Halloween

We actually had a fabulous Halloween. Marc and I have spent our married life avoiding the Holiday, but this year we have our son to thank for renewing its vibrancy. Also, having a friend over who is a fabulous cook didn't hurt.

Nap

Henry is taking his first nap today since visiting his G-ma Chris months ago. Having Khole and Stevie here wears him out, and it's finally taken it's toll! Hurray!!!

Rough day

It was a rough day for the Hen-man today. However, he's doing really well. Especially well today I'd have to say. He had his first surgery and the doctor was really good. He is wearing his 'tough guy' bracelet. His Aunt and Uncle sent him balloons and a teddy bear and his Grandpa Frank and Grandma sent him a book (Henry and Mudge). His Grandma Chris and family sent him a treats card for Culvers - I think all this love (and goodies) will help him feel better soon! Plus, he was able to watch as much choo choo cat as he wanted to tonight!

New Boat

We bought a boat yesterday, and this morning was the maiden voyage on Hodstradt Lake.

Dr. Roach

We saw the urologist in Minoqua yesterday afternoon for Henry's Communicative Hydrocele. Turns out it is a birth defect that needs to be fixed....

Life Without Henry

Henry is staying in Ripon this week, while Marc and I try to get the lead paint situation under control. Reflecting upon how this changes my routine...
1. I have no reason to watch Sesame Street, go to the Library or the park
2. There is a lot less whining!
3. It is a lot quieter.
4. I got to take my third bath in the claw foot tub.
5. The dinner table is more lonely.
6. No bedtime stories. This is good. Putting Henry to bed is the most stressful time for me.

Babysitting

I am traumatized from taking care of a three year old over night for 4 days.

Playing Chase with Uncle Aaron

Henry LOVES his uncles and LOVES to play chase, so last weekend was a great combination of wonderfulnesses.

Okay, So the Saving didn't Happen

I had Marc get the runbike in Madison when he was down there for a conference. Turns out that real bikes cost even more money, so now I don't feel as bad.

"Run Bike"

I am saving money to buy this runbike for Henry, I think.

RAWHIDE!

I have to hide when I video tape Henry, otherwise he stops what he is doing and wants to see the camera screen. You need your volume turned up for this.

The Swelling Progresses

Saturday Evening, the cut and swelling look worse.

The Accident

So Thursday night, Henry rushed into the Music room, which was dark at the time. Meg was right there with him, and saw him trip in the middle of the area rug and smack his face on the bottom of the window seat moulding. Meg picked him up and took him into the kitchen, thinking Henry was in for one heck of a goose egg on his forehead. When Henry took his hand away from his head, there was blood all over and Henry had a boxer's split under his eyebrow. "I think he needs stitches," said Meg, as Marc rushed over with frozen food to stop the swelling. "God Damn-it!" said Marc, "let's go." By the time we got to the hospital, just a few minutes away, the bleeding had mostly stopped. The doctor at the ER used a super glue to hold the edges together. Meg is getting dizzy and nauseous just thinking about it. The next morning, Henry said the worst part was when they took off his shoes and used a pinchy thing to get his pulse. Friday, Meg and Henry went to the Eagle River Children's museum and out to lunch in celebration of Henry's bravery.

Big Hockey Day

Henry was playing hockey in the house this morning and going around saying 'Goal!' and so we thought it would be fun to go play the real thing. I think this might be a Super Bowl tradition. I remember the night of the 49ers Chargers Super Bowl, after about the third play I realized the game was over and I went to the Good Hope rink and played hockey for the rest of the night. That was the first year the Parkway rink was closed, so we only had the Good Hope rink, but it was still really fun. I remember a lot of people showing up that night.

Anyway, we went to the rink on Oneida (that I fear will be torn down this summer in order to make room for the new County Fair). The ice was SPECTACULAR. The weather was nice, but there was a cold wind blowing. You can see from these photos that we all had a really good time.

This package, pictured below, is a constant temtation for Henry. I keep it in the drawer with the measureing spoons, and today when he opened the drawer, he said "Cool. Eat it" I got him to tell me it was the cheesecake that looked yummy, but you never know what a two year old is really thinking. I purchased 4 boxes of this stuff this summer, after realizing that jello has no nutritional value. (What? It's made out of cow skin, but has no protein?) This box here says that the 2 grams of protein per serving does not make it a significant source of protein. Is this in response to Atkins diets? Dumb mothers wanting to make their kids eat jello for unfounded reasons?

Anyway, to make a boring story shorter, I made orange juice jello with pineapple this morning, modeled after a Martha Stewart recipe in which she uses freshly squeezed grapefruit juice. I found it to be just short of nauseating, but Henry devoured it. Maybe he just liked the pineapple?

Problems for the Rhinelander School District

The proposed cuts for this year's school district budget include reducing the High School Music dept. to 1/2 choir position and 1/2 band position. I really can't imagine how this scenario could function...who is willing to get paid half a salary for a job that (theoretically) takes a full 40+ hour week in the districts I've been a part of. Are they not doing lessons? Could someone fill both positions? What kind of loony bin did we move to?

Children's Museum with Rudy

My friend Carrie and I, both relatively new to the Northwoods, both have a year pass to the Children's Museum in Eagle River. Carrie, Rudy, Henry and I visited the museum together last Friday. This museum *might* be bigger and better than the old (or current?) Madison Children's Museum, which Henry and I played at this summer right before the onset of hand foot and mouth disease...but I digress. I think the museum is pretty good, especially for being in the boondocks where it's every man for himself and no one wants to pay for anything that will help the greater good. The Madison Museum has a beautiful two story wooden structure and better ambiance, but Eagle River has loads of Melissa and Doug toys, a fishing pond, a reading tree, and other things that Henry and I enjoy playing with together.