Happy 4th Birthday!

You are FOUR! You have had so much fun celebrating your Birthday. Who wouldn't love family dinners, Birthday dates, dirt cake and gifts? You were very adamant about having a dirt bike cake and when we ate dinner last week at Applebee's, the waitress came to take your order and your promptly asked for a dirt bike cake. You were very good at sharing your gifts with all your cousins that came over to celebrate. You took turns and thanked everyone for the presents. After opening one of your gifts, someone asked "Do you like it?" and you replied "NO. I LOVE IT!" You have been begging for a "Tids size chainsaw" (you STILL can't say your K's) and when you opened it along with a kids size weed eater, you were thrilled.

I am so happy to see you growing into such a nice boy. You have tested me quite a bit this past year... but I know "4" will bring wonderful things. You will start pre-school next week. You also love primary. You are asked to give talks in primary VERY often because you are one of the few that LOVE to give talks. I hope you continue to enjoy public speaking and sharing your feelings. When we were in Blackfoot visiting Grandpa, you insisted that you share your testimony during sacrament. You jumped right out in the isle with your arms folded and gave me a "look" with eyebrows raised and everything. You whispered hastly, "FINE. I'll go withOUT you!" I quickly followed to make sure you didn't need help. You stood shamelessly and said "I know this church is true. I know we have a Prophet, Thomas S. Monson. I know that Ammon had the power of "Dod". (God) and then my favorite line of your testimony,"The truth is, this stuff is true." Wow. Straight to the point. I love it! I am incredibly proud to call you my son. I am excited to see who else you'll get to share your testimony with throughout this life. Thank you for being a wonderful example to me. I love you and am excited to create more memories with you this coming year.

hugs&kisses,
"mommy"

Here are some photos from your "4" year photo shoot:

 This was your face when you saw Uncle Foogs pull up. :)

Ironically, you ended up with "4" apples in your basket when all was said and done. :) 

 Dear Lucas,

What a wonderful family home evening we had at the temple together. You were so excited to see Angel Moroni. You wondered why you couldn't go in. There are very sacred things that happen in the temple and when you turn 12 you will have a better understanding of those ordinances. Only the cleanest people can enter the house of the Lord. You are very clean and work hard to make good choices - so I know you will get the opportunity to go inside one day. I also know that if you continue on the path of righteousness, you will be able to be sealed to your own family there some day. 

The closest we can get to God is attending the temple. This world is filled with darkness and sin. It takes great courage to stand above the rest and keep yourself spotless from the sins that surround you. You are such a leader. I can see you teaching others about Jesus Christ and even serving a mission some day. I know you have so many individual traits that Heavenly Father blessed you with that will help you get through this life and that will help others to see the light as well. Thank you for always making your brother happy and helping to teach him by example. He sees you fold your arms so reverently for prayer, he watches you show love to others and I know he'll want to be just like you. Lucas, I love you so much. I know that Heavenly Father has a special love for you, too. He knows your trials and wants you to succeed. The scriptures will help you do that. Please remember to read and learn. Always know that life is easiest with the gospel. I can't wait to take you to the temple someday. You make me so proud already. Your smile lights up the room. 

I love you so much, Groobs. 

hugs & kisses, 

"mommy"

Conversations With Groobs

I dressed you in sweats one morning and we headed to a doctor appointment. After the appointment I offered to take you Christmas shopping. This was your reply: "Not in my SWEATS, Mom!" I guess you rarely wear them and understand the importance of staying well groomed. I think that's a good thing. :) I also wanted you to try on a hat in the store and you said, "don't mess up my hair!" ...this coming from my very stylish 3 year old. 

After fixing the toilet when the chain came unhooked, you said: "You FIXED it, Mom? I'm UMpressed!"

You had been playing in your bed with a tractor for quite some time. I came in and asked you to park it and tell it good night. You replied, "What?! I'm so confuuuused."

You always tell me to "have patience!"

Never do you ask for help. I am often stopped in my tracks with a hand in the air, a cute head nod with eye brows raised telling me "I got it. I can do it myself."

You have the funniest baby talk with your brother. You call him "Bode Boy" and "cutie patootie". You often ask him questions and then answer for him saying, "Yes, you ARE handsome, Boden" or "Yes you DO like tractors, Boden." You also call him by his full name all the time. "Mom, I think we should get Boden Jeramy dressed, don't you?"

At the dinner table you asked what kind of meat we were eating. "Are these ribs?" (you know what ribs are thanks to Daddy's Anatomy book you love.) We replied that they were in fact ribs. "Are they ribs from a cow or a human?" ... actually they are from a pig. "Well I like to eat human ribs." ...*crickets*...

mom: "Do you know who Heavenly Father is?"
Lucas: "His son is named Jesus. He says, "This is my BELIEVE-ED son... Hear him."

Your favorite thing to do is read our Book of Mormon "Hero" cards. They're like trading cards of prophets from the BOM. Right now you love Ammon and the gory story of him cutting off the arms of wicked Lamanites - which is in fact way too old for you and definitely rated-R. You can finish my sentences while I read it and you love the part where it says "Ammon had the power of GOD." but you say "DOD" because G's are still hard for you to pronounce.

The other day you prayed that you would someday get to ride on a train. And in case Heavenly Father didn't know, you repeated yourself more specifically, "a passenger train."

I love you and I really love talking to you. Thanks for keeping us on our toes.

hugs & kisses,
"mommy"