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

Then and Now

This past Friday, we picked Lucas up from school early and headed to Helen, GA for our annual trip. This was Lucas' 5th trip there. It is really cool that we're able to take him somewhere that I've been going since I was a kid. I thought it would be fun to compare pictures of Lucas on our trips to Helen.

Then: October 2005- Barely 2 Months Old. Lucas had just started to sleep in his Bassinet and instantly became attached to him lovey that got nicknamed "Baby"

Now: His still sleeps with his "baby"

Then: October 2006- Content to sit still and be quiet

Now: Nothing quiet or still about him now

Then: October 2007- He had a lot of fun hanging out with his Aunt Lori

Now: Aunt Lori has her own little one to entertain

Then: October 2008 - Still has a bit of that cute baby look in his face

Now: He looks so grown up

Snapshots from Family Reunion

Watching Lucy run around.

Lucy kisses.

Hanging out by the pool

Enjoying the water

Most of the family there

Lucas playing frisbee with Isaiah and Levi

Flip flop sword fighting

Reunion 2008

We spent the past weekend in St.Simons for our annual Strickland Family Reunion (mom's side.) Lucas and I went up Thursday with my mom and Grandma. Curt and my Dad drove up after work on Friday.

Lucas had been up since 5:30AM and only slept in the car on the way there for a few minutes. He finally passed out once he laid down at the foot of his Grandma's bed.

Lucas loved hitching a ride with his Great-Gram.

Blessing the food

Two Tired Hunters

They are all due within weeks of each other!

It's pretty cool that all their kids will have playmates there same age. Growing up all my cousins were either older than me or younger than me, and it is the same way for Lucas.

Showing off his new Cowboy Boot Slippers

Showing off his muscles.

I want to play cards with the big kids!!!

Lucas has some GREAT older cousins.

He loved all the attention!

Sneaking veggies instead of cookies.

Tony, Lori, Curt, and I snuck off to dinner on Saturday night. Lori thought the name of the place was funny.

Lori has a built in hand rester.

Saturday night I told Lucas is was time for bed and he snuggled in with Lori and Tony.

More pictures HERE

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.