Growing Up Luke 2019-10-13T00:00:00Z https://growingupluke.com Scott Brooks scottb@tsbrooks.com Why this blog? 2012-03-17T00:00:00Z https://growingupluke.com/posts/why-this-blog/ It got my mind to thinking of all the things that I want to do with Luke and teach him. The training was 6 hours long and I only had one piece of blank paper. So, I began to brainstorm some ideas. (Click the image below to see the list)

Brainstorm list of ideas[/caption]

This blog is intended to be a place to organize each of these activities and allow others to comment on their experiences with similar activities.

Background

My wife and I received word earlier this week (Feb 27) that we have been awarded Legal Custody of Luke. We are both so happy about this. We have cared for him since he was 3 days old when we picked him up from the hospital.

Tammy and I have been foster parents for four years. During that time, we have cared for 19 children in our home. On one end of the spectrum, we had one little fellow for about eight hours (he had wondered away from home). On the other end of the spectrum, we have Luke for more than 2 years.

With Luke just celebrating his 2nd birthday a month ago, he has been with us . We didn't become foster parents to try to "get" a kid. We (more to come...)

]]> Lincoln Log Fun! 2012-03-17T00:00:00Z https://growingupluke.com/posts/lincoln-log-fun!/ We purchased five different sets of Lincoln Logs.  We started out looking on eBay and bid on a few there.  One of the challenges is adding the cost of shipping.  To determine the fair price for a new set, we checked out Wal-Mart.  Sometimes the new ones on Wal-Mart are cheaper than the used ones on eBay.  The kicker is that Wal-Mart will ship to your local store for free.  That makes it pretty much a no brainer to just order them from Wal-Mart.

We pieced together five sets.  I thought that would give us a pretty good assortment to be able to build almost anything.  However, that is not really how it works out.   I think we only have about three of the "four-way" logs.  We have barely enough "three-way" logs to build a simple cabin.  However, we have a bunch of "two-way" logs and a ton of "one-way" logs.  In an effort to try to use as many of the logs we have to build something, we built the following structure.

While holding Luke up to inspect the tower, he found that he could drop things into the top and they would disappear.  This is him trying to figure out where they went.

As he is peering into the tower, he utters one of his popular sayings, "Where it go?"  This boy is such a joy to have in our home.

]]> Starting List of Activities 2012-03-17T00:00:00Z https://growingupluke.com/posts/starting-list-of-activities/ From the list that I compiled during a recent training event, here is the starting list of things I want to teach or do with Luke.  The numbering is random.  I only included them for the sake of discussion.

This list is a very rough draft.  It needs to be grouped into categories both for the type of activity and the targeted age.  I would also guess people will find "obvious" omissions that must be on the list.  Again, I stress, this was just a starting point.

  1. Skip a rock
  2. Tie a shoe
  3. Potty training
  4. Calculate Interest
  5. Archery
  6. Listening
  7. Reading
  8. Monoply, Clue, Life
  9. Sand Castle
  10. Change oil
  11. Write a thank you
  12. Public speaking
  13. Get a license to drive
  14. Charades
  15. Reset a breaker
  16. Call poison control
  17. Rappelling
  18. Set the table
  19. Measurements
  20. Woodworking (need to expand)
  21. Planting / simple farming
  22. Interview for a job
  23. Homework
  24. Map reading
  25. Count money
  26. Find book in library
  27. Writing
  28. Typing
  29. Golf
  30. Another Language
  31. Jumping a car battery
  32. Travel/Trip planning
  33. Document a conversation
  34. Pump gas
  35. Vacuum
  36. Clean a room
  37. Shine a boot
  38. Ride a horse
  39. Give gifts
  40. Accept gifts
  41. Poker, Texas Holdem, Spades, Hearts, Euchre, Rummy
  42. Shoot a bb gun
  43. Navigate woods
  44. Build a fire
  45. Safeword - go with a stranger
  46. Wash a car
  47. Hotelling (Emily's word)
  48. Tie a Knot
  49. Canoe
  50. Boating
  51. Dig a posthole
  52. Painting (like rooms)
  53. Ride a bike
  54. Fishing
  55. Mowing the yard
  56. Self reliance
  57. Tow a car
  58. Wash dishes
  59. Ping pong
  60. Build a snowman
  61. Vote
  62. Sledding
  63. Mail a letter
  64. Make a bed
  65. Sewing
  66. Change a tire
  67. Shooting
  68. Drywall
  69. Camping
  70. Hiking
  71. Bicycling
  72. Swimming
  73. Baseball
  74. Basketball
  75. Take a bus
  76. Take metro
  77. Plunge toilet/sink
  78. Study the Bible
  79. Pray
  80. Clean rifle
  81. Tithe
  82. Save
  83. Budgeting
  84. Balance a checkbook
  85. Credit Scores
  86. Treat a lady
  87. Shoot pool
  88. Catch a baseball, football, etc...
  89. Pickup toys
  90. Computer repair
  91. Models
  92. Dating
  93. Build a treehouse
  94. Wire an outlet and switch
  95. Solder wiring
  96. Bidding on an auction
  97. Build radio controlled sub
  98. Shoot Rockets
  99. Fly a kite
  100. Humor
  101. Piano/Guitar
  102. Read music
  103. Care for a pet
  104. Treat shock
  105. CPR
  106. Hygiene
  107. Shovel snow
  108. Bowling
  109. Split firewood
  110. First aid
  111. Leave a message or voice mail
  112. Order a pizza
  113. Drop a tree
  114. Share
  115. Driving
  116. Drive a standard
  117. Sharpen a knife
  118. Lawnmower repair
  119. Video games
  120. Microwave
  121. Cooking
  122. Baking
  123. Accept compliments
  124. BBQ
  125. Tornado planning
  126. Fire planning
  127. Laundry
  128. Multiplication
  129. Order at a restaurant
  130. Respect for Soldier, Police, and Fireman
  131. Fold and respect a flag
  132. Pull a nail
  133. Bag groceries
]]> A boy and his puzzle... 2012-03-24T00:00:00Z https://growingupluke.com/posts/a-boy-and-his-puzzle.../ A game called "kee" 2012-03-24T00:00:00Z https://growingupluke.com/posts/a-game-called-"kee"/ Since the process of uploading the prior video was so easy, I figured I may as well add another. This video starts out just staring at the corner between the kitchen and the living room. The reason I knew Luke was about to come around the corner is because he had already ran back and forth three or four times before I broke out the camera.

The game is simple (as most 2-year old games are). Luke takes the cookie we gave him and instead of eating it, he runs around the house giggling while the dogs chase him. When they finally win and get the cookie from his hand, he comes back to us and points to the cookies and says "kee" (his word for cookie).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5ZH1bS8brA&w=560&h=315

]]> Luke and the doggy door 2012-04-06T00:00:00Z https://growingupluke.com/posts/luke-and-the-doggy-door/ Tammy has been trying to stress to Luke that he is not allowed to go out the doggy door. He acts like he gets it, but as soon as we walk into the other room and he doesn't see us, he "forgets" and sneaks thru it anyway. Here he is after a recent training session.

http://youtu.be/tGm20OsIcV4

]]> Cool Hand Luke 2012-04-18T00:00:00Z https://growingupluke.com/posts/cool-hand-luke/ This video reminds me of a scene from the movie Cool Hand Luke where Luke has to move all the dirt out of the bosses hole in the ground.  After he gets most of the dirt out of the hole, another guard comes along and asks him why all this dirt is piled up and tells him he better get it back in the hole.  Then, the original guard comes back and asks him why he doesn't have the dirt out of the hole and so it goes.

Seeing our Luke carry these rocks from one place to another just reminded me of that scene.  Anyway, look how much work it is for him to just get two rocks (one for each hand).  Then, he carries them to his wheelbarrow and starts all over again.  He didn't think to move the wheelbarrow, but he is full of energy, so it didn't matter.

http://youtu.be/sP_f1NZAzvI

Here is the completed work.  He did it all.

]]> Finally, we can go out to eat again. 2012-04-18T00:00:00Z https://growingupluke.com/posts/finally-we-can-go-out-to-eat-again./ It has been a challenge for Tammy and I to go out to eat. Luke is so full of energy and just doesn't want to sit there for long especially in that high chair. Sometimes it seemed he would last until about the time the food arrived. Then, one of us would have to skip eating so we could chase him around. A fellow from work told me he bought a DVD player for his daughter and it has worked great for them. After a little research, I found this device from VTech that allowed me to upload a few movies.  We have only used it twice, but we are loving it so far. Here are some pictures of Luke enjoying it.

]]> At two, they are learning from us. 2012-04-21T00:00:00Z https://growingupluke.com/posts/at-two-they-are-learning-from-us./ The other day I was cooking some brownies. When the timer started beeping, Luke went to the second drawer, grabbed a dish towel and started waving it around. After watching this video, you will see where he got that idea.

http://youtu.be/iSPTCbRQP_g

]]> Tug of war with the pups 2012-04-22T00:00:00Z https://growingupluke.com/posts/tug-of-war-with-the-pups/ Something other than Curious George... 2012-05-27T00:00:00Z https://growingupluke.com/posts/something-other-than-curious-george.../ A boy and his boxes... 2012-06-28T00:00:00Z https://growingupluke.com/posts/a-boy-and-his-boxes.../ Helping mommy... 2012-07-22T00:00:00Z https://growingupluke.com/posts/helping-mommy.../ Really Hungry 2012-07-30T00:00:00Z https://growingupluke.com/posts/really-hungry/ After a very busy morning at the park, Luke was starving. Here is a fun video of lunch afterwards. I had stop filming before the end when he wanted his hands clean, so he just held them down to his side for the dogs to lick his fingers...

http://youtu.be/3ZI0nS4ZXSQ

]]> What, I was just standing here? 2012-08-30T00:00:00Z https://growingupluke.com/posts/what-i-was-just-standing-here/ This is just a quick video that Tammy sent me. I love the look of Oliver in the background just looking like, "I had no part in this..." These boys are going to be so much fun as they grow up together. http://youtu.be/e7IEbk8qQdE

]]> Luke in "his" bed... 2012-10-19T00:00:00Z https://growingupluke.com/posts/luke-in-"his"-bed.../ We have been having this struggle with Luke about sleeping in his own bed. Today, Tammy told him to go get in his bed and take a nap. When she went in to check on him later, she found him in our bed crashed out. A pretty happy looking camper...

]]> Luke the fearless 2012-11-08T00:00:00Z https://growingupluke.com/posts/luke-the-fearless/ This boy is always having fun. He has learned to stand up on his Tow Mater as he rides it. He is usually looking behind him or down at the wheels while he is driving. Seldom does he look directly in front of him. :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6i97tcNbcU&w=560&h=315

]]> Luke the "fixer" 2012-11-08T00:00:00Z https://growingupluke.com/posts/luke-the-"fixer"/ Luke the "wounded" (Stickers) 2012-11-24T00:00:00Z https://growingupluke.com/posts/luke-the-"wounded"-(stickers)/ We had just finished watching Jingle All the Way with Luke and he was dancing to the music at the end. Dancing for Luke usually involves a lot of spinning around. He lost his balance and fell with his head hitting the corner of the coffee table. Tammy picked him up and immediately said, "We are going to the hospital". We rushed out of the house to the hospital. We had planned to go to one near our house (which was one of the features we discussed when considering the house), but it was closed. Instead, we went to Dayton Children's Hospital. If you ever have to take a child to a hospital, the children's hospitals are the best. During the ensuing stitches that followed, a nice lady at the hospital held an iPad playing Curious George to try and calm him down.

Luke didn't know what a Band-Aid was, so he called it a stickers.  Every so often, he would grab his head and say "stickers".  Here is a picture of him with his "sticker" they put on to help numb the area before the stitches.

Here he is pointing to his "stickers"

]]> Luke watching TV 2012-12-11T00:00:00Z https://growingupluke.com/posts/luke-watching-tv/ Sit 'N Spin fun 2012-12-11T00:00:00Z https://growingupluke.com/posts/sit-'n-spin-fun/ This is a short video of Luke and Oliver playing in the floor. We only have one Sit 'N Spin, but that didn't stop Oliver from having fun. As Luke takes a hit and has to go see mommy, you see Oliver start to "pick up the reins" right where Luke left off.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC04fhCGRrg

]]> Luke -"Best wishes" from a friend 2016-02-07T00:00:00Z https://growingupluke.com/posts/luke-"best-wishes"-from-a-friend/ Luke the typist 2016-06-05T00:00:00Z https://growingupluke.com/posts/luke-the-typist/ Luke found my window :-) 2016-06-09T00:00:00Z https://growingupluke.com/posts/luke-found-my-window-:-)/ Luke - my little "Bob Ross" 2016-07-10T00:00:00Z https://growingupluke.com/posts/luke-my-little-"bob-ross"/ Bob Ross

Here is Luke's signed creation.

]]> Two and a half years... What the heck? 2018-12-27T00:00:00Z https://growingupluke.com/posts/two-and-a-half-years...-what-the-heck/ I have had things "queued up" that I wanted to post, but I kept neglecting to do it. Luke will be 9 in January! Some things just move so quickly. It is getting near that time of year where people make commitments about what they hope to do differently in the future. :-)

Well, I hope to get a little better at picking up my task of documenting this journey we are on with the boys.

]]> Counterstrike – LAN Party 2019-10-13T00:00:00Z https://growingupluke.com/posts/counterstrike-lan-party/ In the distant past (2001-2003?), we would host LAN parties at our work. We would mostly play a game called Counter-Strike. If that sounds familiar, watch this video for a stroll down memory lane.

It was always a lot of fun, and most people enjoyed it. At the time, we could get 20 people in a game at the same time. That was pretty crazy.

For me, the PC is a better way to play a game. I know I should get comfortable with a controller, but it just never seemed as easy as a keyboard mouse. (That probably depends on the game, and whatever you started out with).

Anyway, we have toyed with the idea of finding some old computers and having a LAN party. I have been watching MicroCenter for a "batch" of all the same computers that would be decent enough to run CS. This Christmas, I finally took the plunge and purchased 6 identical systems. We wanted all of them to be the same, so nobody had any unfair hardware advantages.

It has been a ton of fun. It turns out that it happened to coincide with a Steam Winter Sale and we purchased the game for .99

Here are some pics

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IMG_4659

IMG_4662

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