the many FACES of LUKE

Our not-so little LUKE is 3.5 months old

He is as SURPRISED as we are at how fast it has gone byHe is such a HAPPY babyWe get SMILES from him all day, every dayHis POUT-POUT faceTurned very SAD face And instantly back to our CHIPPER boy

All I wanted for Mothers Day was....

A stinkin' photo with both of my boys all dressed up after church--not too much to ask. Well, this is what it took...

"Max, come take a picture with mommy. You can play with your bubble gun in just a minute."

Max's Response:

My response: "Ryan, this isn't working...and what do mean the camera batteries are dying!?"

Also, I might have told Max to look for a sucker in my pocket.

Looking...Looking

Max finding that there really was no sucker in my pocket and that it was all a ploy to get him in a place where I could grab him.

This would be the final result. My Mother's Day photo. Oh, Happy Mother's Day.

Note: Thank you camera man for desperately trying to get any kind of photo with all three of us in it. You ended up documenting the ordeal quite well.

PRIVATE PRACTICE

I think I'm finally going to take this thing private. I have always contemplated it, and it just seems like the right thing to do...too many unknowns out there in cyberspace. So, if you are a follower or an occasional peruser of my meanderings and would like to continue to follow the Loveless' Family, shoot me an email at calhass@yahoo.com so I can invite you to see our blog. I'll be taking us private in a week or two and my husband can finally cross one more annoyance off his list. Honey, you can rest easier now.

Multiple Personalities

Sometimes we get this... (post church lunch...turned nap)

And somtimes we get this...

Marvelous Mothers

A Belated Tribute to some fabulous Mothers in my life "Gram"--the only grandparent I ever had growing up. I'm so thankful she is part of my life. What a great example of strength and selfless service she is. Also, she is a great Great Gram to my kids. New Mexico is just too far away!
My Mother, a.k.a, "Nana"-- I love you with all my heart. You are not just my mother, but a dear friend. Eight Children and 16 grandkids are a reflection of your life's greatest work. Thank you for everything that I am.

"Grandma J"-- Ryan's grandma. How we adore your sweetness. Thank you for setting traditions that our family has come to love and cherish. Your legacy of family and love will live on through your greatest blessings.

My mother-in-law, a.k.a, "Grandma" or "MawMaw"--We love you so much. You are such an example of sacrifice, love, and service. Your love is felt each and every day.

My sister, Jolea-- All my sisters are wonderful women and mothers. I just happen to be blessed to live so close to Jolea and I am able to lean on her for just about every "mothering" question I have. You are amazing. I hope I can roll with it all the way you seem to.

YES, Motherhood is the greatest, hardest, most rewarding, and thankless job in the world...and I wouldn't ever go back to life before. I love you too!

Laugh...Love...Luke

A look at Luke...

What a smiley baby he is. We love your laugh. We love your smile. What a blessing and light you are in our home.

Cute Grins

Count em'...1,2,3,yes 4 chins

Max trying to get Luke to give him a smile
Come on Buddy
There it is!

HONEY? Yes, please.

Ryan's and my pet name of choice, for each other that is, (not for a real pet...we don't do pets around here), is 'Honey' or 'Hon'.

At breakfast this morning:
Max: "Mom..."
Max: (waiting for my response) "Honey..."
Me: Yes, Max?
Max: Honey, Juice please.

This one has been taking lessons from his father apparently. Pet names get you what you want faster than real names.

Also I am in love with this:

Miller's Cinnamon Creamy Clover Honey. It is divine! Thank you Mark for helping whomever it was you helped who rewarded you with such a gift that you in turn shared with us.

Apology

Dear 911 Dispatcher,

Our sincere apology for the prank call you received from my husband's mobile phone yesterday. It was the handy work of our 2 year old. Yes, I know we should have been supervising him closer, but my 2 month old was nursing and my husband was getting ready to take me out on a date, which is a rare occasion, so we were both obviously distracted and did not realize the cell was sitting on our bed.

Also, I want to thank you for calling us back so promptly and for being so understanding. It is nice to know that the system is working.

And I need to acknowledge my husband for answering the return call. Had he not done so, law enforcement would have showed up at our house unnecessarily and what a spectacle that would have made for all our neighbors.

Again, I'm sorry and thank you.

Regards,

Embarrassed mother

Terrible Two is Terribly Cute

DISCLAIMER: Another Journal Entry...Read at Will

I don't think it is a mistake that God makes two year olds so cute. It is to keep you from killing them during the multiple tantrums they throw every day. Our version of a pet--the backpack Puppy that goes with him everywhere these days
When women in Relief Society would comment on how they have to pray for patience with their toddlers or how to discipline their children because time-outs weren't effective and they were verging on an all out smack-down, I would look at my sweet baby laying idly by in his car seat, sleeping the 3 hour block away and think "What? How could I ever even think of having to smack this sweet child?" To all those sisters whom I silently judged...my sincerest apologies. God knew I was judging your parenting skills and he is teaching me a lesson.So independent this one...wants his own chair

This cute little one can throw the best of fits. He has been testing his boundaries and exploring his attention seeking behaviors for a few months now and I once again have found myself tuning into SuperNanny. The only thing I get from that show is that we aren't as bad of parents as I feel sometimes, things could be so much worse, and yes, Max is just being 2.

There are lots of adjustments being made at our house. We no longer take him to the store or dine-in restaurants, for instance, unless there is absolutely no way around it. As much as he begs to go, it's just not in any one's best interest these days.

Max's first time helping Mom make cookies
When we aren't trying to keep Max on the time out step or out of things and places that are potentially harmful, our two year old is really so much fun. I keep telling Ryan that it is the cutest age and the hardest. Max is really starting to show interest in certain things. He has always wanted to be doing whatever his Mom and especially his Dad are doing, i.e, sweeping, dusting, vacuuming, mowing. Most recently he wants to help clean the dishes and help cook. He loves playing with any type of ball, with bubbles, and especially with his cousins, uncles and grandparents. He prefers that you get down on all fours while playing, and if you don't, no worries, he will assist you in getting down on his level. That way he can be sure that he has your undivided attention. Beware, there is a strong chance you will have to be his horse when you get down on all fours. You might find our 2 year old trying to pump milk out of his belly these days as well. He definitely spends all day watching his Mom! He puts the burp cloth over his shoulder and lugs around the diaper bag as well. Ryan had put some magazines in my Easter basket a few weeks ago and the other day Max was perusing my style magazine and pointing to all the cosmetic ads and would say "Mom...Wook (look)!" Pointing to the mascara ad he would say "eyes" and so on for the lipstick, etc. I am grateful when 6 pm rolls around and it's all about being outside in the dirt when Daddy comes home! Thank goodness his behaviors and mannerisms are mostly typical of the male gender or we might be worried!

Max has always shown a real love for music and dancing. He loves to listen to the iPod with our running music on it. His current favorite...Beyonce's All My Single Ladies. A few months ago he started to lip sync with all his little Wiggles songs. Then we were watching The Incredibles with him one day and we noticed that he was quoting lines in lip sync as well. This boy is funny. The next Milli Vanilli?


He also has to have his guitar in hand if the Wiggles are playing guitar or if they are driving the big red car, he runs into his play room and grabs his 4-wheeler to drive.

We are just completely smitten by this terribly cute, terrible 2 year old.

And I Quote...

Another RYANISM

Speaking of sleep...
"I can tell what time it is by the way my mouth tastes."

Those of you who really know my husband wouldn't be shocked by such a statement. He is usually the one who will say what every one else is thinking, but no one will say...except in cases like this. I don't know who else thinks these things. Yes, these are the times when I think to myself...What did I marry?

Luke's Blessing Day

Mom, Luke, Dad,Max

We decided to bless Luke on Easter Sunday, just as we had Max ironically. Ryan had meetings starting at 6:00 am lasting until just before church started, so he wouldn't be there to help me get the kids ready for church. His parents were so kind to come down at 7:30 am to help me out so that we could all be at church early. It was a tremendous help. Mom left Idaho at 4 in the morning and Kelsey and Justin left at 6:30 am from Logan to make it for the blessing. We were so touched that our families would get up early and travel just to be there for us and Luke on this special day.

The Hassman Girls and Luke

Ryan gave a beautiful blessing that touched everyone. We were so pleased that so many of Luke's uncles and his grandpa were there and able to stand in the circle as well as Mike Van Dyke, our good friend. I was grateful for everyone who helped me organize the lunch afterwards and for all who contributed to the meal.

The Men on Blessing Day

It was a beautiful day and we really enjoyed spending time with our families. After the lunch, we had a little egg hunt in the back yard for the little ones. Max was so excited about all his cousins being at his house that he didn't touch his lunch, so when he hunted all that candy, he sat down and inhaled it practically.

Max & Addie post egg hunt

What a beautiful Easter and special blessing day it turned out to be. We are so blessed to have little Luke in our family. We can already sense what a strong spirit he has and we look forward to seeing him grow.

Jolea, Elizabeth, Calli

Happy Keester...uhm, Easter

Egg Hunt and Sarah's Keester

Easter weekend was fun filled and packed. We blessed Luke on Easter Sunday (as we did Max) so I had much more than Easter Bunny responsibilities to get ready for. I somehow managed to get it all done, even with a trip to Stockton for the Johnsen family Easter Party at the Hogan Farm, a.k.a. "Plantation", on Saturday afternoon. Max had a blast at the Farm as Uncle Bill indulged Max's fascination with cows and took all the grandkids on a trailer ride out to see the new baby calves. Ryan went with him and the report came back that he was in "utter" heaven. Next was the egg hunt which he loved, but the highlight of his trip to Bill and Jill's house was the castleland and indoor slide built in the basement for the little ones. I think Max wants to live there with his older cousins Sam and Jesse who played with him for a long time on that slide.

Daddy, Max & Uncle Bill Hogan on a tractor ride

PaPa plays with Max

Saturday evening we went to Jolea's house to dye eggs and visit with Carrie and Brandon who had come down for the blessing. I have to give kuddos to my husband who championed the egg dying and helped a bunch of excited little ones color some eggs.

Coloring Eggs with Max and the Beatty cousins

I was up until 1 am finishing my list for our Sunday lunch with both our families and I almost forgot that the Easter Bunny had not prepared baskets for the family. So I pulled out the goods and set them all up on the coffee table downstairs. Come to find out, Ryan left for his meetings Sunday morning and didn't even notice them. Max only briefly saw the basket and tee-ball set before church, and I removed all the candy from sight until after everyone left...so we indulged in our Easter baskets late Sunday night.

Max colors his first Easter eggs with Daddy

How grateful I am that we were able to be with so much of our family this holiday. I am grateful especially for our Savior and for his sacrifice and resurrection. Max doesn't understand much more than who Jesus is in a picture, but hearing him point to him and say his name and to mutter little words in his prayers warms my mother heart everytime I hear it. What a great reminder little ones are of our Savior's love for us!

Spring Gerneral Conference

General Conference this year did not disappoint. I am grateful that every six months we get to be instructed and uplifted by the council and instruction directed from our Heavenly Father and delivered to us by our prophet, President Monson, and the other leaders of the church. I again feel a renewed since of responsibility to make sure that my home is place where my children will learn and grow in the knowledge of Jesus and Heavenly Father, a place of love and beauty and where the Spirit can dwell. I feel that starts with my personal habits and have recommitted to do more and to be better. I am grateful for the themes of provident living, of saving and preparing for the future, of sacrifice and attending the temple often and making your home a sanctuary from the world.

Every year we go to Ryan's parents house for the Sunday sessions. His parents always make "thanksgiving dinner"--a turkey, stuffing, potatoes, etc. It was delicious and always so great to be with the Loveless family. After such a fulfilling meal, we are all fighting the post turkey sleep in the afternoon session. This coupled with a newborn and a 2 year old made it more difficult to catch every talk. Thank goodness for DVR. I am able to rewatch conference as I do Ryan's ironing! Max helps Grandpa with lunch dishes

After Conference we took Luke over to meet his Great Grandma Johnsen. She was turning 89 the next day and we wanted to wish her a happy birthday and to get some pictures of her with Max and Luke. Luke gets loves from his Great Grandma J and Daddy

She always likes to spoil Max and sent him home with animal cookies and M&Ms. He even gave her a hug and kiss good-bye!

Grandma J and the Loveless boys

It was a great visit with Grandma J and we were so glad we stopped by.

Calli, JoAnn, Luke, Grandma J, Ryan & Max on Grandma J's couch