The crew

We are enjoying doing a whole bunch of nothing today. These photos are last weekend as we all enjoyed some time in the 'dog room'. Luna got her stitches out yesterday, she has gained a couple of pounds and is getting in and out of the doggy door. She is exceptional.

I have a feeling these are the kind of days I will think about in 10, 20, however many years and just smile at the memory.

Sweet dreams

of numbers?

Confession

Last Sunday afternoon Steve was getting some much needed rest, I had lunch with Luke, we played, we read and I put him down for his nap. I hung around the house long enough for him to be put back to bed two times then noticed that the room was TOTALLY QUIET before I left to go to work for a couple of hours. I left about 2:40, left Steve a note about when I would be home and when I expected Luke to wake up. On my way to work, I thought that I would maybe get a call with some kind of strange news, and I did. Steve called and said that he woke up about 3:00 because he thought Star was going in and out of the doggy door and he didn't know why. So...he got up to check on things and here is what he found---

Yeah, Luke had gotten out of his room, trotted over to the swivel bar stool of his choice, climbed on top, gotten on top of the bar, walked over to the sink, balanced beamed it across the sink and reached his destination by the microwave where Steve found him happily chewing gum. I think the hatbox was a first attempt to get up on the bar...

Lesson: Make sure your child is really sleeping before you leave the house!
Lesson: Be thankful that you have a husband that doesn't call you irresponsible, but just says that we are in a new phase of parenting
Lesson: Kids really are so cool.
Lesson: Next time you chew a piece of gum, smile.

Steve got officially approved by the Board to be the Superintendent from July 2011 - June 2014. Go Steve!

In other news, Luna's tumor came back as the 'bad' cancer. We are hopeful that the amputation got it all. We are choosing not to treat her with chemo. We are thankful she is with us now. She is going to be spoiled with love and good food and fun for the rest of her days.

In other other news, Star had a magic moment this weekend when she tracked and CAUGHT a chipmunk. I should feel some pity for the little rodent, but they (and the wicked squirrels too) taunt the dogs so much. So I say, GO STAR! Enjoy your moment.

In my news, yesterday wore me out. I needed a good night's sleep to give me my normal outlook on life back (which is generally cheerful) This morning my spirit was lifted dramatically by spending a couple of hours swimming in the lake with my sweet boy.

That is all. It has been a relaxing, restful and happy Sunday. Just the medicine for our crew. It is also Gma Susan's and Gpa Paul's FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY!

Three Things

No pictures because I am writing this quickly before it leaves me while I am at work. Our computer person is probably going to turn me in for personal computer use, but maybe I will just get a warning.

1. Sunday night before Luke's first full day of school, I read him two Tonka truck stories (he is really into tow trucks right now - he will even say winch when the book describes that part of the truck) and then Curious George Goes To School. I told him after George, it was night night time and he said 'yeah' so we read all cuddled up. After the last story, I said I was going to give him a hug and put him in bed. Luke had other plans. He slid off of my lap, jumped into his bed, snuggled Tigger, closed his eyes and said 'night night'. I melted and then kissed him anyway, which he promptly wiped off of his cheek. I love seeing him 'grow up'. School is going wonderfully well, by the way.

2. Last night, I put him down with only a night light and closed his door half way. He went down easily, but when I looked down the hall his door was totally closed and I could see that he had turned his floor lamp all the way on and was likely back in his chair reading more stories. Daddy had to turn his lights off and sit in his room before he would settle down :)

3. This morning he woke up at 6:45, came in our room looking sweet and sleepy and promply grabbed my phone and started pushing buttons with a smile on his face. I asked him if he wanted to get in bed with us and he just paused long enough to look at me and say 'shhhhhh'. I guess we know who is in charge!

4. (Okay, four things) Luna is doing so great. She even used the doggy door today which scared me b/c I don't want her to rip any stitches out...She is ready to be back to being queen of the house, though and seems to be done with any special treatment. Dogs are amazing, and Luna is like no other.

5. I love being back at work. I love, love, love it.

Cupcakes, a new book, homecoming

Luke got some leftover cupcakes from a baby shower thiw weekend. I am still wondering if he liked them?! He ate a couple licks of icing off of them, practiced his counting skills and then moved on to a new project. Probably trying to climb on top of the bar :)

Gma Jackie got him a 5 book in 1 book about tonka trucks...it couldn't have been a bigger hit.
The story about firetrucks stars a young girl named Susan so he says Grandma when we read that one :) He DOES, without a doubt, have the two best gma's in the world.

Luna girl is home. I am happily sleeping on a mattress next to her at night b/c she can't get around the house. Last night was kind of rough, she sounded like she was crying, but is getting around remarkably well and we all are keeping our fingers crossed for a positive (meaning no aggressive bone cancer) pathology report. Star has been so sweet around her and Luke acts like nothing has changed. He just loves bouncing on the futon mattress in her room with his new pink ball. That is the best attitude to have.


Steve is the best husband and dad. Period.

Luke goes back to school - full days!- this week, kids will be at school and life keeps on chugging along. All in all, things are a-ok. Deep breaths and a smile take you a long way.

What a whirlwind (and a little love for my #1 girl)

Our family is adjusting to my first week back at work. Luke is happy as can be spending the days with Gma Susan and Gpa Paul. Steve is happy to have the school year starting off well (and maybe to see me roaming the halls once in a while!) I am happy to be back seeing students and wonderful co-workers and in the middle of the wild days that are a high school. Star is happy that we have the AC on while it is 100 degrees day after day and she gets lots of loving at night.

Luna is the star this week, though. My sweet girl got diagnosed less than 24 hours ago with bone cancer and today had her left hind leg removed. She is going to be pain free sooner than I can even comprehend and we are all so proud of her. And so HAPPY that she is in our lives.

Last night Luke knew that Luna was the center of attention, pulled a stool over to the treat jar, fed her (and only her, Star was not allowed) about 15 treats before we had to stop the fun. He knew she needed a little something extra, sweet boy.

Life is good, and we are thankful.

Date Night

Luke is throwing cheerios all over the living room as I type this. I wonder if he will pick them up?

Last night was a beautiful night, and even though Luke took a late nap he woke up with perfect timing for us to pick up my parents and head to Union Co. for some real Saturday night fun!

We enjoyed a pretty drive to Alto Pass to visit Bald Knob Cross. I have posted about the beauty of this spot several times, but this weekend and next, visitors have the option to climb to the top of the cross. It is a once in a lifetime thing, because they are restoring the cross and will be replacing all of the panels at the end of the month for good. The cross stands 111 feet high and you are able to climb within 10 feet of the top to see the amazing views. We were there for sunset and it was a complete treat.





My dad stayed on the ground with Luke walking around, playing in daddy's car, setting off the car alarm!
Yes...Steve had to run down and discover the range for turning the alarm off since dad didn't have the keys with him. There is always a little extra fun with Luke (and Papa Nick!) around. My dad has been teaching Luke to say 'oh boy!' so yesterday when I told Luke he needed a nap so that we could go on a date with Papa, Luke said "Papa?" and I said, "yes, Papa Nick" so Luke said "Papa Nick! pause, pause 'OH BOY!' It was hilarious!

After the view from the top, we headed to the Cobden Peach Festival where we definitely participated in some S. IL fun, eating fair food (even the soft pretzel was deep fried), drinking lemonade, playing BINGO, Luke even won a box of peaches playing the 'peach walk' Like a cake walk, but you put tokens on numbers to win a box of peaches. He would rather have won the Deere Gator :)




As we drove home, Steve treated Luke to a super deluxe car wash adventure which was definitely the best way to end a Saturday night! Luke loves going through the car wash and narrating what lights are on and what part of the process the car is experiencing with each cleaning step!

By the way, I haven't mentioned lately how much Luke is talking and repeating. It is super exciting to hear him discuss things and a few of the things he has repeated in his deliberate and precise way include; hummingbird (pronounced 'humming -pause- bird', date night, car wash, gas station, honeypot.

He reads a ton of his stories now which is pretty much the coolest thing ever. It seems that he has been listening for the past two years as his family read to him and now he is telling us the story. I love love love that! In other developmental news, he is 34 1/2 inches and weighs 26lbs. He might be adding to that this week though, b/c he is getting ice cream every night to help his belly handle the antibiotic that he is on to (hopefully) take care of any trace of his ear infection. He doesn't like the medicine but he does like the 'ice -pause- cream' :)

And, no, he did not pick up the cheerios...off to get the broom.

A few reasons to smile

Checking yourself out in the mirror...
Starnation...a silly lovable dog
More sunflowers blooming in the back yard...

Luke's peach tree abundant with fruit...

Because sometimes you just need to get flour on your feet

I go back to work on Monday. Life will be busier and faster, but I am looking forward to the change.

The past few weeks I have been quick to note any little area that I am not doing 'enough'. Is Steve happy and feeling cared for? Are the dogs happy and exercised? Is Luna getting the care she needs for her leg? Am I cooking enough and keeping the house clean enough? Is Luke getting enough books/good food/love/variety of activities, etc...The list goes on. Created drama, anyone?

None of those thoughts are helpful. They are actually just silly and a waste of time & energy. I am sure that they will continue to rear their ugly head once in a while, but I am just going to remind myself that I do enough and I am enough! Instead of making a list of things I didn't do well enough, maybe it would be wise to think of the things that I did do and of the great little things that happened each day...

Speaking of...I have been happily soaking up this Luke week and here are a few pictures of our adventure in zucchini bread making (which actually turned out quite good)

Eyes on the Prize

We had a fantastic dinner at Shanti & Richard's house last Saturday. These pictures show how interested Luke was in getting his fair share of dessert :)

Boston!

We spent 15 hours in Boston before flying home and had a great night at the airport Hilton and taking taxis back and forth to the Public Garden. It was a wonderful taste of urban life and Luke's favorite part of the city was an overgrown tree in the garden that he would 'hide' in...Pictures are of our hotel view (harbor and airport), Luke relaxing on the bed, and of me & Luke with the "Make Way for Ducklings' bronze ducks at the garden :) too much fun!

Cape Cod Whale Watching

4 hours on a big fun boat, the best iced coffee ever, a nap on Daddy, playing with some new kids and some up close views of a crew of whales (including a -not so little- baby). What could be better..Oh yeah, pizza for a late lunch afterwards and a souvenir light house (which Luke loves to talk about). Steve is smiling at my description of this day and that is my only goal in this post. xoxo