Christmas 2013 #1

The first Christmas celebration was in the great north. Lots of snow, cold weather, and lots of fun people to play with!

Lucas opening his first present - a puzzle. Car he exclaimed!

Only threw a little paper; but, mom has trained him well and things go in the garbage. 

I know I'm not supposed to play the piano, but I will anyway. 

Proof I know I'm not supposed too. 

A new form of bowling. 

And we got the entire family looking and looking good in one picture. :-)

Preparing for Grandpa Garf's car?

While Lucas liked sitting in his own car (at the store), I think he prefers his football, basketball, or whatever other ball he can find. 

First snow of 2013

Last weekend we got at least 6 inches of snow Friday night. When I got back from commencement, the three of us played in the yard and helped Nathan finish shoveling. Lucas liked the snow and being outside but wasn't a huge fan of the sled; however Nathan enjoyed the hill and I made a snow angel. 

Nathan making the path

Nathan and Lucas making a run

Lucas trying to help collect snow to make a snowman

And deciding it's more fun to dump than fill it up

He loved wearing his boots and the sound they make on the floor. 

Thanksgiving

Garf joined us for the Thanksgiving weekend. Nathan made a delicious feast! I think it was his best turkey to date.  Lucas was a little slow to eat the food but he liked looking at the big turkey. 

 I'm not sure who liked Lucas liked saying grandpa more, Lucas or grandpa. It's fun watching them together. 

Popcorn

The way to Lucas' heart is through playing with him or feeding him, especially popcorn. 

He posed for a few pictures and then got to business. 

The Barber

Lucas was due for a haircut so we took him to the old fashion barber in Metamora. He didn't like the horse chair he wanted him to sit in so he sat in Nathan's lap. You can see the fear in his face but he didn't cry. 

He looks so much older now; such a cute little man!

He knows I'm taking his picture now

As you can see my his smile and pose, he knows what I'm doing. Silly boy!

"Look where I put the football mama!"

"Touch down!"

Great smiles!

How can you not love these faces?!?

And Lucas' silly smirk. 

Pancakes

Lucas's favorite food is pancakes and we enjoy our weekend big boy breakfasts. Today the boys sat at the counter to eat and Lucas was soaking it up, as you can see. 

Hard worker

I'm not positive but I'm 99% sure Lucas told me the other night that he'd finish my dissertation for me. He looks ready to go. 

Conference

Nathan and Lucas joined me in Chicago for a couple days of my annual conference. Besides the time change and early mornings we had fun. While I didn't get pictures of it, we had a great pizza lunch catching up with the newly married Katie and Ted Berger and I had a great dinner with the other new Chicago resident, Tera. 

My conference planning colleagues were so great with Lucas. They made him a name tag, let him check out the materials, and taught him to say touch down. 

We all got a cold and the boys were fighting it off with going to bed early so I snuck a shot when I got back to the room. So cute!

Trick treat

Halloween round II. Lucas went trick or treating with the Gentry's and Heuser's around the Heuser's neighborhood. It rained pretty good while we were out, but the little tiger had fun! Unlike earlier in the week, he was pretty into it tonight 

With Deb before leaving day care

We tried to get a picture of all four of the kids. Not really possible. Did get Lucas with a princess. 

Lucas got pretty good at saying trick treat. And said thank you after leaving every house. Such a sweet boy!

Also by the time he was on the porch he would have candy out of his bucket ready to put it in the peoples' candy bowl. He loved taking things in and out of his bucket. His treat when he got back was the Cheetos. Maybe because it was the biggest. 

And the whole crew.  This is really the best anyone could hope to do with a camera with these four. 

Boo...

...because trick-or-treat is still too tough to say. We went to the fraternity and sorority houses at Bradley on a beautiful October night. Lucas had fun, tossed out a few high fives, and was mostly interested in the houses that had some sort of game where he got to throw something. 

Lucas with his buddy Nora the owl. 

What does a Tiger say

Rurrr...

This is more like it...ball

And we ended the night at a Bradley exhibition basketball game. No photos; we are all rounding into mid season form.