This was a busy and very fun weekend for us. I don't know if it started off particularly fun for Jared because he had his evidence final on Friday, but I was sure glad that his class was over. And Jared thought his test went well-- he sure studied enough for it! While Jared was at school taking his test, Luke and I headed over to Colonial Williamsburg where we met my Uncle Brett and his family. We were able to get them a discount for CW and spend a little time walking around with them. Luckily Brandon, Jason, and Ryan did most of the Luke chasing for me, trying to herd him away from the garbage cans. Can you guess that it didn't really work? At least THEY thought it was funny. I'm sick of it by now. Luke and I left CW around lunch time and then spent the rest of the day getting ready for Nathan's family to come down. We were so excited to see them! Friday night we had pizza and let the boys get acquainted.
They had a quick game before bedtime.
We stayed up later playing a game. Was this the phase 10 night? I can't remember for sure, but it seems like it was. Quick note: A HUGE thank you to Sarah for letting me steal all her pictures. I was a big dope and even though we did lots of things this weekend, I never had my camera. I'm such a loser!
In the morning we had a special breakfast-- biscuits and gravy! After breakfast we headed out to the beach. It was still pretty deserted when we got there, and we were able to keep the boys happy for nearly 2 hours. I was very impressed. Luke did so well! Actually the entire weekend he did things that I can't normally get him to do (like going very far into the water). At first I thought it was because Skyler was there. That was probably part of it, but I think the biggest factor was that DADA was there. As you can see from the pictures, Luke spent most of the time at the beach playing with Jared.
This is the farthest I had seen Luke go into the water. Later, while I was meeting Brett and his family at Jamestown (more discounts) Jared and Luke went out past that sign. After about 2 hours the boys were literally turning blue and it was lunch time anyway, so we headed back to our house for lunch and naps.
Later that day we went to Wallermill Park where we rented canoes.
Skyler was all ready for the ride.
Here is the happy family:
See what a great little trooper looks like?
This is what a stinker looks like:
Luke threw a huge fit because he didn't want to leave the "air cushoner" behind the park office. Usually once we get him to say goodbye to something, he's okay. But he would NOT let it go. He would cry and flail around and kept shaking the canoe. Maybe it should have been funny, but Jared and I didn't think so. We finally got him calmed down by three things: letting Luke hold the oar which calmed him down for a
second until he realized that he wasn't allowed to throw it into the water and that Mama wouldn't let him hold it all by himself. Two: Luke stole my seat.
Yep, there his is on my seat while I am sitting on the bottom of the canoe.
And three: singing Row Row Row Your Boat over and over...and over. Basically we had to sing it until we docked the canoe again. I would like to try canoeing again. Hopefully he won't remember that there was an air conditioner there?
After Wallermill we came home to get dinner ready. It was a full house. Brett and his family came to join us. I am kicking myself that we didn't get a picture. Big apology to mom. I know she would have liked to see it. Luke dragged Ryan into his room a couple of times to make him bounce on the air mattress with him. Then he settled on Skyler as a partner.
The boys had a quick game of Guess Who? before bed, and then after they went to sleep the rest of us played Cranium. Nathan, Brandon, and Jason's team won after a great comeback. Their best play was when Brandon had to act out "plumber" by using Jason as a puppet.
On the fourth of July we had a small group at church-- which was a relief because they still haven't replaced the third worker and it's usually a rough beginning. After church we went down to Yorktown where there were reenactments, bands, and bounce houses. The plan was to watch the parade and maybe stay for fireworks.
That worked out for this kid: see how he loved the bounce house?
Luke, however, threw a HUGE fit and kept thrashing around on Jared's shoulders. His one and only interest was finding every single yucky garbage. Jared and I decided that we weren't about to walk around in over 90 degree heat just looking at garbage cans, so we headed back almost right away and celebrated the Fourth at home by making cookies which is one of Luke's very favorite activities.
On Monday we relaxed around the house in the morning. Luke and Skyler played playdoh with the daddies. And once again Luke had a first time mile stone. He did something with the playdoh besides hand it to me and say, "Squish" over and over. He actually rolled it out and used the cutters, etc. Every time I've tried to do that with him before he got really upset, but for some reason when Dada did it, it was totally fine. Whatever. At least Jared (and Skyler?) showed him how it really works. He's played with it well ever since.
Then we went to Newport News. We stopped at Costco and then went to a VERY delicious BBQ place that Jared knew about. BBQ brisket sandwiches-- Yum! We were going to go back to the beach for a cookout, but Sarah and I had too much fun at the Outlet mall and got back much later than planned. So we went to the pool instead.
Isn't Skyler so cute in his goggles?
This was the biggest surprise of all. I haven't been able to get Luke in the water all summer, but we played at the pool for a long time. To be honest, though, he had a hard time at first. He wanted to go to the swings. So after a little bit I took him to the swings and then brought him back to the pool where he was SO happy playing with Dada. The second go round there were a few differences: there was a lot more throwing around. And for another thing I didn't put his wet suit back on him.
Come back soon Nathan, Sarah, and Skyler!
I went to a girl's night at my friend Amber's a few weeks ago, and people were raving about "The Hunger Games", and then I read about it again on my cousin Valerie's blog, so when I saw it at Target I had to get it. I was going to save the rest of the gift card for something responsible. But 2 days later-- as soon as I finished "The Hunger Games", I went back and spent the rest of it on the second book in the trilogy. I could not put these books down! Can't wait for the third!
My parents sent me money. They had no instructions about using the money on myself, and they are the type of people who would applaud responsibility. But I wasn't responsible. I took Jared and myself on a fun date. We saw Toy Story 3.
And the next day we went to lunch at my favorite restaurant in town. It serves THE BEST carrot cake in the entire world.
Mom and Dad Herrera sent money again with the order that I spend it on myself. I mostly followed this order. I got myself this calendar for the kitchen that I have been wanting for a long time.
Then I made this bulletin board for Luke's room to display his lovely artwork. I didn't actually make it. I just painted it red.
And finally I got something pretty to put over the sink so I'm not just staring at a blank wall while I do dishes. Jared made fun of this purchase because he said it was a waste of money. Maybe it was, but I look at them and feel happy every time I'm doing dishes.
I've been slowly using money from Mom and Dad Wilkerson to treat Luke and I while Jared is at work. We went to Chick fil' A one day for lunch. We stopped and had a slushy at Target another day. It's nice to have a treat and not feel guilty about it. Although... when I think about the upcoming diapers I do feel a bit guilty. But the slushy tastes to good I block out the guilt and think, "I deserve this, don't I?" 
We've also been doing too much baking because Luke LOVES to make cookies. This week we made banana bread instead of cookies.
Luke threw a huge fit because he didn't want to leave the "air cushoner" behind the park office. Usually once we get him to say goodbye to something, he's okay. But he would NOT let it go. He would cry and flail around and kept shaking the canoe. Maybe it should have been funny, but Jared and I didn't think so. We finally got him calmed down by three things: letting Luke hold the oar which calmed him down for a second until he realized that he wasn't allowed to throw it into the water and that Mama wouldn't let him hold it all by himself. Two: Luke stole my seat.
The boys had a quick game of Guess Who? before bed, and then after they went to sleep the rest of us played Cranium. Nathan, Brandon, and Jason's team won after a great comeback. Their best play was when Brandon had to act out "plumber" by using Jason as a puppet. 
Then we went to Newport News. We stopped at Costco and then went to a VERY delicious BBQ place that Jared knew about. BBQ brisket sandwiches-- Yum! We were going to go back to the beach for a cookout, but Sarah and I had too much fun at the Outlet mall and got back much later than planned. So we went to the pool instead.
When I read the book to him in English he kept correcting me. For example, we read the Spanish book saying a painting of the cow jumping over the moon. In the English book, the word is picture, but when I say that, Luke always says, "Painting. Painting."
I got this book from Debbi, and Luke loves it. He won't listen to the whole story, so we read the first stanza on each page and then say, "Night Night (whatever animal is on that page)." Luke's very favorite is the otter. I don't know why.
Last of all, Luke loves Corduroy. We also have to shorten this book because he turns the pages too fast, but he gets a nice edited version every single night.
Luke sure wasn't going to win any fashion contest this morning. His ensemble, as you can see consists of a brown hat (keep the sun off his face-- pointless since he turned the hat to the side), an orange and white shirt (UV protective swim shirt), jean shorts (because they're the least likely to stain should he sit down in dirt, etc.), and black and red rain boots (because Luke HATES the feel of sand/ rocks on his feet).
Caleb and Luke had so much fun digging. Luke also spent quite a bit of time throwing rocks into the water. 
After 20 minutes or so, Caleb got adventures and ran out into the water. Luke followed him out, which surprised me because he almost never goes into water. He was wading in almost to where the water would go into his boots. Luke has had a big growth spurt over the last 2 months or so and had outgrown all his shoes, so these were brand new rain boots and I didn't want him to get the inside wet. I pulled him out of the water and put his Crocs on his feet, but then he wouldn't get in the water because he could still feel the sand. I finally crammed (literally) his feet into his old too small rain boots that I had brought for Caleb and let him have at the river.
He tramped around completely water logged for a good long time just having a blast. I'm really glad I brought his old boots along, and really glad I was finally able to get them off his feet. They were suctioned on pretty tight and for a while it was questionable whether or not they were coming off again.
