Gulbranson's

Missing snow

6:48 AM by Josh and Erica

I know it doesn't seem right... or even possible... to miss the snow. And I'm not going to tell you that I miss the snow for the whole winter, because I don't. When it gets to be February and March and it's 75 and sunny, I'll feel really good about the weather. But right now, when Christmas is approaching, this is when I miss snow the most. Even more this year because I want Luke to experience everything about Christmas, and I'm not going to lie... it's just not Christmas without snow...
So I went through all my pictures and found a few with snow. Keep in mind these are old, but bare with me...

This is from a sledding experience in Grand Forks, ND. We had a big snow... 10in or so... After sledding we tried to play on playground

But by that time everything was already starting to melt, because it was March, and we didn't have any real snow gear on, so we just got wet

This one is a way back picture... Yes that's me in the front, sledding with all my cousins on my Dads side... Corey, my sister Annie, Allison, Tanya, and Jeff.

Here is Josh flying in the winter time. He went flying with his friend Tim. Flying in winter is something he is pretty used to, he got his licence in the middle of winter, on his 17th birthday. Temps in Minnesota in January can easily be below zero.

Lastly, here is a view of the airport from the air.

I can't wait for the first time that Luke will get to play in the snow. Some of my best memories were made in a snow fort or on a sledding hill.

Mmmm... Squash

3:20 PM by Josh and Erica

Today we took Luke to the doctors for his 4 month check up. He had to get some shots, that he did not enjoy. No teeth yet, and not really anytime soon. The doctor also told us that he was probly ready for some more solid foods. We decided to start with squash, because if he is anything like mom and dad and we start him with fruit he will never want to eat his veggies...

He wasn't so sure about it at first.

But after a few tries he was enjoying himself, and even getting upset if I took too long to get him his next spoonful.

He ate quite a bit of it and probly would have finished the container if I had let him.

What a messy eater! But I think that he is excited about his new food. Next sweet potatos and carrots!

Getting ready for Santa

12:58 PM by Josh and Erica

After thanksgiving was done, and we had eaten all the turkey we could eat, it was time to start getting ready for Santa to come!

We were able to find plastic ornaments so that we don't have to worry about Luke or the cats breaking any of them.

I don't think Luke quite understands that Santa is going to bring him toys. It would help, of course, if Luke played with his toys.

Here he is looking a little happier.

Our little present, under the tree...

I have to show him how to put decorations on the tree so that next year Dad and I won't have to do any work.

As always, his favorite part was looking at the lights.

Thanksgiving day

11:39 AM by Josh and Erica

In preparation for thanksgiving we got Luke a Bumbo chair, which he loves. He likes sitting up like a big boy.

He helped Mom in the kitchen for a little while, until he decided that he wanted to hang out with the manly men!

Luke loved sitting outside with Dad and the boys, talking, picking up pecans, and shooting a bow and arrow.

In the morning Luke watched that Macy's Thanksgiving day parade from his new chair

Yay! first thanksgiving and 4 months old!

First ride on a real swing!

10:00 AM by Josh and Erica

What can I say... it was a little chilly but he loved it!

Cleaning out the cell phones

9:55 AM by Josh and Erica

Here are some pictures that have been taken the past month or so. Like I say, whenever you need the camera it's never near by, thank goodness for camera phones or we wouldn't have these priceless pictures... even if they are a little blurry.

Luke used to go to sleep quite easily...

This is the perfect example of having a camera at the right time... he's not scared in this picture, I believe he was about to yell something at me and I snapped the picture right at the right time to get this face.

If you look closely you can see his sticking his tongue out. He doesn't do it as much anymore, but I believe that it is a part of the whole teething process... No teeth yet.

This is one of the only pictures I have of Luke's Halloween costume. There is a bear hat to go with, and as you can see there is bear tail on the baby butt! It was a really warm costume for him to wear.

And just a few more we missed from Halloween. If only he really understood what was happening around him, he's missing some of the best holidays!

1:15 PM by Josh and Erica

Alright, so I haven't been taking very many new pictures lately, but let me tell you, this kid has learned a few new tricks...

So I know the picture is a little blurry and that's because the camera is never around when you need it so most of our new pictures are taken on either mine or Josh's cells phone. Either way, this face is priceless. Luke loves to stand! Although he can't balence, if you hold his hands and give him a little support he'll pull himself to the standing position... and he could stand all day if I would let him!

Something else I never expected was how much this kid would love his baths... These pictures are about a month old.

He loves the tub. He cries and cries when he has to get out and gets all cold. He hasn't learned to splash yet, for which I am thankful.