Hold You

This is how I do a lot of things these days...

Luke was a very, very content baby. Now he's making up for lost time. ;)

Luke's Balloon Bash

Sunday evening we had Luke's party at Awesome Outdoor Products, and since Luke loves "boots" (balloons), we ran with that theme. I tried to get as many pictures of the kids playing, but it proved difficult when there were so many fun things to play on!

Balloon "hoohees" (cookies)

The Birthday Boy!

Luke loved his "peeza."

"Mmmmm!"

By the end of the evening, all the kids were hot and sweaty, which I think meant they all had a great time. The birthday boy had a blast too!

Celebrating Luke

While Luke's actual party was Sunday evening (more pics to come!), we still tried to make yesterday special for him. He was stuck running errands with me all morning but after we picked up Caleb from school, he got to open up all the presents he got at his party. He (and Caleb) had so much fun playing with all of his new toys! It was actually a pretty nice day so he got to play outside some too. 

One last Happy Birthday to You. He's gotten good at blowing out the candles!

His "big" birthday gift!

He absolutely L-O-V-E-D it and would have stayed out there all day!

Happy Birthday, Luke!!

Happy Birthday to You

Happy Birthday to You

Happy Birthday Dear Luke

Happy Birthday to You!

Two years have flown by like the blink of an eye since the day you first entered the world! You are so sweet and cuddly, yet so wild and tough. You are the perfect little brother.

You love your blankie (ah-di) and would carry it around with you all day if we would let you. You love reading books, especially if they have diggers (dig, dig, dig), trucks (you call all trucks Daddy's since Daddy drives a truck), school buses, or Elmo in them. You love, love playing in your kitchen, pushing your school bus and garbage truck around the house, and loading up your grocery cart, only to dump it out in the next room. You also love being outside and playing with balls. Right now, your obsession is with balloons (boots) and you have an eye for finding them.

You are still a great sleeper. You go to bed right at 8 pm each night and usually wake around 8 am the next morning. Before bed we read books, and then you always want me to sing you songs (the current favorite is "This Little Light of Mine") while we rock for a minute or two. You nap each day for about two hours, usually from 1:30 until 3:30.

Your favorite foods include black olives, squeeze applesauce, go-gurt, popcorn, pretzel chips, and any kind of authentic (from a restaurant, not Mommy's!) Mexican food. In fact, aside from the occasional chicken nugget, fajita chicken is the only meat you will always eat. (You will also eat my "poppy seed chicken" with rice, so we've been having that once a week lately!) When it comes to vegetables, you want them raw- carrots, sweet bell peppers, cucumbers, and celery are your favorites. You like to dip-dip them in Ranch. Frozen peas are also a favorite. You have a sweet tooth that may rival your big brothers and love treats (tees).

One of the funniest things you do it carry your food around with you in strange places. We find your snacks in your pots and pans in your kitchen, riding around the house in your school bus, and even in your garbage truck. I guess you like to have them nearby. 

Last week we had you evaluated for speech services due to your lack of understandable words. You were so funny with the lady. She had to do an entire evaluation, and while you did great, you showed your true personality. She handed you a puzzle and asked you to do it. You simply pushed it back to her and said naw. Eventually we bribed you with popcorn and you completed the puzzle in five seconds flat. While your speech score was below average, you did really well in the other language categories so you didn't qualify. It's funny, but I've noticed you saying more and more words, just since then. Today it was obal (oval) while you were in the car, watching your Preschool Prep, Meet the Shapes DVD. At this point, you always want to watch your moomees as soon as we get in the car.

You mean the world to us, Luke Michael!
We love you more than words can express!

Happy 2nd Birthday!

Breakfast at Chickfila

Caleb was out of school Monday for President's Day and he wanted to go to Chickfila for breakfast. Since JCPS was still in session, we had the play place to ourselves and the boys played for an entire hour while I sat back and drank coffee- we'll be doing this more often!! 

Caleb ate one of their granola parfaits and said the funniest thing...Do you know what parfaits are? They are just yogurt with lots of decorations. 

Why?!!

Or the better question may be, why not?

Because goggles at the table make sense to this guy.

And sleeping sitting up in bed seems like a good choice for this one.

I Really Love My...

hand-me-down Transformers rain boots. 

They are the only thing that I pick out to wear on my own. 

Muffins with Mom

Last Friday morning I got to go to Muffins with Mom with Caleb at his preschool. We had a nice breakfast and he told me who everyone was. I loved spending the time with my big boy!

That's his "I'm a mean Power Ranger Ninja" face.

Back in his classroom he gave me his hand print flower that he worked on- something I'll cherish forever! 

I love you Caleb Creed Fowler- to the moon and back.

Safety First

Luke was insistent that he wore Caleb's helmet as he rode his tricycle. I like his safety first attitude. :)

And, apparently using the lawn mover can be a dangerous task as well. ;)

Technology

It's amazing to watch little ones these days and see how easily they pick up on how to use various devices. Hand Luke a smart phone and he is quick to unlock the screen and start looking through pages. Give Caleb a game (whether its on the computer, a Kindle,  a LeapPad, etc.) and he'll figure out how to operate it. And, I know that most kids are this way now. It's amazing, and a very different world than when we played The Oregon Trail!

Before bedtime the other night...Caleb on a LeapPad and Luke playing the iXL. I just sat and watched, and felt thankful that they were not fighting. :)

Speaking of the ways things have changed, have you seen THIS youtube video? I love it, especially since I am a "child of the 90s." 

Recently...

The boys love playing with beans while I make dinner, and surprisingly, most stay on the tray.

I took Luke to KGA last week while Caleb was in school and he had a blast. He loved all the trampolines.

Over the weekend we got to meet baby Alden, my friend Amanda's first little guy. He was so sweet- love his expression in this picture!

While Caleb ignored baby Alden, Luke was very interested in him. Each time Alden cried, Luke froze and just had this very concerned look on his face.   

We've actually been able to get out of the house and play outside quite a few times recently. Caleb is a great driver and Luke is just the cutest little passenger ever!

Silly Boy

Luke was running around playing and I just had to take a picture. I grabbed my camera and thankfully, he held still long enough for me to capture the moment.

Pretend headphones.

Golf club.

One rain boot.

I mean, isn't this a normal look?

By the way, I tried to put his other boot on for him. His response: Nuw. (No.)

Apparently one rain boot was the plan, and he was sticking to it.