Kyle "Watermelon Man" Soper

Kyle has a problem.  He is obsessed with watermelons.  For those of you who know Dana (Kyle's dad), you know that Dana has no lawn.  Instead he has a small farm.  It's too big to really be called a garden.  He planted 208 (yes, 208) tomato plants alone this year.  Not to mention the other wide variety of vegetables.  He is selling a lot of them and to no small profit, I'm sure.  Anyway.  I'm seeing a bit of Dana come out in Kyle and he is really enjoying his small garden (all we have are watermelons).  And since I really enjoy watermelons, I have no complaints about Kyle's new hobby.  I do like to tease him about it, however.  He literally checks on his watermelons 3-4 times a day.  He reads about growing them at night.  He has blue tape to mark things on the vines.  He's weeded, mulched, and built a fence to keep out the rabbits (Something I know my Grandpa Olson would appreciate).  He waters, he pollinates.  These had better be some tasty melons =)

Kyle has lost several "watermelon babies"...miscarriages, maybe? But this morning he declared that he thought he might have some melons that are going to make it.  Here are some the beloved offspring:

As a result of the "Melon Project" Kyle has plans of expanding for next year and we've started a compost pile.

Updates!

Kyle: Kyle has been very busy lately. It seems I always say that about him. I think that him being busy isn't an update. We can just assume he's always busy =). I mentioned that he and Traver did not purchase a Timeshare website. Instead they plan on building their own. Currently they're working on a database of all the resorts in North America. When that is completed, then they will build the website and then continue later to finish all the resorts in the world. Last weekend Kyle went on a fishing trip with Fireman Paul (as he is known to Luke). They went to Grand Lake and fished for Spoonbills. They each caught a 45-50lb fish. Kyle brought the meat home. He got a recipe from a friend that he plans on trying out next week.

This week he has been working on fixing his sprayer that he pulls behind the lawnmower. He finally got it completely fixed and working this morning. He plans on fertilizing the lawn on Monday. It supposed to not be windy that day. Kyle had been continuing to run, but has yet again injured his old man hamstring so he thinks he's out for the season. Which is too bad, we had been hoping to all go to Kansas City and watch him run this summer, but it looks like that will no longer work.

Rachel: We have started a new Body and Soul session. I know all the songs except for one, which I don't have to have learned until Wednesday so I'm in good shape for that. We have had several people over lately, reminding me of how much I enjoy that. So that has kept me busy. I feel like we're getting into a bit of a groove now, so maybe I'll get better at continuing to have people over. I don't have anything else new going on with me. I'm the boring one in this house!

Luke: Luke will officially be 2 1/2 tomorrow!!! Time sure does fly! Luke went fishing with Kyle (I posted about that already) but here are some more pictures from that evening.

Luke is still learning, but he is doing much better at being gentle with Leta. We still have a long way to go. I can now be standing several feet away from Leta while they are in the same room for like...maybe a minute or two now! But ALWAYS within seeing distance.

Last night Luke and I went on a "Love Date". Leta and Kyle stayed home and we went to Chick-Fil-A to eat (his choice). It was cold and rainy so we didn't play in the play land but we did get to go to Target afterward!!! I let him pick out a book because it was our "special date". We had fun and I enjoyed getting to spend time with just him since there isn't much of that anymore with me needing to protect Leta from him so much.

Leta: Is now 3 months old. We went to the doctor this past Monday because she was so congested etc. just to get her checked out. She weighed (with wet diaper and clothes) 12lbs 8oz. She had fluid in her ear and I was told to watch for not wanting to suck and a temperature. Which developed yesterday. Which on the plus side, meant we got great naps out of her all day long! Unheard of! But, the poor girl felt horrible so that was no good. I emailed her Dr. and we both assume she went ahead and got her first ear infection. (Luke has never had one before) So she's breaking us in on that front. The ear infection is why she and Kyle stayed home last night.

Seen and Heard

Leta is 11 weeks old.

2 minutes ago....

Kyle: What's this on her back?

Me: HER BIRTH MARK!!!!!!!!

I'm Dreaming of a white Christmas...

Just like the ones we had in Nebraska...but not so much in Oklahoma! So this is really something here. Most of the interstates and major highways are closed. There is a HUGE car pileup on one of the interstates. But I have to say, this actually does qualify as a blizzard at times. It's snowing steadily and the wind is goin' at it Okie style =).

Kyle is more excited about the snow than Luke and let me tell you. Luke. Is. Excited. But neither of them are as excited as Kyle's brother Jeremy who has been calling all day and making Kyle send him picture after picture of the snow. Jeremy lives in Houston, but I think if his wife Angie would let him, he just might drive up so HE can play in the snow, too!

Kyle and Luke just came in from outside. Luke thinks he built a snowman, but I think just because they've been talking about building one. The snow is too powdery and won't pack. Luke did sled on my jelly roll pan 4 or 5 times Kyle said. They're inside now and Luke is drinking hot chocolate (homemade!...with the frequency of OK snow, what kind of mother would I be if I didn't make it from scratch?!?!) and begging to watch the Polar Express. The boys are headed upstairs right now to the theater room to watch it.

Seen and heard.

Kyle: Rachel, do we have an ice pick?

Me: No, you'd probably kill me in my sleep with it.

Kyle: I'd just use a knife.

DADDY!!!

Luke and Jimmy! Luke worships him, you know (according to Jimmy anyway =))

Playing in Kyle's sock drawer.

Luke likes to lay like this and rock the ottoman.

Kyle's 31st birthday. 3-1 candles...pretty clever, huh?

Doug, JoAnne and Jimmy! came for a visit on their way back to TX.

Kyle: Has been working hard in the yard. He has lined several of our flower beds with rock and they look very nice and he's been coding alot of different things that have to do with different partnerships he has with other websites. He's also DYING to take the boat out for the first time.

Rachel: I have been busy with Body and Soul. We start our new session Monday which means every spare minute (expect these, while I'm blogging =) ) have been spent memorizing all our new routines. I'm having to learn them all sooner than normal this time so I've really been cramming.

Luke: He is trying really hard to be a daddy's boy. He asks about Kyle about 50 times a day. "Daddy?" "Daddy's at the gym, Daddy's working" I say. It's very important to know Kyle's whereabouts at all times. And I mean ALL times. He also has taken to crying "Daddy" very pitifully when I put him in timeout, like he's going to come save him or something. I'll let you know if that ever works for him *wink* Luke is also teething. He has 4 bottom teeth very close to coming in. This results in crankiness, stinky naps, not sleeping through the night...the usual. I'm ready for this to be over. I'm sure he is, too. He had his first swimming lesson this past Tuesday. LOVED it. He goes under water well, although he hasn't figured out what holding his breath is all about yet.

I went to a consignment sale last week and got some stuff for Luke for the summer and I got him a T-shirt from the OKC zoo that says "Cheeky Monkey" on it...just for you Vicki! Happy Birthday on the 5th and you, too, Georgeanne on the 10th!!

1st Sentence!

Luke said his first two word sentence today. He said, "Bye Bye Daddy" when Kyle left for the gym. Of course Kyle was already out the door so he didn't get to hear it.

Luke also got two more teeth on the top. He has 8 on the top and 4 on the bottom.

And Luke LOVES your mothers day present, mom. I can't keep him out of it. So if the box is less than pristine when you get it...blame the little man =)

HAPPY 31 KYLE!!!

Ponca City and a Talkin' Fool

Well, I had a great Valentines/Birthday. It all happened the same weekend so extra big fun for me! I didn't even try to get a babysitter on Valentines Day so I got one for Friday the 20th. Here's a picture of the beautiful flowers Kyle got me for V-day. Lily's are my favorite flower and tulips are my second favorite. He did good. We went to the Melting Pot and ate WAY too much, but it was SO good.

Monday after we got back from Ponca City I got my birthday present from Kyle. New slippers modeled here by Luke. My old ones had holes in the them so they were much needed. I like them better than my last pair (that I picked out). These stay on my feet. Kyle is also going to watch Luke all day some Saturday here coming up and I get to have a Luke free girls day doing whatever we want. I'm already dreaming.

Saturday morning we went to Ponca City and came back Sunday evening. It was a nice trip. Even better to see mom and dad and Pappaw and Grandma Key on my birthday. And Marjorie the day before. This is a picture of one of the cutest things he did while we were there. Love it! He also took many walks with Grandpa. He does a good job of walking and holding your hand (when required). He walked all the way around Pappaw and Great-Grandma Key's long block and then 3 blocks down to the park, 1 block over and then the 3 blocks home. And his little legs are still attached! I was really suprised that he walked all that way by himself and didn't want carried at all. Luke also loved watching the trains go by. We're pretty sure Solomon is in for a treat with that as well. While there, Luke pulled out all the stops and said like a bazillion new words. He now can say:

Car, sock, shoe, tractor, apple, duck, roar like a lion, dog, cat, "butt" for button, book, mama, daddy, "side" for outside....mom might remember more. He sure was experimenting. We're currently working on saying Solomon and "Mama pretty". We'll see if he can master it before Solomons much anticipated arrival on March 7.

Notable Quotable

Tonight at 8:34pm while getting Luke ready for bed.

"Luke, it's not too late to put you in time out."
--Kyle

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!

On the way to Sam's

Kyle: Have you been to Sam's recently?
Me: No
Kyle: Well, you won't believe all the awesome stuff they have now.

Heard today

"I love Sam's. If I could have a shopping spree anywhere, it would be Sam's. I could spend a million dollars in that store."
---spoken with reverence, Kyle Soper

Mr. Universe

So, after my last post, Kyle received a "fan mail" for being great and helping out with that kind of horrible poop mess. I'm thinking after yesterday, he might just deserve SOME fan mail. Like maybe 2 or something.

Last night we were getting ready for bed and Kyle says -out of the blue-, "OU has a by tomorrow, so why don't I watch Luke and you see what Shanna is doing. You guys could go shopping or something." I have to admit, I was stunned speachless. I was so excited I literally had dreams all night long about all the things I could get done today sans Luke. This morning I told Kyle I was greedy (see how I repay kindness? There's no question who the better person is in this relationship!) and that I needed 2 days of him watching Luke, that I had too long of a To Do list to just go have fun with Shanna (sorry Shanna! But from the sound of it there will TOTALLY be a next time!! Start saving your Shanna dollars now!!!). So today I went and did almost all of my Christmas shopping. I have just a handful of people left (the ones I didn't have ideas for). I left at 10:30 and didn't get home until 4. I made 12 stops. Today would have been completely impossible without Kyle. Isn't this the greatest story you've ever heard? Fun day with Shanna...TBA.

Sorry ladies, he is SO taken. =)

So I told him, never figure that out again...

Friday night for Luke's 3 month birthday, we took him to Texas Road House for supper...really we just wanted to go...and while there Kyle estimated that I have fed Luke over 750 times.