Dear Lucas (5 years 11 months),

You are officially a big first grader and in one month you will be six. You are already telling people that you are six. When I remind you that you aren't quite six you tell me, "Well, I am fake six." The other day you asked me if I was sad that you were growing up and you told me, "I'm still me. I'll always be your son."

Your last day of Kindergarten was fun. Your teacher put together a safari party complete with games and an outdoor picnic. You were blessed with such a special teacher this year. It's been amazing seeing how much you learned in Kindergarten. You can now read short books. Since it's the summer you can stay up a little later and the two of us stay up reading books. We just finished the first Harry Potter book and I love reading you chapter books just like my Mom used to read to me.

The summer just got started but we're already off to a great start. We've been the the movies, you've driven a go-cart, we've gone on a short road trip and you've gone swimming more times than I can count. You also spent the week with your Grandparents and went to Vacation Bible School. When it was time to bring you home you asked me if you could just live with Grandma and Grandpa. You said you would just come visit me and Daddy sometimes.

You have become a little fish. You've been able to swim for the last few summers you just didn't have the confidence. You finally decided to trust yourself and you went swimming off into the deep end without any floats. Before long you were jumping off the diving board and swimming to the side of the pool. It was so awesome to watch you conquer your fear. I can't wait to see what the rest of the summer holds.

Sweet-pea, I love you to the moon and back,

Mommy

Happy 39th Anniversay Mom & Dad

Love Them

The Moore Family in Corral de Tierra, CA on April 25, 2010

Slave Driver

Tonight Lucas and I sat down to get his Valentine's Day cards ready to pass out to his classmates tomorrow. He signed three cards before he turned to me and said, "I think I'm getting tired. You can just do the rest. I'll go take my bath." So Curt went and filled up the bathtub and I slaved away feeling out Toy Story Valentines. When Lucas was clean and wrinkled he got out of the bath and headed over to check out my handiwork only to find me still working on his cards. "What? Mom you are not finished yet?!?!" Then he sat down beside me and started stuffing envelopes and talking about how excited he was to pass out the cards to his friends tomorrow.

Tonight was one of those nights that make me thankful for all the little unsung things that my parents did for me as a child (like buying Valentine's Day cards or cutting my PB&J into 4 little triangles.)

I <3 Boys That Wear Glasses

Today was Lucas' eye appointment after failing the test a few weeks ago at his regular pediatrician. Lucas did great even when he had to be held down and get several eye drops in his eyes. Turns out he is extremely near sighted (can see near but not far) and needs glasses. Thank goodness for technology and thin plastic they can make now because the Doctor said back in the day he would have been the kid in the coke bottle glasses.

As soon as we left the Doctor we went and let him pick out his frames and ordered his glasses. They will be here in 6-8 weeks. He goes back in 4 months to make sure the glasses are improving his vision. He says he is excited to get to wear glasses so he can look like his Daddy and his Papa. I'm a little nervous about how we are going to keep his glasses on him but the Doctor said that when kids need glasses as bad as he does it will make such a big difference in what he can suddenly see that he won't want to take them off ever. I sure hope so... she said he will suddenly go "wow those green blobs on the trees are leaves." (made me wonder if she is a Grey's fan.)

Dear Lucas (45 months),

Each month seems to fly by faster and faster. You are so excited to be having an upcoming birthday and I still wish at times that I could slow time down for just a bit. You are always reminding us that you have a birthday coming up soon and telling us exactly what you want. This year you want to have a race car themed party. The other day you even drew a picture of how you want you cake to look like, a racetrack with a race car.

When you aren't busy planning your next birthday bash you are quite the little helper. This Sunday you had a blast helping your grandparents do a bit of gardening. At home you are always asking to help cook. If I am making something that you can't help with you will usually set the table. It is even becoming less of a fight to get you to put up your toys or pick up your room.

We found out a few weeks ago that you will not be going to Pre-K in the fall. Everywhere we applied you were wait listed. At first I was really bummed because I know how badly you want to go to school. At the same time I was also happy about getting to spend one more year at home with you. Besides, I don't think not going to Pre-K will slow you down. One of your new favorite shows is "Sid the Science Kid" and after one episode all about levers you were excitedly talking about fulcrums and saying "Hey mom, look at my 'vention, I made a lever." Then you used your lever to launch things across the room.

Since you won't be going to school and I won't be going to work, I've started to keep your friends David and Gabe a few hours a week while their parents are working. I'm able to make a little money while helping out a friend and you are able to spend more time with your buddies. So far it is going great. I have to referee here and there a little bit but mostly it is because you don't want to share your toys. I understand where you are coming from, sharing sucks! Really, who WANTS to let someone else play with their favorite toy car or sit in the cool red chair at lunch? My guess is nobody, but it doesn't stop me from trying to convince you that sharing is a good thing. Now if I could outlaw the word "MINE" life would be good.

Now that the weather is so nice your favorite place to be at home is in your sandbox. Your friends love it too. Now I just need to get 3 shovels and 3 buckets the exact same. The biggest battle seems to be over who gets the little orange bucket and who gets the pink shovel.

Your best buddy is still your lovey that you call your baby. We used to have 3 of them so we could switch them in and out whenever one was dirty or in case one comes up missing. For some reason lately we can only find one lovey. Since you chew and suck on your baby in your sleep it gets NASTY pretty quickly. It is banned to your bed because we don't want you cuddling up to us holding your dirty nasty baby. I ended up finding another one on eBay and bought it so we could have another spare. When it arrived in the mail it was BRAND NEW. You played with it for a few minutes and then said, "Mommy I want my dirty nasty baby." You don't want anything to do with the nice clean baby anymore.

Love you to the moon and back,

Mama

A Great Good Friday Morning

The annual playgroup Easter egg hunt begins.

Sad bunny

Finally ready to join the fun.

Checking out the goodies.

Lucas' playgroup buddies.

Since we were at Gregory Park we had to stop and snap a picture here.

More pictures on my shutterfly.

Happy Birthday Papa!

My Dad's birthday was on the 22nd and we helped him celebrate last night.

Lucas wanted to paint him a picture so he picked out one with a birthday theme. When he was finished painting he asked me to help write "Happy Birthday" on it and sign his name.

Happy Veteran's Day

Lucas yesterday at the Veterans Monument

Happy Father's Day Dad!

I love you!

Dear Lucas (34 months)

In two more months you will be three (how is that possible??) and some days I feel like I'm already living with a teen-age boy. I know I this is cliche to say but being your mom has seriously been the greatest and challenging thing I have ever done (and probably will ever do.) You are so smart, sneaky, and STUBBORN! I can already tell we are in T-R-O-U-B-L-E the older you get! We have had to start putting locks back on the fridge and cabinets because you LOVE to sneak food and smear it all over the carpets. Also you have some sort of radar to be able to find any pen or marker in a room and proceed to the thing you can do the most damage to (furniture, walls, my cell phone, your body... basically anything that is NOT paper!) The magic eraser has become my best friend!

You have started on this new habit of constantly chewing on your baby and it drives me NUTS! Thank goodness we have back up loveys because I am constantly having to sneak to switch your babies out because they get so wet and slobbery! This all has started in the last month or so and I'm not sure why. I am always having to tell you "take your baby out of your mouth, I don't know what you are saying!" In your defense you always do take it out and then repeat what you originally said without any fuss.

You are getting better at so many things. Lately the main thing we have been struggling with is teaching you to pick up after yourself (and not trash your room in the first place.) This week you've just really started to "get it!" The trick is to give you little jobs like "put your cars in the basket" or "put your books back on your shelf." Sometimes when you don't feel like cooperating then we just tell you "Okay, well you aren't going to get anything else out to play with until these get cleaned up." You will usually pick up the toys then while you cry about how you don't want to clean up. As soon as the last toy gets put up magically you are over pouting and will proudly announce "I DID IT!" Sometimes if you see us cleaning up something when we finish you will also say "YAY MOMMY! You did it! Good job."

You are still a really great eater. You still eat a banana every morning as soon as you get up. Then you usually eat yogurt and will beg for an egg. You LOVE eggs. I don't mind making eggs for you though because I do it the easy way. All I do is spray a bowl with cooking spray, scramble the egg up, and pop it in the microwave and a minute late you are chowing down. You are still really good about eating your veggies too. If you see me making a salad to go with dinner half of the fresh veggies end up in your tummy before the salad bowl even makes it to the table. Your favorites are tomatoes, avocado, and black olives.

You also still love your books. We have always read before nap time and bedtime and every once in a while during the day but lately you've been bringing me stacks of books and I will usually drop everything so we can read together. You love to sit on my lap and will sit perfectly still listening to the words and looking at the pictures. It doesn't matter if the book is long or short. You just LOVE books. I honestly think we read about 15 books a day. I just ordered us a ton of new books from eBay and I can't wait for them to get here. Even though you will listen to a story 5,000 times in a row I'm starting to get bored of your books. I know we can always check books out at the library (and we do that often) but you get attached to books and I hate having to return books that you've fallen in love with.

You are also still very passionate about your prayers every night and your Jesus. I think you would go to church everyday if you could. Almost every morning you ask me "Church today mama?" If you see a cross anywhere while we are out you have to point it out to me and say "that's from Jesus." I never want you to grow up and feel like I shoved my beliefs down your throat but I do hope you grow up to have faith and have something to believe in to get you through the ups and downs of life.

Another thing you adore is your family. You are always asking to go visit your cousins. You love to ask to "go to Hunter's house" or "go see Colby." You also ask to go visit with your Grandparents. "I want to see Papa!" "Go see Grandpa O." "I want my Grandma with the big bag (Grandma Andrea)" of "Go see Grandma and Great Grandma (my Mom and Grandma!)" I'm so glad that we live so close to so many family members. You are one well loved on kid.

Bugga, I love you to the moon and back!

Mama

Patriots Point

I wasn't the only one having a great weekend. Curt and Lucas had a pretty great time as well. They were able to get in another day of family time with Curt's Grandparents from Michigan. Then Saturday morning Curt, Lucas, and my Dad headed up to Charleston, SC to visit Patriots Point. I'm sure Lucas loved seeing all the helicopters and airplanes with his Dad and his Papa. Curt even made sure Lucas was wearing his helicopter t-shirt for the occasion.

When they got back to Savannah, Lori's husband, Tony was off work and was able to join them to feast on Steak and king crab legs. Sunday when Curt and Lucas picked me up we headed to the store to let Lucas' pick out a toy. Since Lucas was so great for his Dad all weekend he wanted to give him a special reward. We went down several aisles of toys before Lucas finally settled on a matchbox set of 3 planes and one helicopter. He has been proudly "flying" them around the house ever since.

More Pictures Here

Happy Birthday Papa

We love you!

Easter Egg Hunt

Gardening with Papa

Our Adventure Packed Weekend

Friday morning we packed up the car and headed for our annual trip to Helen, GA. We thought this was going to be a pretty smooth trip because we came armed with a portable DVD player. Lucas could not believe that he was watching Veggietales... IN. THE. CAR.

Before we were even halfway through the drive Lucas managed to bang his head on a McDonald's playground fence and get a bruise on his head AND throw up all over himself and his Dad TWICE in less than 5 minutes. Thank goodness for extra changes of clothes, soap and water and baby wipes! Once everyone was cleaned up Lucas and Lori ended up passing out in the backseat.


We were the first to arrive at the Lodge so we let Lucas explore the porch and playground. This is where I first noticed that his bruise was a perfect grid mark from the fence and he had also managed to scrap his chin and nose as well. Lately it seems like all Lucas does is fall down and hurt his face and head... I know it is all part of the whole childhood experience but I'm starting to think about investing in a good helmet that he can wear 24/7... maybe I'll search for headgear for kids with overprotective mom's on eBay.

Pretty soon the lodge was full of family and food and Lucas just wandered from family member to family member so that people could tell them how cute he was or how smart he was and steal a sticky toddler hug. Being the little ham he is he loved every minute of it.

Saturday morning a few of us got up and went for a walk. I had planned on leaving Lucas at the lodge with our family but he wanted to come along so we let him. I knew it wouldn't be long before he was asking to "please, hold you mommy?" only he always fails to mention that it is really me that will be doing all the holding.

Lucas actually did a lot better than I thought he would. He walked all the way to our halfway point (which just happened to be a field of cows that Lucas "moooed" back and forth with.)

On the way back Lucas' little legs got tired and he was able to hitch a ride on his Daddy. At first Lucas seemed a little unsure of the new higher altitude so his Daddy held his hands and reassured him that he wouldn't let go and Lucas was fine.


For lunch Saturday everyone brought a dish to share. Curt ended up helping make deviled eggs while Lucas watched. When he was finished Curt let Lucas lick the spoon. Lucas returned the favor by spitting out the small bit of deviled egg into Curt's hand. I think he was expecting them to taste like scrambled eggs and was surprised when they didn't.


In the afternoon Lucas and his Papa met on the basketball court for a short game of hoops. When Lucas realized that he couldn't quite slam dunk just yet basketball ended up being more of a soccer game.

When playing with the yellow ball got old Lucas invented a new game... make Grandpa hold the seesaw while I try to crawl to him.


While Lucas played Curt built a fire in the fire pit so it would be ready for making s'mores after dinner.


When Lucas noticed that one of his cousins was sitting still watching the smoke and the fire he decided that he wanted to do it too. He is very much in his "monkey see, monkey do" phase right now.


After dinner I went with my cousin Nicole and my sister Lori to downtown Helen while Curt put Lucas to bed. We just walked around looking in the little shops and watching all the crazy people that were dressed up in German costumes. We didn't go too wild because we were back at the lodge by 10:30.


It's a good think we didn't have a wild late night because Lucas ended up waking up a little before 3AM and not wanting to go back to sleep. He was chewing like crazy on his blanket and I am pretty sure he is teething again. Thank goodness for the portable DVD player because we were able to keep him in the room and quiet until a little before 6AM. Curt instantly fell back asleep and started snoring. Every few minutes Lucas would scream "STOP IT!" in between trying to stick his feet into my ribs. Between Curts snores, and Lucas constant need to put his feet on me I could not get back to sleep. Just as I was about to decide which one of them I should throw my pillow at I took Lucas downstairs and let him run back and forth across the lodge and gave him his breakfast. A little after 7 we woke Curt up and I handed Lucas over to him and I went to sleep for about 30 minutes.

While Curt and I were packing everything up to get ready to go Lucas was brought to us with a rash and hives covering his arms. Our quick acting family had already rinsed his arms off twice right away and managed to find benadryl and hydro cortisone cream in a matter of minutes. We smeared his body in the cream, gave him the medicine and had to put him in jeans and a long sleeve shirt to stop him from itching. Around 10 he feel asleep in Curt's arms and stayed sound asleep while we put him in his car seat and left. We still aren't sure what exactly he got into but are leaning towards poison ivy since it was all over the woods around the lodge. Even with the throwing up, the lack of sleep, the strange rashes, and everything else we had an amazing time.