6

 Monday (July 21), our Luke turned the big SIX!  Yep, Luke is 6.  I feel like it was monumental.  First, he's matured a lot in the last year!  Waiting until he was 6 to have him start kindergarten was a good decision on our part for him.  This summer, he's lost his first tooth & now has glasses.  He's done awesome at taking care of his glasses.

And, like I just mentioned, in just a few weeks, he'll start kindergarten.  In fact, starting this evening/tomorrow morning, we've started working on going to bed earlier/getting up earlier!

Anyways, here's Luke's "6" pic from last week!

That evening, we went into the bigger city (than our's) near us to buy Luke some new shoes for his birthday/school starting.  Unfortunately, the shoes we were wanting weren't yet available.  So, he walked away that evening with only the promise of a pair to come.

Unfortunately for Luke on his birthday, his sister *did* get a pair of shoes.  I hadn't planned on buying her any, but just for fun, I had her feet measured.  Oops...she was seriously wearing shoes 2 sizes too small for her.  So, she did get a pair, and they're awfully cute!

Marc met us for supper, and then, Kate & I headed home. Marc & Luke went to a baseball game -- a first for Luke.  It was on his summer list, and on his birthday, it happened to be dollar night.  SCORE!  So, for $2, Marc & Luke had a fun birthday evening, AND an item was crossed off of Luke's list.

Because of scheduling, we actually didn't have Luke's party until last night (Sunday, the 27th).

Remember, I don't really decorate -- not at all for this party.  We don't have a huge family, and we haven't yet gotten into the "friend" party thing (Luke hasn't asked; we haven't suggested it to him).

SO, our family party was dinner, dessert, and a trip to our local sprinkler/splash park.

No pic of dinner...but, we had grilled burgers/hot dogs, chips, my mom's super-duper awesome potato salad, a hearty vegetable salad....

Then, it was time for dessert.  Luke wanted a school bus on a cake since school's about to start...

Then, it was time for Luke to open his presents....

From his Papa & Grandma Friesen (Marc's parents), Luke received a couple of books on the states of the USA (Luke likes information)....

As a quick side note -- Kate was completely entertained with boxes & wrapping paper during this process.  Can you tell she's an early 2 year-old?

Awhile back, Luke had asked my brother & sister-in-law (and his cousins) for change -- just change.  He said he needed change to jingle in his pocket.  So, they gave him a bag of change. Awesome!

Marc & I gave him a Bible.  It's his first "real" Bible.  He needs it for kindergarten.  He was excited.  He's been asking about which Bible he'd be taking to school.  Well, at the party, Luke got his answer.

My parents (Papa & Grandma Andover) gave him a fishing pole, a box to collect rocks, a book on rocks, and a nature walk bag (since we do a lot of nature walks)....

After the partying was over at our house, the party continued for the kiddos to play at our local sprinkler/splash park.  Our little family, unfortunately, hadn't been there yet this summer -- sadly.  Obviously, Kate doesn't remember it from last summer.  It took her approximately 50 seconds to see her brother & cousins having a good time to decide to join in on the fun!  We're biased, we know, but we found her to be 110% cute at this park!  And, as for Luke, he's come a long ways at this park in the last several years!  This boy used to be the one who'd merely run the perimeter of the park, barely getting wet.  Last summer, he didn't even necessarily want his hair wet.  Now, he was all over & all wet -- including his hair!

School Shopping....

Well, we have now entered the world of the need for back-to-school shopping.  I'm guessing I will be tempted to get sick & tired of the process as our children age, but I'm praying & striving to not ever get tired of it.  After all, if I live to be even 80, it'll be a small percentage of my life.  AND, the start of a new school year is a big deal!

I've seen several of you "out there" who have taken their son and/or daughter on dates to buy school supplies.  I liked that idea.  SO, last night, I had a big date -- with our son, Luke.  Luke, in case you didn't know (and weren't able to figure it out based on the first paragraph of this post) is entering kindergarten in less than a month -- Sniff Sniff!

Luke's not one to branch out much with food. My only stipulation was that I wouldn't go to McDonald's.  He picked "Subway".  I was nice & let him have chocolate milk even (that's a treat).

After eating, I *made* him go here....

It wasn't for anything personal.  His 6th birthday party is tomorrow night.  We needed paper supplies.  "Hobby Lobby" has quite a few options.  But again, Luke is relatively low maintenance & ultimately picked out plain blue & green paper products. (The sun was in his eyes big time here, but I made him pose anyways -- Ha)!

Next, we headed to "Target".  We were able to purchase most of his needed supplies.

Luke cracked me up.  When we were standing in line to buy everything, he was too busy looking at flashlights & batteries in the check-out line.  Yep -- that would describe typical Luke.

We had to make one quick trip to Wal-Mart to purchase a couple more supplies.  Then, I treated Luke to a cookie at "Starbucks".

If you ask Luke if he's excited about kindergarten, he'll most likely tell you, "No -- I'm nervous".  Honestly, I think he's being truthful with that statement. Luke doesn't particularly do change very well.  I know he will do fine once the routine is in place, but I think the transition will require some patience on my part.  

Last night, during our date, he & I had a conversation about how Jesus will help him with his nervousness if Luke lets Him.  We talked about praying and asking Jesus to help him.  So, Luke is doing just that.  It's awfully sweet & very awesome to see Luke take his worries & concerns to Jesus!

AND, despite his nervousness, Luke has been pre-enjoying his new kindergarten backpack (which we bought in Colorado for him).  The other day, he even wore it while vacuuming.

Finally, while Luke is praying for his nervousness, I'm praying not only for Luke's nervousness but also for this girl's adjustment to her brother being gone at school.  She simply isn't the same without him (however, I know she will adjust just fine ultimately).

Colorado -- Days 6 & 7....

The last two days of out trip weren't terribly exciting, thanks to a poor sick boy.

The day before we left, we had *planned* on visiting a local museum on mining, thinking Luke would probably find it interesting.  But, Luke needed to stay home.

In case you don't know it, Kate is a child who regularly needs to get out of the house.  SO, staying in a house which isn't our's for an entire morning was NOT an option for Kate.

So, she & I went to a park & ran a couple small errands.

After lunch, Marc & I started to debate, and debate, and debate some more about whether or not to take Luke to an "urgent care" in Leadville.

Did I mention we really debated?

Finally, mid-afternoon, I called the urgent care & talked with a very nice nurse.  She recommended I bring him in.

We still debated.

Finally, late afternoon, we decided I'd take him in because his fever had gotten higher.  Luke complained of a bad sore throat, and he started to complain his eyes & belly hurt (all signs of strep throat).

Yep -- Mama was right.  It was strep throat.

Luke looks happy in this pic....really, he wasn't feeling well.  He was eating saltine crackers & just generally not feeling well :(

After a terrible night of sleep (Luke complained of throat & belly pain; Marc & I had altitude-induced insomnia, we think), we headed out (this is the day after the urgent care visit)....

Despite not feeling well still -- Luke was sad to leave the mountains.  Marc & I were sad as well....

Our car did not have a DVD player.  We don't own portable DVD players (other than our laptop -- which we didn't take on this trip).  We didn't borrow any DVD players from friends.  So, our kiddos were left to entertain themselves the old-fashioned way -- by watching things outside the window, talking with us, etc.

Guess what?

They both, even the 2 year-old, did fabulous up until the VERY last hour of the trip (the hour in which we all four were DONE)....Luke asked quite a few questions about signs & wind-powered generators.  Luke looked at his maps.  We listened to music.

We made it just fine without too much technology!

Unfortunately, the next day after we got home, Luke still wasn't feeling very well.

Back at the urgent care in Leadville, I questioned OUT LOUD the dosage of the prescribed antibiotic.  I was assured it was fine.  I should've been assertive.

SO, after we returned, I did have to take Luke back to the doctor here.  Sure enough, the first words out of the doctor's mouth (here) were, "Personally, I would've prescribed this strength & dosage.  Let's change it & see what happens".

Guess what?  Luke was 100 times better the next day!

Just for fun...here are the kids at the doctor's office (here at home) in their souvenir Leadville shirts...

Our trip ultimately was wonderful!  With kids, things like sickness & the like will happen!  I pray we made good memories for Luke (Kate won't remember)....

The trip wore us all out!  Two days after we got back, the kiddos & I took a brief nature walk while Marc was working. Kate fell asleep in the stroller. Then, despite the nap in the stroller in the morning, Kate also had to be woken from a nap in the afternoon!

A Colorado Break For Some Randomness....

I have a *tiny* bit of Colorado to share yet (you've already seen all of the main positive pics), but I'm in a mood right now to post some different pics.

This heat we're having puts me in a funk!  Combine the heat with the daily life of kiddos (like a daily annoyance of constantly having to look for Kate's sippy cup) and Mama's simply not thrilled.

SO, I shall BREATHE, and I will post happy pics.

When Luke was sick last week, I often would rub his back and/or his head.  Kate saw this & has taken to copying me.

This morning, Luke was upset when he got up.  Who knows why????  It's just him sometimes.

When Luke walked into Kate's room this morning and was upset, Kate saw that and rubbed his back.

This evening, we went to a political event. It was at a local park, and if you're local, you know it's HOT right now.  This evening was no exception.  Because it was at a park, the kids were obviously more interested in playing.  (Luke's in the sand pit in the front of this pic)...

Colorado -- Day 5....

On the morning of Day #5, we took our time.  We had a relaxing morning.  So far, our vacation had kind of been a "Go Go Go" type of trip. Plus, the day before, Marc had run a big race (see previous post).  I know he was tired.

So, we had a nice pancake breakfast, and the kids freely played....

Then, late morning, we ventured out a very short distance to "downtown Leadville" to look around at the shops.  The kiddos were promised a park, assuming good behavior.

We looked around.  Yep -- we were indeed in Colorado -- Ha!

We bought some touristy souvenir t-shirts.  Here are the kids in their's (actually taken after we got home).

AND, we found a backpack for Luke for kindergarten (supply #1 checked off of the list)....

Then, we headed to a park.

Kate had been on a merry-go-round before, but this particular day, she was NOT having it!

After the park, we headed back to the house for lunch and nap/quiet time.

And, here would be where the "went downhill" part of our trip started.  Our trip ultimately was fantastic, and what happened next most certainly could have been worse.  BUT, nevertheless, it happened.

Toward the end of quiet time, Luke nicely came over to me & gave me a hug.  I noticed at that time he felt warmer than normal.  So, I grabbed the thermometer in my packed "pharmacy".  He had a slight fever.

He was acting fine.  SO, we decided to go on ahead & take a short drive to Turquoise Lake.  In my mind, if he did have something, at Turquoise Lake, we wouldn't be around people.  I'm SO thankful we did because nothing touristy happened the next day because Luke was sicker.  (Will be in another post)....

Turquoise Lake was really quite pretty, and we ended up driving clear around it, periodically stopping for sight-seeing, rock-climbing (Luke), and rock-throwing (Luke & Kate).

This boy of our's has turned out to be quite the little rock-climber.  Luke is SO non-risky and not the most coordinated (even for his age)....I personally enjoyed seeing him climb on the rocks with only a healthy fear (as opposed to an irrational fear)....

This girl, on the other hand, made her parents nervous.  She had not enough fear of the rocks -- especially for being a clumsy 2 year-old!  It's a good thing she's cute with a nice smile!

After Turquoise Lake, we headed back to the house for supper.  It had been a nice low-key day!

More to come....though you've now seen all of the main highlighted pics!