Mammoth 2010

We celebrated Daddy's birthday with a weekend trip to Mammoth Lakes, CA. It's a long drive, but Luc did well with lots of snacks and movies. He was thrilled to see snow on the ground and was even more excited when it actually snowed while we were unloading the car. He immediately changed in to his snow gear and went to play in the drifts. After throwing a few snowballs, he and David set to building a snowman. Pretty good for the first time seeing snow.

We originally planned to split our time snowboarding and playing with Luc in the snow, but Luc decided that he was interested in ski school. We took him over to Wolly's Ski School and got him outfitted with goggles, teeny little skis, and a helmet with flames. We watched for a little while, be he wanted nothing to do with us. As we headed for the lifts, he was telling the instructor, "No, let go. Let me go down by myself!" Daddy and Mommy got to ride together all day, which was a nice present for Daddy.

After the ski lesson, we took the gondola to the top of the mountain, almost the top of the Sierra (Mammoth is 11,053 ft in elevation. Mt. Whitney, about an hour drive south, is the highest peak in California at 14,449 ft.). Luc looked around, not overly impressed, and asked if he got to ride my snowboard down the mountain. Daddy rode down, the rest of us took the gondola back the way we came. Luc practiced throwing snowboard attitude on the way back to the condo.

The following day, we split up. Shanley and Mommy rode in the morning while Daddy, Luc and David went sledding. We switched up in the afternoon and Luc got to finally ride my snowboard.

Adventures in Arizona

Daddy had a conference in Arizona, so we tagged along to see Grandma and Papa in Phoenix. It rained the whole weekend, but we had fun anyway. Luc played air hockey and video games with Grandma at an indoor fun park one day and went to the Phoenix Children's Museum the next day. The Children's Museum was the best. Luc's favorite activity was the Noodle Forest (oodles of pool noodles suspended from the ceiling -- video reminiscent of the Blair Witch Project below. watch the video, then imagine being a big person in there with little people zooming in and out all around your ankles. Very disorienting as a big person.), but he also got a huge kick out of racing derby cars, making play food in the tactile cafe, and spent a lot of time in the art studio.

To watch the videos, click on the play arrow button.

Luc and Grandma at the indoor fun park.

Noodle Forest Video

Luc and Auntie Sarah

Derby race cars

Lunch at Chez Luc

The best fabric pizza ever!

Grocery Shopping (keep an eye on the checker... she is really enjoying her job)

Froggy of the Week

Luc's preschool teacher has a fun way to let each child be the center of attention for the year. The "Froggy of the Week" gets to be line leader all week long, bring something special to share every day, and gets to decorate a poster for the wall that is all about them. They get to stand up in front of the class and tell them all about themselves.

We had some basic guidelines, but turned Luc loose to answer these four questions: who is in his family; what is (are) his favorite food(s); what is his favorite book; and, what is his favorite movie. Much preparation was involved, including a trip to Target to purchase some glitter glue and stickers. Once home, Luc set to work on a pictorial representation of his bests and favorites. The foods were easy, lentils and mac and cheese (not served together!). He drew little brown dots for the lentils and used the gold glitter glue for the mac and cheese. The favorite book and movie caused some angst as he had a very hard time picking just one each. He finally settled on "Puppy Love" as his book, represented by a very nicely drawn dog, and "Charlie Brown Christmas" as his movie, represented by a big pile of silver glitter glue. A nice family portrait completed the requirements. He added stickers and more glitter glue before declaring himself satisfied.

More small adventures

Daddy won an award at work this week, so we celebrated by going out to dinner. Luc looooooooves to go out to dinner and was thrilled to skip out on whatever Mommy had planned for dinner that night. He scarfed up his grilled cheese and fries (crusts too!) in record time in order to earn himself a sundae. He was extremely pleased with himself. In the end, he ate all of the whipped cream and three bits of the ice cream. Just like his momma.



Luc's preschool class is working on art appreciation right now. They are learning about Van Gogh, and more recently, Jackson Pollock. I didn't actually hear this from Luc, but put two and two together when he requested a large shirt from Daddy because they were going to be splatter painting at school. He very importantly told me they were learning about great artists and I asked if they were learning about Pollock right now. He was very surprised to learn that I knew who he was and had seen some of the paintings. We'll post photos of the artwork when it comes home from school.

Science is cool!

Luc is quickly following in Daddy's geeky science footsteps. While at the zoo this weekend, Luc and Mommy stumbled on to Dr. Zoolittle's show in the children's zoo. Dr. Zoolittle wowed his small crowd by mixing ferric mumble mumble sulfate with something something something something to wondrous results. The two clear solutions instantly turned dark purple! Adding another something something solution broke the molecular bond and the mixture turned cloudy/clear again. Boy, did that guy have the attention of these kids now. This was magic as far as they were concerned. Dr. Zoolittle went on to demonstrate Bernoulli's Principle by knocking paper cups off kids' heads with puffs of air blown from a distance away. Luc went on to test the theory of gravity later in the day on a trampoline jumpy, also at the zoo.


Another fun weekend activity was Aunt Shanley's birthday. Luc was invited to the party where he attempted to eat a cupcake the size of his head (only managed to lick the frosting off though), played Wii, colored with Maxwell, and helped Aunt Shanley open all of her presents. He says he is practicing for his upcoming birthday.

Happy Valentime's Day!

That's not a typo up there... it's how Luc says Valentine's. We had a low key celebration with a special dinner at home (BBQ ribs from M&D with a nice zinfandel and mac 'n cheese for Luc with a nice berry sparkler).

Bottoms up boys!



Luc finished the night with a call to Grandma and Papa. His latest word is "fooey", so he and the grandparents exchanged "fooey heads", etc. This morning, I had a "fooey eyeball in my fooeyhead."

New Years Resolution

I know, you've heard it all before, but I really am going to try to be better about sharing life with Luc. I am going to shoot for shorter entries more often and see what happens.

Highlights since the last post (OK, sometime last summer) include a trip to Spain to see Mica and Avi, starting the second year of preschool, being a ring bearer in Auntie Sarah and Auntie Dan's wedding, Mica and Avi visiting for Christmas, and developing a serious interest in dinosaurs. His favorite word right now is "babyhead" followed closely by "cukcoo". Sometimes he goes for "Cukcoo on the Babyhead" for double word score.

Recent conversation with Luc regarding giving blood:

Luc: How do they get the blood out?

M&D: Reasonable explanation including needles.

Luc: Oh. Thinks for a minute. But how do they get it back in? You body is CLOSED.

M&D. Good point. Reasonable explanation including needles.

Luc: Why do people need blood?

M&D: Reasonable explanation including big owies, etc.

Luc: Hmmm. OK. But what happens to me since I gave my blood.

D: It's OK to give your blood. Your body makes more.

Luc: Looking suspicious. I do not make blood! I am BUSY all day! I go to school, I play, I don't make blood.

D: Sure you do. You do it in your bones.

Luc: Now shocked and downright peeved. There is nobody in my bones to make blood! I am too busy to make blood!

D: You just do it without thinking about it. Like breathing. You don't think about breathing, you just do it.

Luc: Immediately holds breath to test theory.

We are currently looking forward to a trip to Phoenix in March and Luc's 5th birthday coming up in May.

Last summer in Spain.

Auntie Sarah's wedding in November, Luc as the ring bearer.

Tonight, Luc wearing a Mardi Gras mask and being silly in the tub.

Yeah yeah, I KNOW! It's been too long...

Where does the time go?

Search me, but if you find mine, would you please let me know? I am embarrassed that I haven't posted since last August and fear I may have outdone myself this time. I'll update by month and try to keep them short and sweet, with pictures (that's what everyone wants anyway... not my random musings). Enjoy and please find it in your hearts to forgive a mom her lapses in updating... AMC

July, the best month of the year!

OK, the editor will admit to being a wee bit biased as to the importance of this month, but can you really blame a birthday girl? Luc sure had a fantastic month!

Chick-fil-a: The 8th Wonder of the World?

For those of my readers that have toddlers, have you discovered the wonders of the Chick-fil-a family night? Each and every Tuesday night, the family friendly chain sets up a jumpy in the parking lot, sets out arts and crafts, and gives you one free kids meal with each adult meal. Some guy in a giant cow costume wanders around patting little kids on the head and posing for pictures. Of all the attractions, I think the Cow takes the prize. Kids follow him around like a little tribe of Worshipers of Large Fuzzy Cows. The Cow can persuade persnickety children to eat their dinners, behave in the jumpy, and not fling food across the table, all without uttering one single word. Behold the picture of the two smiling toddlers who were, momements before this photo was shot, trying to rip each other's ears off.

4th of July

We got really lucky this year and Grandma got to come visit for the 4th of July holiday. It was a three day weekend this year, so we mad ethe most of it. We picked Grandma up at the airport very early and whisked her off to a morning parade in Del Mar where the kids were the parade. We decked Luc out in a Bruce Springsteen-esque outfit and wreathed his bike in garland and pin wheels for the big parade and marched around Powerhouse Park in Del Mar. With the crazy beach-saving partiers as our audience, we stomped, danced, rode and marched around that park making as much noise as possible. We checked out the fire engine from the Del Mar Fire Department and, when we were too pooped to pop anymore, we headed home for a rest before the afternoon festivities.

The Party that Barb Forgot

After everyone had a refreshing nap, we packed up and headed for the 4th of July party at Aunt Bubba's house. Aunt Bubba's house is set up perfectly for kids; there are no exits and there is a nice circular track between the front door and the slider door. The party reached a crescendo when the little boys found Aunt Bubba's dress up box that she uses in her classroom. The boys found some butterfly wings, a rainbow wig and a NASA helmet. Luc crashed on the way home and missed the fireworks completely.

Mommy's Birthday

Liking parties as much as I do, it was a shock to discover that I did not really want to have a birthday party this year. So instead we went on a "stay"cation. We got a room at the local Four Seasons and treated our family to a nice weekend at a hotel with a pool. Luc was a little disappointed to discover that my friends were not joining us complaining, "but who is going to PLAY with me Mommy?" His attitude changed the minute we walked in the door. As Daddy was checking in, a nice man wheeled out a Radio Flyer wagon piled high with toys and encouraged him to take one. He was agog with indecision. He recovered, his Batman tops clutched to his chest, and started asking about the pool. We squeezed him in to his inflatable suit and headed for the family pool. We played in the pool for a few hours and then went back to get ready for dinner. Our room had been visited by a crew that was very kind to Luc. They left him spong letters spelling out his name on the side of the tub. They left him a pint sized terry cloth robe to keep him warm after his bath. They left him a plush stuffed froggy so that he wouldn't have to sleep alone. But the coup d'grace was his special "turn down service." Left for him on the desk was a large dinner size plate with a molded chocolate beach bucket and shovel, the bucked filled with gummy bears and M&Ms, perched on a mound of coarse sugar that looked like sand. A chocolate cupcake and his name written on chocolate on the plate completed the smorasboard. He was speechless, unable to utter even a single squeal of excitement. Had he been a cartoon character, his eyes would have popped out of his head, his tongue would have been lolling out of his mouth and he would have made some "aaroooggaahhh" noise. Between the pool and the cupcake, he is already asking when my next birthday will occur.

May -- The Month of Celebrations

Lots going on in May… birthdays, Mother’s Day, and play days! We started Mother’s Day weekend with a trip to the Quail Botanical Gardens for a Chocolate Festival. We borrowed Sadie for the day and did crafts with the kids. (Note: The duet of “I’m a Little Teapot” was filmed on the way to the Gardens) The kids had fun, though Mommy and Daddy realized how much more work two kids are!
For our actual Mother’s Day celebration, we trekked down to our favorite breakfast spot in PB, Café 976. Luc drank “coffee” (lukewarm hot chocolate) and ate all the whipped cream off his waffle. The weather was nice enough that we went down to La Jolla Shores beach to play in the sand. (Note: The soccer video was filmed on Mother’s Day at La Jolla Shores) After the beach, it was naps all around for a pleasant afternoon.

Luc’s birthday celebration began bright and early on May 18 with the 7:00 AM arrival of the lion jumpy. He jumped in it so much, that he needed a nap (and actually took one!) before the party started at 11:30. It was so hot that day that Mommy sent Daddy and Uncle Deric to Costco for another umbrella, but that didn’t bother the kids at all. They raced around the backyard, jumped in the jumpy. The ice cream cake was a hit with everyone, though it melted a bit in the heat. The kids also managed to do some damage to the piñata, but Luc’s friend Chris Hanger broke it wide open for them in the end.

The birthday celebration continued on May 20, Luc’s actual birthday. He got to take cup cakes to his friends at day care and made himself a birthday crown with a big “3” on the front. Later that day, Grandpa Art came over for dinner (spaghetti, the Birthday Boy’s choice) and more cake and presents.

Luc’s big accomplishments while turning three included starting potty training and giving up his pacifier. Luc earned three M&Ms for peepee on the potty and a whopping five M&Ms for poopoo on the potty. He is very motivated by chocolate and is doing great. As for the pacifier, the “MiMi Fairy” came to visit and took all the mimis for new babies and left a big boy present in their place. Luc loves his new Thomas the Train set and has not missed his mimis at all.

We rounded out the month of celebrations with the news that Auntie Sarah and Auntie Dan are engaged! Congratulations, we are so happy for you!

April Showers Bring … Talk of May Birthdays!

Luc is very excited about his birthday and rarely a day goes by without some planning discussion. So far, the general theme is “animals” (the specific theme varies each time) and there will be a jumpy house. And cake. And presents. You get the picture.

In an effort to distract him from party planning, we started prepping him for his new big boy room. We are moving him from the tiny room with a crib to the big room with a big boy bed. A theme change comes along with the new room and good timing too. While Luc still loves the ocean, he is heavy in to trains these days, so it is a good thing that his new bed is a train bed! Mommy painted the walls and Daddy put the train bed together. Luc slept in it the very first night without a backward glance at his crib. He has a lot more room for toys in his new room and he really likes his new bed. He is on his way to becoming a big boy!

Another distraction was a party-sized play date at our house. We invited Toler and his family over for a make your own pizza night. Everyone knows that, once you have two kids together, a few more don’t make much of a difference, so we had Sadie, Ethan, Max and Wyatt over as well! The kids got to put their own toppings on their pizzas and Daddy cooked them on the grill. I am not sure how much eating actually occurred, but the kids had a blast.