Luke is Four!

Dear Lukie Luke,

Time is going by so quickly!  You have been such a blessing to our family.  Your smile still lights up a room and you are so excited to explore most everything, as long as your family is with you.

You love to play games.  Go Fish, Mother May I?, Hi Ho Cherry-O,  Mario & Sonic on Wii or any type of race are your favorites.  You also love to cheer on everyone.  You give high fives, even if you are wanting to win.  You love to go to the movies.  You saw The Smurf Movie and Spy Kids this summer, both in 3-D.

You love to participate in your Sunbeam class at church, but you have a hard time separating from Mommy to go to class.  We usually have to find Daddy, who brings you to class.  You can be very animated when you feel comfortable, but can be shy in a lot of other situations.  It's ok. You just like to be with your family and we like to be with you!

You have developed a difficult streak, but I think it will pass.  You get cranky when you are tired and you don't like to go to bed. You do your best to think of every excuse to talk to me at the end of the night.  You usually can't think of anything but, "um, um, um".  You do try, though!  You seem to be caught in between wanting to be independent and do things for yourself and wanting things done for you.  When you get in one of your "moods" you sort of just shut down.  You don't talk and don't want anyone to touch you.  We just have to wait until happy Lukie returns, which doesn't take too long.

You are such a patient and kind big brother to Grant.  I often hear you trying to help him and raising your voice in a tone like one that a grown up uses with a little child.  It is very sweet.

You learned to ride your bike (with training wheels) all over the neighborhood this summer.

You love to have play dates with your "best friends", Mason and Talan.  You guys have pretend picnics and club meetings.

You became obsessed with the commercial for Pillow Pets this year.  For about 4 months, you would scream for us to come to the tv whenever it came on.  We would stand there and watch until they showed the dragon pet and you would point out that it was the one for you.  Grandma and Pop Pop gave it to you for your birthday and you LOVE it!

Your parents let you use your beloved paci for WAY too long.  We thought it would be so hard for you to give it up because you loved it so much.  You would climb over mountains (or on top of entertainment centers) to get to it.  I often found you hiding in the middle of the day to get in a few sucks.  When I would walk in the room you quickly hid it.  You always had to have your "silky" too.  A few weeks before your birthday, we lost the paci at the beach and you gave it up without much hassle.  You asked for it a few times, but you were brave and left it in the past.

You love to write your name, trace and do any sort of craft.  You spend a lot of time drawing.

You have a secret handshake that is VERY important for you to do with anyone leaving.  You get very upset if you can't do it and it keeps getting longer with more and more actions included.

Watching your joy in everything brings me so much happiness.  I'm so glad that you are in our family.  I love you so much, Luke! 

With lots of hugs and kisses,

Mommy

You got to have two celebrations this year because we were in Maryland on your actual birthday but you really wanted a friend party too.  Here is a video on your big day in Maryland with your Rio cake.  (Cake #1)  (I can't figure out how to get the second video deleted.  Let me know if you can figure it out, please!)

You choose to have your friend party at a local park.  You and your buddies had fun playing in the park and talking about the movie Cars.  We hit a pinata and made race cars.  Then, we had a big race.  Here is your Cars cake (Cake #2).