Henry's Potty Training

"Henry, it is time for a shower.  Let's go in and go pee first."

One Last Swim

Last Sunday some friends invited us to go out on the lake with them for the last swim of Summer.  Although it was 90 degrees with a bright shining sun, it really wasn't warm enough for this kid to go swimming.  I didn't dare ask the water temperature but it couldn't have been more than 72.  I didn't swim but I was willing to do a little tubing as long as I could go right from the boat to the tube and let the splashes acclimate me to the frigid lake before getting dumped off by our gracious hosts.  Tony and Amy have two girls, Natalie (almost 3) and Aleah (a week older than Henry, 1.75), who love the water.  Carter ate his weight in dried apricots and had a stomach ache so he wasn't interested in swimming or tubing.  That was until he saw Aleah and Amy tubing.  Carter and his first experience tubing...

Trying to give Dad and Tony a thumbs up.  He wouldn't let go of the handles though.

One thumb up.  His little arms are so short that he was almost over the edge of the tube so he got more water in his face than he would have liked.  Next time we'll take goggles.  Amy and I have plans to invent a tube cover that has a handle about where our elbows are so that little people can sit a bit further back and still hang on.  We're going to make millions.

Henry was getting fussy (it was nearly 6 and when it is time to eat, well, get the food, NOW!) so we threw him on between us.  He wouldn't lay down, but he liked to sit up and ride.

Amy and I did a few miles, got dumped a couple times, and chit chatted our way into the bay on a lake of glass.  What a great way to end the weekend.

We had a blast with the Fasts and can't wait until next summer to do it again.

THANK YOU TONY, AMY, NATALIE, AND ALEAH FOR A GREAT AFTERNOON!

The Curly Haired Monster and His First Haircut

June 24, 2012

Henry has curls.  Lots of curls.  The boys were going to be ring bearers in a wedding on June 30th and I was leaving the haircuts up to the bride, Avery.  I had been telling her for months that it was her call; I would do whatever she wanted.  Avery never did decide, but Dad said shaggy needed a trim, he was starting to look like a girl (I disagreed.  He is all boy and then some).

 June 25, 2012

I made the call and the beautician came to us.  My friend and boss' wife, aka Aunt Kristie, was kind enough to come to the house for a quick trim.  Henry was a little unsure about the clippers, but when Kristie started combing and cutting he was in a trance.  I love getting my hair washed, combed, cut, etc. and it appears Henry got that gene from me.

 He looks much older without the curls.  I have a philosophy when it comes to hair cuts.  It will grow back.  The curls are starting to come back and I don't intend to cut them, at least for now.  We'll see what Dad says about that though.

July 29, 2012

Ohhh, the Agony!

This is what happens when someone gets left behind.  It is only a very short clip of what usually lasts 15 minutes, sometimes longer.  And he doesn't forget.  Several times that day he told me that his dad and Uncle Casey didn't take him fishing.  After his nap, still upset, he asked "are Landon and Casey home?"  He was mad enough that he wouldn't even call Landon "Dad".  When they finally came home the first thing Carter said was "You didn't take me fishing!"  Then he grabbed his tackle box and rod and put them in the boat so he would be ready to go the next time.

Carter Shaving

I know there are a lot of pictures to this post.  But is important to post all of them so you get how serious shaving is at our house.  Carter got a shaving kit for his birthday and he saves about once a week.

Sometimes he shaves in the shower, but he's such a neat freak that I don't worry about the mess he'll make if he shaves at the sink.  Lately he's been shaving on Thursday or Friday nights so that he is all cleaned up when his 'girltwend', Avery, comes home for the weekend.  (Avery is the neighbors daughter in law).  It is very important that I tell Avery that he shaved if I talk to her before he does.  

The Boys

Cowboy Carter on his horse with his cowboy hat and cowboy sandals.

Henry finally learned how to climb up onto the couch so he thinks he's pretty hot stuff now.

Another Weekend (or 4 year) Project

April 7, 2008

We decided to cut down this cottonwood because it made a mess out of the backyard with all those sticky yellow pods.  Abby's kennel was right next to it and she would be covered with pods every spring.  Four years later Landon decided he needed a weekend project and started cutting out the stump; which at the top was about 2' across.  As most of you know, just because the stump is 2' across doesn't mean that the roots are only 2' across.  The hole was about 8' across and 2' deep.  It took more than a weekend but he got it done.  Luckily we haven't had much rain this spring and he got the hole filled in before it became too much of a mess.  

April 15, 2012

Henry Easter Egg Dyeing

 We went to Watford City for Easter this year and Grandma Karen was a little excited about dyeing eggs.  Three boys had four dye kits and 3 dozen eggs to dye.  Henry started fully clothed.  I'm not sure who gave him a glass mug and a metal spoon but wasn't long before the cup was chipped and the dye spilled all over Landon.  Then Henry tried blue.

After the egg was finished dyeing he decided to mush it a bit...

 

or a lot.  He is definitely a destructive little boy.  This was his last egg.

Done and ready for a bath.

Easter Egg Dyeing, Round 1

 On the Thursday before Easter, while Henry was napping, we invited Carolyn over to dye Easter Eggs.  Knowing that we'd have more to dye in Watford City I decided we would only dye a dozen.  My neat freak stayed pretty clean and only spilled a little.

 Carter with the finished product.

Carter and Carolyn.  

Carolyn is Carter's go to gal.  She is our next door neighbor and he absolutely adores her.  She and her husband, Dave, have two grown boys, Leif and Lars, 24ish and 22ish, who both live out of town.  Carolyn fell in love with the boys almost as soon as we brought them home.  They are usually the first ones to see new haircuts, new boots, booboos, pet worms, etc. and can always be counted on to watch the boys, whether planned in advance or at the last minute.  Carolyn stayed with Carter when I went into labor with Henry.  She even called the hospital at 4 am to check on us (we were sound asleep with our 4 hour old little man).  Anytime I make cookies Carter has to take some over and visit which usually ends up with him eating the next meal over there.  It isn't uncommon for me to go over to pick him up and find him sitting on the counter eating snack mix or dried apricots.  He'll eat anything Carolyn makes and is always on his best behavior when he is visiting (so she says, I have my doubts some days though).  They do manicures together, Carter helps Dave clean the boat or the garage, he helps water Carolyn's flowers, they read books, play with toys, look at pictures from their trip to Hawaii, tell fishing stories...Carter and Henry are even the ring bearers in Leif and Avery's wedding in June.  I'm fairly certain I won't have to look very far if Carter ever runs away; I'm sure he'll be at the Sorensen's.  We are blessed to have such wonderful people for neighbors.  I just hope that someday Carter really understands and appreciates what a special lady Carolyn is.