To Infinity and Beyond!

Luke received a package addressed to:

Captain Underpants

Luke Hutcheson

It was from Grandma and Papa. Grandma always promises special something when the boys finish potty training. Evan got a few Thomas cars for his train when he finished potty training and Grandma found Luke these awesome Buzz LightYear pajamas! Luke is all about Toy Story and Star Wars right now so this made his whole universe better. We got them Thursday and he has worn them to bed every.single.day since.

He requires us to address him as "Buzz" when he is wearing them.

By the way, yes that is a pink pacifier in his mouth. And no, I feel no shame. He wont be three till November and he has potty trained and moved to a big bed in the last month, so the kid still gets his binks to sleep. It looks a bit silly, but it creates some peace and harmony in my universe and really, there isn't much of it so I will take what I can get.

Luke's First Day of School

Okay, I have these pictures backwards. The first is the wake-up for school pic, the breakfast pic, the I am excited for school pic and finally the I don't want to go to school pic and this is the best you are going to get.

Luke had a love-hate relationship with school . He loves it when he is there, but hates when I drop him off. Sometimes there are tears, but mostly lots of protesting and pouting.

I didn't do a great job of pics, but in my defense this was the day that I woke up to a torrential rain...in my kitchen. The roof was leaking and there was a huge puddle of water in the middle of my kitchen.

Talk about wanting a do-over for the day!

Luke had a great day....was a little afraid of sitting on the mini preschool potty, but we have since overcome that fear. Basically, I bribed him with copious amounts of treats. Mommying 101 is not always pretty, but it gets the job done.

His teacher is Ms. Kelly, the same one from this summer, and he really does like her and all his classmates....one of his favorite girls, Sarah is in his class so that makes his life very happy!:)

You know you are raising a Texas football fan when...

they wake up in the morning on a Friday and ask about the football game that night! Seriously, we picked the right state to live in to be rabid football fans!

Sweet Lukey!

Luke and I have had lots of together time this week with Evan in school and being very close together while we are potty training.

He is pretty much done so we went in search of a Star Wars shirt for a mini-celebratory gift. We ended up at Old Navy and found several shirts. Luke was so excited he wanted to wear the shirt out of the store....really, he is in full on Star Wars obsession.

When we checked out the cashier was asking him if he was going to school and we told him that he was starting next week. He asked Luke if he was excited and Luke replied, "A little bit, but not really." When he was asked by the cashier why he wasn't excited, he said, "Because I like being with my Mama, she is my favorite person".

I mean, how can a girl not just melt on the spot...occasionally it is worth all the toils:)!

Food for Thought...

Luke and I have been hanging around the house a lot this week....he has a cold and he is potty training. Thursday is started to actually cool down so I got overzealous and did some baking. I made a few loaves of banana bread, out.of this.world chocolate chip cookies and pasta fagioli in the crock pot. My dear Auntie Lu recommended an Italian Slow Cooker cookbook and it has been fabulous!!! The chocolate chip cookies are from Dorie Greenspans Baking cookbook (also a Lu recommendation). I love the layout of the book and how every recipe is like a little story....cannot wait to use this often as the oven comes back into use after semi-retirement this summer;).

The fagioli was outstanding...one of the best I have had. It was so cheap and it was very well received by my family..even the husband who grumbles over the lack of meat.

However, I do think I am going to right a book called, "How To Know You Are NOT Married to an Italian". How does someone not know what pasta fagioli is? Really?

What we have been up to...

Let's see:

*Kindergarten is going really well and Evan seems to be right where he needs to be in terms of his writing, math and reading skills so we are happy about that. He has made lots of new friends and of course loves PE and Art the most....well except for church with Father Jason(our cool, hip new priest.). Who knew that cool, hip and Catholic could be in the same sentence.;)

*Luke and I (well not really me, but I am along for the ride) are in potty training boot camp since E is gone all week and Luke doesn't start school till next Wednesday. We started Friday afternoon....this was after he realized that most of his class(we were at a little class party) were in underwear. I didn't mention that he was in an older class because I need all the help I can get...snicker, snicker. It is going really well and unlike our last few attempts, even when he is annoyed that I force him to sit on the potty he does not ask for a diaper. He has been totally dry with one small accident for the last 2 days. Anyhoo.....crossing fingers that after 5.5 years straight, we are close to being done with dipes.

* Jon and I are gearing up for fantasy football: He is in a league at work, I am in a league with some girls and we are in a couples league. I am sure we will lose at all three, but it should be fun!


* We are "stretching the truth" so Luke can be in a 3 year old soccer league this fall. He is so excited and has lots of friends on the team....it will be too cute to watch him play:). I wanted to get him started early so when we start playing 95 club sports in the next 5 years, I will already be acclimated to shuffling schedules. And, no I am not exaggerating.....sports in Texas amaze even athletic me!

Just sometimes....

the sweetness can make you cry! I didn't tear up over Kindergarten or the big boy bed, but I came upon this as they were watching a movie.

As a mom of little kids, there are so many things that can try your patience....so many things. Everyday is about constant battles, negotiations and meltdowns, but really the love they have for each other and the special relationship makes all of it worthwhile.