Waterfalls and Warthogs

We took advantage of the most beautiful weather on Saturday and took a trip to the famed Calgary Zoo. I had the best time watching my two boys enjoy the animals and sights. Dan's favorite were the bears, my favorite were the little gorillas & monkeys, while Hudson loved the water creatures and the warthog. He tried talking to the warthog saying "ba da" and offering it his straw with a nice big throw into the pen. Thankfully Dan's lightening fast reflexes diverted the straw to the ground. (Note, later that day he nearly threw his stick into an older woman's coffee cup at the retirement home while we visited Dan's grandma Blanche - we were able to divert that one also. We are really going to have to work on his newest obsession of throwing everything). When we came to the aquarium he looked on in complete silence and awe, something that is a rare occurrence with this little bundle of energy. I am so thankful Dan grabbed the camera and snapped his expressions as they are one's I hope I never forget.

 

 

There is something about witnessing the wonder and awe of a child that warms the heart in a way nothing else can.

 

 

What is he doing?

a) getting ready to re-stain my dresser.
b) mix paint.
c) change a dirty diaper

 

If you answered "C - change a dirty diaper" you are correct. (and probably are a parent yourself who knows there are days when desperate measures are necessary!)

 

What a difference a day makes!

Yesterday - 68 degrees, shorts & t-shirts for a picnic down by the river.

 

Today - 27 degrees, 5 inches of snow (still snowing), and 4 layers of clothes.

 

Little Helper

 

Part of our little routine every morning is to unload the dishwasher after breakfast. He loves to help by taking each piece of silverware out, and "test" it's musical abilities by banging it on the cabinet or floor before handing it to me to put away. I always rush as quickly as I can to get the silverware put up before he can "help" too much, but it is a fun little way of him taking part in chores. In his defense, he does LOVE to sweep and mop the floor, and will cry big tears if we have to go somewhere and he is not through with the broom! Sometimes he even takes a washcloth and wipes under his highchair after meals (a much needed cleaning I assure you). PS - We'd just gotten back from a walk outside and had not yet taken his hat off, in case you were wondering :)

 

Another way he loves to help is by an intense need to clean whatever we are cleaning, when we are cleaning it. This morning Dan was getting his bike ready for some spring trail riding and of course Hudson could not be left out. At first he stood on the back deck feeling each tire and the pedals, but soon enough, he wanted a rag to wipe off the frame just like Daddy.

Days on the farm

Sunday we spent the day at Great-Grandpa Bittle's farm. He is no longer with us but left a wonderful legacy of love, family, faith and farming. We had a great time rummaging through old photos of his and Grandma Blanches. Dan remembers spending summers there as a kid running around with the cattle, driving tractors and playing in the fields. Since they are some of his dearest memories, it was nothing short of wonderful for him to be able to take his own son to the farmhouse, showing him around. Hudson loved just about everything there, from scarfs & dusters (hmmmm) to vintage toys that a few generations of Bittles remember playing with. Great-Grandma Blanche took time to play with Hudson showing him secret stashes of toys, as well as explaning to him what he saw outside the farmhouse windows. Later in the afternoon we went outside to walk through the various buildings and barns taking great delight in each treasure found, while Hudson took even greater delight in the...driveway. I guess he was making his own memories. Here are a few of the pictures from the day.

 

 

Two of a kind

I recently realized another reason you'd better be careful with who you choose to be your lifetime partner & spouse - you may a child that is a little carbon copy of them! Most every night Dan and Hudson wind down before bed with a nice bowl of cereal. It is a tradition Dan has had ever since I can remember, but now Hudson has taken it on as well and gets his heart broken if Daddy doesn't share his food. So there they remain, Hudson in Dan's arms, taking turns with the spoon, eating cereal bite after bite. Every once in a while they don't quite make it to the "bowl & milk phase" and instead eat happily from the box as you see in the video.

They are two of a kind without a doubt! He is a daddy's boy squealing with delight when Dan comes home for lunch each day, and again after work in the evening. I can tell I'm going to have to have a girl at some point since these two boys are going to be off and running together. But I'd not have it any other way!