The Cookout

Yesterday we had an informal cookout in the backyard with our friends Leta, Bryan, Arwyn, Karl, Jena and Rafe. We had been up since about 5 am so much of the time felt like a burry haze to me...but it was still fun and the food, tasty.

First, Leta had to whup Bryan at corn hole. Because whup is a word.



Arwyn didn't know who to cheer for.



Rafe posed sweetly,



Jena waved,



and Karl grinned.



A good time was had by all.

The Fourth

My Fourth of July Angel:



And her brother saying CHHEEEEEEESSSEE in the background:

Big Day

Today, Henry got a big-boy haircut at the real live barber shop where Brian gets his hair cut by Larry, a man who purposefully wears a mullet. Henry got Mike though, and he doesn't have a mullet.

Here are the morning BEFORE pics:





Then at the barber shop we had to wait about 30 minutes (yikes) but Henry enjoyed sitting by himself in the big chair.



And picking out a magazine. Luckily the Playboys were on a different table. Seriously. Henry picked out some Guns-n-Ammo magazine. Seriously.



Then is was time for the real hair-cutting chair with Mike. Who gave Henry a comb to hold, lasting as a total 47-second distraction.



Then there was some clipping with a cooperative Henry:





And the dusting brush that Henry got to use on his knees:



And Svea sat sweetly showing off her two new big front teeth:



And HERE is where we jump to the AFTER picture, which means this was taken AFTER the complete crying fit meltdown when Henry was ready for the haircut to be over but Mike had only trimmed half of his head, and AFTER the ride home in Daddy's Scout, and AFTER Daddy dipped him in the bath and convinced him that all was still well with the world:



And then it was time for treats, which are just not treats if you aren't wearing a bikey-cycle helmet:

The Piano Man...and Woman

Happily playing with their own pianos:



Until Svea realizes that Henry's has a volume control and microphone as he belts out the ABC's:



And Henry decides he does not want to share and it's so close to bed time would it really matter that much if I pushed her over to get her away from my "pee-nano"?

A Natural?

This morning, while we were getting dressed, Henry saw the shorts I had picked out and said immediately, "put on shorts JUST like Papa." Then later we drove by the UE tennis courts where there happened to be a tennis camp going on, so for FOUR hours he asked to "go down there, go down the street, see tennis players???"
Finally, Svea woke up from her nap and we walked down where he could play tennis with the big boys. Or next to them. Outside the gate. Far enough away that they couldn't here him yell, "sideways swing mommmmyyyyyy!"

Today's Play Date

Today's play date started out so normal...you know, swimming, snacks, toys...

Svea swam with Kelle a little and then had a snack on the towel...



Then she came in for a hug...faster than my camera could focus.



And then my kids decided NO MORE POOL and Henry found the Wiggles guitar and lost his clothes. He seems to be simultaneously flexing his muscles and hoping all are noticing his luscious farmer tan, all to the tune of "Fruit Salad, Yummy Yummy."
Svea found her container with her veggie puffs inside, and is clutching it for dear life. She's already learning how to not share.
Kole (in the background behind Henry) is trying to figure out what that naked kid is doing with his guitar.



Who needs clothes when our fannies are this cute?

THIS a Hammah

...is what Henry is saying to me in this picture. We were trying to air out our most recent diaper rash by playing in our Spiderman Big Boy Undies for awhile. Something about those tighty whities with sneakers and a t-shirt makes Henry want to work on the motor scooter. Have I mentioned we are from Alabama?

JUST like...

Henry, Henry, Henry...how do I begin this post...
He is such a toddler. His language development has been a total crack up lately, in addition to being fascinating as he describes his relationship with the world around him. For instance, most of his actions have to be, "JUST like (insert noun here)." The "JUST" comes out high pitched and sing-songy.

He loves Brian's Razz motor scooter and will sit on the step to the garage and stare at it for long periods of time. By "long periods" I mean that I whip my head into the side porch area every few minutes because the quiet still is too suspiscious...but, lo, he sits and stares at the Razz. So the other day he went and got his new tricycle and parked it next to the Razz, "JUST like Daddy's mo-cycle" so it could take a nap there in the garage while he slept in his bed.



He puts on his shoes "JUST like Mommy" and his new belt, "JUST like Daddy." He plays the big guitar "JUST like Pops" and sings BEE-DIE-DINGY-OH. Which is BINGO in Henry speak.
He rides his tractor "JUST like Papa" and Henry has a back "JUST like the old ladies sitting behind us in a restaurant." Those old ladies asked me what he meant and I just looked at them and explained that they have backs on their bodies, and so does Henry. I thought it was funny. They thought we were weird.

Brian and I went to our friends Barbara, Thomas and Calvin's house to put together a swing set last weekend (so Henry could hammer "JUST like Thomas"). Henry and Calvin threw the ball to each other...sort of. Only like one time, really.



And Barbara held Svea as long as she would let her. Then she was back on the ground eating dirt and leaves and crawling after the boys. Svea, that is, not Barbara.

New Barrette

Svea got a new barrette...and I think she is pretty happy about it.

Arwyn, the Warrior Princess

Arwyn came over to play this morning...and became the Warrior Princess since she knows how to twist off the tops to the paint containers. Henry hasn't figured that out yet, so I was unprepared and had to whip out my cat-like skills and reflexes to get her shirt off before she fingerpainted over her flower buttons.





Henry got jealous and wanted me to look at his tummy which he refused to paint since he really doesn't like to get his fingers dirty.



But he likes saying cheeeeese.

Can't Take the Heat

Trying to explain to Henry why he could only play outside for a limited time today due to the heat was like trying to explain to him the importance of holding his breath. If he can't go outside, he thinks he's going to suffocate.

Brian went on a bike ride this afternoon and when he got back, he let Henry wear the Camelbak. He knows what camels are, and he loves backpacks, so the combination was pretty exhilerating. And hydrating. He'll probably pee through his diaper tonight.





The tips of Svea's top teeth keep poking through and then receding. ?!?!?!?!?!? Tonight she kept opening her mouth really wide to pop her jaw, over and over. She thought she was pretty hilarious.

Lemar Heaven

We went to the Lemars' house this afternoon because they are wonderful people, they have a pool and a John Deere riding lawn mower. Also, Ed and Bart were home and let Henry pick fresh blackberries off the bush and eat them and the combination of all of these details equals heaven for Henry. And me.

There was a storm passing, so we were afraid we couldn't swim, but we got so sweaty listening to the thunder that we jumped in anyway. But only after Henry "helped Baaahhhhttt" (that is, Bart) with some hammering.



And Svea got to pose and squeal for everyone. So proud of the rolls, my girl.

The Acrobat

Before bed time, Brian and I have begun a ritual with the kiddos that is so blessed right now, but we may live to regret. Only due to the bruising.

After baths, Henry and Svea play on the floor a bit, and then we put Svea in her crib. Then Henry pretends to fall off his bed until Brian and I exclaim that UH OH Henry fell down and MY GOODNESS we hope he is OKAY. He loves that part.
And then he runs to one of us to "knock us over" with a hug. He'll count to three and say in a whisper, "Don't kick the Mommy" as maybe a personal reminder and because I say that 792 times a day, and then he charges forward.

The other night, he adapted his hug into a routine. That boy has some back muscles. I had the camera on motion setting to prevent blurry photos, but he would pose with his feet like that...sometimes they came yoga-ly close to his head. I think he gets that from his Pops.

Today

Henry:
I got to play in the backyard all day today. It was kinda hot. It didn't bother me though since I was concentrating on having a running commentary on everything in sight, such as:

"Drop the ball, Mollie. Drop it dropit dropit dropitdroptheballMollienow!"

and

"I see tree. I see tractor. I help mow dee grass. So nice of Henry to mow grass. Helping Mr. Jay mow grass. So nice."

and

"Slide. Swing. Ball. Ball. Ball. I running! Henry run so fast."

But these are just the things my Mommy can remember since I did talk the whole entire day.



Svea:
I got to eat a lot today since I am refusing baby food and want the big stuff. My mouth kinda hurts too. I think my two new front teeth will be the size my Daddy currently has.

Look at This Beautiful Girl

Still just two bottom teeth, but you can see the outline of the top two coming in.