Yes this was the sexiest photo taken that day and possibly of the whole summer. Picture perfect 5? Oh well. We still had a great time. Spent all day at Burgers Lake with friends and kids enjoying ourselves. We also got to enjoy the fighter jets flying overhead doing some training moves. Felt very top gun. This was a day where we had just as much if not more fun than the kids. We jumped, trapezed, floated, built castles and chatted all day long. Great summertime fun.
A few weeks ago a bunch of friends and I went to Burgers Lake (never fear a post to come!) My friend Rebbecca and I were sitting on the beach making sand castles with both our girls while the boys were all off playing. Luke came skipping up to us, have I mentioned the skip is his primary mode of transportation. Well, it is. Anyways, Luke comes up and asks me to please please take his life jacket off ( he can swim but being in a lake and all I made him wear a life jacket) because his little buddy asked him to take it off. So that they can play catch. And play just the two of them. 
In no time he was skipping back towards us with his little buddy in his hand. We about died of laughter right there as we checked out Luke's little buddy! Ha! He does have brown skin, two man eyes and big teeth!! Oh man that was very funny and so typical of Luke. He is so imaginative, playing with random toys making up scenarios of their adventures together. So, we took off Luke's life jacket and they did play catch on the beach. He and his little buddy.
Last June Mr. Luke graduated from preschool. He loved going to preschool and seeing his buddies. He'd skip up our driveway after school with his happy little skip. For graduation they sang a couple of songs which were of course, amazing. Luke was so proud of himself and belted out the songs taught to him. "I am a promise, I am a possibility, I am a promise I am a great big bunch of PERSONALITY! with a capitol P, I am a promise." The song had movements that went with the song and lets just say, everyone in the family loves to watch the video of Luke singing and dancing. It is sure to be a hit at Luke's wedding.
Luke hugging Ms. Whitney whom all the children just adored. Possibly because they thought she was just one of the gang. She is a sweet little package of a person standing small at 5 feet even.
Luke with his peers getting ready to sing to their audience.
Luke and Mrs. Susan the school nurse. Mrs. Susan is just wonderful and not enough nice things can be said of her. Luke goes down to her office about three times a day to check his blood sugars. He has a routine of exactly what to do and he skips in and does his thing. On days where Luke is literally dragging she gives him encouragement to move a wee bit faster. She handles Luke with a cool head and keeps my baby boy safe. 
Luke and I after his graduation in the nurses office. As part of the graduation Luke made me a treat. He baked a brownie in a pottery pot then made a flower sugar cookie and decorated with 2 pounds of sprinkles. Attached a stick to the cookie and stuck it into the "dirt". I gobbled it up while sitting in a tiny chair. I'm so proud of Luke, he's grown up a lot this last year. He's chomping at the bit to be independent and grow up. Off he goes to kindergarten in less than a week. Love you boy.
Here he is with his beloved teacher, Mrs. Cady. Owen had a great year with her, I can honestly say he never once didn't want to get up and go to school. He had fun kids in his classroom, did lots of creative projects, and became an even better reader. Knowing Owen, probably had quite a few laughs along the way.
Here he is at the graduation with his puppet that we worked so hard on. It was a lion, even though some may have thought it was a turkey. But never mind their ignorance, they obviously know nothing. Mr. Platt is the music teacher at the school and he put together a lovely ensemble. Filled with cheerful music to toe tapping patriotic Texas songs. 
In response to the question in your head. Yes. He is the tallest boy in the first grade. And I dare say the best looking also. What's that? Yes, yes I am completely impartial. I mean after all he is the son of the tallest girl in classroom 1983 Jamie Lynn Peterson. My parents were possibly just as proud.
Lily was in attendance and yes, she was very naughty. She didn't much care for the awards part of the ceremony. Imagine, approximately a hundred kids being called up one by one and receiving their individual certificate and any other awards. Since I'm sure your dying inside to know what Owen's awards were here they are in utter randomness; best athlete, science award, and . . .wait for it. . .the handwriting award. Yes, yes we are proud. But seriously we are really proud.
What can I say. The girl just has a thing for boots. No matter that it is 102 degrees out or that we are at home with no plans to leave. No matter. She will be styled. And she will change this look approximately fifteen more times before she goes to sleep.
Oh, and she will poop on the carpet somewhere in the house. Then to make matters worse she will try to clean it all up by herself. I usually become aware of it once she runs out of towels, books, stuffed animals or zu zu pets to wipe it up with.
Hard to stay mad at her for long because she just rocks the ankle boots so well.
A smile grows upon my face as I type this out. But not too much, I mean my kids will read this one day (out loud to their therapists). But no, this doesn't mean you can spank me. :) Greater smiling. So as punishment I will post 4 posts per day for the next week. I've been busy living in the bliss of summertime. Watching my children grow up before my eyes. Enjoying moments of great pride in the people they are becoming. Then in the other moments where they fight, tease and scream I assure myself that those are all qualities inherited from a distant relative.
