As usual, I am playing catch up!  

 

Last weekend didn’t go as planned once again.    We have learned just to roll with it!   I had originally scheduled our Family Movie Night for last Saturday night, but decided to postpone due to the h1n1 business.   It will actually be more fun and relaxing  having it in the winter time anyway once the holidays are over.   Anyway, we did decide to have our Polar Express night with Matt’s brother Chris’ family so the kids could see the movie and we were going to decorate cookies and have a fun night together.  Well, KC got sick earlier in the week with a flu virus with fever and once she started to get over it, Faith got it so we just decided in case Chris or Ephriam were in the process of getting it and to let the other 2 get the rest they needed , we’d just postpone for now.  We ended up having our pizza party and watched the Polar Express just the 3 of us.  Luke watched more of it than I thought but didn’t have the attention span to sit thru the whole thing.  He’d watch and cuddle for a bit and then get up and play a bit.     

 

He loves the instruments that Uncle Mark got him for his birthday and has recently taken up playing the harmonica.  He has gotten the hang of it and sounds pretty good.  The funny part is to watch him, he moves up and down and side to side when he is doing it, I need to take a video of that!    But, he decided to play this right at the end of the movie, so was a little distracting, but cute!    He definitely is a music kid, so will be interesting as he gets older what type of music he will be into and if he will be a singer, or musician or just a music lover. 

 

Anyway, since we didn’t have company, I started on Saturday taking down all fall items and got the house cleaned real well and got a good handle on the laundry.  

 

Sunday, Matt took got all of our Christmas stuff down and I started getting that out and went to the store for a few items.  I made a big pot of tortilla soup and we enjoyed that on Sunday and Monday for dinner-at least Matt and I did.  Mr. Luke turns up his nose at most dinners that we serve.  I usually try to offer at least one thing on his plate that he likes and that seems to work.  Some nights, all he eats is mashed potatoes, bread, peas or fruit but he usually eats something.  If he eats good or tries something new, then he gets yogurt or pudding or something like that.   I just bought some of the gogurt yogurt and he loves it!  I even froze some for a nice, cold treat!  Also, helps extend them if they are getting ready to expire! 

 

Sunday afternoon, after nap we took Luke to the river to throw rocks in the water.  He had a ball and for about an hour straight, threw rocks into the water.  At first he said, Pool and then we told him it was the river and he was so excited to just pick up rocks and throw them in as many times as he wanted.  It was a beautiful afternoon and it was nice to get out for a bit—pictures to come!

 

Monday, I had the day off and it was wonderful to just spend the whole day puttering around the house, putting up decorations and I also ran to Hobby Lobby and picked up some gift wrap, boxes, tissue and a few decorations.   Last year, with Luke getting sick the day after Christmas and me getting sick around New Year’s Eve, I hadn’t really gotten out to get much in the line of after Christmas sale stuff.   I got a good handle on the decorations.      I also rearranged Luke’s room and put up his tree.  He is so excited and just loves looking at the ornaments!    His tree is decorated with ornaments that have been given to him and the Barker ornaments I have started him out with.   I plan to add to the collection each year and add ones that he has made in school and we will also make chains and popcorn garlands when he gets older. 

 

Tuesday night we put up the tree (pain in the butt!) and Wednesday night I got it decorated.   We are seriously considering getting rid of this one and getting one after Christmas on sale!    Thursday night, mom came over for about an hour and I was able to get a few odds and ends completed and laundry put away.    

 

For about a week, we have been getting notes on Luke’s daily sheets about him hitting and shoving the other kids.  This took us somewhat off guard since we have never seen him hit or push another child before.  He has swatted at us lately when we tell him no or he doesn’t get his way.  We’ve been trying time out but this doesn’t seem to be sinking in.    This all started happening around the time he was getting bitten at school.   While I’m glad he isn’t “the biter”, it is still disturbing that he is hitting other kids.  We scheduled a conference with his teacher to find out a little more about the situations that this is happening, like is it over a toy-not sharing, he just hits for no reason, is fighting back, etc.   Matt and I went over around lunch when the kids were napping.   We found out that all of the kids are doing this.  They are copying each other and when one child does it, they all do.  She can just report on Luke.  So, we were relieved to see that it isn’t just him, but also want to make sure that they are on top of this and need to implement something so this isn’t happening all day.  It is hard on the teacher and the kids.    So, I am going to talk to the director and she what she plans to do. 

 

We also asked about his eating at school and she said he is her best eater.  He will eat meatloaf and spaghetti and lots of things he won’t eat at home.  So, I don’t worry anymore about dinner because I know he has gotten 2 good meals that day!  Little stinker!      She also said he wants more and more!  He has really been going thru a big growth spurt over the past few months so I’m not surprised!   

 

We also warned her that after Thanksgiving, there will be no froggy!   We plan to get rid of the pacifier part of his animals the wed before Thanksgiving.  We figure that we will have 4 days to get thru it!  So, unless he is sick, he will be froggy free!    No turning back!

 

Luke is doing well with his speech.  There are still times I can’t understand him and he talks really fast sometimes too, but he is just so fun to talk to.  He can sing many songs and we are very proud of all he has accomplished.    On the Wiggles, there is a character named Jeff who is always falling asleep.  So, they always say “Wake up Jeff!”   So, in the morning,  when I tell Luke to wake up daddy, he’ll say, “Wake up Jeff daddy! “  It just cracks us up!      Last night, Nanny came over and she said Luke I haven’t seen you since Halloween.  Then, he said “trick or treat” and “candy”.  He doesn’t miss a thing or forget anything! 

 

We have a fun weekend coming up so more later!!