St. Patrick's Day

2012 to 2013

This year for St. Patrick's Day we drove down to Des Moines. We took Lucas to the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Downtown Des Moines. It was super cold so we ended up watching the parade from the Skywalk. 

All ready to watch the parade as a family!

Lucas made a friend named John 

Grandma Audrey, Aunt Katharyne and Anyi were with us watching the parade too!

Our little Sham-Rocker was more interested wandering the hallway than watching out the window!

After the parade, Grandma Audrey treated all of us to lunch at Spaghetti Works! Lucas really enjoyed the garlic cheese bread and applesauce (of course)!

Grandma Audrey & Lucas

After lunch we went back to Altoona and let Lucas take a nap. 

He slept 3.5 hours!!

When he finally woke up we did some shopping at Lowe's and Target. We got items for dinner and then went back home to eat.

Grandma Audrey treated Lucas to a "TV Dinner". 

Ornery little boy was "stuffing" chicken fingers in his lap

After playing it was time for his bath. He played a little longer and watched his "Signing Time" clips. 

On Sunday, Aunt Katharyne took pictures of Lucas. 

Daddy's playing peek-a-boo to get him to REALLY smile, cracker and all!

Playing with his new BIG ball!

 Showing off his new talents:

Kisses for Mommy

Hugs for Daddy

Then we went to Grandpa Rod & Grandma Cyndi's house.

Lucas played with the kitty-cats, teased the hound dogs and went exploring in their back yard before we went to lunch. 

He really likes being outside and exploring--notice how he found a "Walking Stick"

After lunch we packed up and headed back to Fort Dodge. Lucas slept the whole way home from Grandpa Rod's to Fort Dodge!! When we got home we decided to treat Lucas to Pizza and breadsticks so he could use his new plate! He did VERY well with it and of course had to dip everything into his marinara sauce. He's growing up quickly and learning new things everyday! 

Overall, we had a great, low-key, St. Patrick's Day weekend. We hope everyone was safe while celebrating the Irish culture. 

Love, 

Matthew, Heather & Lucas

Look for a post soon about all of the new things he has learned that we have caught on camera or video!! 

March Already?

This year seems to be FLYING by! We spent the greater portion of February in disarray because of Lucas's surgery. (He is doing great and seems to be feeling MUCH better) 

Before I continue, I wanted to emphasize how much difference

 a year makes when babies are concerned! 

Valentine's Day 2012

Valentine's Day 2013

Could he be ANY cuter?

I know I am biased, but come on! ;)

We celebrated our Valentine's Day a few days early because Matt and I couldn't spend it together. He took me out to lunch at Olive Garden. Nonna and Papa watched Lucas for us! After lunch, I took Matt to Best Buy and bought him a new pair of gaming head phones. Lucas broke his original pair, go figure. 

Mr. Destructor is what I like to call him. 

The other news that came about this year on Valentine's Day was that Jeff and my mom got engaged! He did an excellent job picking out a ring that truly does represent my mom. I like to describe it as a vintage inspired Halo Diamond. 
They are such a great pair and it will be fun to help plan their special day!

Mom's Engagement Ring

We spent last weekend in Omaha celebrating Matt's cousin, Grant, and all of his hard work in receiving his Eagle Scout Honor. It was a great weekend with his family and we look forward to getting together again in March to celebrate Grant's High School Graduation. 

Congratulations Grant! What an Honor!!

 The Buchanan Bunch

Front Row: Matt, Jay, Scott, and Phil
Back Row: Katharyne, Heather, Lucas, Lori, Paige, Grant, Russ, Joan, Shelvie, Dan, Audrey and Jim

4 Generation Picture! 

Lucas was given a baseball glove from Great-Grandpa Russ. (His Daddy got one similar when he was his age). Matt plans to break it in this summer! He got some extra quality time with his Great-Grandparents! Grandpa B really took to Lucas! Hopefully in May Lucas will remember him!

 Matt's Dad and Cousin Grant have an inside joke in regards to Superman. When we picked Lucas's Halloween costume last year we didn't remember at the time about this inside joke. Now Lucas is apart of it. Here they all are in there Superman shirts!

That sums up the end of our February! As we watch Lucas grow and develop it is fun to watch him master his own personality. His newest "thing" is BIG hugs. He wraps his arms around our necks and squeezes tightly. I'm sooo thrilled to have this picture of him and I.

--Thank you Katharyne :)

Everyone have a safe and fun time this upcoming Saint Patrick's Day!

With Love, 

Matthew, Heather 

& Lucas