Our 2 Year Old!

So in commemoration of Luke's birthday this last month--I thought I'd write a bit about him and the joy he spreads! First--you should know, he's crazy! Just crazy. Always running and pirating, making exciting messes to clean up, and just being Luke!

Seriously–Luke has this power over my heart though. He could do the worst thing ever...and when I try to discipline him–he smiles, gives hugs, says--"I love you mommy", and looks at me with these sweet eyes–and I just melt. It’s ridiculous. Kade never tries to get out of anything like that–but Luke–oh my...it’s almost like his eyelashes are literally fluttering all the time. Goofy kid. I’m in tons of trouble though with him and I know it. Cause see, he’s going to try a lot... he’s so sneaky and so curious--and, I might have mentioned this before--he's just crazy. And ya know what–I already know that he’s going to get away with most of it. AHH-I’m going to need a lot of help with this whole mothering thing.

He’s so funny–the other day I was getting the boys breakfast ready while they were playing in their room. I hear Kade yell, “MOM–Luke's doing something bad!!!” So I ran upstairs and see a solid white child. Luke had covered his body in Desitin...oh so so covered. It was so funny though cause he was just smiling and continuing to smooth it all out after he saw I was there. And here is case in point to his getting away with anything-- I said–don’t touch anything–I need my camera-and ran downstairs...
After taking a few photo's and realizing that it was ridiculous to tell a two-year old covered in bum cream not touch anything–and then turn my back–I put him in the bath. LAME-O! He he, I’m a nerd–a cream that’s purpose is to keep a child dry–is more then likely water resistant–he he, so after fighting that thought and scrubbing his stomach for 5 minutes with soap (thinking–“really....–it’s really not going to work?”) then I took him out of the bath and just took a towel and rubbed him down. I can’t believe how much he had on him! He he, it made me and Kade laugh so much. Silly kid. (Because of my awesome “discipline technique” on this last one–he probably still thinks it’s a fantastic idea to have more desitin fun tomorrow! I’m awesome.) -(ewww, this is what happens when you wait a minute or two before taking care of a problem--on the lips! gross)
Here’s the thing though–he’s always doing stuff like that. Jess found him in the bathroom the other day, wearing jess' glasses--and brushing his teeth with everyone's toothbrush's--complete with toothpaste everywhere! (He’s always trying to break out the toothbrushes–he LOVES brushing his teeth. I think it’s hilarious that I have to limit him to 3 times a day–he'd do it all day if I let him.)
While waiting to fall asleep the other day he was just shouting letters out in a random order to a random song. It doesn’t sound strange until you imagine it–just all by himself–shouting....so loud–he he. Oh, he totally knows all his letters! He surprises me so much–cause he learned it without me. (If anyone wants motherhood lessons--I'm totally open!:) That's what ya get for being the second child I guess. I'm pretty sure it came mostly from Kade and the “Word Whammer” on the fridge that Grandma gave Kade for last years birthday. Oh, and he can count from 1-20 (well, 16-19 sound mostly exactly the same...)
Anyway--I love him sooooooooo much and I am just so much happier because I have him in my life! FUN!


At the zoo last week with our friends the Livseys for Hayden's birthday. They're showing their STAMPEDE faces!

Luke turned 2 on Sunday! woo woo! Sunday after church and naps--Kade hid Luke's presents, and was so excited for Luke--when I asked him why, he said, "because he'll good some good stuff and maybe he'll share with me."
And Luke did--and he's trying to share--I'm sure of it(Luke just hit the "MINE" stage and it's not always so pretty) At any rate we sang "Happy Birthday 4 or 5 times cause Luke kept wanting to blow out the candles and it was fun. Then on Monday some of his friends from the neighborhood had cake and ice cream with us.
Luke wanted a sponge-bob square pants cake for his birthday so that's what I made (I know he's only 2 but it's just so cute to hear him say his whole name.) Mom Adams gave Kaden a musical book at the beginning of the year with a bazillion songs about sponge-bob. Now Luke knows all the songs and is a HUGE fan. Anyway--it was nice and easy and now he's 2! FUN.







There's a place called Phinizy Swamp Nature Park about 15 minutes from our house. Jess and I took the kids to it a year and a half ago--and it was winter--and it was ugly. But I kept hearing good things about it and took the kids last week. IT WAS GORGEOUS!

They loved walking around and we even saw a water snake, regular snake, and tons of turtles.(and a hiker said there were two otters in the lake area and a biker said he kept seeing an alligator, but we couldn't see either.)

Anyway--this time around it really was so pretty and we loved it.

Jonathans Home!

WELCOME HOME JONATHAN. I am so so so happy. My brother-in-law Jonathan has been in Kuwait for the past year and was finally able to come home yesterday and I'm soooooo excited for all of them!!! Welcome home and thank you for your service--We love you guys!!!

Camping & The Masters

A couple of weekends ago we went camping and it was sooooooooooooo fun! here's the thing. If it were up to me, we would have brought EVERYTHING. Toys, DVD player, tons of food, tried dutch oven cooking....I have learned something huge from Jess:

That way's lame.

Jess lives the simple life. This was our trip: We packed the tent, mattresses, and sleeping bags, Packed p'j's and poptarts, pick up a pizza on the way to the camp sight and that was it. APPARENTLY...nature is a good entertainer. Who knew? Anyway it was so fun and our first family camp out. The boys loved it and because it went so well, odds are we'll do this again--with Jess' way of packing (which apparently is from Dad Winn's influence...so thanks! (you're so smart).






Yesterday my friend Sarah and I went to the Masters Golf Tournament (well, kinda--we sorta just asked a guy outside to sell us a cheap ticket to just see the grounds on one of the practice round days.) and it was gorgeous! I also learned that I probably wouldn't be a very good golf spectator....Apparently it's a "quiet watching sport". Any more questions? I've never once been mistaken for a "quiet" type person. I'm more of a screamer--I accidently screamed once...you know...like a wooo hoo (cause it was a great hit--is that what you'd call it, a hit--a shot--a clubb'n???) that was a little too much I noticed very quickly. he he...ooh, Cari you might be saying--you're a big nerd.--Oooh, the lessons you learn. But the grounds were awesome and we had a great time!


The LAWN MOWER TRAIN