Big Bash!

Saturday was another LARGE Hughes party with 27 people in attendance (including kiddos).  Similar to last year's big party, this was celebrating Evelyn's 4th birthday and BJ's 2nd birthday.  Last year, the 3rd event was Nathan's grandma's 85th birthday.  This year, we had a shower for Nathan's cousin, Michelle, who's having a baby girl this summer.  (And remember, lots more pictures are on the Hughes' site)

In typical "Luke" fashion, he spent a lot of time driving the little police car around.  :)

But, he also ventured into the bounce house for a few minutes - still not his favorite activity.  Maybe next year.

Guacamole lover!  At one point, Luke wandered into the kitchen and asked for a specific type of chip (thin tortilla strips) that was on the table.  That bag wasn't open yet, so I tried to offer him a different kind, but he really wanted that one.  Then I noticed an bowl of broken pieces of tortilla chips, and offered him one of those, which he was very pleased with.  Turns out, he wanted that kind of chip because he wanted to dip it in guacamole!  I remember him going to town on the homemade guacamole at a Sunday School picnic over a year ago, so I guess he still likes it.  :)  He dipped a few more chips before I turned him away to distract him with something else until lunch was ready to start - then made sure to give him some more chips and guacamole on his lunch plate (which of course he ate first!).  :)

Luke and Evelyn play quite well together, and seemed to enjoy each other again this visit.  Their personalities are both somewhat mellow, so they like quieter activities.  :)

Luke received a toy hippo in his party favor bag.  When he brought it over to show me, I said, "Oh!  Is that your hippo?"  To which he replied, "Nooo." (shaking his head emphatically)  "It's my hippopotamus!"  Okay then - that'll teach me to abbreviate a word for him that I think is too hard for him to say!  :)

Dueling bellies!  Congratulations, Michelle - can't wait to meet your new little girl!

Happy Birthday, Evelyn!

Happy Birthday, BJ!  (getting help from his family)

BIG smile from the soon-to-be BIG brother!

Super happy on the swing when Daddy pushes him really high!

4 Months Pregnant!!!  18-1/2 weeks to be exact when this picture was taken.  And while this shirt has lots of fullness, the fabric actually lays pretty smooth across my tummy, so that tummy curve is all baby!  I'm technically 2 inches bigger around than I was at this point with Luke.  :)  This weekend was particularly fun for me as well, since I started noticing more consistent baby movements!  I watched a movie Saturday night, and he wiggled and squirmed throughout the whole thing - my favorite part of being pregnant has finally begun!

Riding Cool

We arrived at the mall 10 minutes before it opened on Friday, so I decided to just have a quick snack in the car while we waited.  Then, I figured it would be fun to let Luke out of his carseat and join me in the front for the snack (partly due to the backseat being a bit more sunny than the front also).  Well, Luke LOVED his taste of freedom and wanted to touch everything.  Here, he's also trying on Nathan's sunglasses - such a cutie!

Cute

Luke put his new little zoo toys on my sewing machine the other day, and I thought it was cute to see his face behind them, through the opening on the machine.  So, thankfully, he cooperated with my picture-taking efforts, which included asking him to move over in different directions so that he would be in the right place for the picture to work (because of course he was no longer standing perfectly where he needed to be when I got my camera).  :)

Shopping

Last week, I went by a different grocery store to snag some deals on things I use regularly.  Since there were only going to be a few things, I let Luke push the mini-cart this time.  I'd tried it once before a long time ago, and he had a melt-down, but I think it was related more to him wanting to use the motorized cart instead.  :P  This time, he was actually excited to use the mini-cart!  I had to help him steer the whole time, though - not very  proficient in that yet.  :)

Zoo!

We finally went to the zoo last weekend.  After having trouble coordinating a group trip, we just went by ourselves.  It was fun to see Luke's reactions to all the animals.  :)  Here he is before we left, looking like a little man in Daddy's hat and shoes!

I FINALLY managed to get a nice flamingo picture!  The last few times I've been to a zoo, I haven't been able to get one of one standing up looking all "classic" - they're usually cleaning themselves or sleeping.  :P

The tiger!  It was resting when we arrived, but eventually started walking around and roaring this low, rumbling growl.  Here's Luke doing his tiger impression, too.  When we asked him at lunchtime which animal was his favorite, he said the tiger - even though he was a bit scared of that growl, it was impressive!

We also got to see the hippopotamus in action!  It was his lunch time, so he came waddling over to the wall and got petted and fed while we were watching.

The bears were sleeping inside their cave when we first walked past, but when we came back past them, they had been given lunch, too, so were lumbering around outside to eat and drink.  Perfect opportunity for Luke to see them.  The lion is the main "big" animal that didn't cooperate this time - snoozing the day away.  That, and the elephant, which is hiding right now since their exhibit is under construction.

Loving the giraffe!

Zebra!  They always take such good pictures.  :)

This was super cute - a mountain goat and his baby!  The little goat was scampering around on the rocks next to its daddy - so fun to watch!

Tired boy after a long, fun day in the sun.  This was the extent of his nap that day - about 15-20 minutes in the car on the way home.  You can also kind of see his baby tiger and baby giraffe toys that he picked out at the gift shop.  He's continued to play with them almost every day since then!  There will be more pictures of animals and Luke's reactions to them on the Hughes gallery.

Golf Cart

A couple Friday's ago, we had lunch with Grandpa & Grandma at their work.  We'd been there a couple times before to have lunch with them, but it was always on a Tuesday.  I'd been hankering for some clam chowder, so we arranged to meet for lunch on the last day they'd be serving clam chowder in the cafeteria this school year.  After lunch, Phyllis and I started talking with someone, so Luke and Grandpa ran off to explore.  When I noticed this is where they went, I quickly walked over to get a picture!  Luke was in toddler heaven sitting there pretending to drive this big golf cart!

Sprinkler Sweetie

On the way to the grocery store a couple weeks ago, the sprinklers on the lawn were going when we left our house.  Click on the picture to see it bigger to get a good look at the excited expression on Luke's face!

Later, back at home, Luke said he was tired and laid down on the couch.  I thought that was cute, so I took a quick picture of him, assuming he would leave as soon as I got the camera out.  Much to my surprise, he then *requested* that I take a "nice picture" of him!  So, this is the second shot - the one he asked for and cooperated sweetly for.  :)

Thomas Outing

Three Saturday's ago, Luke got to go on a special trip with Grandpa and Grandma Hughes and cousin Owen!  They went to ride Thomas the Train!  Nathan and I didn't go because it was pretty expensive, but I got a picture of Luke in their car (which was JUST as exciting for Luke as the train ride!) and they took pictures there.  He seemed to have a grand ol' time, and STILL has remnants of the "temporary" tattoo on his arm.