Celebrating 32!

This past weekend, I celebrated my 32nd birthday! It's hard to believe that it's already been two years since I celebrated the big 3-0! Time sure does fly when you are having fun.

The weekend was beautiful and we definitely took advantage of the gorgeous weather when planning our birthday outings. On Saturday, I spent my day celebrating with my two favorite men - Luke and Landis. We started our morning out by going to the BBQ Festival in Lexington. It was a chilly, yet beautiful fall morning. We arrived at the festival around 9:30 and it was already fairly crowded. We started out at the rides before the lines got long. Actually, there were no lines at all. Luke had the chance to ride the little train like 4 times!!! And, he rode the big red strawberry with daddy with no waiting. After the rides, we walked around and looked at the tons of vendor tents and browsed through a few of the stores in downtown Lexington. We ended our browsing with a trip to Lanier's Hardware - which is always a favorite place of ours. We never leave that store without buying something and this time was no exception. We ended up buying a collegiate corn hole game. It is regulation size, wooden, with the tarheel feet painted on it and Carolina blue trimming. It's very nice. We took it home with the plan of enjoying it with some friends and family later in the weekend.

After the festival, we stopped for lunch and then headed home for Luke's nap. While Luke napped, I made a birthday purchase that was not really for me but for my favorite little boy, the Lukester. He has been saying "4 Wheeler" for a few weeks now ever since he rode his friend, Silas', four wheeler. When I saw that the four wheelers were on sale at Wal-Mart, I had to get him one. He rode and rode this all weekend. This was a major highlight of my birthday - seeing his face light up when he saw that 4 wheeler. :) Recently, Luke's area to ride has increased. My dad owns the house beside of us. The renters who were previously there have moved out and now the house is empty. So, we let Luke ride his 4 wheeler on the large paved carport and drive way behind that house. It's the perfect place for him to ride. He does such a good job of steering. :)

After a day of watching Luke ride his 4 wheeler, we grilled hamburgers with our friends, Jamie and Eric, and their little boy, Tanner (who is only 4 months older than Luke). The boys had a great time playing together and the grown ups had a great time watching them. Before Tanner left, we asked the boys to hug and they gave each other the sweetest hug I have ever seen. I totally wish I would have had my camera ready. It was an example of how kind hearted both of these boys are - the hug was the sweetest thing. Unfortunately, by the time we ate our dinner, it was already dark outside so we didn't get a chance to play our new corn hole game. But, we knew we would play on Sunday.

On Sunday, I continued my birthday celebration with a visit from my mom and my dad. For lunch, I cooked homemade chili and both of my brothers (Brad and Blaine) and my dad came over. Then, for dinner, my mom, Kim, and Lexi came over and we ordered pizza. With memaw around, I had the chance to sneak away from Lukester duty and Landis and I had a great time playing a few games of corn hole. He beat me every time by a lot!!! I have some practicing to do. Kim and Landis also played a few games while we played with Luke in the sandbox and on the slide. At dark, we ate our pizza, goofed off inside the house being silly with Lexi and Luke, and then everyone headed home. It was a really fun night - a great way to end my weekend full of celebrations!

You know the older you get, what is important on a birthday begins to change. I remember the days where it was important to me to go to a fancy dinner on my birthday. Now, the most important thing to me is to be with my family on my birthday and that's what I did this weekend. I had two days full of quality family time making my first weekend as a 32 year old one of the best weekends of the year!

Here are some pictures - some from my birthday weekend and some from last weekend....

Luke loves to watch a You Tube video that shows Elmo riding a tricycle. In this picture, Luke is watching this video with Landis...

Mom and Kim playing with Luke in his red car....

The pictures above and below were actually taken last weekend at mom's birthday party at my house....

Luke helps mom blow out her candles...


Playing around the house with Thomas...
and with the flowers....
Luke riding the train at the BBQ festival...







Luke and Daddy riding the big strawberry ride....


Luke on his new 4 wheeler....

Did you see the corn hole game????
There's a story behind this picture....Luke had school pictures taken at his preschool last week. When he got home, I asked him, "Show me how you smiled for your pictures today." He did this super silly smile where he shows his teeth...it is definitely a "fake" smile but awfully cute....this is him giving me that smile on his 4 wheeler.




Luke and Tanner playing....

Luke got two splinters while playing on the deck on Saturday...here he is showing me his splinter...
Here he is trying to get the splinter out....(obviously, he didn't...Landis got it out in the bathtub that night.)

Reading one of his favorite books, "Let's Go on a Mommy Date." If you haven't read this one, you should. It's by Karen Kingsbury (a great author for kids and grown ups.)

Luke lounging on his couch after a long day of playing....

Playing outside...



Trying to blow dandelions...





Luke is not a big fan of his high chair anymore. He constantly asks us at dinner, "Sit in the big chair at the table." So, I got out his little $5 travel high chair and put it on one of our chairs at the table and sat him in it for dinner. He is so much happier and gladly goes in his chair. Here he is eating in it....
Goofing off with Lexi and Memaw...

Before I end this blog, here are some other updates for journaling purposes....

Luke has become quite the little singer lately. He will start singing the lines of songs that we have taught him. He sings parts of the following songs: I've got the joy, joy, joy, down in my heart, the B-i-b-l-e (Yes, that's the book for me.), Skit-a-me-rink-e-rink-e do I love you, and If You are Happy and You Know It. Last weekend, I taught him the Zaccheus song (you know the same one that we sang in Sunday School - Zaccheus was a wee little man who climbed up in the sycamore tree.) Luke loves this song and will tell me, "Sing the Zaccheus song" and then he tries to do the hand motions with me.

Speaking of Zaccheus, I am so proud to say that he also really enjoys his "Baby's First Bible" stories lately. At night, he will ask me to read the "Jesus book" and I gladly say, "Of Course!" He will listen intently as I read the stories of Adam and Eve, Noah's Ark, Moses, Daniel, Jesus birth, preaching in the temple, and dying on the cross. I am so thankful that he is beginning to pick up on what Jesus did for him. My prayer is that this is only the beginning of this interest that he will have in learning more and more about Jesus.

One more tidbit about his songs that he sings....I have made up several extra verses to "If You are Happy and You Know It". I switch out Happy with different emotions such as sad, mad, confused, surprised, funny, etc. Luke sings these and does the cutest motions with each one. I hope to get this on video soon.

A few more Luke tidbits....

Luke is going through this awesome stage of wanting to "snuggle with mommy" and I love it. As soon as he wakes up now, he will tell me, "Let's go to big bed. Snuggle with mommy." So, that's what we do. For about 15 minutes, he will lay in the bed between me and Landis and just relax until he's ready to get up and go make coffee. While laying in the bed, he will roll over and hug me and say, "Snuggle with mommy." I love it!!!!

On Sunday morning, he carried his snuggle time over way into the morning. After he ate his breakfast, he crawled up beside of me on the couch with his Click, Clack, Moo book and said, "Snuggle with mommy." Wow! Snuggling with the Lukester with a book - you can't turn that down!!! :) The fact that he has the desire to read and initiates the book reading is something to celebrate!!!

Speaking of celebrations - Luke went to preschool on Tuesday and for the first time in 2 months, he did not shed one tear. On Tuesday, the kids wore their Halloween costumes to school for their Halloween party. So, my little mini-golfer was very excited about the cupcake that he was going to get. He must have remembered this because when he got to school and saw his teacher, he didn't even whine. We were so proud of him. I think he has finally learned the routine of school - mammaw leaves but then I play and have fun and then mammaw comes back. I'm very excited about his school tomorrow because I am taking the day off of work and I am going to school with him. His school is having the kids go on a hayride and through a pumpkin patch and I'm going to join Luke for the field trip. I'm very excited to spend this time with him at his school. Tomorrow afternoon, we are getting our family pictures taken by a family member of a friend of ours. Luke has a terrible runny nose so in between snot wipes, I hope Andrea gets some good shots. Andrea will give us full rights of all the pictures she takes so I will make sure to post some with her contact information if you want to try her out.

Before I go, I should also mention that we have had one small tragedy around here. The everlasting red car is in the shop. The big blue handle has almost cracked completely in half. Papaw Dale came over tonight and took the handle to his shop for some repairs. Right beside of me now is the red car without its handle and George inside. No red car pushing for a few days. Papaw Dale better work fast!!! :) Until the repairs are made, it will be more time on the 4 wheeler.

And, now, finally, some cute videos...

Video #1: Luke trying to show me his splinter.

Video #2: Luke showing me his "smile for the camera" face.

Video #3: Luke trying to blow dandelions.

Have a great rest of your week everyone. I am so excited that I only have 1 more day of work this week and then Halloween weekend will be here!!! :) I can't wait to post some pictures of Luke in his mini-golfer outfit.

Toddy