Look at 'em all!

That's what Harry said when we pulled up to the Illinois Railway Museum and he saw every kind of train imaginable.

"Seriously...can we move here?"

We rode one of the old trains, and sat in a Pullman sleeper car from the 1920s. Harry's Papa used to help build Pullman cars -- of course many years after this car was built (he's not THAT old :)

All of the boys enjoying the view from the old train. See the guy behind them? He's one of the many SUPER helpful volunteers, who are basically old guys who run around the museum grounds like little boys playing with the old trains. love it.


We also saw electric trains, subway cars, L trains, trolleys, freight trains....the list goes on and on. My favorite part was when Harry matched up the trains we were seeing with his favorite Thomas the Train characters. "Look! There's Salty!" he would say.
Harry's already asking when we can go back.

Is That Very Nice?

Most times, the answer to that question, Harry, is no.
But several times a day he tries to convince us of how nice he is to his brother by very gently touching him and saying in a very high pitched voice "Is that very nice?" But along with these little "very nice" episodes, he likes to poke Max in the eye and pull on his arms. Oh, and pull any toy he may have away from him.
Still, he is very excited to "get Max from his crib" and likes to entertain him, which is quite adorable to watch. When Max laughs, Harry will say very earnestly "You love your brother?" (He's still getting his pronouns mixed up a bit.) He follows that up with: "Baby Max is sooooo cute."


In other cuteness:

The North Woods

We got an early start for our long drive to the North Woods of Wisconsin. Mom and Dad tried to transport a sleeping Harry into the car at 5 a.m. in hopes of getting some driving hours in while the babies slept, but no such luck. He woke right up. If there are cars and trucks on the road, Harry can't sleep!

Eating a picnic lunch during one of our many rest stop breaks. Baby Max did not like the car ride at all. Thus, an 8 hour drive took 9.5 hours.


This is how dirty he got within a few hours of vacation. The washcloth is black. I love vacation playing. He basically played until he passed out each day.

Bathing in the cabin sink, of course.

"That's MY Papa!" all three boys say at once.
This is proof that balance exists in the universe. Steve spent two decades with three girls in his house, now he has three boys to keep him busy.


HI! Look what I can do!

Baby Max at his first bonfire.

Harry liked roasting the marshmallow, but still kept with his aversion to sweets and refused to eat the s'more!

Sitting with Uncle Aaron while everyone sings Harry's favorite songs -- "Bake a cake" and "The Froggy song."

Fishing with Daddy on "Kenzie Lake."
He also spent a good portion of the day keeping tabs on the loons that live on the lake. Ask him to do his loon call next time you see him.


Not too thrilled with the result of his fishing efforts.



Trying hard to be brave on the boat ride. He was a bit freaked out, but tried not to show it.

Harry wasn't too much of a fan of swimming in the lake, what with the sand and the rocks and fish. We have a city boy there.

Action shot.

"You'll be just fine, baby James, as long as you keep your hands off my trucks."


Morning with Papa

Early morning walk with Uncle Joe


I like this vacation thing.

Party at the fire house!

Yay, our computer is fixed, so here are the photos from our recent trip to Fort Wayne, for Grandpa Bob and Grandma Phyllis' 25th anniversary party. The party was held in a firefighting museum with several old fire trucks. Harry was pleased to say the least. He was his most charming self as he tried to woo each new unsuspecting person into taking him downstairs to look at the trucks.

Trying on the firefighters' helmet with Sydney

All the grandkids (minus Taylor and Cameron) at the party.
While Harry is out of Mom's reach, Max gets a last minute little slap. Such is life for the little brother.

Harry the Hollywood Mogul

Here's Max right now. We're all digging him, even our little Harvey Weinstein:

So our computer -- the one with all the photos from our trips to Fort Wayne and Wisconsin -- is broken and in need of repair. I can't catch you up on all that YET. But I can give you a picture of life here right now.

Harry appears to have turned into a miniature Hollywood producer, one who has no time or patience for the likes of me. Today, he asked me for a glass of milk after waking from his nap. I poured him a glass and served it how he usually likes it, but he SCREAMED at me as if I was torturing him.

"No MILK!!!!" (crying, wailing on the floor, looking at me as if I am the most ridiculous person on earth.)

The rest of the day went pretty much the same -- yelling at me for doing EXACTLY as he asked.

Hmmm...

I'm told this is life with a 2-year-old. Help.

we'll catch up soon

Mom's back to work and on deadline, but in the meantime, here are a few to tide you over:

Brotherly love

Harry pages through Working Mother magazine looking for tips for Mom.

Slight Family Resemblance

This is my Dad around Harry's age in a photo we have hanging in our hallway. Often, Rob and I will look at Harry and notice how strongly he favors Papa in his eyes, nose and ATTITUDE (and I mean that in all capital letters). Example below: