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!

Fun with Grammy and PopPop!

We had so much fun with Grammy and PopPop when they came to visit a few weeks ago. Even though the tractor didn't work out, there was still plenty of fun to be had.

Luke thought it was so funny to open PopPop's gas tank and pretend to take the cap off. PopPop would obligingly pretend to be bothered every single time and Luke would just laugh and laugh.

Our climber was not the least bit intimidated by the hugeness of PopPop's truck. He was happy and proud to be able to get in all by himself, even if it took 5 minutes to do so.

He was in heaven getting to drive PopPop's big truck and proclaimed himself a very good driver.
(Cue Phil's Rainman impression now...)

Then he got to ride in PopPop's truck for the first time ever. All 5 of us piled in and drove to get chocolate ice cream. Here he is happily yelling "I love chocolate ice cream!!" en route.

Even better than going with everyone to get ice cream was going all by himself with Grammy and PopPop to Chick-Fil-A. This time he is excitedly yelling "Chick-Fil-A!!!"

We had such a good time doing all sorts of fun things with G & P, and we can't wait see them again soon!

Rockin' Out.

Last Saturday our sweet neighbor, Reid, gave Luke a hand-me-down guitar. This was such an exciting moment for Luke because he is newly fascinated by guitars, which he calls "good-tars".  This particular "good-tar" was well loved, to say the least. Its strings are all stretched out and bent, the battery cover was lost ages ago and replaced with duct tape, and the recorded music that it plays has a lovely tinny sound to it. Luke couldn't care less, though, and thinks it's super cool. He also thinks that his ill-fitting yellow hard hat (another beloved hand-me-down from Reid) finishes off his rock star ensemble perfectly.

Rockin' out and looking extra tough with his black eye (the result of a run-in with his book bucket) before church on Sunday.

Looking a little too much like a member of the Village People. 

"Muah! I love my good-tar."

 On Saturday when Reid handed over the guitar, Phil pointed out to Luke that it was just like the guitar of our friend and music minister at our church, Josh. Luke's favorite thing to do at church is to climb up on the stage and visit with all the musicians and instruments, so he was tickled when Phil pointed this out. Phil then suggested, kind of rhetorically, that Luke could take it to church to show Josh some time...

Well, the next day was Sunday, and you can bet that when I told Luke it was time to go to church, he wanted to take his guitar with him to show Josh. I told him that he could but we needed to put his shoes on first. I put his shoes on for him and then told him to go get his guitar. He immediately ran off to get it and came back with not only the guitar, but also the hard hat. It cracked me up, so of course I had to run and get the camera.

Standing at the back door, ready to go.

"Wait, Mom! Take another one of my tough guy face!"

So excited he can't contain himself.

"Umm, I think my good-tar needs a seat belt."

This is what I got when I asked him to say cheese.

Apparently rock stars don't do "cheese".

Posing with his buddy and fellow rocker, Josh.

That was fun, but what else can I do?

Another favorite instrument. This one doesn't do much for his tough guy routine, though.

This one's for you, Uncle Johnny!

(but if you ever give my son drums, you'll pay for it in more ways than one.)

All done and watching as the guitar goes nigh-night!

Happy Birthday to Me.

I made Phil take some pictures of me with the Stinker at my birthday lunch on Friday. Yes, lunch was at CFA, but don't worry, Phil took me to a much nicer place for dinner. Anywhooo... it must have been a little birthday bonus that a.) I got my picture taken with Luke instead of taking pictures of Luke and b.) we actually got some shots that I didn't immediately want to erase from the face of the earth. What a treat!

What a Stinker!

Guess what Luke was for Halloween....

Well, a skunk of course!

We had been very benevolently loaned a fabulous Elmo costume that was in the running for a while, but Luke's Elmo love has since waned, and (brace yourself--your not going to believe it...) it was too big. So we went with the most appropriate costume that we could think of. Together with my mom's help, I collected 3 black articles of clothing-- pants, a turtleneck, and a hat. Then I went to Joann's and bought the longest, most skunk-like fur I could find. I cut it into strips, thereby scattering fur all over the table and floor and releasing it into the air to haunt my house for years to come. I sewed it on using big fat stitches that I could easily remove later, and ta-da! A skunk was born. When test driving the costume a week before, the Stinker would absolutely NOT wear the hat for more than .004 seconds. I figured it was pretty much a loss, but crossed my fingers that on the big day, he'd somehow sense that the hat did indeed make the costume and surrender to wearing it for at least a few minutes. Little did I know, he'd wear it the WHOLE time! All it took was a little bribing. He'll do just about anything to be allowed outside, and if you throw in a ride in the wagon, you've got yourself a deal. Thus, he succumbed to the ridiculous hat and made his mommy sooooo happy! We took him out trick or treating but didn't think he'd last very long. Well, once he realized that we were actually going to let him ring any doorbell he wanted, he was in it for the long haul. We'd pull the wagon into the driveway of a house, he'd hop out and RUN to the door (usually the garage door for some reason, only to be redirected by one of us to the actual front door), yelling "Do-beh! Do-beh!" all the way. Several doorbells were actually low enough for him to push on his own (apparently gnomes live in those houses), so he'd go to town pushing it as many times as he could before a parent snatched him up, apologizing for their overly zealous Stinker. When asked to say, "trick or treat", he'd say "treat". He totally knew what was up. To heck with the "trick" stuff, give me the treat. If offered the bowl of treats to choose from, he'd touch just about every piece before picking one, only to then put it back and take another. Thank goodness we only went to a handful of houses on our street. Mommy and Luke could have kept going for a while, but Daddy fizzled out and was ready to go home and have dinner. All in all it was a great night, and I couldn't be prouder of my big boy. I think he had a lot of fun, too, especially once Mommy let him taste what the night was all about!

Getting ready and looking a little more like Dopey than a skunk.

All dressed and ready to go.


"Are you sure I have to wear this hat?"


The Stinker rockin' his State Farm Insurance ride.


Ringing Mr. Ben's doorbell. It was the perfect height for Luke!


Yay! Every successful ring was cause for celebration.


Headed back to the wagon, but not before doing a little dance in the gutter.


Loving the lone bowl on the porch. In true Stinker form, he poured the whole thing out while we were talking to our new neighbors in the yard.


When we got to this neighbor's house, there was a surprise on the other side of the door...


Dorothy!!


Isn't she ADORABLE??!!! Her real name is Tessa, and she is just a few weeks younger than Luke.


Putting his candy from Tessa in his bag.


And then it was time to mow! He spotted Tessa's mower just inside the door and therE was no stopping him.


Thankfully Tessa's grandparents needed their house mowed, so they didn't mind the Stinker taking over.


Onto the next house. Luke was a pro by this point.


All done and headed home.


One happy Stinker enjoying some of the night's plunder.