The Birthday Boy!

Today is the day... the Lord has made.  We will most definitely rejoice and be glad in it!!!

Our little man is now 5 years old!  To begin with, a few fun (and somewhat random) tidbits to share:

• Lucas turned 5 at exactly 4:06 AM.  I will never for that moment 5 short years ago.  All-time BEST memory (tied with Sophie's birth of course).
• Lucas's birthday wishlist this year:  bongo drums and a gong (Need I mention the instruments that he already has in his posession?  Sousaphone, drum set, big bass drum, saxaphone, banjo, guitar, harmonica, flute/whistle, tambourine, and castinets.)
• Up until a few months ago Lucas thought that when he turned 5 he automatically started Kindergarten that day.  I explained to him that isn't the case...he was heartbroken for a little bit but it didn't last long.

 Sophie gave Lucas this "bad bird" as he calls it....

 Learning all about his new corn planter....  from G & G and Z & A.

 Spending some time harvesting beans with Grandpa, out behind Great-Grandma Rupp's house...

 Bongo drums!!

A snapshot of Lucas:
Lucas spends most of his free time:  playing football in the backyard,  playing with his miniture Ohio State football characters in his room, playing with Sophie in her kitchen, farming his fields, playing basketball, looking at books (recent favorites include the Pigeon books, Richard Scarry, Curious George, Clifford, and Bernstein Bears) and reading some that he has memorized to Sophie, boxing (Wii), wrestling matches with Daddy and Grandpa, and using his tools to fix things around the house (specifically getting Mommy a new oven multiple times a week and fixing the vacuum clearner).

Schedule:  Monday-Friday Lucas heads off to Monon Trails Elementary (with Soph) where they spend their day with their friends and teachers.  Lucas's teachers this year are Mrs. Perrin, Mrs. Baughman, Mrs. Victor, and Mrs. Livingston.  He loves school and more often than not he wakes up happy and ready for the day.  While at school he LOVES going to the gym to play basketball, playing on the playground, puppets with Mrs. Livingston, heading to the computer lab for games, and movie/popcorn days.  Some of his good buddies are Parker (of course!) and Rylan.  We wake Lucas up at 6:00 on school days and on the weekends he sleeps until typically 7-7:15ish.  He still naps about 3-4 times a week... almost always on Saturdays because he's often wiped out from a busy week.  Bedtime is 8:00 (unless we're at Grandma and Grandpa's or in Missouri!). 

Dear Lucas,
You are FIVE years old today!  You've been waiting so patiently for this day to come and now it's here!  You woke up this morning with that huge smile on your face....the one you only use for extra special occasions (like when we tell you on the way to school that we're stopping to get donuts first!).  Lucas, we want you to know that you make Daddy and me so VERY happy.  You are a special mix of tenderness, filled with fun and excitement for life.  Tender because of the way you treat your sister (whom you call "Sophs") and the way you care so much about others and their feelings.  Fun because you DO know how to have fun...whether it's pretending you're in your huddle getting ready for an OSU game or wrestling with Daddy on the living room floor, or chasing me around the playset outside with your hands outstretched ready to tickle me.  And of course your excitement for life.  You are a happy kid....  and you show it.  I see it in the classroom when I come to pick you up.  Others like to be around you because you're always having a good time, whatever you're doing. 

And the most important thing we (Daddy and I) want you to know is that we love you so very much.... but God loves you even MORE!  Just this past summer, on the way to the swimming pool.... in the car... you asked me about how you can get to heaven.  With Sophie listening in the background I explained to you that believing in Jesus is the way we get to heaven.  You and I prayed that special prayer and invited Jesus to come live in your heart for ever and ever and buddy... that's the most important decision you'll ever make.  We've had fun talking about what it means for Jesus to live in your heart.  At times I know it's tricky to understand, but you're learning so much already.  One thing that I really love is the songs you're learning in church about Jesus and how we can dance in the kitchen while singing those songs.  Those are such special times for me.

Happy 5th birthday to a very very special boy.  We love you lots and lots and lots (times 1 million!).
XOXO,
Mommy (and Daddy and Sophie!)