Luke Turns Two!

So one of our babies turned two yesterday. I can hardly believe that I have had another baby boy since Luke was born. What can we say about Luke at two? ...

• he likes to be left alone to play by himself. That is when he is the happiest.
• he has a temper (let's just leave it at that)
• he is starting to talk more and more and even singing some songs like Jesus loves me, you are my sunshine and the alphabet song
• his favorite thing to do is play outside on the swings or in the sandbox
• he is still very attached to his thumb and white knit blankie
• he sleeps in a toddler bed and has for awhile
• he has used the potty quite a few times already but isn't consistant with it
• still has one nap everyday for 2 hours or so
• likes most food
• hates the nursery at church and screams until his Mommy and Daddy are gone out of sight , then he is usually fine
• strangers stop me all of the time and comment on how beautiful/handsome he is.
• He pretends he is shy but isn't really
• loves his Daddy so very much and hates to see Ken go to work in the morning and is very happy to see him come home in the evening.
• I think he will be athletic, he seems to be able to control the soccer ball already and hit balls with the hockey stick pretty good
• still loves to cuddle whenever I seem to get the time
• loves reading books
• knows most animals and their sounds other than mixing up cows and horses
• overall is such a light in our busy lives and we are so thankful for this little boy!

Love you Luke! Happy 2nd birthday!

Busy Busy!

Things are just so busy lately, it's hard to feel on top of things. This week Samuel's preschool had a family picnic to end the school year. He will be attending preschool again next year to help with his speech. We have seen some improvements now that he is cooperating much better. He seems to be making friends and having fun at school. I attended a workshop last week with him to learn about activities that I can do with him over the summer to help with his speaking.

Andrew also had a kindergarten day, a full day at school with his new classmates. He was totally excited and had a fun day. I really missed him and came to realize how much he entertains the other kids at home. Next year will be very different for me. Isaac has started hanging out in the jolly jumper, I wouldn't say he's jumping at all but hanging out.

Ladiesfest 2010

Mel and I ran in a women's 8kn race Saturday with 688 other women. We entered as a Sister/sister team and got second place. It was a beautiful morning and we had lots of fun. My goal was 42 minutes and I crossed the finish at 41:52 placing 41/688. The top picture was me trying to beat the clock at the finish line. It helped immensely having Mel there cheering for me as well as Ken, Luke and Isaac and Mel's husband Pete and their girls. Now I can rest for a month before my next event. Thankfully....

Everyday Life with the Leffers

Hanging out with Daddy.

Notice Luke crying in the background b/c Isaac now sits in his old swing.

There's our smiley Isaac.

Sam modelling his new jammies.

Luke loves hanging out on the top bunk lately. He can get up but not down. I've been hiding the ladder in the closet hoping he'll get over his obsession. The boys were reading books before bed the other night.

20 mile Coulee Cactus Crawl

Team name "Dude where's my van?"
This is where our race was in the Lethbridge coulees.

Passing the bracelet to my sis in law Mel.

So I completed my first race since I had Issac 3.5 months ago. It was a 20 mile relay race thru the coulees. It was probably the hardest running race I've done based on the landscape. I completed the shortest leg, 4.7km but supposedly the hilliest. The rest of my team were such strong runners and we are all super competitive. Mel and I are both still nursing so we took Baby Isaac and Baby Shawna along for the day. They were so good about being carted around in the van. It was a blast. Can't wait to do it again next year! We won 1st place for an all girls team.

3 more to make a soccer team!

So....our great friends Paul and Tracy had another boy today. This is their fourth boy as well. I can't believe that we have 8 boys between us. He was born around 3:10pm. weighs 7.3 lbs, his name is Isaiah Jacob Vander Heide. Isn't he so cute? And so small compared to what Isaac was and is....Congrats to our bestest friends. We are looking forward to many exciting times with all of our boys!

Isaac- 3 months

Happy 3 months Isaac!

- weighs 18 lbs and 13 oz. and is 25.5 inches long.

- wears Size 4 diapers

- has been sleeping through the night for 3 weeks now (8:30pm - 6:30am)

- nurses 6 times a day, 3 hrs. apart

- has started sitting in the exersaucer, propped up by a blanket

- loves going for walks and being outside

- has had a few baths in the big tub with Luke

- loves getting cuddles and attention whenever he can

- smiles instantly when you talk to him no matter who it is

- loves watching his brothers and smiling at them

- is wearing 9 mth. sleepers and 12 month t-shirts and shorts/pants

- has actually giggled once when I was tickling his neck but I have not been able to get him to do it since.