Summer Fun

We spent a great day at Grandma's house this past week. We did it all...swimming, swinging on the tree swing Grandpa Ron put up with Luke's help last spring, and golf (or yardball, as my dad likes to call it). Luke & Ginger were both exhausted by the time we got home that night, but everyone had a great time.

The swing grandpa put up for the grandkids - Luke refused to let me take a picture with him actually on the swing.

Ready to look for golf balls.

Looking for balls with dad.

One really tired, but really happy pup.

Before & After

I really can't capture the essence of how bad it looked, but I tried...

But you get the idea of after!

Future Stylist...or Not...

So, I'm just hanging out with Luke, minding my own business yesterday when something about his head catches my eye. I look a little closer & scrutinize an undeniable patch where there seems to be a lot less hair than all around it. Hmmm..."Luke, did you cut your hair?" A very slight, almost imperceptible nod & an embarrassed smile is his response. I march him into Brandon's office where we discover 2 rather large missing patches & a few smaller holes where hair should be. Now thankfully, his hair is pretty short to begin with, but Brandon is still considering buzzing it all off. My mistake for giving him a little pair of scissors in his Christmas stocking...should have known better. Now, I wish I just had the picture of my sister (sorry Kristen!) when she cut all her bangs off to the very top of her forehead, so you could compare the stylings of industrious toddlers! I wish the picture I took was better, but this is the only one where there wasn't an enormous glare from his head.

Lazy Days of Summer

Summer is my absolute favorite time of the year...I can be almost 100% completely lazy a lot of the time because I have so much more time on my hands. I love not having to have a set routine and being able to be more flexible because we have more time. Of course, those of you who know me probably know that I still have a routine because well, that's just the way I am, but still... We're already enjoying our time here at the Spaeth house for the summer and have lots of plans to enjoy it even more as the summer goes on. Luke is finally getting excited about learning how to ride the bike he got for Christmas. We were practicing last night and after making an adjustment (ie - fixing the loose training wheel that has probably been what was causing him so much trouble in the first place), he really started to get the hang of the thing.

Arizona Trip

Brandon and I recently returned from what has become our annual trip to the Phoenix area. We had a great time being completely lazy and just enjoying time together on our own without cares or responsibilities. We drove out through Colorado and Utah. Utah has to be one of the most beautiful places in this whole country...the majesty of the red rock formations and canyons are just awe-inspiring. We saw sites like these




We took lots of naps here:


Enjoyed beautiful sunrises over the golf course:


Spent lots of time relaxing here:


With some friends...


We had a great time...and are so thankful who our families who watched over Luke and Ginger while we were gone for over week.

Tennis Block Party

We spent Saturday at a Tennis Block Party at a park nearby. A friend of mine from work helps to put it on, so we thought we'd go check it out. Luke had a blast. He got a little racquet, and though he was shy and didn't want to join in the games at first, got over it and really had fun hitting the ball a few times.

Mother's Day Tea

Luke's class hosted a "Mother's Day Tea" for their moms on the Friday before Mother's Day. The kids all made their mom's a bracelet, a book, and a picture they had painted. It was really sweet to see all the kids with their moms. They were so proud of the work they'd done.

Bloody Nose & A Fat Lip

Luke experienced the first bloody nose of his life after a trip to the park on Wednesday. It was all kinds of fun until he fell off a piece of equipment and knocked his nose and mouth against it. Thank goodness for the nice lady who happened to have paper towels with her, because I had nothing! It was quite the bloody mess. Here's a look at Luke proudly displaying his bruised bottom lip for the camera.

Happy Easter 2009

We had lots of fun between dying eggs and gifts from the Easter bunny. I was blessed to get to teach Luke's Sunday school class on Easter morning, so hopefully, he will remember the real reason we celebrate is because Jesus died on the cross for us - the points of his lesson that we should all remember is: Jesus is alive & we should tell all our friends that Jesus is alive! Hope he remembers that one!


Having fun!


How Ginger decorates eggs...


Final products of our hard work


Having fun with Dad


Thanks for the goggles Grandma Kay - he's ready to go swimming!


Checking out the Easter basket


The Easter Bunny brought Luke new chapstick - "You can have 2 chapsticks if you want" - Luke


Enjoying the new whistle he got - thanks Grandma Patti! (ha!)


Looking a little like the unabomber in his new sunglasses!

Helping Dad in the Yard

Luke is so happy to be helping his dad with lots of projects in the yard. I think he may be developing his dad's same love of everything yardwork and gardening. He was really happy to have those new gardening gloves & tools he got for his birthday!

Luke's 4th Birthday

Luke enjoyed a great 4th birthday. It is so hard for me to believe that he is already 4, but as he tells me often...he is getting big! We started celebrating the evening before the big day when Grandma Patti, Grandpa Fred, and Aunt Andrea came over to open presents and to go out to dinner. We had a great time celebrating with them. Grandpa Ron & Grandma Kay came down for the big day and took Luke out to dinner and had more presents for him. Luke said before he went to bed on his birthday, "I am a lucky boy." He truly enjoyed his special day for many reasons.

Unfortunately for Luke, he had a bad day at school on Friday. He wouldn't take his nap and was loud and rude to his teachers during naptime. Luke is now earning back his birthday presents one by one if he has good days at school and takes his naps. He must also remember to be nice to his teachers! Hopefully, that is a lesson learned. He had a great day today and we'll hope that will continue.

Reflecting Before Luke's Birthday

Every year around March 30, I reflect back to the year I had Luke. As most of you who read this know, Luke came a bit earlier than expected...8 weeks to be exact. So, about the time I went into the hospital I start thinking through what happened in those days. When I think about it now, it is with such a sense of amazement of how God was with us throughout our journey. After the initial fear, disbelief, and frustration that they could not stop my labor, I was filled with a sense of peace like I've never experienced before or since. I can only say that I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that even though things weren't going as I expected, they were going exactly the way God had planned. I remember being in the hospital the night they moved me to St. Luke's downtown. Brandon had gone home to eat and let Ginger out and I was alone with my thoughts. I remember clearly that throughout that time, the song "How Great Thou Art" just kept running & running through my mind like it was on a repeat reel. Growing up a good Baptist girl, I knew lots of hymns, and that one was never a favorite, but it sure is now. I now see clearly God's hand on me and on my precious child who was born without one problem. I don't know why God chose to make my little one safe and whole when others are born with so many problems, but I am grateful every day for this precious gift I've been given. "Every good & perfect gift comes from above, coming down from the Father of Heavenly Lights..." (James 1:17). Happy 4th birthday (tomorrow), Luke! :)

Spring Snow!

It's almost April & we got lots of snow yesterday! It melted quickly today, but we had a little fun before it all went away...

Skiing in Utah

Brandon & I were blessed to get away to Utah for a few days at the end of my spring break and at the beginning of his. My parents invited us along on a business trip they were taking to Park City, Utah. We enjoyed 3 great days of skiing...well, definitely 2 of the 3 were great. On the first day, Brandon had to learn to ski, which presented a few difficulties, but he made it through! The first day was 60+ degrees, which made for pleasant weather, but just okay skiing. The next day was cooler, and by the last day, we had been treated to a new snowfall overnight. It was a great time and we were really thankful to get to go. We were especially thankful to get home to Luke & Ginger after a truly terrifying landing in Kansas City on the Monday night we returned...the night of the really strong winds. The girl sitting next to us on the plan said it was like riding a roller coaster & she was right! God was good, though, and brought us down safely.