Luke's Birthday Wish List

I know some people are needing/wanting ideas for Luke's birthday, so here you go! I'll probably continue to update this post as I think of things so you might check back on it every so often before you make your decision (if you haven't already). OF COURSE your ideas are welcome, this is just if you're having trouble coming up with something!

1. Toy fire trucks. I don't think he could wind up with too many.

2. Praise Baby DVD. Any of them. The one we have is wore out Luke loves it so much!

3. Farm set. With small animals wagons etc that he can easily hold in his hand.

4. Something that comes with a trailer. He's obsessed with things pulling trailers these days.

5. A tool/work bench. The kind where he can hammer things in, screw things in, take bolts off or somethign like that. He likes to put things, "right there".

6. Stickers

7. Small dump truck, semi, cement truck.

8. Toy motorcycle. Really into them right now, too.

9. School bus.

He doesn't need any clothes, but I know they're fun to pick out, so in that case either 18 or 24 month/2T would be fine.

Weekend

We had a great weekend at the lake. The weather wasn't perfect, but it was still nice to be out and we were able to boat and swim. The best part is, my dad flew his little 4 seater coop plane to Grove and met us on Friday. Luke was so excited when we told him we were going to go to the airport to pick up Grandpa! When we got to the airport Dad had already landed and was walking towards us, though he was still a good distance off. So I told Luke to run to Grandpa and he did. It was so sweet to watch. We mostly just hung around the house Friday night after we picked up my dad. Saturday morning was pretty overcast to start and we knew it would be too cold to swim right away so we went to the airport and "helped" Grandpa fill the plane up with gas. Luke got to taxi to get gas with Grandpa and Mommy, but on the way back, it was just Grandpa and Luke. We then came home and had a quick tour on the boat and then it was home for grilling hamburgers and eating outside. Luke had a nap, and even though I wasn't tired, I managed to nap for 1 1/2 hrs too! Then after Luke woke up we went back out and we all went swimming (Kyle and Dad were jealous of my water shoes. They come in very handy in a lake that is all rock and NO sand!!) and then Kyle and Dad rode the tube. Dad tried skiing, but didn't get up. We then went to eat at the Reingarten (German restaurant...Thanks Tara and Jeremy!!) and it was great. Sunday we went to church (Luke was overtired from his weekend and did NOT behave very well. He managed to have to sit in time out twice and get THREE! spankings). We ate and then took Grandpa to the airport and watched him take off. The ride home with Luke is still too painful to discuss.

Luke and Grandpa were great buds. Luke always wanted to sit by Grandpa, have Grandpa hold him, read to him...whatever. I have a feeling that some people are going to have to work extra hard to get any Luke time when we go to Nebraska for our visit at the end of September.

I, of course, forgot our camera so you'll all have to wait and suffer until I get pictures from my mom when she uploads them, whenever that will be. *hint hint nudge nudge*

Bedding? Check.

Luke and Daddy digging in the dirt.
I tell you what! If you're wanting bedding that isn't super babyish (me thinking I don't to redecorate in a year etc) or that is super girly...you've got your work cut out for you! I finally settled on this Little Boy Blue Baby/Toddler quilt...meant for a boy, but I think it will be perfect for our Little Miss. This will go with the brown chair and green crib and changing table she will be inheriting from her big brother. I can't WAIT for it to get here in the mail so I can start matching colors from it and planning Kyle's future paint job =)

Cute Luke Story: Tonight at supper, Luke was telling us what/who he wanted to tell God thank you for, as he does every night. Tonight he said, Traver, Mommy, then looked at Kyle. And just looked with this VERY mischevious grin and burst out in huge belly laughs. Because he was on purpose "forgetting" Daddy. Cracked us all up.

Swimming lessons start tomorrow as does the Lapsit program at our local library. Luke loves that program. They play, sing, play games and read a story. He has no idea how much fun he's going to have tomorrow! Now that Kyle will be going to the same gym we take swimming lessons from, mabye I'll be able to get some pictures of Luke swimming. He's very splashy.

PS I made the Italian Omlet tonight with Mom's hashbrowns and they were both a hit. I'll have to include the Italian Omlet recipe in my next Meal Plan post. Very yummy and very inexpensive to make. Me gusta!!

White Cake

Luke finger painting.

So. I made my white cupcakes for Body and Soul and they were a hit. I was going to use my grandma's recipe (because Grandma's recipes are ALWAYS the best), but I needed to double it and I didn't have that much shortening, and a 40 minute round trip drive to the store to get some didn't quite seem like the thing to do.

So, the internet saved me. I looked at several recipes, and this is the one I tried to follow, but let's just say I didn't really read the directions before I started and messed several things up (incorporated from different white cake recipes) so I'll tell you what I did. Maybe that means this is MY White Cake Recipe. I died both the frosting and the cake pink since we're having a girl.

Rachel Soper's White Cake Recipe

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup egg whites (takes about 5 or 6 eggs)

3/4 cup milk

2 tsp vanilla extract ( I use the good stuff...straight from Mexico)

Preheat oven to 350. Prepare two 9 inch round or one 9X13 OR 18 cupcakes. For the cakes, they say butter the bottom and line with parchment paper. Since I did cupcakes, I didn't have to worry about that.

In a large bowl beat egg whites until stiff (actual recipe didn't say to do this, but I did). Set aside.

Combine butter and sugar for about 5 min, until light and fluffy. In a separate bowl combine remaining dry ingredients. Set aside. Stir milk and vanilla into egg whites. Add 1/3 flour mixture to butter mixture and then 1/2 of the egg/milk mixture. Then dry, wet and ending with dry. Scrape bowl often.

Pour batter into pans. Bake cakes for 25-30 min. Or cupcakes 15 minutes. Until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes then remove from pan. Cool completely and frost.

Rachel's Cream Cheese Frosting

8 oz cream cheese

1/2 stick butter, room temp

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 cap lemon extract

Powdered sugar until it's the consistency you want. About 4 cups.

And here she is!

It's a....

Girl!!!

We just wanted to be like Michael and Audra ; ) So now we'll start picking out names. I have ultrasound pictures, but our scanner is being stubborn so you'll have to wait to see her cute profile. She's healthy, has a brain and all her vital organs.

Nap

When I went to get Luke up from his nap today this is what he said.

"Monkey's eyes right there." Pointing to a spot inbetween the slats on his crib.

"Kick the monkey like this." Proceeds to show me how he kicked the monkey with a stomping motion.

"Monkey show me his toes."

"Monkey get out of bed."

"Penguin waddle side to side."

"Penguin out of bed."

My guess is as good as yours.