The First Gift of Chirstmas

After our trek to see (cry at) Santa, we shared a little pre-Christmas celebration at the Henrie's. Augie was equally thrilled with each of his three gifts: a handmade picnic table from Grandpa Joe, a flashlight and a magnetic-picker-upper-stick. Then we settled into a deep dish of Grandma Sharon's turkey enchiladas, where Augie (who hadn't eaten much in a couple of days), devoured avocados, tomatoes and the "bok bok". "Bok bok" is his word for all things poultry: chicken, turkey, and even eggs! Thanks to the Henrie family for sharing the gift of "thoughtfulness" with Augie this Christmas.

"Oooooo!"

Reservation for two?

HO HO HO!!!

Despite lots of enthusiasm for "Ho ho ho" at home, Augie pulled off a classic Santa visit this year (we blame the influenza). It's true, he hasn't been feeling well, but we wanted to take advantage of this Jackson Hole tradition with Grandpa Joe and Grandma Sharon (also called "Joe"), so we bundled up and walked down to Town Square. At first Augustus was interested, maybe even excited, but that quickly turned to fear and dread (while Mami snapped the photos). Even the cookie/galleta bribe didn't do the trick. Oh well, Augie's still on the NICE list in my book.

Th...ank...y....ou...Ho......Ho.....

With Grandpa Joe and Grandma Joe. :)

Oh deer!

Advent

Let the countdown begin! Thanks to Grammy and Papa for hand-delivering this classic, chocolate-filled advent calendar. Each night after dinner, we count the days and enjoy a chocolate treat. We also sing the "Cho-co-la-te" song in Spanish! This pause for sweetness is fulfilling the purpose of an advent calendar in our busy lives this December. I like stopping to see things through Augie's (stunningly blue) eyes, like how he laughed for days at the idea of bringing a tree into our living room. I love how the white lights inspired his use of the word "pretty", which he now uses to describe "pretty tree" and "pretty house". I adore how he scrunches up his darling face while gazing at the tree, allowing his eyes to blur as he sings an improvised carol. Christmas is coming!

Who is this tall boy?

*magic*

feliz navidad

Making spirits BRIGHT!

Merry Christmas Friends!!!

ENERO –To begin 2012, Augustus had his first visit from Los Tres Reyes (the Three Kings) who filled his shoe box with goodies. We celebrated Augie’s 1st birthday with lots of friends, organic banana muffins, two outfit changes and an owl piñata. What a HOOT!

FEBRERO – Kjera continued to giggle and perform with her improv troupe, the Laff Staff. Kjera and Augie made a quick trip to Chicago to celebrate Tesha’s baby shower for “the nugget”.

MARZO –Augustus earned the first stamp in his passport by meeting up with Grammy and Papa Strom in Acapulco, México. He impressed the locals with his swimming skills and Spanish comprehension. ¡Bravo Augusto!

ABRIL -Welcome Henly Moen Choi! Kjera and Jacob celebrated a new niece and proudly became godparents. Augustus continued to expand his adventurous eating habits with our Bountiful Baskets fruits and veggies.

MAYO –Río, the devious and much-loved cat, celebrated his birthday, and Augie his baptismal birthday. Kjera left the boys for two nights for a school trip to Yellowstone.

JUNIO – Augie was thrilled with the Henrie traditions of branding and Lava Hot Springs. He and Kjera then traveled back to Wisconsin for some Strom traditions. We weathered the 100 degree heat streak by spending days in a blue kiddie pool.

JULIO –Jacob and Kjera celebrated their birthdays with a traditional Red Dress Party. Augustus fell in love with rafting on the Snake, spending most of the time being trolled in his life jacket in the chilly water.

AGOSTO –Augie was invited to three different birthday parties for his buddies turning two, with bouncy houses! After visiting several child care options, August enrolled in Sweet Spirits, where he loves to share his musical talent and adventurous soul.

SEPTIEMBRE – Kjera kicked off another school year as the Pre K through fifth grade Spanish teacher at the Journeys School, and Jacob wrapped up another busy wild fire season with Teton Helitack. Augie also resumed his Wednesday dates with Grandma Sharon (whom he calls “Joe”).  In the midst of it all, we closed on our new home (conveniently located next door to our old home). Thanks to Papa Strom who came all the way out to help us paint!

OCTUBRE –We all traveled to Chicago to participate in Henly’s Baptism. What a blessing! Jacob and Kjera celebrated their 3rd anniversary. Augustus charmed our neighbors with his homemade train costume, responding to “chugga chugga?” with an enthusiastic “choo choo!”

NOVIEMBRE – Augustus decorated his sugar skull for Día de los Muertos, and then we shared hugs with lifelong friends in Salt Lake. Finally, we devoured a Thanksgiving feast with the extended Henrie family.

DICIEMBRE- Now that the snow is finally falling in Jackson Hole, we are vowing to rekindle the family blog and get that “baby” on skis.

¡Feliz Año Nuevo!

With love,

Kjera, Jacob and Augustus

Rescue Me!

Jacob spent the last weekend working on his hazardous materials certification for his volunteer position with the Fire/EMS crew, while Kjera re-certified her Wilderness First Responder training. You would think with all this advanced rescue skills, we wouldn't need saving, but alas, what about Augie? Godpapa Matt to the rescue! Matt stepped in and showed up at 7:30 a.m., on a Saturday, in a winter blizzard to spend the day with sweet Augustus. Apparently they ate, read (about 35 books per seating) and slept the day away! Thank you, Matt!

Where do I begin?

Wow! Time to get back in the saddle around here. Needless to say, our lives have taken a turn for the busier this fall. After a wonderful summer of traveling and Augie-in-the-backpack-hiking, I'm still crazy busy at the Journeys School and keeping my Laff Staff hobby alive, Jacob had one the more active fire seasons of his career besides being a volunteer fire fighter and EMT and, most importantly, Augie has been at a dead sprint since last June moving and learning and growing by the hour! Lighting the first candle of advent, HOPE, I'm eager to begin a new chapter of light and reflection (bringing me back to my neglected blog). Welcome home.

Super Sleepy!

We wrapped up another school year, whish has left all of us feeling a little tired and worn down. Mami is ready for a little breather, Daddy is fighting fires in Colorado, and little Augie is just too tired to finish dinner!

Adios Mae Mae y Marta

Little Augusto is going to be in for quite a shock as today is his last day with Maeve and Marta. These three have enjoyed a spring full of eating, napping, playing and outings to the park. Each morning as he's getting dressed, he looks up and asks, "Mae Mae?" When we hear the knock, knock, knock on the door each morning, Augie dashes to the door with a smile, takes Marta by the hand and leads her to his chair, where he immediately wants breakfast. By the time I'm out the door, he's busy giving "cheers" to Marta and blowing kisses. He will certainly miss his two amigas!

Mae Mae loves accessorizing!

BFF

16 months

It's tough to narrow down the milestones that Augustus crosses each and every day, but I love that when he really wants something now, he'll look up with those stunning blue eyes and say "Pleeeeeeeeeease!". Needless to say, it's working.

16 months old
(24 month onesie)

Reading "Guess How Much I Love You" from Grammy and Papa

chatting.

Happy Baptismal Birthday!

Just one year ago, many friends and family gathered in Jackson Hole to dedicate this sweet baby to the vision and love of our God. Now, one year later, we can hardly believe the busy little boy that fills our home.

Augustus Strom Henrie, child of God

On the move!

Just a little something . . .

Building blocks for another wonderful year!

Memories of Memorial Day

Aunt Terri and Darren were in Jackson for Memorial Day weekend, so we met up with them for some Old West Days fun, including the parade, a dinner at the Bistro and some experimental cauliflower pizza crusts. It's amazing how one bonus weekend day as a family can feel like a vacation (even if our grand camping plans were dashed due to rainy and cold weather).

Priceless facial expressions
(wonder what we were watching?)

Warming up with a walk

My Special Day

We celebrated Mother's Day with a picnic up in Grand Teton National Park. It was a glorious sunny day with my boys. Jacob took us to the top secret location where the capital Christmas tree was found and we did some exploration (between nap times).

On a "hike"

Christmas tree stump

Picnic!

Tossing some rocks and laughing!

Oh, happy day!
(and then we stopped at Dornan's!)

Dale, dale, dale . . .

Our creative and infinitely patient nanny, Marta, created a "pinata" out of a beach ball and tape for Maeve and Augie to play with during this past couple of rainy days. She sings the traditional Mexican pinata song, "Dale, dale, dale" while the little ones take turns batting at the pinata or clapping. So much fun!

Fiesta de pinata!

Miss Maeve

"Es un nino contento, no?"

Around the World

Augie has always (knock on wood) been a great little eater. Last week, when he got sick, his nanny wasn't worried a bit, "Augusto tiene mucha reserva" (Augustus has a big reserve). Now that he's feeling better, he's back on track to trying all kinds of foods! Our Bountiful Basket helps keep us in stock of delicious organic fruits and veggies, so all we have to do is doll them up!

Thai chicken and noodle lettuce wraps.

Deconstructed version.

Mexican fish tacos. Step one: deconstruction.
p.s. his favorite component ended up being the roasted red peppers!

!Tortilla deliciosa!

Making Faces

As our little boy continues to grow, he is shining more and more of his personality through. And boy oh boy, does he have some personality!!!

*NOTE: yes, he's wearing a Christmas bib in May. We were washing EVERYTHING in the house to rid ourselves and possessions of the Hand, Foot and Mouth disease.

silly

fake cry

discovering

No Child Left Inside

Spring is in the air in Jackson Hole! On Tuesday, I got home from school and Augie (of course!) wanted to be outside. I followed him over to the play structure behind our house and watched him climb the stairs and go down the slide. ALL. BY. HIMSELF. We had never done this before! Maybe he practiced with Marta and Maeve, but I love to watch him in action.

Ready for launch.

On your mark . . .

Daddy got home just in time to help with the BIG slide.

And a quick bike ride before dinner!
(Dinner was elk, broccoli, quinoa, cucumbers and watermelon. Yum!)

Skype Date

We try to keep our weekly Skype date with Grammy and Papa back in Madison, Wisconsin. The filming gets more and more challenging as Augustus cruises around during our conversations. Last week, he practiced stepping in and out of this upside down stool! He is clearly motorically advanced. :)

Hi Grammy and Papa!

Augie drug this stool in from the kitchen during our chat!

Endless fun!

Feliz cumpleanos Rio!

Cinco de mayo is also the day we celebrate Baby Rio's birthday!

Feliz cumpleanos a ti . . .

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

Our Cinco de Mayo celebrations started with a bilingual story time at the children's museum that doubled as a date with Boone. Then we ate and napped in preparation for the Latino Resource Center's big party. Augie's nanny, Marta, was busy preparing over 300 tamales and teaching cooking classes for the big day. Sorry there's no photo of the food . . . it just disappeared so rapido! The highlights were Augie running around in a pack of kids (having no idea he was chasing pinata candy), showing off his Spanish skills and dancing in the middle of the room, then stopping to lay down for a rest. We rounded out the evening with one last bonfire/margaritas/WI bratwurst at Jill's home on the Snake River. Feliz. Feliz. Feliz.

Fiesta!

Hola pinata!

ASH loves Dwayne!
(Dwayne is the camper van.)

15 months

My mom gave me fair warning. She said, "When you see Augustus next to Henly, you'll know he's not a baby anymore." Despite his best efforts to show us he's still a baby by climbing in her stroller, resting in her nap nappy, playing with her toys, etc. The truth was there. Augustus is a toddler. The moment he put down the rattle and walked over to adjust Tommy's guitar amp, done. Although toddling is quickly morphing to running, his constant motion made me long for the days when we would swaddle him up and complete a small task. That said, his movement and exploration are marvelous windows into his fascinating brain and sparkling personality. He continues to make discoveries each and every day. Yesterday he learned to cover his mouth when he coughs. Genius.

A toddler.

The first month Henly was a part of our lives!