So we like trains again

There is no escaping Luke's die-hard love of cars, trucks, etc...but his earlier interest in trains has stuck around too (which is nice considering we have invested his college tuition in Thomas parts) See...

He gets narratives going while he plays and don't even think about getting involved in the scene at hand. Even if we pick up at night, the next day he will notice what has changed from his meticulously created scene and let us know that messing with his stuff isn't quite the best decision :)

Oops

How did all of these fruit snacks get on the floor? Luke had a project going to reach his treats when the basket came unhooked and tumbled to the ground. Once he understood that picking them all up and putting them back in the basket would earn a pack of "Lightning snacks" he was quick to tidy. Now the basket hangs on the lowest shelf...placement by Luke. Cleanup by Luke. Smiles by mommy.

Rainy Day Fun

When it rains all day what else should you do but still find a way to enjoy some outdoor time running to the front door each time you hear thunder(and ask to play in the MUD, GLORIOUS MUD) and eat a big breakfast of blueberry pancakes and oven baked bacon...with a side perhaps of chocolate milk.

On this rainy day, we also went to a fundraiser for Luke's school and now have some art work in the dining room, courtesy of Luke's pre-K class. When Luke saw the 'rolled sponge' canvas he quickly told us that Chapel and Emily and Owen worked on it...

For fun

Little cutie spending time with his parents on the front patio.

Every morning this little guy comes running in our bedroom and (for now) runs to my side of the bed to either climb our headboard or get a lift from me to the middle of the bed. Today he took some time to hold my hands and give me extra kisses. Super great way to wake up :)

Lots of Love

Can you tell that Luke loves when Uncle Glenn is in town?

His specialty wink...what a kid & what an uncle!

In Daddy's words

This is a note that Steve wrote me about a night out with Luke last week.

"I took Luke to a "pizza party" last night after school. The Dean of the College of Education and Human Services had an informal meeting with pizza/soda in WHAM to talk to new doctoral candidates. The invitation specifically stated that children would be welcome for those without child care.

I was the only one who took the Dean up on his offer. The meeting consisted of about twenty new doctoral candidates from around the world and Luke Murphy all sitting in a half-circle of desks around the Dean. The Dean discussed the doctoral program and expectations, and everyone around the room introduced themselves and discussed possible research interests. I introduced myself, and I introduced Luke as a "currently enrolled student in the SIU Child Development Lab".

Luke ate pizza and quietly listened to the discussion for about an hour and 15 minutes. The Dean occasionally made a funny quip, which elicited a few soft laughs from the crowd and a subsequent belly laugh from Luke. Occasionally Luke would turn to me and wink. At one point, I whispered "I love you Luke..." and he loudly responded "I love YOU daddy."

One lady was an expert in early childhood and for some reason always carried a deck of "Go Fish" cards in her purse. She offered them to Luke during the presentation, and Luke quietly went through the deck naming the colors and types of fish, and asking me if he didn't know one. Another lady offered a paper and pen, which Luke drew a racetrack on. He also tried to write his name and mine.

I couldn't be more proud of our son and what a wonderful job his mother has done raising him. I received several compliments on how well-behaved and well adjusted he was. He was never a distraction in the meeting - except for the time he raised his hand during one of the Dean's stories and stated, "I need to go POOP."

He was very proud of himself for attending Daddy's meeting "at SIU with the older students" and also for using the "big potty at SIU". On our way in and out, he was careful to smile at the girls who noticed him and rev his engine at some football players waiting for class.

I love our son and I love you babe. Life is good."

A real treat

This book of fairy tales was mine as a little girl.

Is has some of my favorites

like The Princess and the Pea,

Rumpelstiltskin, and Thumbelina

The White Cat is one that I do not remember, but have enjoyed getting to know over the past few days. It is a favorite of Luke's for this minute, and I LOVE reading these stories to him. He soaks up the words and at bedtime, as the story goes on, I will lower my voice and end up whispering while he fades off into the land of sweet dreams.

Star on fire!

Give this girl a ball...

...and watch her strut her stuff

She is such a unique and lovable dog.

And she really seems to have a good sense for when to look at the camera!

Good catch!

Love you, silly and sweet Star!

Delicious

Because who doesn't love some chocolate milk with a licorice straw?

Right Now

I am drinking lots of water after an awesome 90 minute yoga class.

Both of my boys are getting much needed naps.

Beef stroganoff is cooking in the crock pot, and the house smells really great!

Star is hanging in the front yard, airing out still after her skunk run-in last weekend, and resting after a fun walk

I am blogging (really!) watching a bad (but really enjoyable) movie on Lifetime, eating candy corn and realizing that fall is on its way

It is suddenly chilly outside, but really beautiful

Luke loves nerds, cutting paper, doing 'activities' and drinking chocolate milk.

Football has begun...Friday night fun.

We have enjoyed some time at the Duquoin State Fair. These rides are wild for little kids. Luke had a fun time, and luckily I could ride some with him b/c they were kind of fast and crazy for pre-schoolers!

I wanted to ride the Carousel with him. It was fun, but it went fast! I had to hold on and at one point Luke said, "My horse is going up and down, and we are going around and around, and I have to say Whoa!" Love his stories :)

Can you see him smiling at my freaked out face!?! ha!

Daddy rode this one with him. That is Steve's maroon shirt in the middle of the plane. This is a little kid ride?!?! Ha!

Luke rode this one all alone, but as he would go around, he seemed to get more bored with the lack of wildness on this ride!

They have tractors at the fair! WOW! We went with Gpa Nick, and got to watch a couple of horse races with him. That was a treat and a generational passing of the torch, as I grew up going to races with my dad, and Steve has fun memories of going with his Grandpa Merle. He was cheering for #4 while he ate some cotton candy, which he cleverly renamed "Sugar Salad"

Later this week, we had pizza and ice cream across the street at DQ with our favorite girls, Ruthie, Molly and my pal, Connie. The kids were amazing at the restaurant letting the moms talk, they all ate, and they all really love each other. Great time. Great friends.

I parked by a landscaped area which kept us from leaving the pizza place for an extra 30 minutes. He had sticks to find, dust to make and we were there to see a train go by. Luke taught a 3rd grade boy what a 'tanker' car is and was curious about why there was no caboose.

This is our 'nest' as Luke puts it. All of us love to be in the nest!

Have I mentioned yet that I got to see Willie Nelson at the fair last Friday with these awesome ladies, Anjae & Emily. Danny was there, too, but he took the picture and didn't need proof of his presence :) Must be a guy thing. Amazing company on one of those 'wow, what a life' nights. Loved. Every. Minute.

We have gotten a dining room table! And...it is now art project, activity table central! Love having family meals, love how well Luke eats there, and love that he loves to draw, paint, color, etc...He has also really gotten into maps so likes to draw Illinois and California - yeah, it all goes back to Lightning McQueen!

This kid is a complete gift. His imagination is non-stop impressive. He gives the best impromptu hugs and kisses. He challenges my patience which I need even when I don't know it. He has the best daddy he could ask for. He loves to be home. He tells great stories. He likes things a certain way. He falls asleep while we read fairy tales. He makes the world a better place.

Some recent quotes:

"I am all out of hugs" to his pre-school teacher now that he has moved up to Pre-K

"I am such a big boy" Pre-K has obviously been a great move!

"I can do this all by myself" now that he can direct his 'flow' potty time anywhere is a lot less messy

"You are nuts" 5am quote when I slept with him the night before the first day of school. He woke up, looked at me and said it. Laughing is a good way to wake up EARLY.

"You turn left to go right, then you turn left, then you are at Grandma's house" New expert at giving directions

"Look at the beautiful sunflower, Mommy!" Yes, we have a nature lover on our hands and I couldn't be more proud.