Lucas's First Camping Trip

We took Lucas camping for the very first time over the Labor day holiday & we're happy to report it was a huge success! He really enjoyed the outdoors and the fresh air, and especially being snuggled up all the time. It was really windy at our campsite, and the night got pretty chilly, but Lucas had lots of blankets and love to keep him warm.

Lucas loved being with all "the boys" and it was a special moment for me as a mom to see him with his dad & all his uncles-they all just love him so much!


Alex and his brothers went on a "guys' ride" on their 4-wheelers throughout the mountain. Because of the terrain and the wind blowing so hard, the guys came back packed and covered from head to toe in dirt and sand. My sister-in-law, Sara, and I were just cracking up! You could tell they really had a great time though! All the guys, along with Alex's dad Bart and some extened family, played almost an entire afternoon's worth of horseshoes. I'm proud to say-and brag- that Alex came out on top! He and his brother Ben made a great team!



Sara was heaven-sent on this camping trip! She was always so willing to help me with Lucas & he gets so excited every time he sees her. I can't tell you how many times she was able to get him to sleep/nap when I couldn't, but I am so very grateful for her & the love she has for him. Thank you Sara!!!

Trent, my bro-in-law, was also so wonderful with Lucas. In the picture below, Lucas was zonked out in Trent's arms, and I remember Alex coming over to me and saying, "Lucas is so comfortable right now that he's drooling!" Lol. I love my in-laws! We had so much with the family!

Fun at the Fair!

What a fantastically fun and enjoyable weekend! Alex, Lucas, and I went to the State Fair with some of our cousins, their kids, and our grandparents, and it was a BLAST!! We got up early & drove up to the fair. Lucas did great for the car ride and once all the family met up, we knew it was going to be a wonderful day. The sun was shining, the fair grounds were packed, and the smell of cotton candy, tiger ears (scones), and corn dogs filled the air. We walked by countless shops and vendor stands, and even entered a few prize drawings. We saw some of the biggest cows I've ever seen and also got to look at some of the most beautiful Clydesdale horses. We passed a really neat, authentic, cowboy hat stand. At first, we just had Lucas try on the cowboy hat for a picture, but as you can tell, he looked so darn cute we just had to buy it for him! He was able to wear it for most of the day because it fit so perfectly and comfortably.

I always wanted to get a caricature picture done for each of our children, so when I saw this woman's small stand for caricature drawings, I just knew we had to get one done. Lucas sat so still & good for the artist & we're so pleased with how it turned out. ( See pic below).

My cousin Claudia brought her two girls & they were so adorable and did so great all day! They had the cutest pink cowboy hats at the same stand we got Lucas's, so we knew we had to snap a picture of them in theirs. So fun!

My cousin Kory & his wife also brought their baby girl to the fair. She also did so well all day & her and Lucas looked quite the pair in their cowboy hats.

The main event (and the big reason we went to the fair on that particular day) is because they had the Indian Relay races & championship going on. They have to be THE most exciting, heart-pumping, adrenaline rush-ing thing out there to watch. I captured a quick video of one of the races and posted it below. (My camera fades out for a moment in the beginning, but then it clears up I promise lol). Lucas absolutely LOVED the races! The stands would get so loud and you could just feel the excitement in the air! So very glad we were able to go!

Lovin' on Auntie Lauren

Lucas and I got to spend some time with my sister, Lauren, over the weekend and we had so much fun! We went shopping, drove around her college town, and grabbed something to eat. While we were shopping at one of the stores, Lauren's arms got tired of carring Lucas (LOL) and so she decided to put him on her shoulders. I'm sure she immediately wished to take it back because Lucas had quite the fascination with her hair, specifically pulling it as close to his face as possible & growling at it. Check out the video!

Family Fun in the Sun

First off, I had to post this picture because it's so stinkin' adorable! My mom sent Lucas a little "grandson care package" and she included these three sports balls. They are the perfect size for Lucas's little hands, and he loves squeezin' em and chewin' on them (of course haha). Alex's family is in to soccer-big time- so Alex was worried when he saw him take to the basketball so much. Lol!

One of my sister's, Danielle, was able to come home from school over the summer, and we were fortunate enough to have her visit us here-twice! So Alex and I decided at the last minute to surprise her this time & bring Lucas to see her one more time before she headed back to school. The trip was short, but definitely sweet! We got to not only see my sister, but also my mom & my oldest sister and her family. We went swimming, ate great food, and really enjoyed every moment with each other. Danielle & Lucas have such an amazing connection with each other-they really are kindred spirits :) Danielle loved holding him, snugglin' with him, feeding him, taking him swimming...the list could go on and on! We love you Aunt Danielle!

Nicole and her husband are not only such an adorable couple, but they've got the cutest kids! It's so fun having all baby boys right now. We love seeing how each are developing with their own personalities & watching them interact with each other.

By far though, my personal favorite moments are watching Lucas with his Grandma. It's bring so much joy & happiness to watch our son with my mom, to see her love on him & spoil him with her time and attention. She plays 'Patty Cake, Patty Cake" with him on her lap & she can really get him laughing. She has such a special way with him that only a Grandma could, and I'm always sad when we have to return home.

Giggles Galore

We can't believe how fast these past 7 months have gone! It really makes you grateful for pictures & videos to "document" just a few of the many wonderful moments that we've been able to experience since being blessed with Lucas. When we took Lucas to his 6 month check up, our pediatrician said that this is when the fun really begins because Lucas is going to go through more changes over the next 12-18 months then ever before. And he was right! It's something new with Lucas every day! He has always been an active & vocal baby (to say the least lol), but he has especially tapped in to his louder side lately. He loves, absolutely LOVES, the sound of his own voice. He hits higher notes than even I or Alex can, and he'll just sit there and hold that same high note out for several seconds! His laugh has really evolved in to the cutest giggle too! As always, no one makes him laugh more than his Dad. In the first video, Alex is playing one of Lucas's favorite games with him. Alex will lay him on his back & then take one of Lucas's stuffed animals or baby blankets, and throw it in to the air-all the while making some cool "guy sound effects :) In the second video, we put Lucas in his bumbo and then in an inch or so of warm water. Lucas LOVES the water & loves to kick it around with his feet, so sometimes we'll let him play in the tub in his little chair & just sit there and watch him kick away! Alex was shaking a bottle water with some melted ice inside it, and Lucas, well... see for yourself!




(I thought I'd add these two cute pics to the blog as well! I was changing Lucas's diaper and thought I'd give a hat (made of his shorts) instead! Doesn't he look so cute!? )

Just Keep Swimmin', Swimmin', Swimmin...

After our trip to the zoo, we met up with family for a nice & relaxing swim to cool down from the summer heat. We got Lucas into his little swimmers and board shorts & he took a nice dip in the pool with Dad. My cousin let us borrow one of their yellow baby intertubes, and as you can by the picture, Lucas found it to be quite comfy. He loved kicking his legs and smacking his hands against the top of the water, and probably would have stayed in all day if he hadn't started getting sleepy.

This is why we love the summer time! Lots of fun things to do with family & friends, great food to enjoy, and it's all the more fun with our little man in our life now. Love you Lucas!