Beginning of the holiday weekend.

Every year we head North to the Adirondack Mountains for the 4th of July holiday.

We stay and celebrate with our great friends, the Johnstons. 

Before we made it to their mountain house we stopped in Old Forge and had dinner at Slicker's.

We then made our way to the dock and fed the ducks.

Being in the mountains always brings out the simple pleasures.

Is he protecting her or getting ready to push her in?

You decide.

:)

The Grad Party

The Party.

This is my last post about Luke for awhile... I promise!

Danielle planned and executed a perfect party, lots of fun!

There was slip n slides, baby pools, bocce ball tournaments, great food, lots of frozen drinks, an INFAMOUS WATER WAR, new cousins, and lots of laughing!

Ashley and Beth.

Beth and Livvie were on her like glue! Danielle's nieces and nephews became our kids new cousins. They all bonded immediately. 

Bocce ball tournament.

Water balloons.

The "safe zone".

No water war fights were allowed here.

Lisa, Laura, Mom, and Dianne.

So I burned a few bridges this afternoon.

OUr plan.

I was to gather all the kids together for a group photo.

All the adults had water guns behind their backs.

When I counted to 3 the kids smiled for about 1/2 a second until they realized the adults had attacked! I could not get them to pose for me the rest of the weekend.

(It was worth it!)

;)

Patrick's matrix moves.

Luke with all his nieces and nephews, (minus the two babies).

Alan, Livvie, Ashley, Beth, Sam, Christopher, and Josh

(missing from picture was Timmy and Bree)

Luke opening his gifts and cards.

One of my favorite gifts given was from Danielle's aunt. 

She gave Luke a gift card to Dunkin' Donuts! 

It was so cute, Luke read each card out loud and was so appreciative of everything he received.

Danielle had these special candy bars made for all of us.

One of my favorite parts of the day was witnessed by very few.

L and D were such gracious hosts that they gave up their room and all their extra beds to their guests and opted to sleep in a tent in the backyard.

Watching Luke, and his friend Mike, set up a tent they have never set up before, in the dark, and  after having quite a few was worth staying up late.

It took them about an hour.

It was an hour that mom, Patrick, Rachel, Cody, John, and I spent trying to control our laughter. I thought Luke was going to kick us out. We kept laughing every time we heard them say,  "Feed the pole through..." 

Thanks L and D for having such a fun family weekend.

We are all considering it practice for a destination wedding!

(hint, hint... ;)

Graduation Day for L.J. #3374

The graduation was at Temple University.

There were 152 graduating recruits.

His final average was a 97.6....

graduating in the top percentage of his class.

His reward for his efforts?....

Well, he has been assigned to one of the worst districts in the city.

We all swallowed hard with that news.

(Send safe thoughts his way.)

But...

He graduated on Monday morning and then Tuesday he had his first arrest, taser gun and all!

Danielle said his adrenaline was pumping!!

:)

Can you find him?

Taking the oath. 

Luke (on the right) with fellow officers and friends.

It still hasn't kicked in that he isn't wearing a costume.

He's the real deal!

Brothers.

Best Friends.

Patrick and Luke.

(And for the final record.... Luke is 6'3" and Patrick is 6'2.5".... hahaha!)

Dad, Luke , and Mom

Luke with Laura and Livvie.

Sam's reward for being good through the graduation was that he would get to wear Uncle Luke's hat.

Beth was perfect at the ceremony.

Not so perfect afterwards.

(I'll get to that at a later date.)

Awww... smiles after all!

(I was threatening everything in my power.)

Danielle, Luke and Zeke

Luke and his cake that Danielle had commissioned for him.

It is always a wonderful thing to watch someone achieve their dream.

It's also a very rare gift.

Thank you Luke for your persistence and dedication to yourself.

Thank you Danielle for being his rock through it all.

It was a long and bumpy road but we have been with you the entire way, and thank you for letting us accompany you.

You did it.

Now go out there...

 keep fighting crime, making your arrests, staying safe, and not screwing up reading them their Miranda rights!

(My next post will be party photos! WE HAD SO MUCH FUN!!!)

Introducing Officer Luke Lesko

I have been given permission to disclosure his badge number...

#3374.

The photo above is from Thursday. His last official day as a recruit.

The photo below is from today.

In his dress uniform.

He was given his hand gun.

(At the moment he has it tucked in the waistband of his cargo shorts, covered by his T-shirt.

He is too cool for us! :)

We are all down here in Philly, to attend his graduation and have a blow out party!!!

Words can not express how happy and proud of him we all are.