Should've Brought Our Broomsticks...

Because we had a "suite" time watching the Rangers sweep the Yankees today!

That's right, we got to enjoy the Rangers game in a suite today, courtesy of Ken Man Plumbing. And it was a hot, humid, muggy day with very little breeze so it sure was nice to get to go inside and cool off in the A/C!

It was nice to see Cliff Lee pitching like, well, Cliff Lee again. Hopefully that sticks around. The game was thrilling, with New York taking a 1-0 lead in top of the sixth, only to have the Rangers answer with four runs, one in the bottom of the sixth and three in the bottom of the seventh.



Just look at that face! Luke was his usual happy self, exactly the way he has always been at the games this year. I love watching him just enjoy every moment of it. He cheers for his favorites - Elvis, Michael Young (he always says Young's first and last name), Kinsler, Vlad, Nellie, D. Murph, Julio...Josh Hamilton when he's not on the DL - he watches for the "mean boy in the boot" and asks every. inning. when it's time for the dot race. And when he hears the unmistakeable music, he flips. Pure joy. I just love it. And he's really good about yelling, "Let's go, Rangers!" and making everyone around him clap. He gets annoyed with you if you yell something different. His friend Mr. Mike kept yelling, "Go home, Yankees" and Luke was not happy about that.



One of my favorite moments was Mr. Mike and Mrs. Sheila teaching him how to do the Rangers claw. He does it all the time now!

Happy Birthday, Nate!

Nate is officially 30 years old!

I don't think he will ever forget this particular birthday.

It all started so normally. Neither one of us woke up until after 9 AM. (Luke is with Nate's parents, otherwise we would have been up at 6:30!) I cooked his favorite breakfast and we ate very leisurly. We ran up to the shop after breakfast to get our cleaning out of the way, but we were home in plenty of time to lounge around, watch college football, and take a nap.

Our plans for the evening were to go eat at Texas Roadhouse, Nate's favorite restaurant, with my sister and brother-in-law. Beth and Justin were in town from Temple so we thought it would be fun to double date with them since we don't get to see them very often.



Me and the birthday boy!


What Nate didn't know is that when we got home from dinner, our friends would be hiding in the house to throw him a surprise party!!

I think he was surprised!


His cake!


We even had a pinata!

Jason put on the blindfold for Nate


I spun him around






My turn!




Then Isabel and Sean, our pinata suppliers:




Josh finally broke things open




Cake time!






Sarah, Michelle, Julie, Isabel, me, and Jamie


me, Nate, Justin and Beth


I really think last night was one of the greatest nights of my life and I think Nate feels the same way. I could not have pulled off the surprise without the help of everyone at the party. We are so blessed to have such amazing friends (and family - if Beth and Justin hadn't been at dinner with us, I would have for sure blown it!!)

Let's Flashback

First Day of School - 2009


First Day of School - 2010

Luke's 1st Day of School

Today was Luke's first day of school!

He had a great day. He was so excited to go back. He couldn't wait to get back to music and stretch-n-grow, and I think he was excited to play with his friends without his mom cramping his style. :) I'm pretty excited to have my 11 hour break each week - that time where I don't have to BE a mom makes me a better mom.


(it was raining this morning so we had to make due with indoor back to school pics)




Luke had a special treat for his first day - Daddy was off work! Nate was at the deer lease this weekend so he took today off. Luke was very excited to have his daddy take him to school. We may have to make this a tradition. :)



Walking into school with Daddy:


Nate and I were so proud of him - he walked right into his classroom and sat down to color. He barely even looked at us when we told him bye - such a change from last year!



The first thing he drew was the letter "L" - love it!

Just Hangin' Around

The Last 20 Minutes...

Oh, the DRAMA!!!

Mommy: "Luke, do you want me to make pizza for dinner?"
Luke: "Yeah! With sausage!"

I agree, and go to make a half sausage pizza, half margherita pizza. I brown the sausage, prepare the crust, and top the pizza. Luke picks me three basil leaves, makes sure that I won't be putting it on his side of the pizza, and plays outside while I get the pizza in the oven.

8 minutes later, the pizza is ready. Luke comes in, washes his hands, and sits down at the table.

Now...some background...Luke loves sausage pizza dipped in Ranch dressing. So I give him two pieces of pizza with some Ranch and some cucumbers.

He takes one look at it and breaks down in tears.
"Moooommmm, there's sauuuusssaaagggeeee on it!"

Mommy: "I thought you wanted sausage on it."
Luke, sniffing: "Nooo."
Mommy: "Well then pick it off."

So Luke picks off every. little. piece. of sausage from his pizza and tries to hand me each piece one at a time.

Mommy: "Luke, just put it on your plate."
Luke, in tears again: "But I don't waaant it on my plate."

So he gives me every. little. piece of sausage and I put them on my plate. He eats his first piece of only cheese pizza in silence.

Luke: "Hey, Mom, I'm gonna eat all my dinner!!" He is much more enthusiastic now.
Mommy: "Awesome, Luke. Eat that next piece."

Luke looks at the remaining piece of cheese pizza and is hysterical again.
Luke: "But Moooommmm, it has Ranch on it!!!"
Mommy: "I thought you liked Ranch on your pizza!"
Luke: "Noooo, only on my cucumbers!"

Lord, please give me the patience to get through this night! The joy of having an over dramatic, sick three year old.

Sunday Morning Doctor Visit

One of the things I like about Luke's pediatrician's office is that they have hours on Saturdays and Sundays. They're only open between 9 - 12 am, but that is better than nothing. Up until today, I have never had to take him to the doctor on the weekend. Nothing has ever been urgent enough that we couldn't just wait until Monday.

Of course, that was before he woke up from his nap yesterday complaining of his ear hurting.

He has been battling a snotty nose for a few days now so I guess it was inevitable. We got through yesterday just fine - Motrin kept the ear pain at bay but I knew that I would have to get him to the doctor this morning. He only tells me his ear hurts when he has an ear infection.

Luckily the office hours this morning were at our pediatrician's office and we were in and out of there by 10 AM. His left ear is infected, and the on-call doctor told me that she heard a heart murmer when she was listening to his chest. She said it is probably just from him being sick, but that we should follow up with his doctor when he is better to just make sure. She said that since no one has ever heard it before, it was most likely nothing...but still not words you want to hear about your child.

The morning got worse while we were at Target waiting on his antibiotic and ear drops. He literally fell apart in the store because his ear was hurting so badly, and there wasn't a thing I could do for him. I had to hold him while we walked around, and even still he was writhing in pain. I gave him the antibiotic and ear drops in the car and he flipped out. He was inconsolable on the way home and even once we were back here, he wouldn't settle. Jamie brought me Tylenol to give him since I couldn't give him any more Motrin and I didn't realize we were out of Tylenol until we were back home. That took the edge off and once I was able to give him more Motrin, he pretty much passed out.

He is still sleeping now and I just hope that he feels better when he wakes up. I hate seeing him in this much pain, knowing that I can't really help him.

The "Ooh Ooh" Obsession

I cannot believe I never blogged about this.

Two years ago, Luke became obsessed with Sugarland's "All I Want to Do" video. (You can watch it on YouTube I can't remember how it all started, but we had it on our DVR and he would watch it a million times a day. The obession lasted at least six months.

Fast forward 18 months. Nate has the song on his phone and he played it for Luke on Wednesday. Luke immediately looked for the video. When the song was over, that was it. We didn't hear about it again...until today.

Luke and I were in Academy and the song came on. He started asking me to see the video, which we just so happen to still have on the DVR. I told him he would have to wait until we got home. As we're driving home from Academy, he is talking about watching the video. "Mommy, I'm going to see the video with the girl on the yellow board. And that boy plays guitar." That totally freaked me out because he hasn't seen the video it at least 18 months and he remembered that. The memory on this kid is amazing.

We got home and he started watching the video. And I found this video - from almost exactly two years ago - back when the obsession was just beginning. I just can't get over how much he has grown in two years. And check out Lily, too! This video was shot on the day after we got her. So much has changed...but the "ooh ooh" obsession may be back since we've watched the video at least 10 times today.

August Picture Catch Up

Hmmm...I think this is the longest I have ever gone between importing pics to my computer and uploading them to the blog. Today is September 1st and before now, the last time I imported/uploaded pics was August 7th. Can you say slacker?!

The main reason is we haven't really done anything. August was HOT. I think most of the days we were over 100 degrees (don't quote me on that, I didn't look it up or anything...even if that's not accurate, it still felt like it was over 100 most days!)

Anyway here are some pictures I did take in August...

I was cooking dinner one afternoon and looked over to find this:


We met up with Ashley & Raylee at Hawaiian Falls one day; all three kids were pretty excited to see each other:


Hunting season is around the corner so Nate has been getting all his stuff out and together in anticipation. Luke is fascinated by the whole thing and begged his Daddy to teach him how to shoot. Nate obliged with a bee-bee gun that had no bee-bee's. Luke didn't know the difference.

Look at that concentration face!


Pulling the trigger.


Daddy telling Luke to keep his eyes OPEN when he shoots!


I love this one of Nate.


And finally, one of Luke's BFF's came over to play.




Aaaannnnndddd...that's it!