Giving Thanks...

We've got so much to be thankful for this time of year - family, friends, health and happiness. Thanksgiving is all the more special to us because it was the day Alex was born. So, in honor of that, or really because we just wanted to see what they looked like, this morning we dressed him in Matt's old lederhosen that his parents got him when they were living in Germany. Thanks for being such a good sport, Alex, I'm sure wearing tight-fitting leather shorts sans diaper and a pair of itchy wool knee-length socks was exactly what you wanted to do when you woke up this morning! Such a trooper!

Presenting...Alex von Trapp!
"So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, good bye!"

Check out more pictures from Alex's birthday and Thanksgiving on our photo site - www.30poundcat.shutterfly.com

Dang, the Kid's Got Smarts

Apparently he *HAS* been listening during the many, many, many times we have read "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" to him...

Happy Birthday, Big Boy!

Alex turned two today and we had a great weekend. We had his party on Saturday at Grandma and Grandpa Reelitz's house. Grandpa Jay and Grandma G came down from Itasca, along with Great Grandpa Jim and Auntie Laura. Great Grandma Faye, Aunt Morgan and Uncle Jimmy, Uncle Josh and Aunt Jenelle, were all there to help us celebrate. Thank you all for joining in Alex's special day.

We are so lucky to be blessed with such a beautiful, happy, healthy little boy. He is an absolute joy. It's hard to believe that two years ago today our lives changed forever the moment his began. We love you Alexander Matthew!

Alex on Thanksgiving Day 2006, 11/23/06

Alex on 11/22/08 at his birthday party

Alex and Great Grandpa Jim

Alex and Dad

Gettin' So Big...

Alex turns two on Sunday, his party will be on Saturday. Josh and Jenelle stopped by to get the bassinet that we had (Sam and Chris originally lent it to us). As a joke, we took some pictures of buddy in the bassinet. I found some of him as a newborn in it to compare...

Thank You!

November 11th is Veterans Day and we'd like to take a moment to say "thank you" to all who have served our country. Especially Grandpa Jim (Army), Grandpa Jay (Army), Grandpa Lars (Air Force), Aunt Becky (Navy) and Uncle Caleb (Marines).

Check it out - that's four branches of the military represented!

Thank You All!

Fun on the Farm

Brr...it has gotten cold here! Check out my new winter coat and hat!


I also really like my new snowpants...in fact I took a nap in them the other day!

Peanut Garbage!

Beggars' Night 2008

Alex was Bam-Bam the caveman (or caveboy) last night for trick-or-treating. Dad took him down the street and called Mom to tell her that our little caveman cried at 3 of the 4 first houses. Then he got the hang of it and had a good time!

More photos are on our Shutterfly site -
30poundcat.shutterfly.com

The most beautiful sight these eyes have seen in awhile...

That's right...$1.97 a gallon for ethanol blend gas in Iowa! Fill 'er up!

Halloween Twins

This blog may be named in honor of one cat, but around Halloween it's time to pay homage to our (much) smaller cat, Miss Belden.

Belden bears an uncanny resemblance to Winston Churchill (or "Church" as the cat is referred to) from the horror movie Pet Sematary, based on the Stephen King novel. Check it out -
Here's another angle - Belden flashing the evil eye...

...And Church with freaky glowing eyes.

Zomething Zad...

MillerCoors Discontinues Zima

This was a staple during my early college years, along with body suits and Melrose Place!

Rest in Peace!

Bam Bam

Someone's punchy right before bath time...

Cover Boy

Check it out -- wearing the cute jacket Grandma Gloria got me, I could be a catalog model for L.L. Bean!

These kids have nothing on me!

More photos on our Shutterfly site

Overheard at the Y...

I was working out at the Y yesterday and the kids from the high school next door come over during their P.E. classes to use the facility (it's basically empty with the exception of a few SAHMs and senior citizens). As I was leaving the locker room, looking sweaty and frumpted out, about 5-6 cute, young teen girls were gathered in a circle using resistance balls. They realized that they were kind of blocking the exit and one of them apologized as I was passing by, and said, "Sorry, I know we're obnoxious high school kids"...I said in reply with a smile, "Don't worry, it beats being a 30-something housewife!"

It's Geeky Beak Time!

From Grandma and Grandpa Hennig


You can always check out more Alex videos on our You Tube Channel
www.youtube.com/hennigfam

Kid's Got Talent!

I love it when Alex grabs my camera and starts taking pictures - it's fun to look at them afterwards. I gotta say, I think he has a decent eye for composition! :)
Check out a couple of these:

UPDATE: 30 Pound Cat Status

Lincoln and Belden went in on Tuesday for their annual checkups at the vet. Belden, healthy as always, continued to maintain her girlish figure at 11 pounds.

The big guy, however, has lost another 1 1/2 pounds to weigh in at 34.4 lbs - down from 36.0 a year ago. This is really quite an accomplishment when you consider the average cat sleeps about 22 hours a day. Way to go Lincoln! Here are a couple shots of him after his checkup:

Check out (and order) photos!

We've been using Shutterfly for a few years now and have a lot of photos up there. Recently, Shutterfly started offering a free web site service to upload photos. Visitors can check them out and even order reprints. It's great if you want to get some shots that you like on the site. Even better, you have the option of having the reprints sent to your local Target where you can pick them up!

Go here to check out our photo galleries!

www.30poundcat.shutterfly.com

Here's just one of the photos taken from last Sunday in Itasca, we had lots of good ones!

Good Times..

We had a great weekend in Itasca - Alex got spoiled by his grandma and two aunties! Plus we got to see the Kellys!

Dancey-dance time!

Check out these moves ---

Undecided voter!

Alex can't seem to make up his mind who to support in this election! Sorry Uncle Chris, but we haven't taught him to say "Ron Paul" yet!

Bye-Bye High Chair...

Hello counter! Plus, we're drinking without a lid on the cup now (only water though!)

Labor Day Weekend Fun

Sitting in a chair...


Kelly Boys (see those chunky little Alex thighs in the background!)