Something new

A collage of our weekend. Dinners out, time with my favorite people (and dog), naps, time outside, beauty all around and some cars lined up.

9:30 pm Sunday: "Mommy, will you pleeeease sleep with me all night?"

6:50 am Monday: 1 sore back + 1 pretty decent night's sleep +1 really happy kid = life is good

Ring Bearer & Baker

Just a couple of jobs Luke has said yes to recently...
Getting measured for his TUXEDO!

helping to stir

Get the marshmallows in - STAT!

Hmmm...should I eat this or throw it in the pan? He wanted the treats to be red and orange so we (I) split the batch of melted marshmallow to put food color in...Luke did the squirting of color and those colors were full and rich...Now when he wants a rice krispie treat, he says "I want some red stuff".

Raise your hand...

...if you want cake!

We have been in the midst of birthday party fun. Luke has really enjoyed them, and we always like seeing our buddy's babies growing up...At this party, they had a bounce house and other fun things which Luke ignored. Instead, he scoped the yard out, looked at me and said "Mommy, they have dust here!" "Where are the sticks?" He wanted to dig and make dust from the manicured mulch areas around the trees. Which he did work on for a bit. He also attempted to ride a bike. I think I know what he might get for HIS next birthday!

Pink Gum

"I want some PINK GUM"

" I want a LOT of pink gum"

When the mass in his mouth got just a tad too large, he handed it over and moved on to the next thing that caught his attention.

Luke has been a good gum chewer for a long time. I encouraged it when he was just past 2 years old b/c we were planning a plane trip and I wanted him to know to chew gum for his ears. His good habits have grown to now seeing which body parts gum will stick to and how far he can throw a used piece in my car. Hmmmm...working to break those habits is worth him getting a faux teeth cleaning once in a while ;)

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...