5 and a HALF!

i know it's been forever. sorry. lots has been going on in our world- but i'll save that for a different post...

Luke is officially 5 and a HALF today! He has been anxiously awaiting this BIG DAY for several weeks. I am blessed to have had a mom who was really into half birthdays. We used to always get a special dinner that night and when i was in college she'd send me a care package with a birthday card cut in half. She's just super thoughtful like that!

I still can't believe he's 5 and a half. He's smart, sensitive and a thoughtful little boy. We have had some great late night giggles and chats. He has a great imagination that i hope he never loses. He's usually pretty sweet with his brother too. Jack looks up to him so much. He always tries to do what "duke" does (that's how jack says luke- cracks me up).

Here's a few pics from the past week...

we had a date and saw Despicable Me 2!

Park shot! love Jack's CHEESE face.

Luke showing Jack how to dig in the sand

19 months

taken on sunday- the kid loves baths!

 I forgot to post on Sunday that Jack was 19 months. I don't even know how that has happened. Right now we are battling our third double ear infection. Last round of antibiotics this happened:

taken at the hospital

So I'm hoping that this sulfa-meds they gave him this round help. Poor kid.

However- at 19 months he's quite the character. He certainly has his opinions and will tell you no! He's stingy on hugs and loves unless he's tired or sick. I have started calling bedtime "naptime" just so that he'll go down without a screaming fight. woooweee- I'm in for it with this one. BUT he always kisses me goodbye when I drop him off at daycare, and he runs and hugs my legs when I go to pick him up. He loves to share his foods with me and loves to learn new things from his big brother. Jack James is a blessing, ear infections and all.

Luke is 5

Okay so it's been forever since I wrote on here- I'm sorry!! We have had rounds and rounds of sickness, work has been busy and my Zumba schedule got a little crazy! But here is the long awaited interview with Luke!


INTERVIEW TIME:
I am starting a new tradition of asking Luke every year on his birthday these same questions (thanks Lisa for the idea!). It will be fun to see his answers over the years!
Here's a link to his 4 year old interview CLICK HERE

1. What is your favorite color? Red

2. What is your favorite toy? GI Joes

3. What is your favorite fruit? Strawberries

4. What is your favorite tv show? Ninja Turtles

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Mac n Cheese

6. What is your favorite outfit? My comfy pants {sweatpants my mom got him}

7. What is your favorite game? Sorry! the board game with Mah-Mah

8. What is your favorite snack? Goldfish crackers

9. What is your favorite animal? Vulture

10. What is your favorite song? Michael Jackson "Bad"

11. What is your favorite book? My new BOB books especially the Mat one

12. Who is your best friend? Magnes, Harley & Kenny

13. What is your favorite cereal? Cinnamon Toast Crunch

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? play at the park

15. What is your favorite drink? Chocolate Milk {and sprite when my tummy hurts}

16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Woofie {his stuffed dog from aunt e}

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Daddy's bacon and eggs

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Red Robin

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? a paleontologist {and yes he totally knows what that is and how to pronounce it}

it's been a bit

To my 2 (or 3) faithful readers... i am so sorry that i've been MIA for a month and a half. it's been busy! We had a great Thanksgiving surround by lots of great family and food. I survived a bad case of the flu and luckily didn't pass it on to anyone else in my fam {i think God knows that i can barely handle my own puke, let alone anyone else's!!}.

How have we been celebrating the season? Well right after Thanksgiving we started our Elf on the Shelf. You can learn more about him HERE. He's been busy- but sometimes he doesn't move, and Luke is quick to point that out! Here's a few of his locations as of late...

We also started a new family tradition of going to the zoo lights! My mom and Gary came too! It was kinda cold and a bit rainy- but the boys didn't mind at all. They LOVED it! I think the train was the best way to go- you're covered and you get to see all the lights!

We also got a tree that weekend. They boys had a great time running around at the tree farm looking for the perfect tree. It was too cute!

i'm cutting down the tree!

jack wants to help!

Luke also got to go on a field trip last week to Wentzel Farms! Auntie Maris was there and between her and one of the other moms- i got sent some cute photos of that day! Luke's face cracks me up!!

this one makes me laugh every time!

luke loves to pose with statues!

This past weekend was a super busy one! But before we get started running around- we usually start our mornings off with a good breakfast with bacon. I snapped this cute one of the two littles... so adorbs.

bacon lovers

Saturday afternoon, my mom, aunt corriney and I baked family tradition spritz cookies and Jack got to have his first one. He LOVED it!

yummy!

 We also had our first of many christmas gatherings! We were at Auntie Jens (and Tayo and Uncle Jeff's) enjoying yummy gourmet grilled cheese and soup!

jack did NOT want this picture- can you tell?

cutie by the tree

aunt jaime and jack

 And i always love it when Maris sends me photos of Luke being silly (she watches him for me 3 days a week and gets him to preschool). This one cracks me up every time. and yes, that's a plug-in protector smooshed on his nose. hahahahaaa

 HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

happy halloween!

We survived yet another year of trick-or-treating! We have an awesome tradition of going to my brother's house and taking all the littles around their great neighborhood! Their neighbors are all SO friendly and all have young kids. It's a great area!

The kids all had a great time- and Grace outlasted us all {the last 2 years she's been a bit scared}!! She had a blast out there this year and kept referring to herself as the "Bravest Princess". 

Here's a few pics of our night.

jack rocking grace's wig. so funny!

humor

it's been a rough week and sometimes we just need a good laugh. I was looking thru my phone and found this pic of Jack and it makes me laugh out loud, hope it does you too!

copy cat

somewhere I have a picture of luke at this same age doing the same thing (although i think he was naked!). HA!

11 months

Jack James is 11 months old today. wow. Great new things that he's started doing (most of which I've already posted on here).

- You're talking so much now! Your words include: momma, da-da, mah-mah, and uh-oh!
 I'm pretty sure you have your own word for Luke and when you see a dog- but nothing definitive just yet. If we ask you where Luke is- you do point to him. AND you baby chatter all the time!

- You're showing some attitude. If you're not getting your way- you let us know!

- Signing. You sign for "all done" and "more"

- Hugs. You hug. You snuggle. You touch foreheads with whoever you love that's holding you and go in for a kiss. It's precious.

- Walking. You're almost there. In fact- I'm pretty sure just this morning you took two steps on your own from me to the couch where your brother was. You also love to walk using the back this little riding toy (see video).

I seriously don't remember life without you. Love you so much my Monkey-Man!

Limes

Last night at dinner at Chevy's we gave jack limes! Here's the step by step pic of him eating it... below is a video. so funny...

HAPPY EASTER

We hope that you had a great easter! We certainly had a fun-filled weekend.

SATURDAY: The kids (all 4) went to Nonna and Nonno's Place for the annual Egg Hunt! I have some great pics of it- but none of Addy hunting for eggs as she's in the older age bracket now! Bummer. But below are the 3 with their cute Bunny Masks they got to make, and a few of Grace & Luke finding eggs! Isn't Addy so beautiful in that last pic??

I also got a few pics of my grandparents with their 4 great grankids. Have you ever tried to get 4 kids all to smile when all they want to do is hunt for eggs and eat cookies? The first two make me laugh- and finally i got one that's decent!

no one is paying attention!

Luke is goofy and Addy is a blur. sigh.

SUCCESS!

SUNDAY- the boys woke to a few goodies from the Easter Bunny. Jack was into chewing on the eggs and the paper in his basket. Luke like to remind me of all the things the Easter Bunny brought him LAST year. Sigh. That kid is TOO smart!!

After a bit we had Chris' sister and her fam, and then my brother and his crew over. We had quite the feast. After it was all over the kids cuddled up with Cousin Tayo for a bit. And then they all got some ice cream for dessert!

I would say the weekend was a success as Chris and I found Luke like this around 4pm. hahaha