Dear Lucas (5 Months and 4 days),

It's been such a busy crazy whirlwind of a month.

You experienced real loss for the first time in your life when your Great-Gram died. You've known about other people that have died and seen me be sad before but it never impacted you because you didn't really know them. The day your Great-Gram died Daddy picked you up early from school and told you what happened. It didn't click and you came in the house saying "Mom, Grandma died" like you would say "hey I had a great day at school." Then you looked around and said "Where is Great-Gram" and it was so hard telling you that she was the Grandma that died. After the funeral you asked me, "Mommy, please tell Jesus that I don't want to get old, die, and be buried all alone." When I picked you up from School after you returned from the funeral your teachers said you cried the entire day.

Thank goodness for Christmas. It has been a wonderful distraction for you. We made sure to fill the time with family traditions and new experiences to keep you busy. One of the things you love most about this time of the year is going to see all the Christmas lights. You kicked off the holiday season by going on a Trolley ride with Grandma to see lights. Then a few days later we took you to see the decorations that we have gone to see since your very first Christmas. Next year we should go a little earlier than we did this year. You feel asleep in the car on the way so you were SO GRUMPY when we got there and woke you up. You just wanted me to hold you, which is quite difficult now that you are four and a lot bigger than you used to be.

Another fun thing we did was go to the Westin to see the Gingerbread houses and Christmas trees. Then we hopped a ferry over to River Street and went to the candy store where I let you pick out one scoop of any candy you wanted. You picked gummy worms. We did this last year as well and I hope we keep this up as one of our Christmas traditions.

After seeing all the cool Gingerbread houses I was inspired and for the first time ever we decorated our own. You thought it was so much fun, but what is not to love about a giant bag full of icing, sprinkles, and tons of candy? I'm not sure what people do with Gingerbread houses after they are made. Ours sat in the fridge until I threw it away after Christmas.

On Christmas eve hung out at the house. We baked cookies and then opened up our new Christmas pajamas. Sometime in the middle of all the excitement your glasses broke. The arm just fell off. It was no big deal because you had a spare pair of glasses, so we didn't think anything of it. You put out a plate of cookies and a carrot for Santa and Rodolph, then you climbed in bed. We read a few stories about the first Christmas and then you were sound asleep. Christmas eve is always the EASIEST time to get you to go to bed and fall asleep. Before we went to bed we unscrewed all the light bulbs in the house so you couldn't see what Santa brought you unless you woke us up first. It worked like a charm.

Christmas morning we were woke up to "Mommy! Daddy! It's Christmas! I think Santa came but the lights don't work!" So we screwed the light bulbs in and watch you check out all your Santa loot and then we opened presents from each other. Then when you thought all was opened and unwrapped Daddy wheeled out one more present. You didn't even notice the Bike at first but when you did you got so excited. We spent the morning hanging out in our pajamas and watching you play with your new toys.

The afternoon of Christmas we loaded up the car with presents and headed over to Grandma and Grandpa O's to drop off their presents. Then it was off to Grandma and Grandpa Hunters for dinner and more presents.

Then somehow in all the excitement from Christmas your spare pair of glasses broke. Daddy took them from you to fix them and somehow you thought that you would never be able to see again. You started crying and freaking out. Thank goodness for scotch tape. I was able to fix them temporarily and then after Christmas we got them fixed.

The Sunday afternoon after Christmas we spent at my Parents' house having one last Christmas celebration. It was so much fun to all get together and laugh and eat together and just be a family. You just adore your older cousins and were so excited to get to play with them long into the night. You are officially one of the "big boys" now because you think you are too cool to play with Joseph anymore. The poor kid looks up to you so much and right now you don't understand that he isn't trying to break your toys or cramp your style, he just wants to do what you do. Lately you've started asking for a brother. You told me everyone you know has a brother except you and you need one.... but you only want an older brother. I'm not sure how that is going to work out for you. However, we did find out just a few days ago that Joseph is going to be a big brother.

In just a few days you'll be going back to school. I am pretty sure it is going to be another adjustment since you've been with me for most of December. First we were in California for a week, than you were out of school for Great-Gram's funeral, and then your two weeks of Christmas break. I've loved having all this extra time with you but I have also come to appreciate your teachers at school so much more. Seriously, five days a week they spend six hours with 20 four year olds?!?! Your teachers really are amazing. You can tell that they love you so much. You get to do so many fun things. Your homework project this month was for us to help you make a Snowman.

Snuggle-buggle, I love you to the moon and back,

Your "Mutter"

Our 4th of July

Sleepy Little Guy

Sunny Saturday

This morning we all thought Sam was in labor. Lucas and I headed into town to pick up Steven (Sam's 10 year old son.) Just as we were pulling in our driveway with Steven, Sam and her Mom pulled right behind us. Sam was sent home because she wasn't far enough along in labor. I ended up keeping Steven for a few hours because I had already told the boys I would take them to the Roundhouse. It worked out because then Sam was able to go home and get a little rest.

Lucas had a blast showing Steven around. If you haven't noticed yet, the Roundhouse is Lucas' favorite place on earth. This is actually our second time there this week. We're really getting our money's worth out of that year pass we bought!

Steven had a blast as well. He said he likes anything "that is big, especially if it has big wheels."

Steven had lots of questions about what everything was and most of them I didn't know the answer too, which is sad considering the amount of times I've been to the Roundhouse.

Steven was planning his next trip back saying, "I can't wait to show my Mom this next time!"

Since the kids were so well behaved I decided to take them for a special treat and eat lunch on a train at the Whistlestop Cafe. It was 11:00AM when we got there and they don't actually open until 11:30 but the SWEETEST lady on earth worked there and opened up just for us. The boys thought it was so cool to eat on a train, especially since we had the whole place to ourselves.

When we got home I fixed Curt some lunch and the boys dyed Easter Eggs while Curt ate. Curt had a rough day yesterday but seems to be feeling much better today.

Just as the boys were done with their Easter eggs, Curt was dressed and ready to take Steven back into town. He is spending some time with his Grandpa tonight and is so excited to be out of the house. I've called him a few times tonight to make sure he is taking it easy and taking his medication and he sounds great. He's been so appreciative of me lately, and I'm just doing what he would do for me if the situation was reversed.

*More Pictures on Shutterfly*

Happy Birthday Grandpa O

Last night we celebrated Curt's Grandfather's birthday (which was really on March 3) by going out to dinner. We even got the waitresses to come over and sing Happy Birthday. They brought over this huge mountain of ice cream and cookies.

This is the first of MANY March birthdays on both sides of the family.

Happy 4th

June, Already?!?!?

We had a very busy and fabulous weekend! Saturday night Curt and I went to his uncle Kenny's wedding. It was so much fun. We even did a little dancing (which we have NEVER done in the 7 years we have been together.) I also got to meet a lot of Curt's family that I have never had the chance to meet before. Everyone was so friendly and warm. Today, we headed out to Tybee so Lucas could get to meet the family members too. We had lunch at the Crab Shack and Lucas even got to go in the Ocean for a few minutes.

Curt and his uncle Michael. This is the first time I've ever gotten to see my husband this dressed up!

The newly wedded Mr. and Mrs. O and the rest of the Wedding party.

The happy Bride and Groom

Andrea and Aubrey cutting a rug on the dance floor.

Uncle Kenny and Curtis (They are the same age)

Curt and his baby sister Samantha

Instead of rice all the guests lit sparklers as Kenny and Courtney headed to the yacht that took them to their hotel.

Lucas checking out the gators after lunch.

Enjoying the Sun and the Surf

Grandpa O's Birthday Dinner

Dear Lucas (101 Weeks),

Your letter for this week just happens to fall on one of my absolutely favorite holidays. Sure Christmas is wonderful but for the 4th of July there is no stress of sending out Christmas cards or finding the perfect present and it is not cold like it is on Thanksgiving. I love the 4th because usually everyone has the day off and you get to grill and watch fireworks and spend the day outside. Today we went to your Grandma Andrea's house. Even though we don't get to go over there as much as we do to my parents' you knew just where we were when we arrived. The first thing you did was march right in and head straight for the toys your Grandma always has out then you went to make sure your favorite hiding spot was still available. You always remembered where the hard candy is kept and where the good snacks are.

We were the first ones to arrive so your Dad got busy grilling. You were the official taste taster and you always took each bite with a wide mouth and always followed with a loud Mmmmm. I always love going over to your Grandma Andrea's house because I get to see your Daddy interacting with his Mommy and they cook together and I can just see us having family dinners like when you are grown up and have your own kids. (Oh did I mention you aren't allowed to move farther than an hour away from us when you settle down? Well, I just did and I'm your Mom and you HAVE to listen to me!)

While the food was cooking your Grandma set out chips and dips to snack on. You LOVE anything you can dip but the only problem is you don't just double dip, you keep dipping your SAME chip until it is nice and soggy and can't be dipped anymore. Your Grandma ended up getting you your very own special bowl of dip. For some reason you kept calling the chips crackers. When you would say crackers you would divide it into two words and it came out sounding more like "crack whores," and it was SO hard not to laugh. "Peeeese Mommy, more crack whores!"

Your cousin Savannah ended up coming today and I swear I don't remember you being that little... as if it was so long ago, she is only a year younger than you. What I do remember is when you would watch the big kids play and want to do exactly what they do, and I started to tear up just a little bit when I realized you are now one of the big kids.

In some ways though you are still one of the "little kids." Your Grandpa O put up a little gate he made to keep you and Savannah safely on the porch. Even before the gate went up you knew you weren't allowed to go down the steps because of the water and you never once tried. You didn't seem to sad about having to stay on the porch because you were still outside and you could still watch everything going on. You didn't even mind it that much when some of us went down to the water to fish.

You ate ALL day long and everytime someone was eating something you just had to have a bite. Your favorite person to get a bite from was your Grandpa O. From everyone one else you would take a bite and just keep going but you always had to climb up in your Grandpa's lap and stay a while. I know he loved it. You sure do love all your Grandpa's and they are all willing to share their food with you.

You ended up being so dirty from all the food you ate and all the playing outside that I ended up throwing you in the bath. Just as I was about to get you out your Aunt Sam came in with Savannah and you got to get back in the bath because there was no way you were going to be okay with another kid being in the bathtub without you in it. I'm not sure if Savannah knew what to think about all of your wildness and splashing. Even though you didn't take a nap today the water seemed to revive you and give you more energy.

After you and Savannah were all squeaky clean we all loaded up in your Grandma's golf cart to go watch the fireworks. Where she lives everyone goes down to the golf course and sits and watches them. Before the fireworks started you had a blast running around barefooted all over the first hole. The grass was so soft and seemed to stretch on for miles and you were having the time of your life. I think you thought we just brought you to this big feild to let you and Steven run around and chase each other, and that was fine by you.

When it got dark the fireworks finally started and you crawled up in your Daddy's lap. Every once in a while you would let out a "WOW!" or a "See, Colors!" other wise you just sat there with big eyes enjoying the beautiful show. Today was such an amazing day.

.

Bugga, I love you to the moon and back!