Aunt Lisa

Aunt Lisa came to visit us last week from Texas. We had SO much fun. We did stuff that we haven't done in awhile (or ever). We took a trip to the zoo and rode on the train for the first time-which was the highlight of the day. Trey also attempted to feed the giraffes (but got too scared), and rode on the carousel.

Trey and Aunt Lisa feeding the giraffes

We ran into Brandon and Maya, and they rode the train with us

On the carousel

We did lots of shopping. Trey got new school clothes and super cool Rock-n-Roll Pajamas. He also got some new "tie shoes" as he calls them (his first pair with actual laces). He got a cool new suitcase with an airplane on it that he thanked God for 3 times that night! It is his own little suitcase with wheels. He played with it day after day. He even wanted to take it into the airport and play with it when we dropped Aunt Lisa off at the airport to fly home. He cried and cried when I told him he couldn't. We also went to the park. Aunt Lisa even went down a tunnel slide upon Trey's request! 

And we went to the McWane Science Center too. Aunt Lisa touched a shark in the Shark and Stingray Touch Tank, Trey played with a giant LightBrite (remember those?), drove a spaceship, played in the water table, and used a neat little crane to move blocks.

Aunt Lisa was overly generous as always. I know that Trey had an absolute blast with her, and even with all of the stuff she bought I still think his favorite thing was just playing with her. They played trains, went outside and pretended to weed-whack around the house, played pilot and co-pilot, and played what Trey calls "pack up"-which is where you get your suitcase, pack it, go to the "airport" and get on your plane. This is all pretend by the way. He wheels his suitcase around, and he even makes you go through security! He says, "we have to take off our shoes now" (yes, he is a well traveled little boy), and then after you put your shoes back on you have to sit and wait for your plane to come. Sometimes it even leaves without you. And DON'T forget your ticket!!! I told you we had fun! Thanks Aunt Lisa!!!!!!!!

Baby Gavin and Making Aunt Me proud!

So long, Baby Bath!!!

I have decided that Luke's name should be Gavin. Gavin is my youngest brother, and if I remember correctly (and I do) a wild child! We can no longer use Luke's baby bathtub because he pulled an Eevil Kaneevil and attempted to LEAP OUT OF IT!!! Oh yeah, I'm serious. He wanted some toys that I had taken out of it and so he decided to go after them. He lept from one end of the bathtub and made it halfway out the other end and grabbed the toys all in a split second. He dives at anything he wants, and just holding him is a workout: he twists and turns in his attempt to get at anything and everything. He has been eating large quantities of baby food (at least far more than Trey ever ate), and he gets mad when it's gone. So far, no food allergies (I know that is the question on everybody's mind).

Aunt Melina, you would be so proud of Trey. Today he took all of the pillows in my house (18) and started throwing them in a pile inside my bedroom door. I asked what he was doing, and he said, I'm being a garbage man and these are garbage. Just inside my bedroom door was the garbage truck and he was collecting everyone's trash. I know you are all wondering why Aunt Melina would be so proud. When she was younger, my sister had two very different aspirations: to be the "queen of rock-n-roll" or a garbage lady. I'm really sorry that some of our childhood dreams never come to fruition, Meli :)

Sitting in a heap of "garbage"

Checking out the giraffes with daddy

Trey the giraffe

Luke's 1st trip to the zoo

Sick day craft (Trey glued buttons to a picture frame all by himself!)

More Quotes

I think I am going to have a lot of posts with just Trey quotes, because he says some very funny things, and I can't help but share.

When I sat down to eat lunch with him yesterday he said, "this is the guys' table." Well, EXCUSE ME!

Gary was being goofy a few days ago and he said, "can I get a Wah Wah" (You know, like people used to do like 10 years ago...oh my gosh I can't believe that I am that old!) Anyway, Trey always copies Daddy, but this time he decided to improve on Daddy's saying. He said, "can I PLEASE get a Wah Wah". Yes!!!! All of my lessons in manners are paying off.

What's New?

Well, I feel like it has been some time since I posted. We haven't had anything big or astounding happen lately, but what follows are some of the intricacies of our lives as of late. 

Little Luke has two bottom teeth and is working on the uppers. He has gone from a calm and low-mantainance baby to a high-strung little busybody. He constantly wants something, and it's never what he has. He tries with all of his strength to get at Trey's toys. He has full out tantrums if he can't have what he wants. He loves solid food, but is picky about what he eats and when he eats it. Luke is going to be my sweets eater. He will always eat fruit, but is particular about his veggies. Just today he managed to find the dexterity to feed himself a little puff. So grown up!

Trey is way into pretend play, which he has been for some time now, but his new thing is for us to switch roles. He is Mommy and I'm Trey. We even went to the library and he yelled across to me, "Hi, Trey". I said, "Hi" back, but he said, "No, you have to say Hi, Mommy". So I was calling,  "Hi, Mommy" across the library. He got a play kitchen from his friend, Tucker, awhile back, but I put it aside without him knowing he had it. I finally pulled it out the other day, and so far it has been a kitchen, he has rigged up a steering wheel and pulled up some kitchen chairs and turned it into a train, an airplane, and a rocket. Thanks Tucker! :)

My children both love music as well. I hope for their sake that they are more musically inclined than myself. Trey is totally into drums, and Luke digs the guitar for now. Trey got a chance to bang on some real drums about a month ago when one of our neighbors was out in his garage practicing. He was so excited he came running back in the house with Gary and talked nonstop about it. He begged for a drum set, and when I objected saying that we didn't have a good place to keep it for the time being he replied, "maybe we could keep it in the garage like that man does". Great! When I was getting ready to pull the kitchen out for him, I told him that I had a surprise for him to play with but I needed to put Luke down for a nap before I could get it out. While I fed Luke and put him down to sleep, Trey must have been really thinking about what that surprise could be. When I entered the living room Trey said, "is it drums?" Uh-oh!!!! He loved the kitchen anyway, but it just goes to show that drums are never far from his mind.

Banging on Mr. Ray's Drums

Here are a few of his recent great quotes:

While playing trains with Gary, He told Gary that he was Thomas and Gary could be Percy (from Thomas and Friends). Gary said, "Hi, Thomas" and Trey said, "Trains don't talk!" which is hilarious because he ALWAYS makes his trains, cars, airplanes, etc. talk.

While I was reading to Luke one day, I said, "you aren't even paying attention are you Luke?" Trey looked at me and said, "he can't pay attention. He's just a baby" Well of course!

After a particularly rough day of disobeying he wanted to "write". I gave him paper and pen and a few minutes later he came to me with scribbles on his paper and said, "it says, 'Children, obey your parents'" LOVE IT!!!!!

And, my personal favorite, yelling from the bathroom, "I'm gonna wipe my own butthole!"

Confessions

Please remember as you read this that "there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus". This morning I had a particularly rough time getting out of bed. Trey came to my bedside at 5:30 am and said, "I want to watch cartoons". I told him it was too early and there weren't any cartoons on (yes, a slight fib). But I scooted over and told him to climb up next to me. He did, but kept asking for cartoons. I told him if he asked one more time he had to go back to his own bed. He decided to press his luck, and I hauled him into his bed screaming and went back to bed myself. A few minutes later he was back at my bedside whispering, "Mommy, I have to go poo poo". So I went into the bathroom with him, and upon finishing he asked for a treat (yes, my 3 year old still gets treats for pooping on the potty). We didn't have any of the things he usually wants for his treats, but he grabbed his step stool and told me that he would go and find something by himself. As groggy and tired as I was, I agreed but told him he needed to bring whatever he chose to me and get my approval before eating it. And so, at 6:00 this morning my son sat in the living room eating tortilla chips while I lay in my bed thinking what an awesome mom I am. 

Quote of the day: Trey- "I love being Trey"

Hope you all love being you too!!!!

Happy 1/2, Luke!

Luke is officially one half today (but he is a WHOLE lot of fun - sorry, I couldn't resist). He is sitting up a little bit better everyday. He has developed a slight little temper. He doesn't really throw fits per say, but he makes it known when he wants something. He usually wants whatever Trey has, and wants to do whatever Trey is doing. He will throw himself backward against us in his efforts to get where he wants to be. We went to the pool the other day and he got so frustrated because he didn't want the toys we brought for him to play with; he wanted Trey's floaties instead. He practically leapt out of my arms and grabbed hold. He actually held on so tight that when Trey went to pull away the swimmie came off! He's getting a little bit clingy lately; I'm thinking he is hitting his first separation anxiety phase (Trey had about 10!). He is cutting teeth too, which makes things a little rough as well. We can see his two bottom teeth underneath his gums, and one has begun to make it's appearance. Luke can stand for a long time as long as he has something to hold on to. I actually think he stands better than he sits (if this is any indication of what is to come, we are in for some fun!) He drinks from a sippey cup now, and is starting to show preferences for things (like Trey's guitar :). He weighs in over 16 lbs and is near 27 inches. Mostly he is just a happy, healthy little boy. 

playing guitar like big brother

Trey is still a ball of fun. His new thing is wanting to grow up. He continually asks me about different things wanting to know what will make him "bigger". He says things like, "Mommy, does yogurt make me bigger?" On the way home from the grocery store last week he said, "when we get home, I want a healthy snack". Later that same day he said he was hungry and I asked if he wanted a bowl of vegetables and he said, "sure!" !!?!?!?!?!?!?!? He still says he wants to be a pilot when he grows up, which is, I think, why he is in such a rush to do so. He loves the pool and loves to pretend. Here is a picture of him pretending to be Abraham on his long journey to a new land (notice little Isaac under the tent as well :) 

He is starting to understand God a little better, I think. For awhile he used to not like praying and he had been known to say that God scared him. Now he says things like, "God helped me" and "God healed my booboo". He doesn't resist praying anymore, and he even says prayers by himself at mealtimes (of course they are the same every time, but it's a good start). He is learning to write his letters, and doing quite well. 

Showing daddy how he can use the touchpad on mommy's laptop

I love my boys and my SUPER hubby! We had a fantastic father's day. We kept it cheap, but still had fun. We made shirts for Daddy and the boys to wear. We painted rocks for daddy that said, "you rock, daddy". And we made a family coat of arms decorated with things about daddy. We also had an Indian food feast for lunch followed by a guitar hero jam session. It was great!!! Thanks for being such a fabulous daddy, Gary!!!!

Growing up

Trey is becoming very independent and very grown up. Aside from doing the dishes, washing his hands, brushing his teeth, and going potty all by himself, he has found an array of new talents. My friend, Jamie, recently posted on her blog about how Brandon colored inside the lines for the first time (for those of you without 3 year olds, that is a BIG accomplishment). I thought that was pretty cool, and then two days ago Trey walked up to me with his magna-doodle and showed me a picture he drew of me. I was shocked! It actually looked like a person!!! I had to ask Gary if he helped, but he didn't. Here is a picture of me!

I seem to think that every stage he goes through is the most amazing; right now I'm sure that this is the best. Even though he tests boundaries daily, and has even been known to outsmart us, it's incredible to watch him grow and learn. We had playgroup at our house last week and I couldn't help but smile to watch Trey with his friends. They all shared so well. I often heard Trey say, "yes, you may" in response to his friends' polite requests to play with his toys. Trey, Katie, and Brandon all held hands and walked around the house together. Very cute! The other day I tried to trick Trey and Brandon into eating squash by telling them that we were going to play a game and see who could eat their squash first. I asked who was going to win, and Trey said, "not me". Darn! Another mommy trick out the window.

Trey and Brandon did this puzzle mostly by themselves

Trey also recently earned a special treat. He worked really hard and helped out with chores around the house. We made a chore chart and once he filled it he got to go and buy a toy that he wanted. We made him "pay" for the toy with his chore chart so that he could make the connection between working hard and earning things. As soon as that last sticker went on the chart he wanted to leave immediately and go to Target. He told Gary, who was in the middle of typing some e-mails, "come on, daddy. We are leaving without you".

Luke is beginning to sit up unassisted. He is still so happy! He has begun to "play" with Trey. When we go on walks Trey will face him in the stroller and play with toys with him or just talk to him, and Luke laughs harder than I have ever heard him. I struggle to nurse Luke during the day because Trey hangs onto the arm of the rocking chair and talks to Luke who pays attention to him instead of eating. Luke still wakes up at night, because he's hungry because he barely eats during the day. He chooses playing over eating.