Ahoy! Happy 4th Birthday, Luke!

We're not quite sure how Luke went and got to be 4, but get to 4 he did.  After suggesting myriad party ideas (soccer?), themes (astronauts?), and activities (Stew Leonard's?), he stopped us cold with "I want a PIRATE PARTY at OUR HOUSE with JACOB AND RONAN.  And that's it." 

And so...

Paul made another theme cake - a pirate flag

Luke was properly outfitted - complete with a "moosetasche"

And bling

Ronan modeled the eye patch and sword selection

SWORD FIGHT!

SWORD AND BALLOON FIGHT!

Among the happiest days of his 4 years on Earth

Harper donned an outfit of Luke's choosing.  Well, mom didn't pair the dress with the overalls Luke originally selected...

Harper LOVED watching the big kids

Luke and Ronan licking their chops in anticipation

Black icing makes for ZOMBIE MOUTH

Luke enjoying the spoils of his plundering

Harper made quick work of her cake, then worked the room

The boys then took a Phineaus and Ferb break (which Luke TiVo'd for them ahead of the party - he was the host with the most)

Someone was pooped

Happy Birthday, Luke: The Party

Due to a high volume of birthdays (and parties) in Preschool Classroom 3 in January, and also (primarily) due to the fact that Mom & Dad have had a lot on their plate of late, Luke's 3rd birthday (Observed) was set for February 12.

Once again, Daddy went all out on the theme cake - and his cake decorating skills are getting quite good with all of the practice. Much less cursing this year! The cake, per Luke's request, was chocolate

He also made a "groom's cake" for the affair - a white cake with chocolate icing (Mommy's favorite)

On the day of the party, Luke helped Mommy give Harper her bath, and decided that he should "take pictures for Grammy. I think she would like to see pictures of Chooch's bath." Um, OK

Then he decided to take self-portraits


And some still lifes (still lives?)

Finally! It was PARTY TIME.
Luke and his friend, Sophie-Anne, mingled over JBs, salt dough shapes, and markers

Luke and Zoe's mom had a chat, too

And a few of the kids had fun being firefighters

Some riff raff wandered in

A rousing game of "stick the helmet on the fire dog" was enjoyed


And the kids made their own fun

Look out, Max!

Cake time!



Candle blowing outing high 5!
Luke and his besties eat cake

Harper made a brief appearance between naps

The art table was popular, too


And finally, after it was all over, Luke was pooped! This was after his post-party meltdown because the party was over wherein we had to trick him into NOT going to bed at 6pm per his tearful demands.

It's going to be hard to top this when he turns 4!

Happy Birthday, Luke!

I'M THREE!

Happy Birthday, Grandpap!

Happy Birthday Grammy

Luke's Grammy Rosella is celebrating her 39th birthday today.
We failed (again) to get our present in the mail on time, but this should tide her over!



Happy Birthday, Grammy!

Happy Birthday Grammy 2009

Today is Luke's Grammy Rosella's birthday. Luke had her present all picked out & purchased and ready to be put together for her, but then he came home with a virus on Monday and was a sick little bear for a few days, throwing everyone's week into disarray. He pulled himself together this evening, however, in honor of her birthday & set to signing her card - captured here. He's now ready for the present to go in the mail tomorrow!



Happy Birthday, Grammy!

Happy Birthday to Luke

It is hard to believe it, but Luke turned one on January 31st.

He woke up that day to his brand new present from the Leary Infantines - and oh my goodness, was he excited. His head just about exploded when he saw it (he had gotten acclimated with this toy during his visit with Lucia two weeks ago) and realized that the house! Was at his house! Holy crap!

He got right to work...

Then he took a break to be goofy...and yes, that amorphous blob behind him is Mom, hoping against hope for some extra sleep...
Soon he tired of the bedroom & went out to the living room where he found Grammy & Grandpap's present. They hadn't gotten to the apartment yet, so he could only look and touch - but not open it.
After he got dressed, back to the house!
Bottle break with Grandpap!Then some snuggling with Grammy & a Tube Break (tm) with Grandpap.Finally, Aunt Sharren, Uncle Charlie, and Aunt Tanya came over - and he got so many great presents...
The wrapping paper was fun, too...
He got a big fuzzy dog from Charlie & Sharren...we have named him Walter after his dog friend down the hall.
Dad's gingerbread cake - featuring Spider-Man! (Read: Mom was left to her own devices at Party City)
Luke looks like he could get used to all of this attention, no?
Especially from Auntie Sharren.

He looooved the gingerbread cake...


...but not so much the party hat...

...but that's OK, Uncle Charlie liked it! Sooooo big!

And because it's so darn cute, here's Luke on Super Bowl Sunday, taking a break with Walter.
And last, a video of Luke being serenaded...