goodbye old preschool

On his buddy Ben's last day at Luke's old school (Luke still attended for another month) I brought the camera to take a few shots of the class and school. We loved having Luke at this school and he and we made some great friends here in Atlanta because of it. Luke really enjoyed this daycare/preschool, he attended for 2 years (from 20 months to 3.5 years old), which is the longest he'd been at the same school yet. I loved that it was a church based school and he learned so much there. It was super convenient when we lived in our old apartment and when I worked, it was right on the way. But now that I am not currently working and we moved, it isn't close and isn't cheap :( Since two of Luke's close friends were also transitioning to new schools for the fall, we decided to make the switch too. I know Luke misses his buddies from his old school, but we still see them for play dates and he is making friends at his new school.

Luke's class



His favorite thing, the big truck



Luke and Ben playing with the big trucks





Luke's teacher, Ms. Jodi, holding Brad

Happy Retirement

In May we went to FL to celebrate with Josh's mom, Robin, on her retirement from 35 years of teaching, 32 of which were Kindergarten at Bay Vista Elementary. The retirement party was part ceremony and part celebration. There was an incredible tribute to her put together by her co-workers and present and former students. It was really a very nice tribute. Afterwards there was fun and fellowship for everyone to enjoy. We had a great time and were glad we were able to make the trip to FL to be a part of it all.

Robin speaking, surrounded by past and present students.

Josh's birthday

Back in May, it was Josh's birthday :) I remember taking these pictures thinking, "I'll put them on the blog in honor of Josh's birthday!" And I meant that day, not three months later in August. Oh well, good intentions!

We went shopping, got a present, a card, and a cake. Luke signed/colored the card.



The cake



Luke gave daddy the present when he got home from work (the present was a new cordless phone that he can use to do his dictations)



Luke and Daddy



So happy very belated birthday Josh. But considering there are no pictures of my June birthday, I don't feel so bad :)

Sleep jumper

Here it is, the long ago promised video demonstrating how Brad jumps himself to sleep and continues jumping while his eyes are closed. Think it'll win us $10,000 on America's Funniest Videos?



5/12/11

7 months

Luke, at 7 months was 26.5 inches long and 17.5 lbs. He continued to be a wonderful sleeper and ate 3 regular meals and two snacks a day. We started feeding him dinner at the same time we ate at this age. He loved to flex his wrists and was saying da-da and ba-ba and would make the sound "bree." He started waving bye-bye also. This was also the month that his hemangioma really started hurting him. It was ulcerated and despite several laser treatments, it just wasn't healing. The poor little guy wouldn't put his arms in the water at bath time and we were afraid it might be hurting him and potentially delaying his motor development due to the pain. So we started seeking out alternative options to the laser and finally found a plastic surgeon to remove it (which wouldn't happen until he was nearly 9 months old). Luke also had his 3rd ear ache this month and that is why he had ear tubes placed at the same time he had the hemangioma removed.



Brad, at 7 months was 28 inches long and weighed 18 lbs 13 oz. Brad started teething in May and there went the couple weeks of good through the night sleep we had. He got his two bottom teeth within 10 days this month. He started shaking his head no and thought it was so funny, he also loves his bouncy chair and falling asleep in it! He talks and babbles so much at this time :)



Looking like brothers for sure!

blueberries

5/11/11

Mother's Day 2011

My first Mother's day as a mother of two :)
Sweet little guys.

Spring Carnival

The spring carnival at Luke's preschool was held in early May. I missed it last year since I was in FL for a conference, but I was glad the whole family got to go this year. One of my good friends was in charge of putting it together and Josh sponsored a booth :) I tried to contribute as well, some brownies for the bake sale and I tried to help organize the bake goods the day before the carnival too.

I had heard that last year Luke wouldn't get on the pony ride, but this year it was the first thing he wanted to do. He made it on the pony, but after one time around the circle he was ready to get off...hey, progress!



Then Luke's good buddy Ben and his dad met up with us and Ben and Luke were together the rest of the morning! They rode the train



They played in the bouncy house



They cheesed it up for the camera



They played with the little cars



There were tattoos (this is the booth that had Josh's name as the sponsor, we didn't pick a particular booth so it was nice he got something manly, haha).



And face painting



and sand art



A good time was had by all, even Brad!



Even though Luke started at a new school last week, I think we'll have to go back to this carnival next May :)

More Luke Speak

Because I enjoy it so, here is some more Luke speak.

1) Monster Bruce: This means Bruce Wayne the alter ego of Batman. Luke has become a big batman fan and watches the cartoon DVDs and since Bruce Wayne's butler (can't remember his name) has a British accent Luke thinks when he says Master Bruce he is saying Monster Bruce and cannot figure out why he is calling him Monster :)

2) Foot prants: Southern accent coming out on foot prints :)

3)Bee-noclears : binoculars

4) Scores! : He says this when he makes a goal in any sport.

5) Just kidding: Lately Luke has been saying this all the time, whether it makes sense or not or if he really is kidding or not. He says it especially when he senses that whatever he said is not what mommy or daddy wanted to hear :)

6) "Dad you're full of potatoes": he said that to Josh one time and now it has become a joke, sometimes inserting other foods for the potatoes!

and lastly,
7) see Luke's folded arms and pout in the picture above? He does this and then says, "No, I don't want to!" It is hilarious and I think we have teased him so much about it that he doesn't really do this anymore!

Brothers

Another attempt at getting cute pictures of my two boys. This time wearing hats.
The little outfit Brad has on was one of my all time favorites of Luke's. It has red crabs all over it. The hat that goes with it never fit Luke, and I think Brad may have only been able to wear it this one time. By the way, Luke made a construction paper head band at school yesterday and it fit me perfectly, (Luke even said, "oh mom, that fits perfectly!") so either I have a head the size of a typical three year old, or Luke's head is on the large side :)

Artsy

Luke felt like being artsy one day and begged me to paint his fingernails. I didn't want to stifle his creativity so I painted them all the various colors he asked for (even though I knew Josh was going to want to strangle me!). After the fingernail painting Luke decided it wasn't quite enough, so he found his stickers and put as many stickers as he could up both arms and added a couple on his face.



It was wonderful timing since I was planning on taking him and Brad to the carousel party his dentist was having (Luke's dentist has a restored old carousel and he hosts parties twice a year to give all his patients rides).

going back to Easter

Yep, that is how far behind I am. I haven't even posted about Easter! We've been having a busy summer here. Lots of traveling and fun adventures for sure. Maybe you'll hear about them by Christmas :) Luke started school last week and things are slowly returning back to a routine, which actually is pretty nice. Anyway, thought I'd take some time and recount Easter weekend. My parents, the boys' Nana and Papa, came up for the weekend.

First we made Easter eggs. This was the first time Luke got to dye eggs. I can remember doing this with my brother when we were little. Nothing has changed in the art of egg dyeing, except when I was a kid I don't remember caring if a mess was made!

The preliminary tests





3-D glasses



Proud of himself



Checking the colors



Looks good



Finished product



We also went to the zoo. I bought a membership and before it got terribly hot we went about once a month. It is a pretty nice zoo and Luke loves it. Didn't get too many pictures this trip, but here is one I love of Brad, by the gorillas wearing his monkey shirt.



And Luke and Nana on the carousel



We started going to a new church on Palm Sunday and we have since joined this church and it is also where Luke now attends preschool. We intended to get there for Luke to do the egg hunt, but unfortunately we arrived a little too late. Luke still walked around and looked on the playground.



(Let me just mention that I love this playground because of the astroturf! Luke's previous school had mulch and it was a never ending mulch fest in his shoes everyday that got dumped in the car in the house, etc...)

Brad



Nana and Papa with Brad



Brad



Between mommy and daddy and two sets of grandparents, we had enough Easter presents to make up three Easter baskets for Luke to find in the house when we got home from church.
One was on the fireplace



One was on the guest bed



One was on Luke's bed





Our Family



Nana and Papa and the boys



Brady boy





Brad trying a sippy cup for the first time (didn't want it)



Since we missed the church's egg hunt we made one for Luke in our yard while he napped. I took some video, but it took him 7 minutes to pick up the dozen eggs we had out, so needless to say he wasn't that into it and I'll spare you the video.