Good times

 We took the plunge and invested in a play set for the boys!  It was quite the exciting morning around here- between watching the "worker guy" put the set together and actually using the set, the boys were in heaven!

 Big boy Henry climbing down and . . .

  . . . up the climbing wall!

 Charlie grunted his disapproval when he couldn't do the climbing wall as well.

 Wheeeee!!!

 Henry giving Charlie quite the crazy ride!

 Sweet boy (check out those eye brows!)

 We even picnicked on top!  The boys thought it was so cool! (Actually their mom did, the boys were indifferent!)

 Handsome Henry

 Thirsty Charlie

 Glug, glug

 Hug or choke hold?  You decide.

Any takers?  It's yours- for free.  We'll even deliver if need be!!!!

Henry T. Parks

 The "t" stands for trouble . . . 

This is what happens when I put the boys down for a nap and assume they are sleeping.  Then start making dinner while talking on the phone.  Clearly I wasn't aware of the happenings on our second floor.  And to cap of this particular day, Henry had an "accident" in the car on our way home (which was already past bedtime).  So after putting the boys to sleep I had to unplug a toilet and wrestle with a car seat to get the pee stained cover off in the 140 degree heat of our garage.  All in a days work . . .

"Hiking"

 (Favorite brother pic thus far- makes my heart melt!)

We met Isaac, Luke and their mom at Lebanon for some hiking- if you can call it that with four kids ages 3 and under! :)

 Isaac & Henry "reading" maps - should I have told Henry his was up-side-down?

 Intently watching a canoe get put in the water!

 Adorable!

This would have been adorable as well, however, the boys were walking away from us instead of towards us like they were supposed to be doing!  Thanks, Wilfords, for a fun play date! :)

Craft time = 5 minutes

 I wonder if Monet created his paintings in five minutes?!?!

Daddy Visit

Tom spends one day a week (Friday) in his Minneapolis office.  I brought the boys up to visit him over the lunch hour this past Friday.  All three boys had a blast!  We ate the catered lunch with the rest of his colleagues while a presentation was going on . . . Charlie clapped at all the appropriate times and let out a holler every now and then too.  Henry enjoyed wearing Tom's head set (as seen in the pic above) and looking out the window at all the cars below.  Both boys were so good- we just might have to do it again sometime! :)

End of an era

(This picture makes me giggle- my attempt at getting a shot of these cute kiddos!)

My good friend, Anne, is going back to work this fall (sniff, sniff).  I'm not gonna lie- it was hard to say good-bye after today's play date! We have been having play dates since Henry's birth.  Our four kids are pretty good buddies!  Now we have to get creative in when and how we get together.  I guess the good thing is, she works at the school I used to teach at so I have an "in" with all the gossip! 

Hooked up

Henry and Charlie are becoming very good buds these days.  In fact, yesterday, they played in the play room all by themselves for 25 minutes!!!  (I so wanted to go in there to see what they were up to, but knew as soon as they saw me it would be over!) 

Henry insists on being "hooked up" to Charlie's chair- they have to be touching- when they eat now.  How cute is that?  Lots of food sharing going on . . .

12 month stats!

 Here's our happy guy at 12 months of age!  Charlie's walking is turning into running and he copies everything his big brother does- especially the naughty things! He is very good at taking the vent covers out of the wooden floors and opening up the fire place vents.  He is also quite handy at climbing on top of pretty much anything he can get his chubby little legs on!  He continues to be a very easy baby- pretty much just toddles around all day long.  He gets fussy when tired and/or hungry (don't we all?!?!) but that's pretty much it.  Charlie is in 18-month clothes, size 4 diapers, and is starting to ease out of taking a morning nap (hooray!).  He continues to nurse in the morning, before afternoon nap, and before bed but I'm hoping to curtail that in the next few weeks.  He's officially a "cow" milk drinker, as Henry likes to call it!  

We visited our beloved pediatrician on Monday and these are Charlie's stats:

Weight: 23 lbs, 9 oz (62%ile)

Height: 29.25 in (27%ile)

Head: 47.2 cm (76%ile)

Outside Fun???

 On Saturday evening, we cleaned out part of our garden (the basil was starting to turn yellow!).  Henry thought he should "wash" it using the new water table!  He's so smart!  

We also had a garden dinner- using lots of fresh veggies and herbs from our garden, which we thought would be so much fun.  Tom even picked up some delicious meat from the meat market . . . but below is how we endured dinner that night.  Apparently the kids didn't get the memo that we were supposed to be having fun!!!!

 Good thing we cracked a couple of cold ones to get us through the dinner hour!

Party 3 of 3!

 We had one last celebration on Friday for Charlie-man's birthday with his little buddies (Brynn, Cara, Elsie, Margot, Frederick, Otto, Lilly, Thomas, Clara, John & Nick- and Henry, of course!).  It was the most perfect last summer day and the kids had lots of fun bouncing in the bouncy house, playing on the play set, and throwing balls!

I forgot about taking pics so don't have many to share- but it was such a fun morning!  Thanks to all for making Charlie's first birthday extra special! :)

Dear Charlie,

Today you turned one-year-old!  To be honest, I've been dreading this day for a while now.  Time truly does go by way too fast.  Sometimes too fast to savor all your sweetness, your giggles, your chatter, your chubby little self.  I want you to stay a baby longer so I can cuddle and snuggle and love you up.  As I think back, I loved you from the moment we found out you were growing inside me. However, I really didn't think I could love someone as much as I loved your big brother.  But it is amazing how much love the heart can hold.  The two (and your dad makes three!) of you make my heart so incredibly happy! I am so proud to be your mama, Charlie Paul!  Happy first birthday!

 Your first picture as a big one-year-old!

 We had a sleep over with the Asleson ladies!  To make the morning extra special, the big kids got to eat a donut for breakfast (I'm not quite ready to give you that gooey goodness yet!)!

 I then chased you around (as you chased your balloons around) trying to get you dressed as we had a big day planned!

 We got you a little something to open on your actual birthday!

 Big brother Henry was more than happy to help you open your gifts!

 As were these cuties!

 This picture doesn't show it, but you woke up quite grouchy!  Not sure what your deal was (teeth??), but after a dose of ibuprofen (the magic juice for you!), you perked up!

 We then field tripped it up to St. Paul to enjoy the Children's Museum!  You LOVED every minute of exploring the museum (however, your Auntie and I were ready to skedaddle about 5 seconds in as it was SO busy!!!).

 You spent lots of time pushing the grocery cart around and throwing the produce.  Note to self:  teach Charlie the difference between a ball and a round piece of fruit.

 Henry was also very busy racking up a pretty hefty grocery bill!

 We enjoyed some time in the art room too.  Henry made fossils out of clay and you tried eating the clay, the clay tools, etc.

 We made it all the way home from the museum without anyone falling asleep thanks to a little car picnic for lunch (WAHOO!), which meant all kids were able to get in a much-needed afternoon nap!  After dining on pizza (you ate THREE pieces!!), we sang happy birthday once again.  This time, you knew exactly what to do!

 Helper Henry blew out your candle!

 And you dug in!!!  I think you preferred your chocolate cake over the vanilla you had at your birthday party! 

 We spent time in the bouncy house and your new water table before and after dinner.  We needed some large motor activities to wear you down after all that sugar! 

 My two favorite young men!

I'd say you had a pretty great first birthday, little buddy!  Before going to bed you perfected your dance moves and had us all giggling!  You definitely knew how to ham it up on your special day! :)

Taken from our favorite little kid author, Sandra Boynton:  "To a child who is joyful and clever.  Happy day, happy year, happy always and ever!"  We love you so much, Charlie Paul!