Memorial Day Parade

The Boalsburg Memorial Day Parade (which actual takes place 2 day before Memorial Day) was last night, and as per our annual tradition, we were in attendance.  You must understand that our town is only 6.5 square miles in size and has a population of less than 4,000 people, so you can't really go with high expectations for the parade.  In fact we can't even afford full size horses for our parade:

Actually, the selling point for the parade and the reason why so many people attend is because ~90% of the parade entrants throw candy.  In terms of amount of candy received, this 30 minute parade ranks somewhere just below Halloween, but above Easter, and he doesn't have to move more than ~5 feet because people literally throw candy directly at him.  All he has to do is wait, bucket in hand:

Since it is a small parade, there isn't really much in the way of floats.....actually there are no floats at all. More like lots of fire trucks....

...and MORE fire trucks....

Other than the token politicians riding in the back of various models of sports care, the only other main contributor to the parade (other than the fire departments of the 25 nearest towns) are the local girls twirling classes, of which I didn't take any pictures, but there were at least 5 different twirler groups in the parade (3 of which were playing the same song while twirling.  Can't we at least have some originality?).  One of our friends made the comment after the parade, that "if an alien race were to come to earth and observe only this parade, the only logical conclusion that they would be able to come to is that small twirling girls must be the number one cause of fires on Earth".  I just hope that there isn't a fire anywhere in the surrounding 25 miles because for those 30 minutes on a Saturday evening in May, every available truck is cruising our little Main St. throwing handfuls of candy to waiting kids and would be hard pressed to get anywhere in a hurry.

Birthday Time!

Lucas turned three just over a week ago!  Since Lucas is obsessed with animals (side note: for those that have received cards from use recently, have you noticed they have animals on them?  Lucas has been picking out the cards!), particularly crocodiles, we decided to go with an animals theme for his birthday, go figure.  The night before, despite Craig's lack of enthusiasm, we decorated the kitchen area, with balloons, crate paper hanging from the ceiling and I have to admit a pretty cool animal themed Happy Birthday sign.  The next morning was french toast, with whipped cream (can't forget the cream), and strawberries.  Lucas almost didn't notice the decorations (too groggy), but once he spotted it he was thrilled,  he liked the toy animals (table decoration)!  Lunch was suppose to be outside since Lucas loves to be outside, but the weather didn't cooperate, so we headed to Chick-fil-A.  He loved playing in their play place (it is the nicest one in town)!  He was also allowed to get an ice cream cone, which he is usually pretty good about eating it, but it was hot and melted too quickly, so we are walking through Walmart (to quickly grab these cute animal plates that I had to have) with a dripping, falling apart ice-cream cone, Lucas holding onto a balloon, and me needing to make a run to the little girls room.  I couldn't help but laugh, I am sure it was an amusing sight to see!  That night we had Lucas' favorite food:  Pasta with broccoli!  Since I wasn't quite ready for a just friends party (maybe next year, when he is a little older), we had a bunch of his friends and their families over for cake and ice cream, Lucas picked rainbow chip cake and caramel ice-cream.  He had a crocodile cake and some animal themed cupcakes!  Lucas seemed to have a great time.

Just some notes, for posterity, about 3 year old Lucas:  He loves being outside, especially if his friends are there, and he loves grapes along with strawberries and blackberries.  He is a thinker and it gets him into mischief on a regular basis.  He is a good, but very active kid!!!  He is into animals, swords (don't ask me where this came from, but lately everything is a sword), and his most recent favorite color is pink (ugh!).

Boalsburg Celebration of Military Service

In anticipation of Memorial Day, the Pennsylvania Military Museum, which is located in our small town, hold an annual Celebration of Service.  There is a lot of pomp and circumstance, including military parades and various speakers, but the big draw for the kids is the military vehicles, including 5 helicopters, that are on display.  We have the privilege of nearly having our windows shatter when the helicopters fly directly over our townhouse at an altitude of no more than a couple hundred feet as they approach the museum lawn for landing.  Absolute worst is when the 2 Chinooks fly overhead.

Lucas had a great time (and I admit that I did, too) climbing in and out of the helicopters and armored vehicles.  Katie spent the time talking with friends (boring!) instead of examining the Apache Attack Helicopter machine gun (like me), or jumping up and hanging from the tail fins (like Lucas).  Thankfully nobody saw Lucas performing his acrobatics, or the fact that the piece he was hanging was clearly label "Not A Step:  Do Not Apply Force".

Dipping Chocolate Strawberries

This past Saturday Lucas and I dipped chocolate strawberries while we listened to Adele.  Though Lucas' idea of contribution is standing right next to me licking a spoon dipped in chocolate, then stealing another spoon covered in chocolate, and trying to continually dip the spoon in the chocolate.  Got to love it when the three year old wants to help!  However, he did look pretty stinking cute in his apron and hat, with his two spoons and mouth covered in chocolate.  It was necessary to document the moment.

A recent conversation with Lucas

The other morning we were taking Craig to work.  I was having a conversation with Craig, when Lucas pipes in and says, "Daddy stop talking to mommy.  I need to talk to mommy."  My reply is, "what do you need to tell me Lucas?".  Lucas reply:  "Mom what are you doing?"  Can you guess who thinks they are the center of my world?  Boy is someone in for a little shock come this September. :)

Did I really just see what I think I saw?

Last week I was visiting a friend (that lives across the street) we were chit-chatting at her kitchen table and during our conversation I just happen to look out her back sliding glass door, just in time to see what looked like a black bear running past the window.  I looked at my friend to see if she saw what I saw and she asked me "did you just see that?".  We ran to the door and sure enough there is a black bear running behind the row of apartments.  Who would have thought?  We do know of a family that has a black bear in their area, and one time found it wandering in their garage, but they live up by the hills.  We live in an apartment complex, the bear must have crossed at least one major road (4 lane hightway) to get to the apartment complex.  Not what I was expecting to see when I looked out the back door.

Library!

Pennsylvania has this program called, "one book, one child".  If you keep track of the books you read for the month of April and meet your goal, they give you the book that they are doing for the program.  Every year it is a different book, so it is a great way to get some free books.  This year the book was called, "Stop Snoring Bernard."  They also have a party where the author comes talks about the book and the library provides fun activities that are related to the book.  For the sake of complete honest ... there is also cake involved!  Lucas and I attended this event, last week.  Lucas loved it.  He is a big fan of animals so this was definitely his kind of book and party!  Plus he loves cake!  He even sat up front with the rest of the kids while the author (who was also the illustrator) gave his presentation.  Lucas interacted with the group and presenter, and just had a riot!  The author even signed his copy of the book.  At first Lucas was right up there ready to get his book signed, but the author moved so he could sit down and Lucas got shuffled and pushed out of the way in the process.  It didn't phase him, though, and he did not have a problem stepping up and getting his book signed.  We won't mention the part where he went to the bathroom to wash his hands, without telling me and I spent several panicked moments looking for him!

Everything goes in the pockets!

Lucas has discovered pockets and how handy they are for storing things.  Everything goes in his pockets, and I do mean everything.  Marbles, toys, food, etc.  If he can fit it in his pocket that is where you will find it.  The other day we were at the grocery store and we walked past the grapes, Lucas loves grapes  and he wanted some.  We were in the process of buying a bunch of junk food for a movie, so am I really going to tell the three year old "no you can't have something healthy"?  So we get some get grapes and are now in the self checkout.  While I am in the process of checking out, I notice a couple laughing as they stare at my son.  I know from past experience that this is not good, so I look down at Lucas who is eating the grapes and sticking them is his pocket, which is already bulging from the number of grapes he already managed to fit in there.

green poop!

The other day Lucas decided that he was going to use the potty.  During this event (yes it is an event because Lucas doesn't use the potty unless he wants to, though bribery sometimes works) he informs us from the bathroom that he had a "green monster poop on his bottom".  Seconds later he informs us that he got it off, but now it is on his hands.  Yes, it was in fact on his hands, but I don't want to put much though into how it got that way.

Lambs!

As has been previously mentioned on a number of occasions, Lucas likes animals!!!  For playgroup last week we went to campus and saw the baby lambs! It was cold and windy but we were partially inside and Lucas seemed to love it.
While we were there Lucas wanted to take a picture of the lambs, so the picture of the lambs rear ends is the picture that Lucas took!

Just a side note that I could totally see my child being the ring leader, as the kids were running up the way and my child was the smaller, younger one, but up front, leading the pack.

Which brings me to another Lucas moment.  The other day we were heading home from church, Lucas was talking about what he did in nursery, "sang a song, ate a snack, played with toys" pause "hit someone", "What!", did I just hear that right, "Lucas did you hit someone in nursery today?", "yes".  Talked with a nursery leader she wasn't aware that Lucas hit anyone, but that doesn't necessarily means he didn't.  Especially when another nursery leader makes the comment, "Lucas tries so hard to be good, you know he wants to be good."  I'm thinking that comments like that just let me know that he wasn't a hellion, not that he was actually good.

Still a boy!

This past week we had our twenty week ultrasound!  Yeah!!!  Let's celebrate were halfway there!  Unfortunately the last half involves being fully pregnant in the summer.  Things went well and the baby appears to be developing well!  Best of all, he is still a boy!  Once again more than willing to give us that little bit!  But unfortunately that is the only thing he was willing to give.  "Wow this baby is moving!"  "Are you sure you didn't have any sugar before you came?" (this one was asked three times, followed by...)  "Do you drink a lot of caffeine?" "Wow he is really dancing around!"  Words you do not want to hear from an ultrasound tech, especially since you have heard them once before, and last time that baby turned into our little ball of very active energy running around your house, that would give the energizer bunny a run for his money!!!   My thoughts are, "Can you sedate him?"  "What!? Am I missing something?" "What lesson was I suppose to learn that I have not learned yet?"  So there you have it, we may be getting another Lucas!  This may account for the reason Craig was able to feel him for the first time this week!

"Rhett is my favorite friend!"

One of our really close friends just so happens to live right next door to us, and they have a little boy, named Rhett, who is about a year older than Lucas.  They have become really good friends.  As soon as Lucas wakes up he wants to go play with Rhett.  The two of them have been know to talk to each other through the wooden wall that separates their deck from ours.  Some evenings we will hear Rhett out on the deck calling Lucas's name and vise versa.  If we are heading out and we tell Lucas that his friends will be there, Lucas will ask, "Is Rhett going to be there?"  The other day we were at a baptism and Rhett came and sat by us.  Lucas comes and sits on my lap and says, "Rhett is my favorite friend!"  Don't be deceived, these two have also been know to conspire, like the time it was dark and cold outside and Lucas had no pants on and had bare feet, but these two decide they are going to take a little jog around the building.  Little buggers!

Being Pregnant

The last couple of weeks I have been consistently asking Craig this question in one form or another "We want to do this 3 more times?  Really?"  I really shouldn't be complaining, since it took us longer than expected to get to this point and it really hasn't been awful.  But, this is my blog and you don't have to read it so I am going to blog about anyway.  It's just that this time has been more difficult than Lucas.  Symptoms just seem to be showing up early than they did the first time.  My belly seems a little bigger at this stage now, then with Lucas, it is just different this time around, not necessarily awful and miserable, just different and slightly uncomfortable.

Time Out For Women

There is a two day women's conference that is put on by Desert book and tours around the U.S. called "Time out for Women".  This is not usually my type of thing, but several women from my ward were going, and a few of them had gone in the past and really enjoyed it.  I decided to give it a try, plus it was a   weekend away from my child and husband, which was needed!  I was pleasantly surprised.  I am not saying I am going to be a groupie or anything, but I am glad I went and I did have a good experience.  Several of the women in the group that had previously been mentioned how the setting was much more intimate and done on a smaller scale.  This however, didn't stop us from waking up at the crack of dawn and standing in the line to be on the third and fourth row.  Even though we were the first ones in line, I wasn't about to fight the lady for the second row.  A huge group of women all with the same focus in mind is deadly and brutal.  I thoroughly enjoyed most of the presenters and the music was pretty good, though I enjoyed the violinist more than the singing group.  A few of the presenters talked about things I really needed to hear, and made me re-evaluate my life and the way I go about certain things.  All in all it was a success!!!

Feeding the Ducks!

It was a beautiful day, gorgeous!  For playgroup we went to a park that has a pond to feed the ducks!  Lucas loved this!  I bought a whole loaf of cheap bread, thinking we would never use it all, Lucas quickly proved me wrong as he eagerly used the entire loaf!  Those lucky ducks had a feast and were well fed!  He also enjoyed chasing the ducks and following the ducks around.

Still in Diapers!

Lucas definitely does things on his own schedule, completely throwing out the window any milestone chart that the "average" child follows.  This whole potty thing is just not happening.  We have tried, positive reinforcement (bribery) (this does not work, he just decides that he doesn't want a treat, he doesn't care), going cold turkey, even threatening him (he can't go to preschool without being potty trained and he knows it).  Lucas understands all of this, he understands the concept, he know that mommy, daddy, and all of his friends go potty, he even gives you applause when you go and has even offered us a treat as reward.  He knows when he needs to go, which is the frustrating part.  One time I was sitting at the computer, Lucas was playing with his friend, and watching an educational show, he comes up to me holding his diaper, butt naked and tells me that his diaper is dry, he went pee and poop in the potty and he would like his treat!  My thoughts are, "are you serious kid?"  I am not even going to try to understand, I am just going to roll with it.  Basically Lucas literally decides when he would like to use the potty, there are days when he says "I need to go potty" and keeps himself completely dry, and others when he refuses to try to go potty.  The conclusion I have come to is Lucas is going to decided when he is going to go potty, and hopefully it is before preschool starts.  In all likelihood he will probably start using the potty consistently the day he starts school!

Early Ultra Sound

(This is catching up on some things that happened previously, so excuse the timeline from being out of order)

Due to a slight concern regarding a cyst on one of my ovaries, we had an early ultrasound at 15 weeks.  So on March 19th we were able to find out that we were having (drum roll please!) another baby......................boy!  It's a boy!!!  When I asked the ultrasound tech if she would be willing to take a look in that direction to see, she was willing, but reminded us that it is difficult to identify this early in the pregnancy.  Lucky for us our children don't seem to have a problem exposing themselves!  And this child was more than willing to give us a good look.  As we were looking at the screen, Craig and I were pretty sure it was a boy, but the tech didn't say anything, initially, so we weren't sure, then she asked us if we were sure wanted to know, and she said she thought it was a boy.  However, by the end of the appointment she was thoroughly convinced it was a boy!  Craig is once again relieved and feels like he just dodged a bullet, again!