Xmas Roundup

Grandma Yvonne got Henry some sweet foam blocks. Henry loved them immediately, and likes bigger structures to smash like King Kong. This was a near replica of the Chrysler Building.

Henry gets a bike... not the bike we bought him a few months ago, but one that actually fits him. Lesson learned. take a little guy to a bike shop to test them out over buying one blind of the internet. Moments after this photo Henry decided he didn't like the helmet and won't let it back on his head. He's really into trying to ride it, and gets on it all the time, but he needs help to make it go.Another one of Henry's top new amenities is a little table and chairs. Grandma Betsy (right) sent this because Joe and his sister liked it so much as kids. So far, it's a hit!
Henry's Grandma Val sent this platform that allows wee men such as Henry and Dane here to join the party at the kitchen counter. Henry spends hours a day at grown up height.
Gifts were fun to open regardless of knowing what was actually happening. Henry got the hang of Christmas pretty quick.

Trimming the tree

We trekked into the woods this morning during an hour long blizzard to cut down our Christmas tree. It was quite an adventure. Henry had lots of fun looking through the ornaments and trying to hang them on the tree.

Winter is here... but there is sledding.

We got a big snow dump on Thursday followed by a huge wind storm on Friday. Result lots of shoveling, and the wind turned a great potential sled snow pack into a patchy weedy wind blown slope, but we couldn't miss an opportunity to get Henry out on the hill.

Here is our intrepid daredevil

He wasn't really excited, but at least it wasn't traumatic. Someday soon we'll wonder where he is and see a little shape disappear over the horizon in the back yard.

Autumn roundup

Winter is fast approaching, but we haven't let it slow us down just yet. The cold has stayed away for the most part, and we've only had a few chilly mornings thus far with no snow to speak of yet. Henry obviously knows something is up...

Henry's Grandma Yvonne and Val came to visit and the fun began. Here we are at the Rocky Creek Farm's pumpkin patch. Henry had a good time, but as always took it all in with skepticism. There were hay rides, pigs, chickens and corn mazes to be investigated as well.

For Halloween, Henry was a pumpkin, and probably the cutest in town (and there were lots!). He slept through the downtown trick or treat, so we took him out in the neighborhood for the good loot! Dad is happy with his first haul. After a few houses, Henry even knew to go up to the candy bowl and help himself! Attaboy!

Shades

We've already gone through several pairs of sunglasses for Henry For this coming winter we decided that more extreme measures will be needed to keep Hank warm so we can do more skiing. Voilla.

Getting my things together

Henry likes to be the one who gets the ball rolling when we leave the house. He brings me his shoes, my keys, my purse and drags his diaper bag to the door. Once everything is in order he starts waving and saying bye-bye. Sometimes during this process he ends up wearing my purse and holding the keys. He knows the are important to running errands.

He proudly wears this old purse I gave him around the house when he has important errands to do, such as pushing the popper, carrying books, and giving orders from the top of his slide.

Family fun

Henry loves his cousin Io! They were so cute together!

Grandpa had a good time too! Io's grandma made him this cute shirt!

Winter garb

Some mornings, Henry will bring us his shoes as a subtle way of asking to go outside. It wasn't too cold this morning, about 40 degrees, but we thought it would be neat to dress him up in his winter coat.

Do it up

Henry decided to mousse his hair with hummus. It was pretty gross for a few
Moments until we had the idea to give him a "fauxhawk"

Yeah?

Henry's new sofa

Ever since we went to a friends house a couple of weeks ago, Henry has been coveting a chair his own size. We finally found a little sofa that he can't tip over and fall out of.

These shoes are made for walking

Hen spends most afternoons just wearing his diaper around the house and yard. Now that he's walking he's got some sweet shoes to kick around the yard in!

Floating the Madison

With Dubai in 2009, Henry as a newborn in 2010, we haven't gone floating in a loooong time. Today we went looking for a basic raft to take Henry out in... this is what we found. It suits us perfectly! We had a great time, Henry was either standing at the edge looking into the water or helping dad row. He also tried to sneak his first Ruffle potato chip. Katy joined us and took Henry in the tube for a bit. He almost fell asleep instantly. Must be reminiscent of the womb.

PS - no comments on the glasses ... Henry threw them into the water 3 times, so I was NOT going to wear anything worth keeping :)

Walking the dog

We had an incident this morning on the couch, we disassembled the couch to dry the cushions and Henry used the opportunity to walk laps on the platform of the couch. He has his faithful pal Doggie in hand at all times these days. It's very sweet. Here's a picture of him enjoying the couch.

Portland

Joe took Henry and I to Portland with him this weekend. We took Henry to the zoo, Sunday parkways, and to see the city. He learned to wave at the zoo. He picked up clapping too. He waved and clapped his way through the town. Here he is having his first Popsicle.

1st Birthday!

Friends Birthday Party

Yesterday we went to Henry's buddy's birthday party. Jessie and Henry are two weeks apart in age. We all had a really great day at the party and in the water. The party hats killed me, I couldn't stop giggling. Henry's mullet kept the string in place so he was able to wear it for longer than he would have under the chin. Henry ate an entire piece of pizza and the stump part of a cupcake. He really liked the cake!

First hail storm of the season

We finally got our first doozie of the year. Hail wasn't as big as it could have been, thank goodness. Ripped up the flowers and overflowed all the gutters, but probably no other damage. Neat rainbow though!

The park

There are a few parks in town with baby areas. We took Joe this morning to show him what we had been up to during the week. Henry had his first solo slide this morning and LOVED it! His favorite thing to do is follow other kids around on the play equipment and play next to them. Sometimes when he really likes another kid he will touch their hand. So cute!

the tease of summer

Summer keeps teasing us with beautiful days then whacking us with another multi day rain storm. The upside is that I've never seen the valley more green. Last weekend we got our pond waterfall functional. Here's Henry enjoying the pond and a Bud Light... just kidding on the beer.

Henry really likes to crawl around on the grass. lots of neat textures and things to explore.

I just really liked this picture and thought I would post it.

Spring has sprung

We'll get some more photos up soon, but the weather has finally been warming up. Henry's toys have made a daily journey to the lawn where he scratches around like a chicken looking for deer pellets (but doesn't eat them.... yet.)

Henry still really likes bath time, though he is less content to just sit in the tub. Whenever he tries to escape, bath time is over!

Cousins!

We met our new family member this week! It's going to be lots of fun having these two so close in age.