Driving Miss Daisy

Last week, while at my parents house, Jay felt it was time for the kids to have a tractor (lawnmower) ride. They have been obsessed recently with the Little People farm that came with tractors and animals and all that good stuff. So, on the way to Green Bay, Jay bought Henry his own John Deere hat and the rest is history. As you can see from the pics they LOVED the riding lawnmower. They each had three or so turns on it as Jay took them around the house and barn and through the woods. They even managed to wave to my parents each time they rode past the house. What royalty!! when Bryn felt that Henry's ride was a little too long, she chased them both down with sheer determination.

Busy Saturday

Yep, this is Henry and Bryn's future uncle..... what do you think? We started the day off at Grandpa and Grandma's house for Jen and Shawn's wedding shower.

While Bryn and I were at a garden party at Elspeth's house, Henry and Jay headed to the Terrace.

We then had to experience Brat Fest, which has now turned into a literal circus with carnival rides, dancers and live music. The merry -go -round and the superslide were a hit with Bryn and Henry.

Bryn coulnd't keep her eyes off the dragon ride. I think she watched it go around and around at least 50 times. Guess there may be roller coasters in her future?

For a little guy who was afraid of a playground slide just a couple weeks ago, Henry was a champ sitting on Jay's lap as Grandpa, Jay, Bryn and I all slid down the superslide. Bay Beach, here we come!!

My how they've grown!!

I need to look back occasionally at the old pics to really see how much they have changed over the last year. Of course they still like to sit on my lap together..........the biggest difference is in the grunting involved on my part to hoist them both up.

What a lapful they are today!!

Parking lot

We finally got some needed rain this week which made for perfect parking lot puddles. Finn accompanied the fam across the street to find a good one. They were having so much fun, our neighbors came over to watch. They remembered when their now grown children would race across Lewis Ct. to stomp in the puddles and come home soaked. I think some of my favorite childhood memories involve "sailing" containers down our street with my sis and friends after or during a rainstorm. If only I had a pair of those rainboots!!!

They were both pretty intriqued with the idea of the water running into the drain and under the parking lot. But then it was time to splash all over again. We literally had to drag Henry back home.

Splish splash

Don't know whether they were practicing their soccer kicks or log rolling technique. Whatever they were doing, they sure had fun and managed to wet down most of the bathroom floor.

Sauna inspection with Grandma

Our cousin Liam

Don't you just want to eat him up? Not only is he adorable but he is the most well behaved 11 month old I have ever seen, I was in awe all weekend. He only eats the food placed in front of him without squeeling and signing "more, more, more." He doesn't throw a fit when mealtime is over. He plays quietly on the floor and doesn't mind if one of the monsters takes a toy away. Were Henry and Bryn ever like that? Don't think so....

Now you can see why Bryn can't keep her lips off Liam........ he is a cutie patootie.

Liam was such a good sport with Bryn and her affection. Poor little guy.

If you would like to see more pics go to Shannon, Bruce and Liam's blog at www.coopersclan.blogspot.com

She got some great photos of them at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Where there is water....

...there is fun, at least for Henry and Bryn. A couple showers went through Suamico and left puddles on the picnic table. Henry couldn't help but splash the water all over himself andBryn. By the time they were finished the fronts of their outfits were dripping wet! Grandma didn't mind one bit.

Sweet little footprints of Henry...

Bryn showing off her soaked dress.

Hand in hand with Grandma.

Memorial fans

Bryn and Henry are never dressed alike so we had to snap these photos while we could. They are both the lucky owners of hand made Memorial sweaters, given to them by some dear Cross Country runners. I have to admit that I jump at the chance to put these sweaters on. Jay took them to a soccer game and they ended up being the center of attention. Check out the backs! Thanks Maggie and Liza.

Capitol lawn with Kayla

Friends

Can our "babies" really have friends that they know by name and play with already? Although we have had playdates since they were teeny tiny, it really more of an escape for us adults to get some conversation than it was a time for our littles ones to interact with each other. I guess time flies and your children become little people and you can just stand back and watch them come into their own. WOW!

Mama's Day

I woke up this morning to find the sweetest video ever in my inbox. I just had to share it.........

Happy Mother's Day

Yardwork

On Sunday I decided to start the preliminary work on our landscaping project. We are trying to build a water garden in hopes that it will keep the rest of the yard from overflowing everytime we get a large downpour. We also think it will help spruce up the backyard which is in dire need of some lovin'. Jay was over helping a friend repair a roof so since Henry and Bryn love to "help" I thought I could get some manual labor done.



They both found their little shovels and started their own excavation project.

That lasted until they saw me using the wheelbarrow, then they both chanted "mummy! weeebarro, weebarro mummy" I then had to haul them around the backyard and up and down our street. We did get some interesting looks from passing cars.

When I finally got them out they decided to pitch in and each took a cup and a shovel and started walking over tiny scoops of mulch to my huge load.

Henry found the tarp Jay brought out for me to haul bark on and decided it looked a lot like the parachute they play with at Keva so then they each tried pulling each other around the backyard.

Needless to say, most of my manual labor was done while those two slept.

Playing catch...our first video

Henry's first trim

No fancy hair salon for dear Henry. Jay had other ideas for Henry's first haircut. I have to admit, Jay has been dying to trim Henry's hair for at least a month now. I finally agreed and Jay had all his haircutting tools set up and ready to go on the back porch in a matter of seconds. I thought Henry would lose it once the electric trimmer was turned on but Jay worked his magic and Henry was giggling the whole time. Henry had a peculiar hair growth in which he had the thickest and longest hair on top and then some wispy fine hair that hung over the ears and neck so as the trimmer did it's thing a little boy emerged. Bryn was beside herself, trying to get in on the action so when Henry was getting his bangs trimmed she felt she needed a wet down herself. Don't worry, we saved his blond locks in a ziplock.

Taaaaa Daaaaaaaaaa!! Check out the back....

The finished product, thanks Jay!!

Feeding frenzy with Sam and Abbey

Introducing William Frederick IV (aka Liam)

The littles and I finally made our way eastward to see baby Liam, his big sis Cooper and of course their mama Amanda. He is such a sweetheart and a total cutie! Thanks to Coop for being such a trooper and sharing her toys and snacks with my monsters.