Camping Weekend

Most of this weekend has looked like this:

That would be Henry's little grey pj'd leg on top of that blue pillow.  I really wonder if it has something to do with growth spurts, but every now and then, Henry decides he wants to set up a tent and camp out.  ALL WEEKEND!  He will play in his tent, watch cartoons in his tent, almost fall asleep in his tent, etc.  This weekend he also video chatted with his cousin and G.G.  His Daddy is jealous of his tent.  How can you interrupt this for bed time?

His trucks took naps and played in the tent with him.

Sweet Boy

Henry is a kind, caring, thoughtful, helpful little boy.  He has a fun personality that I love.  With that said, I feel like there is a constant power struggle between us.  Maybe between him and the whole rest of the world.  I'm not quite sure.  He is a SMART little boy that has amazing logic and negotiation skills. It is exhausting.  My goal is to somehow teach him that I am his mother, his father is his father, and WE are in charge.  Our house is NOT a democracy.  At the same time, I would like for us to make it through his childhood without squelching his personality.  

A few times before supper, Henry politely protested the pending Baked Sausage Ziti.  He kept digging through the fridge and making suggestions as to what else would be so much better than pasta.  He was being very nice about it and not whiny, so I patiently told him that "We could have that another night." or "That sounds like an interesting supper.", etc.  I did not agree to make anything that he wanted more than pasta.

We have a ... rule? ... understanding? ... that he does not have to eat all of his supper if he does not want to.  I just do not make him anything else.  He eats what he is given or he gets a slice of bread and that's it.  Tonight he decided that all he wanted was a slice of cheese.  I told him that he could have a slice of cheese if he ate four noodles. 

I guess the noodles were tastier than he expected because he ate more than four bites.  He also ate half of his garlic toast before he decided he was done.  He then nicely asked if he could have his slice of cheese, so I got it for him.  He thanked me for it and ran off to play.  A couple minutes later he stopped what he was doing, came back into the kitchen, gave me a hug, and said "Thank you for supper, Mama!".  I am glad that we made it through our meal preference differences without having to battle it out.  I am also glad he appreciated supper, even if he didn't agree with my choice.  He's a sweet kid.

To Never Forgetting

As I have been thinking about everything we have done this year and "publishing" all of the previous years books, I thought it would be fun to write down some of the fun things Henry has said and done this year.  Things happen that you think you will never forget, but you do.  That includes things that kids say.  In an effort to never forget, here are some of fun expressions from Henry this year.

Funny Henry-isms

"You tidding me?!"

"We the best family!"

"Are you seriously?"

"Sit and be talm."

"Stay talm."

"Airbody."

"SOMEtimes..."

I think it is HILARIOUS how he has a bit of a Southern drawl.  For example, he elongates his "O"s.  So it's "hoʊtel", "doʊwn", etc.

"I know!  Guys, I got a idea."

"My do it!"  

"My on my way!"

"To-ge-wer"  (Together)

Random Things that I Love

This kid in general.

 This is not eve the best picture, but I love how he holds his hands behind his back like this all of the time.

And how he stands like this.  

 And how he likes to study things now.  When he is interested, he's INTERESTED. 

I love how he loves his froggy boots. 

And how his trucks help with everything.

I love how much these two love each other.  They get so excited to see each other and I am excited for 2014 to add another cousin/sister to the mix.

I love how many people look out for him.  I am grateful that he has grandparents, aunts, and uncles that all love and take care of him.  I love that he has a Daddy that loves to be with him.  His Daddy misses him on the nights that he doesn't make it home before bed time.  He spends his days at home taking care of both of us.  He is such a good Daddy and husband.  I love those two!

Merry Christmas!

We all really enjoyed Christmas this year.  Kids make Christmas so much more exciting!  Although, I think Henry forgot that Santa came that night.  We had to remind him so that we could get up and be on line in time for Caleb to call at 8:30!  Not a bad wake up time for parents of a young child on Christmas!!  Thanks Henry!

The calm before the storm.
I loved our tree this year.  It was a local tree that did not require nearly as much water and it was cut down 3 days before we bought it.  Come December 15th I didn't feel like we had a decorated fire hazard standing in our living room.

Santa brought a giant excavator!!

 That helped with everything the rest of the day.

 Mama and Daddy built a tool bench!

Now Henry can build all kinds of things on his very own tool bench that now lives in his very own room.

Nate and I got a dishwasher for Christmas.  There is not picture and it came well before Christmas, but I am grateful for it on a daily basis.  It cleans the dishes so nicely and has wonderful features like all of the buttons being hidden from helpful children and a 4 hour delay!  My wonderful husband even installed it on his birthday.  I love it!  (Last year we got a stove, this year a dishwasher.  Maybe next year we can get a hot water heater!  Ooo!  Gotta love being an adult.)

It has been really nice to spend so much time together this month.  I am sad to see it end.  I believe that as much as they loved it, the boys in the house are excited to get back to some sort of routine.  I, on the other hand, am perfectly content to be routine free.

Merry Christmas!

SANTA!!

Just cute enough to know this boy was pretty excited to see Santa this year.  Also awkward enough to be sure it was a picture with Santa.  I believe Henry was relieved to make sure that Santa KNEW that he wanted a giant excavator for Christmas.

Christmas is coming!

We had fun getting ready for Christmas this year.  Everything was exciting for our little 4 year old.  Plus there were lots of opportunities for trucks to help with things.  Henry was in heaven!

Idaho

December 23, 2013

We went on vacation and I managed to not get a single picture.  I'm sure I could find a few from other people, but zero from me.

We went to Idaho for Chelsies senior recital and graduation.  We traveled up with Emily and Rubye and met Mama and Daddy up there.  We left home on Tuesday and returned Saturday, but besides graduation related events, we did not do very much.  The hotel we stayed at provided breakfast and supper most days so we would wake up, eat, swim in the warmest hotel pool I have ever swam in, go on some sort of outing, come back, eat, swim, and go to bed.  It was very nice!

Henry got sick the night of the recital, but I was able to go watch while Henry and Nate camped out at the hotel.  Chelsie did very well and it was fun to see her perform.  It was also fun to see her graduate on Friday, even if graduation was way too late for every single child that had reason to attend.  The two children that went to see Chelsie did exceptionally well, I think.

Now my littlest sister is graduated.  After a semester of student teaching, she will be totally done with this part of school.  She's all grown up (and it makes me feel old).

It was nice to get out of town for a few days and have the opportunity to spend time with family before Christmas.  Henry thinks we are going back and keeps asking about the hotel.  He thinks we are home to do laundry then go back.  When I ask him what he wants to eat, he says we should go back to the hotel.  I think we all really enjoyed our almost Christmas vacation.