Luke in April

I will go back and finish blogging Feb. and March, but I thought it was high time for some up-to-date pics of the little man. It is hard to believe that he is almost 2. He is once again in the midst of a language explosion. This morning while we were trying to sleep with him in our bed, he kept asking, "Where IS Aidan?" Normally, he says, "Where's Aidan?"

His favorite questions are "Whatzit? and Whatzat?" And then he repeats our answer. He loves to play with cars, trains, dinosaurs, his barn and his brothers. He is stubborn, but he is also very affectionate. He is very content to play by himself as long as someone else is nearby. He is NOT a daredevil.
I cannot begin to tell you how much we have all enjoyed having a little one in the house again. He daily delights us with his cute antics and his babyish speech.

His new Cozy Coupe!
It now comes with a removable floor board, a handle for the parents to push with, and a cup holder.

The car cart at the grocery store - this is one of his favorite things to do:)

Hanging out in our tree.

Sound asleep on the couch.
He still naps for about 2 hrs each day and sometimes he falls asleep before Mommy gets him to bed.

His brothers told me that they actually buried him in all of these stuffed animals BEFORE he conked out.

He sure is CUTE - at least we think so, but then again we are super partial!

February - odds and ends

Well, it turned out that February had quite a few more pics, so I will be posting them in 2 different posts - this one and another dedicated to the big boys' basketball games.

Bananas sure are yummy!

Very yummy!

Drew watching Luke play gameboy.

Aidan, Sean, Luke, and Drew

What a mean Mommy!

All the boys shooting hoops at dusk.

What a shot!

Mesmerized by the computer -
(my guess is that they were watching kiddie songs on youtube - Luke loves it!)

The valentine cake I made for Patrick!

Notice the fork in his right hand all nice and clean:)

Mmmmmm!

Aidan playing guitar while Luke grumps for a turn.

Luke's turn.

My 4 boys.

Luke asleep in his new big boy bed.
(Now both bunk beds are being used at full capacity:)

Last shot I took of my big boy in his crib right before I disassembled it.
I didn't really think he was paying that much attention. However, later that day, he came to me and asked while pointing to his old bedroom, "Uh oh, where's nigh nigh?"
I told him that Mommy had put it away. He didn't seem to mind, but I, on the other hand, felt awful.

Favorite pictures from January '09

January had exactly 40 pictures, and it was quite easy to choose my favorites - here they are in chronological order.

Drew trying out the baby backpack, and Luke loving it!!!

Yes, my little boy LOVES to vacuum (wonder where he got that from).
Some of his earliest tantrums were with regards to "allowing" Mommy to have a turn.

Luke and Sean sharing a spaghetti noodle:)

What a happy boy!

Sleepy heads

Batman......

and Robin.
(NOT sidekick, I want to be the hero!)

Singing, yelling,..... who knows?

Nana got Luke a vest so that he could be just like his big brothers!

Spring - flowers

I finally imported the almost 500 pics I have collected over the last several months. I was still hesitant to post, since this computer (thanks Michael for letting us borrow it) is a bit slow, but I figured why not give it a try. After all, this version of Picasa even has a "Blog This" feature.

And it was actually very quick and easy!!!! So I guess even though my computer is not up and running, this blog is:)

All of these specimens that I photographed are courtesy of our good friends, the Bolls!!! They have exquisite flowers all over their property.

I'm still here....

and I want to blog, BUT my computer is dead. Hopefully, we will find out soon whether it can be revived or needs to be replaced. Meanwhile, just know that the lack of blogging is temporary.

All caught up!

Well, today was a good blogging day - 6 posts not counting this one!!!
(And yes, I expect you to read and COMMENT on all of them.)
Each day, I would take pics, planning to blog in the evening and it just didn't happen.
WHY???
Well, when your wonderful husband completely surprises you with a book for Christmas (that you have been wanting for months), wouldn't it be rude not to read it?
And then it turns out to be one of those books that is impossible to put down.
To make matters worse, it is the 1st one in a series of 4!!!
Well, I think you get the point.
2500 pages in less than 5 days does consume an awful lot of time,
and skipping sleep is not an option if you are me.
So anyways, I just wanted to explain why I hadn't posted over the last few days which are some of the most exciting days of the year.

January 1st and..........

Aidan lost his 1st tooth!!!

We thought that was a pretty cool coincidence!

Look at all those teeny tiny baby teeth.

String attached carefully under and around the tooth and ready to be pulled.

My little boy is growing up:(:)

On a side note, Sean has always pulled his own teeth - using a string attached by me or by grabbing and yanking it out with his fingers.
Drew is another matter, and I will just suffice it to say, that I always end up pulling it out after the string is in place.
Aidan decided right off the bat that he wanted me to pull it. Okay, no big deal.
(I used to downright refuse to pull a tooth; but out of necessity, the "skill" was aquired.)
So I asked him if he was ready, looped the string securely around my fingers, and yanked.
Out popped the tooth. My whole body started shaking/quivering. It felt so weird! I don't know what was different other than the tooth making a slight sound as it popped out.
But next time, I think I will have Patrick nearby just in case I pass out.

Ringing in the New Year!!!

I think this is the 1st year that we all (except Luke) managed to stay awake until midnight.
We discovered new games on the Wii, played Battleship, ate good food (lamb, potatoes doused in lamb gravy, and brussel sprouts - Luke couldn't get enough of these), surfed on the computer, and just hung out enjoying each others company.

Very competitive game - it helps if you know how the electronic version works;)

Me with 4 of my boys!

Like Father........

like son!

Just seconds away from New Years!!!!
(and yes, we did remember the extra second:)

Praying that 2009 brings great joy and success!

Just had to tag on this silly pic of the boys dragging out the tree -
Out with the old and in with the new!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Gifts from Grandma and Grandaddy

The boys loved getting a big box from GA, and were even more excited once they opened it and saw wrapped presents galore. Since we were not able to be together during this time, I took a video of them to share with you!!!

We love you!!!

CHRISTMAS!!!

I don't know if you read the post that mentioned a couple of our family's traditions, but here is one more. We always eat a huge breakfast before opening the gifts. This includes english muffins, sauteed mushrooms, sausage, bacon, lamb chops, fried tomatoes, and eggs. DELICIOUS!!!

Finally, the greatly anticipated moment.

Caught in the act.
While brothers were opening presents, Luke discovered the Smarties (for the Americans, these candies are very similar to M&Ms). He was very pleased with himself, but also slightly concerned that we would take them away once we realized what he was eating - we didn't.

3 handsome boys

Luke opening his gift from Nana and Grandad.

Luke's new musical table by Leap Frog.

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

Luke on Christmas morning!

I know it is not technically Luke's 1st Christmas, but it is the first one in which he could actively participate.

First look at all the goodies!

Unloading his stocking -
first toothpaste (Thomas the Tank Engine)

What else could be in here?

Wow!!!

Gotta reach way down in there:)

Chocolate gold coins - yum!

This was kind of an impromptu gift opening

(we normally wait until after a HUGE breakfast to open the gifts).
However, we figured a little "baby dope" would help to keep him happy while we cooked:)

Ripping off the wrapping.

Almost done.

Can I watch it now, please?

Christmas Eve!

We have several traditions leading up to the night before Christmas.
Patrick takes each boy individually out for a meal of their choice, followed by a shopping spree to buy gifts for their brothers. The gifts are wrapped by/with me and placed under the tree.
Then on Christmas Eve,
the boys each choose one of these gifts to open.
Cookies and milk are set out for Santa.
The tree is lit!
Excitement fills the air!!!
And now it is time for bed - surprisingly enough, the boys fall asleep quickly.

Christmas Eve gift!

Santa has come and gone:)

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
by Clement Clarke Moore
or Henry Livingston

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

Just for M&M:)

This post was made just for Nana and Grandad (aka Maria & Michael).
We love you and miss you!

More pics to follow soon!

Dollywood at Christmas!!!

Finally, we went to Dollywood during the Christmas festivities!!! The park was beautiful (as always) and the special shows were very enjoyable!!!

Waiting in line for the 4D Polar Express!

Waiting is really not that fun!

Do I have to come back?
(His new FAVORITE expression)

Aidan bringing little brother back to our place in line.

Waiting wears me out!

There's nothing like a good snooze to pass the time!

Off to Santa's Workshop!

Mommy, Daddy, Luke, Santa and Aidan!!!
(Luke didn't think much of Santa's lap:)

And of course, what is Dollywood without a few rides - brrrrrrr!!!

A rocking horse designed using Christmas packages.
Buildings covered in lights.

Reminded me of the way trees look after an ice storm.

Every Spruce wrapped in lights along the walkway!

Merry Christmas to ALL!!!!