In just one week...

In just one week, our sweet baby boy will turn ONE. (Tear, sniff, sniff.) Someone commented that this has been the fastest year, and I couldn't agree more! I remember taking every single picture on this video, and I will cherish all of those moments forever.

Without further ado, Luke's birthday video...

My Animoto Video

Terrible 3s?

From my prior babysitting days, and experience with Matt, Paige, Drew, and Luke during their toddler years, I knew that 3s were much more "terrible" than 2s. We were so lucky that Caleb didn't throw many fits during his 2s, yet sure enough, his 3s have brought some drama. However, 3 is SO INCREDIBLY awesome at the same time! He imagination is just off the charts and he is so, so, so funny! Watch out- he'll be sure to call you out if he notices anything! He remembers everything, so don't think you'll get anything past him, and his mind is such a sponge. He has a remarkable ability to remember specific details and always questions if something is different. For example, they are remodeling our Kroger so everything is moved is a new place. He kept saying, "They are out of bread!" and "Why is the toothpaste there? That's not right!" And at 3, he doesn't say anything...he basically yells everything. :)

So, while the 3s are pretty challenging (down right hard on some days!!) they are even more awesome at the same time!

Pirate Caleb

I had to also include the picture of Brody driving his Jeep- He and Brody (lives 2 doors down from us) play great together and it always makes me SO happy to seem him sharing his toys! Plus, they are just so cute. Emily (Brody's mom) and I kept talking about how this might be in our future. I prefer the Power Wheels much more than the real thing!

The Library

Because both Olivia (the pig) and Curious George visit the library, Caleb decided that he wanted to check it out too. (Um, not sure why he is 3 1/2 and I hadn't taken him yet!) So, one day after I picked him up from school we stopped by. I helped him find some books that I thought he'd be interested in and said that we could sit down and look through them. A few minutes later I realized he was sitting down reading a book on his own- a chapter book from the young adult literature section! Ha! Sweet boy! He sure wishes he could read it...

He did find two Olivia books to borrow, as well as a few I suggested. Now if I only I can remember to return them on time!!

Nicknames

Sweet Luke Michael has a few nicknames that fit his little (well actually BIG) personality perfectly...

"Lukezilla"

Lukezilla usually comes out to play during laundry time, while I am trying to cook dinner, or sometimes while I am unloading the dishwasher.

and
"Brozilla"

Brozilla (a name Caleb heard in one of his getting ready to be a Big Brother brother books) refers to Luke as he is clearing off a table full of Caleb's Legos, ripping apart snap block towers, or throwing all of the play food out of Caleb's kitchen. It's actually really sweet because as you'll see, all Luke wants is to be like his big brother!

The Circus with PeePaw

It worked out perfectly that while PeePaw and Grandma Beth were in town with the boys the circus was here too! Caleb was so excited to go to the circus, even though he really had no clue what to expect. I don't think any future circus trip could top this one- Caleb got to meet Captain America, play in a bouncy house, take a pony ride, eat cotton candy for the 1st time, ride an elephant, sit in great seats, and take home a light up sword. Whew- see what I mean? How could I ever top that?!! I guess that's what grandparents are for!

Our Last Day

Our last day in Islamorada was spent on the water- the perfect ending to a perfect vacation together. We decided to rent a boat and spend the day fishing, so we got a map and followed the channel markers out to a reef, about 3 miles from the coast.
I learned something on this trip...a very valuable lesson, and I actually learned it the hard way. From now on as soon as I feel a bite, I will reel as fast as I can. Apparently grouper will bury themselves under a rock, which makes it nearly impossible to get them off the bottom. Seriously, I would reel with all of my might and each time the fish would take that much line back out, plus more! I had bruises all over my stomach from the pole as evidence to the fight.

Holding on with both hands...I just knew Creed would leave me out on that reef if I lost his pole. ;)

Still fighting. (The grouper was winning!)
Since I wasn't making any progress at all, I let Creed do his magic and he pulled with all his might, finally getting the fish off the bottom.


And since I won't hold, or even touch a fish for that matter, Creed posed with my prize! I actually hooked up with two more- the line broke on the second one but I got the third in the boat all by myself! Yes, Creed baited my hook, lifted the fish into the boat, and took the hook out. But I at least caught it! ;)

The water started to get a little rough, which really bothers me, so we headed back in and finished our day near the bridges.


Robbie's, the marina we went out of, has "pet" tarpon that you can pay $2 and feed. They are huge- some like 7 feet long. While we were there watching people feed the tarpon, this fella swam up. We learned that manatee LOVE drinking fresh water and he (or she?) seriously drank from this hose for as long as we were there. It was pretty cute.

Bridge Fishing

Creed likes, well actually "loves" is a better word, to fish. It doesn't matter if its 30 degrees and raining, he'll still spend the day on the water. I like to catch, which is very different than fishing. I especially love to catch salt water fish because they are so much more fun- the types, colors, and the fight they give. And, I always have more luck fishing if Florida. Plus, its usually hot and sunny, which is always a bonus!

Here's a little known fact...Islamorada is known as The Sport Fishing Capitol of the World. Now, it's all becoming clearer...Yes, that is why we chose this part of the Keys. The fishing! One day we spent the afternoon bridge fishing and had a great time. We didn't catch as many as we did on our last trip, but it was still fun! Oh, and the view...Nice!

It was thiiiiis big...or maybe not!

No, I'm not sporting 80s bangs these days, it was just super windy that day! ;)

Paradise

Last week PeePaw & Grandma Beth came to KY and stayed with the boys while Creed and I went to the Florida Keys. We left early Sunday morning and had an uneventful flight to Miami. By noon we were enjoying lunch on Key Largo. We stayed on Layton Key, which is part of Islamorada. Our hotel, the Lime Tree Bay Resort (Mile Marker 68.5) was just wonderful and we enjoyed every second! We spent our days eating amazing food (the "fresh catch" each day, conch fritters, and daily slices of key lime pie), checking out the other Keys (because it's just one road, US1, it is so easy to go sightseeing), and smiply, relaxing! (There was also some fishing too, but that's another post!)

Our first stop- lunch on Key Largo

Breakfast on our balcony- SO relaxing to simply sit and drink coffee!

One day we made the trip down to Key West- a little over an hour drive. The trip is one of the most beautiful drives you can take and words can't do it justice. It's so much fun to listen to Jimmy Buffet sing about going over the Seven Mile Bridge while driving over the Seven Mile Bridge! While in Key West we walked and had lunch on Duvall Street, visited Mallory Square and were in awe at the enormous size of the cruise ships, and had a blast shopping in the Key West Toy Factory!

The drive back to our hotel. We are going over Seven Mile Bridge with the sun setting in the background over Key West.On the way back to our hotel we realized we were going to miss the sunset so we stopped on Marathon Key and had dinner. Nice view, huh?! That was one of the awesome things about the trip...for the past 3 1/2 years we have planned everything, especially mealtimes, around the needs of Caleb (and now Luke) but during this trip, we got to be spontaneous! And yes, I consider stopping and having dinner just to watch the sunset spontaneous.

Caleb at Work

Working hard, and taking his work very seriously!

*****

Tonight I told Caleb that he needed to go potty before he got in the bath. A few moments later when he was still standing there I said, in an exasperated tone, "Caleb, take you pants off and go potty so you can get in the bath!"

He responded with, "I will, I'm doing it, bossy!"

"Caleb!" I said, in a very disapproving tone.
"Whitney!" he replied, in the same exasperated tone I had just used.

Ahhh! The joys of raising a 3 year old.

Lots to do...

There was so much for Caleb to do in WV, without that many toys or DVR'd shows. New surroundings always mean lots of exploring, and Caleb and his cousin Peter did just that. They also found some time to play his new 3D game on his iXL. Peter was also very patient as he answered Caleb's many, many questions! Attics are still high on Caleb's list so he had to check out the attic at the house too. While on his "tour" of the house he found some old, but really cool, building toys in the storage room. He loved them!