Happy Valentine's Day

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

We had so much fun with Valentine's Day this year- many thanks to my Mom for her sweet Valentine's care package that passed along the delicious cupcake mix that we later made as a family here (see pics above).

Lucas couldn't get enough of the cupcake mix-(before I even got it into the adorable heart-shaped cupcake baking tins)-and I couldn't get enough of the delicious pink vanilla frosting :) We made a bunch of cupcakes, then packaged them in these super cute bakery-style boxes (kudos to Wal-Mart), then went for a drive and delivered them to family and neighbors. We also made homemade Valentine's Day cards for family here, and family that lives away. I bought some red hand paint and couldn't wait to start the card-making with Lucas (because what kid doesn't like to dip their fingers and hands in paint, right)?! Apparently Lucas doesn't! Lol. Having all the gunk on his hands really freaked him out & it took all but 30 seconds to quickly get his "handprints" on the cards (they are supposed to create a heart shape) before he was running to the sink to rinse his hands off. After the paint was rinsed off his hands, though, he had a lot of fun writing his name (with a little assistance from mom of course) and playing with all of the scrapbook details.

It was so much fun and a memory I will surely tuck away in to my treasure box :)

Hope everyone's Valentine's Day was extra special this year too! Love you all!

Pictures Finally! Lucas's 2nd Christmas & Birthday

Hello there again!

We were able to get our computer working again & can now finally upload some recent pictures from both Lucas's 2nd Christmas and Birthday!

For his birthday this year, we had lots of family over and enjoyed pizza (Lucas's current fave) followed by some Oreo ice cream cake & strawberry shortcake! He loved playing with his cousins & they are always so sweet to take care of him and make sure he has everything he needs. To my family who lives away: please know how much we missed you being here, but are so thankful for the special ways you remembered and celebrated his birthday. He's so lucky to be blessed with so many who love him!

He also had a wonderful Christmas this year! He got a cardboard playhouse from one grandpa & absolutely had a blast peeking out through the windows and coming in and out of the doorway. (See pics below!) He also got a new train set for his room and really can't get enough of it. He'll ask me or Alex to come in and sit down to play trains with him. He loves to make all the choo-choo sounds and push the trains up and down the hills. He's turning in to such a little boy! Lucas also LOVES reading time, and as a special gift this year, my Mom pre-recorded her voice reading Lucas a bunch of nursery rhymes. It's so neat because when Lucas opens the book or turns a page, it automatically starts playing my Mom's voice to whatever nursery rhyme matches that page. Thank you grandparents, aunts & uncles, and of course all my sweet nieces and nephews for making this year so special for our family and for Lucas.

Here's to a great new year!



 



Lucas's 2nd Birthday! Our little Allstar!

Another year has come and gone & really in the blink of an eye! Today we were thrilled to celebrate Lucas's 2nd birthday, and what a joyful day it has been. He woke up this morning with a sweet smile and quick "hi" before he was on his way with opening his first set of gifts from Mema. He was so happy to get some new toys for the bath, an aqua doodle for coloring, and some super cute clothes (that made Mom especially happy lol). We went to McDonald's for breakfast and some play time in the play place. We rounded out the day with time together as a family, then a fun sports-themed birthday party with the big family! My heart is always so filled with love and gratitude when gathered together with all the family because they have so much love for Luke and he has so much fun with them! He was blessed with many fun new things to play with (and make lots of noise with) and it was really a wonderful day! His birthday always brings an additional sense of thankfulness and acknowledgement of how truly blessed and fortunate we are to have him here with us. His birth and placement into our arms-from our Heavenly Father to our birth mother to us- is an experience and a true miracle that we will never take for granted. We honor and celebrate Lucas's journey to our home and into our arms, and the faith of so many! We love you Lucas and wish you a very happy birthday sweet boy! (Our computer has crashed so we are unable to upload any pics. Will do once we have access again!)