Happy Helper

So last week while I was on the phone with my brother Scott...I hear a soft crack....which I thought was outside...and then another. By the time I make it into the kitchen I find Henry in the refrigerator with an egg in his hand. He had deposited two eggs in the sink and one didn't quiet make it so it was laying on the rug.

It is amazing what they pick up at such a young age. He has seen me a dozen times crack eggs and throw them in the sink and now he wanted to give it a try for himself.

Where has September Gone??

It is official no more vacations for the Salo Family...at least nothing that requires flying. Every day is a vacation at our house...we party all day long!

Our month of September has been filled with one major party after another. Troy, Henry and I had the privilege of flying down to LA to attend Grandpa Salo's Surprise 80th Birthday Bash. It was quite the party and a real tribute to the amazing life that he has lead. Troy's Grandpa is one of those guys that everyone knows...and loves to talk to.

We have had more fun with him this past year! It was a football themed party so we all wore football jerseys (BYU, U of Utah, and USC colors) with the #80 on the back. Everyone had a football ticket to the event, and a football was presented to the Salo Football Hall of Fame of sorts. It was a great party. Ron was completely surprised and he had a great time. All of his kids did a fantastic job planning this event! Thanks for the fun!

We also were able to attend the blessing of our newest family member, Nathan Tyler Salo. He is such a darling little baby and is completely mellow and chill. We all had so much fun holding and loving on little Nathan. Savannah and Lucas also celebrated their 2nd Birthday that same day and had an Elmo EVERYTHING Birthday!!

During the rest of the week we spent a day at Newport Beach with Troy's cousins, a day at Disneyland, a Spoon show, and a taping of Jay Leno. The Beach was awesome and Henry ate it up...but unfortunately ended up a little red after a day in the sun.

Disneyland went much better than last time. Henry actually stayed awake!! He and Lucas had a ball taking in the rides but what they really enjoyed was the Aladdin Show. It was amazing to see two little guys so riveted with live theater - and we enjoyed the air conditioning. It was so hot! We also were able to go and see my brother play a show in Hollywood. He was on the Jay Leno show the next day so we were able to go and see a live taping in Burbank! It was a lot of fun! He did a great job...and he even sang!

After a week in southern California, Henry and I headed up to Santa Cruz to visit our good friends Melissa and Jason. We had a blast with their two girls and Henry loved Audrey. We took the kids to the Monterrey Aquarium and saw the great white shark they caught...it was pretty cool! I am always amazed at that Aquarium at how enormous the tanks are. I can't even imagine what it would take to keep them all up. We just have a 60 gallon salt water...and it is plenty of work to keep up.

We then went and spent several days with our friends Natalie and Jeremy. Henry hung out with their two boys and was indoctrinated in joy of body slams from Corbin. It was pretty funny...and I was amazed at how well Henry took it. He actually really liked Corbin and all the boy things that Corbin would do...such as picking up sticks! We took the kids to the Sacramento Zoo and went hot-tubing at Natalie's parents. We had a great trip.

Part of the trip to Northern California that was funny was talking about how life has changed in what we do now that we have kids. Troy and I have known our friends since college...and now we all have kids and instead of doing things we would enjoy...we end up at the park and the zoo! When people say life doesn't change when you have kids....don't believe them it does...and it is wonderful!

Henry and I made it home and are happy to be home! We have enjoyed our crazy summer but hope that next summer we will be home more. We need to enjoy the nice weather in Oregon while we can!

We honestly have way too many pictures...So I will have to post some on our family website...another day.

Some of Henry's favorite things...

My Headphones

My Binki's

My Bellybutton(love it!)







My very own FAN!!!

My Very Own Cheering Squad

No one ever told me that when you have a child you now have a new best friend and constant cheering squad. Which I love.....

Henry gives me constant Cheers.....
for reading him a book
changing a diaper
taking out the garbage
throwing a ball
giving him kisses
taking out the garbage

folding laundry

taking him on a walk

doing dishes

vacuuming

EVERYTHING!! It is so nice to constantly be appreciated. I had better eat it up now...because I know it will be a different story in 10 years!!

Henry Coming in for a kiss

Lessons Learned the hard way......

Last weekend was quiet a weekend for lessons.....

1. Never put your child in the car seat with the keys to the car in his hand. (Sure enough right as the door closed he hit the lock button...and 45 minutes later the police had him out of the car). This was after I had everything packed up in the car ready to head out of town for Seattle.

2. When you are on a road trip by yourself with a small child...never let them have food in the car. Because you will turn around and find a sea of raisins, pretzels, water, and Kix EVERYWHERE!! Thank goodness for leather and rubber mats.

All in all Henry and and I had a great weekend together. We stayed with my Mom's cousin and her family in Seattle and helped my brother and his girlfriend move into there new apartment.

Rob and his new apartment, Rob and Henry

No longer a baby....now a little boy

The other day Henry woke up from his nap early and just needed to be cuddled, which of course I was delight to do. Henry and I laid down on my bed and just cuddled like the good old days. Henry is the biggest cuddle bug...but as he has gotten bigger the more and more he is growing out of it to his mothers protest. As we are cuddling Henry falls back asleep and I start to drift off. I rest my head close to his and and don't smell my sweet baby smell...but a boy smell. The mix of running out side, grass, pool water, diaper, wrestling, dirt mixed, sweaty feet in sandles smell. When did this happen?




I guess that I will have to treasure bath time each night when I can give him the baby fresh scent that I so dearly love!

How do you know you have been on the road to much? When Security at the Airport recognizes you!

Sure enough this happened to Henry and I at the airport. I was so embarrassed. We were headed up to Northern Idaho for Troy's company's summer retreat, and as I handed the lady our identification at the MVP line she said..."Oh Hello again Mrs. Salo and Henry....Where are you headed off to this time?"

It seems that we have been gone for a majority of the summer. Our travels have been great, but it is so nice to be home. I think that Henry and I are finally falling back into our routine after being home for a week now.

After our first trip to Utah for the summer, we ended up heading back there just two weeks later because my Papa passed away. It was great to see so much family and to gather for this occasion. His passing was a relief to many for he was in such great pain with cancer. We were fortunate to have been with him just several weeks prior to his passing. He expressed how frustrated he was that he had to die this way. I pray that no one else in my family is ever affected with cancer...I never realized how much it can rob you. I will forever miss my Papa and the amazing man that he was and still is. He was a true gentleman in every sense of the word. But I am so grateful to know where he is and to have such strong faith.

Although our trip to Utah was a quick one we still found some time to have some fun...and enjoy being together as a family.

Several days before we arrived back in town our good friends Darrin and Alli arrived from Utah. They have just completed Chiropractic School in Houston and are now settling in Utah. They came to visit family and friends...and along the way Henry found a new girlfriend. They could not get enough kissing! Shall we now refer to Henry as Don Juan?

After arriving home from Utah, we headed out again to Idaho just 5 days later. Every summer Troy's company has a retreat in Sandpoint, Idaho. All of the families of the employees gather together for games, lake fun, and chilling out.

This has been a long standing tradition of Troy's company...but unfortunately Henry and I just joined the festivities the last two years. Since I no longer have a formal job...we are footloose and fancy free. Troy swam across Lake Pend Orielle again this year, Henry and I hiked (after staying up all night), we tubed around behind the boat, kayaked, and paddle boated. We had a relaxing time in Idaho but were anxious to get home.

We have now been home for a week and are enjoying every minute of it. Henry and I had several day of playing in the kiddie pool and both of us hanging out in our Ultimate Lounge Chairs in the back yard. We are taking in all the sun we can get while we can! And everything else has been on the back burner. We have just been sunning ourselves and playing all day long. Thank goodness we have had several overcast days so I am finally motivated to get some things done!