Our Lukas Life

Saturday, December 17, 2011

First Santa

Can you tell who was happiest to visit Santa?

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

A Visit from Sandra and Austin

Cousin Austin came to visit for 10 days. He stayed with my parents, but spent some time with us, playing with Axel and Autumn. He loves his little cousins and is such a good big cousin. He strives to be a good example to them and loves to take care of them and show them new things.

I helped the boys make a water park in the back yard. They had so much fun splashing and sliding and laughing. I missed getting any good shots of the slip and slide in action. So sad.

To take a break from the heat, they did some painting. Austin painted outer space, and Axel painted with all of the colors.

Autumn finger painted with the boys and felt very much a part of the fun.

After picking Sandra up at the airport, we visited a park in Sacramento. It was where Ram and I had our last play date with Axel on a drizzly day in October before Autumn was born. This time, she was with us. It was a nice time spent with Sandra. We don't get time alone to just hang out and talk very often. I love my sister. She is one of the sweetest people I know.

So is this little girl. Her smile reminds me of my sister's smile every day. It's almost always on and it can cheer me up when I am feeling down. My little sweetheart.

Cascade Shores

We took a trip out to Ram's old playing place. He grew up outside Nevada City near Scotts Flat Lake. I think this is what Ram pictures when we dream of our children being able to have access to the land like we did when we were young. It is our hope that we will be able to provide this for our children in some capacity. For now, it will have to be limited to visits on weekends.

Axel had so much fun at the lake. He went "swimming", threw rocks and went exploring with Daddy. The days leading up to our day trip, I was so full of stress and depression, I could not even make up my mind what to do on our weekend. This trip was just what I needed. It was so peaceful to be out in God's great creation (even though man actually made this lake :) The weather was beautiful and, as I held, nursed and played with my sweet Autumn, I had the pleasure of watching my husband do what he most desires to do with his son. It was one of those times when they seemed to be exactly where they should be. They were having an adventure, just like Ram did as a young boy on that same shoreline.

It was perfect. My heart swelled, and I was so thankful for the family that God has given to me. Such sweet times revive my soul.

Friday, September 2, 2011

SF Trip August 2011

The kids and I had the pleasure of visiting Daddy while he was attending a conference in San Francisco for the week. We spent time with a good friend who showed us what a day in her life is like. They recently celebrated their one year anniversary of living in San Francisco. They have a great apartment in a nice neighborhood. I love the view from their living room window. I could sit there for hours. Autumn liked it too.

Axel seemed to really enjoy this trip. He loved taking the bus or train to get around. After a couple trips, he started asking me, "Is this our bus?"

We ate outside at The Cheesecake Factory atop the Macy's in Union Square. There are more independent restaurants that we enjoy, but, with the kids, this place is so much easier. The view is great, and the fog was rolling in, so, of course, we were loving it.

After being home one day, we decided to take a day trip to the bonsai show in Santa Rosa. During the demonstration, I took the kids to a park. Axel loved this little grove of redwoods. He immediately deemed it a house tree and took up residence. How appropriate that he would love the tree while Ram was enjoying his day at the tree show.

A dinner stop in Sonoma after playing a bit in the park square. Axel has not been agreeable to posing for photos lately. Autumn, on the other hand....well, she knows she's cute and doesn't mind posing for a shot or fifty.

Mary's Pizza has become the tradition for this trip.

We loved being outside so much where the weather was so mild, whether in the city or at the park. I felt like I was on a date with my children the whole time we were gone. They were so sweet.