Am I that annoying relative who takes too many pictures????

So, Gary left for a week long golf trip and I was stuck to make my own plans this weekend. And, btw all of us, I had a great weekend! I suppose I'll miss him more towards the end of the week. He calls 3 - 4 times a day, it's kind of like he isn't even gone. ;) Anywho ... I spent a lot of time with family this weekend. Starting off with a day with Rhonda and her boys. It was so nice to just hang out and talk and let the kids play. I kept Jameson over night with me Saturday night. And, Luke and him had a blast. They went to bed at 7:50 p.m. too without a fight whatsoever!!! Slept in till nearly 8. Wonderful!!! I ended up passing out on the couch at 10:30 p.m. waking up around 12:30 a.m. not sure what happened. I must've been exhausted because I missed my Saturday afternoon nap I've grown accustomed to.

The next day was spent at my parents house for my oldest nephews', Josh's, birthday. I decided that I should start taking more pictures than of just Luke. Although, I wasn't short on getting his picture either that day ... I just tried to include everyone too. You never know when you'll look back and wish you had a picture taken with your Uncle Ron with two cheese puffs sticking out of his mouth ;)

My mom and Aunt Mindy


Dad and Aunt Pam

Good ole Kentucky

What a great weekend!! I got to see two great college friends I hadn't seen in a long long time!! Gary, Lucas and I headed to KY Saturday morning to see Jen and her husband Chris for their baby shower. Jen is an adorable pregnant woman! Poor thing though, she is in her last month and she made it well known she is ready to have this baby here and out of her!! I can't wait to meet the little guy! Lucas was quite the character for everyone. He loves to be in the spotlight so he really hammed it up for them.

Then, Sunday we headed over to Meghan's, my college roommate, who I haven't seen since Lucas was an infant!!! And, I've never met her adorable children!! When I say adorable, that is an understatement! I loved her kids! That Maggie is hilarious!! I thought Lucas was cute, but this girl definitely gives Lucas a run for his money. And, Owen has these dimples that you just want to squeeze! The visit was extremely too short! So, as soon as she can get her butt in gear and get the house in order we will be back down (that was sarcasm Meghan, b/c I can hear you now "Oh my gosh Val ..."). It is just so fun to be able to catch up with Meghan. We are never short on words. And, her house is adorable. I especially love the play room for the kids. And, they are building me a suite in the basement. Isn't that nice of them?

The drive wasn't bad either. I drove there b/c I was so anxious and I'm a terrible passenger. Gary drove back b/c I was exhausted from lack of sleep. And, Gary, by the way, was wonderful the whole time even though he didn't know anyone. He really helped me Saturday night when I couldn't get Lucas to sleep. He recognized by the time night time came, my energy with Lucas was spent. And, he laid with him and helped calm him down. He even slept on the floor in a sleeping bag even though he has had a cold the past week. And, Sunday, Lucas didn't quite make it to the toilet, and Gary changed him. Grant it, Gary changed him with yesterday's underwear and put his pants on backwards, it was definitely the thought and effort that counted.

This is just a silly pic of Luke. He did this to himself! My little Erkle! He has such a good sense of humor.

Snow, Family, and Fun

We got a lot of snow and ice and now it's just freezing cold here. I took Lucas out in the backyard to play in it for a little bit. But, dang, I was cold. I don't remember being this cold when I was little. Lucas loved it because after the snow we had an ice storm. So, the snow had a good layer of ice ontop of it. Lucas would walk on it a little and then suddenly fall right in it. He was cracking up. Lucas also made a snow angel.

My nephew, Jameson, turned 5 this past week and we had a big party for him. My parents had about 36 people in their house. That is a lot for us! But, we had a great time hanging out. It was Gary's bday that day too ... So, we left a little early and went to a really nice dinner (I had a gift card ... ;) We had a great time. It's not very often we do things like that. I love birthdays!!
There was something missing that day though ... my grandma, whose one year anniversay of her death was yesterday, and my grandpa who we just found out has cancer. He went into a nursing home yesterday. We all really wished they could have been there.

Super Bowl ... say what?

So, I really don't like football, but I entertained at Gary's house. It was fun though, mainly because I won $75 from the football, out of a potential $100. I guess you could say it was beginner's luck. I wish I could get Lucas to stop making those crazy intense smiles ... I'm sure for those of you who don't know him well, think he looks a little freaky.

I took this picture after leaving my camera in the car overnight. It has been freezing here, and the camera created a fog around Lukie's face. I thought it was kind of cute.

It has snowed here quite a bit ... so hopefully next post will include pics of Lucas playing in the snow ...

Random posting ...

I got Lucas this colored foam stuff for his bath, and he LOVES it. It definitely makes bathtime a lot more interesting for me. Sometimes I'm in such a hurry for him to just get in and out, but this is fun to watch. I got him so crayons too that he can draw in the bathtub w/.

Lucas pooped on the potty FINALLY! I took him out to Target and got him some new toys. This kid is obsessed w/ trains. I'm not sure when he plans on growing out of it. His birthday will be here in a few short months, I hate to repeat another Thomas the Train Birthday.

I just thought his big cheesie grin was funny. He has such a funny personality. Very dramatic ... I can't imagine where he'd get that from. I consider myself pretty mellow ....... hehe ....

Lucas, Gary and I visited Aunt Minnie Mouse and Uncle Ron's Artists' Workshop for the last time yesterday. I have so many good memories from that place when I was little. For those of you who don't know my Aunt and Uncle, they are artists ... kind of an outrageous couple, in a good way. And, they had an art supply store, and there was like a loft ontop of it. We would go there and stay the night as kids and have a blast. They had turtle there they named Michaelangelo, Donatello, & Leonardo ... before the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were in even a thought. Pretty hip, huh? I was glad we were able to go there. You can see one of Uncle Ron's gigantic paintings behind me ... I really like that one ... hint hint ... Ron ... Mindy gave me quite a few paintings too that I really like. We had a great time ... they're such hippies ;)

We did a lot of wrestling yesterday at Gary's house. I'm trying to keep Luke roughed up like boys should be, and Gary is a lot of help w/ that. But, I think I do a good job too. I definitely don't classify myself as a dainty timid girl ... I had two older brothers that helped ME w/ that. I can hold my own even though Gary doesn't think so. I got a few good smacks in his face ... ;)

Vacation/Christmas Fun

Lucas at a cookie baking party ... what a mess ... he had that butter knife in his mouth and then back in the bowl the whole time ... nobody seemed to mind but me!

This Christmas has been by far the most fun with Lucas!! I have some great video I'd like to share with everyone. He opened up his monster truck and starting making up a song "I liiike thissss .. I liiiiike thiissss ... I dooo liiiik thiss ... I liiike mosterrrr truuucks" ... I was dying laughing!!!

Papa, Grandma (whose picture was fuzzy ... sorry), Aunt Minnie Mouse, Uncle Ron and Great Grandpa visited us at our house on Christmas morning ... he loves them all very much!!

How awesome is it that we were able to go to the park in December??!! Ugh! I was running out of things to do on my week off!

We also made it to COSI with his cousins and Uncle Moose!

Gary and I brought in the New Year together at his family's New Year's Eve party. I haven't seen that time of night since Lucas was an infant!!