Silly Baby

Henry is SO ticklish and it is fun to "wrestle" with him and make him laugh.  The best part about this video is that Henry has watched it with me about 4 or 5 times and rolls with laughter every time he watches :)

Four and a Half Years

Our precious Tommy turned 4 1/2 years old today!  We celebrated the big occasion with lunch at Treat Street with Grandma Debbie, Aunt Sarah, and Aunt Kristina.  He picked out prizes at the dollar store and at Book Bug.  He was so happy with his special day- although he did complain that he had to turn 4 1/2 before he could be 5 like some of his friends. :)

We love him so much and can't believe that God has blessed us with this amazing child for 4 1/2 years.  We have watched him grow from a cuddly baby to a precocious toddler to an engaging and talkative preschooler.  He is a wonderful patient big brother and he tells the best stories!  Happy half birthday Tommy!  We love you!

Crystal Mountain

Last weekend we were able to spend two nights with Nathan's family up at Crystal Mountain.  We all stayed in one town house and enjoyed a great time of fun and family!  Tommy loved running around with all of the cousins.  Henry decided not to sleep well at all for fear of missing any of the fun.  We loved being able to spend time with everyone!

Tommy and Bridgette- the 4 year old cousins.  It's amazing how much the two of them have changed since the last time we were here!  Click on the link to see : Tommy and Bridgette in 2008

Some of the cousins eating ice cream: Madelyn (10), Ellie (6), Tommy (4), Audrey (8), and Annaliese (6)

Henry's first taste of ice cream.  He LOVED it!

Henry splashed and splashed and splashed in the water. 

Tommy loved the water slide- I think he must have gone down at least 100 times.

Henry on the lily pads.

Tommy jumping onto the lily pads.  He was so pround of himself that he was able to jump across the entire thing.

Henry FINALLY fell asleep in the stroller.  The baby didn't want to miss one moment of the action!

Raspberry Picking

Tuesday morning Sarah, my mom, Tommy, Henry, and I headed out to go blueberry picking.  Unfortunately, we were too late and all of the places had closed.  Tommy was horribly disappointed, but we found a sign for U-Pick Raspberries and decided to give it a try.  We had a great time!  And- if you know anything you can make with raspberries- let me know.  We have lots in our freezer now!

The raspberry field was located behind a cycle shop which was a little odd, but made for more of an adventure! :)

Me and my boys- ready to pick!

Tommy and Sarah

Eleven Months Old!!

Henry Christopher- 11 Months Old

I can't believe it's almost Henry's first birthday!  The year has literally flown by.  This month has brought another tooth (and promise of 3 more!)  He spent his first nights away from mommy and was a good boy while staying with Papa and Grandma Debbie.  He is getting around more and playing with more toys.  He loves to be doing whatever Tommy is doing.  He is such a fun baby!  We love discovering his little personality and his definite likes and dislikes.  He has started crying whenever we take something away- no matter what it is.  He loves to crawl and find every last crumb, electrical outlet, and cord possible.  He loves to sit on the top step of the swimming pool and just splash- the harder he splashes, the happier he is.  We love him more each day and are having a wonderful summer just enjoying our precious Henry!

Henry's unofficial weight at 11 months is 24lbs.  I think that the weight is mostly due to the massive quantities of food he ate while staying with my parents while we were on vacation.  He must have been worried about his survival because he ate almost double what he eats at home in a day!  :)

What is Henry up to at 11 months?

• He sleeps from 7pm - 7:30am every night.  His new teeth have caused him to wake up a little more than usual, but after a little tylenol and some cuddles he usually lays right back down.
• He drinks about 24oz of formula a day and 3 meals of baby food.  Each meal is usually 2 jars of baby food or some finger foods and a jar of baby food.
• He is eating stage 3 foods and feeding himself small pieces of most things.  He loves blueberries and melon!
• He usually naps from 9-11am and then again from 1:30-4pm.
• He is in size 4 diapers and 12-18 month clothes.
• He crawls (army crawls on his belly), sits, pulls to standing (and can balance with only one hand).
• He claps, plays peek-a-boo, waves, does "so-big" and seems to understand a little of what we say.  He has a "horrible" fake cough that he has been using lots since big brother has a real cough this week.
• We've heard him say "ni-ni-ni-ni" when it is bed time or he is tired.  I'm pretty sure he has also said "all-done" a couple of times.
• He is up to 5 teeth- 2 on the bottom and 3 on the top.

Vacation- Day 5

So, if you are starting here, you will be reading about our vacation backwards, but I am not sure of a better way to do it so you may want to scroll down to vacation day 1 and then read in order!  Sorry!

On Tuesday it was time to head home.  We hopped into the van once again and headed to Milwaukee to catch the Lake Express across Lake Michigan.  Tommy loved riding on the ferry boat and we were sad to see our little road trip end!

Quick breakfast at Cracker Barrel with my boys

Tommy and Nathan aboard the Lake Express

Tommy loved riding on the upper deck

Sitting below in the cabin

A street sign on our way home to Kalamazoo from the ferry dock- we couldn't wait to get back and pick up our little Henry!

Vacation- Day 4

On Monday we spent the entire day at Noah's Ark water park in Wisconsin Dells.  We had a blast.  Tommy loved it and was able to go on many of the slides.  By the end of the afternoon he was even going down the slides by himself!  It was a fun, fun day and we were all exhausted by the time we climbed back into our very hot car!

The only picture of the day since I didn't want my camera to get wet- Tommy all tired out in the car at the end of the day.

Vacation- Day 3

On the third day we packed up the tent and drove down to Wisconsin Dells.  The drive was much longer than we had realized, but it was nice to have a chance to sort of relax and just hang out in the car together.  We stopped in Baraboo, WI to see the circus museum and then checked into our "luxurious" accomodations before heading out for go-carts and dinner.

Waking up in the tent on Sunday morning- I'm not sure what story he is telling, but it must have been a good one :)

Nathan and Tommy checking out the minnows in Lake Michigan (third great lake in 3 days!)

Welcome to Wisconsin- Tommy's first trip to "America's Dairyland"

Outside the Circus World Museum

On the pony ride at the circus museum. 

Being silly!  The circus museum was interesting to say the least.  We were able to see a little circus show which had acrobats, gymnasts, jugglers, and Tommy's favorite- the elephants!  It was fun to watch.

Tommy LOVED go-carts.  He rode double with Nathan and they won both times we raced!

We ate dinner at Moosejaw both nights we were in Wisconsin Dells- it was a really fun restaurant with an arcade in the basement that Tommy really enjoyed.

Vacation- Day 2

After waking up bright at early we headed about 1 1/2 hours north to visit Tahquamenon Falls.  We stopped along the way to see Lake Superior.  After the Falls we went and explored some property near Manistique that has been in the Plaisier family for several years.  We then set up our tent at Indian Lake and then went to see Big Springs.  Dinner was hot dogs roasted on the campfire!

Tommy looking at Lake Superior

Tahquamenon Falls

Mommy and Tommy at the Falls

A Moose head at the Falls

Tommy at the property- it was in the middle of nowhere!

Tommy thought the outhouse on the property was pretty funny!

Daddy and Tommy at Big Springs- looking to the bottom the lake

Tommy at the entrance to Big Springs

Tommy purchased a replica bear claw at the gift shop that he thought was so cool.  He had been hoping to see a bear while we were camping so I guess that this was the next best thing!

Tommy and Daddy getting the fire going!  Tommy managed to get his shorts all wet again- this time in Indian Lake- so he was already in his jammies!

Vacation- Day 1

This past weekend, Nathan, Tommy, and I headed out on a camping adventure.  My parents were kind enough to watch Henry for us and we set out for four nights of exploring up through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and down through Wisconsin.  We had a wonderful time together!  The first day we set out from Kalamazoo around noon and drove up to Straits State Park which is just across the Mackinaw Bridge. 

Tommy outside the check-in booth for the state park.

Tommy outside of the tent that we got all set up!  Good thing that Nathan actually knows what he is doing!  Tommy insisted on bringing at least 10 stuffed animals with and then insisted on unloading all of them from the car into the tent.

The campsite was just off of the water with a gorgeous view of the bridge.

Nathan and Tommy exploring Lake Huron.  It was cold!!  And- Tommy managed to fall on his bottom right into the water about 5 seconds after I warned him to be careful and not fall :)

Dinner the first night- Pizza!

Swim Lessons

Tommy took swim lessons for two weeks at the end of July/ beginning of August.  He actually enjoyed them and learned alot- they really improved his confidence in the pool.  He loved being able to take them with his cousins- Annaliese and Bridgette.

Ready to dive!

Waiting his turn

Floating on his back

The three buddies- Bridgette, Annaliese, and Tommy

Knock Knock

I have pictures of our Upper Peninsula/ Wisconsin adventure, but am still sorting through them.  In the meantime, enjoy this video of how we spent a LOT of our time in the car.