Twas the Week Before Christmas

I’m With the Band
On December 19th, the four of us went to the Junior High School Band Christmas Concert held at the High School down the street. Our neighbor’s daughter, Amanda, was playing her saxophone and clarinet for the event. During the concert, Henners went through three packages of Scooby Snacks, although he offered half of them to his crush, Michelle (Amanda’s mom). After about 3 songs, Henry exclaimed “We done!” and kept this ritual up whenever a song would finish. I had to break it to him that no, in fact, we had 7 songs to go. As I mentioned before the “We done!” went on for the rest of the concert. Although, he did love to clap his hands whenever they finished the numbers. His favorite was the percussion pieces that featured the big drums. Reesie just chilled and watched the stage, struck by the noise and the shiny instruments. She also liked the red and green soft spotlights on the ceiling. She had a great time just being held and people watching.

Nudie Pics
Little Reese loves to have her clothes off. She kicks and grins whenever she gets her diaper changed. She gets this really intent and serious look on her face like kicking is her only purpose and she's got a job to do! She really lets loose once she figures she’s taking a bath. She looks all around at everything she can possibly see in the tub. Afterwards, I like to just hold her for a while in her warm towel. I’ve posted some pics of her below during her bath. I also told her that these are the only nude or semi-nude photos of her to ever be on the internet.

Cute Kids

Friday, December 21st, Henners had a Christmas party at school. They watched a movie, sang songs and broke a piñata! When I picked him up from school and got him in the car, the first thing he said to me was, “Mom, I had a good day.” Aww…I was so happy! Here’s his Christmas card to us. The teacher asked him to tell her what his favorite thing about his Mom and Dad were. He just told her his favorite things….period.

When I got home, Reesie and I played on the bed for a while. I made noises with her and imitated her the best I could. She loved the interaction. When I stuck my tongue out at her, she got a big smile and let out the loudest “Hoo, hoo” that I’ve heard her make to date! It brought tears to my eyes!

Art Attack
What do you do when it’s too snowy to go out and your three year old is feeling creative? Well, I don’t know what you do, but we decided to finger paint! Here’s the evidence.


Do Not Attempt at Home
Every eight years or so, I get this feeling that somehow I know how to cut hair. Don’t ask me why. I should know better. For me, cutting anyone’s hair with the exception of Henry’s has always gone horribly wrong. So I guess the last time I got busy with the clippers was 1999 because Saturday (Dec 22) when Jeremy said he was feelings scruffy I told him I would be happy to trim his hair.

So…… I started....and it didn’t end pretty. Jeremy’s eyes were getting pretty wide about two minutes into my handiwork, which, by the way, wasn’t too handy. I cut him a little close and fairly uneven. I urged him to go to the “Quick Cuts” or whatever it was called up the street. After we both had a good laugh and cry (from laughing so hard) by looking at him in the mirror, he was on his way to the stylist. Before he left Jeremy asked me with a wink, “What did I ever do to you to deserve this?!” Oh, by the way, the stylist said that Jeremy was the second guy in that morning that had attempted an at-home hair cut. I'll never do that again (well, not until 2015 at least)

Tumblin', Trains and Two Months

“Nastics”
So, Wednesday, Henry had his “Winter Show” at gymnastics. He’s only been enrolled a month, but I thought he would really like to show off what he’d been learning to all the Grandparents.

Oh, my. Show off is right. Let me preface by saying that Henry is the smallest one in his class (most of them average 4 years going on 5 years of age). He may not be the best listener, but he tries so hard during class and more importantly, he has so much fun. He definitely brought the house down with his “gymnastic antics”! He did everything so well, including a few tricks he had never even tried before. When it came time to finish a trick, all the children were instructed to hold their hands high above their head and say “Ta-da!” Well, Henry did one better. After his “Ta-da!” he would then place his hands on his hips and bow for everyone. People were roaring! On the video that Jeremy shot, you can barely hear the cheering over Jeremy’s laughing. Oh, Henners, you are a crack up!


Polar “Not So Much” Express
Thursday was Henry’s birthday. He was so excited that he was finally three! That night the four of us trekked up to Heber City to ride the “Polar Express”. First of all, Henry was so excited he could hardly contain himself on the way there. Once we got there and he saw all the train cars lined up outside, he just had to be outside (in the snow) running up and down the platform dragging Dad along. Reese and I were much more patiently waiting inside where it was warm. We had Reese all bundled up in a winter snow suit that was red and white. Henry thought she was dressed like Santa Claus.

When the conductor shouted “All Aboard”, Henry pulled at us to get up to the train steps to get on the train. The only issue was that we were about 20th in line and had to wait our turn. This concept was totally lost on Henners. After what must have seemed like forever to Henry, we were on board and in our seats. We were visited by elves and hot chocolate chefs and Mrs. Claus. After that, Henry wanted off the train. We still had 45 minutes to go. Henry willed the train to go faster out loud. They call it the Heber Creeper for a reason, Folks. All this time, Reesie was enjoying her bottle and the hanging Christmas Lights. She spent a good deal of the ride looking over my shoulder at all the events going on around her. She loved it!

Finally, after I kid you not, 3 songs of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” (Santa was kind of tardy), Santa entered our train car. Henry got immediately reverent and angelic. He was so excited when Santa got to our row. He handed both Reesie and Henry a jingle bell. The rest of the way Henry shook his jingle bell and sang “Jingle Bells” to anyone that would listen.


Well Baby Check-up
Friday, Reesie had her two month check-up. Of course the nursing staff cooed over her the entire time. She measured 22.5 inches long and 12.25 lbs (wow!). For height she’s in the 60th percentile, for weight the 90th. Good girl. The doctor commented on how pretty she is and what a well dispositioned baby she is too. When it came time for her shots, I was upset, because Reese never cries hard and I knew that she would. She did pretty well, I think she was startled more than in discomfort. She stopped crying immediately once I picked her up. What a brave little girl! I brought her home and gave her a warm bath and massaged her little legs. She was pretty awake so she exercised her legs with her kicking ball that she loves so much. Then she zonked out completely. She slept a good deal of Friday and Saturday, but was in good spirits when she was awake. We think she is amazing!

Bruiser is a Loser
Saturday, the four of us headed to “Salt City” as Henry calls it to see an art exhibition at our friend Scott Buckner’s house. He just graduated from the U as an art major and is extremely talented in contemporary art. He works in our office and is a good friend of mine. Once we arrived, Henry recognized him and immediately started calling him Buckner like we do at work. He remembered that Buckner has a betta fish named Killer that he keeps at his desk at work. Henry asked Scott several times if he could see his fish. Scott told him that his fish wasn’t there, but that he had a better animal for him to play with. We all went upstairs and Scott’s wife brought out their Chihuahua named Brusier. Henry loved Brusier! He held him and petted him so gently. When Bruiser ran downstairs, Henry chased after him calling, “Loser! Loser, where are you?” Scott and his wife thought it was hilarious. For the brief 30 minutes we were there, you could hear Henry calling for their dog “Loser” throughout their house. As we left I thanked them for the food, the art and for letting my 3-year old insult their dog.

Super-Duper Dino Birthday!

Hank the Hot Rod
Sunday morning around 9:00 Jeremy and I decided to give Henry one of our birthday presents to him early so that he would have some time to play with it. We got him a 4-wheeler hot wheels. It’s fire engine red and called something important like “The Ninja Extreme”. It goes about 2.5 miles per hour on the lower setting and 5 mph on the higher one. (We have it set to the lower). He was so cute when he first saw it. We thought he would be so surprised and excited, but he just ran up to it and got on it and started it right up like he knew what he was doing. He drove up and down the sidewalk for about 40 minutes before I coaxed him in for some hot chocolate to warm up, then he was out for another half hour. I hope the neighbors didn’t mind us riding up and down the street Sunday morning – the little motor is kind of loud. Most everyone that drove by was heading to church, and they know us so they would wave and Henry would wave back just as proud as could be. I held Reesie up to the window so she could see Henry riding on his new toy or “trailer” as he calls it. We don’t have any idea where that comes from. He wanted to ride it later in the evening after dark too, but Jeremy thought ahead and told him that the battery needed to recharge (wink, wink) and that Mom would take him out Monday for a few rides one the battery had more juice.

My Party at Dinosaur Park?
That’s the number one question Henry has been asking me all week. Well, Sunday, I finally got to tell him that, yes, today was indeed his birthday party at the Dinosaur Park. After we spent a good deal of the morning riding on the 4-wheeler, we loaded up and went to Henners’ party at the Dinosaur Park. He had so much fun! All his cousins were there as well as Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles. Of course, he was spoiled with tons of goodies and gifts from everyone. After lunch, the kids and some of the brave grown-ups braved the frigid temperatures to go outside and feed the ducks, Henry’s favorite albino trout and visit the other sites in the park. As usual, Henry urged everyone to “run real fast” through the park. His “best friend Lexa” as he calls his older cousin, was so good to run with him through the park and help him and the other small ones on the play ground equipment.

Henry declared it too cold for Reese to go outside to visit the dinosaurs, but that it would warm up at night, so we should bring her back then. He also reminded Aunt Kimberly and Uncle Jake when each of them were holding Reese that Reesie was his sister and that she drank milk, not orange soda. Thanks for the clarification there, buddy!

Workouts, Superheros and Hot Chocolate

Tummy Time is the Right Time
Every day I exercise our little girl with her activity mat, some stretches, some tummy time and finally her massage. Reesie loves to lie on her activity mat and kick the ball I have hanging near her feet. She just wails on that thing! If I move it, she searches for it with her feet until she finds it. She loves to grip it between her feet or ankles and roll it around that way too. However, Reese isn’t as fond of her tummy time. She’s pretty good for the first 3 or 4 minutes. She takes in her new views of the world and gives out a few grunts as she works her head back and forth. But after that, she gets a little frustrated. It’s taking her longer to get frustrated though, which is a great sign!

Spiderman Lives at Our House
The first thing when Henry wakes up he asks for is his milk and his Spiderman suit. If it’s a school day, we make him wait for the Spidey suit until he gets home, but otherwise, the costume is his typical outfit for the day. When he gets home from school, he grabs his suit and asks us to help him put it on. We strip him down and then put it on him. The next few hours are a blur…sometimes Jeremy plays Doc-Oc sometimes I do. Usually Spiderman catches me, Jeremy and Reese in his web, other times he only snares one of the slower cats (Taz or Meesha). A few nights ago, Henry and I were making sugar cookies. I turned my back on him for only a minute and he had the entire Tupperware container on the floor and was rummaging through all the cookies. He didn’t know I was watching him, but I was. Later, I asked Spidey if he knew who had taken one of the cookies covered in red frosting. He told me that it wasn’t him and that he “Could not know” who it was. Hmmmm….I think this picture tells another story!



Christmas Village in a Hurry!
Saturday night, Jeremy and I took Henners to Christmas Village in Ogden. We dropped Reese off at Jeremy’s parents house while the three of us braved the cold temps outside. Henry had a great time, but seemed in a hurry toward the end. He was concerned about leaving Reesie at Grandmas and kept saying, “We got to hurry. We have to get Reesie back with us.” Aww, what a cute big brother! We assured him that she was fine with Grandma Lauri and Grandpa Wayne. So, after covering the Village at record pace, only stopping for hot chocolate which he thought was yu-uh-ummy, we were off to pick up Reese.