2 Years, 8 Months

Tiger Henry and Junior Ranger Jack welcome you to their latest blog post:

"Look up!" Mom implores them.

(Comedians, these two.)

Mischief-Makers
The boys are gradually learning to play together better. This is both wonderful and nerve-racking as many of the games they come up with involve lots of pushing, climbing and jumping off of high things.

Pushing each other on vehicles definitely not designed for toddler transporting:

Loading up the Jeep on a shopping trip:

Performing their own first aid:

Playing Sesame Street cards with Mom (which were Mom's from 30+ years ago):

Nap packs, home from school for washing, provide new and exotic resting arrangements:

Dining on the garden (perfectly safe local "sour grass" thankfully):

Henry spinning Jack:

Jack spinning Henry:

Jack claims he's perfectly comfortable here:

"Helping" daddy fix the dishwasher:

Jack believes he has found the problem:

A New Home for Animal Friends
The boys have a ridiculous number of stuffed animals (an embarrassing number of which were not purchased for them, but were owned by their mom long before she considered the possibility of having children). These animals were just haphazardly thrown into a bin (and around the house) which caused me much consternation, so Steve built a little shelving unit for them.

Jack was so excited, he didn't want to wait for the finished product, jumping into action to put up the color sampling board:

Ultimately we decided we loved all the colors, so Steve obliged with a fantastic rainbow spray paint treatment.

Henry helping his dad install the final product:

Before:

After:

Jack gives the animals a hug in their new home.

Jack!
Jack's preschool pictures:

Good morning, Mommy! Now move over and give me the remote, I'm settling in:

Don't get me wrong, I love him dearly, but Jack is a little imp. Among this month's accomplishments: 

He convinced a teacher at school to write his name on one of the school's own toy cars by earnestly insisting it was his.

Upon receiving a pencil as a gift at school, he insisted to me that he made it himself.

He arrived home one afternoon with pockets full of purloined goods, including an official-looking key, which his parents were very concerned was to the preschool. Fortunately it turned out to be for a game cupboard. 

Jack denies all charges, pretends to be asleep:

Jack enjoys fuzzy socks, mostly to drown out the rest of us:

Mother and son:

Rainy day fun on the swing:

Jack loves to "fix" things:

And "cook" with wood chips at the park:

Jack enjoys his adventures around town. From the park...

... to the bus station...

... to bike parking...

... back to the park for a tuna sandwich (one of his very favorite foods) al fresco...

... to "driving" Kasey's car (after swiping Kasey's sunglasses)...

... then finally being forced back inside. Le sigh.

Henry!
Henry's preschool pictures:

Henry loves crafts. We're so grateful he goes to such a great preschool where they give him multiple art opportunities each day. Making a paper plate watermelon:

Drawing:

Henry is a real sweetheart. He often greets me upon returning home from school with "I'm so happy to see you, Mommy!" and "I love you soooooo much!"

Henry with just a few animal friends:

Napping with teddy bear:

Henry also enjoys playing dress-up. Cowboy Henry:

Puppy dog junior ranger Henry:

Puppy dog junior ranger penguin tiger froggy Henry: 

Henry loves go out on the town. He's a very polite and well-mannered little guy. In one particular incident, Henry had been admiring the mini beach balls in the Warriors store downtown, when Kasey told him it was time to go. Without complaint, Henry put down the beach balls and left with Kasey. A store employee actually chased them down, complemented Henry on his great behavior, and gave him a little beach ball of his very own.

Henry selfie!

Visit from Grandparents Pool
My parents were able to visit and hang out with the boys.

The boys reading with Grandpa:

Snuggling with Grandma and just a few animal friends:

Jack enjoys the view from the over-cab sleeping compartment of Grandma and Grandpa's RV:

The boys approved of the rental car this time, a red "buggy" car. Henry drives, Jack takes in the sights: 

Lucky boys get awesome pinwheels from Grandma and Grandpa:

Doing a puzzle with Grandpa, Jack and Henry style:

Henry tries to get the hang of blowing on a dandelion:

We did some early Easter baskets while my folks were in town.

Jack shows off the contents of his egg (a little ball, in this case):

Henry examines his haul (a tiny dinosaur):

Jack waits for the poppers to do... well... something:

One set of bunny ears is just so boring. Jack prefers three. 

Bunny grandparents and their little bunny grandsons: 

Steve and I had parent-teacher conferences recently with two of the boys' wonderful preschool teachers. They said the boys are doing really well at school and are fun to have around. They said all the structure Steve and I have worked hard to create in their lives really shows. It's always reassuring to hear you've done something right when daily life feels very much like stumbling around in the dark.