NY Stock Exchange

Mark has been working on an IPO (initial public offering...don't ask for my clarification than that!) the past few months. It has been a big job that has required a lot of hours and travel. This week the team he has been working with went to New York to finalize everything. On Thursday he was able to go to the New York Stock Exchange while the company he has been working on rang the bell. Mark said it was pretty cool to be in there and it was a once in a lifetime experience! Luke and I are glad he had fun, but we like it when he is home with us!

Tractor Shows

It's no question that Luke is all boy. His current obsession is tractors. Mark and I always get the question, "Where's my tractor show?" Since we had a hard time finding tractor shows we finally turned to YouTube. You wouldn't believe how many home videos there are of tractors on YouTube. Luke will spend hours watching tractor videos on our phones. I don't know what is more sad...the fact that Luke likes watching these videos or that there are actually people out there making them!

Anthropologie Teapot Lamp

Last night I was surfing through some old posts of Vintage Revivals and saw her Anthropologie Teapot Lamp. I thought it was super cool and I might want to make it over the summer. I quickly skimmed through her amazing directions. We ended up going to Home Depot to make some returns and I thought...what the heck...while I am here I'll just grab the drill bit and lamp kit. When we left I thought we're so close to the DI, I'll just run in and see if they have any plates and teacups I like! Five minutes and four bucks later I had an armful of teacups and plates. When we got home Mark started to bathe Luke and get him ready for bed. I wanted to just try out the new drill bit and before you knew it I had a new lamp! I couldn't believe how easy it was. I followed Mandi's directions and it turned out great! I was so happy to be able to use my poppy teapot. Luke broke the lid to it and I had a hard time throwing it out. It worked great in the lamp! I am super excited for a summer of projects now!

The Dirt

For Memorial Day weekend Mark got a dump truck load of dirt delivered. Luke thought it was the coolest thing he had ever seen. He couldn't wait to get out there and get to work. Friday we moved most of it and Luke was a huge help. He kept bringing the dirt from the flower beds back to the pile on the road. On Saturday I went on an early morning bike ride and by the time I got home they were back at work. Do you love Luke's outfit?!?! Fireman boots on the wrong feet, orange shorts and a blue shirt...lookin' good! The pile of dirt has been a hit with the neighborhood. At one point today we had six kids out there helping! What better way to spend Memorial Day weekend?!?!

The Duckies

Every time we drive past Barnes Park Luke screams to feed the duckies. We finally went the other night...if you know me you know that birds are one of my least favorite things so it took some convincing! Luke thought it was the coolest thing ever. Every time he would throw a piece of bread he would scream, "Get it duckies!" When he got to his last piece he was so sad that he started to break it into the tiniest pieces. I'm sure we'll be back again!

Let's Celebrate

One thing that I have learned in my short time of being a parent is that you never say never. For example, I always said my kids will never drink Coke, sleep in my bed, etc. Well, I have a two year old addicted to Coke and sleeps in my bed. When Luke was about 16 months old he started climbing out of his crib. Up until then he was an amazing sleeper. For the past eight months we have been battling bed time with Luke. We have tried everything...a toddler bed, locking him in his room, a big boy bed, and finally we gave up and allowed him in our bed. When you both have to be to work the next morning it's just not worth the fight. Every night Mark and I would talk about what it would be like if Luke slept in his own bed and wasn't kicking us or asking where his sippy and baby were.

Finally Sunday morning I woke up at 6:00am and realized Luke wasn't in our bed. Mark and I both thought there was a good possibility he was dead. We didn't believe that he really slept through the night in his own bed. Mark said we should appreciate that night because it's not happening again. Well, he slept in there again last night and didn't put up a fight during nap time today. When I went in today he was awake and just laying in his bed!

I had to quickly post and celebrate this today because there is a good possibility his streak will end tonight with a slumber party in mom and dad's bed!

The Zoo...The Animals

I had last Friday off and it was finally great weather so we decided to head to the zoo. Luke kept saying all morning long that he wanted "the zoo...the animals...the zoo...the animals." Grammy decided to come with us and it was a good thing since Luke literally ran from one animal to the next. Luke and Callie like Zuri the best. Even though she's not a baby anymore I think she will forever be known as "The Baby Elephant" to Luke! This year they have a fun dinosaur exhibit. Luke and Callie loved watching the dinosaurs move and roar. Part of the zoo is under construction, but that didn't bother Luke. He had just as much fun watching the tractors and trucks work! Grammy bought Luke and Callie some big sugar cookies. Callie quickly ate her cookie while Luke nibbled on his throughout the day. He would drop it, put it in the wagon, take a bite, and repeat. Nothing like a cookie covered in zoo germs!