Happy 9th Birthday, Luke!!!

Once our sweet bouncing baby boy, now our energetic bouncing big boy!  Luke turns 9 years old today!  Time really flies when you're having fun.  I can hardly believe it has been 9 years!  I'm so very proud of the kind, smart, funny boy that God has gifted us with. 

Here's his birthday video....(click play and then click the cog at the bottom to change the "quality" to 1080)

Absolutely adore this happy....

adventurous...

hilarious....

....9 year old boy!!!

Clean house enforcement

Selling a house is not for sissies.   Having our house on the market, ready to show at a moment's notice, is challenging.  Add 4 young children to the mix and it may just be the thing that puts me over the edge.

We have been working hard to keep the house clean, but I suspect we may be influencing our kids more than we realize.  The other day Peter opened a string cheese and tossed the wrapper on the ground (what? your kids don't do that?)  Luke ran over and angrily picked up the wrapper.  He waved it in Peter's face and said, "Peter, do you want to sell this house?"  Then he stomped over and threw it in the garbage.

I have NO idea where he's heard that before.  Nope, I've never said that...ever...well at least not today.

SEVEN...

Today I took Luke out to take his 7-year old pictures.  I kept looking at him and thinking, "how did he get so big?" What a sweet, fun, handsome boy he is!  We laughed and laughed and had a great time together.

Here's a few of my favorites...

This is a silly picture, but I had to show it because it is SOOC.  Yep, those clear, spectacular eyes are untouched.  Those adorable freckles, all natural!  Love this boy, love his silly faces, and I love spending time taking pictures of his sweet face!

Happy 7th Birthday, Luke

Happy Birthday to our sweet Lukie...who recently informed me that he'd rather just be LUKE...you know, with a silent "E."  I informed him that I gave birth to him, and he'll be LUKIE for as long as I want...but did concede that I'll just call him that at home!

Dear Luke,

Dad and I are so very proud of you!  You have a soft heart, strong mind, and a great sense of humor.  I admire so many qualities that God has given you.  This has been a big year for you.  You started 1st grade and have learned so much.  You are a fantastic reader and have such an enthusiasm for learning.  You are very smart!  You have had a lot of fun playing soccer and coach-pitch baseball.  You sing in the kids choir at church and love it.  You have made many new friends this year as well.  You are a joy to be around and I am proud of who you are!  Keep being who God made you to be!

All our love,
Mommy and Daddy

How can this boy be 7???  Time flies when you are having fun!

The Lesyks gave Luke his first skate board.  He's THRILLED.
We'll be sending them the emergency room bill!  

Luke is very musical.  He's been begging us to let him play an instrument for a long time.  Since there is no room in our home for a piano right now, we chose to give him a guitar (and lessons of course)!  Aaron is a great guitar player and Luke admires him so much.  So, I'll be looking forward to some father/son jam sessions in the future.  Here's Luke with his new guitar...he looks like a natural to me!

Finally, the tooth fairy is headed our way...

TWO days before his 7th birthday, Luke has FINALLY lost his first tooth!

Because every parent needs blackmail for the future....

Sometimes there are no words.  You just have to watch it for yourself.

And if you're wondering why my child knows this song, I don't really have an answer for that.  Just comfort yourself, knowing that this pastor's kid knows a whole lot of Bible songs too.

Blast from the past...

This week's I Heart Faces theme is "In the Orchard."  I immediately thought of this picture.  Look at my adorably chubby little Lukie-boy!  Where does the time go???