LUKE

Some interesting things about Luke:

*His favorite book is Going on a Bear Hunt.

*His favorite color is OGIN (orange).

*His favorite TV show is Higgly Town Heroes.

*His 2 favorite friends are Max and Ryan (really his name is Brian but Luke calls him Ryan.)

*His favorite sport is baseball with soccer running a close second.

*He loves to run on his toes when he is trying to be 'real fast!'.

*He can strip down to naked in 30 seconds flat.

*He LOVES to wear a basketball outfit.

*He can make a mean scowl when he is not happy about something.

*He has a great smile when he doesn't try to hard.

*He loves to swim.

*He likes to wear pajamas at nap-time.

*He loves his Batman jacket.

*He can say the Lord's Prayer.

*He loves to sit in the back row of the SUV. (like a big kid!)

*He can count to 10 in Spanish.

*He is incredible at memorizing things.

*He likes to do anything the older 2 are doing.

*He loves fun food day!

*If it is round, he wants to throw it or kick it.

*If it makes noise, he wants to hold it and make it make even more noise.

*He can scream at 102 decibels.

*He can walk himself down to his class at school, put up his backpack and get to work without any of my help.

*He can fall asleep in 35 seconds, OR after an hour and half of random talking, singing and yawning.

*He loves SCOUT (Ms. Mary's dog).

An Afternoon at Cabela's

Mary came over today after church to give John and I a few hours to go somewhere. That somewhere was CABELA'S. Can you imagine a more romantic place? Actually, we had a great time just being together without children. I have not been alone with him (without children in a 1000 foot radius) in at least 3 weeks. It was so nice to walk in the store, hold hands, chit-chat, finish a thought or two, and not have to say, "Stop it!", "I said NO!" or "If you hit your sister again you WILL sit in time-out!" We did not have to stop at the fish tank and talk about every fish, why it was so big, who caught it, who fed it, who was going to take it back to where it came from, or anything like that. We did not have to pull a wagon, pack snacks or bring sippy cups. Nope, we just walked in that store like 2 adults on a mission!

We went there to find a gun that would fit my hand and possibly look for a handgun for John. I expressed an interest in taking a Concealed Handgun class with Mary and John decided he wanted to take it also. Well, let me tell you, if there were 40 cars in the parking lot, then 38 of them were at the gun counter. Did I miss the memo? That is was officially Gun Grabbing Sunday? We finally got to speak to a very knowledgeable gentleman who gave us all the pertinent information we needed to make an educated choice amongst the abundant selection of firearms.

This was the only thing worth taking a picture of at Cabela's:

John said that they put that sign there for me. It does look inviting doesn't it?!?

Thanks for the afternoon with my hubby, Mary!

Our Thanksgiving Feast

Today we everyone over for 'Thanksgiving' and to celebrate Daddy and Louise's birthday. John was up at 5am to put the 22 lb. turkey in the oven. He waited until 7am to wake me up to start the cleaning. It was not THAT bad, just a lot of relocating piles of paperwork. I LOVE having both the breakfast and dining room table clean, but it is so HARD to keep them clean. It is almost like if it is a horizontal surface and easily accessible, then it will collect paperwork, which will get turned into a pile, which will morph into more and more multiple piles. I have tried so many different systems, tactics and strategies to prevent the 'paperwork pileup'. Nothing seems to work. One of these days I'll figure it all out and have a spotless house like my mom's...

I digress. Back to the food feast. John made the turkey, 10 lbs. of smashed potatoes, roasted sweet potato tidbits, stuffing, homemade gravy and some rolls from Costco. My mom brought the green bean casserole (which always tastes significantly better than when I make it) and Louise brought some little muffins, a pecan pie and this frozen dessert that is barvsha dovsha (meaning very good in polish). AND to top it all off, we had a huge happy birthday cake from Costco. Yea, I'm still full.

The kids were acting a little nutty the whole time everyone was here. I do not really know why, except they just seem to have too much energy! (Have I said this before?) Anytime my dad comes to visit they identify him as their own personal jungle gym and acrobat. He swings them, piggy back carries them, rolls them, flips them, you name it! I do not know who loves it more: him or them? They just eat up all the physical attention that he gives them. I'm sure after he leaves our house he needs a nap AND a hot tub!

Really?

This is so sad and ridiculous at the same time:

NEW YORK – Police were reviewing video from surveillance cameras in an attempt to identify who trampled to death a Wal-Mart worker after a crowd of post-Thanksgiving shoppers burst through the doors at a suburban store and knocked him down. Other workers were trampled as they tried to rescue the man, and customers stepped over him and became irate when officials said the store was closing because of the death, police and witnesses said.

At least four other people, including a woman who was eight months pregnant, were taken to hospitals for observation or minor injuries. The store in Valley Stream on Long Island closed for several hours before reopening.
Police said about 2,000 people were gathered outside the Wal-Mart doors before its 5 a.m. opening at a mall about 20 miles east of Manhattan. The impatient crowd knocked the employee, identified by police as Jdimytai Damour, to the ground as he opened the doors, leaving a metal portion of the frame crumpled like an accordion.
"This crowd was out of control," Fleming said. He described the scene as "utter chaos," and said the store didn't have enough security.
Dozens of store employees trying to fight their way out to help Damour were also getting trampled by the crowd, Fleming said. Shoppers stepped over the man on the ground and streamed into the store.
Damour, 34, of Queens, was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 6 a.m., police said. The exact cause of death has not been determined.
A 28-year-old pregnant woman was taken to a hospital, where she and the baby were reported to be OK, said police Sgt. Anthony Repalone.
Kimberly Cribbs, who witnessed the stampede, said shoppers were acting like "savages."
"When they were saying they had to leave, that an employee got killed, people were yelling `I've been on line since yesterday morning,'" she said. "They kept shopping."
Wal-Mart Stores Inc., based in Bentonville, Ark., called the incident a "tragic situation" and said the employee came from a temporary agency and was doing maintenance work at the store. It said it tried to prepare for the crowd by adding staffers and outside security workers, putting up barricades and consulting police.
"Despite all of our precautions, this unfortunate event occurred," senior Vice President Hank Mullany said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those impacted."
A woman reported being trampled by overeager customers at a Wal-Mart opening Friday in Farmingdale, about 15 miles east of Valley Stream, Suffolk County police said. She suffered minor injuries, but finished shopping before filling the report, police said.
Shoppers around the country line up early outside stores on the day after Thanksgiving in the annual bargain-hunting ritual known as Black Friday. It got that name because it has historically been the day when stores broke into profitability for the full year.
Items on sale at the Valley Stream Wal-Mart included a Samsung 50-inch Plasma HDTV for $798, a Bissel Compact Upright Vacuum for $28, a Samsung 10.2 megapixel digital camera for $69 and DVDs such as "The Incredible Hulk" for $9.

NATALIE

Natalie is my child that keeps me guessing. Today she may like something, yet tomorrow she may completely care less. Here are some interesting things about Natalie that apply today:

*Her favorite color is pink, or purple, depending on the day.
*She LOVES to color.
*She loves to make books out of multiple coloring sheets.
*She LOVES stickers.
*She will always ask for a band-aid if she sees a box of them out.

*She loves soccer.

*She loves holidays.

*She likes to build things, stack things and line things up.

*She can be the most easy-going child OR the most hard-headed, never-give-in kind of child.
*She is a GREAT sharer.
*She can throw a fit at the drop of a hat.
*She loves all things crafty.
*She is a good helper.
*She has no problem saying when she wants to leave somewhere, if she is not having fun or if she ABSOLUTELY does not want to do something.
*Her favorite friend is Abby.
*She likes to match.

*She loves school!
*She can say the Lord's prayer in front of people.
*Her favorite book is the Little Bible for Little Eyes.
*She thrives on individual attention.
*She loves girl-time!
*She lives on chicken nuggets.
*She can count to 26 in Spanish.
*She can count to 100 by 10s.
*She does NOT like sandwiches.
*She does not like scribble scrabble.
*She loves to cut with scissors.
*She loves to wear shirts that match me.
* The only constant with her is Hello Kitty. She has been in this Hello Kitty phase for OVER A YEAR NOW! Seriously! Can it get anymore ridiculous?
*She ADORES her cousin Natalie!

Cooper's Writings

We received Cooper's report card along with a packet of 'writings' that he has been working on for the first 12 weeks. The page has a huge box on top (to draw a picture) and then 3 lines for the child to write a sentence about what is happening in the box. At the very bottom, there are 12 things that they are 'evaluated' on, whether they were able to include in their writing sample. Here are some of his sentences:

9/3/08 Me Ses B U yellow J = My sister got stung by a yellow jacket.

9/7/08 I w s u w f = I was star of the week first.

9/9/08 I gt a gl I soley = I got a goal in soccer.

9/15/08 I rd me bk wkd = I rode my bike this weekend.

9/17/08 Airplane = I rode on an airplane.

9/25/08 I W Pt M B C = I was painting Mrs. B's cross.

9/27/08 I Wht to: Me budr = I went to my brother's party.

9/30/08 NATALIE W M A M = Natalie was mad at me.

10/28/08 I am s t mn = I am a spiderman.

11/4/08 I wint Tick-or-tet in mi nabhd = I wnet trick or treting in my neighborhood.

11/5/08 I am goi to the book fer = I am going to the book fair.

11/6/08 Mi gammther is cumi on friday = My grandmother is coming on Friday.

***11/11/08***Not much translation needed here. (I think it is funny that he has a smile on his face and his opponent has a sad face!) Here it is:

Not bad for a kindergartener!

Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade 1989

Nine years ago today I was 17 years old and spending a week in New York City. This was the first year that cheerleaders were invited to cheer in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. They invited the top 300 cheerleaders in the nation. We stayed at the Marriott Marquis, where we practiced 8 -10 hours a day. The practices started as early as 6 am and some nights we were still practicing until 11 or 12 midnight. Two days before the parade, we had our dress rehearsal in Hoboken, New Jersey. They rented out a street for us to practice walking up, getting into position, listening for the music cue and practicing on concrete. It seemed very funny to me that they had to drive across state lines to rent a small side street. The night before the parade, we actually walked down to 5th avenue and did a dry run. I remember that Scott Bacula (msp?) from Quantum Leap was there. Whoo, we were all impressed with him!


As far as the parade itself, it was not really so much fun. We had to meet in the main ballroom to 'assemble' at 3AM!!! There was a lot of hurry up and wait time, but I think they were trying to get the logistics down of how to get 300 girls (and a few boys) to the beginning of the parade route. (We had to carry/pull the big, huge balloons through the whole route.) Also, my year was the first year in the history of the parade that it snowed. That meant we were walking 4 miles in little short skirts and white keds, freezing our tails off while we were holding on to the huge balloons that had the potential to take you up into the skyline. (They warned us that if the balloon started to go up to let go and do not feel like you needed to be the one to hang on to try to save it!) The reprieve was getting to go into Macy's (the namesake store) for an hour before our official performance time and warm up our bones. When it was time, we got in our places for the 2 minute performance. They messed up the music! It was chaos, everyone was trying to pick up where the music finally faded in, but the routine looked pathetic until the last 30 seconds. We nailed the ending! Unfortunately, this is where the TV cameras are filming for the networks. After we finished, we had to turn the corner and do the performance again for the crowd. This one was flawless, but there were no cameras to catch it. The saddest thing about the whole parade? When we were done, they pointed up in the general direction of our hotel and we had to walk back. In our frozen keds. Kind of like, "good job, see ya later kids!" Most of us slept the rest of the day, buried under the covers, still trying to warm up.

We did have nice outings scheduled while we were there. They took us to a Broadway show, but I cannot recall the name of the show that we saw. We had tickets to see the Rockettes performing the Christmas Spectacular, which was phenomenal. We visited the Statue of Liberty and took the tour, then headed over to Rockefeller Center to see the tree all lit up and skate on that famous ice rink. I think best of all was the Friday night dinner cruise through New York harbour that we had the after the parade was over. We had the most delicious meal and all the stress of the whole week was released.


Overall, it was a great experience that I wish I could relive it again and I am sure I would appreciate it so much more with what I know now.

Dave's Things You Don't Want to Hear at Thanksgiving

"These styrofoam peanuts are just as good as stuffing"

"In the year since we were last together, I forgot how much I despised you people"

"Instead of watching football, I Tivo'd a week of Regis"

"Finish carving the turkey, then we'll see if we can reattach your thumb"

"There are two pecan pies -- one I licked and one I didn't"

"Why is Shecky naked?"

"Surprise! It's a raccoon!"

"Did I shoot this turkey myself? You betcha!"

"Who invited Letterman?"

"Are you wearing a wire?"

"After grandpa has a couple more glasses of wine, get him to sign the new will"

"White or green meat?"

"You want a wing or a hoof?"

Albino Peacock

An Albino Peacock!

(He looks like a giant snowflake!)

Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade Mishaps

The Macy’s Parade has been a Thanksgiving tradition since the 1920s. Through the years, however, there have been a number of mishaps with the giant helium balloons – some comical and some tragic. Here are ten such incidents.

1. Kathleen Caronna might want to think about buying a lucky horseshoe or something. First, in 1997, she was the victim of the infamous Cat in the Hat incident. When the Cat balloon got swept astray of the parade route by high winds, it ran into a lamp post and knocked it down – right in to Ms. Caronna, who was in a coma for a month afterward. She sued the city, Macy’s, and the lamp post manufacturer for $395 million and settled for an undisclosed amount. But that’s not all. In 2006, a plane carrying Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle and his flight instructor crashed into the Belaire Apartments building. Caronna’s apartment was one of the ones hit, although she wasn’t home at the time. Still: weird.

2. In 1986, there were two incidents: a 61-year-old bagpiper had a fatal heart attack while marching in the parade, and a spectator fell out the fourth story window he was watching from and landed on someone below.

3. In 1942, the parade was cancelled and the balloons were reduced to rubber for the war efforts. The Red Cross War Fund of Greater New York received a check for $12 for the 650 pounds of rubber.

4. In 1957, a downpour caused the hat on the Popeye balloon to fill up with rain. The added weight made the balloon veer off course, and eventually the cap could hold no more water and dumped gallons and gallons on surprised spectators. I think it’s rather fitting for a man of the sea, myself.

5. In 1963, the parade was nearly cancelled because of JFK’s extremely recent death. It ended up carrying on, but all of the flags in the parade were adorned with seven-foot black streamers. Lyndon B. Johnson actually encouraged the company to go ahead with the show in an effort to try to help Americans through their grief.

6. In 1993, the Sonic the Hedgehog balloon hit a lamppost (dang lampposts) and basically exploded. Part of the lamppost fixture fell and broke the shoulder of an off-duty policeman standing below.

7. In 2006, two sisters were attacked by M&Ms. The ropes of the 515-pound balloon promoting the tasty chocolate morsels got caught up on – yes – a lamppost. Neither of the girls were hurt too badly – just some minor scrapes and bruises. In exchange for their ordeal, they received V.I.P. seats in the grandstand and a lifetime supply of M&Ms (that’s 384 packets every year, in case you’re curious).

8. In 1936, the Father Diedrich Knickerbocker balloon deflated when his nose sprung a leak.

9. In 1956, the parade was a total bust. Every single balloon (there were only three that year due to a helium shortage) got flattened by high winds.

10. Finally, 1995 was not the best year the parade ever had. A woman who was seven months pregnant was injured when a float knocked a traffic light into her. (Luckily, her injuries were minor.) Another lady fell through a subway grate. And a group of anti-fur protesters stripped down to nothing but Santa hats and tried to join the parade. They were arrested for public lewdness and indecent exposure.

Reason, Season or a Lifetime

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a Godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person.

Playing the Wii

It is pretty bad when your parents are more in-the-know about technology stuff than you are. Yes, that's right, my mom has a Wii. Yes, my kids have to go to Gram and Grandad's house to play a video game. I did not even know what a Wii was until a year ago. Not that I need anything else to manipulate my time. My mom put on the bowling game tonight for me and kids to play. Though I doubt the accuracy of the bowling motion, it does make a difference in your score if you position the line just right and how level you hold the remote when you release the 'B' button. The fact that I got a strike only after I did all these things correct could make one think that it is somewhat accurate. The kids bowled pretty decently, though they did make some handsome gutter ball a few times. Overall, that is a fun game!

After the bowling, Luke really wanted to play t-ball with the Wii. Umm, newsflash: there is NO t-ball with the Wii. At least not on my mom's Wii. Luke settled for playing baseball and could not figure out if he liked the batting part or the pitching part best. Halfway into the game, Natalie decided she wanted to play too, so Gram gave her the remote that she had been using. I got to sit back and watch Luke pitch an imaginary ball to Natalie so she could hit it with an imaginary bat. Oh, it was cute as anything. The picture does not do it justice...

In One Word

1. Where is your cell phone?

Kitchen

2. Your significant other?

John

3. Married?

Yes

4. Your mother?

Tamara

5. Your father?

Jim

6. Your favorite thing?

Acceptance

7. Your dream last night?

Frustrating

8. Your favorite drink?

Water

9. Your dream/goal?

Happiness

10. The room you're in?

Office

11. Your fear?

Suffering

12. In 20 years?

Grandkids?

13. Where were you last night?

Here

14. What you're not?

Asleep

15. Muffins?

Healthy

16. One of your wish list items?

Mission

17. Where you grew up?

Keller

18. The last thing you did?

Exercise

19. What are you wearing?

Shoes

20. Your TV?

Off

21. Your pet?

Qyn

22. Your computer?

Quiet

23. Your life?

Busy

24. Missing someone?

Little

25. Your car?

Tall

26. Something you're not wearing?

Shoes

27. Your favorite color?

Purple

28. When is the last time you laughed?

Today

29. Last time you cried?

Week

30. a. Mood?

Satisfied

b. Four places I go over and over: School, Church, Preschool, Costco

Keeping a Promise

Luke found a box that ha been sitting in the garage for the last year or so. Cooper received it as a gift and we had never opened it. Luke pulled it out of a corner and thought it would be super if I put it together. There was no putting it together, it was an inflatable soccer/hockey goal, a soccer ball, inflatable hockey stick and puck. I promised him that I would do it during nap. WHAT?!? What was I thinking? My favorite thing to do during nap is...nap. Not air up a hockey/soccer goal and soccer ball.

Well, a promise is a promise, right? I need to build the trust now and follow through with my promises, even with the 3 year old. After helping Luke fall asleep, I went in to help Natalie fall asleep and ended up napping with her for an hour and half. I woke up in a panic about the whole soccer goal thing. CRAP! I darted out to the garage to assess what exactly I needed to do and how long it would take me. Oh. My. Goodness. After pulling this monstrosity out of the box I could not believe what I had gotten myself into! I had naively thought that I could blow it up by mouth. HA. HA. HA! Not unless I had a week to do it! Then I thought, "OOH! The air compressor!" That would be fast and painless. Nope, no such luck. I did not have an adapter to fit into the openings for the air to go in. AHH! I am running out of time AND ideas! I then thought about the pump for the bikes. Not the best idea, but it sure beat the only other manual idea I had. After looking around for 5 minutes, I finally found the one pump that the kids have not destroyed with their pretend play. I quickly realized I did not have the adapter that the box promised it had included, so I had the pleasure of holding the pump valve as close to the air opening and pumping the other hand while holding the pump itself with my feet. Sound complicated? YES! It was very complicated! Plus, either my hand got tired of holding the two together or my tricep from pumping the handle up and down. I just kept telling myself, "A promise is a promise! A promise is a promise!" After 35 minutes of nonstop pumping, I finally had the whole goal aired up. (There were 4 LARGE parts that had to be inflated.) THEN, I had to air up the soccer ball! Good-ness! The ball itself took 10 minutes because it was so big! I am quite glad that there were no pictures of me completing this task, because I am SURE that it was not pretty. I was thoroughly exhausted, but I knew Luke would be so excited when he woke up.

As I walked in from the garage, the kiddos were waking up from their naps. Luke looked at me and said, "Did you air it up?" I was so relieved to say YES! He bolts outside to find it and emits a high-pitched squeal that every dog in a 1 mile radius could probably hear. Natalie looks at it and casually turns around, puts her hand on her hip and asks, "Did you air up the hockey stick too?" I pretty much wanted to put her in time-out for such a snide little question!

They had an incredibly fun time playing with the goal and ball, taking turns being the goalie. I do not know why it is so fun to be the goalie, because that person is the one getting smacked in the face every other kick. They played until it got dark and then we headed off to the gym for my workout...

WOW!

This is a picture taken in west Texas on an oil rig and during a storm. The photographer was trying to catch a picture of the lightning. He was unaware of the tornado's presence until the lightening illuminated it. (TAKEN 3 APRIL 2008)

Slumber Party at Ms. Mary's

After I ran, Mary had invited us over for dinner and let the kids watch a movie. Since their nap lasted until 4:45, I figured they were not going to be so keen on going to bed at 7:30. Right as we were loading up, Mary called and suggested a slumber party. SURE! Why not? The kids thought that was a most excellent idea and jumped out of the car, ran in to put on their pajamas and pack their little bags. I packed my pajamas because I feel a little weird about driving in pajamas, there is something wrong with that.

We had a nutritious dinner that included mac and cheese (with queso in it, yum, yum!), yogurt and an apple. The kiddos had eaten 5 nuggets each at home before we left, so I think they were pretty full! After taking some fun pictures, Mary pitched them a fort, unrolled 2 sleeping bags and made them the cutest little sleeping area at the foot of the bed that I was going to sleep in. After Luke started crying I put both of them in the bed that I was now going to share, and thought they could go to sleep within minutes. No such luck. Natalie started to cry (???) and Luke did not want to be in the bed with her anymore. (Cannot blame him!) I found a twin size bed for him to sleep in and he was asleep before I left the room. Natalie procrastinated shutting her eyes for another half hour before she gave in to sleepy-time.

I had fun getting to actually talk about numerous random things that we might not get to talk about otherwise. (My kids never let me have a complete conversation on the phone or in person if they are within 50 feet of me!) It is so nice to be able to sit and chit-chat with your girlfriend!

Six Words

When people say that God told them this or God said that I always wondered what exactly they heard. Did they hear an audible voice? What did the voice sound like? Did the voice have an accent? You know, all sorts of curious questions about how God sounds if someone is going to be so bold as to say that God talked to them.

In 2000, I felt God talk to me. This is the only time I have ever felt God talk to me. Notice that I did not say I heard God. No, I felt it. I felt it as real as any voice I have every heard. Here is what happened:

I had been struggling with an issue that was very close to my heart. Praying about it daily and finding no solution. I was addressing it as best as I could, but I was not coming up with any answers to my MANY questions. I was driving down I-20, heading west and approaching the Spur 408 merge/split off. (Driving and running are my favorite praying times.) It was there, as I was driving 60 mph, that I felt God say,

"It's not wrong, it's just different."

This is as clear right now, this very moment, as it was over 8 years ago. It was right then that I was done worrying about the issue that had been laying on my heart so heavily for so long. I still find comfort in those 6 words when I find myself revisiting the same issue...

Does This Count?

Matthew 18:20

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Luke's Day with Ms. Mary

Luke had the privilege of spending the day with Mary. When I told him this morning, I thought he was going to jump out of his socks! He was so excited! He immediately started asking a plethora of questions: Can I take my shoes off at Ms. Mary's house? Can I watch TV at Ms. Mary's house? Can I pet Scout at Ms. Mary's house? I think Natalie was a bit jealous, because she would like to spend the day with Ms. Mary too.

They must have had so much fun, because Luke was nonstop chattering about all that they did from when I picked him up until the moment before he dozed off for night-night. I could not tell if he was more excited about eating eggs at brunch or getting to see Santa to tell him all about the rubber bow and arrow that he wants for Christmas. He just effuses excitement when he is trying to articulate the words to convey his experiences.

Want to know the best part? Mary took pictures of Luke in all his cuteness. No, she did not JUST take pictures, she had them developed into prints and GAVE them to me when I came to pick him up! How about that? Then, when I got on the computer after I put the kiddos to bed, she had e-mailed me the images. How awesome is that?!? What a great friend I have! Thanks MARY!