Santa 2010

So, we thought we would do it up big this year and go see Santa at the Gaylord- we were pretty sure Luke would throw a fit that would cost us $15, but hey, no Christmas is complete without seeing Santa!:

Walking into the Gaylord

EASing into walking toward Santa... the trains were a big hit!

Waiting in line to see Santa... filling up on cookies makes us all happy!

I'll have to scan in the actual Santa picture, but Luke was a CHAMP! Brent bent down and narrated through what would happen while the kids in front of us went. When it was Luke's turn, he hesitated for a second then walked right up and sat in Santa's lap! Santa asked him what he wanted for Christmas and he said Cars! I am sure my mouth hung open in shock as I watched my little boy being so brave! I am a proud Momma!

Directly after the Santa encounter, Luke was so excited, he started doing cartwheels! What a ham!

While we were there, we thought we would try to get a Christmas picture... we had a lot of out- takes!

Here is about the last one before we were all D.O.N.E!

Merry Christmas!

PS- The following week, Santa visited Luke at day care-- when Santa walked in their class, all of th kids except Luke and one other boy were crying... Santa gave them all books and on his way out the door, Luke gave him a big wave and said "Bye Santa" like they were BFFs! Ha!

Gingerbread House

Brent's company had a gingerbread house decorating contest at their Christmas Party-- this is his group's house:

Brent designed the porch overhang and the garage with cars.

The hotel staff (where the party was held) voted on the best and then each group had to SELL their house! Brent was nominated to sell it and HE WON! My accountant outsold the sales people! Ha! He thought he won it when he threw in "lush landscaping", free cars, and a debris free neighboring lot.

Door Decorating Contest

This is the second annual door decorating contest we have had at work. My group won last year, so we had to make it even better this year to retain the title!

We choose Santa's Workshop as our theme... the three of us were elves going through the production process of making candy for the little children all over the world...

Receiving the raw materials (my favorite is the roof tops... they are 3D on all three doors):

Making the candy:

Tasting everything... this is engineering genius! you turn the lever at the top left and a Hershey kiss comes down the chute for a sample!

Bottom half of the door saying "ship it!" a phrase we say every day! Ha!

It goes without saying that WE WON again this year for "Best In Show"... yay!

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving was so yummy this year... the only thing that would have made it better is if Honey was there-- her appendix was successfully removed on Monday and she was not ready to travel, so that just means we will look forward to seeing her at Christmas! The cherry on the top would have been if Melody and Justin were there, but they were giving thanks Italian style!
The big bird, host and hostess!

Pre turkey pic:

Post turkey pic:

Honey sent Luke's Christmas present early-- we couldn't wait!

Pops got a birthday present too!

Riding on the neighbor's tricycle:

Shopping at the outlet malls- Daddy kept Luke busy!

Granna fed the rides with coins:

Playing with blocks:

The Brewers came over to watch the Ags beat tu.. WHOOP!

Puzzles with Granna during the Aggie game:

Luke's concentration face:

Playing cars in the tent Pops had set up for Luke! Aunt Jaime spent the night until midnight when the outlet malls opened!

And the highlight of Luke's visit (and probably Pops too!) An ATV ride!

I do have a few more pictures on my camera to add, so check back in a few more days!

$96,824

This is how much your True Love will have to spend this year to give you the Twelve Days of Christmas!


Read all about it HERE.



12 Drummers Drumming
11 Pipers Piping
10 Lords a Leaping
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids a milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Colly Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree
-----
364 total gifts


The price of each item is set as follows:
-Pear tree comes from a local Philadelphia nursery
- Birds 1-3 are determined by the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden
- Bird#4 is priced at Petco
- Gordon Jewelers sets the cost of the Gold Rings
- Birds #6-7 are set by the National Aviary in Pittsburgh
- Maids are assumed to be unskilled laborers earning the Federal Minimum Wage (this being the ONLY cost to stay the same from 2009)
- Cost of Ladies Dancing is provided by the Philadelphia dance Company
- Lords a leaping are calculated by the Philadelphia Ballet
- Drummers and Pipers are set by the going rate of the Pennsylvania Musicians Union

I think I'd rather just have a snuggle with my True Love ;)

My Musician

Savannah taught Luke how to play the harmonica!

A shy moment when he saw me video taping!

Football Fever

Luke at 2!

Lukisims:

-When Luke wants "dip" (ketchup or mustard) on his plate he points to an empty spot and says "Bitethere"

-When Luke wants Brent to throw a ball high in the air, he says "wayupI"

-We say the same prayer every night at bed time... the end goes "praise Father, Son and Holy -" we paused and Luke said ghost! This was the same night that he sang the entire ABC song with us! I'll try to get it on video soon.

-Luke likes to "Dump it"... It can be anything- Halloween candy, pouring juice in a sippy, fruit in a cup, anything that can be made into a mess should, must and will be dumped

What You Are Up To:

-You have started taking your shoes off at school just so you can put them back on

- You love football players- we drive by the high school almost every day and watch them a few minutes on our way home from day care- Luke is his happiest at TCU games

-Favorite bedtime book is Elmo's Blanket (lift flaps to find the blanket) and before that was Curious George and the Puppies

-Love eating "Ogert" (yogurt) and still love all berries. We go to Freebirds almost every Sunday night to eat steak to keep your iron levels up ;) Not because we love it! Ha!

-You love running down the street away from us, look back with a grin on your face, like "you have to come get me now"...

-When we are in the car, you always point out "Donuts", "Pizza" and "Church"... I can't believe you can remember where all of those are!

- You LOVE bath time, especially since you got new toys for your birthday! We have to give you a five minute warning to prep you that bath time is coming to an end. You exclaim "More minutes!" but willingly let it end IF we have prepped you.

- You have no interest in sitting on your potty. We still try!

- You still LOVE Horsey... you left her in Daddy's car one night he had class and I couldn't find your other one-- you screamed in the bed for 40 minutes until I had turned our house upside down to find the back up Horsey-- the Monkey would not cut it.

Measurements:

Height: 34.5

Weight: 26# 11oz.

Special Visitors

Luke had lots of visitors for his birthday... Aunt Jamie stayed an extra day and went to Freebirds with Luke... they talked sizes:

MeMaw stayed for the week while I was out of town-- Luke had a ball and enjoyed the break in his schedule... every kid needs to hear they are perfect and loved! I mean, how can you not love a face like this!

They went to the park and fed ducks:

And celebrated Luke's actual birthday at the donut shop:

Luke got to go behind the counter! Pretty cool!

This was hunting bugs one night... oh my!

Followed promptly by a bath! Memaw had little animal capsules to give to Luke... one a night- he loved watching them grow and adding a new animal to the mix every night.

Napa 2010

I traveled to Napa last week for a Sensory Conference... it's tough, but someone had to do it :)

We had a Gala Dinner at the Culinary Institute of America that was WONDERFUL!

Pictures don't do it justice, but it was neat.

My Momma, Aunt Holly and Aunt Kay decided they should probably come too to show me how to "Do Napa" correctly

They MADE me eat an olive and I LOVED IT! I am scared to try another because I don't know that it will be as wonderful as it was at Viansa!

It was fun, fast, and a great memory!

How to Pray For Your Child- October

Growing up, I took comfort in know my parents were praying to God on my behalf- they still do! My mom sent me an article (from BSF) that breaks apart 12 ways I can specifically pray for Luke this year!

Learn to submit totally to God and resist Satan actively in all circumstances (Psalm 119:1; 143:10; James 4:7)

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for desiring your children chase after you and thank you that your will is not hidden from us. I pray that Luke grasps how deep and wide your love goes for him so that he does not fear submitting to you. I pray that society does not harden him, but that he be humble hearted and that he choose to daily surrender his will to your just authority.

I pray Luke have the opportunity to have examples of what true, Godly submission is and to that end, I would pray that you give Brent and I opportunity to show this in our marriage. Give us times in life to show our children how I can submit to a husband for which I know holds me in high esteem, who answers to God for our family. Let us show Luke that it is not a week position to be humble, but a process of deep spiritual growth that is mutually beneficial when done out of love. Even in other relationships where love may be absent (government, career), and submissiveness be more difficult, please give Luke a heart to yield to those people that you directly place over him. Give Luke the desire to submit to you as his Ultimate Authority and may your good Spirit lead him on level ground. May Luke always feel your hand on his life when he chooses to walk in step with your plans.

Lord, please show my son the importance of resisting temptation in every form that sets itself up against you. Please give him confidence that he is on the winning team and that Satan won't win when Luke uses the weapons you give him at salvation- faith, wisdom, and knowledge. When tempted, would you recall to his mind scriptures that direct his thoughts and actions just as Jesus did when he was tempted?

Lord, as I pray these things, I know you want them too. Thank you for loving us through our stubbornness and thank you for the gift of freedom found in you when we truly make you God of our lives! May we never stop our efforts to humble ourselves in your sight until we see you face to face.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen.