Catch up from last weekend

Last weekend my parents came down and were kind enough to bring our new TV for the basement with them! My dad, Sean, and brother Mitch went to the Iowa Men's basketball game, and before my parents could hit the road to head back home, ice and snow covered the majority of Iowa. Unfortunately, northeast Iowa got hit the worst, my parents receiving nearly 15 inches of snow. We were glad to have them an extra day as they couldn't make it home on Saturday. Dad and Sean hung the TV, we baked Christmas cookies, prepared my turkey for the Merrick Christmas, wrapped presents, finished decorating, cleaned the house, went to church, and enjoyed dinner at a local favorite, Red's Ale House! A very productive Saturday thanks to the great help provided by my mom and dad! We are so thankful for all they do for us and enjoy having them visit:) They should have stayed an extra day as their trip home Sunday was horrible and I was worried sick until my mom finally called 4 1/2 hours later saying they were home. Thanks to their neighbors for plowing the drive open for them or they would not have made it up the road due to all the snow and drifting. Welcome Winter! At least there will be plenty of snow for sledding on Christmas!

Our fireplace mantle all ready for Christmas

The banister looks beautiful at night all lit up

...and the tree with ornaments even higher than originally placed
Dad and Sean got the TV hung, an all morning project
Luke loves to help his "Bop" aka Grandpa
"See, I can help too Daddy!"

my singing...

So, my first ever post from my Droid, do disregard the format troubles.

I just have to share with you a quick story regarding what my son thinks of my singing. The first time thus happened I just played it off, but now that Luke has done this twice, I am convinced he really doesn't care for my singing...

With the Christmas season upon us, I find myself singing "oh holy night" and "silent night" to Luke as we wind down our night and get ready for bed. (my two favorite Christmas songs) As I said, on two occasions, after we read our books and turn out the lights, I have been spending some additional quiet time with Luke singing Christmas songs. Well, it has become obvious that he is not a fan, as he continues to cover my mouth while I sing. At first I thought "really, do I have bad breath?" Then it dawned on me, my son does not like my singing!!!!! I guess I am not as good as I thought?!

All Smiles

Good evening, as I write from the Omaha Marriott. I understand my boys are having a rough night back home, which makes me so sad. While the picture above can be deceiving, this little boy isn't always "all smiles". Lately Luke has been giving us a little run for our money with his bedtime routine, quite honestly when I think about his little tricks, I laugh, but in the heat of the moment, it is not so funny! I want to say it is his "new room", but that is wearing off as we have been in our new house for almost three weeks. In addition to his bedtime tricks of trying to get out of going to bed, he has been throwing lots of "fits", or tantrums might be more familiar to some of you. Again, funny when I think about how this little boy knows enough to fall to the ground, bury his head, and shed a few tears. Not so funny in the heat of the moment. We are getting very good at just walking away or better yet, we laugh at him and he immediately wrinkles his nose in confusion and starts to laugh along with us. I am baffled...how and where does he learn this? We certainly don't fall to the ground and start kicking and screaming when things don't go our way! However, it would be quite funny though:) I know that it doesn't work in our house, so I spare the attempt and embarrassment. Although, I wonder what Sean would do if I attempted to fall to the kitchen floor, buried my head in my hands, started to cry, then peak out to see if he is watching...sounds pretty ridiculous, so where on earth did Luke learn to do this? I am telling you, this little show he is putting on, happens hourly!
All the while, we are enjoying our little tantrum throwing 15 month old Sweet Little Luke. His latest obsession, aside from throwing little fits here and there, slam dunk basketball! It is quite comical. He will run up to his basketball hoop, literally slam the basketball, then raise his hands as he awaits an applause accompanied by the roar of the crowd (mom & dad). AND if we don't roar, he "roars" for himself!
Well, that is all I have for "what's going on in the life of Luke".

another 1st...

Checking out the Iowa Men's Basketball team as they take the court

Luke enjoyed watching "Baww" and clapping during the Iowa Fight Song!

I am posting this a week late, but wanted to make sure I captured another one of Luke's first experiences. Last Tuesday night we ventured out to Carver Hawkeye Arena to watch the men's basketball team defeat the UNI Panthers. I wasn't quite sure how Luke would do, but we were pleasantly surprised. Luke and I only made two hot laps around the Arena. He did a great job and was very intrigued with watching the game. He kept yelling "Baww", it was so adorable. His next favorite part of the game was clapping during the Iowa Fight Song! We will most certainly enjoy additional basketball games this winter! Uncle Mitch enjoyed the game with us.

enjoying our fires

We have been enjoying a few fires over the past week, and we look forward to many more! We are working on "hot" with Luke. Regardless of if there is a fire or not, Luke will look at the fireplace and say "hoooooottttttt" and then blow! One of the many adorable things Luke is doing these days!

First snow

The first snow of the season has fallen and it is beautiful! I can say that because we only received a "dusting"! However, other parts of the state received up to 9 inches, including my parents!
After lunch we got all bundled up to go outside and play. I am not sure what Luke thought of his first experience playing in the snow.

All ready to go...

"not sure what to think of all these clothes mom dressed me in"

checking out his tracks in the snow

"I'm not real sure what I think about this"

Luke sat right down and started rubbing his hands in the snow. He didn't like how the snow stuck to his mittens, he started shaking his mittens to get the snow off!

Simplicity

Hello from Sioux Falls, South Dakota! We have had quite a whirlwind these past couple of weeks and I am thankful that I have been able to work close to home. Not ideal timing to travel for a couple of days, or is it? I am in South Dakota for a few days this week for meetings with reps. On one hand I can think of a million and one things that need to be done at home, all that is left to organize, and all that is left at the town home to move. On the other hand, it has been nice to get back into the groove of things, aside from moving and organizing our house. So here I am trying to enjoy some downtime in my hotel room before my next meeting. Which has me thinking...remember the days when there was no such thing as stress? I am reminded with the amount of stress I carry and I am attempting with all my effort to let go and just let things happen. So I am looking through several pictures on my laptop, thinking of Luke, and what he must be up to right now while I am away. Well, he probably just woke up from his afternoon nap, happy as can be, eating his yogurt snack, and down to the basement to play with Gunner, or up to his toy room to see how many times he can throw his ball through the basket. I think about the stage in life that Luke is and how much he learns everyday, yet I am also reminded, how much I learn from him. I am learning so much more from this little guy who isn't quite 15 months old than he even knows he is teaching. He teaches me things like...how just one hug can make a whole day perfect, how something as simple as mommy sneezing is funny, how much fun an empty box can be, how the beauty of a fire can be so mesmerizing, how beautiful it is to watch it snow outside, how the simple words mommy and daddy can have so much love in them, and the list goes on and on...
Not only are we totally in love with our busy little Luke, but he teaches us more and more everyday than I feel I can teach him in several years.
This year as we enjoy the holiday season of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years, I am reminded of the true meaning of the holidays. I am THANKFUL. I am BLESSED. Each day my life is blessed with a wonderful loving family & amazing friends, and the beauty among all the 'simple' things in life.

my simple teacher

When we let go of things, we release their hold on us and free ourselves to enjoy the every day miracles that grace our lives: a golden sunset, silvery clouds, waves rolling ashore, the stars spangling the night time sky. “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6: 33)