Big Brother!

 

A current update on Big Brother Luke: 

 

Luke has been attending soccer camp this week, and he is having a ball!  Let's gloss over the part about how Mommy is once again out of her element with the introduction of another sports-related activity (and had to research whether the shin guards went over or under the socks), and skip to how much fun it is to watch our little athlete play soccer.  The camp lasts 3 hours each morning, and it's HOT outside, but Luke loves every moment of the constant running, skills practice, and scrimmages.  In fact, he told me yesterday, "Mommy, I wish soccer camp lasted ALL summer!" 

 

When I pick up my little man each day, he is happily exhausted, sweaty and dirty, with muddy cleats on his feet and a HUGE smile (along with traces of the popsicle) spread across his face.  Here are a few of pictures of our soccer star in action:

Playing defense.

He scored a goal with this kick!

Can we discuss how much I love the goalie's pink socks?!

Breaking out of the "cloud" of 5-year-olds.

 

 Leah tags along as we drop off her big brother at soccer camp and informed me this week that she wants to play soccer, too.  She loves anything that Luke does, and when we attended Greenville's annual Touch-a-Truck event downtown this weekend, Leah couldn't wait to drive each vehicle that Luke selected:

 

 

Leah also decided that she would like to drive her big brother to kindergarten in the fall, and jumped right into the driver's seat of the school bus to practice:

Apparently, we have two new street sweepers in the family.  Luke has always been fascinated by these vehicles, which means that Leah is now enthralled with them as well:

 

My favorite was the excavator, of course.  I will forever hold a place in my heart for construction vehicles now that they have brought years of joy to my little boy (and his younger sister!):

 

 

Dinosaurs are still a favorite theme of Luke's, and when he puts on his T Rex pjs, Leah races to don her T-Rex towel to be like her big brother.  What a scary pair they are as they both roar at us from the balcony! 

 

 

Sometimes having a little sister idolize you is hard.  Luke independently wrote this sign on his door which bans babies (Leah) and Daddy from his room.  For those of you who don't read "Preschool Speak", Luke and Mommy's name are circled on the left side of the sign and are the family members who are still permitted to enter Luke's domain:

 

The ironic part about this sign is that Luke created it while he was in Time Out, and I was the parent who disciplined him... so I'm not sure why Daddy was banned.  Regardless, someone was very proud of his work:

Despite the large amount of time that I serve as referee between Big Brother and Little Sister, there are also priceless moments that we treasure.  When Big Brother Luke protects and snuggles with Leah, there is nothing that makes my heart happier.  These two siblings love each other so much, and this is one of our greatest blessings!