Beginning of the Year Photos and Potty Training

Somebody at work had an extra one of these and gave it to Charles.  Henri loves it.

Boys hanging out with Dad

I always cry when I cut onions

Two boys= a double airplane

One other notable: Henri is potty trained! Henri was a stinker when it came to potty training!  My first attempt was to set the timer and take him to the potty every ten minutes.  Well, I had gotten him new "Cars" underwear and he was excited to try them all on. He figured out pretty quick that if his underwear got wet he got to put on a new cool pair.  So, he had a lot of accidents, even with me taking him every few minutes.  That didn't work! So, after a trip to the store to get some plain old whitey tities we tried a different approach. Next, I set up a poster that he could put a sticker on for every time he went potty.  He wanted several stickers at the same time, but I told him he would have to wait until he went potty.  Well, then we went through the long process (pulling down pants, underwear, going potty, pulling up underwear, pulling up pants, flushing the toilet, climbing up to the sink, turning the water on, getting soap, rubbing hands, rinsing hands off, drying them off, climbing down, choosing a sticker, putting it on the chart) when all of a sudden he needed to go again! (To get another sticker) and again! (another sticker) and again! After five times I decided I couldn't handle that anymore.  Finally I got some candy and set the timer.  I told him he could have skittle when the timer went off if his underwear was still dry.  Well, there was no way the little stinker could take advantage of that system and it worked.  It was great.

Since then he has figured out how to pull up his underwear correctly.

Trucks and Apples

This was one Saturday during the winter while we were working outside in the driveway.  I loved these pictures of the boys and their truck eating their apples.

Love these cute boys

Henri's First Visit to the Dentist

Charles took Henri to his first visit to the dentist at the beginning of the year

He did a great job and came home to me smiling!

Brothers

Here are some pictures from around the end of last year.

He's got his backpack and he's ready to go!

Hanging out with Dad

 Here are the boys wearing blue for PKU awareness day and in support of our friend Owen Maxfield

Cute Baby

Fire Ant bites.  His cousins from the west won't understand why the boys are afraid of ants...

Another cute face

Already getting into mischief together

Playing pirates outside in the winter

Ice Skating

In January we went Ice Skating in the Woodlands.  It was a fun outing for Henri, who is just old enough to be getting the hang of it.

 Happy Boy

 Skating by himself!

DISNEYLAND!!!

While we were in California we went to Disneyland!!!  My parents condo is only about 30 minutes away and I never realized how close and how easy it was to get there!  It was awesome!  We left James with my parents (thank you, thank you!  Every time I saw a baby I was SO glad to just have Henri with us.)  It was SO SO fun!!!

Obligatory picture.  First, with my eyes closed.

Now, with Charles' eyes closed.

In front of the shields of each "conton" in Switzerland.  (We were almost at the front of the line and the ride got closed. Boo.

 Again, in front of the Matterhorn.  Charles actually remembered a lot of the shields from when he was in elementary school in Switzerland.

Teacups!

 The storybook ride: oooooooh.

Meeting Mickey.  This picture only took us about 2 hours in line.  But, Henri still talks about meeting Mickey... so I guess it was worth it!

This video shows Henri's little personality.  He was so shy to meet them and so excited afterward.  I love him.

 And Goofy

 I just read "Wind in the Willows" so that was fun.  I will have to read it to Henri before we go to Disneyland next time!

 Waving to Dad.

 The day we went was one of the busiest days at Disneyland.  (The Thursday after Christmas.)  We heard a lot of people say that they had never ever seen it that crowded.  I know I have never seen it that crowded either.  The lines were crazy.  Luckily we had talked about just having fun together in the lines.  For "Pirates of the Caribbean" we waited for a long time and we walked and walked and walked!  It turned out to be good timing for Henri's nap.

 Watching the Parade

 One of the books I read when trying to figure out whether Henri was at a good age to take him talked about how taking a 3 year old is really just to gratify the parents, because they won't remember it.  Well, first, that makes me wonder why we do anything- why go to the library, or feed the ducks, or ride the trolley, or do any of the fun things that we do.  Second, Henri was at a perfect age for Disneyland to  be magical!  He loved the characters!  He loved waving to Woody and Buzzlightyear at the parade!  It was really really amazing to take him.  I can't wait to take him again!