First Trip To Scooters

Luke went to Scooters last summer but he didn't get to try anything. This trip was different!

We got him a bitty baby cone. He shoved the entire thing in his mouth and kept his hands over it. He literally did not move (or even blink) until the whole cone miraculously disappeared. He then conned Brooke into giving him some of her ice cream :)

Shedd Aquarium Visit

Its been a long time since the big kids went to the Shedd ... and Luke has never been. I figured it would be the perfect trip for our first week of Summer Break.

We hit all the sights - Brooke and Ryan walked the entire aquarium and never complained once. Im pretty sure that has never, ever, ever happened before. Ever. We went to a show that featured whales and dolphins. We got seats that were right behind the glass. This was perfect because there was a little area for Luke to move around while we waited.

He noticed a bit of an echo and got progressively louder and louder while we waited for the show to begin. I was worried we were about to anger many people, until I remembered I had a pacifier with. The paci kept him quiet and he (as well as the other two) was mesmerized for the entire show.

The kids had one mission. They wanted to pet the stingrays. How could I say no?

Nope. This isnt a different day or different place. Same day, same place. The kids got so soaked at the touch-a-stingray exhibit that I had to purchase them new shirts. I also looked around at every kid that came out of there - mine were the only ones who needed new clothes.

The Mosquito Bite

When picking cherries on Sunday, some kind people close to us were nice enough to call out and say the area had major poison ivy coverage.  So, we booked it. Unfortunately, Brooke has been worried about poison ivy for about 2 years now ... and the close encounter really set her off.

All day Sunday she kept crying and yelling about having poison ivy. She kept thinking she was itchy. I continually checked and saw nothing. On Monday she again told me she was itchy - up by her knee. This is unlikely to be poison ivy since (if she had contact) the ivy was by her ankles. However, I looked and it was a bit red. I let her know she has a mosquito bite. And it was like a bomb exploded.

We are now on day two of Mosquito Bite Drama Fest. She wrote a note and posted it to the door so her Dad would see it. She wrote a book about it. She woke up her Dad in the middle of the night last night to discuss it. She has been panicked about going outside in fear of another mosquito interaction.

Its gonna be a real, long, drama-filled summer!

She Said / He Said

Brooke: I love the calm noise of popping bubbles. Isnt it refreshing?


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Mom: Itchy head?
Ryan: Yeah, its always itchy. I think I have an itchy mind.

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Ryan: Could I borrow some help?

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Ryan: When I grow up I just want to be me. I want to still be funny. I want to have kids.

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Father's Day

Dad was given many wonderful presents, including a banner...

And projects from school including a:
Rangoli from Brooke

A picture and frame from Brooke

A hand painting from Ryan

A card from Brooke

And a whole lot more that would require pages to display! After opening presents the kids took Dad to McDonalds for breakfast and then strawberry picking to continue the celebration.

While it technically was Luke's 2nd time, he (obviously) does not remember his first outing. We plopped him into the field and let him try a few strawberries. There was much drama.

However, drama seems to just be how he operates. Minutes after the initial drama there was more drama. But in the opposite direction. Luke decided he loved strawberries and must have one in his mouth at all times. He tried to eat every berry in the field.

Everyone did their best to keep him happy. Mostly that involved feeding him berries.

When we tried to leave he threw a fit. He threw himself back into the field in a desperate attempt for more berries.

On the way driving out we made a quick stop to check out the sweet cherries. They're something we've never picked, and though the kids dont love them ... they were curious. We picked a few. Then people close to us hollered out that "There's poison ivy all over the ground". We skedaddled. However, the poison ivy drama with Brooke lasted several days after ;)

We finished off the day with a swim in the pool ... Luke's first time in (that he can remember). He wasnt very happy initially, but it didnt take him long to change his mind.

Father's Day From Brooke

Fathers Day From Brooke

Fathers Day Celebration / Lukes 1st Beach Experience

To celebrate Father's Day we invited a bunch of family to come and join us for a MI beach day. We were joined by Aunt Lori, Uncle Jeff, Cousins Missy & Kim, Uncle Brad, and Grandma and Grandpa. It was a hazy and overcast day - which was perfect for lounging at the beach. Nobody got hot, but everyone ended up getting a little sun.

Luke has been to the beach many times, but he was in a bouncy seat napping for most of the time. We finally got him down there this summer so he can touch the sand and feel the water. He definitely did not appreciate touching the sand, and nobody could blame him for not wanting to touch the 64 degree water.

He finally found a couple of things he DID like to do at the beach.  Throwing rocks and pouring water.

Seems to be that he and his brother might actually share a brain.  Look at them conspiring!

Luke also found sometime to play with his sister,  without the maniacal laugh and devious planning.

With all of the excitement, Luke needed to take a nap. I took the opportunity to have a beverage ... Brooke and Ryan kept busy by "digging a hole to India" (of course).

Big Guy at the Park

Not long ago he was a baby in a stroller (and just before that a baby in an Ergo) watching his big siblings play at the park. Now he's a little kid running all over! He loves the swing and the slide, loves driving the train, and even went in the water at Felger park. Where did our baby go?

She Said / He Said

Ryan: we made something to bring all out art home. It's called a bolio.
Me: a portfolio?
Ryan: uh huh

14 Months

Luke is really starting to demonstrate his own personality. He loves books. He will sit next to a pile or basket of books and "read" each one. He's memorizing parts, saying words along with the text, and doing movements to match the text. He also loves balls. He is obsessed with them! And he's got a great arm :) He spends a lot of time throwing and retrieving balls all by himself.

Other loves:

• Animals, mostly dogs
• Vehicles, all called "choo choos"
• Paw Patrol, a tv show and characters he's randomly gravitated to
• Beverages, he yells for "wa wa" all day which means both water and milk 
• Legos, primarily destroying things his brother builds and his "Lego whistle" (a lego he has found he can keep in his mouth and blow to make a whistling sound)

He's also demonstrating a hot temper (like is brother!) and a mischievous side. He taunts us by doing things he knows are trouble/dangerous, and makes sure to call our attention to his behavior. He also like to "run" as we approach him ... all the while laughing his head off. When he doesnt get his way he throws himself on the floor and cries and yells, only to be distracted and laughing 10 seconds later.

He loves his brother and sister. He hugs them and kisses them, he follows them, he seeks out their attention and approval. They both make him laugh and are most often the tantrum distraction he needs.

He is still talking up a storm, learning new words every day. He will repeat almost any word I ask him to say, but doesnt retain all of the words he says. Here are a few of the new ones he knows:

Water is a word he says 20X a day (wa-wa), but I cannot seem to get him to say "Milk" :)
Shoes
Head
Cuddle (says cuddle-cuddle)
Waddle

Audubon Art Show

Both kids had art displayed at the school art show. The best part was how excited they were to be a part of the show :)

Brooke did a self-portrait

Ryan said his was "an explosion"

Chicks!

Brooke's kindergarten class had the opportunity to have chicks in their classroom. It was such an exciting thing for Brooke, who came home daily with the chick-countdown. The biggest drama was when the chick-coundtown finished on a Friday ... none of them had hatched. Thus, the majority hatched over the weekend and they did not get to see. However, there were a couple of stragglers and the class did get to see them :)

Before they were shipped off to the farm, her teacher gave the kids (and their family) one last chance to hold them before they were gone. We missed swim lessons in order to get some quality chick time!