Care Package #5

It's time to get another care package on it's long round about journey to Claire.  We will drop this off at our agency where it will wait for a family or staff member to travel to Korea.  I am guessing that she will get this at her December check-up.  We know that our last package is now in Korea and she will receive that one at her October check-up.  After Claire tuned one she will only go in to the agency every other month for check-ups.

 (I fell in love with the two little tops at our favorite big red super store.  I wish they had them in adult sizes!) 

Wordless Wednesday

Feet on Pedals

It was a very exciting day today! Henry figured out how to use the pedals on his tricycle! He has been using his feet all summer and navigating that way but today was the day that his legs were long enough and strong enough to make it work! He kept telling me "Feet on pedals... feet on pedals" He is so excited and we logged lots of time going up and down the side walk!

Just a guy on the open road sidewalk.

And yes, he is kind of proud!

Lyndsay Visits!

My super awesome cousin Lyndsay was in town for work this week and we had a fabulous time spending time with her between appointments.  It was a quick trip but we were so glad that she could come and spend time with us.  We need to plan a trip to Seattle next summer to visit them.  We miss Scott and Judah too!  Henry was a bit bummed this morning when we got back from school and she was not here waiting for him. We enjoyed a trip to the zoo yesterday with Janel, Hunter, Brody, JoAnna and Lyndz was able to pop over between appointments and enjoy some sunshine with us!

Spotting a dragon fly

Henry is still watching the dragon fly!

It was so cool that were able to see them training the bears at the zoo.  They are MASSIVE creatures and it was so cool to see them up close.  You can see Hunter standing up in the front.  He was so cute listening to every word that the trainers were telling him.

Logging data at the tiger base camp.  They look like they were working so hard.

Three Amigos

The Brodster

Henry's favorite exhibit was the backhoe/trackhoe

(Jason and I have recently been having long discussions on the actual name of construction equipment.  This on one of the vehicles in question.  I believe that this one was in fact a trackhoe.)

Pumpkin Time!

I know it is early but we totally got sucked into the pumpkins today.  We were drawn in by the lovely white pumpkin and we had to have it.  Henry was excited to bring them home and to be quite honest so was I.  It still feels early for pumpkins but we saw Christmas decorations at the mall today so I think its ok that we embrace this season before we get the Christmas tree out.  (I hope our pumpkins make it to Halloween!)

 Henry doing what Henry does best!

 He loves the pumpkins!

 Uhhh... Ohhhh....

 He is telling me here that the pumpkin is a horse. 

Oh how I love fall and this cute boy!

Henry's Prom Date

 Henry and his prom date Miss O.  They seriously love each other and talk about each other all the time.  I am pretty sure that Henry will take her to a lovely dinner at Mc*Donalds before hand to enjoy their shared love of French fries. 

G's Birthday Party!

Henry's little friend G just turned three and we had a great time celebrating her birthday!  We went to open play at a gymnastics gym and all of our little monkeys had a great time playing.  Today was the first time of the fall session and it is crazy to see how much more they can do now as opposed to last spring.  Henry was so much more independent and physically more able to do things.  Henry was actually willing to participate in the crazy circle time with the Russian gymnast.  He was piking and rolling with the best of them.  The guy is pretty intense for two year olds and last year he pretty much terrified Henry, this year Henry decided he is ok. (I may still be scared of him though!) 

Working the balance beam

D was cheering for Henry on the balance beam.  I would hear "Good job Henry" behind me, so sweet!

Swinging!

My little monkey swinging away!

H has some serious gymnastic skills.  Well done!

H and G in the foam pit!

Super blurry but it is a picture of Henry launching himself into the foam pit.

The birthday girl and her mama! She is just too cute!

We went out for a very yummy lunch of Korean food.  All of the kids chowed down on the food, it was very quiet because they were so busy eating.  D and H literally were shoveling the food in as fast as they could.  They were just taking a breather here before cupcakes! It was a very fun morning!

Wordless Wednesday- Same Same

First Day of School

Today was Henry's first day of ECFE!

He was excited and ready to go!

Maybe he was just a little nervous.

He had his backpack and was ready to go!

Cool he could fit in his locker!

Henry and I signed up for a separating ECFE class.  We start out together and then we separate for 50 minutes.  Henry is literally with me 24/7 so this is a BIG deal for him.  We prepared him as best we could.  I do think that it helped that he knew what was coming next but it was still hard.  As soon as we sat down for circle time he knew that mama would be leaving and he did not want to participate in any of the songs.  He just kept asking "Mama stay, Henry too"  After circle time I walked him to the snack table and tried set him down but he was like glue so I handed him to the teacher and quickly exited the room.  He was not the only crier (the room sounded like a bunch of howler monkeys) and I know that he recovered from it quickly but it was still sad.  When I walked back in the room and he saw me he started crying again.  He was able to recover quickly though and even helped clean up the game they were playing.  I KNOW each time will be easier and this is milestone that we needed to cross. I can't really blame the guy for being sad because I also know how cool that I am and I would want to hang out with me 24/7 too.  I tried to take Henry's picture as we were leaving outside the school and this is the response I got. 

As soon as we got in the car all he could talk about was Miss Laura and things that he had done so I know that he had fun.  I am hoping next week is a little easier for our little guy.  It may take a couple weeks or months but it will get easier for him. (and me!!) It is crazy to think about needing to find a preschool for Henry next fall.  Time is flying and he is getting so grown up.

Claire's Smile

Seeing your daughter smile for the first time is pretty much AMAZING!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Back to School

 Today was the first day of school for so many kids.  This morning Henry and I watched the big yellow school bus pick up neighborhood kids.  Henry was excited to see the bus again and so was I.  To me it marks the end to summer and we made it through one more season.  I have never wished away seasons or time before but with fall coming we are one season closer to Claire coming home. 
This morning Henry and I also visited his classroom for ECFE.  Starting next Tuesday morning Henry is going be attending a separating ECFE class.  We are only separating for 45 minutes of the class but for Henry this is a big deal.  It is something that is going to be so good for him and I am excited for him to take this big step.  We have been reading lots of books about school and talking about it quite a bit.  I think and hope that he is ready.  We went this morning so that he could meet his teacher and play in the classroom before the big day.  He was in heaven with all the cool toys to play with and his teacher is very sweet.  I am excited to start next week and I know that Henry will be happy to be back too.  He can show all his new friends some of the cool toys he discovered. 

A Tunnel for Thomas

Henry has been really into his trains this week.  Yesterday he was driving his trains under the couch for 10 minutes.  I thought I could help him make it even cooler so I laid the track under the couch and we made as Henry calls it the "couch tunnel" a terribly original name.  Little did I know just how COOL that tunnel would be.  He has played with it almost exclusively for the past day.  That little train tunnel has allowed me to get so much done without my little helper helping me!