Cool tricks! Cool tricks!

Let me show you some of my cool tricks.

The somersault is Henry's go-to cool trick.

Only occasionally does someone get injured when he's doing this.

Frances is kickin' it in tummy time.

Look at this cool barn! We need one of those!

Sometimes I mix it up by sitting in my Bumbo chair.

Look at how good I'm getting at this! I could make this into a career.

Henry will kiss you, and you will like it!

When I dip, you dip, we dip.

We tried to bring out Henry's "old pool," but it only lasted through one day.

Possibly because the monkey pool over-wintered on the back porch, it didn't survive very well. The upper section wouldn't stay inflated, the canopy was filthy, and it basically collapsed after about half an hour of use.

Obviously Henry didn't mind; he went ahead and had a great time anyway.

Here is Henry in his "new pool."

Grandmom sent this pool, which holds 2000 gallons, as a prize for Henry becoming very-close-to-almost-entirely potty-trained. We invited Henry's friend Lucy (and her mommy, my good friend, Anne) for the first swim yesterday. It was a success! Daddy was smart enough to buy a cover for the pool, so tonight when Henry got in, it was lovely, clean, and warm(er).

That's how I roll.

Yup, I'm going back to belly now. Don't act like you're not impressed.

Kitchens and apples and bikes, oh my.

Cousin Zoey recently turned 3. So, of course, Dennis (and Henry and I, but mostly Dennis) built her a little play kitchen. It's similar to Henry's blue kitchen that we made for his 3rd birthday.

Here the cousins are, checking out the finished product.

A handful of the few apples gleaned from the old apple tree in our backyard.

We don't know what type of tree it is, but the apples were sweet and a little tart. Unfortunately, rehabilitating an old apple tree can be much more difficult that starting from the beginning. The tree definitely needs some TLC if it's going to be healthy again. Since it's only a couple of hundred yards (at most) away from the new trees, we'll have to take care of it as well to prevent any diseases or pests from spreading.

The beginnings of our apple orchard.

Dennis planted 12 one-year-old trees this year in our front pasture. They are six different varieties: Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, Cortland, Sweet 16, and two others that I cannot remember. (Any help, Dennis?) We also planted two pecan trees that seem to be doing well; the jury is still out on whether the eight blueberry bushes will survive.

Henry's first ride on his new McQueen bike.

Don't worry, Mere and Doodah went directly to Walmart to buy him a matching helmet just after his inaugural ride. Note the McQueen sippy in the McQueen handlebar basket. Stylin'!