Fall in Bloomington

Fall in Southern Indiana has been beautiful! The leaves are in full color right now, although the last few days has seen rain and wind knock a considerable amount down. We have tried to take advantage of the beautiful weather - a few days ago we went to campus for an evening walk.






































Allison, Luke, & Sanibel at the Sample Gates - Indiana Ave & Kirkwood Ave















The Sample Gates at night

Cowboy boots!

We found some cowboy boots for Luke recently - they go well with his cowboy hat from Texas. We think that he really likes them!

Boys Will Be Boys

Luke found a rock!

Watching a plane in the sky.

Major cheese smile!

Golfing with a stick?

Sneaking Around

Luke has a new "sneakier" move that he has been practicing. One day Phil gave Luke a piece of chocolate and told him to be quiet about it since I was doing dishes in the kitchen. He came walking right by me all hunched over and went to his "private spot" to eat his treat! It was so funny! Ever since he has perfected his sneakiness!

Play Time

You gotta love all of that young energy! I wish that I had half of it!

Pumpkin Patch

Our church, Sherwood Oaks, has done a pumpkin patch the last few years. This year, the church held a fall festival at the patch. We had fun doing the crafts, decorating cookies, drinking hot chocolate, and bouncing in the bouncy house!

















The most fun was had in picking up (or trying to pick up) all of the pumpkins!
































Hmmm . . .
















Crafts























Luke started out the day as Elmo - some kids were convinced that he really was Elmo!







































A rabbit made a surprise appearance - Luke snuck up to it!

A day at Wonderlab

We got a little wet!

But it was fun!

Where did those fish go?

A heartbeat drum.

More Bedtime Routine

I used to give Luke a bath in the mornings before I dressed him. That was back in his newborn days. He didn't get many baths in those early days because 1) He didn't like them. 2) It was winter and his lips would chatter the whole time. 3) It really stressed us parents out!

I started bathing him in the mornings because at the end of the day (or when Phil got home) I felt accomplished because I was doing it alone! When Luke got a little older and started to have a more "normal schedule" and by normal I mean having awake time in the day and sleeping through the night. I decided that I wanted to start a bedtime routine. I kept reading about how babies like to have a predictable routine so that they know what is coming next even before the communication is there. I wanted bath time to be a part of that routine because it can be a time of fun but also a time to "wind down." I looked at it as a "cleansing of the day" or "washing the day away." I know that he does not get dirty enough to NEED a daily bath, although some days he does need one!

I think that he looks forward to it! Phil usually gives him the bath. It is good father/son bonding time. Plus, Phil makes the bath way more fun than I do! I am all business but Phil is more about the play and then a quick wash over at the end when I start to wonder if he even got clean at all!

When it is time for bed we say "let's go get some bubbles" and he says "bubba?" He then heads upstairs on his own.

Look at all of that fun they have!

Luke getting really clean!

Bedtime Routine

Lukes' nightly bedtime routine includes a devotion from his "Little Boys" Bible, family prayer, and two books of his choice. We added a family devotion time back in March of this year. He was finally able to sit still for a story so we got out the Bible that he got for Christmas.

At first it was such a struggle! Luke did not want to look at the pages or the pictures, or pay attention. As soon as we would start reading the story he would be making his aversion known by pulling books off of the shelves, opening drawers, running out of the room, trading his pacifier etc. He was making it clear to us that he did not want to participate. We would rush through the story while he was fighting us all the way. After the story we all join hands and pray. This part was not so tough for him. He likes to join hands and bow his head. After prayer of course he would be very engaged and ready to look through the two books that he had picked out.

I took this photo of devotions last week and things have really changed. Is that an interested little boy I see? It looks like our 7 months of dedication is starting to pay off....I will leave it at that considering there are many childhood stages to come where I am sure that devotions will become a battle again. Sigh.

For now we will appreciate the calm that is now bedtime.

Luke even likes looking at the pictures now! I must admit that some of the stories in the Bible can be odd...but that is perfect for a little boy right?

Part of his routine (he created this part) includes climbing up on his rocking horses' back and picking out a pacifier from his extensive collection. Yes, he is probably getting to old for this part. I am sure that all of the toddler books say that "he does not need it" or "he should have grown out of this phase by now." Every night I debate in my head over what to do. I am sure that he eventually "grow out of it" but so far I do not want to intervene. Besides, I feel like this is his one last "baby" thing that he wants to do. I don't want to push him to grow up too fast before he is ready.

Maybe I expect too much out of him? I expect him to sit still for family devotion time yet I still let him use his pacifier in bed! How about I cut myself some slack and remember that I am just trying to be a responsible parent. A parent that realizes that the days are moving by faster and faster. My baby will not be a baby forever (he already is not a baby). I just want to "hold on" to some of these moments and freeze time. One morning last week Luke was running back and forth between our bedroom and his while we were still in bed.

Phil said "did you hear that?"

I said "what, that loud stomping sound in the hallway?"

Phil said "some day we are really going to miss that!"

He was so RIGHT!

Lost But Found

I hijacked this photo from my moms' camera. I think that this was taken way back in the spring when Luke had the stomach flu and I was recovering from my sinus surgery. I love this photo of him and his mouse!

Grandparents Come to Town

My parents are retired and living the "good life." They spent the first part of October at the Beachcomber in Venice Florida soaking up the sunshine on Golden Beach and fishing off of the Jetties! Now does that not just sound like a piece of heaven? We were blessed to have them for a night on their way back home. They regaled us with big fish stories, sunsets, friends, gigantic grouper sandwiches, and scuba divers.

We all went to lunch at Cheeseburger in Paradise! Yep, they could not get enough of that southern atmosphere! Phil and Luke pose by a pumpkin guy at the restaurant.

Luke and his new hat from my outlet shopping experience.

My parents and Lukes' grandparents. My dad does that on purpose.

Trying to get some sun!

Grandpa and Luke play with the flashlight.

This is what happens when grandparents babysit! Ice cream before bed!

Spaghetti for dinner. Dad taught Luke how to "slurp" up his noodles!

An old pro!

He is pretty good now!