puppet show...

The Cultural Arts Center put on a marionette show of "The Jungle Book", which Luke loves. The show was a little more Kipling than Disney, but both boys were fascinated and sat mesmerized for the entire hour show. Afterward the audience was invited up for a "meet and greet" with the monkey puppets.

Must get closer....

Good-bye monkey friend!

birthday party!!!

On the Saturday morning after Luke's birthday we had a little party for some of his friends in the backyard. Here are just a few pictures: there are tons more on the photo site.

The yard before the party--no, it does not look like this all the time,
as some one asked me! We just moved some furniture down from the deck, out of the house and borrowed some from friends. And added a beanbag game that we made.

Over here is a ball toss game under the tree and by the fence is an art center for painting.

Bubbles on the little table and balls. But the biggest hit was the bubble mower. I was amazed how the other boys, especially, fought over that silly mower.

Luke, elbow deep in the sand table, with Mimi and Beth

Luke and the bubble wand...

Snacks, ho!!

Hanging out on the picnic blanket with some popcorn snacks...

How many kids can fit on that little slide?

Luke and his buddy, Raul on the swings

After a quick lunch, make-your-own ice cream sundaes!! The most popular ingredients? Marshmallows, sprinkles and whipped cream on chocolate ice cream. My personal favorite was vanilla with chocolate syrup, strawberries and chocolate chips.

Henry the box head, blowing bubbles....

Where poor Henry spent a fair bit of the party...on the sidelines, hopefully with someone he knew. He was quite confused, I think, except at eating time. Then he knew right where to go!

In a borrowed tunnel that was part of the obstacle course, but more popular
as a stand-up hiding place

Luke the clown!! Since the theme was kind of a carnival theme, in
the goody bags were these clown noses.

Luke really enjoyed himself and thanked me at bedtime for such a fun day. And several people commented on how nice home birthday parties are and how rare nowadays. A bit more stressful, but not much more than having to pack it all up and go to a separate location. And it was nice not to have to clean up and be out of there by a certain time. Too bad about having summer birthday kids--it was pretty warm by the end of lunch!!

And a special thanks to Auntie Beth and Mimi for coming and helping out with the party. Sam was sacked under with auditors all week so without them I would have not been sleeping at night!! And they were in their natural teacher element with all those kids--it was awe-inspiring to watch. Hats off to teachers who hold down more kids than that everyday and manage to teach them something!

happy birthday luke!!

Once again, all too soon, it is birthday time for Luke! He woke up to presents from Mimi, Big Pop (as Luke has re-named Papaw), Bethie and Uncle Brad.

A wheel Matchbox Car case--didn't all little boys have one of these?

Playing with Mimi and all my new construction Playmobils....

And of course, new books!! Thank you!!

Then after a day of playing and meeting Daddy at this office for lunch, Luke got to pick out his birthday supper (hot dogs and sweet potato fries) and then his birthday cake. Again his choice: yellow and chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting and sprinkles. Now he was very specific that these be seperate yellow cupcakes and chocolate cupcakes--NOT yellow and chocolate swirled cupcakes. Don't ask me why.

Good to that last lick...

So after baths (trust me, they needed them) Luke got his Mommy and Daddy presents. He only asked for two things--a scooter and some peanut butter cups. So....

This is his face walking in and seeing the scooter in the living room..

And going for a ride!!! It is a big hit.

Tomorrow is the big party. I'll get pictures of that up as soon as I can!

On a personal note, I cannot believe that it has been four years since this little person has come into my life. Four really is, to me, the last official little boy birthday. He is such a kid now and there is no little boy left in him. A very bittersweet birthday for me. OK, that is my sentimental waxing...I am done now. ;)

the newest member of the family...

Most of you all know that I am not a big fan of dogs and that Sam has been pestering me for a dog forever but Mimi has started us off on the path to pets when she brought Luke the beta fish from her first grade classroom. Luke was thrilled and asks at least 5 times a day if it is time to feed "his" fish yet. His/her (?) name is Bubbles the fish, it is reddish-blue (Luke's two favorite colors) and he or she is surprisingly camera-shy. The above are 2 of about 10 pictures I tried to take of this fish and it kept swimming away behind the plant. No matter which way I turned the bowl, the goofy thing kept turning. So I finally gave up but I will get that picture, Bubbles!