Biker dude

Some friends gave us a bicycle with training wheels that is the perfect size for Lucas.  The seat was too high, so I got out the tools to lower it.  Brent's toolbox is not the most organized, so it took a while for me to find the right size of wrench.  In the meantime, Lucas gave everything a good check up. 

His fascination with tools amazes me.  He knows what most of them are called, the difference between nails and screws (he's only 2!), the difference between a flathead and philips screwdriver (which took me about 20 years to remember the difference), and has the capability of maneuvering his little hands to get around the tools and finagle them to twist and tighten. 

Ready to go!!

Whee!

It was a fun game to ride to the mailbox, pretend to get the mail and deliver it to me. 

Uncle Brian helped when those little legs started to tire. 

And when Uncle Brian got tired, he went motorized. 

Milestones for Lucas

A few milestones to remember for our awesome little boy!

June 30, 2010 - Gave up pacifier.  He was looking for it, Brent told him it went bye-bye and that was the end of it.  He was sad a few times when he was really tired and wanted it, but it was simply gone.  There was the day he found one under the couch cushion.  Boy, did he go to town sucking on that until we snatched it from his mouth.

July 16, 2010 - Putting his head under water.  After a week of swimming lessons, Lucas no longer screams when we rinse and wash his hair.  He mastered keeping his eyes and mouth closed. 

August 3, 2010 - Riding a bike with training wheels.  After lowering the seat on bike, he only needed a few pushes to figure out how his legs make it work.  He was cruising in no-time. 

*He was pedaling so good this past weekend, Brent commented that it wouldn't be long before he was without training wheels.  I looked at him and almost cried - he's only two and a half!  But he was cruising right down our {dead-end} street. 

August 10, 2010 - Lucas pooped on the potty.  He mastered #1 in the potty very easily.  Pooping on the potty was a different story.  He has had no #2 accidents since the first time he figured it out. 

We are so proud of him for each of these milestones, but also for being the caring little boy he is.  Full of hugs and kisses, cuddly, playful and good-hearted.  We are so blessed!

Flashback Friday

August 2008

Look at that baby!

Showing Papa Richard how to drive.

Baby Perry #2 ultrasound

We had the baby's ultrasound and no, we don't know what we're having. We don't want to know.  Actually, I don't want to know... Brent would find out if I was willing.  We are so happy everything looks healthy and baby is growing well. 

When we showed Lucas this picture, I said, "Look, the baby is waving at you."  He smiled a huge grin and started waving back, saying "Hi, baby."

Lucas is excited to be a big brother.  He knows the baby is in my tummy, but he thinks he has one in his tummy, too.  He'll even lift up his shirt and show you his belly (which I do not do).  He even talks about sharing his tractors with the baby.  If that's not love, I don't know what is! 

He outgrew {yet another} pair of boots.  I got new ones and he wants to keep the old ones for his baby brother.  His baby sister gets his red boots.  I wonder how many babies he thinks we are having?!?!

Iowa State Fair

I can't imagine NOT going to the Iowa State Fair.  Ever.  I've been going since before I was born.  In fact, my mom was pregnant with me when they attended in 1979.  It wasn't too long before my siblings started exhibiting in the open class competitions.  Before long, they were showing in FFA shows and it continued until I was done with FFA in 2001. 

I was a student at Iowa State University and had stayed in Ames to work and take classes that summer.  I remember packing up my animals, show supplies and equipment and closing the gate to the livestock trailer.  I remember the stinging of holding back tears as I watched my dad pull away from the barn.  This was the last time this generation of Feldpausch kids would be showing at the fair. 

That is the only sad memory I have of the state fair.  The rest are filled with doing chores at tie-outs in the morning, waiting in a line at wash racks for space to wash calves, passing time on the show box, the hot walk back to tie-outs with animals in tow, how show day was always HOT, the exhiliration of entering the show pavilion, the pride of placing well, the frustration of a misbehaving heifer.  There was the year my sister, Karen, ended up at the Emergency Room.  And the year my dad left after morning chores to get something fixed on the truck and it was hours before he returned; that was long before cell phones.  I could go on and on.

There aren't many memories of taking in the sights and sounds of the fair.  There were a lot of years I never went past the Pavilion, or walked the grand concourse. I can only remember riding a boat at the Ye Old Mill once.  I don't think I've ever ridden the sky ride.  Obviously, you'll know that we didn't go to the midway!  Eating things on a stick weren't a norm on our menu.  That wasn't our purpose at the fair. 

Can you imagine what it must have been like when I was really little and my parents tugged chased four children around the fair?  I am grateful they did because these are some of the most wonderful memories I have. 

Even though Brent is gone to Canada, I was not about to skip the fair.  Or not allow Lucas to enjoy it!  This is his third fair, but the first that he was really able to soak everything in.  We had a wonderful day together, just the two of us, at the fair.  First, we stopped to see the pigs.  We got to see Great Pa, Uncle Ken, Aunt Karen, and cousins Alicia, Jessica and Austin, too.  Austin was showing his pigs and we watched for a bit. 

We ate lunch at the Cattlemen's Beef Quarters.  Yum.  One of the best places to eat on the fairgrounds.

As soon as Lucas saw the Tram (a John Deere tractor pulling a coveredwagon with seats), I knew there was no avoiding a ride.  My only apprehension was getting him on, folding up the stroller, lifting it up the steps and getting myself on before the driver took off.  Could you imagine me chasing it down the street while Lucas waved out the side?  I survived and it was a fun way to see things.

We participated in the hands-on experience of Little Hands on the Farm. 

We grew the crop to turn into ethanol, so we could power the tractor. 

We checked out lots of animals - cows, sheep, horses, chickens, goats, ducks, even fish! Lucas loved the itty-bitty newborn pigs in the Animal Learning Center.

He could have watched the baby ducks play in the water for hours. 

 

All the fun wore Lucas out. 

When Dad called from his fishing trip, Lucas was excited to tell him about everything he saw.  I know he'll be excited about going next year. 

Vacation, Part 2

We went east from Minnesota to the Wisconsin Dells where we met up with some of my family -- Brian & Jen and kids, Karen & Dom and kids and my parents. 

The "big kids" all shared one room that was specifically kid themed.  They loved it. 

It took Lucas a little while to warm up to the slides and "letting go" to slide down.  Once he did, he loved it. 

Out of the pool to go again... and again... and again.

He had no problem warming up to the pretend jet skis.  It squirted water at a climbing fort. 

Will enjoyed the jet skis, too, (far left) but wasn't quite as wild as Lucas. 

We spent three days at the resort and had so much fun.  It is great to have (almost) everyone together in the same place.  The kids love playing together and the grown ups like catching up, too. 

Tired boy. Aw, those lashes... and cheeks... and lips.  Love 'em!

Daddy and Lucas drove race cars. 

The big kids raced go carts.

Nick.

Claire.

Caleb.

Abby (red) and Adele (blue).

Will was content watching all the racing action.

It is getting harder and harder to take a picture of Grandma & Grandpa with all the grandkids, but we will always try.  Front: Nick (6), Claire (4), Lucas (2), Will (1).  Middle: Caleb (9), Abby (8), Adele (7).  Grandma and Grandpa are in back. 

Can't wait until next year!

Vacation, Part 1

A few weeks ago we took off for a northern vacation.  We started the trip in Minnesota and enjoyed visiting Brent's cousin and family near the Twin Cities.  They have a beautiful home on a lake and we got to enjoy it for the day, too. 

Caden, Caleb, Gannon.  Brent and Lucas in paddle boat.

Lucas had been telling everyone that would listen that he was going on "Baycation and ride a boat."  We had been talking about vacation but hadn't said a word about boating because we weren't sure what the weather would be like, or if we would even want to go on the boat.  We were stumped about how he knew about the boat.  It turns out Aunt Janie was the one who told Lucas about the boat.  Boy, was he excited! 

Matt let him drive the boat and he was totally in heaven!

Lucas picked two of Tricia's beautiful flowers to share with me.

Thank you, Matt, Tricia, Caleb, Caden and Gannon!!!

The next day we hit the Mall of America.  After putting up with lots of walking and shopping with mom and dad, we rode a few rides at Nickelodeon Universe.  Lucas thought they were pretty neat. 

{The low quality photos are from my phone. I didn't want to drag my camera bag around the mall, but then I couldn't help get pics of us on the rides!}

After the mall,we headed for the zoo. 

There was a lot peaking over the fence edge to see the animals. 

He was pointing at these stinky creatures:

Prairie Dogs.

Imitating the monkeys! 

Later that night we took Lucas to his first theatre movie ever - Toy Story 3.  We weren't sure if he would sit through it, but he was mesmerized. 

He enjoyed the popcorn, too.  The most challenging part was keeping his light weight body from folding up in the chair.  If you ask him what movie we saw, he'll tell you "Buzz & Woody." 

More fun to come...

Lucas says...

Hearing church bells ring the other night, Lucas said "It's Brad's wedding." 

{I don't even remember the church bells ringing at Brad & Michelle's wedding!}

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Playing at a friend's house, Jonah hit Lucas.  Lucas marched up to Maggie and announced, "Jonah needs time out."

{Oh great, he's a tattle-tale AND bossy.}

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Lucas was telling Great Aunt Janie and Great Aunt Linda his ABCs.  He paused after the letter G and Aunt Linda said "H... I... J..."  Lucas stood up and looked at her and said "No help." 

{Good luck to his future teachers.}

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We were at a restaurant Saturday night and Lucas needed to go potty.  I took him into the restroom and he went #2.  Later on the way home, I told Lucas, "I am so proud of you for pooping on the potty at the restaurant."  He looks at me and smiles, "I'm proud of you, too, mommy." 

{Lucas had only gone #2 at home and school, so I truly was proud of him.}

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Lucas was tired and very clingy at daycare drop off this morning.  I was carrying him in and he had his head on my shoulder.  I stopped to tell one of the staff that Lucas wouldn't be in one day this week because we were going to the state fair.  He would not look at her to tell her what animals we would see or what food we would eat.  When she asked, "Lucas, will you bring me a hawkeye magnet?"  He lifted up his head, turned his body in my arms and looked at her with bold eyes, then shook his head a big no. 

{This made me laugh out loud because he was totally unprompted to say no to her hawkeye request and very obviously grumpy anyway.  He is such a smart kid. :) }

Canada Fishing Trip

Today, Brent arrives in Red Lake, Ontario, Canada for a fishing trip. This trip has been happening for years and it was just a few years ago that the "new" generation got involved in going. The participants have changed over the years. This year it is Brent, his brother Brian, friends Tim W., Brent C. and his dad and friends Marv, Jim, Digger, Doc and Ron.

This is the fourth time Brent has gone on the trip. He had a hard time deciding if he should attend this year. There are always plenty of things that need to be accomplished at home, but the major weight he felt was being gone from Lucas (and maybe me a teeny bit).

He'll be gone for ten days.  The night before he left, he and Lucas made a paper chain to count down the days until he'd be home.  This was totally Brent's idea - he went and found the paper, crayons, tape and ribbon.  It was so adorable to watch them make this together.  It is hanging in the kitchen and we walk by it several times a day.

The first chain was a family picture.  Dad, Mom, Lucas and Baby.  Each stick figure was progressively smaller in size to represent us. 

A couple of other chains had tractors, wagons, augers and bins.  Brent and Lucas have been talking alot lately about fall and how fall means harvest and combining.

There were three chains that Brent wrote messages on... Daddy loves Lucas, Daddy loves Baby and Daddy loves Mommy. 

I know Brent is having a wonderful time on this trip.  He deserves it.  He works so hard to provide for our family and is so busy with other commitments all year long.  But boy, do I miss him.  It's my blog, so I can brag - I have the best husband ever! Sometimes we get so busy in our everyday lives that we take the little things for granted - eating supper together, our bedtime talks, heading out the door in the morning, a phone call during the day just to 'check in' and most of all, watching him and Lucas play together. 

He left me a sweet and mushy note the morning he left.  Of course, it made me cry.  {He does things like this.  For instance, on special occasions he always writes mushy notes in the card and judges his success by my level of teary-eyedness.}  I feel so blessed that I love Brent more today than the day we married.  Life is not always easy and pleasant, but having my best friend by my side is a major plus.  God has blessed me with amazing gifts... Brent, Lucas and a baby, amazing family and friends, a wonderful place to live and work. I can't wait to see what he has in store for us next.

Okay, back to the fishing trip!

Brent isn't the only one that leaves sweet notes.  Every year he has gone on this trip, I've left notes in his suitcase, one for each day of the trip.  This year, the notes also had photos of Lucas.  One of my favorites I included was this:

What's the phone number to Canada?

Hopefully, Brent likes the pictures and the personal messages from home.

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These photos are from his trip in 2008.

 

A 26" walleye.

I'm looking forward to him getting home; hearing his stories and some tasty fish, too.