BIG NEWS!

Fireplace
Kitchen

Kitchen/eating area

We went to the lake house today to check the progress and pick out our granite remnants for the bathrooms etc. Grandpa Wilbur and Gigi watched Luke for us today and while we were gone HE SAID HIS FIRST WORD!! Car! They told us about it when we got home, so I held one of Luke's cars and asked him what it was, and he said it! I think he's been saying it for a while, but I just didn't realize what was going on, but he was very obvious about it today!

Another Freebie Post

...because I KNOW how much you all love to know how I scored at CVS. They PAID ME 7 + bucks to take all of this stuff out of their store. (Are you gettin' all this Michael?)

6 Johnsons Buddies

2 Hershey's Bars

1 Toothpaste

2 NutriTrim Gums

1 Gillete Fusion Razor

2 Pert Plus Shampoos

2 Gillette Conditioners

2 Pantene Conditioners

1 Head and Sholders Conditioner.

I tell you what. This CVS shopping deal kinda gives me a high. You know how when people are addicted to something...drinking, smoking, meth...what have you...sometimes they will replace that habit with another to help them break their addiction. Well, all you meth addicts out there...might I suggest CVSing as your replacement habit? Move over you rehab facilities. Rachel just had a break through.

*Kyle read this and says I'm a dork. No seconding please.

Ponca City and Croup

Eating Kix with Daddy

Luke knows where his belly is.

Helping Mom fold laundry.

Pappaw, Great Grandma Key and LukeLuke wearing Pappaw's slippers.

Saturday Luke and I went to Ponca City to see his Great-Pappaw and Great Grandma Key. His Great Aunt Marjorie made the trip from Tulsa just to see him. We had a good time. He ate well and impressed Grandparents. He didn't sleep at all on the drive there, but he did sleep for an hour in his pack n play so that was better than last time we went anyway. He had fun wearing Pappaw's slippers and playing with the radio and watching the trains from the windows in their den and he read many stories with Great Grandma. We were glad for a chance to see them all, especially Marjorie, as she hadn't seen him since he was just 2 months old.

Then when we got back, Luke got the Croup. He woke up crying at 5:30 this morning, so we stood in the steamy shower for a few minutes, and then stood out in the cold night air for a few minutes and back and forth. He was really wheezy when I got him from his crib and I was really glad that I'd read about Croup on the internet before and I knew that's what it was, otherwise his breathing probably would've really made me panic-y. We had him back in bed a little after 6 and he woke up early at 7:45. We have a doctors appointment today so he'll have medicine soon and hopefully be back to himself shortly.

Gymboree

I meant to take pictures while we were there, but didn't get around to it. Luke had big fun. We went to Play and Learn 4 for 16-22 mo. He's not to little for it at all. He really liked the climbing and the balls. He wasn't as into the sitting for the songs etc but really enjoyed his ride on the parachute and watching the parachute. He didn't want to go under it, though. We got a Gift Card from Michael and Audra that gets us a month of classes for free, but I was still going to have to pay a $35 membership fee (kinda steep, no?). A nice woman in the class told me there was a coupon for a free membership on the front desk, so turns out, I didnt' have to pay for that either! Yippiee! We practiced stop and go. I say practice, because his behavior didn't show any learning of the skill. He's too busy for the "stop" part of stop and go. We had big fun and we'll be back next Thursday! We can also go to a PlayGym session on Friday afternoons. We may do that some too. Gotta get our moneys worth!!

Nuttin' much

Here is Luke in his Christmas outfit from Grandma and Grandpa O. Luke's a big LL Cool J fan. When I opened the package, I just KNEW that it was goin to be way to big. Well it's not. The shirt fits perfectly...and maybe not for too much longer! But the pants he'll be able to wear for a long time. He needs pants with an adjustable waist band. Which isn't common in size 12mo. They usually break that feature out starting with 2T. The jeans Grandma Binky got him for Christmas have that though, and I LOVE it. The pants he wore to church Sunday fell down in the middle of the sermon. They DON'T have an adjustable waist.

After my bible study tonight I made a CVS run. I paid $10.73 OOP and got $12.58 in Extra Bucks. I love it when CVS pays me to take away their products. (Side note: Hickory Farms has their gift baskets up to 85% off...and you can get an additional 15% off with code SIZZLE at checkout. I made a purchase last weekend.) Brandon--feel free to go get Shanna to show off my great deal. You know you want to.

Sorry this picture is so blurry, but this is Luke's newest trick. He climbed down before I could get a better picture. He first pulled the basket out of the cupboard, then slid his chair over, and then climbed on in! He's very proud of himself.

And this is why Luke isn't ready for Crayon fun unattended. (pardon the red eye) And I'm a little depressed as it just hit me how "little boy" and not "baby" he looks in this picture.

There isn't just a whole lot new going on around here. And I kinda like it. There isn't much in the way of plans this week. Thursday Luke and I are going to try a Gymboree class for free. We're going to Play & Learn 4. It's the time slot that works best for us with naps. It's for 16-22 month olds. We're going to try it and see if they'll let him come even (using our Gift Certificate from Michael and Audra) though he's only 15 months. If not, well then I guess we'll wait until February to join. so ha.

Kyle went with a friend to Lake Draper (near Midwest city...not far from us, really) last Saturday and rode 4-Wheelers. He has big plans for Brandon and himself once Brandon's 4-Wheeler gets fixed. Luke likes to ride with Kyle and I up and down our street. There is just SO MUCH to point at!

New Year's Resolutions...Better late than never!

For Myself

1. Always make plenty of time for my bible study
2. Send birthday cards
3. Do a better job maintaining a picked up house, especially kitchen
4. More consistency with Luke

For Luke

1. Learn some words
2. Less whining
3. No touching the microwave

Luke for Mommy

1. Stop wiping my nose/hands/face
2. Longer bath time
3. Play outside more

Great Freebies!!

If you were impressed with all my free cough syrup, well you'll love this! I paid $6.12 for all this (including tax) and got $8.50 back in Extra Bucks.

Our Christmas

Luke's new slippers from Grandma Binky.

Luke's tent from the Cress'

Helping Daddy unwrap


The Aftermath

Luke L.O.V.E.S. his tent

Opening his stocking

Kyle, Luke, and I had a really fun Christmas at home. Luke enjoyed opening a few presents, but then he was mostly distracted by what was already open that he couldn't open any more. He mostly just walked around holding the chapstick that Kyle got in his stocking. We had big fun, it was a great evening. Luke was really wound up.

Lake House Update

Inside

Back

Front

These are the floors

This is a very delayed update. I think in late November these were taken.

Free Stuff

Here's a few pictures of the free stuff I've gotten lately. I've got a promising week of free stuff (more tooth paste!) coming up and I'm super excited for this Sunday's paper--5, yes 5!! coupon inserts (pass yours my way if you don't want it). Life is good. Luke is cute. Kyle bought a 4-wheeler and has killed 2 moles in our yard.