Ninja Henry Turns Four

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Birthday Party...everyone little boy has to have one.

Cowabunga dude!

So here's the key to an awesome TMNT birthday bash.

Invite all your heroes in a half-shell.

Make sure you do well on the TMNT training course.

And don't forget to complete the wall climb.

And then be ready for a surprise attack...

because Shredder could be right around the corner.

Star throwing for the little Ninjas was a favorite activity.

Frances is too young for all the Ninja nonsense.

So she and Bubba just imitate each other as usual!

The Ninja Turtle pinata was difficult to crack...as usual!

Mother of the little Ninja always plans the funnest parties.

I can't believe that Henry is four years old already.

He is intelligent, so very sweet, and speaks his mind whenever you ask him his opinion.

Claire and Sami didn't really care much for the party stuff. You should have seen her giggle right after Sami slurped her face with doggy kisses.

Childhood is marked with birthday cake after birthday cake.

This year it's a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle party. Next year...who knows!

But the memories Henry will have of this day will forever be in his dreams. And joy remembered is twice sweet!

We got such a kick out of this photo...Bubba with two of the youngest party goers. Would you believe that although he obviously weighs several more pounds than Frances...adorable chubby Bennett is actually 2 months younger than petite Frances.

Her smiles tend to steal the show these days...

as does her photo bombing Daddy.

Henry...what a great party! Let's have some more pizza dude...or rather cake that is!

And Frances and I will have a Diet Coke to go with it.

Henry at Three

Diddle diddle dumpling my son John

went to bed with his trousers on.

One shoe off and one shoe on,
diddle diddle dumpling my son John.

Henry loves reciting nursery rhymes and knows most of them already.

While having a weekend of fun at Nanna & Bubba's Birthday fest, we dusted off Chet's old Jeep Power Wheels. Jocie and Chet spent hours in that Jeep and I don't think Chet drove once. Of course Henry loved it! Since he played stop and go with the gas pedal...Bubba and I told Henry he was a bad driver  He didn't care, he laughed and giggled around and around the yard. 

Intelligent and wise...he has been known to correct your English skills...at age three!

But he also has a silly side. Hopefully you are not sitting in a restaurant waiting for dinner when silly Henry emerges. Bubba gave Henry a new name while staying with us...Henry Dawg! And when Olivia heard about it days later she announced her new name was Olivia Kitty Kat.

Cass recently discovered a photo of Chet at Henry's age...they could be twins. People have been telling her all along how much he resembles his Uncle Chet. There is something sweet about a bond between nephew and uncle.

Henry's favorite thing to do at this age, is ride bikes. While vacationing in Southern Utah, Daddy Bob helps Henry navigate a steep hill on the mountain bike trail.

Focused and intense...the boy needs deep concentration.

I am certain he and his Daddy Bob will ride trail after trail together in the future.

Like a bolt of lightning...three years have flashed by and Henry is a little boy instead of a toddler.

He knows how to do a Force Choke (think Star Wars) as well as expertly wield a light saber.

Instantly after hearing a song, he can repeat it right back to you...again and again and again. Ask Henry to sing the bathtub song I taught him about a little bar of soap. Something like... "I'd slippee and I'd slidee over every-body's hidee." The little people don't always hear the lyrics correctly...apparently Henry has been singing "over every-body's hinee!" Oops Nanny Goat fail!

Henry Dawg my little grandson...Bubba and I adore you! You are the sun and the moon and the stars...and everything in between!

Three In a Faraway Galaxy

A long time ago (couple of weeks), 

in a galaxy far far away...

Henry turned three.

It is a period of sibling war.

Rebel spaceships, striking from a Rebel hidden base known only as The Brown House

using crudely fashioned light sabers,

and serious game faces,

have won their first victory 

against the Galactic Empire.

During the battle, 

Rebel spies managed to steal the helmet  

of Darth Vader  

as well as the secret plans to the Empire's ultimate weapon...the Death Star,

an armored space station with enough power to destroy an entire planet or family room.

Pursued by the Empire's sinister agent Darth Vader,

Princess Leia (carried by her daddy) races home aboard her starship...custodian of the stolen plans that can save her people 

and restore freedom 

to the galaxy...Hooray!

"Aren't you a little short for a storm-trooper?"

"Never tell me the odds."

"You've never heard of the Millennium Falcon?"

"The force is strong with this one."

"Luke...I am your father."

"I'm Luke Skywalker I'm here to rescue you!"

"I've got a very bad feeling about this."

"This is some rescue. You came in here and you didn't have a plan for getting out?"

"He's the brains sweetheart."

"Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope."

"These aren't the droids you're looking for."

"You're all clear, kid! Now let's blow this thing and go home!"