Happy 4th of July!

This year we spent the 4th in Missouri. Really the weekend was pretty easy going. Matt and I celebrated our 5th year anniversary on Friday! I can't believe it has been 5 years already! We had a nice time together eating and talking without any distractions! Saturday, Kelly was in town so she spent some time at our house with Mckenna. It was too hot  to go very far that day! Monday was really the best day of the weekend. The weather was bearable and Kelly and Brian came for some BBQ. We did end up going to the O'Fallon Heritage Festival for about an hour or so, long enough for Mckenna to ride some rides and get her face painted! 

"WEEEE"

"BEEEEEEEPPP" I think she remembered the cars from the last time... this was a train!

Mckenna looking so serious before the ride started!

After the Festival we went to John and Charlene's for some BBQ. Matt did the grilling and Mckenna played in the pool! It really was the perfect mix and balance for a perfect day!

Well, 10ish days to go and we will be an official family of four! Have a great week! Love from the Lucas Family!

Are You Keeping Up?

What... two posts in less than a week? Yeah, I know, AMAZING! We have had a lot of fun worth sharing! Last weekend while Matt worked on Baby Brother's room, Mckenna got in some water time! Matt and Mckenna set up the pool, slide and water table and Mckenna was good for a good hour and a half! When I came outside to help them set up I had to snap a picture or two! Mckenna and Dolly filled the pool while Daddy picked up the unmentionables from the dogs! Mckenna looked so cute standing there, so intent on filling the pool! Matt set up the slide so she could slide down, right into the water! She loved it! I have a few videos to prove it. Maybe I will get one uploaded in the near future. For now pictures will have to do! :)

Mckenna's favorite way to slide down the slide!

We had to let Dolly in on the action! :)

On Sunday we visited the famous St. Louis Zoo! The weather was perfect in the morning but got a little warm just as we were leaving. We went into the Children's Zoo where Mckenna pet a guinea pig and attempted to get brave enough to pet the hedgehog. (Notice Mommy is behind the camera? I don't like small creatures!)

We also saw the goats. Mckenna wouldn't touch a single goat but she made Grandma Charlene touch just about every one in the pin!

She ran down forested paths with Daddy chasing after her! Amazingly enough Mckenna walked almost the entire time we were there! We brought the stroller but it didn't get much use, other than holding our bag and drinks! :)

We also rode the train to Big Cat Country where the only "Big Cat" we saw was a leopard. But we did see some pretty zebras! Can you see them in the distance?

All in all we had a wonderful weekend! Next weekend is the Fourth of July celebration in O'Fallon. I have a feeling riding the amusement rides will be in Mckenna's future! :)

In less than three weeks (HOPEFULLY) our fast paced summer will slow down for the arrival of Baby Brother! Until then we are going to pack our time with family fun for three! Love from the Lucas Family!

Summer Amusement!

Can you believe what you see? Yes, that is Mckenna and Matt enjoying a ride at the annual All Saints Picnic at the Catholic church up the street. A couple of weekends ago the weather was just right and I had the itch to see what the All Saints Picnic was all about. Matt's mom and dad joined us and we all had a blast. The picture above shows Kenna's favorite ride, the elephants go up and down and around in a circle. This was the first ride we tried and I couldn't believe my eyes when my "little" baby was flying high in air. Matt convinced her to put her hands up every time the ride came around to me and I got a blurry but perfect shot. Matt was excited to find out he just might have a amusement ride rider in the future! Disney World some day.... I hope so!

Mckenna showing her excitement to get on a ride!

Riding the cars ALL BY HERSELF!

A ride I didn't think she would like... but she did!

Last weekend Matt was out of town and Kenna and I entertained some out of town guests. Jeremy, Angela and Addison came down for a short weekend. Saturday we lounged around the house, watched the girls play with EVERY toy Kenna owns and even got some time in the backyard playing in the water. Kenna is such a waterbug! She stated many, many times "I swimmin", probably one of her cutest phrases lately!

Angela, Addison and Mckenna

Getting ready to put her face in the water!

"I SWIMMIN"

Getting ready for bed...

Speaking of phrases, I can't believe all of the things she can say now! She will ask "wha ya doin?" "I need it" or "I wan it" (not my favorite), "I runnin", she will wake you up and tell you "I up, get up" "I go"... I am sure I am missing a lot but those are the most common! I just can't get over how much she knows! I am so glad her vocabulary is so advanced, it will make having a new baby in the house a little easier, I hope!

We are on the countdown now! 3 weeks until my due date; to clarify 21 days until my due date!
Love from the Lucas Family!

A Glimpse at Mckenna's World

Last weekend was Mckenna's last day at The Little Gym until the fall. I sure hope she doesn't forget how to do all the wonderful things she can do now! At the end of the "winter" session Mckenna: knew The Little Gym routine very well, could do a forward roll with Mommy's help, hang from the bars without help, knew how to bring her legs in the pike position when hanging from the bars all alone, knew how to swing on the bars, let go and land on her feet, learned to walk on the beam, and learned a few new signs! It is amazing what one day a week can do! Below are some pictures from "Show Day" last Saturday. She was so proud of her medal!

Bells at the end of class.

Walking on the balance beam.

Jump and roll!

Swinging on the bars!

Miss Alana and Mckenna

So proud of her medal!

Showing Daddy how the bars work!

After The Little Gym and a nap we headed 45 minutes south of here to go to a Lucas Family Reunion. Mckenna had a good time playing with her second cousins in her water table and with Aunt Kelly and Brian.

Logan and Mckenna

Aunt Kelly, Brian and Mckenna (Notice she is still wearing the medal!)

All the little ones at the party!

This week Mckenna got a little cash register to play with. She is incredibly cute to watch when she plays with it. Even better is watching Matt and Mckenna play with it! Here is a long (about 3min) video of them playing with the cash register. Mckenna's imagination is getting bigger and bigger these days!


I love how Mckenna says "thank you" and I am so proud of her blossoming manners! :)

5 weeks till baby boy is born! Have a great week!
Love from the Lucas Family!

Memorial Weekend With the Harms Family!

Brooke, Mckenna, Katie, and Alexa

Memorial Weekend was spent in Iowa with the Harms Family! The first time these four cuties have ever met and the first time the Harms Family has gotten together in a while! I have not seen some of my cousins since Laura's wedding and others since just after Mckenna was born. The weather didn't cooperate but that didn't put a damper on our fun! The four girls were funny to watch interact, becoming the most comfortable with each other just before everyone had to leave! (Typical for little kids, huh?) A couple of the nights we spent by the fire on the dock after all the girls were tucked in bed. I believe fun was had by all, young and older!

So here are some of the highlights...

The Girls....

 played with toys...

 

rode in the wagon behind Papa Ken...

snuggled with Papa Ken and Nini...

and Matt too...

took pictures with second cousins and parents...

laughed together...

and played in the water!

After everyone was gone on Tuesday the sun came out, the wind died down and we spent the entire day outside! We went on a boat ride and when Mckenna said "all done" we went home to play in the water table again! Tuesday night Marge and Jim joined us for some pizza and a fire. We had a wonderful extended weekend and wish we could have stayed longer! 

Driving the boat!

Nini and Kenna in their matching hats!

I seriously promise pictures of all the updates soon! Love from the Lucas Family!

Thank You....

As I was rocking my "baby" girl at 3:30 a.m. this morning I couldn't help but cherish  the moment. It is not very often that she falls asleep on my chest as I rock her to sleep these days! As I rocked my first thoughts went to my mom and dad. Often I hear stories of when I would show up at the side of their bed in the middle of the night and Mom would go back to my bed with me until I was asleep. I wondered if Mom was sometimes uncomfortable and beyond exhaustion as she lay there waiting for me to go back to sleep. No doubt cherishing the moments when she could snuggle up with me! Then I thought about all the things that our parents have done for us in our almost five years of marriage. They will spend hard earned money on us if it is needed, paint rooms even when backs and shoulders ache, put up sheds even when the heat is awful, take care of babies to give breaks, spend a week sleeping on an aerobed, and the list goes on. Parenting doesn't end when your babies grow up and get married, it changes. As the child I often ask how it is possible to say "Thank You" enough for the sacrifices our parents have made to make Matt, Mckenna and me happy. I just want them to know, we THANK them for everything they have done and will do!

Last week Nini stayed with us for the entire week. She got to stay home with Mckenna and endured the 6 a.m. wake up call every morning! I think Mckenna wore her out but I know that Mckenna loved EVERY minute of it, as did Nini! They shared some special moments together, much like this moment looking out the window. I was fortunate enough to spend some time with Mom alone as well. One night we went downtown to meet my cousin Ali for dinner. I really enjoy Mom's trips down here and feel very lucky that mom has these opportunities to come spend time with us!

Dad came down on Friday and spent most of his weekend working around our house. He put down more trim in the bedrooms, painted our new room, moved furniture, painted Mckenna's new room... and the list goes on! Matt and Dad have really spruced up this house and it looks better and better everyday! I promise to post pictures, or maybe a video, of our new look as soon as the carpet is in and Mckenna's room is finished!

Nini and Papa Ken had the pleasure of sharing their love for ice cream with Mckenna when we heard the tune of the Ice Cream Truck in the neighborhood. I love that there is an Ice Cream Truck that goes through the area, I never realized they were real until I moved to Missouri! :)

Saturday night the weather was perfect for a BBQ and fire! Some much needed relaxation for all!

Mother's Day was spent finishing the paint and trim in Mckenna's room. Mom and Dad were here until 4 and when they left Mckenna and Matt surprised me with a trip to the mall to purchase some new tennis shoes! I love them and it was special having them there to help me pick them out! I really did have a nice Mother's Day!

This week Mckenna and I worked on some art for her room. Mckenna was the artist and I was the cleaner-uper! :) I think this is the first time we have had success with finger painting and boy it turned out nice. I will unveil the painting when the room is complete!

The weather was cruddy this weekend so Matt and I have spent the weekend doing some more work around the house. Mckenna's room is almost finished and will be ready for new carpet some time soon! Two more weeks of school left and 8 weeks 5 days till Baby Brother (hopefully) makes his appearance!

Have a great week! Love from the Lucas Family!