Car Symbols

Some of you are aware of Tyler's uncanny (and at times, scary) knack for being able to identify various makes of cars, just by looking at the car itself. And I'm not just talking about cars sitting still in parking lots, either. I'm talking cars that go speeding past us in rush hour--and even in the dark. Tyler knows exactly where to look for the logo and sometimes shouts out the type of car before we've even seen it. I'm telling you, it really weirds us out sometimes. It was over a year ago when he became curious about makes of cars, which I'm sure is mostly due to the fact that we spend two hours each day in traffic. I remember the first car that he asked us about--a Honda accord. Dave told him that an "H" with a square around it is a Honda. From that point on, every time he saw that make of car, he would shout, "Look! It's an H-with-a-square-Honda!" His next obsession was Mustangs--which he appropriately called "horse cars." The odd thing about those was that he was able to identify all styles of Mustangs (even the really old ones) before he even saw the pony on the front. He and Dave would have contests on the way home from work to see who could spot more Mustangs--when a 4-year-old from the BACKSEAT beats you at that game, it's pretty sad!

Our little auto expert is also quick to point out cars that look like those of our friends/relatives, whether they're the same color or not. He'll say, "Look, there goes Kay-Kay's car!" every time an Envoy drives by, or "Mommy, that lady is driving a car like yours!" whenever he sees a Stratus. And we think that Connor might be getting a head-start on the same talent. He saw a car last week that looked just like my mom's Mazda and said, "Neanie car, Neanie car!"

This is one of Tyler's recent drawings from school--totally unassisted, I might add. I wonder what his first car will be......

I've been meaning to post this for awhile. The teachers in Connor's room usually have the wall outside of his room decorated according the current season or activity that they're working on. I thought this was a cute way to introduce us to Spring in the Panda Room.

Our little raindrop. :)

Sick Kiddo

Today didn't start off so well. Actually, let me back up to yesterday. I had the day off, but I had Dave drop the boys off at daycare so that I could work on my "101 Things To Do" list. The morning started off great, but I got a call from Connor's teacher at about 9:30, telling me that he had just puked EVERYWHERE. Unfortunately, at daycare, the reason for your child throwing up doesn't matter. Whether it's something they ate or a case of them running around too much right after a meal is beside the point--it's one and done. So, I called Dave at work and he said that he could pick them up (since we live an hour from our jobs and the daycare, it was easier that way, since he could get there in less than 10 minutes). Luckily, he has a job that can be done from just about anywhere, so he's usually the one to get the boys from school if one of them is sick (which, thankfully, is RARE). Anyway, I sped up my errands and got home in time to get lunch ready for Tyler, thinking that Connor would have no desire to eat anything. He did eat a few crackers, but didn't have much of an appetite. Within an hour of them arriving home, I was actually beginning to think that he wasn't sick at all--he was running around like he owned the place, laughing and playing with Tyler as usual. Early in the afternoon, he asked for a piece of chocolate out of our candy bowl in the kitchen, so I figured it wouldn't hurt to give him a Hershey's kiss. Besides, the crackers had stayed down, as well as the water that I'd been giving him. I couldn't have been more wrong--within 10 minutes, he got this weird look on his face and before I could react, a small area of my family room carpet was covered in crackers and chocolate. Thank God for Woolite Oxy Deep--I still haven't met a stain that I can't get out!

After giving him a bath (the only way I could get the smell off of him), I put him down for a nap and he slept for nearly three hours. The rest of our day was pretty uneventful and he actually ate a little bit of his dinner--and it stayed down.

This morning, Dave had to work, so I got the three of us ready for Tyler's soccer practice. We were doing great on time and were actually running a few minutes early. That feeling of accomplishment didn't last long, though; just as I picked Connor up to put him in the car, he unloaded his breakfast and his dinner from the night before all over both of us. Ick. I got both of us changed super fast and sped to the park before it had a chance to happen again. :) Connor did okay during practice; I fed him Ritz crackers and water while we watched the kids. I felt so badly for him because he just kept saying, "More cracker, Mommy, more cracker." He was starving! I was glad that he kept all of it down and decided to run by Wal-Mart after we left the park. He and Tyler talked and laughed in the car the whole way there, which made me feel better. At least until we pulled into a parking spot at Wallyworld. The second (and I'm not kidding) that I put the car into park, it happened again. Only this time, it was projectile--and kept coming. By the time he finished, it was all over the back of MY seat and covered almost every inch of his little body. Tyler's jaw was on the floor as he looked at me and said, "Mom, WHAT is wrong with Connor?" I was so sad for my little guy; he laid his head back and just stared at me. I decided that whatever I needed at Wal-Mart could definitely wait. We rushed home, I changed Connor's clothes in the garage, and got to work scrubbing vomit out of a carseat. Thoroughly disgusting task.

My baby (not feeling well) and his Ritz cracker during Tyler's soccer practice

Papa and Tyler are enjoying our new hoop. Notice Tyler's face--looks like he's already planning his rebound strategy. :)

Daddy is helping Connor with his swing.

Tyler and Connor with their playtime buddies, Mama Carol and Papa Dave.

He's got skills!

Not sure how this happened, but had to snap a picture 'cause I know he couldn't do it again if he tried!

Soccer Star

Tyler had a ton of fun at today's soccer practice--and he scored three of his team's four goals! I know he's only five years old....BUT, what amazes me is the fact that he's not afraid to go after the ball, no matter how many kids are gathered around it. Then, once he kicks it away from them, he runs like mad down the field, kicking the ball along in front of him the whole way until he reaches the goal (he has great control of the ball). Then with a swift kick, it's in the net. And this is one celebratory kid, I'm telling you. He high-fives his coach/teammates and comes over to give Dave "knocks." And he has this cute little run that he does after he scores a goal; it cracks us up! :)

As we were walking over to have team photos taken after practice, Coach Dave told us that the opposing team's coach came over to him and said, "Wow, you've really got a kid that can play!" Coach Dave's response: "Yeah, he can play basketball, too!" As I've mentioned in one of my previous posts, Dave was also Tyler's coach for basketball back in January.

Tyler getting some one-on-one practice time with Coach Dave and Dad

Chillin' with his teammates and wowing the girls :)

GO ORANGE TIGERS!!!

Scoring his first goal of the game and stopping to give Coach Dave a "right back atcha" thumbs-up.

I scored again, Mom!

Tyler and Spencer really have fun playing soccer together

Team photo

Winding down in the evening with a good old Nascar race. :)

Feeding the birds

One of Connor's newest fascinations is watching birds land on our deck to eat the bird seed that Dave puts in the feeder. A couple of weeks ago, we were sitting at the table eating breakfast, and all of a sudden, he looked out the door and started saying, "Birdie, birdie! On the deck! BIRDIE, BIRDIE!" It was so cute to watch; I couldn't believe how excited he got. He sat there mesmerized, not taking his eyes off of the deck while the birds ate the seed. Then, when they flew away, he waved toward the door and said, "Bye-bye, birdie! Bye-bye!" Ever since, he loves to stand at the door and just watch the birds land and take off again. And he LOVES to help Dave and Tyler fill the feeder. He's really becoming a big helper with things. :)

Obviously a three-person job!

Connor is helping Daddy spread the seed around.

New "Toy"

While we were in Chicago a couple of weeks ago, Dave saw a basketball goal at Sears that he just HAD to have. Unfortunately, though, when we checked our Sears here at home, they didn't sell that particular one (of course). So, we asked our brother-in-law, Dave, to run back to their Sears and pick it up for us (thank you, Dave!). Dave's parents, who went up to visit Debbie and Dave this past weekend, brought the goal back down with them and dropped if off at our house. We've had it "hiding" in the basement all week because Dave wanted to surprise Tyler with it this weekend. So, he took today off, spent 3 hours assembling it, and showed it to Tyler as soon as we got home. When he saw it, he raised his eyebrows and a huge grin spread across his face. The very first thing he said was, "Is it ours?" Then, he spent the next two hours shooting hoops--it really took some convincing to get him to come in for dinner! :)

Tyler LOVES it! Even Connor wanted to try it out.

This is what happens every time an airplane or jet flies over our house, which is often. :)

A Fabulous Easter!

We had Easter at our house this year, and it couldn't have been more fun. Tyler was awake promptly at 6:00 a.m. and was insistent on dragging us downstairs immediately so that he could show us what The Easter Bunny brought for he and Connor (who, oblivious to the phenomenon that is the E.B., slept until 7:00). Since we had to be at church by 7:45 (early risers = early service!), we convinced Tyler to wait until we got home to open up his goodies. After church, I took the boys to get donuts (Dave had to stay for the second service as well--he plays for the church band), then headed home. By the time Dave arrived, Tyler was chomping at the bit to tear into his basket. He was very excited about his new Clone Wars figure, Clone Wars PJ's, matchbox cars, and Clone Wars kite (do you see a theme here?). Oh, and once he realized that "basket" was actually a Clone Wars tin bucket, that was the icing on the cake for him. :) Connor liked his Elmo basket and was excited to take the wrapping off--and once he saw his pack of matchbox cars, the rest of the goodies in his basket got the cold shoulder.

Our next activity was egg-dyeing and I can honestly say that I've never seen a child get so into it as Connor did. He giggled almost the entire time and was completely mesmerized by the whole process. He kept peering over into the coffee mugs to make sure the eggs were still in there and totally loved all of the colors. Tyler had a good time with his Clone Wars egg-decorating kit, which came with cool wrap-arounds and a little stand/decals to make a TIE fighter, which he thought was awesome. My sis, Kayla, was in command of this activity and she had a blast with her nephews! :)

Next, it was time for lunch, egg hunting (our 5th and final one of the season--I think), and more basket-opening. My mom, step-dad Scott, his mom Elnora, and son David, came over to celebrate the day with us. After we ate a ton of yummy food, the guys hid about 50 eggs in our backyard and the boys had a lot of fun finding them (yet another activity that involved a lot of laughs from Connor). There are still two hardboiled eggs that are MIA and I've done at least two sweeps of the entire backyard, with no luck. Oh well, I guess Dave will find them when he mows the yard next weekend!

The boys enjoyed opening up their baskets from Uncle Aaron/Aunt Kay-Kay and Mama Neanie/Papa Scott. Then, when Dave's parents arrived home from Chicago that evening, they stopped by for a few minutes, and Tyler opened up his basket from them. It's been an exhausting weekend, but we wouldn't change a thing about it!

The Lunning Family standing in front of the Easter Cross at church.

Tyler's letter to the Easter Bunny (his teacher wrote the actual letters for the kids). I personally like the last sentence. :)

He brought everything that they wanted!

And then some. :)

Easter basket fun

Time to dye eggs!

Tyler was very proud of the TIE fighter that he made.

It started out as serious business for Connor.....

but then he found out how much fun egg-dyeing can REALLY be, thanks to Aunt Kay-Kay!
Look! That one has my name on it!
The fun continues.

Random shots of the fam

The kiddos and some of their baskets. Ava's is from us and the boys are pictured with their baskets from Mama Neanie and Papa Scott.

Mama Jeanie and her boys

My VERY sweet niece, Ava. Our family has been blessed with another smiley baby!

Mama Neanie and Papa Scott with the grands.

Tyler is holding his basket from Aunt Kay-Kay/Uncle Aaron; Dave and I are posing with Ava, who is holding on tight to her basket in the next photo; Tyler was excited BEYOND WORDS that Mama Neanie found Ahsoka (from "Star Wars: Clone Wars") for him. We've been looking for her for months (literally)--you have no idea how glad I am that we don't have to continue driving to Wal-Mart, Target, K-Mart, Toys R Us, etc over and over again searching for her!

Ava's "Baby's First Easter" outfit from us--complete with a bunny tail in the back. :)

I honestly think that the boys could hunt for eggs every single day and not get tired of it.

Kay, Michael, Momma, and me in the top photo. Scott, Mom, Elnora, and David in the bottom one.

Monkey-see, monkey do. This sure brought back some memories!

Thanks for the basket of goodies, Papa Dave and Mama Carol!

Busy Saturday

I took Connor to Fantastic Sam's for a haircut first thing this morning, then we ran a few errands together (Daddy and Tyler stayed home). He's a great little shopper and is totally okay with being in a shopping cart (unless his big brother is along, too), so we were able to take care of business pretty quickly. We got home in time for lunch, just as my little sis was pulling into the driveway from Carbondale. We quickly fed the boys, then were off to the mall to visit the Easter Bunny, which actually went better than I thought it would (in terms of Connor, that is). He was okay with sitting on the bunny's lap and we were able to get a picture of all three kids together. That's about all he was good for, though; before I could get a pic of just he and Tyler, he jumped down and headed for the stroller. Guess he was ready to go. :)

Daddy is working on color recognition with Connor in this picture. What better way is there to teach colors to a little boy who absolutely adores cars? :)

This is the best pic I could get of Tyler and Connor at the mall.

Everybody say "Cheese!" (not)