And on his farm he had a PARTY!

E-I-E-I-O!

This past Sunday was Hank's Third Birthday.  We also had his party that day too.  It was all about farm animals and tractors.  We had yummy food, plenty of presents, friends and relatives, beautiful weather,and even a hay ride!

Leading up to the party, Hank would ask, "is today my party?", or "is today my birthday?"

He had a great time and when we asked him if he liked his party he said,"yes my did!"

I got lots of things for the party off of Etsy 

I got some cute decorating ideas off of Pinterest

cupcakes, tractor wagon cake, cow tails, and cow cake pops!

I had to bribe him with a Hershey Kiss to stay still for this photo!

Loved opening gifts....he kept saying "yippee" or "happy birthday."

Make a wish!

Loves his sweets...I had flashbacks to his 1st birthday cake!

Looks like next year there are going to be LOTS of 1 year old parties!!

First Day of School.

Today Hank started preschool.  He was very excited when we got there.  He bolted right into the room and sat at a table with two other little boys.  He then went around the room looking at all the toys that were there.  He didn't really have time for me trying to tell him where the bathroom was.  When I told him I was leaving he said, "me don't want to go."  I told him he was not leaving, only Mommy and that Mom Mom was going to pick him up in a few hours.  He was fine with that.  Mom said he appeared to be happy when she went to get him.  She questioned why his sandals were on the wrong feet, and he said Mommy did it.  I then had to look at the photos I took in the morning and I did!!!   I must have been nervous!

While I was taking his photos before we left, I locked myself out of the house.  Luckily we have a hidden key!

Hank will be going to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

So proud.  He must have been excited too, not to notice the shoes on the wrong feet!

He was so happy about having a backpack!

Outside school.

His own little hanger.

Exploring!



Early Birthday Present!

We have been looking at play sets for several months.  Luckily I found a new one on Craig's list for a fairly good price.  It was an end of season clearance, so it saved us about $500 dollars.

We went this past Saturday and picked it up with the help of Uncle PJ.   Uncle Chris also helped us with setting it up.  Daddy spent most of yesterday staining it too.  Hank sees it in the morning and can't wait to go out to it; "My loves my play set!"  It is his Birthday present and also a reward for doing so well with potty training.

He  has been doing super great with that and wears under ware all the time, except at night.  I still put a diaper on at night.

He always wants to know if we are proud of him, and yes we are!

Getting it on the trailer to go home!

He was bringing his sand toys down before it was even set up.

Aye Aye Captian.

So proud!



Natural Disaster Week!

On Tuesday we had an earthquake and then Saturday - Sunday a hurricane!

The earthquake was actually in Virginia, but we felt it up here!  Really weird to feel that.  I was at the Doctors office at the time, waiting to be seen for my monthly appointment.

Saturday afternoon and evening the rain started and then at night the wind picked up and we lost our power at midnight, due to hurricane Irene.  We still do not have power, as of Monday afternoon.  We have no idea when we will get it back either.  Thank God our generator is still running.

We had a tree down on our power lines and phone lines and our utility pole is leaning.  Many roads around our home are still closed due to down trees.  My work was closed today,so Hank and I are hanging out at home.

Brant cut part of the tree, to open up the road.

Bottom of the utility pole.

Hank brought me a "present"



Potty Time!

We really started to work seriously on potty training a week ago.  I knew I was going to be home all day Saturday and had bought some underwear for Hank that week.  Soon after we got up on Saturday and I changed his poopy diaper, I put the underwear on and kept after him all morning about using his pot.  He had several accidents were he wet his pants.  He would get mad when I "bugged" him and would say, "my pee is empty", or "my poop is empty."  A few times he would throw the underwear across the room and say he did not want to wear them because they were dumb!  Finally around 11:30 or noon he did a little poop on his pot!  He was very excited because I had told him I would take him to ride the trains if he pooped that day.  We quick got dressed and went to Strasburg and rode the little choo choos and the Thomas ride on train.  We made plans to go back another day when Daddy could ride the "Big" choo choo with us ( he was away fishing).

He likes to be read to, but actually does better when left alone!

Riding Thomas...a reward for using the pot!

Fast forward one week and Hank is doing very well.   Around the house he is wearing underwear and if we go somewhere he wears a pull-up.  At night he is wearing a diaper.  He likes to look at books and have someone read to him when he is sitting on the pot.  He also always wants to know if we are proud of him.  This past Saturday we took him back to ride the Big choo choo.  While we were out he went to the bathroom with Daddy and did not have any accidents. 

What's it going to be?

We are expecting our second baby in early December.  Last Friday we had our sonogram and it looks like we are having another boy!  I am pretty sure Hank is happy about that.  He told us he wanted a

 " 'broder'.  No girls."  When I told him I was a girl, he stated, "me don't like baby girls."   

To make things fun for Hank I had a few people over to "reveal" what the baby's sex is, that evening.

I had Hank open a gift and inside was a balloon that said "Baby Boy."  Not sure if he really understood that night, that the baby was a boy.  He was just so excited about there being a party.  The next morning when he got up he wanted to know where everyone was and "where is the 'broder' party?"

Pink or Blue...what will it be?

Everyone wore pink or blue....it was divided 50/50.

Hank was busy trying to hit the balloon.

Hank and his cousins.  Poor Sydney is going to be outnumbered.

Chuckie

Hank and I went to a traveling zoo yesterday.  He rode a pony for the first time.  His name was Chuckie!  He also had some fun in a bouncy house and looking at the animals.  His favorite were the alligators.  He thinks there are alligators in all water, and asks us whenever we are around water, "are there alligators in that water?"  I think it is because Brant watches all these shows, like swamp loggers and swamp people, that have alligators on them.  It does not keep him from the water though!  He still loves to be in and around the water.

"How you doin?" - he says that to everyone!  He drops the "g" too.

"Look at those alligators.  Will they bite me?"