4th of July – Part 1 (of 3)

The Shaw family kicked off the Independence Day holiday on Friday with a trip to the Oklahoma City Zoo. I had the day off (thank you OSU Foundation), and Wade gave himself the day off…must be nice. We arrived promptly at 9:00 to try and avoid as much heat as possible. By 11:00 we were dripping with sun screen and sweat. But two hours was plenty of time to squeeze in Henry’s first carousel, watch the sea lions swim, feed the ducks, and watch the gorillas beat their chests. Henry was very amused.

After we returned from the zoo and our body temperatures returned to their normal range, Henry had his first hair cut with Stephanie. His hair is SO short! Think buzz, plus half an inch... He doesn’t look like a baby anymore. I actually teared up as we were leaving. But then it was off to find a pair of magic sandals to hold his chubby size 5 feet.

Stay tuned for pictures from the zoo…they’re saved on camera #2 and have yet to be downloaded.

Saturday morning we began the day celebrating Esther’s birthday in Glencoe. Then we were off for a full day of festivities in Blackwell with the Riseling clan. Larry and Susan (and three of their four kiddos) came from Dumas, TX…it had been ages since we’d last seen Craig and Madison.

Double the cousin, double the fun. We’ve been blessed with four double cousins – Craig, Madison, Mollie and Reid (my mom’s brother, Larry, married my dad’s sister, Susan)…it’s okay, I promise.

After lunch at Grandma and Grandpa’s, Aunt Ann took Henry for a dip and his first experience in a big boy pool.


Color shown to scale. Somehow my sister got the ultimate indian skin...lucky dog.










After Henry recovered from the pool and had a much needed nap, we spent time with Grandpa’s six puppies. Henry loved on the puppies, and the puppies loved on him.




















I love you Aunt Ann!


Here puppy, puppy, puppy


Genetics gone wrong


I also snagged a few pictures of the doubles – Craig, Madison and Reid…we missed you, Mollie!
















Sunset on the 4th






Bottle Rockets!


You can’t celebrate the 4th without sparklers!


Preparing for Uncle Larry's fireworks extravaganza!

Rugrats

The Herrills enjoyed a date night and we enjoyed a night with Andrew. We had a full agenda including, but not limited to -

1) play with tupperware, which was recently relocated to the bottom shelf during our "move"
2) enjoy a hearty meal of chicken, pasta wheels and peas
3) bath time
4) wagon ride
5) ball pit






Again, Henry practicing his moves...on the move...while mom and dad prepared themselves for head trama numero tres






Henry loves Andrew








Pooped after a long day

Vogue

Henry, looking very dapper in his birthday outfit from Aunt Ann






"Mmmm...Mmmm..."


Ann headed to Tanzania, Africa in June and we all congregated in Blackwell to wish her well and pray for safe travels


Vogue...Henry saw this move in the latest boys band video...he's been practicing


Contemplating his moves

Staging

Henry was a big help (kidding) while staging our house for sale. It may have all been for not, but I got some MAJOR cleaning and decluttering accomplished. Hallelujah.

Photos for the realtors...this was before the roofers smothered my hostas with shingles...hostas are now pitiful and no longer green. Hanging baskets were discarded altogether.






Doing the Frankenstein




We made forts out of boxes no longer needed for moving...Henry LOVED having boxes all over the house. We now know what to get him for Christmas.

Jay Bird

Per prior blog, Henry loves to swim in the nude. Below are some of our favorites...

Moments before Henry's first swim, Daddy provided some last minute precautionary warnings -

1) Walk; don’t run in or around the pool facility
2) Spitting, spouting and nose-blowing in the pool is strictly prohibited.
3) Always wear your sunscreen.
4) Swimmers must be accompanied by a parent or responsible person at all times.


The second his toe hit the water, Henry was elated. There was no stopping him.


And as I've mentioned, it was from pool, to dirt, back to pool, back to what was now mud, and finally, to pool again.














We have since purchased swimmers diapers for Henry. After much consideration, we felt swimmers were probably more appropriate than his birthday suit if swimming in the front yard...and the front yard has grass and is mud free.

Henry chose the Nemo print


Geraniums - yum!










Wade's attempt to take a photo of me and Henry


Better...now, if we could just work on focusing...