A baptism and a whole lot more!

Sorry all, it has been way too long between photo updates, but finally the laminate flooring is all installed, the yard is mowed and trimmed, Luke is sleeping, all the relatives are gone, dogs are aired, my hair is buzzed off, oil hit $134/barrel, the heat is swealtering and summer rains have started here in Jacksonville. The last few weeks have been very busy with Luke and Baron's Baptism, G'ma and 'pa Raulie visiting from Nebraska and the Casey/Mullen crew from Minneapolis were here as well.

While daddy was a away saving the world from RV foreclosure and disarray Mommy and G'ma/pa Raulie all visited Jacksonville and Vilano Beach one day as well as visited historic St. Augustine, FL where they toured the old Spanish Fort and later that day did get to meet back up with daddy to have a nice dinner at the Conch House on the FL Intercoastal Waterway. This was the very first time that LeeAnn and Larry a.k.a. G'ma 'pa Rualie have seen their first grandson in person since he was born. Luke was then just 4weeks old.

Planning with laser tight accuracy Jenn and Angie hosted Luke and Baron's Baptism at our house following the Baptismal service at CrossRoad's Church on April 25th. It was a typical Sunday morning and all was going to plan, even Jenn was on time, wow!!, yet Mr. Luke decided that instead of being his usual calm and gently-reserved church-going infant he would get up in front of all the world and cry out until daddy finally whisked him away and out-the-door where nature commanded his silence; and all was quiet and calm again. Well Grandma Raulie suggests it was all "the devil" being pulled out of him by the pastor, as did Bobby Boucher's momma in 'The Waterboy'. We're not sure what happened, devil or not, but he was uncharacteristic of himself for the longest 15minutes of our lives. We'd post the video, but I can't imagine it would be that interesting to watch a screaming baby for 15minutes. Maybe a trend has started and for every 30 days of calm there will be 15minutes of storm. If I think back in comparison to my devilish childhood (so i was told) we'll take this as a blessing.

The day prior to his baptism. We took Luke and G'ma 'pa Raulie to Silver Springs, Fl to visit this historic site and tour the spring on glass bottom boats and see all the native reptilians and mammals in Florida. It was a very warm day, but Luke was a trooper and so were all of us, though chilled beverages helped average out the extreme heat. We saw many different bird species, bears, monkeys and the highlight of the park was of course the many monsterous gators ranging from inches all the way up to 14 feet long.

Well, the trip to Silver Springs was fun. We had been nearby the site before during some RV shows, but never have visited the park. It was well worth the trip. Luke, like his father seems to never slow down. Luke and mommy are always doing something exciting or going somewhere to visit a friend or family. As uncle Sco always states "man you just need to slow down ", but i'm not sure we know how we do that. We only know one way, the Raulie way, but there are times when the hustle and bustle catch up with a guy and you just have to give in, 1/2 dressed with your new best friend.

Well, these won't be the last of our adventurers this summer. There's lots to come like a first plane ride to Kansas City to see his Great Grandparents and Great Aunts/Uncles. We look forward to that as well since Evan and Rachel will also get to see Luke for the first time. Unofficially this will be Luke's first FL gator hunting season come August 15th though he can't quite attend the hunt yet so says mommy, but he looks forward to seeing our friends Chris and Gwen Vangerpen and to start archery lessons from Gerp while he is here.

Well, like Luke, daddy's day has caught up with him finally. Time to dream of .77cent fuel and a legitamite Presidential candidate.

Goodnight,

Zach & Jenn