**Catching Up** - Lake Vermilion Trip

This year was the Dunn's second trip to Lake Vermillion with the Warren Clan, June 8-15th! We left Des Moines at midnight on Saturday to ensure we would have an entire extra afternoon of fishing. 

Lucas sleeping in the car on the way to the lake

When we got to the lake we ran into a few snags.. my dads boat prop was broken and my second cousin's trailer wheel was flat. But with all of that fixed and behind us we put our toes in the COLD water and then headed out on the boat to fish! Lucas enjoyed going for a boat ride despite being forced into wearing his life jacket.

I caught the first fish of the trip! A decent sized Northern Pike - released due to size requirements

Lucas had some down time to play with toys and in the sand box of the resort! He enjoyed being a boy and digging in the dirt!  It was colder there by about 8-10 degrees most of the time we were there and jackets were definitely a necessity. 

 We took a trip to the Vince Shute Bear Sanctuary (http://www.americanbear.org/). Lucas loved getting to see the bears walk around and eat plus the little cubs run around, but he didn't understand why they wouldn't come to him when he motioned for them! I think it's because he was wearing camo and they couldn't see him, but what do I know? HA!

 It was really cute to see him try to interact with the bears - not knowing they were only there for food. 

Momma Bear and her three cubs eating

 Lucas LOVED being on the boat! Practicing reeling his pole, driving the boat and touching the fish that Grandpa Rod and Mommy caught kept him entertained on this particular afternoon!

 (For anyone concerned, he doesn't have his life jacket on because the motor wasn't on and it was too hot for him to be in it the whole time while fishing). 

 More pictures of him enjoying the boat! He fell asleep a couple of times when we "went fast" to get to our fishing destinations. 

To say he is a natural on the water is an understatement. It will be REALLY fun next year trying to keep him from being in the water, staying out of the pole casting areas and to keep hooks from entering his body at any point. Can you sense my sarcasm? 

Oh boy! :)

After a couple of great days of fishing we had enough to be able to enjoy a shore lunch! Lucas is shown below completely enjoying the fish! YUMMM - This is making me hungry looking back!

Well, even though we didn't take many pictures this year, we still had a complete blast and made a lot of great memories as a family! We are saving our pennies to go again next year and hoping that the ice cooperates and melts off the lake quicker than this year so the fish are biting better to yield more limits. Hopefully you all have had a great summer and spent quality time with your loved ones!

With love, 

Matthew, Heather and Lucas

First Mom's Group Play Date

 The night before our first Mom's Group Play Date we all went to the park so I would be sure I knew how to get there. Lucas and I had a great time playing on the playground. This is a video from Matt's perspective on his way back from the bathroom.  Lucas's laugh really is quite contagious!! 

 

The next morning we got up, dressed and ate breakfast, then it was play date time

On our way to his first "organized" play date!

At first he was too shy to play with the other kids

But he quickly made friends with a little boy named Mason

Snack time!

Hard to tell but there were about 15 kids there and 6 other moms!

This was so fun! Mason and Lucas played peek-a-boo

It completely tuckered him out! 

What a great thing to be a part of! The neat thing is there are more of those Mom Groups in 

Des Moines and Ankeny so when we move back to that area we can join those groups as well. This has really helped Lucas be accustomed to other kids and will help develop his speech and social skills on a whole different level than what I can solely provide at home! 

Summer is in full force here-- How is yours going?

With love, 

Matthew, Heather and Lucas

Lucas's First Omaha Zoo Trip

#borderhonkin'

Memorial Day Weekend we traveled to Omaha for Matt's cousin's graduation celebrations!

We took time during the weekend to enjoy Lucas's first trip to the Omaha Zoo! 

The first animal Lucas saw was a monkey!

We HAD to go and see the giraffes for Aunt Katharyne!

Then we rode the CHOO CHOO TRAIN!!! 

He really enjoyed it!

 Next we went to the Aquarium! Lucas loved it!

 We bought him a penguin souvenir from the gift shop because he really enjoyed watching them swim and waddle around! Next was onto the big cats and the monkeys!

This is a video of a howling monkey... it's loud FYI!

We had a great time and tuckered the little boy out but we can't wait to take him again next year! We think he will have a better time, he will be a little older and will know the animals and their sounds.

Hope you are having a great start to your summer, because we sure are!

With love, 

Matthew, Heather and Lucas

**Catching Up** - Our Mini Vacation in April

 At the very beginning of Matt's time off of work Lucas developed a major yeast infection as a secondary infection caused from an ear infection! He was miserable. We got him into the urgent care and then spent an entire afternoon at Target waiting on his prescriptions. Then it was off to dinner with Great-Grandpa Gary, Great-Grandma Sharon, Grandpa Rod and Grandma Cyndi at Scornavacca's Pizza! We were stuffed and then went back to Grandpa Rod and Grandma Cyndi's house to watch the rest of the NFL Draft.

The next day we went to Zombie Burger for lunch. Lucas really liked their peanut butter and banana shake! Daddy got a BBQ meat sandwich and Mommy got a biscuits and gravy breakfast sandwich.

 

Afterwards we spent the afternoon at the Science Center! Lucas really enjoyed the lights and sounds. He also liked playing with the other kiddos that were there. Oh and there was a T-Rex named Sue!!

 

Watching the other kiddos dig for dinosaur bones!

Here are pictures of Lucas's first time riding an escalator

`

Lucas LOVES lights! 

Daddy & Lucas exploring the cave!

                               We saw a turtle and a beaver!

  Mommy and Lucas had fun pretending to broadcast the weather in front of the green screen! 

Then we went and let him play!

Pushing in his hand!
I'm not sure who had more fun doing this, him or mommy & daddy!

Playing his favorite "game"--Peek-a-boo in the tunnel :)

Playing in the "house" 

Funny faces while he played!

After the Science Center we walked around Gray's Lake even though Lucas was sleeping!

The next day we went to HuHot for lunch because Daddy and Lucas love their noodles. 

Then we went shopping and got Lucas some new jammies! 

He wanted to try on some hats. Such a cool dude, huh?

After shopping we went to see Grandma Audrey and Grandpa Jim! Auntie Katharyne showed up just in time to take some pictures of him playing in Grandpa Jim's van. He looks like such a big boy in these pictures! Where did our little baby go?

Then he had some fun in the swing in the back yard!

Then it was time for Miss Macie's 4th birthday party. 

We went and swam, ate some pizza and watch her open her presents. 

When Lukey got tired we took him back to Grandma Audrey and Grandpa Jim's house for a bath, bottle and bedtime. Balee likes to lay on pillows even if little Lucas is laying on it first!

The next day, Grandpa Jim was running in a half marathon. We all went down to Drake to cheer him on as he finished his race.  

SO PROUD!! :)

Dunn Family and Uncle Justin post race!

After the race Grandpa Jim needed some carbs so we found ourselves out to eat at Olive Garden! 

In the picture below Lucas and Grandpa Jim were playing Peek-a-boo!  

After lunch we went to Nonna and Papa's house and spent some quality time with Leah and Easton while daddy went golfing! It was a gorgeous day. They had fun chasing bubbles and sharing toys.

Then later that night Lucas got to partake in his first fire pit of this summer! Aunt Kimmy, Uncle Chris, Jacoby and Jonah were such great hosts. The boys had a lot of fun playing together and swinging. 

Lucas enjoying the fire pit with Mommy

The next day Mommy, Daddy, Lucas and Nonna went shopping. Mommy got some new sandals & tennis shoes for this summer. Lucas was pretty sleepy while we shopped.

Sleeping on Daddy while Mommy & Nonna shopped

Then it was time to head home! 

What a great mini vacation!! Cannot wait for our next one :)

Hope you have had a great Spring!

With love, 

Matthew, Heather and Lucas