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.