Tongue and Groove

Luke is taking after his brother in his love of building things, but he stands alone in his technique. That tongue is all Luke-style!

Down the River

We spent Saturday afternoon tubing down the French Broad River in Asheville. My phone made this sweet video of our time together. 

Tying Shoes

Learning to tie my shoes is one of my earliest memories. The pressure was intense! I was told I had to be able to tie my shoes to go to kindergarten. And so I remember spending the days leading up to kindergarten desperately trying to tie my shoes. I made my deadline, but it was brutal. 

Because I remembered that pressure, I never gave Jack a deadline. I just bought him slip on shoes for kindergarten. But when I mentioned buying new school shoes for first grade, Jack told me the PE teacher asked them to only get tie shoes. I asked him if he knew what that meant, and he replied that he needed to learn to tie his shoes. 

One of the gifts that Buddy, our Elf on the Shelf, brought Jack last Christmas was an elf shoe. So, yesterday we got it out and within a minute or two Jack was tying. No fuss. No tears. No pressure to get it done to go to kindergarten. Just a little boy who when I expressed how proud of him I was replied, "I'm proud of myself, Mom." 

Minnesota Trip 2015

What fun we had in Minnesota the last few weeks! I was very happy to be able to help Megan, Kathy, and Kevin get ready for Megan and Ike's wedding day. And their day was amazing in every way. I cannot wait for the professional pictures to be ready so I can show you just how amazing the day was. 

The boys enjoyed playing with the pugs, fishing, riding their bikes, going to the park, riding the four wheeler, going to The Lego Store at The Mall of America, riding their first roller coaster, playing with their cousins, playing with my college friends' kids, holding newborn Golden Retrievers, watching fireworks from the boat, and tubing at Ike's cabin. 

Dressed Up

When Jack asked Luke in a very exasperated tone how many more days he was going to dress up like a dog, I had to gently remind him of the days when he dressed up like a fireman. It is amazing to me how different these boys are and yet how very much alike as well.