St. Johns Parade

Last weekend was the St. Johns parade, right in our own neighborhood. It is a fun, quintessential Portland event. It was the first time Luke had really seen and appreciated a parade. He loved the firetrucks, cars, horses and marching bands.

Keeping the Trains Running on Time

Luke has a great train set in the basement of our house. I was actually really impressed with this layout that Matt made, so I had to take pictures. Luke has loved trains since he was only a few month old.

Luke in the Park

We take Luke to a lot of different parks.
Here are some pictures from different times in different parks.

Running the bases at Columbia Park.

Riding the carousel at Jantzen Beach.

School Picture Proofs

Luke had "school pictures" taken a few weeks ago. Now we need to decide which ones to order by Friday. If you have any favorites, let me know!

April Photos

Luke at the Oregon Zoo Easter Egg hunt.Riding the train at the Zoo.

Taking the trike for a spin.
Digging in the dirt.

Picking flowers for mama. (Or picking mama's flowers.)

Coloring Easter Eggs.

A rare photo of us three, thanks to camera timer.

Third-year Check-up

Luke had his third year check-up yesterday. We didn't go to the doctor one time in the last 12 months, and yet Luke was afraid at the doctor's office and tried to run away when his name was called. But he did OK. A little squirmy with the height and weight measuring (38 pounds and over 39" tall; 90th percentiles) and very wary of everything, but we walked away with the happy news that he's totally healthy.

The other morning Luke built this "work computer" out of various toys.

And here he is the other night in a bubble bath. We let the jet tub jets run for a while.

I have a little story. The morning after Luke was born, a woman came to our room at St. Vincent's hospital to ask how I was doing and whether I had any prayer requests. Had I been expecting her visit, I would have had my prayer list ready. Instead, I said something like, "Well, I guess, I'm just grateful that everything turned out OK and that we have a healthy baby." "So you would like a prayer of thanksgiving," she said, "We don't get many of those."

I would like to say another prayer of thanksgiving for my beautiful boy. And I will try to remember this feeling when he is driving me absolutely crazy with his willful ways and whining.

Third Birthday -- Part 3

After we got home from day care, we started Opening Presents Round 2.

Luke got hockey sticks from Grandma and Grandpa Siorek (along with some pucks and Daddy's old hockey jersey from when he was a kid)!

And he got a hockey net from mom and dad.

Langston and Graham came over and the guys played cars and then took time out for a snack.

Uncle Matt and Aunt Zoe came over, and then it was birthday cake time.
Luke knew just what to do at the end of the song.

The cake was a Lightening McQueen cake from a local bakery.

It was a hit with the guests.
Then it was time to get down with some serious ice cream and birthday cake eating.

Luke learned that it's best to eat ice cream slowly in small bites.
Then Langston and Graham had to go home, Matt and Zoe made pizzas, and we commenced with Opening Presents Round 3. I don't have photos of this, but here are Luke and Uncle Matt playing with a cool Hot Wheels carrying case/race track.

Luke went to bed about 9:30 and fell asleep sometime shortly after 10.
It was a long and exciting day and we were all exhausted.

Third Birthday -- Part 2

Since Luke's birthday was on a Wednesday, we didn't plan a big party.
But he did celebrate with his friends at day care. They made him a sign.

And we brought in banana muffins from a local bakery and put together bags of party favors. A teacher made Luke a birthday crown.

Here is Luke presiding over the table.

Third Birthday -- Part 1

Luke's third birthday was yesterday!
He has been so excited about it for the past week.

It was a long day. It started early in the morning with Opening Presents Round 1.

Great-grandpa Siorek sent a card with some postcards of kittens inside. Here is Luke giving a kitten a kiss. Yes, I've turned him into a cat person. (You're welcome, future girlfriends.)

And here is Luke approving the five-dollar bill that was also in the card.

Then Luke drove the remote-control Lightening McQueen from Grandpa Presley.

And he watched a birthday video message from his cousins on the computer.