Ella

So back in September when Luke was naming his friends from school to Aunt Robin and Pseudo Uncle Dana, we started prompting him with the names after the initial two (always "Kaki" and "Big Jack" in one order or the other).  When they got to Ella, he broke into a big smile and said "ELLLLLLLLAAAAAAA!"  So we've teased him about this once or twice but didn't really hear anything more about it until one day Kristina sent out an email to the class parents (K and B are co room representatives!) and got a response from Ella's mom.  Her email had a PS saying "By the way, I just have to let you know, whenever we ask Ella to name her friends from school she always says Luke's name first.  We'll ask her about her day at school and she'll respond with something like 'Fun Luke! Play Luke!'.  I talked to the teacher the other day who told me Ella had been helping feed Luke his lunch and had been chasing him through the tunnel outside!"

Now, we knew he was a womanizer when it comes to little old ladies (LOLs), as they just melt in his lap on a regular basis, but he is apparently the Dogwood Toddler class charmer as well.  The other day Ella was out and so he was "in the tree" (outside on the playground) with Olivia instead.  Apparently, we've got quite the ladies' man.  (Do you think he gets it from his Dad??)

The Hat (and our trip to NC)

What, did you think we were going to reference this blue hat with tassles and not give a picture?  Here are a few from our trip to Sapphire Valley, NC last weekend.  It was a bit chilly (notice the snow in the last photo) but we managed to do some hiking, shoot some hoops, and play mini golf.  Thanks to Grandpa and Cathy for letting us use the time share (and for leaving balloons!).

The BoyCow

For Halloween, Luke was a cowboy, or as he would pronouce it, a boy-cow.  Make that a hatless boycow, as unless the hat in question is blue fleece with tassles and a velcro chin strap, we aren't wearing it.  No sir, no way.  Luke did have fun though, and trick or treated at about 10 different houses.  He even said "trick or treat" at two of them.  Here are some photos.

Who wouldn't give this kid candy?

Still Choppin'

The Braves season ended long ago, but we kept doing the tomahawk chop right through the World Series and to today.  We break it out most frequently when there are sports, any sports, on TV, which does happen occasionally in this house.  Doesn't even matter whether we have our pants on.  

Sophisticated Speech

So Luke's list of words is growing (everything is no longer a "ball") and we thought you might be interested in knowing some of his favorite vocabulary -

cracker ("crack-a")
apple ("ap-pa")
banana ("na-na")
Grey girl ("gay gu")
Frank ("k")
Mickey (as in mouse) ("ickey")
Hop on Pop (as in the Dr. Seuss book title) ("Pop pop pop")
poopie (this one speaks for itself) ("poo-pee" with a point to the diaper)
blue ("booooo")
purple ("puh-pul")
yellow ("nell-ow")
dog ("goad" - he must be dyslexic)
big (as in big dog or big ball)
baseball
basketball (he knows lots of variations on ball)
balloon ("boooon")
Elmo, Abby, Ernie and Bert ("Beet") - think sesame street
ball pit (again, notice the ball theme)
goat ("go")
cow ("ca")
all done ("all daa")

what a fun little toddler-man!

OIB

For Labor Day, we met Aunt Robin and Pseudo Uncle Dana at Ocean Isle Beach, NC.  We had a great time beaching, swimming, golfing, outlet shopping and hanging out.  Here are some photos!

Luke would like to warn everyone that the last hole at the OIB mini golf course eats golf balls.  It doesn't matter how far you can stick your hand down the hole, you won't be able to recover it.  He tried.  This is very very upsetting.  It is really fortunate that there is an ice cream shop across the street to cheer one up after such a traumatic event.

The Big Camping Trip

Ben for his 30th birthday decided that the family should go camping.  So we loaded up the car, and drove up to a gorgeous campsite right on Lake Chatuge at the Georgia-North Carolina border.  The lake was literally 10 feet from the front door of the tent, which was a bit closer than desired given the lake's magnetic pull on young Luke.  But alas, it was not the magnet that did us in, it was the weather.  Hot and sticky when we arrived and pitched the tent, we got pelted with an intense thunderstorm that first evening.  The storm at first confined us to the car and then to McDonald's for dinner.  It rained a few more times during the night, but the next morning brought a fresh start.  Ben whipped up some pancakes and bacon, and we went out for a bike ride, at which time it started to rain again.  When that stopped, and when we saw we had a two hour window before the thunderstorms resumed, we decided to abort and return home.  The decision was clinched when a woman called out from the next site over "There's a snake in the water! There's a snake in the water!"

Ben and his helper

Luke and his mom in their camp chairs

"Hello Ducks!"

Yes, Mr. Brown and Mickey made the trip.

Before we got wind of the snake...