Beach Bums

We spent last week at Frangista Beach in Florida with Nanna, Pa, Uncle Kevin, Uncle Chris, Aunt Stacie, and Cousin George. Nanna and Pa rented a beautiful house right on the beach. The house was flush with amenities, including a small, heated pool and an elevator. Nanna also brought plenty of toys and costumes to keep the boys entertained (in addition to the pots and pans provided at the house). 

Each day after breakfast we would head to the beach. Henry's swim lessons appear to have paid off, as he spent most of his time in the water. By the last day, he was body surfing in the waves (under the watchful eye of his parents). John was not a big fan of the beach, so he spent more time floating in the pool. George and Uncle Chris provided beachside entertainment with their circus tricks. And Henry almost lost his mind when a helicopter flew over us one day. He waved and shouted, "Hello Harold!" (Harold is the helicopter from Thomas and Friends).

All the beach activity made the boys hungry. John can eat his weight in a single meal: oysters, shrimp, crawfish, lamb, chicken souvlaki, trout, and a grilled cheese the size of his head were all consumed with haste. The one thing he did not enjoy was ice cream. Henry had a hard time understanding that, so he forcibly shared his ice cream with his little brother. That's some brotherly love.

Thanks to Nanna and Pa for a wonderful beach vacation! Henry is already asking when we can go back to "Nanna's beach house and eat some doughnuts."

John's First Haircut

Henry did not have his first haircut until he was 20 months old.  When John was born with a full head of dark hair, I knew he would never make it that long.  We admired his long locks one last time during bath time last night.  John even kissed his sweet baby hairs goodbye.

We began the morning with brunch at the OK Cafe, just as we did for Henry's first haircut.  I took a good look at John across the booth and asked Gus if we could just go home.  He laughed and assured me it was time.

After both boys were full of pancakes, we walked over to Tommy's Barber Shop.  The boys patiently waited for their turn with Mr. Swift.  John was okay, perhaps confused, for the first minutes of his first haircut, and then he started wailing (maybe because we said no to the complimentary hot shave?).  And then he stopped wailing, cured by a barber shop sucker (his first piece of candy).  I was dreading the first haircut, but John looks as handsome as ever.

Henry was next. He climbed in the chair, listened to Mr. Swift, and asked for a sucker when he was done.  Not one tear - and in that way, it seems, he was braver than me.

America's Funniest Home Videos

Henry likes to read words, but he likes drawing trains more.



When Mr. Prasad came to visit, and John was his biggest fan. Prasad can now add "baby whisperer" to his resume.



When we eat out, Henry often asks for the lemon in my tea. He would eat the rind and seeds if we let him.



John makes breakfast fun with peekaboo. And Henry makes it fun with his comments about Uncle Chris.



I told Henry to clean up the playroom.  When I looked in to check on his progress, I found him giving orders to John.  (Turn up your volume to hear Henry say repeatedly, "Give it to me.")