Happy Halloween!

We actually got Henry to put on a costume and go trick or treating for the first time in 2 years (after discussing it for 2 hours and watching trick or treaters come and go at our house)! He insisted on giving our neighbors a piece of his candy in exchange for a piece from them, and then came home and made a candy shrine on one of his large trucks. He hasn't suggested eating any of the candy because,"I don't like that!" It's okay, mom and dad will eat the candy!

Henry's first movie

Thank you public television for treating Henry to his first movie on the big screen... Curious George!

And Lucas has been increasingly on the move and mimicking words, like "hi!" and "thank you!" 

Fall days

Oma traveled by bus to visit and help us celebrate Lucas' 1st birthday. Henry was thrilled to be able to go along to pick her up and see the "double decker bus" that she rode on. We had a fun birthday party with friends at our house. Lucas followed in his brother's footsteps acting as though we were crazy to think he would touch any cake, much less his very own smash cake. And there was far too much cake left over after the party for even mom to finish. 

Happy 1st birthday Lucas!

Happy birthday dad!

Happy 35th birthday dad! We had a fun weekend celebrating with cousin Jon and Myra visiting from Chicago. 

Months, not yet years

It is very bittersweet, but I am finally am able to admit that we no longer have an infant. Lucas is 11 months old and quickly approaching his 1st birthday. One year ago, time couldn't move quickly enough for us to meet our 2nd little guy. Now time seems to be moving far too quickly, especially with working full time and missing so much while the kiddos are in daycare. 

Lucas continues to amaze us with his ability to be such a "chill" and wonderfully easy child. We now eat at the dining room table as a family. Lucas completely skipped (aka refused) pureed foods altogether, and is eating many table foods better than his brother at this point. It has been so much fun to see a real relationship forming between Henry and Lucas. There is truly love between the two of them, and Henry can do little wrong in Lucas' eyes (at this point).  

(And yes, the the Trader Joe's Charles Shaw wine box is embarrassing... we no longer drink 2 buck chuck... but definitely used to). 

Lucas and Henry go to the Minnesota State Fair

Lucas is 11 months old! He has started a very unique 3 legged, sitting up version of crawling and is getting everywhere and into everything. He hasn't quite mastered pulling his own body weight up, but he's getting very close. He has 6 teeth and is eating any finger food we put in front of him, but still refuses to take anything pureed (or anything from a spoon for that matter). 

Matt's favorite section of the fair, the seed art in the Agricultural building.

We braved the Minnesota State Fair again this year. It was Lucas' first trip, and he slept through a lot of it. Now that Henry has been several years in a row, he is starting to ask to go to certain areas (specially to see the cows and horses, go on the gondola ride and to see "trucks" on machinery hill). Henry remains absolutely fearless of the massive animals we encountered and didn't even react when a cow went stood up while he was petting it. It is still relatively inexpensive to go to the Fair with Henry because he refused to try any of the food; but Matt and I enjoyed some mini doughnuts and honey sunflower seed ice cream. He also hasn't discovered all of the rides and games in the Midway, but I'm sure that will change in the years to come!