Daddy's VINTAGE Muscle Men

Hazel had a lot of fun today when Beau found a big tin full of his MUSCLE MEN, favorite toys of his when he was SIX years old. Hazel had a lot of fun playing with them, though I do believe her THIRTY year old father may have enjoyed them more! Some things never change.

Bella wasn't sure about the little plastic guys, but so far none have been a casualty at the mouth of our Weimaraner.

Henley's SINK bath at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Up until last night, Henley has bathed in the plastic infant tub designed to fit inside a sink. Last night, we improvised and did things the old fashioned way! Henley enjoyed getting squeaky clean in Grandpa and Grandma's kitchen sink, his cushion being a fluffy white towel. The bath did the trick...baby boy smells clean!

Pre-dunk Henley was happy to be stripped of his diaper.

Oohhh.

I could never get tired of this face! Happy boy getting all clean. (Smiling at his mommy I might add. Mommy gets the biggest smiles these days. Love it!)

Henley intently watches mommy get more suds.

Dinner with COUSINS!

Hazel was quite excited to meet (again) lots of her cousins from Roberta's side of the family. Many cousins were able to come for dinner at Bruce and Roberta's house Monday night for dinner. It was fun to see Hazel playing with her cousins and Henley enjoyed the special attention and love. It was his first time meeting this side of the family. :)

Hazel plays with her dress-up dolly with cousins, Bailey, Madison and Zandy. (Check out the beautiful red hair on her cousins!)

Cousinly love - Kelsey and Caspian.

Madison

Bailey

Roberta and her sister Kathy with Henley and Madison.

Hazel was QUITE smitten with her cousin Caitlyn.

Bailey and Henley enjoyed Roberta's reading of If You Take a Mouse to the Movies.

Family photo - Me, Kelsey, Caspian, Barb, Jenny & Joanne.

The guys - Jacob and Jeff (top), Bruce, Robby, Beau & Henley, Brian and Carter (front)

The Ladies

The Ladies making Hazel's "cheese" (aka "Chuckie") face. Thanks for the suggestion Caspian.

Beautiful and BRISK walk

Monday morning we loaded the cars and drove out to a familiar trail head at Riverside State Park. I was anxious for the fresh air and the chance to try out the ERGO baby carrier. Unfortunately, Bruce is working this week, so we took this adventure without him.

Hazel enjoyed her view from daddy's back in the ERGO. What a brilliant pack.

The two-year old legs were quickly itching to get moving on their own, so down she went. She loved walking along the frozen path with us.

The siblings - Beau and Caspian.

Hazel loves her Auntie Caspian. (She no longer is Cassie-man, is it bad that I wish she still called her that?)

Nyla pauses for a very brief second for a photo with her mommy.

Mother, son and granddaughter. A happy bunch.

Bella "ready" for the next toss of her ball.

Our bundled up cutie.

Me and my two kids. Henley really is in there...slept the whole time.

See...there there is the little guy. He had no idea it was 21 degrees outside.

What is she up to now?

Cold nose didn't bother her.

The two girls hard at play!

Nyla on a rare break before darting off and flying through the woods some more.

What nice broad shoulders you have daddy...great for a ride!

Hazel ended the walk with a slow slide across a giant frozen puddle with her daddy.

Spokane Christmas

Saturday afternoon, Beau loaded up the family car and we all headed up to Spokane for a late Christmas and week of fun with Bruce and Roberta. The drive was quite different from our snow covered drive of last year. This year the drive was rather uneventful and much shorter - for that I am most grateful. It was Henley's first long drive in the car, and he did AMAZING. He slept the entire time. We only stopped once in the Tri-Cities for gas, diaper changes and feeding. He enjoyed a meal, a change, and then fell quickly back to sleep in his car seat. He didn't make a sound the entire time in the car! I checked his breathing a few times he was that quiet.

Hazel did really quite well also. She enjoyed a snack bag I packed, colored, sang songs and slept a bit as well. We were relieved to arrive at "Grandpa Grandpa's House" about 10:30 Saturday night. Grandpa, Grandma and Aunt Caspian were all waiting up for us. Hazel took a minute or two to warm up (and get the sleep out of her eyes), and then she was ready to play. We all headed to bed late - about midnight. Whew!

Our happy traveler.

I had to take a picture of this. Hazel was eating apple slices and after taking a bite out of this one she said, "Mommy it's like a baby Jesus." She thought her apple slice looked like the baby Jesus from her Nativity. We got a chuckle out of that one. She proceeded to eat baby Jesus' head off, we won't read into that.

Henley with his Grandpa

Hazel loving her special time with Grandma.

Henley gets cuddle time with Grandma.

Caspian and Hazel stretch together after Caspian's run.

Karen (Beau's best friend Kyle's wife) was a good sport - as was Grandma - and allowed Hazel to pretty them up!

Sunday evening we all opened up gifts - Hazel really enjoyed this!

Caspian had quite the knack with Henley, she may be a "baby whisperer."

Really mom, another picture?

Grandma and Grandpa got Hazel some Thomas the Train slippers!

Hazel loves the big floppy hat from Caspian.

Hazel even got a Thomas T-shirt with her own name on it!! Can we say excited?!!

This is the face Caspian likes to refer to as Hazel's "Chuckie" face! I have to agree. Looks like her little neck disappeared in her excitement over her new shirt.

Oooh. Caspian gave Hazel some nail polish - of course it had to be tried out immediately!