Zack, the Painter

Videos of Zachary and Aalyah

Here are a couple videos of Zachary and Aalyah at the park and then feeding the ducks at the Riverwalk.

Zachary and Aalyah go down the slide! from Amelia Hendryx on Vimeo.

Zachary and Aalyah feed the ducks! from Amelia Hendryx on Vimeo.

Ahh-Yee!

Translates into: Aalyah.  He used to say "Lee-Yah" quite well, but when she came to visit last weekend it was "Ahh-Yee" instead.  Oh well.  We had a great time with her.  She's getting so big and mature.  I can't believe she'll be 10 already in September!  I'm so old.  

We didn't get Aalyah as long as we normally do, but it was a great time nonetheless.  She was the first one to sleep in the new room and she loved it.  She came to classes with me a couple times and enjoyed watching my dancers.  One day when we got home from the studio Zachary was completely unconcerned with my return and just wanted the attention of his cousin!  He loved having her here and we did too!  It is one of my favorite parts of summer.  I hope she enjoys coming to us and wants to continue it until we are old and gray!  Enjoy some pictures!

On Sunday Zachary and I took Aalyah home and spent the day.  We haven't been home in a while so it was worth the gas-that I happened to get for $3.83!! Really!  I almost took a picture.  Zack had fun in the garden with Pop-Pop and later fell asleep on a walk with Grandma and I.  I'll post pictures of Grandma holding him sleeping (her favorite) and them him napping-upside down-in the toddler bed!

All the fishies...

All the fishies... from Amelia Hendryx on Vimeo.

Check out Zack doing the "fishies" and then singing Row, Row, Row Your Boat!

Howdy, partners

He's got his cowboy hat and his overalls.  Pop Pop would be so happy and proud.  He's ready for the farm!

Is it finally finished???....

Basically!!!  Thank goodness!  It was a lllooonnnggg weekend, but it was worth it!  Of course, David and I could never do this on our own, so we had the help of PaPa and Nanny this weekend!  Thank God for Don.  He helped us do everything.  Floors, trim, quarter round.  Everything.  Sally kept track of Zachary and this is what the room looks like now.  So excited and pleased with it!  We just need to get a closet organizer in there and the furniture.  

It was done just in time.  Aalyah is coming up for a visit at the end of this week, so she'll be the first guest to stay in the room!  I'll post more pictures once we get the furniture in there.

Now we are painting the rest of the house.  Indulgent Mocha (sounds wonderful doesn't it?).  We are getting new carpet and new furniture, hopefully within the month, so everything will be complete by the big 2 year birthday party.

Thank you again, PaPa and Nanny for all of your help!

Throwing tantrums

  (it's hard to believe I can be so ornery)
It's been a while since I've posted, sorry.  We are still in the process of finishing (read: never will end) house and my summer classes started last week, and I had a shower, and blah, blah, blah.  Something the Hendryx household has been dealing with lately, though, are tantrums in public.  You give me a reason and he'll throw a tantrum for it.  So, as you can imagine with our endless home improvements this requires many a trip to Lowes/Home Depot.  As you can also imagine, this also means endless tantrums in the ______ (insert noun here).  So, I've taken to internet connection realm for help.  I've received a ton of positive feedback and some great advise.  It was put to the test this week when Zack and I had to run to the mall AND Sams Club all in one trip.  He was an angel at the mall.  Mainly because it was the first place, he could walk, and it took less than 5 minutes.  However, I made sure to let Zachary know how proud I was of him and to make a big deal out of the sales associates comments on how cute and well behaved my child was.  On to Sams.  I was more worried about this place because I needed to have a cart and as of late, Zachary hates being put in the cart.  So, I decided to let him push the cart on his own.  He loved it!  We got in and out of Sams with no problem.  I told him before we left the house what the plans were and that if he was good he would get something "special."  I made sure not to say snack or toy or anything because I was not sure.  Well, the diapers that I needed has a Disney Sing Along with Mickey and Friends.  Perfect!  I opened it up when we got to the truck and he was able to hold the CD cover and listen happily as Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy sang Row, Row, Row your Boat.  We may be on to something here!!  

Next, church...

Fun in the sun, followed by nasty weather!

It's summer.  It's the Midwest.  These are all reasons that you can go from a perfect morning at the pool, to nasty-nasty storm later in the day.  Luckily, I left my camera in Amber's stroller so she was able to capture the storm rolling in.  

Earlier in the day, though.  We took the kids to Pelican Harbor.  It has become a weekly haunt for Zachary and I.  He was excited to share it with Aubrey and Benjamin last week.  Below is a picture of Aubrey posing and Zachary doing who-knows-what.  Then you will see the storm!

Zack loves his Daddy!

And I do too!

Pelican Harbor!!

Yesterday I took Zachary to the Pelican Harbor water park for the first time this season.  We went last year, but he hated it.  So, I figured with the success we have had with swimming I would try.  He LOVED it!!  I love it too!  The park charges you $5 for entry (total) and we get a "Parent-Tot" swim from 8-11am!  We are restricted to the tot pool (less than 4 ft deep) and the Sprayville area, but it's not like we need much more.  As long as the weather is nice, I'm going to plan on going once a week!  Notice how he only wears his sunglasses on top of his head.  He rarely puts them on his face!!

Aunt Cathy and Woof Woof!!

We had a busy weekend.  We took a trip to Indy for a friend's birthday party.  We stayed with Cathy while we were down there.  Nana and Papa made it up as well.  On Friday we had dinner together and then Saturday we had a party and a cookout!  Cathy has a golden retriever named Rowdy.  Zack loved him!  Renamed him Woof-Woof!  He had a great time having Rowdy just follow him around!  We had a good time watching the two of them.  It was a busy weekend for Zachary and on the way back to Naperville he just passed out!

Happy Birthday Sophia!

Happy Birthday to our friend Sophia!!  Last Wednesday was her 1st birthday!  We took a trip to Indy for her birthday.  It was a lot of fun!!  She loved her cake!  But, then again, who doesn't?

OK-give me cake already!
Suzanne, Sophia, Me, and Zack (he has on these crazy glasses that were at the party!)

How a loft becomes a bedroom

So, the room has been made for a couple of weeks.  But, we needed to paint and do a ton of stuff.  Still working on that, but wanted to put pictures up of what we have.  I will add to the slideshow when everything is done, so keep checking back!!