So many new things...

Luke is growing up so quickly.
Here's the cliff note version:

1. He frequently responds to my requests with, "Why momma?" in such a sincere sweet manner.
2. He decided he wanted to wear underwear today and flew around the house pausing occasionally to say, "No pee pees, go in the potty."
3. He tried to use the potty several times but nothing happened. If Emily was around he would pretend to pee pee using sounds while smiling. (He knows he's silly.) If she wasn't around he would let me know he was trying but nothing happened.
4. He LOVES Woody and Buzz Lightyear.
5. He recently decided it's fun to set up camp and ask to have a pile of laundry as a bed.
6. He enjoys talking on the phone and asks for a turn to chat. (He even answered the phone for me tonight upon my request.)
7. He now helps with regular activities including setting the table, throwing things away and doing the laundry.
8. He has an opinion about his clothes and what he wants to wear.
9. He prompts Emily to join us at the dinner table by saying, "Mi, time to eat. Come on Mi, time to eat!" (Yes, he's stilling calling her Mi.)
10. He learned how to say, "I love you mommy/daddy/too" and started adding a kiss afterwards.
11. He is getting better about putting his own shoes on and taking them off. He almost always sits on the rub by the door to take them off when he gets home.
12. He always shouts with delight when he sees the golden arches. (I truly don't know how it is that every child can assume they love this place when they don't see the ads on TV and they rarely visit. Oh well.)

I could keep going but I need to stop for now. Pictures to come...

Our Homeschooling Classroom has Grown and We Visited Cypress Gardens!

Meet our Homeschool Family ~ A class of four ... Sarah, Emily, Gracie and Luke

Fun at Cypress Gardens ... The beauty of homeschooling is that we can share it with friends and if we get our work for the week completed early, we can hit a theme park for a day of play! (We did do some educational stuff too. :-) Silly girls.
After a HOT day, we had to stop for some Edy's ice cream.
Luke tried is best to lift up this Cypress Knee while the rest of us discussed an earlier science lesson about trees and their roots.
Peek a Boo... who's driving anyways?Here's the silly side of the kids... just had to share it.Just before we left the park for the day, we stopped to read this sign in the rose garden.

Luke meets his buddy Georgie and we have fun at Universal Studios

End of Summer Getaway and Kim's Wedding

The kids enjoyed some time running around on Pop-Pop's hill!

Pop-Pop bought Luke a new whistle and he loved showing everyone how well he could blow it!!
A little time at a local beach...

The Bride and Groom - Patrick and Kimberly BarbatoFamily (minus the parents) Reception Decorations

The only photo of me with the kids thanks to a family member. That's the breaks for being behind the camera all of the time time. :-)
Luke enjoys a glass of apple juice.

Luke places his first drink order with Frank!
Emily and Luke enjoy some piano time at Nikki and Frank's home.
Kayson, Emily and Luke... at the wedding.
Bethany Beach Boardwalk... Emily poses with her movie star glasses (compliments of Mango's Restaurant) while Mom-Mom takes the picture.

And here is all of us...
Ahhh... a nice glass of cold water. Frank makes the best drinks!
Aunt Kim wants a kiss... hmmm... not sure about that.
Emily and Kayson

A little time on the dance floor.

Rehobeth Beach Boardwalk Fun Zone...

VBS - Being Silly - Emily Begins Piano

It's been a wild and crazy summer keeping up with Emily and Luke, but we're loving it. Sorry I don't have any pictures of the pool and all the fun we have there each day. For safety reasons I can't manage pictures and keeping Luke afloat while he thinks he really can swim! Enjoy the stories! -Angela

Can you say Family Band Rehearsal / Rock Concert in the LIVINGROOM??? Yep, we did it. The kids wanted to have a 'church band show' (as they called it) and so we did. Here's Luke sporting the guitar and his very own look a like security band clearance badge (actually a Hershey's Chocolate Factory ID badge).
We have a new SUPER HERO... named Luke the All Mighty!! Today was obviously a dress up day and Luke put on a make shift cape. He then ran around the house saying "Whoo-Hooo" and pretended to save the day! This was an improvement from his desire (and Emily's) to dress him up in a tutu so he could learn ballet from our very own ballerina, Emily. :-) Luke as a Super Hero is an every day occurence in some fashion or another.

And... who would have thought that our very own Luke would discover (or even think of) how to break into his own toy kitchen through the kitchen window?!?!?! He was loving it... and for safety reasons we had to put the kitchen back up against the wall.

Out of the blue one day, Luke showed us he could respond to a stranger's question of, "How old are you?" by holding up his two fingers. We have been working on this, but he never cared to join in... until now!
VBS at Abiding Savior... 'Calling All Heros' The kids had a blast with this VBS and LOVED to dress up as pirates and be God's Super Heros!

They really enjoyed the singing and dancing part too.
Now that they are pirates, they pretend to sail the seas in a laundry basket on our carpet floor... but don't spoil the fun. Sometimes they add blue colored blankets to make it look more like the ocean!VBS at The Family Church... Island Style
Emily (and her friend Ansley) perform in the preschool section of the VBS musical.The kids LOVED the children's building under water ocean experience. Here's just a taste of the fun.
Emily requests a picture in front of her keyboard where she spends 30 minutes a day practicing her new music. She's loving it!