Flashback Friday

Our couple's bridal shower - April, 26, 2003.

I don't remember the game... just that we looked foolish! :) 

Megan (bridesmaid), Brent, Tim (groomsmen) and Teresa.

Who's the boss?

No, I'm not talking about one of my fave sitcoms from growing up. 

Although, I could... I love that show!  Maybe that is an idea for a future post... some of my favorites from my childhood. 

Anyway, I'm referring to the conversation I had with Lucas last night.  He is not a naughty boy, but he is getting so independent!  Sometimes, when I tell him no, or ask him to do something he just continues to do it his way.  Last night before bed, I stripped him down and he went to the potty.  I wanted him to get his pajamas on and he insisted he wash his hands first.  (I do appreciate his likeness of good hygiene.)  After he washed his hands, Mr. Naked started asking for ice cream.  (Daddy had promised earlier).  I told him no ice cream until he had his pajamas on, then he stuck out that bottom lip and started to whine.  Then the conversation went to this:

Me:  Lucas, who is the boss?
Lucas:  Me!
Me:  No, you aren't the boss.
Lucas:  Me boss! 
Me:  Lucas, mommy and daddy are the boss.
Lucas:  Mommy is the boss!
Me:  That's right!  Now, let's go tell daddy who is boss.

... Brent didn't think it was as funny as I did.  :) 

Pearly whites

A little this way...

A little that way...

In March, Lucas got his final molar.  He has all of his baby teeth!

Always an adventure

Our niece, Abby, celebrated her 1st Holy Communion on Sunday.  After church we helped her celebrate and also celebrated her brother's birthdays.  Nick will turn 6 in May and Will turned 1 earlier in April. 

The potty-training adventure continues... Lucas went potty before we left the house.  We drove about 35 minutes to their church and he went when we got there.  He went twice during church and once after mass.  Then we made a stop for a quick errand and on the way to my brother's house, he had to go again.  We stopped at a park and used a rock.  Hey, when nature calls, you've got to answer it!

I love the way Lucas is looking at Abby.

The birthday boys.

Yummy cake!

***********
Thank you for the prayers for little Ellie.  She had another surgery on her nose on Saturday and her breathing has improved.  Her heart is continuing to improve.  Thanks for your prayers - you are making her stronger!

prayers for Ellie

Our friends, Matt and Abbie, had their fourth child last week.  Ellie Grace was born at 36 weeks and weighed in at 4 lbs, 7oz.  She had surgery Saturday to help her breathing and needs to continue to heal to avoid heart surgery.  There are many more details, but I don't want to share anything that I have interpreted incorrectly.  If you have time for extra prayer, Ellie needs it. 

Lucas says...

The most common sayings at our house in the last couple of weeks:
               "I do it."
               "Daddy at yerk." [work]
               "My turn."
               "I go home."
               "Daddy at his ossis." [office]
               "I wear jeans."
               "My seat."
               "I go on side." [slide - not to be confused with I go outside.]
 
And my absolute favorite: "MOM!"  If he wants something or I'm in a different part of the house Lucas yells this at the top of his lungs.  Sometimes it is short - mom, other times it is a long yell - moo-o-oom.  It doesn't matter... either way it is music to my ears. 

WONDERFUL weekend

The weather this past weekend was fabulous!  We spent a lot of time outside enjoying it. 

There was mountain climbing at Daddy's office.

(pay close attention to the boots)

There was a realization that the weeds were overtaking the few pretty flowers I have.  We got out the shovels and starting digging in the dirt.  [Side note:  We have lived in this house three years.  Neither Brent nor I remember these beautiful tulips any other year.  Do you think it is an anomaly from the hail storm?]

More climbing.

Lots of playing! 

What's wrong with this boot, mom?

The neighbor was outside with his tools, so Lucas figured he must need his, too.

In between all of that, there was a trip to the urgent care clinic - Lucas has a double ear infection.  No fever, just "my ear hurts" and not sleeping well.  He thinks the mess-in [medicine] is yummy! 

In regard to the boots... when Lucas discovered they were falling apart, he was quite concerned. 

No worries!  Good ol' mommy had a reserve pair in the closet!  Riddle me this:  These boots are the same brand, same size, purchased only a few weeks apart a the same store - why does the old pair look so much smaller than the new pair? 

Regardless, the new pair will be old in a few months.  I need to go shopping and find more boots.

Ann

My sister, Ann, is the oldest of us four kids and is nine years older than me.  She headed off to college when I was in 4th grade and my other sister, Karen, quickly moved into her room.  That meant Ann had to spend the summers with her littlest sister because I had the biggest bedroom. 

No, I'm not naked - I have a diaper on.  Yes, she does have an Iowa Hawkeye shirt on; I know it is disheartening.   

I have a feeling she was faking the sleep - look at the smile on her face.

Being the oldest, she did most things first... She was the first to join 4-H and show cattle.  She was the first to join FFA and get her State and American FFA Degrees.  She was the first to go to college and made a very wise choice of Iowa State University.  She set a lot of great examples.  Academics were a priority to Ann and, unfortunately, I wasn't wise enough to follow her lead on that... boys were way more interesting to me.   

Ann and her husband, Koen, met while they were both working for Caterpillar on international projects. (She lived in Illinois, he was born, raised and lived in Belgium).  In 2005, they got married in the U.S. and she moved to Belgium.

They get back to Iowa to visit about once a year.  We can't wait to visit them someday!

Sunday, April 18th is Ann's birthday.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SIS! 

Time to mow

In the ten days since I took these pictures, the grass is even greener and longer!  If only that little mower really did mow our lawn...

Craftiness at work

The first project I completed in my new craft room was an invitation for a bridal shower. I had to wait to make sure all of the invites were received before I posted this. I didn’t want to spoil anyone’s mailbox surprise. I spent of lot of time trying to come up with what I envisioned in my little ol’ head.

What do you think?

This isn’t just any bridal shower; this is for my soon-to-be sister-in-law. I'm excited to co-host and was honored to create the invitations.

Brad and Michelle are getting married in June and you can bet your bottom that there will be lots of pictures to share from the big event!

Home is where the heart is

Lucas has discovered the comfort of home.  Lately, one of his favorite sayings is "Let's go home."  It's a wonderful feeling to know that he likes home and knows it is a safe, comfortable place.  Of course, home is also where his toys, tools and where Handy Manny, Nemo and Cars live.  But I like to think he wants to be home because of the love and security of it.  He has chosen many different times to share his interest in going home... when we we are at the grocery store, when he is tired and most frequently (and at high volume) during church.

Papa's art

Papa Steve has a talent that {I think} very few know about... he might be the best artist of farm-scenes-on-a-restaurant-placemat. Ever. The tractor and wagon scribbles that daddy or mommy try to entertain Lucas with don't even come close to the detail Papa Steve has in his artwork.

Lucas makes a request... tractor, wagons, barn, grain bin, etc. and Papa whips it up with a crayon.  Please don't interpret my comments as sarcasm. Afterall, I did take this placemat off the table before the food arrived so I could bring it home for a photo. It would not have looked as good with cottage cheese clumps or french fry grease.

Lucas says...

This morning's drive to school:

Me:  Who do you think will be at school today?
Lucas:  Ava.
Me:  Sorry, bud, Ava won't be at school today.  She will be there on Tuesday.
Lucas: Oh.
Me:  Today is Monday.
Lucas: Monday?
Me: Yep. Tomorrow is Tuesday.
Lucas:  Tuesday?
Me: Yes, she will be there tomorrow.
Lucas: Otaaaaay. 

I love when Lucas says okay, it comes out as "otay."

Easter greetings!

Lucas made bunny ears at the library during Toddler Time last week. Do you see all of the stickers on his shirt? He got 14 stickers for wearing big-boy underpants and going potty all day. Woohoo!

Rotary hosted their annual Easter Egg Hunt and we couldn't miss it.  Daddy is a Rotary member, so he got to help the Easter Bunny hide the eggs.  There was no shortage of candy. 

Ava was there, too!  These two had a ball picking up candy. 

Lucas was excited the Easter Bunny left a trail of candy to his basket.  Oh my, more candy!

This was our sixth time hosting Easter for both the Perry and Feldpausch families.  It is fun to host and we love having everyone!  All the cousins came to celebrate Easter and have our annual agg hunt.  They are showing off their golden eggs.

Wait for me!

Will skipped the egg hunt and outside play for a warm, snuggly nap.

We celebrated April birthdays - there are a lot: Papa Steve, Will, Daddy, Michelle, Ann, Brian P. 

Papa Steve and Gramma Connie gave Lucas a big wheel for Easter.  Before riding, you must first make sure you have your tools. 

What a great day!  Lucas skipped a nap.  (Really, how could he miss the fun?)  I finally brought him inside (which he was not happy about) at 6:30pm.  He was asleep at 6:40pm and slept all night; he was well rested this morning.