T-Ball Team Photos

Redwings Team Photo

T-Ball card

Oompa Loompa

Ever since we read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and watched the movie, the boys have been singing all the songs. It's regularly played in the car and their favorite ones are the Oompa Loompa songs. I caught them on video singing the songs. When Caleb noticed me recording he immediately wanted me to stop. I got Lucas on video while we were sitting in the car waiting for Bed Bath Beyond to open. He got a little shy at times while I was recording so it wasn't as lively.

4 year old Lucas

Lucas has been a handful/challenge since the day he was born. As a newborn he wouldn't nap unless I held him. Once he took to a binky he slept/napped well but only after he figured out how to put a binky back into his mouth when it fell out. As a toddler he had no fear and would run away from me or worse run/jump into water. He loved saying no and still does. Practicality is not his strong suit and thus can't be forced into doing anything ie. go to the bathroom before leaving the house.

One thing about Lucas that I love (and sometimes dislike) is how expressive he is. Out of nowhere he asks for hugs and says "I love you." He has a bit of a temper and can go from 0-60 in a second. When he's frustrated he'll yell. When he likes a song he'll get up and dance or sing out loud. (He'll also shut me up if I try to sing along). When he falls asleep in the car I'll ask him how his nap was and he'll grumpily state that he did NOT take a nap. He snacks all day long on applesauce, yogurt, fruit and pirates booty. But when it comes to meal times I have a hard time getting him to eat meat. Eggs and smoothies with tofu save me. He will copy what Caleb does or want the same thing. A lot of nights Lucas wants to sleep with Caleb in his bed. It's really cute. Jamie and I have talked about getting bunk beds or at the very least move Lucas out of the toddler bed.

Lately he's talking more about what he does at preschool. In the beginning he would say "I forgot" but just the other day before I even asked how his day was, he said "Tucker brought in his new puppy." He is a little guy (he can still fit some 3T pants!) with a lot of spunk and life is a lot more fun and unpredictable with him around.

I was able to get him to sit down for the birthday interview but he was pretty restless.

Here is some of the questions with my commentary.
What is your favorite song? I'm a Bell
What is your favorite book? Press Here
What is your favorite movie? I think it was the first movie that popped into his head. He can't really sit still and focus for the whole length of a movie.

Use the FOUR-ce

Lucas (and Caleb) are currently obsessed with Star Wars. Being that he turned 4 and I feel that Lucas is a force to reckon with, I dubbed it a "Use the FOUR-ce" birthday party.

I made tunics for the kids but not many ended up wearing them

We chose a local play space and got a Jedi trainer as an entertainer. The first hour was free play and snacks. I also brought in a paper craft. It was an outline of R2D2. I cut up circles and rectangles for kids to glue onto him. It wasn't a big hit but still cute. The entertainer ran a little late but was worth it. Jedi Andrew was really good. I was really impressed at how he was able to engage fifteen 3-6 year olds. They all had smiles and waited patiently for their turn at trying out their Jedi moves (it's just like the Star Wars Jedi Training Academy at Disneyland).

Found this on etsy and had to get it

Made a Jedi robe for my little Jedi

My happy sweet baby

Jedi Training

The awesome Jedi Trainer entertainer

R2D2 paper craft sample

Photo props of Star Wars famous lines and masks of major characters. The only one missing was Han Solo

Cousins!

Cupcakes from Studio Cake

Food table

Pinterest has tons of ideas for fun Star Wars food labels - Light Sabers, Wookie Cookies, Vader Veggies, Obi-Wan Kabobies (fruit kebabs), 7 Leia Dip, Storm Trooper Scoopers (scoop tortilla chips), Jedi Juice, Luke Skywater, and Vader Ade.

Snack time. I think most kids played with the candied pretzel light sabers than eat them

I bought bubble wands and spray painted the handle black to make them look like light sabers. They came out better looking than I thought. One person even thought I bought them that way. I also got Star Wars cups and Play Packs.

Goody cups

Family picture!

Spring Break

Spring Break was pretty busy for us. It was even longer since we went down to LA for Passover. It was a fun time.

We met up with school friends at the Academy of Sciences

Happy Hollow

Happy Hollow

Rio 2 in 3D

These boys won these prizes on their own. It was quite an ordeal having to bring the huge yellow minion back home with on a plane

Gatsby school auction

The school auction raises a lot of money for the PTA. I kept hearing it was a lot of fun and people seriously dress up/get into the theme. This year it had a Gatsby theme. I found an inexpensive flapper dress online and luckily Jamie owns a tuxedo (that he still fits!). It was a lot of fun and Jamie and I bid/bought more things than we planned on but it all goes to a good cause. We definitely plan on going again.