Visiting Great-Grandma Berg

Last week Henry and I did some traveling so Nate could get some stuff done around the house. Henry had his 2 year pictures taken on Thursday morning - that's another story (I thought we were going to leave without any pictures!). We had a quick visit with Mary and Addie before naptime.

We drove to Great-Grandma Berg's that evening with Grandma and Grandpa Leverentz. Henry was a happy camper because Grandpa set up the DVD player in the car so he could watch "Cars." Henry wanted to play Doctor with his doctor kit which lead to the discovery that he has 3 molars coming in...which might explain why he was crabby while trying to take pictures!

Henry ate at Borgen's for the first time (great mac and cheese) where he enjoyed looking at the cookies in the cookie jars and clapping to the live piano music. After supper we were on the road again. We were supposed to have a get together on Saturday morning but we got rained out. Oh well...

On another note, Henry has revealed a new talent to us. In the past he's had fun playing with the duck call that Nate gave him. On Thursday, as we were leaving the photographer, he suddenly squatted and started making his own duck calls...very loudly! He puts his thumb in his mouth, puts one hand over the other and even tries to move his hands the way Nate does when he uses a duck call. My mom turned to me, "What is he doing?" Since then, he makes duck calls all day long at random moments. I'll try to get a picture of it!

Great Grandma Berg and Henry

Riding the "mo mow" with Boppa at Grandma Berg's. Kind of frightening, but Henry can probably operate a riding mower much better than his mother can. He is rather insistent that HE doing the stearing and speed control! Can't wait for him to turn 16!!

Just a picture of Henry playing T-Ball at home.

Daddy Did an "Uh-Oh"

For quite awhile Nate and I have talked about getting a t-ball set for Henry. While I was running errands in the big city of Willmar, I picked one up. Henry and I played with it after nap time and he had fun experimenting with ways to hit the ball (he's a natural, in case you're wondering).

When Nate came home after work he went directly to the t-ball set. I heard him hit the plastic ball and then silence. Henry came running to the door yelling, "Daddy! Daddy!"

At this point I heard Nate say, "Daddy did an uh-oh."

Apparently, he hit a grand slam right through our garage window! Who could've guessed that a cheap, plastic ball could break 110 yr old glass? I'm sure there are a few more broken windows in store for us in the coming years. Henry can be thankful that his dad broke the first one and can't say too much when he has to admit to the same mistake.

The Crime Scene...

The Minnesota Zoo

On Monday, Henry and I went to the Minnesota Zoo with our friends Michelle, Jaxon, and Landry. It was a hot, humid day but we survived! The highlights for Henry were the sucker he got to eat, the chickens and pigs. My favorite event was watching Jaxon and Landry feeding the giraffes up close! Amazing! Here are some pictures from the day- I'm sure Michelle has better pictures so maybe she'll post some on her blog. Michelle and I agreed that maybe the zoo is a trip that would be easier and less sweaty with the dads along!


Deep in thought...probably thinking about what he could do to make me nervous!


At the turtle pond: Landy, Jaxon, and Henry

Hmm, how could I scale this fence?

Walking with Jaxon (Thank goodness for Jaxon - I don't know what we would have done without him!) This is a little while after Henry's pants fell down while he was running with Jaxon, "Uh-oh." :)

Henry was so excited to see the draft horses in the farm area. He enjoyed petting them until one horse decided to itch her head on the fence which really frightened Henry (In his defense the horse's head was the size of Henry!). After the horse visit, he would make this face and try to climb up my shoulders whenever he thought an animal was getting too close. He couldn't wait to get into the goat pen until we got in the goat pen...then he wanted to get out!

Henry and the Big Mama Pig. He kept walking around making grunting noises.

All the kiddos on the pig. In case you are wondering - we did see real, live animals at the zoo. It just so happens that it is a little easier for me to take pictures of the kids with the fake ones!

Henry with the baby chicks. As excited as Henry was about the baby chicks (he tried to "cheap" to them), he held on tightly to his treat from lunch. This sucker was probably his favorite thing about the zoo...not mine.

Just hanging out with the fake chicken and the sucker.

Zonked. He tried so hard to stay awake on the way to the car. He was sitting up straight swaying back and forth and then...out. He's shirtless because he had sucker pieces and popsicle juice all over his shirt (and his hair I might add) and it was hot!

Pajamas and Bathtime

Saturday Morning: Henry turned his pajama pants into a hat.


Anyone for "Hide and Seek?" He thought he was so funny...and we agreed.


Saturday Night at the lake. He loved looking at his reflection on the metal plate in the bathtub. He would slide on his tummy to get different views.

Happy (this is before we tried to dry his hair and put him in bed)

Purses, Make-up, and a Backpack

This week Henry and I made a quick trip to "the cities." Grandma pulled out the good old Fisher Price Little People stuff which Henry really enjoyed. Henry is keeping us entertained, as usual. Sometimes it seems like he's just a little man.


Playing with Aunt Erin's purse (I think he was hoping it would have gum like Grandma's does). As you can tell, unfortunately, I've influenced his fashion sense. The only difference is my key word is "comfort" and Henry's key word is "strings." It is getting increasingly difficult to get him in any pants/shorts that don't have "strings" or "ties" in the front. It is not unusual for me to get out of the shower and find him on his bedroom floor, dresser drawers pulled out with pants all over, trying to put on a pair of sweatpants that has strings even though it's 80 degrees outside. Anyway, he does have some really cute shorts that go with this shirt, but as you've probably guessed, they don't have strings! Oh well, he looks handsome no matter what he's wearing.


Miss Adeline dropped by for a quick visit.

First Backpack: My friend, Jenna, and her family gave Henry this backpack. I had some things packed in it for an evening of babysitting by Grandma Ammermann when Henry found it. He had to wear it around the house. It was not light (as you may know, I never pack light) and at one point he tried to squat while wearing it and fell over backwards! I can almost see him going off to preschool...I have to grab a tissue.

Double duty: taking a rest and first time serving as a door stop.

Very proudly displaying his first encounter with eye shadow.

His first Icee-Pop on the front steps. Now he's always trying to get into the freezer!

Weekend at the North Shore

This weekend we made our annual trip up North to Tofte with the Leverentz Family. We were missing lots of cousins but it was good to spend time together. Henry had fun playing with his cousins, running, and listening to the guitar being played by Uncle Dave, Aunt Megan and Boppa.
Sorry there are so many pictures, I couldn't decide.


Henry helped me make Grandma Leverentz's carmel rolls for the weekend.


He insisted on rolling the dough by himself...


...and eating some of it, too.




Greeting the bear at Dairy Queen in Two Harbors.

With Boppa and Grandma. He was very good at eating every one else's ice cream at DQ (I guess our lessons on being thrifty are taking hold).

Walking with Daddy on the rocks at Sugar Beach. He has a few skinned knees and elbows (and lots of mosquito bites) to show for this weekend.

A picture of what is to come in a few years...

A guitar lesson with Boppa. He loved listening to the guitar!

At the Temperance River. His independent and adventurous sides came out here. Thankfully, Aunties Karen and Megan walked with him in the river. What fun!

Walking with Auntie Megan.

One happy little boy.

Throwing rocks in puddles.

Time with Daddy.

Not the best pic, but hey, we're all in it.

The North Shore Group 2009

Trying out Grandma's curlers. He is always fascinated by these!

Feeding seagulls with Daddy. Truth be told, Henry was eating the bread instead of throwing it. "Nummy," he would say, "More."

Mommy and Henry

Listening to music with Auntie Megan on her ipod. He thought this was very interesting!

Obviously having a great time with Auntie Erin on the rocks!

Family Pic. I think you can see the gum in Henry's mouth if you look closely. Interesting fact: If your child chews (and swallows) enough Orbitz Mint Gum, his poopy diapers smell strangely minty...hmm.

Froggy Rainboots

Henry got these boots for his birthday last year. He pulled them out of the closet last week and tried them on. They fit perfectly and I thought he looked so cute wearing them.