Henry and I rang in the New Year with a few fireworks.  Henry still likes them and even got to do his first sparklers! He is definitely into it.

A happy and prosperous New Year to all!

When visiting Texas, Santa wears the appropriate cowboy boots.

Everyone gets in on it!  These photos were taking using Instagram on my iPhone4.  It lets you take photos and apply some neat filters to them.  Fun to play around with.  

We celebrated the 4th of July on the 3rd (Happy Birthday, Lindsey!) because we were going to be driving home from Arkansas on the 4th.  But we all had a good time.  Homemade ice cream, burgers and of course fireworks.

What's that happening there?  Is that fireworks he's handing to the 20-month old?  You betcha!  Well, it was just the little poppers that you throw–mostly harmless.    Henry had a grand time stomping on them and making them pop.  He also thoroughly enjoyed the Hanlon family traditionals: Cuckoo's and jumping jacks.  Bennett on the other hand was unimpressed.

We arrived home the evening of the fourth in time for our neighborhood's fireworks display, which was really quite impressive.  Several dozen mortars and other assorted artillery, dozens of rockets, roman candles, noisemakers, really the works.  And that was just four houses on my street.  They really take their fireworks seriously in Texas.  And now Henry won't stop asking for fireworks.

Pictures from the 4th at the Paynes here.

See all the Halloween pictures here.

Henry's elbow-deep in the pumpkin carving!  We'll show off the results tomorrow!

Dauphin Way United Methodist Church has their annual pumpkin patch in full swing.  Henry, Karen and I (and Nana behind the camera) went to go pick out this years pumpkin.  I think we got a good one this year!

More photos from the patch here.

The line for pics with the bunnies was grueling, but Henry was a champ and managed to sit up for the occasion.  The hour-long wait had, however, destroyed any hopes for a smile.

That infamous and ellusive bunny left quite a basketful for young master Henry!  In return for such a bounty of good things, Henry was surprisingly well-behaved for the long Easter Sunday Mass!