Forts

Fond memories from my childhood include fort making with my cousin Lindsey. To be young and have this whole magical kingdom at your finger tips was so incredible. We would line our grandparents three season porch with blankets and chairs and chase each other around and pretend we were queens awaiting our princes rescue. Tonight daddy helped us create a magical kingdom of our own. Only this magical kingdom had a repair shop stocked with tools to repair cars. Very practical. Very fun when you're two!

This weekend Matt and I are taking some much needed time away from Henry to focus on each other and our marriage. It's amazing how the chaos of life can keep couples apart. Henry will get the chance to make more memories with his grandma Linda and papa! Henry and I will be visiting my family in Madison before Matt and I take off for our own little get away. I can't wait for Henry to grow up with cousins of his own to share in all the special memories I have with mine!!! Daddy getting down to business...

Henry exploring his own magical kingdom!

Daddy showing Henry how to get in and out...

Daddy time

Yes, this will be another Spirit Mound post, but once can't hardly stay away from a place with interesting buggies, mud puddles, and streams of water for the puppies to jump into. Last night we had the pleasure of having daddy with us, so we got to bring BOTH puppies. Bails and Luc had a blast. Henry had an even better time bossing them around and jumping in some pretty fun looking mud puddles of his own. Come mama, we go on an adventure!

Luc the dock jumping dog!

I thought this shot was cool of the flower and grass. Much of the grass out there has been under water so it's all matted down and weird looking.

My attempt at artistry. I couldn't ever get a good shot of Henry playing in the weeds because my camera kept wanting to focus in on the weeds and not him, so this was the best I could do:)

Brian, Teresa, and the big truck...

Henry had a once in a life time experience over the weekend. He got to ride in a big truck with his uncle Brian and aunt Teresa! Brian was part of a parade to raise money for Special Olympics and asked Henry to ride along during the parade which involved over 66 big trucks and other assorted police escorts and firefighting brigades. My little man who is already obsessed with big trucks, playing with them, talking about them, stoping whatever he is doing to watch them go by, cannot talking about his special day! Henry after the parade checking out the fire truck...and papa keeping an ever watchful eye on his boy!

Henry and his papa checking out the big trucks after the parade...two peas in a pod...

Henry waving to us during the parade. I think a small part of him kinda thought the parade was for him because people kept waving at him! He has the cutest wave cupped hand and all! It sounds like he was overall a good boy during the drive. Teresa did say that there were a few times the noise got to him and he would say No Brian when he honked the horn!

shopping cart

So I was having this conversation at work the other day about filling up my online shopping cart on numerous online clothing stores but not actually buying anything. It's sort of a dark secret I harbor carrying it around with me like an ugly hunchback thing...er..something. So I have decided to come clean...right.here.on.my.blog.

My name is Jessica, and I secretly shop online without actually buying anything....

There I said it...
pheww...do I feel better...

I hope I can help other mothers out there who desparately want to dress their children up like little dolls but don't have the money and would feel too guilty spending it on expensive clothes even for their adorable children...I know you are out there, and I'm here to say, it's OK!

But seriously, when your kid is as damn cute as mine all dressed up....how can one resist????

I am slowly weeding out Matt and I's closet in order to assess our "needs" for our annual Schulte ladies shopping trip in October. I put "needs" in quotes because seriously, we don't NEED anything. I have hauled about 3 loads to the consignment shop though to help out those that probably actually do NEED clothes.

However, I probably do NEED professional help...Can I put that in an online shopping cart and buy it???

Memories...

Memories of our childhood shape who we become. I think that is part of the reason raising a child seems like such a daunting task. No parent is perfect, and I am not certainly the first one that's going to try, but I am very aware of the importance of memories and what they can do to transform an innocent child into a productive or disfunctional adult. I think Henry's going to have some amazing memories...just.like.his.daddy!!!!

On another note, I think it's also important for new families with small children to identify who they are as a family. Since having Henry, I have received countless pieces of advice from well meaning individuals on how to raise my son. Being a first born myself, we inherently strive to please those people around us and rely on their validation to gauge how we are doing. Yes, this probably sounds like a bunch of pyschological mumbo jumbo, but I strongly believe in the value of the core family unit. I have studied it signficantly in my day, and look to apply some of those techniques to my own life.

So to all those well wishers, thanks for the advice, truely, but when I need it, I'll ask:)!

Adventurer....

So I've slowly started to piece together Henry's cues and reactions to the pull of the tides and the stages of the moon. I know once he starts throwing things including toys, books, and hitting mom that in order to redirect that behavior it's best we get away from the house. Once I said we are going on an adventure, Henry suddenly turned into model toddler. Imagine that, huh? So off we went with no real plan in mind but to engage my little man in some exploratory play. We mosied on down to Cotton Park and ventured over the bridge and into the jungle via the watery swamp where all sorts of creatures lured waiting to jump out and request a duel with Henry the farmer, pirate, truck driver!!!! But first a little swing, k ma?

He ran, jumped, and hopped over this bridge about ten times...

My big little man...

Perfect

When I was deciding what to name this post, I had a few options...but perfect is exactly what this is. A boy and his daddy hunting with their puppies. No Henry and dad weren't actually hunting, but Henry did get to see where daddy takes the puppies during pheasant season. Henry was pretty timid of the all grass and brush at first, but it didn't take long before he was trampsing through alongside his daddy calling to bals and luc to come and find their birds. Henry was having so much fun he actually sat in a bunch of sand burns, so we promptly stripped him down and dad picked them off with a pliers. Had anyone driven by they would have been very confused by the scene! Note: This picture was actually taken with Matt's point and shoot Canon, thanks dad!

Spirit Mound

Sooo...what to do with a moody toddler with no daddy around who has already played in his sandbox, went to story time, watched Toy Story, got to swing on the swing, and pick up poop...hummm??? Run around outside with his puppy pretending he is a super adventurer stick-carrying farmer...duh!!!:) Spirit Mound did just the trick and served two purposed including getting our crazy Lucy out for some much needed adventure time of her own. Really, does being a mom get any better than seeing this look on your child's face?

Super hero!!!!!

OK so this I thought was a really cute picture until I realized they were looking at another dogs poop...not so cute...

He ran and ran and ran...perfect for wearing out one cranky toddler...

Love you too bubba!!!

On another less sappy love my bubba sort of note. We tried out story time again this year. Last year we only made it two times before I decided the intense sweating and panting on my part chasing Henry around wasn't worth it anymore. It was slightly better this time although I think the story time lady was starting to loose her patience. I just can't get over how much energy this kid has and how horribly he listens especially to me. He goes to school and I believe listens there...I hope with time he gets the hint and we'll continue to "practice" story time at home as well. Some much to learn in such a short time my little man...

Busy tractors, busy days!

For those of you that know Mr Henry, my title phrase will come as no surprise to you. It's the title of Henry's FAV book. This weekend, my baby bubba got to live out his fantasy which includes anything chocolate, tractors, and big cows!!! MOOOO....

We had a fabulous and busy weekend throwing up, pooping, traveling to Iowa, and seeing big cows all in 72 hours! If it sounds like fun, just have a two year old, life is never boring.

Matt and I did join the entrourage of parents that have given in to the whining and crying on long trips and purchased a portable DVD player for our travels over the weekend. While it did help, it definitely did not solve the severe boredom at the end of the trip!

Henry did GREAT overall and even got to sleep with mom and dad at the night time and took a 3 hour nap on Uncle Nick's bed all by himself.

We have been meaning to take Henry over to Matt's feedlot, and this was the perfect opportunity to break up the ride back. Henry thoroughly enjoyed his time with the baby cows and mama cows as he called them. He strutted around the a peacock big feathers and all!!!! Life is like a bar of chocolate, it doesn't get any better than that!!!

Grandma Kim passing on the tradition of cookie baking to her grandson! Lord knows Henry's own mom isn't real great..hahaha...

Henry got his first ride in a big tractor!!!!

Henry was not even afraid of the cows and had a great time with his dada.

COWS!!!!