Sandbox!

The Easter bunny came early this year in the form of a brand new, HOME MADE, gorgeous sandbox for the Lukers.  Emil and Donna brought up this amazing gift, and Luke could not wait to "dig" in!  The hand sewn canopy lifts up and down providing shade from the sun and a handy cover for the sandbox when it isn't being used.

Luke helping Grandpa with the assembly.

My new sandbox!  Now I need to learn to keep the sand IN the sandbox.

Dying Easter eggs:)  

We had a very special visitor on Saturday, with my wonderful friend Gyongyver Lakos in town for a quick visit.  "Ginger", as we call her, was a teammate and dear friend at Purdue.  She returned to Hungary after college and I haven't seen her in 10 years!!!  (Side note - I can't believe it has been 10 years since I graduated college.)  We hosted a little dinner with some of our local Purdue swimming alumni so that everyone could get to see her.  It was as if no time had passed at all, everything was so fun and natural.  We are all so impressed that she can just pick up English again with no trouble, even though she never uses it at home.  Ginger, we miss you!  Come back soon!  Or better yet, I'll go to Hungary!  Baranko IS Hungarian:)

Missy, Kelly, Leah (w/ Lightning McQueen slipper), Ginger, Jenni

Our first attempt at a group shot...not quite so natural

Bean's younger daughter Aubrey

Kylie & Lukers

Luker Dukerson is asserting his independence something fierce.  We had to give him his first time out this week.  It lasted about 30 seconds, but I think he got the picture (no hitting Mommy).  His other favorite naughty things are lifting his foot up on the dining room table while he's eating ("foot down!"), throwing toys, kicking, and the always popular putting food in his hair/throwing it on the floor.

He is pretty darn cute though.  It takes real self-control not to laugh at his naughtiness.  New obsession (other than the Richard Scarry word books, still, as seen below), are puzzles.  Isolene checked a few more puzzles out from the library and Luke is super into them.  He must do them 20 times a day.  He has even started to do some that are actually pieces that fit into each other, not just matching.  Brilliant boy:)  Finally, I'd like to report that it seems that we have a well-hydrated little guy on our hands.  He pees SO much!  We change his full diaper like 8 times a day, and his diapers just aren't cutting it.  They're the right size, but they can't handle the capacity.  We even have to get up and change his diaper and pajamas in the middle of the night a few times a week because he wakes up wet and cold, poor guy.  Matt is doing research on better diaper brands (better than off brand Costco?  No way!).  If anyone has any suggestions, let us know.

Short little clip of Luke trying to do a somersault below.  He does this all the time, and can never get his feet over so just kind of flops his arms around with his head on the ground and balancing on his tippy toes.  Those gymnastics classes are really paying off:)