Luke, use the force!

Luke is a lucky dog. He's lucky because he has a Nana who can sew. She won't admit it, but she is a ROCKIN seamstress. Luke was invited to a Star Wars birthday party (what 6 year old could as for more) and he wanted an Obi Wan Kenobi costume. So my mom and Jeniffer put their heads together and this is what they came up with.

I thought it was AMAZING how they not only captured the costume detail but were able to transform Lucas into an older, taller, man with facial hair! Incredible!!! 

Oh...wait. Sorry. That was their inspirational picture. The real ones are below.

Like I said, lucky dog!

Toothless

"Darn it Luke! Take your hand out of your mouth please!"

These words have been uttered several times in the last three months, because frankly, you have been wiggling that sucker nonstop. It's a miracle it didn't come out sooner with all that outside assistance, but we are absolutely overjoyed for you buddy. You are now on to wiggling the one next to it. :)

Baby Petersen

I am soooo happy for baby Petersen to join us. For many reasons:

One: Cuz he's cute

Two: He is my best friend's first baby

Three: He closes the one final gap that Johanna and I had left - motherhood. For a while I was the married one, the one with a house, the one with children, and a big mom car. And slowly (and in her defense - at a much more normal rate) she has been hitting all her life milestones too. Now she is right there with me. It's so lovely.

I love Jack

New fixings for a LeBaron Sandwich

We are so excited to report we have a new LeBaron in the oven. This week is 12 weeks - a very important milestone and we are getting very, very, very excited. Hurry September hurry!

Upon sharing the news with the kids we had some interesting conversation:

Charlotte: Ohhhhhhhh, is that why you have a little bit fat?

Lucas: I really like babies you know.

And we have had some interesting name suggestions from the kids as well.

Charlotte votes: Ashley

Lucas votes: Diego

And our latest conversation is where the baby will fit in the family sandwich. This requires a little backstory:

Very often we find our whole family in John's and my bed. We all love to snuggle and so started joking that we are a sandwich. John is usually the bread, Charlotte the cheese, I am the meat, and Lucas the other slice of bread. This represents how each person is placed on the bed in relation to the fixings of a sandwich. (I never said we weren't odd.)

So the other day it was just Charlotte, Lucas and me and I was the meat and they were each the bread slices. We were talking about the baby and I announced that the baby would be the new cheese and Daddy could be the side of french fries. To this Luke says "And then you need to have another baby mom, because we need sauce on our  burger!" Freaking hysterical.

Through the lens of a 6 year old

There is something a little frightening in handing over my big camera to a certain cocky, bossy six year old photographer. But whenever our kids show an interest in ANYTHING we are pretty much all over it, encouraging, making plans, dreaming of their successful careers.....

Anyway.....I found these pictures from today highly amusing. I love seeing the progress and vision change so drastically from the 1st picture to the last. I am super proud Lucas. 

Exhibit A

This is Luke's friend Jackson, swinging on our tree out front. I love that this pictures doesn't answer any basic questions like Who? Where? Why? LOL LOL

Alright, there is progress here dude. This almost answers who?

But then again maybe that is your message?

Do you ever really know who???

(And in your defense it was a moving swing....sorta hard to frame that one)

SCORE!!!!! I actually (except for the darn table in the background) DIG this picture! That look is hysterical.

Right on the money son. Well done!!

Wow, nice shot. love the lighting. love her concentrated face.

Wow.....what a sweet, sweet picture. Good lighting, nice pose, good job framing out most of the distracting background. You even moved over to get a better angle.

Bravo!!!!!

Life Goals

We were driving to the park this morning and here is the conversation that happened:

Luke: When I grow up I want to be a doctor.

Me: Really?? Wow, how cool! What kind of doctor? There are a lot of different kinds.

Luke: A skin doctor

Me: That is so cool!! 

Charlotte: When I grow up I just want to be a person.

Me: Just a person?

Charlotte: Uh huh

Me: Oh. What will you do during the day?

Charlotte: Eat popsicles

 

A little love is a brewing

This is Charlotte and her husband Randall.

Yes, I did type h-u-s-b-a-n-d.

I was informed of this arrangement a few months ago. Can't say I saw that one coming so soon.

God bless their teacher though, listen to this scenario I witnessed.

The teachers and I are standing outside in the playground and up runs Charlotte and Randall.

The kids' teacher's name is Cecilia.

Randall: Joe is being really mean.

Charlotte: Ya, Joe hit my hand.

Cecilia: Oh, what was happening that Joe wanted to hit your hand?

Randall: Well, Charlotte and I were pinky swearing that when we grow up we are going to get married, and then Joe hits Charlotte's hand away while we are doing that.

Cecilia: (with a bit of a smile but perfect delivery) Oh I see. Well the thing is Randall, I know Charlotte's dad and he is not going to let you marry Charlotte unless you grow up and have a house of your own,  a car and a really good job that makes money. Do you have those things now?

Randall: Nooooo

Cecilia: Then I guess you better grow up and get those things first before you talk about marriage.

Amen!

Riding solo(ish)

Our girl rides her bike without training wheels!!! Yeehaw!!!

Go check out the video right now, we'll wait.

No really, click on that link up there. It's super cute.

Violet attacks (with love)

John loves Violet.

 And Violet loves John.

It's pretty amazing to me to watch how MUCH they dig each other.

And they are going to KEEP coming, because this is just a whole lotta cute.

And then she attacked Grammy with kisses. It was an affectionate night.

We love you Vi!

why thank you darling

A few days ago Charlotte says to me while I am getting her ready for a bath:

Mommy, you are the best and cutest mommy in the whole world. Even the devil world. All the worlds, you are the best mommy."