Early Christmas

Tonight at dinner we were having broccoli for our vegetable. Lukas really dislikes trying new things and especially anything healthy like vegetables. Bribery is pretty much the only way to push him in the right direction. So I said, "Whoever tries their broccoli gets to open one Christmas present early." Lukas was immediately excited and happy to try it. He was laughing with joy, or so we thought, when suddenly it turned into tears. We asked him why he was crying and he said, "Presents are so much fun. It's so fun!" He was crying out of excitement! And sure enough he popped that broccoli in his mouth and now claims he likes three vegetables...corn, peas and broccoli. Nothing like a little bribery.

The Truth About Love

Lukas said to me today, "Mom, you can have girls as friends and not be in love. Cause that means you have to kiss." And I said, "Where did you hear that?" Lukas said, "No where. The only time you can kiss is when you're married. Or if your mom does something really nice for you." And that is how it is in the eyes of a 5 year old.

Traumatized

I sneakily took Lukas into SLVHD to get his 5 year-old immunizations. I knew if I told him where we were going and what to expect I would have to drag him in and pin him down to get him to stay. So I just said we had to stop at this place real quick to get his immunizations (not expanding on what that meant exactly.) He started looking around and saw a poster with a big needle and some funny fuzzy-germ looking things (see picture attached). He turns to me and says, "I'm scared. I think I'm gonna have to get a shot." I distracted him for as long as possible and then the nurse calls our name. We step into the little office and sure enough, he panics, and darts for the door. I had to restrain him and it took all my strength just to hold him and keep him from knocking the nurse down. The nurse was very understanding and went as fast as he could. Lukas was sweaty and hysterical. It was really sad. I knew he'd never trust me again. He was screaming and making such a fuss that I felt sorry for whoever had to hear him in the waiting area. (There was a long line of people getting their H1N1 shots). For several days after when Pat and I would talk about getting our flu shots, Lukas would get in panic mode and run out of the room saying, "I'm never doing that again!" I had to check where the shots were taken to make sure they were ok, and it took him awhile to let me. He had swelling on one arm and was so scared that he'd have to go in and get another shot. I told him he doesn't have to have shots until he's in 7th grade. Even then he said he didn't want to. And Pat, being the nurse that he is, is insisting that we all go get our H1N1 shots. Luckily they have the mist that you inhale, so I've been prepping Lukas for what that will be like instead of a needle. He seems ok with it, but man that kid was traumatized.

The Letter

Lukas got in big trouble with his dad the other day. He felt so sad about it, but just doesn't quite handle it well. He's very dramatic (I wonder where he got that from...?) and will say, "I guess you hate me then." And on and on. He runs away (like into his closet or in the bathroom) and won't come out for awhile. We keep telling him that we all make mistakes and that we can't run away or be so dramatic. We just need to feel sorry and say sorry and then move on. Well, after this little fall out with Pat, Lukas came to get me to have me help him write a letter to Daddy. This is what he wrote: Dear Daddy, I'm sorry (smiley face) that I hurt your feelings and that I go away from you. I want to be friends now. I (heart) U so much. Love, Lukas.

Silverpups Preschool

Another year of preschool has started for Lukas. He goes to Riverton High School where they have a preschool curriculum for the high school students to teach and there are just as many teachers as there are kids. He went here last year so he knew what to expect on the first day. He has looked forward to coming back ever since it ended. We love the teacher(s) and Lukas is learning so much. They have the funnest lessons and he comes home with the cutest things. He writes his name so clearly and it's fun to see how he is progressing. It's weird to think I have another year before he starts kindergarten. Then another year of just half day. YIKES! I need my kids to be in school all day so I will miss them. Haha. {I don't know what I'd do without them to be honest, but I sure would love some quiet.}

Lukas turns 5!!

Lukas had such a fun TMNT birthday. He's been planning it for months and it turned out just perfect! He's getting to grown up. I love that he can help me with so many things. Now that he's 5, he says, he can get dressed by himself, get his own cereal, help with the garbages, not whine or cry anymore (sha...I wish), make the bed, brush his teeth, go to a friend's house without me walking him. He really is a big helper. I love that he has his own way of doing things. He is messy (like any kid), but when it comes to it, he is so good at cleaning up his toy room or organizing his things. He loves to dress up or pretend to be the Dad or the good guy. He gets on the computer and knows just how to play his games and go to his favorite websites. He is getting to be a better eater (although he won't touch vegetables). Pat and I will be talking in the other room and Lukas will yell out, "I heard that. I know what you're saying." As if Pat and I are trying to hide things from him. It's funny. He sleeps with Max on the bottom bunk (it's a full size) and stays there all night long. He's been waking up so happy lately and sometimes will come downstairs dressed by himself with his hair done. :) Happy days! We sure are grateful for Lukas and all the adventures and joys he brings to our family!

The Drawing

It was Nana & Papa's 40th Anniversary on Saturday. We took a drive to surprise them with cake, flowers and a present. Lukas wanted to draw them a picture and this is the result. Isn't he good? I am in love with his drawings right now. He really likes to color and draw all the time. He spelled Papa and Nana on the picture. Quite a striking resemblance, don't ya think?

Almost 5

Lukas is almost 5 now so I always try and remind him that almost 5-year olds don't act the way he does at times. He hates it. Here are a few things he does:

• He rarely wakes up happy. How sad is that? He tends to whine a whole lot. I keep thinking he'll grow out of it.
• He likes exercise. He'll put on his Batman tennis shoes and say, "Mom, can we run for exercise?" Or he'll move the ottoman to do his forward rolls.
• He does not eat. The kid won't eat anything of any color. It has to be bland, boring, blah. He'll eat plain chicken, pasta, bread, rice, or corn. Nothing else. UNLESS it has sugar in it. He loves sweet things. Sour patch kids, muddy buddies, ice cream, cake, cookies.
• He will ask me something in his whiney voice and then decide he'd better try it in a nice voice and HATES it when the answer is the same...NO.
  
• He dresses himself and it's past the point of me trying to correct it. He is mismatched, but independent. As long as everyone knows that it's HIM.
  
• He will squish any bug with is finger. ANY bug. Gross.
• Every day he asks to play at Tommy or Holden's house. And if I say no to them, he'll say, "Can I go to Carter's house then? What about Carson?" He doesn't give up.
• This kid doesn't sleep. He likes to sleep in, but he won't go to bed. He would stay up 'til midnight every night if I let him. And he NEVER naps.
  
• He is a pretty good helper. I can ask him to do something and 9 times out of 10 he'll do it and do a good job. Hmmm, I like this...
• He has learned to say things like, "I'll get dressed if you let me have a doughnut for breakfast." He likes to bargain with me. It never works though.
• He hates it when I make him practice swimming. He will wear floaties in the pool, but is too afraid to jump in and get his head under the water.
  
• I love that I can start the car and not worry about buckling him. He does it by himself.
• He is a computer junkie. He sits at the computer and plays PBSkids or Noggin or Nick Jr. He is really good at navigating and figuring things out. I found him once trying to google his own name. (Which he spells Lukpas. For some reason he adds in the p b/c it's like an a to him. I better correct that.)
• He talks in this throaty, yucky, growly voice. When I hear that voice something inside me wants to scream. It's my "nail on the chalkboard" voice.
• He likes all the potty words.
  
• He is a big tattletale. He tells on Max and tries to tell me what to do about it. "Max hit me. Put him in timeout."

Pat wrote some things down that he's observed about Lukas:

• Anytime he is trying to think of a big number he'll say "fifty five fifty hundred sixty eight twenty".
• He's good at saying the prayer and will always keep it short (bless the food, bless papa)
• He loves to play pictionary with Pat and is pretty good at it.
  
• He helps Pat adjust the sprinklers and knows how to do all the different stations. He'll lay on his belly and reach his hands in the sprinkler box and spring up as soon as they come on.
• When Pat doesn't let him do something, he'll say, "You're not my friend anymore. You're a mean dad." Then forget 5 minutes later.
• He'll say "You're my bestest friend. I like being around you."
• He is in the "What if" and question mode. "Where does grass come from? How does it grow? Who grows it?"

Lukas at 4 and 3/4

Lukas says and does some funny things. I wish I could remember them all, but here's a start...

• Lukas and I were talking this morning about something and he responds, "That's why Heavenly Father gave us brains, to remember stuff." I agreed with him and then he said, "Mom, I'm smart, amen't I?"
• Lukas is all about the "What If's". He can sit in the car and never stop asking 'what if' questions, "Mom, what if I grew so tall that my head hit the ceiling and I didn't fit anymore? What would happen then? What if we forgot to lock the door and then it opened on the freeway? What if we didn't roll up our windows and all the flies would come in? What would happen if..."
• Anytime I am helping Max go potty, Lukas is standing right there saying, "What a big boy! Look Max, you're a big boy like me! Good job going in the potty!" He encourages him a lot.
  
• Lukas and Max fight like cats and dogs. If I didn't intervene, they would rip each other to shreds. They pull, punch, hit, slap, push...you name it, they're at it! They taunt each other to no end. Drives me crazy.
• Why is "poop" such a fun word to say? I'll never understand. Lukas and Max crack up anytime I say bum, butt, pee, poop...anything relating to the potty. Please get over this phase quickly boys.
• We met my mom at Cabela's and were walking around looking at all the animals. He wanted to know how much each animal weighed and which one was his size. He was fascinated by weight this time around. (He weighs almost 40 pounds).
• He has to be in charge of Max. "Mom, Max said the 's' word (which is stupid). Put him in time out." Or, "Max, if you say that one more time I'm gonna spank you."
• Whenever he sees something he wants he'll say, "Mom, can I get this for my birthday?" At this point I think he thinks he's getting an entire store for his bday.
  
• He loves being on the computer and really knows how to navigate his favorite sites: Noggin, PBS kids, Nick Jr.
• He really picks up on things like commercials. He'll come to me and say something word for word that he heard on a commercial. One time we drove by Maverick and he pointed out the window and said, "Hey there's that drink. Not to heavy, not to light." It was beer.
• We were at the store one day in the parking lot and he saw a girl smoking in her car. He leaned over to me and said, "Mom, why is that girl smoking? Does she want to die?" Luckily she didn't hear us.
• Every day it's either, "Can we go to California today?" or "When are we going to Nana's house?"
  

Consequeneces

Lukas was acting up and got in trouble. His punishment was that he had to miss his friends b-day party the next day. Pat and I are just at a loss of what to do to teach him proper behavior. We thought this was the best consequence to teach him that if he can't behave in public, he won't be able to go public places including a friends party. He was so upset. Well, I had time to think about it and decided to give him an alternative to his punishment. If he could do a small list of chores that I laid out for him before the party, he could still go. Instead of sulking and whining about it, he just went and did it on his own. He picked up his toys in the basement, straightened his toy room, made his bed, emptied ALL the garbages on his own and wiped the table and chairs clean. I was so impressed. When he puts him mind to it, he can really get stuff done. He went to the party and had a blast! Way to go Lukas! You made good choices.

Preschool Graduation

What perfect excuse to make a big deal, right? Well, normally I totally would, he's my first!! But he will be going to one more year of preschool before he starts kindergarten so no big after party or graduation cake. Nana and Papa came to cheer him on and I know that made him feel special. He had a little speaking part that he memorized and did so well when it was his turn. He is quite squirmy and could hardly sit still in his chair for the program. Luckily he has more time to practice. I am amazed at how much he has learned this year. He started out not knowing how to write any letters and coloring crazy all over the page and now he can spell his name and color details in the lines!! I'm excited for him to learn more and for the fun experiences ahead of him. Thank you Silver Pups and we'll see you next year! :) Now what am I going to do with my rowdy 4 year old all summer????



Papa and Nana with the little graduate!


Can you fast forward 13 years and picture these guys at high school graduation? Best Buddies!

Kindful

Lukas saw me cleaning the kitchen today and came over to help. I told him he was my best helper. And he replied, "Yea, I saw you and wanted to be kindful." I love my little kindful helper!

Lukas' Thoughts on Marriage

Lukas' CTR5 teacher told me today that another girl in Primary (Kylie Kener) said to Lukas, "I'm 4 years old and you're 4, and so we could get married."

I wanted to know what he thought about it so I said, "Do you want to marry Kylie?"

He said, "No."

I was thinking, he said no b/c he didn't get along with her, but instead he said, "I'm not big yet. I'm not a daddy. When I'm a daddy or a mommy then I can get married."

So then I asked him, "So when you're big do you want to marry Kylie?"

And he responds, "No, I am going to marry you."

4 1/2

Lukas is 4 1/2 and growing so much. I am so proud of him b/c he has slept in his bed for 12 night straight! He doesn't get up in the middle of the night or come in my bed to sleep. He gets up to go potty, but doesn't wake me up. He'll just get up and go and get back in bed. This is monumental for us!!!!!!!!!! YAY Lukas! The bedtime fairy is practically out of rewards. (And we're still working on Max)... Lukas is way into TMNT and loves to fight like one. He is getting better with Max but at the same time is so bossy and totally freaks out if Max doesn't do just what he wants. He still hasn't mastered his impulses and hits or pushes Max all the time. He loves preschool and knows how to spell/write his name. He likes to write Max's name and daddy's name, too. He is learning his letters (identifying them and sounding them out) but is far from reading. He likes to play with friends and always wants someone to come over. For the most part he is well behaved, however I find that I'm a little bit controlling and have to have things a certain way so I get frustrated with the kids if it isn't going as planned. (I'm trying to relax. Really.) He is so smart and picks up quickly on things. He likes playing games, doing puzzles, coloring or playing ninjas. I can't belive he'll turn 5 this year.

I can't believe how big Lukas is getting. He helps Max get his pj's on, brushes his teeth on his own and can get milk himself. He is such a great helper and loves to cook, clean and help me with anything I ask. He is still very emotional and does not like to take NO for an answer. Although he is learning so much and maturing every day. He has his crazy hyper moments, but entertains himself so well. He loves to play on the computer, playstation, color (which he totally colors in the lines and can spend hours doing), he loves to go to Tommy's or Whitney's or just play with his toys. He does so well in Primary and Preschool and LOVES his teachers. He has a very shy side to him and does NOT like to get up with the Primary to sing during sacrament or gives talks in Primary. He is a great big brother most of the time and helps Max a lot. It's really fun to see his personality come through as he gets older.