Four years after you were born I find myself doing exactly what I was doing in the hospital before, during labor, and after your entrance into this world: watching the Olympics. Now that your dad has finally had a breakthrough with your desire to ski, our dreams for you to eventually dominate the snowboard cross event in the Olympics in the year 2026 are slowly becoming a reality. You should know that your father and I gave you your middle name Jackson thinking that if you were in the Olympics some day, Jackson Hohl would be an unforgetable name and therefore you would easily be a favorite to win! You are the perfect combination of your parents with energy that never ends and to your mother's dismay you use most of that energy to search for and ask for candy. I have noticed that you have trouble discerning what your body is trying to tell you and every day it's a constant battle to get you to figure out if you are hungry or tired. It's usually accompanied by lots of tears and many discussions about problem solving. Cutting things out of magazines and junk mail occupies much of your time. There are ziplock baggies all around the house that are full of coupon clippings and photos from The Friend magazine. You are an extremely thoughtful boy and announce every day that you want to make a present or card for someone which is really hard for you because your baby sister always climbs on the table and sabotages your projects. You are usually very patient with her though and always scream for help with a laugh and a smile, knowing that she just wants to be a part of your life. You are an amazing big brother and always complain when Bea takes naps because you are bored without her. She copies everything you do and you laugh and wrestle all day long together. Her Birthday present to you is that just yesterday she started saying your name instead of calling you dada. Every time you cry she comes to give you hugs and frequently makes tears turn into laughter as she pokes you in the nostrils and lifts your shirt up to find your belly button. You are going to preschool but your teachers still have to drag you, in tears, away from me and Bea. You are learning how to read at home and we do a science experiment almost every day together. We also sing and play instruments every day and I always catch you making up funny songs, especially as you lay down in the tub waiting for me to drag you out. You and I cook and bake everything together and get just as excited as I do when our bread comes out perfect and when I make home-made popsicles. Your greatest passion, however, is the scriptures and several times per day you ask spiritual questions and we have many deep conversations about Heavenly Father, Jesus, the Spirit, the prophets in the scriptures and scary Satan. You have read through the children's Bible and Book of Mormon three times and are now reading about Church history in the Doctrine and Covenants. You always talk about making it to heaven where Jesus and your brother Georgie are waiting for you AND where you get to eat the fruit of the tree of life. I hope you're not disappointed when you realize that it's figurative! Speaking of food, your favorite food is sunny-side-up eggs and any kind of fruit. On your Birthday you set a record of eating 5 eggs in one sitting! You love your daddy and ask every morning where he went, even though you know he's at work. You rejoice when he comes home and you always have a blast together trying to figure out transformers and putting together race tracks. This winter has dumped down almost four feet of snow which you and your dad used to make a giant snow cave/tunnel with fort in the front yard which our entire family fit in. Even though I don't think you've grown out of your terrible twos(or accepting the fact that you aren't the only child/center of attention yet) you still have many moments of pure sweetness and kindness. I love looking into your big gray green eyes and at your dimpled smile. I can't wait to find out what this new year will bring and what new adventures we will have together. You are the most darling boy in the world and I love you with all my heart. Happy Birthday sweet Henry boy. I hope you have had a wonderful four years of life!
This is proof that I actually don't clean my house. Yes, my house is always tidy but this is what Henry found under the rug the other day which is a testament to how often I actually vacuum. She has probably been there since last summer. My family just came to visit and Henry had his Birthday party so I cleaned the floors for the first time since Thanksgiving which was the last time we had company and just so you know, the floor looked exactly as clean/dirty as it did two days after I cleaned as it did for those months of never washing it. I'll say it once and for all. Cleaning is a waste of time. Go live life and leave the cleaning for when company comes. That's my motto.
