Zonked

Sometimes Henry will still take a nap, but he has to be really tired and I have to time it just right with a cup of milk and a video in our bed.  The other day the stars aligned and he conked out so deeply, we had to wake him when it was time to head out to a party.  All you have to do is whisper "party," though, and he's up and at 'em.  That kid is so social; he loves parties of all sorts.  

New Henryisms: "What light does that switch cooperate?"  "Did you get Mama's opinion on that, Daddy?"  "Whoever wants to play 'Giant,' raise your hand!" 

When asked whether he wanted to go over to Gran's, he asked, "Are Eric and Rebekah and Gus there?"  I reminded him that they went back to Texas.  "Again?!  Why do they keep going there?" 

Good times

Here's the best we could do with a three-kid photo shoot!  Pretty hilarious.  I do see a bit of family resemblance here, and I don't mean everyone's contrarianism.  

We had a great time being together, and can't wait for the next visit!  

Memorial Day Weekend

I know the kids are cute, but look at my nice flowers blooming in the background!

Sandbox

We're having a lot of fun being together and watching the kids get to know one another.  This was a nice moment of sandbox play tonight after dinner at our house.  Gus wowed us with the best party trick ever: he can raise one eyebrow, just like his dad!  So hilarious.  Henry adores Eric and Rebekah and is so happy they are here.  They are so good at playing games with, teasing, and amusing him, and he loves it.  

In love with Gus

The Texas Rausers are here!  And it is wonderful to see them.  Gus is so beautiful with his olive skin, sunshine tan, Rebekah-brown eyes, and gorgeous white-blond hair.  He's a smiling, laughing sweetheart, too.  When I buckled him and Agatha into the double stroller on our walk yesterday, I realized that they do look alike-- although it might just be their similar hairstyles.  

Here are some pictures from yesterday, playing ball, and with Gus puckering up for a kiss.  

Mom is feeling much, much better today, and is planning to go grocery shopping and grill tonight.  

Sweet Girl

This is how Agatha looks teething and with a bad cold-- still pretty happy and smiley!  

Declare Peace

These pictures are from last Friday, when Henry chose his excellent outfit, including accessories (the sun visor he made last summer, and the butterfly he had made the previous day in school).  We were looking at slugs on the rain-dampened porch while waiting for the neighbor boys to come out for the ride to school.

Unfortunately, that was the last day that he was our sweet, inquisitive boy.  Overnight he was replaced by a pod-person Henry-replica who spits, throws tantrums, and basically defies all rules of civil behavior.  Saturday evening I realized I was yelling and threatening and getting pulled into a bad spiral, so Sunday I went back to the time-out, which we hadn't had to use in a long time.  I can't even count how many I gave on Sunday, but I know there were three time-outs before breakfast this morning!  

It's all very baffling and exhausting.  What the heck?  He went to a birthday party on Sunday afternoon, and I thought he would be glad to tear around and play with his friends, after being so difficult all morning.  But no, what did he do?  He clung to my legs and sat on my lap for over an hour.  Very unlike him.  

Tonight I talked with him at bedtime, after all was calm and he was settled in for the night (I will not recount the various frustrations of getting him to that point!).  I pointed out that we had had a rough couple of days, and he agreed.  I asked him why, and he didn't know.  I suggested that we try to have a good day tomorrow, with no time-outs, with good behavior and pleasantness and listening to mom and dad.  "Let's have a good day tomorrow, okay?"  And he answered: "We declare peace!"