June 2009

VBS
June was an easy, fun month...compared to what July holds, anyway. Luke attended his first VBS at Aunt Donna's church. It was somewhat of a disaster. I was working with the 6th graders and he did.not.want.to.go! After the first day, he would tell me, "Mommy, I don't want to go back to that room." I don't know what it was...the unfamiliarity, the smaller kids in the room, the teachers (mom's), tired from the hour drive over there...or just being without me. On Tuesday, they had to go find my sister to console him. Luckily, he didn't have to go back the rest of the week. Wednesday we stayed home because of swimming lessons. Thursday there was a huge storm that knocked the electricity out of the church for two days. So, no more VBS for the week. Our church doesn't do VBS and I am hoping that next year will be easier for him.

Swimming Lessons
He started swimming lessons and is doing a great job! We will probably keep him in year round so that he is swimming on his own by next summer when I have to be in with baby sister. I don't have pictures right now, but will post later in the summer. I have to be in the water with him, so it is hard to get pictures of his progress.

Big Boy Bed
He moved into a Big Boy Bed and is doing OK. He pushed the limits and doesn't want to stay in his bed, but we are working on it. He may have to get in baby sister's crib for awhile if he keeps acting like a baby! HA! We'll see if that works!

Luke reading his trucks book in his new room.

Play dates
June was also filled with Playgroup play dates and a visit from Tommy and Alison who came down from Minnesota. We always have a great time with our friends and it was great to see the Gartner's again!

Tommy, Luke, and Katherine playing in Luke's Big Boy Room.

Tuesday's with Grandma

Grandma comes over every Tuesday and we have the best time. Luke LOVES to watch for her and yell, "Grandma, come play in my big boy room!" as she walks in the door. They have the best relationship and it just warms my heart. The pictures below are of Luke and Grandma making cookies together one Tuesday. I think they ate more than they made!


Father's Day
This Father's Day weekend we travelled to see Lou Lou and Opa. Uncle Charlie, Aunt Brook, Jack, and Ella came over on Saturday. Luke LOVES his 'cuzins' and he was thrilled to see them. Jack will start Kindergarten this fall and is so good with Luke. They play well together. Luke and Ella are exactly a year apart. He loves her, too, but she's a 'girl'...so he doesn't pay much attention to her. He's the same with Haley and Will. He says hi to Haley, but would rather play with Will. Boys!

Make a funny face!

Anyway, we had a great time with everyone during the day. After dinner, David and I went to visit our MN friends, Melissa and Brian, that moved home a year after we did. They have an awesome 'theater' in their house so we ate dessert and watched a great movie. It was so good to see them. We were sad that Kaitlyn was already down and we didn't get to see her. I bet she is getting so big. (She's a year older than Luke, too!)
Sunday was a big day, too. We went to breakfast with our friends, Matt and Rachel. Rachel used to work with David and was a week away from giving birth that day! It was a wonderful time to see them and talk about all things baby. After breakfast and our good-bye's, we drove to Opa and Lou Lou's friend's house...The Farm, as they call it. I only saw one horse and it was hotter than...well, you can fill that blank in...but it didn't matter to Luke...he loved it! Because of the detour, we ended up getting home rather late, so the next morning I had Luke give Daddy his Father's Day picture! (notice Luke's bed head)
"Thank you, Daddy, for being the best Dad in the world! Thank you for loving me, taking care of me, and playing with me! Love, Luke!"

So proud of his creation!

Mommy's Home Group Shower

We joined a great church recently (started going in October, actually) and then found a Home Group in March. Because of various activities, though, we weren't able to attend the Sunday get togethers during the spring much. We probably attended a total of 4 times. I did join the small group bible study and was completely blessed by such wonderful women! To be honest though, I think I only saw/met/got to know a hand full of people by June and of those people, I may have seen them 5-7 times total. Yes, I did make friends with a few during Bible Study, but...My point is, I did not know these wonderful women at all by June when they decided to include me in a Baby Girl shower with a veteran HG member, Taylor. I was blown away by their generosity and support of our upcoming arrival! Taylor and I are due just days apart from each other and are both having girls. I cannot tell you how honored I was to be included in the celebration. The food was superb. The games were hilarious. The gifts were 'too much' (but so appreciated). BUT the company was by far the best part of the evening!

Taylor and Me

The table...look at the yummy spread! Those cake balls on the end were 'to die for'!

The gifts!


Baby picture game!

The wonderful cake that read, "Children are a gift from God, they are His reward."

BEAUTIFUL Easter dress from Aunt Donna!
The ca-UTEST door hanger from Keri! She is so talented!

Mom, Me, and Donna

Me, Taylor, and Melissa
"The prego's of the group!"

Luke eating a cake ball that Ms. Dawn made just for him!

Thank you, Ms. Dawn!

Play Time

I love to paint!

We sorted all the colors from his favorite new toy from Ms. Atlanta and Blythe.

Don's 40th Birthday Party
Our friends, Don and Melissa, threw a James Bond 40th Birthday bash. It was awesome to dress up, get away, 'fake' gamble, spend time with friends, eat some yummy food and CAKE (I am pregnant, remember!). Happy Birthday, Don! We love you, guys!

The girls...

My handsome date!

The birthday boy blowing out the candles on the awesome cake!

I TOLD you the cake was a focal point!! It was delish!
It was a great ending to a great month!

Baby Girl's Fancy Fan

Baby Girl's room is starting to take shape! It looks so much better (in my opinion) and girly without those animal heads. We have just a few finishing touches and a few loads of laundry and we are done. To girlify it, I found this ceiling fan with a chandelier light kit. IT IS BEAUTIFUL and looks PERFECT in the room! I cannot tell you how giddy I am about it.
Thanks, Grandma, for a great gift!
(Luke love's it, too. He takes everyone to see his big boy room and baby sister's fan!)

Big Boy Room and Clock

About 2 weeks ago, we made the 'leap' to the big boy bed. I was hesitant, but needed him out of Baby Girl's room. Well, I was right to be a little leery because he has not slept well since. His naps are getting better, but he wakes up between 6 and 6:30 every morning no matter what time we put him to bed. We are teaching him the numbers on the clock so that he knows when he can get out of bed in the morning. When he sees the 7, then he can venture out without us coming to get him. It's a work in progress because a few days ago I heard him on the monitor (waking up from his nap) saying, "That's a 4, an O, and an 8. No...that's not a letter...that's a zero. 4, zero, 8." I looked at the clock and what do you know...4:08 on the dot!
He finally figured out the 7 thing this morning, though. I am still laughing about it. I hear him wake up at 6:22am. Then, I hear him come out of his room 5 minutes later (6:27) and pitter patter to our room. He said, "Mommy, I see the 7." "No, honey", I say, "The 7 must be the first number on your clock." So, we walk back to his room and I show him where he will see the 7. He was fine with that and came out at 7:01 SO proud saying, "Mommy, I see it. I see the 7 in the first spot." "That's right! You did it! I am so proud of you!"
Thank you, Jesus! Now, lets just pray that he starts sleeping later again! It's killing me!

Here is the new room. We went with a safari theme since he has those cool stuffed animal heads from Aunt Steph. Notice the stripes! I helped David tape using the laser level and he painted and retouched! They are PERFECT!!

The bedding is Pottery Barn's Safari from last summer. When I saw it, I knew that it would be perfect for his big boy room. Got it on sale, too! Then, one problem arose...no bed skirt. Apparently, PB sells without bed skirts now because they want you to buy their $1000 twin bed that doesn't need one. I would rather spend that on our room. So, my best friend, Atlanta, and I spent a Saturday making a bed skirt for him! It was a pain, but looks great in there!
Thanks, Auntie A! You helped put the finishing touches on a great big boy room!!

'Bucky' hangs above his door...

Bucky's bottom hangs on the other side.

A Night Away

For the first time in 2 years, 3 months, and 5 days, David and I actually had a night away. We had a church membership class this weekend, so Aunt Donna, Uncle Mark, Haley and Will gladly kept Luke for us Friday night. It was the best night's sleep I think I've had since....I don't know when! It was nice to have time away. I missed him by Saturday afternoon, but we got so much done and had a such a good time together that I really see the benefit of 'getting away' if even for a night. Thank you, Aunt Donna and Uncle Mark!

Obviously, when the cousins are around each other Luke is in heaven! He LOVES going to their house or just being with them! From the sound of things, they had a really fun night. On Saturday, D&M took the kids to the pool. It is a small private pool near their house. (It is important that you know that for the story...) Since, Aunt Donna has a 6 and 4 year old and doesn't have to think about diapers anymore, she totally forgot Luke's bag. She realized this after lunch when she was going to take Luke home early for a nap. (Do you see where this is going?) She decided to take his swim diaper off and teach him to pee in the grass. (Nice!) Then, she would just wrap him in a towel for the short drive home. The events are played out below:

(picture him walking around in just a UV shirt that is just long enough to cover his privates and half his bottom)

Aunt Donna: Hey Luke, do you want to go tt in the grass or on that tree over there?
Luke: OH YA!
Aunt Donna: Let's go!
(walk over there...waiting...waiting...waiting...)
Aunt Donna: Is anything coming?
Luke: Nope.
Aunt Donna: OK. We'll try again in a little bit.
Luke: Ok. (runs off)
(a few minutes later...)
Luke: AUNT DONNA! AUNT DONNA! I tt'd on the grass!
Aunt Donna: You did? Show me where!!
(walk over to the same spot...)
Luke: See...right there.
Aunt Donna: OH! YOU DID, LUKE! AND YOU POOPED!!

Apparently, he only saw the tt come out so he thought that was all he did. Poor Uncle Mark had to scoop up his 'steamer' with a Happy Meal box! Thankfully, it didn't happen in the car!
The joys of taking care of a 2 year old!