Story Book Land Highlights

We went to Story Book Land while I was visiting GnGE. That's where I got to ride the horsies on the carousel. I was a little tentative, but once the music started playing and the horses started to move, I really got into it.

We went to the park with my new friends Jake and Austin. They are Mom's friend from high school's kids. They are really nice and really fun. I don't think they're afraid of anything. I need to hang with them more to help me with my courage. Austin and I started out on the horsies. Big shocker, I know. Then I moved on to the big WEEEE (most people call them a slide.)

While we were in the castle, I threw two pennies in the fountain and made a wish. Then right after that....my two wishes came true. Firetruck AND tractor all in one day?!?!? Wishes really do come true. I thought uncle Severt would like this picture of Daddy and I on a John Deere. Then I rode on my first real ride. It was the hot air balloon ride. It went way in the air and spun in circles. Thank goodness Daddy and Grandpa were with me.

We had a great day running and running and running. I think I'm still tired. I'd like to send a shout out to Jake and Austin. Thanks for coming to the park to play with me, and hopefully we can get together again sometime. Oh yeah....thanks for the ball soccer (soccer ball) too!

In the lap of luxury,
HAJ

Go Horsey

I even rode on a carousel while visiting GnGE!

HAJ

Quite a Pleasant Experience

When Mom put my eye drops in, its a two man job. One to hold me down and one to pry my eyes open. But with Grandma....there's just somethin' about Grandma.

HAJ

And DOWN the Stretch They Come

Go horsey! Go horsey! Saturday we spent the day at the track. Daddy one $62 on a race, and even Mom won a whole $16! I think we're smellin' a new family tradition, inspired by the Texan side of the family.

HAJ

Green Machine

Check out my new wheels. Talk about about a green machine. Grandpa had to get it for me after the little fit I threw on a walk. I saw a bike in a driveway at someone else's house and I really wanted to ride it. So, off to Walmart we went! I'm coming back here ALL THE TIME if this keeps up.

All of the spoiling of me has been reeled in a bit as Mom and Dad finally got here yesterday. I woke up from my nap and they were here! It was so good to see them, I didn't know if they were ever coming back. I ran straight to Daddy for a big hug right away. They were sure a sight for sore eyes.

Do whatever it takes to get the job done!
HAJ

Mow the Lawn

I just want to be like my grandpa.
HAJ

College Boy

I've been so busy here at G&G E's, that I didn't have time for a good post yesterday, but I hope you enjoyed the video. I've come down with a bit of a cold and its a bit in my eyes, so Mom sent us my eye drops, which make me pretty cranky trying to get those things in my eyes.

We went to see Gpa at work the other day, I can't believe he let me wear that SDSU sweatshirt on his campus....I'm wondering why he just doesn't buy me a Northern State one!?!?! The best part about his office are the ramps in the hallways. I love to run up and down them and throw my ball around.

Then we went to the library to do a little light reading and get some books. I get my intellectual side from my mama. We then went grocery shopping. Lately I'm not so jazzed about getting in the cart, but I can be bribed with a sucker. I get my "I can be bribed with sugar" side from my papa.

And this above all, to thine own self be true,
HAJ

Month 23 Archives

Dear Henry,

Well this is a little different for your Daddy and I these days. As I write this you are staying with your grandparents for A WEEK. We're on day 5 of not seeing you. Good thing your grandma is so nice and thoughtful to email us a load of pictures everyday, and we've been able to talk to you on the phone everyday too. Yesterday you said, "Grandpa working. Daddy working. I nap with bankie. Bike," and a bunch of other things I couldn't quite make out. You also said you missed me and that you love me. See, these are the things I'm missing most about you, little booger. I just know you're going to be so big and different when we see you again this weekend.

We left you last year when you were 9 months old to go on vacation, but you are so different now its much harder. I miss our conversations; you're such a big boy. In fact, when I ask you if you're a baby, you say NO! Then I ask you if you're a big boy and you say YES! How do you know? You don't know. You're just a little boogey.

I should probably write more about all the new stuff you've been doing this month, but I can't remember anything. I'm too consumed with missing you. But I know this is so good for you, and so good for your grandparents, and so good for your daddy and I. We've been really concentrating on going out to dinner and talking about you the whole time. What can we say? We're hooked on you, little one.

Loves, Mama

Giggling With Grandpa

Grandpa knows just how to make me feel better after putting those dumb old drops in my eyes.

HAJ

Born To Ride

Another busy day yesterday. We went to the park and I got to ride a motorcycle! Then we went to the nursery to get more flowers for planting and shoveling. We spent the afternoon planting, and had a visit from my great great aunt Eleanora, and my third cousin (I think) Debbie. It was great to see them. Afterwards Gpa took me for a walk in my stroller and we visited with some neighbors. We ended the day at the car wash. I'm not a huge fan of the car wash. Let's just leave it at that.

We might as well get our ears wet,
HAJ

Green Thumb

A kid's work is never done! Yesterday I spent the day helping Grandpa plant flowers and do some shoveling. I'll tell ya what, if you need a pro shoveler, just call me. I can shovel with the best of them. Later in the day we took a little afternoon break and watched a little boob-tube. Grandpa read me a story before bed and I was out like a light and ready for more shoveling today!

Be-all and end-all,
HAJ

Spring Break

I'll give you one guess as to where I am....you got it! I'm on VACATION with G&GE! Mom and auntie Brookie drove me to Morris yesterday to meet G&GE, and then I hopped in the car with them and headed to SD. We had a great drive to their house, I even fell asleep around Summit, and then headed straight to the Twist Cone (see above!). Well not really, but we did go there later. First I had to check out Gpa's garage, talk him into going outside to play, eat some pizza, and play at the park. I'll be here all week, reporting from Grandma's, be sure to see what we do next.

Don't take any wooden nickels,
HAJ

Dig Tonka

Tonka truck, fishing poles, tennis balls, and a hat like my Daddy. These are the things that make me happy. Its the simple things.

The brown dog,
HAJ

BIG Truck

Thought I would share these pics of me "drive-in" Daddy's truck. I love anything with a steering wheel, and any kind of truck, bus, or tractor. While I'm driving home from school, you'll hear me say things like, "Mommy, that's BIG truck!", and "Mommy, motorcycle!", and "Mommy, school bus!", and "Mommy, firetruck, hot!", and "Mommy, helicopter!" Then Mommy turns around and pops a Dum Dum in my mouth and all is right with the world.

You can't please your honey without any money,

HAJ

New Friends

We spent Mother's Day playing outside ALL DAY LONG. It was GREAT! I even have two new friends, Andrew and Ethan. They live next door to me and they have a playground in their backyard. They invite me to play with them all the time. They are the ones that let me play with their guitar you saw yesterday. Ethan even came over to my house yesterday and asked if I could come outside and play, but I was at school. Mom thought it was the coolest thing.

We like to play with the watering hose and buckets, playing catch, we went down the slide about 100 times. I can even climb up the ladder to the slide by myself. Mom said she didn't have the heart to make me go in the house in the middle of the afternoon to take a nap because I was having so much fun. At the end of the day I was so tired I couldn't even walk, and I actually snuggled with Daddy on the way up the stairs. That's how crazy it was. That definitely ranks as one of my favorite days of all time.

Tan your hide,
HAJ

Look Out Slash

Check out my cool moves, and ignore Mom's bad ACDC guitar.

HAJ

Once In a Very Blue Moon

Today is the seventh anniversary of my big brother Charlie's passing. A day doesn't go by that we don't think of him, and wonder what it would be like. I can say "Charlie" now. Mom and Dad have been working with me on it. And I say brother, but of course, I don't fully understand. If you have a moment, take a look back on the details of this day seven years ago, and then read the lyrics of the song below. This song was sung to him a few days before he left us, and it is even more true today.

Once In A Very Blue Moon

Words & Music By Patrick Alger & Gene Levine Michael H. Goldsen INC. Bait and Beer Music (ASCAP)

I found your letter in my mailbox today. You were just checkin' if I was okay. And if I miss you, well, you know what they say ...
Just once ... in a very blue moon, just once ... in a very blue moon, just once ... in a very blue moon and I feel one comin' on soon
No need to tell me, you'd like to be friends and help me get back on my feet again. If I miss you at all ... it's just now and then
Just once ... in a very blue moon, just once ... in a very blue moon, just once ... in a very blue moon and I feel one comin' on soon
There's a blue moon shinin'when I am reminded of all we've been through. Such a blue moon ... shinin'. Does it ever shine down on you? You act as if it never hurt you at all. Like I'm the only one who's gettin' up from a fall. Don't you remember? Can't you recall?
Just once ... in a very blue moon, just once ... in a very blue moon, just once ... in a very blue moon and I feel one comin' on soon ... just once ... in a very ... blue moon

HAJ

Minnow Bucket

Gettin' used to the minnow bucket!

Fire Truck

I'm a fireman!

Crazed MN Sports Fan

Crazed Minnesota sports fan! The Twins are lookin' good, and now with Jared Allen and my main man AP, the Vikings look like they might be a team to contend for the title. What am I talking about? Oh what do I know? Look at me....can you trust this face?

In a 'round about way,
HAJ

Season Opener

As you can tell, we're preparing for boating season here in MN. Last year I still wasn't walking, only sitting. And if you've ever sat while wearing a life jacket, you know what I mean by "face squish". Not fun. But this year I'm taller, longer, and lankier (Like Daddy), so wearing a life jacket is no problemo. I even request to wear my "jacket" around all the time.

Daddy and Jerrid went fishing on Saturday in WI at a tournament. They got second place! So we spent all day Sunday cleaning out the boat and getting it ready for this weekend's fishing opener in MN. I stayed in the boat and "helped" Daddy clean it for about two hours. Both he and Mom were shocked at how long I stayed. Mom said that it looks like they might actually get a tan this summer, considering how much I hated it last year. Again, face squish, you wouldn't like it either.

Faster than a speeding bullet,
HAJ

No More Face Squish

This year, I rule at boating!

HAJ

My auntie Brookie loves me! Mmmmm cinnamon rolls....mmmmm

Watch the Glare

Mom and I are showing off our Minnesota tans and our rolly polly legs! I'm tellin' ya....now its raining. All it does around here is rain and snow, rain and snow. There's a shot of more snow tomorrow. And in case you're wondering, there was a loud thunderstorm here last night at about 1am, but it didn't wake me up. So far, thunder has not been my enemy.

Walk if you don't have to run,
HAJ

And They're Off

I like to refer to this hat as my horse hat. And its only appropriate because its opening day of the track on Saturday along with the most exciting 2 minutes in sports! Ladies, get your hats and dresses on, and gentleman, grab yourself a mint julep.

Riding roughshod over,
HAJ