tom and Aunt Denise will celebrate their birthdays on the 18th and 16th of this month, but we celebrated yesterday too. Matt Kopp turned 7 yesterday. He had a "Jungle" party, and all kinds of interesting animals showed up. There was a parrot, a tortoise and a turtle, a crocodile and an alligator, a wallaby, a couple of toads, a ring-tailed lemur, an owl, and a few others that I am forgetting at the moment. Reagan and Jason had their picture taken with a fox...
Brandon and Trevor had their picture taken with "Monty" the python;)...
It was a great party. The boys all had a super time playing with their cousins, Chris and Brandon loved lounging and eating with the men while they all watched football, and I loved visiting with all the ladies and kids. "Thank you Tom and Kate for inviting our family to spend time with you again!" We had a super time and are so thankful to be living close to our family!

Technical difficulties!

I am sorry everyone - I have had two blog entries in my edit file because blogger isn't uploading my videos. (And i have been pretty busy with life;)). So today I am just posting cute pictures...

Reagan helping Elli to learn to sit up...
Elli's cute fat little hand...

Elli playing dress up with the boys...

Jason and Reagan putting on a concert...

Playing dress up again...

Two cuties in one shot...

Today School Began...

Brandon headed off to EHT High, and Trevor to EHT Middle...

Joshua loves to give his brothers BIG HUGS before school...

Joshua headed off to the Family Dining Room to begin homeschooling...

The twins headed off to the Family Kitchen Table to draw in their workbooks...

Elli headed off to Dreamland, and let Mommy focus on the boys' schoolwork...

I pray every day goes this smoothly......?