Flipper & Pops and the Fourth!

We had the best time with Flipper and Pops over the Fourth of July holiday! In typical Luke fashion, he had been talking about their visit for weeks but then seemed to be just as thrilled about getting to go to the airport as he was about Flipper and Pops coming to visit him.

As usual Mommy was running late, so we didn't get to actually go into the airport. Tears ensued, but once he realized that Flipper and Pops were going with us in Luke's car to Luke's house, he was much happier.

Flipper came bearing gifts, of course, and this silly kazoo from the Dali Museum was a favorite...despite the unconvincing look on his face.

We always go to Trader Joe's when Flipper and Pops are in town (get a clue, Mr. Joe...you need to open up shop in TAMPA!!), and this time Luke was so proud to be able to push his own cart. We were proud that he only ran into things and not too many people.

Pops decided he wanted to take Luke to a toy store, so we went to a retro-inspired one in the historic district of downtown. Luke and Pops picked out a set of really cool race cars that are super fast and can be taken apart and put back together. For the Stinker, though, their best feature was their box, as it made for a perfect car wash (his newest obsession).

While waiting for Mommy and Flipper to finish shopping, Luke and Pops played in a nearby park and made a big-headed new friend.

I am not even going to tell you how many times we went to Handel's for the best ice cream in town, so don't bother asking me.

Four out of five of us were thrilled to go to Three Sisters' for lunch, after having seen it featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. The fifth person was all about it once the food came, but acted like a 2 year old when I forced him to take a picture.

One of the highlights of the trip was Flipper's handiwork-- an eight foot tee pee! Chief Stinkerpants was elated to have a tee pee of his own and required that all matters henceforth take place inside it.
  (Sorry for the blurry camera photo!)

On the Fourth of July, we opted for taking Luke to a parade in the morning rather than keeping him up super late for "yowd" fireworks. He was somewhat interested when we told him that we were going to a parade, but when we told him there were going to be firetrucks and candy, he couldn't get to the "wade"  fast enough.

When the first thing that was given to him at the parade was a flag rather than candy, he began to feel a little misguided though.

Fortunately Daddy was there to show him how to smile and wave to the passersby.

And soon he had collected a fashionable yellow necklace, found a sweet baby girl for Flipper to hold, and gotten Daddy and Pops working his corner.

Our buddies, Kiley, Dakota, and silly Cooper (Luke calls him 'Coopie') were helpful and generous, showing Luke how to run and scoop up the scattered candy and sharing their spoils with him when he was the last one to arrive to the loot.

In no time he had acquired quite a stash and spent the rest of the parade stuffing candy into his mouth like this.

During which time I took a minute to photograph my favorite site at the parade.

Yum.

Anywhooooooo....I digress.

After the parade, it was time for lunch and some shoulder exercises for Pops. Luke didn't want Pops to overdo it, so he gladly stepped in to help bear some of the burden.

He even subbed in and did a few reps on Pops' behalf.

(Shhh...don't tell Pops' doctor!!)

Meanwhile, Mr. Potty kept Luke entertained with his witty banter.

When all was said and done, it was a fabulous Fourth and we were so glad Flipper and Pops were here to share it with us!

The Party.

We had a little party for Luke at our house on Saturday. After last year's birthday party was relocated to the garage due to inclement weather, I wasn't going to risk it this year. I kept the party small and simple, so that we could be inside. We just invited a few friends for lunch and birthday cookies.

 Balloons were my only decor. So easy!

 The Mellentine boys came and made up 4/5 of the guests.

 Luke's best buddy Anthony. I love him.

 Just a little mowing to get the party started.

Jake and Luke ate almost all of those chips. All before lunch.

 Sweet birthday punkin.

 Praying before lunch.

 Digging in.

 Mohawked Marcus was pleased.

Then it was time for dessert...birthday cookies -- chocolate chip, of course-- with chocolate ice cream. Luke's two latest passions. Unfortunately, the birthday candle and birthday singing were a little overwhelming.

 Someone got a little scared.

 The same thing happened last year...
(that's Marcus coming to the rescue)

 With some reassurance, though, he returned to the fire...

 ...and even gave it a good effort.

 Thank goodness for a little help from your friends.

 Yum!

 He was pleased as punch.

 Anthony seemed to like it too.

Lastly, it was time for presents. Cooper's present was first up.

 Luke was actually really into opening the gifts this go round. 

 Cooper was sooo excited to give Luke his present -- Mr. Potato Head!

The Mellentine boys gave the Stinker a fun turtle activity thing that he thought was way cool.

And we actually got a family picture! 

It was a fun little party, and we are so grateful that Luke's friends could celebrate with us. 

Thanks, friends!

Sing to the Lord a New Song.

Ever since Luke was about four months old, he has had a specific bedtime routine. 

 It all starts with bath time.

 Then there is story time (added once he got a little older).

The last and most essential part of the routine has always been rocking and singing to him for a few minutes before putting him in his bed. We started out at 4 months singing "Jesus Loves Me" to him every single night. Even babysitters and grandparents knew to sing a few rounds of "Jesus Loves Me" before putting him down. After many, many months of the same routine and same song, Phil decided he was tired of singing the same song over and over and over. He started singing some of his favorite songs instead, like Coldplay, Weezer, and Death Cab for Cutie songs. I have always stuck with "Jesus Loves Me", because I love the message and also because it is a song that I know so well that I can sing it over and over while simultaneously thinking about what I am going to make for dinner or what chore awaits me the minute I walk out of the room or which of my TV shows is on tonight or whatever (hey, a mom's got to multi-task). A few months ago, though, Phil started singing a new song to Luke. It is a song by our good friend, Ryan Kiesshauer (pronounced KEES-ow-er), who released his first album last January. The song is our favorite song on the album and is sung in Globalscope ministries around the world. It is a praise song called "King Forever", but Luke just calls it "Kee-OWWW-er". It has become his most favorite song to date, and he asks for it at every nap time and bedtime. In fact, it's the only song he will let us sing at those times. He asks for it all the time in the car, too, and when the next song on the album comes on, he says, "No. I wan' kee-OWWW-er gen!". We've tried explaining to him that all the songs on the album are Kiesshauer, but he refuses to believe us. While it is a challenge for me, one of the most musically disabled people in the world, to sing "King Forever" a cappella and not sound like a howling dog, I love the song so much that I don't mind. (I just pray no one turns on the baby monitor downstairs while I am singing.) My favorite line in the song can bring me to tears at almost any given moment:

Never again will I ask the world to tell me who I am
For I know I am Yours.

So good. And such a good message for the Stinker. Not to mention every other line in the song is totally awesome too. So I am not sad that Luke has chosen to 'sing to the Lord a new song'. It's a darn good song. And I can't wait till he starts singing it in his own words. I'm sure it'll melt this mama's heart.

Since I want you to be able to hear Luke's new fave, here is a link to our friend Ryan (yes, the real deal!) singing "King Forever" on YouTube as part of a contest to win the opportunity to have his song played on the radio in Atlanta. Unfortunately he didn't win, but he should have. I hope you like it as much as we do.
(and if you do, buy it!)

New Year's.

For the 8th year in a row, we spent New Year's with our good friends Tito (no, his mom didn't really name him that. his real name is David.) and Stacy. It was so much fun, especially since our kiddos got along so well. Now that Luke is older, they could finally play together and play they did. Jax had a plethora of boy things--bikes, cars, scooters, tools, balls, and even a 4-wheeler. Luke was in paradise. We grownups had lots of fun just being together again and catching up. We even got a babysitter for New Year's Eve and went out to a fancy dinner. Such a treat! Tito and Phil went to the Gator bowl and watched Mississippi State stomp all over Michigan (sorry Mom!). They had awesome seats, thanks to Tito's brother, and had a great time. And since we were in Jacksonville, we got to escape some brutally cold weather up here in Indy. It was glorious. Sadly, though, we big kids only took one picture of the 4 of us together, and it did not turn out well, so I won't be posting it. But you don't look at this blog to see Phil and me anyway, so I guess it doesn't matter!

The Stinkerman playing with Jax's super fancy tool table and showing off his manly chest and equally manly fuzzy footie pajamas.


Pushing the button, turning on the "yowd" table saw, and making Jax cry. Kind of ironic, considering that turning on a hair dryer within a 1 mile radius of Luke instantly elicits a complete freak-out because it is too "yowd".

Quintessential Phil.
He had a little too much fun with Jax's toys, too.

Is Jax not the cutest little redhead you've ever seen, pj's and all?

I LOVE this picture because that is such a Tito face that Jax is making!

Kindred spirits. This is how Luke goes down big slides, too.

Isn't this what dads are made for?


I think Luke would agree.

So cute.
(And hilarious if, like me, your first thought when you saw this was that it looks like a my-two-dads family Christmas card.)

"All dum", with a sweat induced mohawk and a lollipop to save us from the I-don't-want-to-leave-the-playground temper tantrum.

Thanks so much, Tito and Stacy, for such a good time!