Christmas 2011

This year we spent Christmas in Dallas. We had a really nice time with everyone, and especially with each other. (We hadn't really had much time together in the months leading up to Christmas break due to Josh's [blissfully] busy interview schedule.) Here's to our last year of getting an actual "Christmas Break." We have been spoiled as students our whole marriage -- next year we'll be in the real world.

25. December

Merry Christmas.

*picture courtesy of henry's talented uncle bill.

henry is 3

Josh was in Arizona for residency interviews and Henry and I decided to go too. Henry therefore got to celebrate his third birthday with his sweet Sawkiw cousins, Aunt Aly & Uncle Bill, and Oma & Opa. We were especially glad that Josh could be there this year. It worked out great.

More from the George

I found this video on my phone today.
(and yes, jaynee is singing that song.)

Thanks-For-Giving with the Hahls

We had the nicest Thanksgiving with Charlie and Cassie in St. George. Henry and Jaynee loved every minute of being together, Josh finally got to meet Hurley, and Baby Graham loved loved loved his Aunt Ainy. Nicest of all was just being able to spend time with Charlie and Cassie. We had a great week.

So enough words, here are some pictures.

Henry and Cassie, helping Graham learn to crawl.

The kids reading together before bed.

Makes you kind of want twins. For about 3 seconds.

These two hugged/wrestled the whole trip. (Just like their parents when they were small.)

Yo Halloween

My name is DJ Lance, DJ Lance, DJ Lance Rock!

This year's Halloween was fantastic. Henry went as a character from his favorite TV show, and really got into the Trick-or-Treating spirit at the church Trunk or Treat. He lasted only about 30 minutes, then we went and visited a few of our neighbors, and finally went home to watch a Halloween movie and pass out candy.

Highlight of the evening: Upon arriving at each car in the parking lot and timidly whispering, "Trick-or-Treat," Henry would receive a piece of candy in his pumpkin pail, look up at me -- face beaming through his DJ Lance glasses -- and shout, "IT WORKED!"


Love this kid.

Happy, Happy Halloween

Henry & Dad Play Guitars

some videos:
http://youtu.be/iYKQsNLXLXs & http://youtu.be/J8ZKcH_w0fs

Park

Train Park

Henry and Mia on "Brown Lou"

We have spent the last 6 weeks in Arizona for a sub-internship (Josh). I might post some more pictures of our trip later, but for now, here are the pictures I took at the Train Park. It was definitely one of the best days of our whole trip. We got to go with Aunt Aly and a few of Henry's sweet girly cousins. These girls love Henry so much and shower him with attention. He adores them. As we drove back to Texas, he kept his eyes peeled the whole time for "Aly's red car."

Like Plex

Henry just told me that he wants a brother like Plex. (Funny- I always pictured Plex to be the older brother type.)

August was very hot. We are so glad it's over (Halloween decs come out next weekend!). Just a quick update on Henry. This month has included...

1 thunderstorm, with Henry shouting this zinger out the car window at the clouds, "Opa's gonna knock you down, Storm!"

Trying to figure out what to do outside of the house in this heat.

Henry playing his violin and wearing my shoes (he always goes for one red and one green).

Running through as many sprinklers as we could find.

And lots and lots and lots of singing. (Lots of it.)


September, we are so glad you are finally here!

Jubilation

Late July Happenings

Here are a couple of recent pictures taken with my phone of our days at home without Dad. Josh gets home in a couple of hours, and Henry doesn't know it yet! He will be so happy. [...haha and so will Henry! :) ]

This was possibly Henry's best plane trip ever. He looks so big sitting in the chair like that.

Nothing like passing a Sunday morning with the smell of fresh popcorn. (A' la Oma, of course!)

p.s. Thank goodness July is over with (no offense Aly, Chris, and Chelsea!). Only one more month until the Halloween decorations come out. Finally.

Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO

City of Heath Fire Trucks

Grandpa's Fire Trucks

The City of Heath has the most beautiful fire trucks I have ever seen. (That's a superlative I never thought I would use!) Grandpa took Henry on a special tour of the trucks with Officer Griffin before Josh and I left town. It was very cool. Henry was in complete awe of everything and spent the ride home from the fire department in tears, asking to go back. Well played, Grandpa. Well played. Some pics from the visit:

Josh and I left for St. Louis the morning after the visit to the fire station, and Henry got to stay in Dallas with Grandma, Grandpa, and Logan for a few days. On our way out the door on the morning of our departure, Henry gave us a big wave (from the safety of Grandma's arms) and shouted, "Goodbye Old Friends!" He seemed pretty comfortable with the possibility of never seeing us again, so long as he had his grandma and the horses. We are in St. Louis now and miss him terribly. We are definitely taking the separation harder than Henry is, but I have to say that it is so nice to know how completely loved and cared for he is while we are away.

Digger Truck

We pulled up to the park today and Henry spotted a digger truck. He was beside himself with excitement, and spent the next hour ignoring the park completely (unheard of for this boy!), and playing with his own toy digger truck in the shade next to the crew, where he could watch all the action.