Super Hero

Being a Super Hero is hard. Being a three-year old Super Hero can be even harder. First, you have to convince your parents that you are Super Hero worthy. Say perhaps, that your current Super Hero suit, a Spidey suit, has just grown too small. It's embarrassing to be out there fighting crime in flood pants, you know? So when you accompany your parents to the WalMart, you convince them that you have been so good that you deserve not only a replacement for your current red/blue Spidey suit, but that you also need a "way cool" black Spidey suit. You know, for the days when you're feeling a little darker.

Witness the happy Super Hero in the making.

Being a Super Hero doesn't just automatically happen like they show it in the movies. It takes preparation, planning and the knowledge of how to work velcro.

Whoops. Something's odd about this new Spidey suit.


But every Super Hero just makes the best of it. Totally. Pulling. It. Off.


Ah, that's better. Now the Super Hero works on his web slingers to make sure they are in top condition.


Sometimes Super Heros break for awesomeness.


And to apply the head gear that comes with the new suit.


Head wear? Check. Flashy sandals? Check. Conspicuously placed rope that will definitely result in rope burn? Check.


Ladies and Gentlemen, you have just witnessed the emergence of a new Super Hero. Consider yourselves warned.

Where's Mr. Hankey When You Need Him?

So a few nights ago, Jeremy and I had ourselves quite the experience. We spent a good 90 minutes with Henry on the toilet trying to coax a difficult...ahem...how can I put this delicately uncooperative bowel movement from his little body. There, I said it. All day long, Henners had insisted he had to do a number two, but when it came time to actually get down to business, he lost patience and would give up. You should know that we spent most of the day out and about at two separate birthday parties (one that involved a handful of 2-4 year olds in a water fight and the other at a park) so he wasn’t comfortable with his surroundings.

But at 9:00 at night, the smell radiating from the Little Man indicated that it was time for Jeremy and myself to perform an intervention. Note that over the next 90 minutes, the three of us spent an intense, sometimes humorous, often smelly time together in the confines of the guest bathroom.

9:00 Henry first sits on the potty. We let him know that he was home and could relax now.

9:01 Henry quickly loses concentration and asks to sing a few songs.

9:06 Still on the throne. Still singing songs.

9:10 Henry insists that if he takes a bath the BM will come.

9:12 Henry insists that by using soap crayons his BM will come.

9:20 No BM has come.

9:22 Back on the potty. Henry is promised that if he does his business, he can wear his Spidey shirt to bed.

Ten seconds later: A gleam appears in Henry’s eyes.

9:27 No BM. Jeremy and I began to question validity of elusive BM.

9:29 Stench from Henry causes us to retract our question.

9:30 Awkward eye contact between the three of us.

9:32 A second bath request is made. Jeremy and I oblige.

9:51 Henry insists he must pee in the potty.

10:00 Back on the potty. Still no BM. Henry asks if he can pet Meesha.

10:01 Promise of petting Meesha is made once a ‘major transaction’ happens.

10:05 More awkward eye contact.

10:06 Henry reminds us that if successful, his night involves a Spidey shirt and hanging out with Meesha. He adds that he wants to kick his orange ball five times too just to see if we are listening. We were listening and agree to the new terms.

10: 07-10:10 Henry repeats the terms of ‘the transaction’ at least five times.

10:14 Henry makes a raspberry sound with his mouth (farting noise), hops of the potty and announces that he has successfully made a BM.

10:15 Jeremy and I laughing hysterically.

10:16 Back on the potty.

10:17 Henry complains of a stomach ache. We talk soothingly to him and reassure him that he will be okay.

10:22 Henry shouts, “I’m scared!” We can see from the look on his face that something is happening how.

10:24 TRANSACTION COMPLETE!

10:25 Hugs, jumping up and down (all three of us). Henry and I singing our specially potty song (This involves complex choreography and we each have our our own lines. Seriously, Jeremy has never been quite able to nail down a proper version of our family classic, 'Who Pooped In Potty?" - music and lyrics by Jen, arrangement by Henry)

10:27 Orange ball kicking (seven times - he squeezed two extra kicks out of the deal), Spidey shirt wearing and Jeremy and me chasing Meesha around the house to catch her to fulfill the rest of the bargain. Sorry there, old girl. Sometimes you’ve got to take one for the team.

More Swimming

After spending a relaxing night at the Grandma Jo and Grandpa Brent's Bed and Breakfast where, by the way, anything goes (future post), Henry decided he just needed to swim. G & G had graciously outfitted the children with small wake boards (Spiderman for Henry and Little Mermaid for Reese). So, of course you can imagine the urgency for us to blow up the pool and fill up the pool so the Little Man could try out his 'Spidey skateboard'. BTW: if any of you are looking for a good exercise in patience, swing by and witness Henry waiting the 90 minutes it takes to fill up his pool.

Finally, the pool was ready. Henry was so excited to try out his new toy.

This is pretty much the face he had the entire time he was swimming.

Ready!


Set!


Hold on. Looks like he has to go.


Nope. There's no time for potty breaks in a three year old's world.


He loved his wake board.

Really loved it.


He floated...

...and kicked...

...while we looked on with great pride.

Reesie swam too.

She loves the water so much.

This is what Reese looks like loving the water so much close up.


For a while she was preoccupied by the grass.


Then something caught her eye and she could not stop staring...


...at the wicked farmer's tan from across the yard.


Sweet tan lines there, Honey.

Fist

This morning as I left for work, earlier than usual, I tiptoed into each of the kids' rooms to kiss them goodbye. First, I spied on Reesie as she slept, tummy down, snoring louder than even Jeremy does sometimes. I gave her a kiss on her little neck. She didn't even stir.

Then I crept into Henry's room, I brushed his hair and softly wished him to have a good day. He stirred a little bit, but didn't open his eyes or really acknowledge I was there.

I said goodbye to Jeremy, gathered my things and quietly left the house. I was down the driveway, just getting into the car when I heard what sounded like a knocking coming from one of our windows of the house. I looked up and I could see Henry's tiny little fist pounding on his bedroom window. He must have heard me talking to him after all. Aw, his sweet gesture just made my entire day.

Togetherness While Wet

Okay, so Henry and Reese, let's get a picture of you together in Reese's new pool. Look at me!


Well, that was cute, but you both need to look at me now.

Almost. Let's try it again.

So cute! One more time..

What a Splash Looks Like

That Just Happened : The Henry Edition

Here's Henry demonstrating what he'll do if he loves you. Actions speak louder than words.

Educational Wiz

Turns out I'm a whiz with the cheese wiz stuff.

Lately, we've been teaching Henry his letters by squirting canned cheese on to crackers. Mom of the year, I know. I actually thought that I was sort of clever working learning into a fun activity until my dear friend Julee told me about her sister/friend, Penny. Apparently super-mom Penny takes her children on field trips to places that begin with a certain letter to drive home the learning experience. For example, if the letter is 'K', the kids go on an excursion to Krispy Kreme.

I saw Penny last night and complimented her on her creativity. She was all, "Whatever! I would have never thought of using Cheeze Wiz!"

Thanks for trying to be nice, Penny. Well, maybe when you get to the letter 'C' you can use my cheese and crackers idea. Or when you get to 'P' for processed cheese, or 'U' for unhealthy.

I say, canned cheese and crackers are easier and they make Henners happy. Maybe in the fall I'll do the field trip thing, but for now, the boy gets a processed non-dairy product on a Ritz.

Anyhoo, (did I just type anyhoo?) Henry loves to shout out letters that he wants me to draw on these little crackers. His favorites include 'H', 'O', and 'M'. But lately his requests have become a little more demanding and complicated.

Witness the canned cheese 'Star'.


Here's the canned cheese 'Spongebob'.

Here's Henry eating the canned cheese 'Spongebob'.

Now, just where do you think Penny's going to take her kids to demonstrate THAT lesson? Thanks for having me over last night, Penny. I had fun. I can't wait to see my new purse!

Helpy Helperson

Sometimes, Grandma Jo and Grandpa Brent let time slip away from them. Sometimes, before they know it, Christmas is gone and summer is upon them. Their house wouldn't know it though. Take a look at the sweet Christmas lights still atop their roof.


Sometimes these same Grandparents call you up and their all, "Henry and Reese, can your parents come up to help us take down our Christmas lights? We're just not feeling that festive anymore. That, and it is almost July, you know."

And Henry's all, "Uh huh."

So your son has signed you up to do some hard, manual labor over Father's Day weekend without any prior consultation. Here, Hennners thinks he's only been recruited to supervise.


Um, I don't think so. Little man, grab a handful of lights and get to steppin'.


Apparently, Henry isn't into the whole 'Christmas Spirit' thing. He's all, "That was so, like six months ago."

He'd rather bust some serious dance moves.


More constructive dancing.


Reesie is a fan. She eggs him on.


After all the dancing and singing Christmas songs, (he sort of got the gist of the exercise), Henners and Dad decided to cool off in Grandpa's creek.


This is waaaay better than forced manual labor.


And surprises. Look! An electronic keyboard. Sometimes fortune just smiles upon you, my friends. If we'd only known about this earlier, Grandma could have played back up for Henry's musical show.


The boys keep heading up the creek. Grandpa keeps a close watch on them.


Once they get out of the creek, Henners announces that he needs to take care of some other business. What could it be?


It's pee business! Look how proud The Manster is as he wizzes off Grandpa's bridge.


Yay! He may not excel in assisting in the long overdue taking down of holiday cheer, but Henry does master the peeing off a bridge category.