Dear Lucas (6 years and 5 months),

I just love, love, love this time of year. You are out of school for most of it and I just love all of our holiday traditions and developing new ones with you.

The first thing we did to kick of the Christmas season was go to "The Journey." It's an interactive living nativity that lets you experience the night Jesus was born. This was our second year going. Afterwards just the two of us went out to dinner. I let you pick the place and we wound up at WAFFLE HOUSE. Boy, are you a cheap date. We were the only ones in the whole place and you thought that was pretty cool.

Two days later it was time for another Christmas tradition, the Santa Train. You were even in the ad for this years event. You decorated ornaments, drank hot chocolate, talked to Santa, and we topped it all off with a train ride.

I love that even though I am a part time working Mom I still get to go to your school events. During your class Christmas party everyone got to decorate their very own gingerbread house. I know I've said this before but I really mean it, I love any chance that I am known only as "Lucas' Mom." I also love getting to bring you home early from school after classroom events.

Yet another Christmas tradition is to go and see Christmas lights. I've taken you to see the Halderman's lights every Christmas since you've been born.

This year we created another tradition when we went to Madrac Farms in Rincon, GA with your friend Preston. They had a Christmas tree farm, a hayride through Christmas lights. Santa was there and they had all these campfires for roasting marshmallows. It was really neat.

Another new thing we did this year was to go ice skating. You were so excited to finally be on a real ice skating rink. It was a little tricky to get the hang of and you probably spent more time on your knees and your bootie than on your feet but that's okay. I was so proud of you. You never gave up or got frustrated, not even for a second. You just kept on trying.

To take a break from all the time we spent out of the house we invited your cousins over and you decorated Sugar cookies with them. I ordered a Sugar Cookie decorating kit from Preston's Mom (she made all your amazing birthday cakes the last 5 years.) I loved being able to watch you guys get a sugar rush without having to actually bake the cookies myself!

The last Friday before Christmas the two of us always head to downtown Savannah. Your Dad always has to work at least half a day so we go to the Westin to look at the Gingerbread houses and the gorgeous Christmas trees. We always ride the ferry over to Riverstreet (this year we saw Dolphins playing in the water) and we always end up at the candy store before riding the ferry back and returning home. This year it was so hot outside we skipped the candy and got ice cream instead.

This year we had a guest that I am sure will be back next year. We adopted an elf from the North pole and you named him Tweetie. You were so excited when you realized he had brown hair and blue eyes just like you do. Tweetie was here to watch you and report back to Santa each night what was going on back at our house. To keep himself entertained he would land in a new spot in the house each day and often played a little joke on us. One day he toilet papered the tree, another day he drew funny faces with a dry erase marker on a few framed pictures and on Christmas eve you woke up with a "Rudolph nose." When Santa came on Christmas eve he hitched a ride back to the North Pole. You were so sad to see him go but I have a feeling he will be back next year.

On Christmas eve we headed to my parents house and we played our annual game of Dirty Santa/Chinese Christmas/Racist Santa (depending on who you ask) Everyone brings a random wrapped gift and draws a number and we go in that order to pick a gift to unwrap. You can steal someone's gifts or decide to take your chances. Some of the gifts this year included light up snowmen signs, bacon flavored popcorn, and a trivia game based on MTV's Jersey Shore. You ended up with a big fluffy teddy-bear.

After Christmas eve with our family we headed to our church. Before the first Christmas carol was over you were sleeping snuggled up across my lap. You slept through the whole service. I couldn't even wake you up for the candle light singing of "Silent Night" that you were looking so forward to.... talk about sleeping in heavenly peace! You didn't wake up when I carried you out to the car or on the whole drive home.

You woke up just as we pulled up to the house and you were awake long enough to take a bath, get dressed in your new PJs and put out cookies and milk for Santa before you were back to bed.

Christmas morning we woke up to you snuggled between us and we all ventured out to the living room together to see if Santa had come. He brought you just what you asked for... Harry Potter Lego sets and a hammer and nails. We also opened family presents. You were so excited by everything but the first thing you opened was the Chess set that was from us. You've been wanting your own since the beginning of school when you first learned how to play in your gifted class.

We stayed in our PJs and headed over to your Grandpa Hunter's house for breakfast. We visited for a little while and headed back home to take to nap and play with your new toys (we napped, you played.) Then your uncle David and Aunt Ashley came over with your cousin Aubrie. We ended the night together grabbing Chinese food.

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

Lucas' Mom

Dear Lucas (6 years and 3 months),

I just love this time of the year. The weather is starting to cool down and the holidays are just around the corner. You are so excited for Halloween. It is just around the corner!

This month you finally went in for an eye appointment. Several months ago your eye doctor decided to retire so we had to find you a new one. Now that there is only one pediatric eye doctor the wait to get in was over 6 months. He said your eyes are still looking good and that he'll see you back in six months.

We were happily surprised to discover that you and your friends were in an ad in a regional magazine. The Roundhouse used a photo of you four from last years Santa train to promote the upcoming Santa train event. It is the October/November 2011 issue on page 89. The issue had two different covers and of course we bought one of each! When I showed you that you were in a magazine you acted like you weren't surprised. All you said was "I was in the newspaper before and now this, I guess I am really famous now."

All summer long you have been dying to go bowling but we just never got around to going. You got to finally go when your friend Bella had a bowling birthday party. You loved it!

Every October since you were born you've always gone with us to Helen, GA for a family reunion. This time around I was working and couldn't find anyone to work for me. You still got to go though because your Grandparents were nice enough to take you. I doubt you even missed us for one second.

You had a day off from school a few days ago so we packed up a picnic lunch, grabbed your friend Gabe, and headed to the park. The weather was perfect and there was a light breeze for kite flying.

I got to go with you to your first 1st grade field trip. Your class went to the Civic Center to watch Junie B. Jones play. You really enjoyed the performance and the music. I loved being called "Lucas' Mom" all day.

You cannot wait for Halloween. We have the yard all decorated. We are going to go Trick-or-treating with your friend Preston like we have done for the last several years. Halloween falls on a school night this year so we won't be out that late but it should still be fun.

You can't wait to go trick-or-treating. This year you wanted to be Harry Potter so I've been finding different pieces to put together for a costume. You would probably just be happy with some random prepackaged costume but I love adding little details.

I love you to the moon and back,

Lucas' Mom :-)

Dear Lucas (6 years and 2 months),

You are now settled into your school schedule as a first grader. This is your first year in the gifted program and you seem to be thriving. You came home after your first couple of gifted classes excitedly telling us you were learning how to play chest (you meant chess.) It was a nice change to hear details about your school day because before all you would tell us was that school was "fine" or that you didn't remember what you learned.

Just like when you were in Kindergarten you come home with homework assignments for the week that are due on Friday. That way if something comes up one night and you can't get your work done it is no big deal. Every week you have spelling words, sight words, and vocabulary words to learn. Every night you practice math and writing. You just finished learning how to count in groups of tens and you know how to tell the difference between the tens and the ones places.

It is hard to believe that the first 9 weeks of school have already passed. You just got your very first report card and you got all A's. Way to go! I hope you just always do your best and always enjoy learning. We've gotten into reading chapter books at night now. We read the first few "Harry Potter" books this summer but you'll have to finish the rest of the series when you get a little older. Right now we are reading "The Indian in the Cupboard."

You still love your cat Squeakie and she loves to hug your face from behind. She was such a sweet kitten and she has turned into the most neurotic cat. She is always trying to climb walls and open drawers. She likes to climb in bags and purses and pull everything out. I don't even know where she sleeps at night but I do see her go and check on you during the night.

In a few days you have an eye appointment and I'm a little anxious. The last time you had your eyes checked it was back in February and you have always been seen every 3-6 months. Right after that appointment we got word that your doctor had retired and that meant there was only one other pediatric eye doctor in Savannah and the next available appointment wasn't until October. I wasn't sure if it was more important for you to be seen on time or if it was more important that you saw a specialist. We decided to hold out for the specialist. I hope we did the right thing. You don't seem to be having any problems that we have noticed except wanting to sleep in your glasses still.

I think the biggest news this month has been that today you got a new baby cousin. Teddie is the first girl cousin on my side of the family. You haven't gotten to meet her yet but you don't seem that upset about it. I guess boys aren't that concerned with new babies especially when they are girls. I think your uncle Ted can relate.

Little one, I love you to the moon and back,

Mom

Dear Lucas (6 years and 1 month),

The last month of summer flew by far too quickly. I meant to take you swimming more. I meant to take you to the beach more. We were supposed to go on so many more adventures. The summer is just never long enough. I guess our adventures don't have to end just because the summer has come to a close.

Since your birthday fell right smack in the middle of the week we scheduled your party for the following weekend. What a fun birthday weekend it was too! Our church had a "Water Day" for the kids with a giant water slide, tons of water guns, different sized swimming pools and cotton candy. You had a ball.

The following day was your birthday party. We celebrated at your Grandparents' house just like we have done for the five birthdays before this one. Hey, it works. They have a pool and your birthday is always in the middle of the high heat of the summer. You wanted a Captain America theme and that's what we did.

During the last week of summer we tried to squeeze in as much fun as possible. We went swimming with friends, we went to Ellis Square in City Market, and we read as many Harry Potter books as we possibly could for the Summer reading program at the library.

The last day before school started we helped Joshua celebrate his 1st birthday party at your Grandparents.... for a pool party. Nobody seemed to mind another chance to take a dip in the water and eat some cake. You loved getting to see your cousins Shane and Colby again. I wish you could see them more but everyone is busy. I just hope you guys grow up to be close when you are older, especially since you don't have any brothers or sisters of your own. Your Dad and I have been trying sometime to give you a sibling but it doesn't seem to be in God's plan right now. I don't want you to think you are never enough for us... because that couldn't be further from the truth. We just didn't want you to be alone when it is our time to no longer be here.

I wasn't sure how you were going to feel on the first day of school. You were a little bummed that you didn't get to be in Mrs. S's class again but you seem to have gotten an equally fabulous teacher. On the first day of school you were up and dressed before my alarm went off at 7:30AM. Your school doesn't even start until 9. You were so excited to get to school and start the day as a First Grader.

There are a few kids in your class from last year and that seemed to make you happy. When it was time to for me to go you whispered that you didn't want me to leave. We did our "kissing hands" from the book that someone recommended when you were having a rough time in Pre-K, and that seemed to help.

You rode the bus home and you were all excited about your first day and told me that you had the best day ever. Later I got an email telling me that you spent the first half of the day hiding in the corner or the room crying. The second day of school I had to wake you up and encourage you to get up. You told me you wanted to go back to Kindergarten because First grade just had to much learning. I'm sure you just need a little time to adjust and before long it will be your first day of Second grade and you'll be wishing you were back in Mrs.B's class.

Luca-Lou, I love you to infinity and beyond,

Mama

Dear Lucas (6 years),

Happy Birthday, my sweet baby boy! It is hard to believe that you are six years old. Soon you will be starting First grade but for now I am glad we still have a few more weeks of summer to keep having fun. Here is what we've done so far:

We discovered a nearby swimming hole thanks to some friends. It's like our own little local beach.

To celebrate the 4th of July we had a pool party at Grandma & Grandpa's house and then had a cookout with friends and shot off fireworks together.

The following week we went to Saint Simons Island for our family reunion.

After our family reunion you went home with Levi and stayed with your cousins for a week.

On the way home we stopped at the gas station with a petting zoo. I realized later we had stopped there exactly a year ago. The first time we stopped there we were headed to Atlanta to have your eyes checked under anesthesia. Your Dad and I were so scared back then.

This summer you and Gabriel have decided that the two of you are best friends since David has seemed to pair off with Jake. It works out since the four of you play together quite often and nobody gets left out this way. You four usually play together while the adults play board games or chat over coffee. The four of you will also be at the same school this year.

One of my favorite things that we've done this summer was to sneak off and get frozen yogurt at bedtime. We had such a good time sitting outside and giggling together under the stars.

Your cousin Kaliegh came down from Massachusetts to visit her Dad for the summer and we got her a few times while she was here. You had a blast hanging out with her and Steven.

Your favorite toy right now are Lego blocks. Your friend Bella sent you a gift card to WalMart for your birthday and you knew what you wanted to pick out before you even got to the store- big boy Lego sets. Before know all you had were the ones for toddlers. You haven't put them down since you got them.

Last night while you were sleeping I filled your floor with balloons. In the morning you were so excited to wake up to your room decorated. I did the same thing last year and I think it is a tradition that we will keep around.

Tonight we celebrated at home and you opened presents from us and then blew out your birthday candles. On Sunday we will have your birthday party and celebrate with your family and a few friends. I can't wait to see what this year has in store for us.

I love you to the moon and back,

Mommy