Picnic in the Park

Last night after church we headed to the park for a little picnic and playtime...oh, how I love sweet summer! :)

Luke: 20 Months

Luke, you are twenty months old!

Here's what you're up to these days...

• You weigh 28lbs.
• You are 34 inches long.
• You are wearing 18 and 24 month clothes and size 6 diaper.
• Your feet are growing too, and you've moved up to size 7s!
• You are an excellent sleeper, and you are definitely off to a great summer schedule! You have been going to sleep between 7:30 and 8PM and waking up between 8 and 8:30AM:)!
• You have been better about napping this month. The trick is to put you in your pajamas and give you your breathing treatment as if it were bedtime...you have been falling right into the routine and taking 2 hour naps again...hallelujah!
• You eat anything and everything...and I joke that you are like the community dog. We were at a ballgame in Wedowee the other day and you went up to some strangers who were eating nachos and stood there with your hand out!
• You have started playing well independently. Your current favorite toys are a little tool box and hammer, a wooden tractor/trailer, and some plastic cows. You also love to play with any type of ball you can get your hands on.
• You're still fearless and very reckless! Nothing surprises me with you...nothing!
• You are also intelligent. I'm afraid I have many sleepless nights ahead of me...fearless + reckless + intelligent = MESS!
• You are going through the hitting stage (which I despise:/), but I don't know what to do. Since this isn't my first rodeo I do know that "this too shall pass," but I definitely don't want you to be "that kid"...the one that every parent warns their kid not to be like. I've tried spanking you, sitting you in "time out", literally hitting you back (in the same manner that you hit)...but nothing works. If I spank or hit you, you laugh and do it again because it has then become a game to you...and when you do it in the first place it's not out of meanness. When I put you in "time out"  you just cry hysterically like I've hurt you (or your feelings)...but not in a bratty sort of way...just like you don't know what you've done...like we were honestly playing a game and then you got in trouble. I guess you're just a rough boy...and hopefully by next month I'll have a new complaint:).
• You still have 16 teeth. You've started clenching your mouth and whining sometimes when I brush them, which makes me wonder if you're trying to cut some molars.
• You are still interested in the potty, and in the past month you have actually gone to the potty and said, "tee-tee," once, and you have pooped in the potty too!! *I feel assured that this will embarrass you one day if you ever choose to read it. I apologize in advance. I'm sure I'll do many, many more things to embarrass you in the future too:).
• You have turned into a little man overnight. I love you more than you'll ever know Luke Joseph. Happy 20 months!

Memorial Day & UCA

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 
~John 15:13

We spent Memorial Day weekend with family and friends. After Saturday's game and team party we headed to MawMaw Nell's for a fish fry. Then on Sunday we had our annual Homecoming services, followed by food as far as the eye can see. Sunday night we, along with Jen, Steven, Christy, Jim, and all of the kiddos, went to Brent  and Jana's for a cookout. I have no pictures to prove it, but those kids had a blast playing together! However, when we got home Luke began throwing up and running a fever (sorry Lane, Jaxon & Blair).

Big Sis taking care of "her poor sick baby":)

We have been spending Memorial Day as "adopted children" of the Sprayberrys for many years. Before Emma made her way to our room on Monday morning she had already laid out her "Pledge of Allegiance swimsuit" and declared that she was ready to go to "PawPaw Richard's". Luke was still running a fever, but he wasn't throwing up so MawMaw graciously agreed to keep the little guy so E could swim for a while. He ended up sleeping nearly the entire time we were gone, but apparently that was just what he needed since his fever never returned!

 

Yesterday was my last official day at work (and by "official" I mean it's the last working day I'll be paid for until August). It was also the day the CHS cheerleaders headed to T-Town for camp. The girl LOVES all things cheer, so we decided to head that way to watch them do their home pom routine which, by the way, was AWESOME! She insisted on painting her toes red for the occasion (pic courtesy of Emma:)...

These girls (and their mamas) were

exhausted by the end of the night...

Team Party

After the game we went to the lake for our team party. The kids had a blast playing together, and Josh and Cindy were great hosts!

(My contribution:)

Last T-Ball Game

Today was E's last t-ball game. The kids played a great game and won 19-4. It was H.O.T.!! Thankfully, my hubby thought to ask the umpire if we could stop the game with 8 minutes remaining if both teams agreed. I honestly think sweat was pouring from my eyelashes...I know the kids were on fire in those black pants!

I realized that I had not taken one single video of my sweet girl this entire season, so please excuse the overload in this one post...and if you choose to watch her please also excuse the shrill of my voice:).

Take Your Daughter to Work

E is always wanting to come to work with me, and since the kids got out at 1PM today I thought it was the perfect time. She was so well-behaved and had a lot of fun.

Mrs. Helen even let her ride the bus to the main campus

for lunch...this was by far the highlight of her day!!

CHS

We are getting ready for the most wonderful time of year...football season! This year will be a little a lot different now that our alma mater is merely a part of history, but we are excited about cheering on the Central High School Volunteers!

You make me smile like the sun...

Shine {Dance Recital 2012}

Being a full time wife and mom who also works outside the home means that every second of every day is busy...sun up to sun down (or pitch black;)! However, this weekend was extra busy. We had ballgames both Friday night and Saturday morning (think two loads of laundry in the middle of the night).

Then on Saturday night Emma had her dance recital. I love watching my baby girl do things she loves, and she made me so proud (not that I expected any less). Her smile while she was up there on that stage was priceless! Flash photography wasn't allowed, so please excuse the quality of the pics...

Since the recital didn't start until 7PM Uncle Brent, Aunt Jana, and Blair let Luke come hang out with them. We are ever so thankful to have such wonderful friends who are like family. It is so comforting to know that we can rely on them, and we are so grateful that they love our babies like their own. We can't wait to return the favor! :)