What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?

Bob Dylan is getting old.  I think we may have found a possible replacement.
Still makes a mama proud.


This guitar has served us well.  Remember this?  Fletcher was about the same age as Luke is now.

Let It Glow, Let It Glow, Let It Glow!

Makes a mama proud!
Science Fair 2011.  We have a video but you can't hear Fletcher on it.  Too much other noise going on the room.  Here are his note cards he used for his oral presentation.  He learned lots of new things (and we did too). 

 Luke was listening attentively (at least for the first minute) to Fletcher's presentation.

Sesame Street Is Brought To You Today By The Number 10

In the car driving home recently, Luke started counting.  He likes numbers.  He does great through about 29 then he starts saying random numbers in a very random order. Drives. Fletcher. Nuts.

Luke:  (counting) 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 53, 65, 34,

Fletcher:  Luke, why don't you count all the way to 100 by 10s. 

Luke:  10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10....I have to say a lot of dem because 100 is a long way away.

Fletcher:  (exasperated) Luke!  I mean why don't you try counting BY tens.

Luke:  (I am not making this up)  By 10, by 10, by 10, by 10, by 10, by 10

I had forgotten how very literal 4 year olds are.  Fletcher tried to teach him how to do it, but it wasn't clicking yet.  I kinda like Luke's way better anyway at this point. 

What A Difference A Year Makes

Remember this from last year? 

Here are two clips from this year's performance.  I was so happy and proud that I completely zoned out for about 15 seconds in the middle and then realized I didn't even have the camera on Luke.

Now That's A First

Kevin and I have started teaching the college and young singles Sunday School class at our church.  It is a very small group, but we are enjoying being around this age group again.

We invited them over to our house for lunch Sunday.  Kevin made gumbo.  Many of them had never had it before and didn't even know what it was.  After we told them it didn't contain anything weird like alligator or opossum, they were all willing to try it. 

One of the class members is from Nigeria.  He hasn't been in the states very long.  This was the first time he has been invited to an American's house for a "home cooked" meal.  Later he told us that he wasn't sure if he would be able to eat American food.  He thought it might make him vomit.  I had to laugh because I always wonder this same thing when I am in another country eating their food.  I never thought the reverse would be true. 

Since I grew up in Louisiana, I've seen lots of ways people eat gumbo.  Some people put their potato salad in the gumbo.  Some throw in a few eggs and have hard boiled eggs with theirs.  Others put in something called "file" which is dried sassafrass leaves.  Some crumble up saltine crackers.  Others throw on jalapeno peppers.  None of that has ever surprised me.

Until yesterday.

I was doing some stuff in the kitchen and K asked if he could have a banana.  I just figured he wanted some fruit to go along with his meal.  I feed fruit to my kids all the time at almost every meal. 

But I looked up and K had cut up the banana in slices and spread it on top of his gumbo much like one would cut up a banana and put on top of cereal.  Then he ate the whole bowl and said it was absolutely delicious. 

Hmmm.  Sweet.  Salty.  I guess it could work.  But I don't think I will be trying it any time soon.

Not Good

I think Tank is going to need a good lawyer.

Fill 'Er Up

I'm not sure how this whole thing started, but I love it.

Our bedtime routine with the boys is pretty standard:  baths, teeth brushed, Bible time, prayers, tucking in bed, hugs and kisses, music on, and lights out. 

When I lean down to hug and kiss Luke, he says, "Let me see your Love Tank." 
I open my mouth for him to see (like I said, not sure where this game came from). 
He says, "Nope, not filled up."  Then he starts giving me numerous hugs and kisses to fill up my Love Tank.
He asks to see again and says, "Yep.  All filled up now."
Then I say to him, "Let me see your Love Tank." 
He opens his mouth as wide as he can and I say, "Nope.  Not filled up.  You need 7 more kisses and 4 more hugs."  And he giggles as I count them out. 
I look inside his Love Tank again and tell him, "One more big hug to fill it to the tippy tippy top."

We both go to sleep with a full tank!  Of course, we have to do it again the next night because Love Tanks leak during the day! 

So the next time someone around you is feeling grumpy, ask to see their Love Tank.  They may just need a fill up from you!

Bonfire Party

Pirates!



 Leaf pile.  (Luke said this was his favorite thing besides eating s'mores.)

Instead of bobbing for apples (way too cold and wet) we hung apples by their stems from a tree limb and tried to get the kids to bite into them without using their hands.  It was much harder than it looked!  The little ones just gave up and grabbed them with their hands.  I think Luke had whacked himself in the eye right before I took this picture.

Tucker is making a valiant attempt - look at that tongue!

Fletcher was trying to get the entire thing into his mouth.  That's what I love about 7 year olds.  They live by the "Go big or go home" motto.

 Finally, everyone decided they were hungry and used their hands.  We did leave the apples hanging in the trees.  We thought it would be really funny to put a night vision camera out there to see if any of the deer tried to play the game too. 

Next up was a golf cart treasure hunt complete with a map (not drawn to scale which added to the adventure!).  Of course the treasure was candy....lots and lots of candy.

We finished the night with pizza and s'mores and some great memories.