Recent Adventures with Luke and Jake (aka Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, aka Super Bouncy Crazy Guys)

Lauren is great about uploading family photos unto her blog and keeping everyone abreast of Johnston family adventures. As for me, I'm usually playing catch up, which is what this post is: a bunch of recent family photos in no particular order.


Here we are at Jake's recent birthday party. He turned four (hence the crown). Lauren, as always, looks super hot.


Jake cheesing it for the camera. But don't be fooled. Beneath that cute smile is a deadly super ninja.


One of Jake's birthday gifts. A transformer from Grammie and Gramps. If the look on Jake's face is no indication, he really really liked it.


The biggest hit of the party was the Bat Cave, a gift from Jeanine, or Grandma. Jake gives it an enthusiastic two thumbs up. Luke is of course beaming as well because, hey, its practically his too.


Lauren and I got Jake a bike. Not pictured is the new helmet we bought him, which is of course far too small for him. I was amazed when Jake got on the thing and gave it a try. He was a natural. It has training wheels, of course, but he got the concept immediately and was peddling like a pro. Lauren and I are now anticipating a Tour De France win.


Pipe cleaners. They're useless for cleaning pipes, but they work great for making disguises.


These are much cheaper than Ray Bans.


We hit Wal-Mart for Halloween costumes this year. The boys had never heard of Transformers before, but when we explaiined the concept to them, they were immediate fans. (Note: Jake's birthday party actually happened after this photo was taken, which would explain why he's so happy to get a Transformer as a gift.)

In any event, the boys LOVED their new costumes and wore them immediately. And didn't take them off for like three days. Jake's mask was a little big for his face, so he could only see out of one eye-hole. That didn't stop him, though. No sir.

I even taught them the Transformers theme song. Sing with me! Transformers. More than meets the eye. Transformers. Robots in disguise.


And here they are with the real leader of the Transformers, Daddy-us Prime Handsome-O.


Luke's school recently put on a carnival. Here we are in the midst of all the fun. Notice how dead the grass on the school lawn is. Disgraceful, I say. The school is trying to raise money to put in a sprinkler system and sod.


Here the boys are inside one of those super bouncy inflatable things at the carnival. I thought Jake would get hammered; there were so many kids in there. I was right, but Jake didn't seem to mind.

A side note: there were several carnival rides, but the people manning them looked like decent human beings. Normal, even. I was very disappointed. I hoping to see some real-life carnies.


This, ladies and gentlemen, is one happy child. If it were possible to capture the glee a child experiences while jumping on an inflatable bouncy thing and then crystalize that glee and sell it on street corners, I could make a fortune.


I was nervous about Jake going down this high inflatable slide, but alas my anxiety was in vain. The guy didn't bat an eye. He zipped down beautifully. I, on the other hand, nearly broke my neck as I was preparing to take this picture. I had the camera up to my eye and I didn't see the short sign stuck in the ground in front of me informing people that the inflatable slide required three carnival tickets. While framing the shot I tripped over the sign and nearly busted by butt in front of fifty people or so. It was pathetic, really.

Ok. All for now. More photos to come. And for all those who didn't join in the singing before, give this a listen. This is pop culture, people. Important stuff. There WILL be a test later.