Luke is 2!

Our little Lukey pie turned 2 on Saturday.  Unfortunately we were all (minus Luke and I) recovering from influenza A so we were not able to have much of a party or go to Council Bluffs and see the Lego Movie like we had been planning for the past two weeks.  Instead we stayed home, rested, ate out at Runza, cleaned up Mikey's puke out of the pick up from the ride home, and had some birthday cake...

Luke will tell you right away that he is two!  He really enjoyed his special day and was very proud of his tractor shirt and cow cake, but not until he had pouted about his new present (an avengers tent), his breakfast, and having to wear the new shirt (typical two year old!).  Luke is a smiley and easy going little boy.  He gets along very well with all of his big brothers and sister.  He is a little clingy to mom and dad (we call him our lap dog because he is always wanting on our laps!), but he loves to be around other kids and especially grandmas and papas:)  Luke loves to play with cars and trucks and puzzles and balls.  And he wants to do whatever the big kids are doing.  He decided for himself that he needed out of the crib and onto the table quite a few months ago.  And recently has declined the baby spoons and bowls for the big ones.  But he still refers to himself as a baby and is not at all offended by the title!  Luke is talking more and more each day and it is so fun to listen to him and try to figure it all out.  Like his older siblings he is never out of something to say!  Luke still takes a great nap and is sleeping well in his crib.  He thinks he needs out of that too, but mom and dad are not so sure!  He isn't a great eater although he thinks he wants everything on his plate.  He prefers to drink his milk and juice/water mixture from his sippy.  I simply cannot get enough of his little pitter patter run that he has!  And he is always excited for daddy to come home.  We love you little buddy!  Happy 2nd Birthday.  Can't wait to see what this year has in store...ready or not you will be a big brother soon!!!!

Luke with his present...he liked the hats better!

cowie cake

proud birthday boy

proud brothers and sister!  jude and cora obviously think it is summer, but the snow outside proves that is not the case...

Mikey turns four!

Mikey turned four a few weeks ago and before I completely forget (and a couple days before his brother's second birthday!), I thought I'd better commemorate it here!  Mikey's birthday fell on Super Bowl Sunday this year.  The day before Papa John came to visit.  He brought a gift and donuts and took us to Godfather's for lunch (grandma was in Miami).  On Sunday we went to church and then I got to work for our Super Bowl/Mikey's birthday party.  We had the Hansens, Kosslers, Picks, and my parents come for that.  We enjoyed meatballs, lots of chips and dip, apples with caramel, veggies and dip, Pizza rolls that Sara made, smokies that Melissa made and then cake with homemade ice cream that my mom made.  Lots of great food!  Mikey was thrilled to have a party and loved everything about it.  He even helped me with the cake...

Right now Mikey seems to be growing up fast.  He wants to do everything Jude and Cora get to do, and usually does!  He has become tall and skinny and eats like crazy!  He has a terrific sense of humor and is always giggling and telling jokes.  He has become interested in legos and superheroes and dinosaurs.  He is getting along better with friends and siblings, although he still has an ornery streak!  He is a little shy I think so that is something new from the first two.  He plays very well by himself and can go long stretches on occasion playing with Jude and/or Cora before it escalates into a disaster. Mikey is a good big brother to Luke and looks out for him and doesn't fight with him much.  He can be counted on to help set the table and always wants to lend a helping hand while I cook dinner (not always something I am interested in as well...).  Mikey goes to Cubbies on Wednesday nights and always has a good time there.  He will be off to pre-school in the fall.  Hard to believe!  We love you Buttercup/Mikey Boy/The Mikester!

Mikey with his new lego

dinosaur cake with toys from gil's childhood

cake and candle time

with Papa John

all the kiddos