Summer fun

One of our favorite past times this summer was painting the back slider windows. This was almost a daily event... then, Henry figured out that he could also paint himself.

And when we weren't painting, we were having fun eating ice cream and water ice, playing with our new trains, climbing trees and just having fun!

Swim Lessons

Henry took his first swim lessons this summer at the Y. He LOVED them - 30 minutes of splashing, song singing and kicking around in hot, bath water, is nothing but barrels of fun for a 2 year old. For a mom, on the other hand... just a lot of work. So, as you can imagine, I was thrilled the day Dad took off work early to get wet with Henry.

Hard to tell what that is, but that splash is the aftermath of Henry jumping in off the side.

Potty Training...

has begun.

Midwest Tour Part III

What was suppose to be a 4 hour drive to the lake, turned into 7 hour drive because of multiple down pours and hail storms. We finally arrived at the lake, just in time for Nikki, Sean, Jake and Payton's departure - bummer!! But, at last, "vacation" had begun! I've been coming to the lake since I was 5 years old - there is no place like it on Earth. I hope Henry gets to come every year to create similar memories that I made as a child.

We got to spend the week with our cousins: Angie, Dwight, Megan, Riley and Chad and Aunt Linda. Uncle Kenny and Aunt Tina were suppose to join us too, but Uncle Kenny had a bad bicycle accident the day before (broken collar bone, arm, etc.).

We spent a lot of time just being lazy - we went on the boat, hung at the boat dock, lounged around the house, went on walks, went tubing and jet skiing. It was a perfect week with great weather! Henry enjoyed himself - he LOVED swimming in the lake. In fact, he got so confident that he didn't want anyone to hold him - he would just kick his feet and swim all over the place. He also loved the gigantic trampoline that floated off the dock. If we didn't do anything else, he would've stayed a happy boy. One would figure with all the water activities, he would have slept like a rock at nap time - we were lucky if we got him to go down for 30 minutes. The kid didn't want to miss a thing. The good news, he was an angle, if with late bed times and no naps. Worked for me!


Cousins Riley and Megan

Mi-Maw, Brooke and Henry at Branson's Big Cedar Lodge.

Exhausted after tubing - I made dad drive the boat around so he could get a nap in. After 20 minutes, dad docked the boat and Henry jumped up and was 100 mph again.

Henry helping Pop-Pop wash the windows at the house (learning from the best!)

Movie time with cousins Riley and Chad.

First jet ski adventure! He loved it! Thanks Dwight!

Crazzy pop-pop.

Sitting on the deck - Henry, Pop and Chad.

Midwest Tour Part II

We left Nashville, by car, early Saturday morning so we could get to St. Louis in time for G-G's 80th SURPRISE birthday party! G-G had no idea what was in store for her and all of us sat in silence on the 5 hour ride to St. Louis in fear we would let the cat out of the bag! Since Henry didn't nap while at Aunt Julie's, we thought for sure he would rest up on the ride to St. Louis - not a chance.... that was a glimpse to the nap schedule in store for the rest of the week (there wasn't one).

Once we got to cousin Shirley's, we let G-G take the lead. She walked in to a house full of friends and family whispering "Surprise!" (she's 80, we want her to make it past 80!) It took her a good 30 minutes to figure out the party was for her!

The next morning, before driving to Table Rock Lake, we went with Mi-Maw, Poppop, Uncle Alex, Tommy, Bunny and G-G to Grants Farm. I used to go for the animals, now I go for the free beer, even at 10 AM. Henry had a blast!

We took the train through the farms to the main animal viewing/beer drinking area - we saw buffalo, ostrich, deer, oxen, zebra, etc. Once in the park, our first stop was with the baby goats - Henry fed them bottle after bottle after bottle. Then, Uncle Alex and him braved going in the goat pen ....Henry got attacked and had to be carried.

Next up, Carousel ride and some more animal sightings.

It was a hot, hot, hot and HUMID day, so Henry and Uncle Al cooled off with the misters.

Midwest Tour Part 1

Henry and I took a tour of the mid-west in July. We started in Nashville, TN to visit my best friend, Julie and her son, Langston, born April 30, 2011. We have big plans for these two boy's future friendship - so a meeting, ASAP, was of critical importance. Langston, at two months, took a real liking to Henry - the proof was Langston's sleeping, eating, and pooping.

(Yes, at 2 years apart, they are almost the same size!)

Mi-maw, Pop-pop, and G-G, met us in Nashville so we could continue our Midwest tour. Before we left town, Julie and I got some girls time, and Henry and gparents toured the local farmers market and the Gaylord Hotel.