Visit to Fort Wayne

Last week was Jonathan's last week of school which is always insane... so I was able to go spend sometime last week at my parents house... It was great to relax there and help them out a bit. It was also a wonderful time to see all of my sisters/nieces and for Henry and Wyatt to see cousins and 2nd cousins. We missed Jonathan... but not too much since we were having so much fun! :)

Munchkin

This is the best word I can think of to describe Wyatt... he is so darn cute. He loves waffles and likes to sit on Jonathan's guitar case when he is doing anything in detail - like playing with calculators or eating waffles... :) He loves the camera!

Mulch and more mulch

For those of you who know anything about mulching, you know that it is not the most fun job... especially when it is hot and humid outside. We got 5 yards of mulch delivered this wknd. Devon and Beth came over to help us put it down on Saturday morning. Then we went to their house and help put theirs down that afternoon... they had about 5-7 yards left to do. By the end of the day, we were all soooo tired. Henry was a trooper. He literally worked most of the day with us. Wyatt, on the other hand, has demonstrated to us that he DOES NOT like the heat. He just melts -- if there is no water around, you have to count on one person holding him or at least taking him inside. The rest of us had fun ... sorry Wy.

Memorable Things Kids Say - Volume 2

To continue the discussion on sugars...and food... with Henry (of course... who else?)
Q. Mommy, do donuts have bad fat?
A. Yep, they do.
Q. Do they have natural sugar?
A. No, they have processed sugar.
Q. Is processed sugar bad for Henry?
A. Yes, it is. That's why you don't eat a lot of sweets.
Q. So donuts have bad fat?
A. Yes, they do.
Q. Why isn't that bad fat happy?
A. What?
Q. Why can't that bad fat be happy fat? Then we could eat more donuts.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell - Volume 4

Henry called me out in the garage the other day -- he had gotten in the van to get something and was like, "Mommy, come fast!" So of course... I ran. Only to find this nasty piece of something in one of the side cubbies... that powder stuff is the mold that was coming off of it. Henry said he had no idea how it got there. Umm... right...

Mother's Day 2009

Well, we don't have any crazy traditions for mother's day. I like it that way - Jonathan has made me breakfast the past 3 years -- and that has been very nice. This year I really wanted to do yardwork, so we put the boys down for naps and got to work. Henry got up (btw, Jonathan dressed him that afternoon...) and helped us in the yard. Overall, we had a great day. The one unusual surprise was that Jonathan purchased me a pedicure this year. I'm so excited to go get it! After all my running, my feet are in need of some serious pampering. I'm already praying for the girl who has to touch them! :)
An excerpt from Jonathan's homemade card from him and the boys, "... we thought you might enjoy a pause in your endless chasing us around the house, up and down the staris, and standing for hours in the kitchen. Wyatt protested the idea a little, claiming that he has been trying to give you a lower leg massage for months as you work hard preparing dinner in the kitchen, but you just won't stand still. We explained that his efforts looked more like hanging on your legs, and after a little crying and reflection on his technique, he agreed. So with love and gratitde for all that you do to make our lives perfect, we hope you will enjoy this time of relaxation..."
All in all, it was a great day... Beth, can't wait to get that pedicure with you :)

New Bike

Henry got a new bike graciously loaned to us from our Kettering neighbors, the Renshaw's. (Thanks Jackson!) He LOVES it. It is so darn cute to see him ride around on his training wheels. I feel like we have entered a new phase of parenthood. It's like he's growing up before our very eyes.

There are so many things to journal about these days. I feel like I could post every picture I take and tag a story to it. They are all going to be such sweet memories -- I just don't have time to post that many. I will say to you, Henry, that you are such a darling! We love you immensely and you are a joy to spend time with.

This one's for Nathan...

Dear Nathan, ever since you came to our house to finish the basement, I have been in heaven. I talk about you all the time. I ask where you are when I wake up, and I ask when you're coming back to work when I go to bed. I like to eat breakfast, lunch, and my snacks watching you downstairs. I like it when you eat dinner with us. I really like it when you let me help you with your tools. I always tell Daddy what I got to help you with when he gets home. I will be very sad when you are all done. You keep me entertained by answering every single question I ask. See you Monday!
Love Henry

the Heth's

While we were in Indy for the race, we also got to visit with some of our longtime friends, Justin & Hannah Heth, when we went to p/u the kids in Upland. They are dear friends and b/c of distance, we just don't see enough of each other! It was so fun to see the boys interact - we did our best to get a picture of all 3, but after about 6 takes, we decided to just be satisfied with what we got. We were able to actually have the kids play and then the four of us went to dinner by ourselves. It was a very special time.

Race Wknd in Indy

We raced in Indy this past wknd. The Festival 500 half marathon is now officially behind us. It's kind of nice not to be tied to a training schedule. We had a great time! We stayed at David and Sona's new place in Indianapolis. It's only a few blocks from the monument and the circle -- it was a beautiful place!! And a perfect location for all of us to stay... Unfortunately, we didn't take our phones or cameras down to the race since we were all running - so no official documentation that we did indeed run and finish. But trust me, we did. You can look us up on the race results site :)

Uncle Josh

Uncle Josh came this past wknd to visit. He was attending a job fair - but stayed through Sunday. We had been planning on doing some serious yard work, so when he told us he was coming, we said he had to work for his food! He was a wonderful help -- Jonathan was so grateful for his muscle! While eating lunch, Jonathan was telling Josh how being 31 is just not the same as 23... :)
Henry, of course, was loving having Uncle Josh here. He couldn't ask him enough questions -- we ended the wknd on Sunday by taking a walk back in the creek. Wyatt conked out in the backpack. It was a wonderful wknd!

Springtime

Last week, it was absolutely beautiful. We spent a lot of time outside trying to prepare flower beds. There is a lot of rearranging that needs to be done. The boys played forever in the dirt. It was so great! Wyatt is sure learning how to dish it out to Henry -- I think Henry is surprised by how ornery (sp?) Wyatt is...

Henry

For awhile now, I've been wanting to write down some things that Henry has said. Things that are too cute to let slip by without journaling them for memory. Here are just a few:
1. (while we're eating breakfast) "Mommy, can we eat dinner now?" I say why? "Because then Daddy would be home."
2. One day we were driving past the mall, and he asked me what that big place was. I said the shopping mall. He said, "Oh yeah, that's where Jesus died on the cross." I said what?? And then again, completely matter of factly, he said, "That's where Jesus died on the cross." I have no idea where he got that idea.
3. I'm always telling Henry he cannot throw balls high in the house nor kick them because he could break things... like light bulbs. Yesterday we were outside playing. He picked up a green soccer ball. "Mommy, can Henry throw this high in the sky?" I said sure! He said, "But why? Are there no lights in the sky?"
4. I was trying to explain to Henry the difference b/t healthy food vs. unhealthy food. Trying to help him understand why he doesn't get large quantities of juice or sugar or cookies or anything else that tastes really, really good! :) And he said, "So sugar is bad for Henry's body?" And I said yes... that's why we eat it in moderation. And he said, "Wow, that's a bummer."

We love this kid! :)

Don't Ask, Don't Tell - Volume 3

I left Wyatt in the high chair with a graham cracker when I ran upstairs... I came back downstairs to this... this bucket was a gift from Henry's Sunday school teachers. It has found its way onto his head at least 10x's. I think Wyatt is wondering what in the world Henry is doing...