Go Diego Go!

Move over marine biologists, Luke has found a new future occupation. . .animal rescuer! Thanks to Diego, which he recently discovered, he has a blast using his imagination and running to the rescue of animals calling out for help. As you know, Luke started Pre-K recently and it turns out his new little buddy Kate, has an equal passion for Dora, Diego's cousin. Luke and Kate are having a blast at school pretending to be Diego and Dora. In fact, Luke's teacher told me today that Luke and Kate asked her to call them Diego and Dora!! We've had many of these conversations at home as well. I hear things like, "Mommy, I'm Diego. My other name is Luke."

Luke has also given Charlie the name Baby Jaguar, because, in case you aren't up to speed on Diego, he has a baby Jaguar that goes on adventures with him! Anytime Luke talks to Charlie he calls him Baby Jaguar. It's a good thing Charlie already knows his name--I just hope he doesn't start answering only to Baby Jaguar!! Last week we went to the zoo with a bunch of friends. The entire time at the zoo, Luke and his friends were pretending to be characters from Diego and Dora. So cute!

Luke in the middle next to Dora and Alicia (Diego's sister) along with his other friends all named after Dora and Diego characters!!
Thanks for the pic, Kelly

take me out to the ballgame!

Tickets to our minor league baseball game . . . $14.00

3 hot dogs, 3 chips, 3 bottled waters and a snowcone. . .$24.50

A fun night of baseball and spending time together. . .priceless!

Our 2nd time this season (you can check out our first trip here) to head to a baseball game (this time with Charlie, who's walking and determined to explore) was lots of fun! It was sizzling waiting in line for tickets, but once we made it to our lawn seats, we were in the shade and feeling cooler. Not cool, but cooler. So, one of the biggest hits of the night was getting a snowcone! Luke and I planned on the two of us sharing one, but Charlie, who had never had one before, decided this was the night to join us. Verdict?? He loved it!

Luke enjoyed practice swinging and learning more details about the game. We also ran into one of his new little friends from school, so they had a blast doing somersaults and dancing to music in addition to watching baseball!

Charlie, not so interested in the game at his age, was a social butterfly and kept walking to other people's blankets, smiling and of course eating up all the attention he received! Finally, it was getting late, so we headed out after the 7th inning stretch (we couldn't miss singing Take Me Out to the Ballgame). On our way out, we stopped at the rail in the outfield for a closer look. At this point, Charlie decided he was done with his sippy cup and threw it down on the field! I didn't really want to draw anymore attention to us than there already was and I was fine just leaving the cup there, but the security guards were nice enough to ask the warm-up pitchers to run over and grab it for us. Wonder how many times a sippy cup has landed on a baseball field?!

Lukey learns the ins and outs of the game!

Please let me have some!!

Yum! Thank you!


Chad takes in some of the game!

So excited about his snow cone!

Mommy gets a thank you kiss!

Throwing it back before throwing down on the field!!

starting Pre-K

Today was Luke's first day of Pre-K. I've been obsessing thinking about this day for several months now. He was starting at a new school, with no one else he knew and no one else we knew. I've been asking myself questions like "Did we make the right choice?" "Will he make new friends?" "Will they love on my little boy?" etc. I learned that we will drop him off and pick him up in a carpool line--meaning I do not walk him into his class anymore. He is a big boy now. Sniff. Sniffle.

I've been thinking of other milestones in his life. Finally walking, check. Saying Mommy (not until 18 months mind you), check. Lots of other things, check. Becoming a big brother, check. Potty trained, check. And now, first day of Pre-K!

I'm definitely probably making this into a bigger deal than it is. I mean he's only going 3 half days a week---it's not even 3 full hours a day. It's not first grade or even kindergarten, but still! He's my first baby and it's a new experience for him---one that may possibly have a huge effect on his school outlook! Ahhhhh, it's no wonder that I've been a little sentimental.

So this morning, it was get dressed, blueberry muffins for breakfast and out the door. Wait. Pictures first, then out the door. We parked at school today, no carpool line on the first day, and I walked him into his class. His teacher greeted him, but not before he ran to the sand table, already occupied by a few other kiddos. He was smiling from ear to ear. Ecstatic! I said a few things to the teacher and was ready to leave. I went over to Luke and said, "Okay, Luke. I'm leaving now. I love you." His response. . ."I love you too, Mom" without taking his eyes off the table. He didn't need a hug or give a hug like usual. He was just thrilled to be there. You'd be impressed. I didn't cry. I just thought, "Good for him. Have fun baby."

When I picked him up though, he had the same smile from ear to ear and he ran to me and gave me the biggest hug ever! That was when I cried. The details of his day have trickled out. I'm sure there will be more when Daddy gets home. Luke's first day of Pre-K was a huge success! He can't wait to go back and we're so excited for him!

devouring blueberry muffins

super excited about heading to school!

fun at the sand table

Lukey and his teacher!

Pay It Forward

A blog I have discovered and enjoy reading, Chronicle of an Infant Bibliophile, recently posted about a Pay It Forward game. She told us about the game which involved nothing more than sharing a little kindness and sending a little happiness to 3 people. All we had to do was be one of the first 3 readers on her blog to win. I decided to play, left my comment and it turns out, I won! So, the Infantbibliophile's mama sent us a suprise in the mail--an activity book of Utah (where they live)! Luke was thrilled to get it and who knew that our "happy" would lead to an impromptu geography lesson?!

All of that to say, it's my turn to spread a little happiness! I can't wait! If you want to play, leave me a comment and tell me you're in! The first 3 people to comment will be receiving a happy from us! All you have to do is be willing to Pay It Forward and send some sunshine to 3 other people. I already have some ideas! Wanna play?

our sunflower montage

Luke has been asking me for a while now, when early August will be here. He's been asking because I told him a month ago that the sunflowers will pop up in early August. You should have seen the excitement on his face when he realized it was finally August!! So, this past week, we had a special night with the boys. We headed out for a yummy dinner at Central BBQ and then went straight to the sunflowers! We've had this tradition now for 3 years and you can check out these pictures for a recap! This year, though it was hot and we were melting, both of the boys had a blast running (and, er, attempting to run) alongside the sunflowers! So, without further delay. . .our sunflower montage!! Don't forget to turn up your volume!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

slow down

"Be still and know that I am God." --Psalm 46:10

My devotional this morning reminded me to slow down and rest in the Lord's presence. Sometimes I find that really difiicult to do. We always seem to have things to do, places to go, people to see, etc. With kiddos, I always feel like we're rushing somewhere because Luke is in his "turtle mode" or Charlie just made a dirty diaper as we were walking out the door, and it must be changed or just because I can't get my act together.

However, this morning as I was reading, it turns out that the Lord gave me some time to rest in Him. It was dark out due to a storm passing through, so our light-sensitive boy slept in--way in--until 8:15!! Charlie also slept in thanks to a rough night of coughing, so I found that I was given a leisurely pace to start the day. Chad brought me tea in bed and I was able to spend some time reading in the morning!! What a blessing from the Lord!

Here's an excerpt from what I read in Jesus Calling (it's written as if Jesus is talking to you):

"Take time to rest by the wayside, for I am not in a hurry. A leisurely pace accomplishes more than a hurried striving. When you rush, you forget who you are and Whose you are."

I know I will not have these mornings everyday or even once a month, but it was a wonderful reminder to me that I need to create them, to spend time with Him.

on hot summer days

what is better than. . .

blowing bubbles AND

splashing around???