Review It!

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It's my party...

And I will cry if I want to! And sadly there were a few birthday tears...why I'm not really sure, but for the most part there were smiles and lots of fun to be had by all. We decided to share our birthday party with Avery this year, seeing as they are only two weeks apart in age and we had already celebrated with family and it worked out great! We had the party at Little Gym, which we hadn't ever gone to a class there before, but had heard only good things. The theme was "Two friends turning two: Trucks and Tutus." We had lots of fun watching the little guys and gals tumbling all over the mats and then each share a "trick" during circle time. This was when Luke melted and I'm not sure if it was that he was on the spot or that his trick wasn't great...standing and falling to the floor. :) Either way, a trip outside with Dad to get some fresh air cured him. They had a big parachute which the parents lifted up over the kids and then we made a big tent inside and sang "twinkle, twinkle"...it was precious. Then Luke and Avery got to sit in the center of the parachute and we walked around them singing "Happy Birthday!" Instead of a birthday cake, Ross' co-worker made ice cream cupcakes for us, which are cupcakes in an ice cream cone and the frosting looks like ice cream. They were a hit, although Luke had to eat his with his fingers, not actually hold the cone to eat it. All in all, we had a great time and can I tell you how much I loved not cleaning my house for a party? :)

Ready for rings!

Total upper body workout...he thinks he's doing this all on his own.
Up and down. Up and down. That's what makes the world go round.

Follow the leader
"I'm supposed to follow who?"

If this doesn't look like a future Mary Lou Retten, I don't know who does?!
Under the parachute together, who doesn't love that?
Will on the wheel...get it? :)
"We all fall down!" Avery loved this bounce gym!
Bubbles, basketballs and babies...I love it!
Break Time: These little guys and gals were ravenous and so thirsty! I don't blame them!
Making a birthday wish. I think Luke was deciding brother or sister! :)
I love Miss Lauren's smile in this one...classic.

Thank goodness we remembered the bib!

To top off a great party, Luke's sweet friends Will and Lauren came to visit to help celebrate. He had such a fun time with them and now when he gets up from naps he's always looking for them. Friends Forever!

Getting three little ones to smile at the same time...difficult. Although, Will is smiling, you just can't tell behind his hand.

Although it looks like Luke is hitting him, Holly assured they were giving high fives.

Tickles from Lauren. She gets Luke everytime!

We call this the "Blue Steel." What a handsome little one.

Speaking of two...

With Luke's 2nd birthday just having passed, we are finding ourselves lucky in love because we have a new brother or sister on the way to meet us in early October! So now we have a most handsome two year old and soon will have two sweet kiddos to love on! We are so excited and very excited to see Luke as a big brother. He is getting some practice with his friend Mia and loves "giving" her a paci, even when she's not really requesting it. I think it's his way of coping with not getting it himself. Either way, we're over the moon excited and a teensy bit nervous, because now we are not going to be outnumbering the little people...it's one on one. Here's the first picture of our little peapod:

Happy Birthday to TWO!

Happy Birthday to my sweet boy!
You are so big and it is so hard for me to believe that you are two years old now. The years are truly flying by. I had always heard about the "terrible two's", but you are anything but. You are all "boy" these days, playing with your trucks, dinosaurs, airplanes and outside any chance you can get. I absolutely love it! Not to say there aren't moments that feel a little "terrible" they are quick to pass and you are learning more and more how to control and explain your frustrations. You have become quite the entertainer and love being plain ole silly! You love going to "church" which is school, but really enjoy seeing your friends and teachers and talk about them all the time at home. It's so sweet to me how much you love books and I hope that you are a bookworm like me! So far it's looking good. You love helping Dad with projects, especially when it involves tools and screwing or hammering things. Poor Dad, your favorite game is horse, but he does it best! You still have the sweetest heart, and give plenty of good hugs and "kiss". It is so sweet when you are busily playing and have to stop and and come get a kiss...just to tied you over. I'm so proud of how far you've come this year. Your first year was full of some many "firsts", but this year too, in a different way. It's been so fun watching you learn and become more independent, but at the same time, still my baby. I know you will never be the small little bundle that came home from the hospital with us, but I cherish the moments we have together. Thank goodness for the one billion pictures we have, so I will always remember how tiny you were and how cute you get everyday!
I love you so much, more than you will ever know and look forward to seeing what adventures this year brings!
Love always,
Mommy and Daddy

Enjoying a pizza and "pazooki" (ice cream on top of a warm cookie), my favorite foods!

Reading my new Sesame Street book...I sure can't get enough of that Elmo!

Opening my new potty chair from mom and dad...uh, what it's for, I don't really know...or care. :)

Digging in for more surprises, I most definitely have the opening gifts thing down!