Daddy is the favorite pal

 This year for Father's Day Johann was easy to shop for. He wanted the James Heriot series and The Old Man and The Sea. That was done easily enough. We also threw in some See's Candy for good measure. 

After having breakfast together and opening gifts we got ready and went to church. After church we headed to Riverside to celebrate with Johann's parents for dinner. It was fun to get to be with everyone and wish Jim and Kaleb a happy Father's day and as always it was fun to see the cousins together.

The thing I enjoy the most about seeing Johann as a dad is that he is infinitely better than me at being goofy with the kids. For instance, behold the monster sandwich:

Henry especially loves when he gets to be Daddy's pal. Almost every Sunday he asks Johann what he'll be wearing and tries to match him. It's pretty sweet when isn't a pain. I'm sure when Thea is old enough to talk she may try to get herself into "the boys" club that Henry is always talking about, "how about THE BOYS go do such and such," "well the boys are going to sit together," etc. 

I'm grateful for Johann and for the father he is to our kiddos. It gets easier the older I get to see how lucky our family is to have a father in it who wants to be there for his kids in word and deed. I know he loves them and more importantly I know they know he loves them. 

Happy Father's Day, Johann! 

Catching up is hard to do

It's been awhile, yes? Now as I look at pictures and all the things I should blog about because I know I'll like looking back and seeing them on here, I kind of sigh and think, "do I really need to blog about Dorothea's first birthday? It's not THAT big of a deal, right?"
Boo. Lame mom.

Here are a few of the things we've done since I last blogged about Henry's birthday in May that aren't really important enough for blogposts of their own.  Maybe if I start small I'll get motivated for the bigger posts.


On June 8th Johann and I helped my mom with the Stake Cub Day Camp. We taught them how to make stomp rockets with plastic bottles, straws and paper then Johann shot off a model rocket for each group. At the end the boys managed to beg him enough to shoot off the 6 foot rocket, which ended up getting stuck in a tree coming down. The joy and excitement on those boys' faces as they watched the rocket go up and chased after it was priceless. Luckily one of the leader's teenage sons was also able to retrieve out rocket from the tree. It was a long and hot day but it really was fun to work with those boys together.

Dorothea was just getting far too big for her rear facing carseat. We pulled out the one my mom used for Henry and strapped her in. It was so cute to look back and see her little face.

Johann's quest for a dog continues and he drags us to the animal shelter whenever he can. While there have been maybe two dogs I thought were okay (I'd rather wait and save to buy one from a breeder), I saw this tortoise and I waaaaant it. I mean, it's like the closest you can get to having a pet dinosaur. The thing has a personality too, ornery, but what else would you expect from a tortoise? I don't know what it takes to keep one of these, but I am seriously considering it.

The kiddos had swimming lessons. Sadly for Dorothea, she missed the entire second week because of the stomach flu that hit everyone, except my mom, in the house. Henry recovered after about a day, but Thea's new nick name became Thea Thea Diarrhea for a week plus. Poor little girl. She did enjoy the class while she went though and was good about getting dunked. Her favorite part was hopping into the pool from her bum bum.
Henry did a really good job but he still isn't swimming on his own. I think part of the problem is he can't float at.all. He needs more fat on him or something. But it doesn't stop him from trying and I think if he isn't getting it next summer, I'll sign him up for private lessons and feed him lard.

We finally ordered Dorothea a new carseat for our car.

Henry used all the pine needles Johann was gathering and throwing away in the front to make himself a bird's nest.

Henry got to be the spotlight kid in primary in June and he was soooo happy about it. They gave him a crown, treat, framed poster saying "I am a child of God" and read his survey he did at the beginning of the year. The primary leaders are so good in this ward and do so much for the kids.

After months of saving up our rent money my mom was able to put a 600 sq ft patch of grass in the back yard. Below Henry is experiencing the joy of running through the sprinklers. It's incredible what a little spot of green does for the whole yard when we look back there.

Johann and I got to have a morning at the Redlands Temple. It's a beautiful place to be.

Last week one of our friends in the stake put together a kickball game. She did a sports week for her kids then invited everyone else for a picnic and kickball game. Henry had so much fun. As we were leaving he told me, "That was even better than electronics!" Indeed, Henry. Indeed.

Those are a few of the things that have gone on in the past month or so. 

Up next: Father's Day, Fourth of July trip and Dorothea's birthday.

Henry the Kid part 2

Since Henry's big birthday celebration was just our family, we got together with the unlce Kaleb, cousin Apollo and the grandparents (sans my mom who ended up flying to Florida last minute to see her mom just before she passed away) for some cupcakes and visiting.

Henry's Grandpa and Abuela Simonds got him a big boy bike that he absolutely loves it. Grammy Goodwin got him the helmet and pads to go with it so he has been all set riding around the front yard daily since then.  

Johann has taken the wheels off a couple times but Henry always gets too nervous and just starts shouting, "NO NO NOOOO AAAAAAHH!" I guess we'll wait a while and see if he'll give it a go then. 

Henry, once again, had a fantastic birthday. He is so lucky to have family around to enjoy their love for him. What a great way for a kid to grow up. 

Henry the kid

On May 14th Henry turned 5; I am informed that means he is a 'kid' now. If I had been asked, I'd have said he's a 40 year old trapped in a 5 year old's body. 

To celebrate we decided to forgo the hassle and expense of a party and see how we liked the hassle and expense of taking him to Disneyland. I'm still not sure which I would prefer to do in the future but I can say that he had a great time and it was fun to see him beaming whenever one of the workers said, "Hey Henry! Happy Birthday!" 

It was more crowded than we expected it to be on a Tuesday but we still managed to hit most of the rides Henry wanted to go on: Buzz Lightyear, Autotopia, Nemo Sub, It's a Small World, The Tea Cups, Alice in Wonderland, Dumbo, Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Snow White, Disney Railroad, Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean. In addition to the rides we got to meet Mickey Mouse, have lunch at the Rainforest Cafe see some really fun exhibits with Ironman and Asimo , have some Dole Whips, churros and peek around the shops. 

Henry still loves to tell people he got to go to Disneyland for his birthday and says his favorite thing was getting to be like Ironman and riding Peter Pan. 

I also took a leaf out of pinterest's book and decided to do a little birthday survey for Henry: 

My name is: Henry

I live: on earth

My favorite color is: black

My favorite TV show is: Mickey Mouse Club House and Monster Snakes

My favorite sport is: tball

When I grow up I want to be: A Disney imagineer

My Favorite book is: A Day In The Life Of Oscar The Grouch

My Favorite food is: cereal

My Favorite Song is: I’m a Cuckoo by Belle and Sebastian

I am really good at: playing jungle cruise and making puzzles

I need to work on: having good discipline at karate

These are three words that describe me: cool, fishy and gorilla-man

Something that makes me happy is: going to peoples’ houses and playing with them nicely

Something I like to do: draw monsters, skeletons and stuff

My favorite place to go is: Disneyland

As a five year old I will: dress up, draw stuff with my mom, listen to her, go fishing with my dad, play outside and I will start school.

Advice I would give to 4 year olds: have fun at fun places and be more like the Lord

It took all my self control not to laugh as he said the last one with such a serious face.

We have definitely had an interesting five years with this little boy. I am pretty sure he sees himself more as part of a triumvirate than anything else, even with a sibling here now. He can be incredibly stubborn and drive me up a wall faster than almost anyone else but he is getting better, really trying to do his best to be good and "not listen to satan" as he says. He can also be so genuinely compassionate at times that it makes me proud and feel a little ashamed of myself at the same time, probably a good thing. As he gets ready to start his first year of school I can only hope and pray that those good traits and inclinations will continue to grow and he'll continue to learn and grow as he has the past five years. 

We love you! Happy Birthday, Henry Dean!  

Mother's Day

Dinner on Saturday night made by Johann and my brother for me and my madre.

Sunday morning, french toast, cards and candy.

More candy from church.

I'm still coming down from the sugar high. =)

Mother's day this year was great for 2 reasons. Firstly, I was able to be with my mom and actually do something for her instead of just sending a card. It felt good to participate and show my mom my gratitude for her. Secondly, Henry really wanted to be the best he could during most of the day, "because it's Mother's day, mom!"

Hope everyone had a chance to reflect on the love they have for their mothers!

10 Month Miss

Dorothea Loves:

• Pulling Henry's hair. Her face lights up when she sees he is close, his head is within reaching distance and he is turned away. Best time to strike.
• Looking at books. Whenever I pull a book out now she closes her right hand and sticks out her little pointer to point at the book along with mommy. 
• Sneaking into Grammy/Henry's bathroom, and holding onto the step stool. Usually with a little dancing.
• Pulling up on things just the right height and dancing around.
• Pulling DVDs and books out of the shelf and anything she can off the shelf or table.   
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• Any and all tubes and containers of lotion or other like products. I took sunscreen away from her the other day and I'm sure neighbors thought I was cutting off her hand.
  
• Being messy. She is a pretty messy little eater. 
• Mangos, peaches, rice cakes, avocado, cottage cheese, chicken and any time she can get a taste of something cold and sweet like ice cream.
  
• Mommy. She is definitely a mommy's girl. A little more so than mommy would like, in fact. 
• Being outside, especially on the grass.
  
• Watching Henry sword fight, wrestle or anything like it.
  
• Talking.
• Remote controls.
• Singing. Especially "On The Good Ship Lollipop" My mom sings it to her and she just loves it for some reason more than any other song.
• Crawling from wherever she is to welcome Grammy home. I think it's because she hears the grage opening and knows that means she's back whereas Johann comes through the front door so you can't hear it. 
  
  
  
  
• Playing with the magnets on the refrigerator. 
• Hitting things-bongos, xylophone, etc. 

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Dorothea Does Not Love:

• Having things taken away. At. All. Ever.
• Sleeping in her crib.
• Being put down on the ground.
• Nap time.
  
• Traveling in the car. Though she has mostly gotten use to it now.
• Being held by strangers or people who are not mommy or daddy and sometimes grammy. 
• Having her diaper changed.
• Anyone going into the bathroom and closing the door. 
• Vacuuming. 
• Loud noises.
• Teething. 

Happy 10 months, Dorothea! =)