The Feast of the Madonna!

For the first year ever, Luke was old enough to enjoy the real pleasures of Hoboken's annual Italian Festival. Note his ill-fitting shirt. For just a $5 donation, Luke was given an Italian American Police of Northern NJ t-shirt. You know what old Italian cops like? Little boys freaking out about getting a "policeman shirt." He was also loaded up with a bumper sticker, a key chain, a measuring tape, a pen....

He boogied down to the music

Check out those moves!

He saluted the flags

He enjoyed some street fair lemonade

He got to know zeppole - for you New Englanders, they're like fried dough balls.

It only counts if you're coated in powdered sugar

Viva La Madonna!

Luke at the zoo

Luke loves the Zoo, and he loves dancing to the Zoo Songs.

Enjoy.

Happy Birthday, Grandpap!

Luke & Mommy Race for Cure Again in 2010!

In less than one week from today, on September 12, 2010, Luke and Mommy will join TEAM LISA and thousands of others for the annual Komen New York City Race for the Cure® for the third time. As the world’s leading breast cancer organization, Susan G. Komen for the Cure® is committed to ending breast cancer forever. By making a donation on our behalf, you are supporting local breast cancer screening, treatment, education and outreach along with national peer-reviewed research programs that will lead us to a world without breast cancer.

WHERE DOES YOUR MONEY GO?

Komen Greater NYC has a multi-pronged approach to fighting breast cancer:

• It addresses the community breast health needs of underserved populations in metropolitan New York
• It supports essential local education, screening and treatment programs
• It invests in crucial peer-reviewed research programs being conducted locally and nationally
• UP TO 75% of the net revenue is used to support local breast health programs and at least 25 percent funds peer-reviewed national and local clinical research

Last year, Luke & I raised over $2000 for Team Lisa thanks to so many of you. Team Lisa raised over $12,000. This year, we want to match last year, and our goal is $2000 once again. Please help us reach that number with your financial support. Online donations are simple, and the site is secure. Please go to www.komennyc.org/goto/paigeandluke and click on the "SUPPORT PAIGE" button above the thermometer and make a tax-deductible donation today!

Luke and Auntie Lisa on Race Day in 2009

Feel free to wager and donate based on the following: Will Luke stay awake for even 1 of the 5 K – for the first time in Race history? Will a very pregnant Paige make it through all 5K, or will she bail & take a taxi? WIll she even fit in the t-shirt?!? Will Luke fill up on the bread basket at post-race brunch?

WHY DO WE RACE?

• Because the greatest risk factors for getting breast cancer are being female and getting older
• Because breast cancer knows no boundary be it age, gender, socioeconomic status, or geographic location
• Because one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime
  
• We race because it makes a real difference - just look at all of those pink survivor shirts on our team in that picture to the right - they are a testament to our success.

Most of all, Luke and I race because we love Auntie Lisa and are grateful to have her in our lives.

Thank you everyone for your support!

Love,

Paige & Luke

www.komennyc.org/goto/paigeandluke

Better Late Than Never: Summer Vacation 2010 Part 1

Mom, Dad, and Luke went to Portsmouth at the beginning of August, and enjoyed 5 days of Poop Toilets, Ice Cream, Beaches, Ox-Cart Man discussions, more Ice Cream, Trollies, and some more Poop Toilet.

After settling in at the hotel, Luke set about discovering Portsmouth, and enjoyed some dinner at the Portsmouth Brewery.

Luke had lots of fun looking at the boats, and generally running around the waterfront.

The electric tea lights at the Portsmouth Brewery were fascinating and promoted a few rounds of "Happy Birthday."

This was about the point we told Luke that we would go for ice cream after dinner.

On Monday, Luke got ready for a big day sightseeing, equipped with his hat and "camera". All he needs are some tall socks to complete the outfit.

He tried to wrap his head around the fact that Mom and Dad got their wedding photos taken on these steps, and willingly posed for a photo with his best "cheese."

After breakfast we got down to learning, and went to the site of Portsmouth Market, immortalized in the book The Oxcart Man.

Here is Luke and Dad checking it out close up, near the "ice cream street."

Coming up... playing with friends, playing in sand, playing with lobsters

Mommy's Wallet

We're just back from a week's vacation in New England and are still sorting through our pictures. In the meantime, here's a video from about a month ago to tide his fans over....

One of Luke's new favorite things is to find Mommy's wallet, disassemble it, and then parcel out the "tickets" and "monies" to Mom and Dad. (interestingly, all paper products, including dollar bills of all denominations, are "tickets," only coins are "money").

On this particular morning, he set up a picnic blanket in the living room (and only he was allowed on his blanket), and went about his work.

Yinz Guys

We all packed up and headed to Pittsburgh last weekend. Our first stop was for breakfast with Uncle Joe at the Hot Metal Diner (where Uncle Joe is a regular) - followed immediately by a pit stop at the Harley Davidson store across the street (where he is also a regular).

Oh no, I think we're in trouble.

So then Uncle Joe had to show Luke HIS bike - and even let him sit on it!

And showed him how things work...

Luke was a quick study

Again, we're in trouble here.

But it wasn't all play, no work. Luke was supposed to be watering plants with Grandpap, but decided that the driveway was dirty

That's more like it

But it soon devolved into this display (to be fair, it was 90+ degrees)

3 generations of Play-Doh

Up bright and early to water Grammy's flowers

And pick weeds

And work the phones

His cousins, Simon & Chloe, came over and were put to work in the call center, too

Can you believe this? The driveway was dirty again! Grandpap helps Luke by pointing out the dirt (or chalk)

Finally, Grandpap gave a tutorial on tools - I guess so Luke can do some repairs on our next visit