Coming up on a new year...

Happy Holidays Everyone!

If you read below, you'll see just how incredibly neglegent I've been at blogging on my little family. However, I am hoping to get better in the next month. For now, here's a quick update...

Saylor: AKA Tank. This gal is full of spit-n-fire. We thought that there could be no one busier than Henry, who earned the nickname "baby damage" by the guys at the fire hall. Well, she takes the cake (eats it too). Okay all kidding aside, we have our hands full with Saylor, but she is really so amazing. She is full of smiles, has a fantastic little personality and knows what she wants.

She is walking (running really) and says at least 15 words or so. It's so fun getting to know her now that she's more than just a lump of baby. It's also incredibly fun getting to dress a little girl. She loves shiny, sparkly things of all sorts. Yay for momma!!!! :)

Henry: This little guy is going to change the world some day. He is bright as heck, asks question after question and has a memory like Einstein. His little sense of humor is crazy funny. Henry started pre-school this year. He is wonderful at it (if that's possible at this age). Mrs. B says that Henry doesn't like to sing with the class tho... he also tells me every time that I sing in the car that I'm only allowed to sing at night time, in his bed. I am guessing that is why he doesn't like to sing in school... it's part of bedtime routine (and he hates going to bed).

This kid loves mud and his family. He went hunting with Russ this last year and every single photo that came back he was grinning from ear to ear. It was a blissful sight to be seen. Henry is loving and so special. We're blessed beyond belief.

Russ: Well, Russ is still at LOFD and plans to work there until retirement. He's starting to do all the hard work that it takes to move up to a driver position. It's different up here vs. Coos Bay where he drove all the time. I know he will succeed at whatever he puts his mind to.

Russ went hunting this last October... got a giant elk that had too many antlers to count. All I know is that when I opened up the trash lid early one morning, bout lost my mind... there was a giant severed deer head smiling at me. GROSS!!!! Boy's will be boy's. (Good thing I have Saylor on my side)

Amy (me): I started up my very own business this last year. Rare Byrd Creative. I have a sweet suite down in the Pearl District in the heart of Portland. It's amazing. I feel incredibly alive and like I am doing exactly what I was put on this earth to do. I feel like I'm really growing as a designer and learning so much as a new business owner. I have to thank my husband and family for all the support... that and a will to make it happen!

Other that the business, I am pretty busy with my kiddos. I have worked out that I get to be home with my babes 50% of the time and work the other. Russ has them while I am at work so we feel pretty wonderful about he fact that our kiddos get to be with us... I'm always asking Henry if he could stay this size forever... he places his two little hands on my cheeks and says "I have get get bigger mom, I just have to." Well, I guess I'll make sure to enjoy them both while I do have them this size.

A very warm cheer to all our friends and family out there! I know that this last year has been hard for many. I hope that this next year brings new beginnings and growth to all.

OHHHH, For those who are wondering about the four-legged portion of our family... Hannah is still kicking! She was happy to spend a week or so inside while it was freezing outside. Old girl, she's still part of the family.

Make it happen out there!!!
Love, The Thackery's

Wipey Hats!

Lovey, lovey, lovey long time...

It was "wash lovey day" the other day. I believe that it's the worst day ever for Henry. It's like he misses his absolute best friend, his soul mate... Lovey! He actually sat there with the flash light and watched it suds up and tumble like mad. He asked every other turn of the machine if lovey was done yet. And then, once lovey was actually finished, it was like a reuniting of Adam and Eve... peanut butter and jelly or even Meradith and Derek (for those of you who watch Greys like we do).

Watching Henry and lovey is truly a beautiful thing!

Here is Henry watching lovey and then a clean and sanitized for 2 hours... lovey!

Hide a keys are good ideas...

I can't believe this happened... I LOCKED SAYLOR IN THE CAR!!!!!

Henry, Saylor and I went to watch Russ play soccer today at Tualatin high school with a bunch of other FF's. We had gotten mostly settled and were having a great time in the sunshine and then Henry got hungry. Okay, pack it up and head to the pizza place for a slice.

Once we got to the car, I made Henry stand right next to me as I put Saylor in the car. I then tossed my keys and purse into the front seat like I normally do, then shut the door to go put Henry in on his side... OH MY GOSH, the doors somehow automatically locked as Henry and I walked around to the other side, right before I opened up Henrys door.

My car has a safety feature for if you unlock it and then forget to lock it back up. This is great normally, but not when my 6 month old daughter and the KEYS are inside.

The best way to explain how I felt was to compare it to an incredibly horrible tidal wave. It was a tidal wave of panic, trying to keep sanity and mostly the feeling of complete and utter horror. It's the first hot day here in Portland and it was super warm in the car. My first instinct was to break the window... but with what? I couldn't find a single object to penetrate the glass with. So, I did the next best thing. I ran. I literally sack of potatoed Henry and started sprinting all the way back to the field. I had remembered that Russ brought his keys to the game and they were sitting in his shoes.

Here I am, in flip flops with Henry over my shoulder running as fast as I could. In the meantime, Saylor is locked in the car.

So many things went through my head. I knew that she was safe, but I didn't want her screaming, crying and getting scared. And, like I said, it was a hot day and the windows were all closed.

At first, Henry was startled and said "stop mom, I don't like you running fast." I don't even know what I said, but all of a sudden, he started laughing. He thought we were having fun! I round the corner back to the field and dash to Russ' shoes where the keys were. I put Henry down for a second, kicked off my flip flops, picked up the keys, my flip flops and threw Henry over my shoulder again and started sprinting... Oh MY GOSH!!!!!

People were looking at me very confused. I certainly had no time to explain and truthfully, I didn't care what anyone thought. Saylor was still in the car.

So, I am barefoot and off and running again. Let me also tell you that I am sooooooo out of shape, especially for this sort of sprinting with a 35 lb. kiddo in hand. I finally have the car back into site and I am barely alive it feels. I am not kidding. This was so horrible. I was just about to the car and the letdown of this erratic exercise I have just completed hits me. I see Saylor, I put Henry down and unlock the car. The door is open, Henry is laughing and saying, "that was fun mom, let's do it again." I now put my flip-flops back on.

Saylor was just fine. She was a champ. I don't even really know how long of time period it was... It was mostly a purely horrific blur. The good news is that Saylor is fantastic and didn't even know that there was anything wrong. Henry got his pizza and I now know that fight or flight mode is real!

Note to self... Hide a key is a good idea!

A quick update...

Okay, I am officially loser mom. I can't believe that I have not blogged or posted new photos of the kids for about a month. Personal record!

Here is a couple shots from today. We had a wonderful, quiet weekend with the kids. Saylor is sitting up unsupported these days and such a blissful little girl. She has two pet names... Saylor Magaylor and daddy's new name is Sails. Both are perfectly fitting for her. She is always happy unless you are eating in front of her. She is about to outweigh Henry in a couple of days... let's just say that she's "healthy"! Who cares, as long as she happy and having fun!

As for Henry, he is certain to earn class clown for his years in school. He is brilliantly funny! I don't know where he comes up with the things he does. He pretends like no other. His imagination is so amazing. We of course play along every chance we are given. Sometimes that may mean that we have dinosaurs on our backs or that Henry, the doo doo monster is going to get us. Sometimes Henry even pulls imaginary presents out of his pockets and give them to us. Seriously, he is sooooo incredible. I can't say enough about him. There isn't a thing that he does not say now.

I guess that's all for now. I promise to update photos this week. I have quite a few entries to make on their behalf.
xoxoxo

Saylor and mom...

Monster truck photo gallery...

Monster truck adventure...

But really, I felt like we were back in Coos Bay. I say this with nothing but love in my voice and a certain care for what Coos Bay is and will always be... Home! I didn't know what to expect when Russ said that we were going to the monster truck show. All I knew is that Henry would be elated and this adventure would blow his almost 3 year-old mind. Well, it did just that! He just stared at the trucks in awe. He could barely blink his eyes! I was scared out of my mind for the first 10 minutes, but then was just actually amazed that we were sitting there, watching the "Grave Digger" and his friends demolish these junk yard cars. The video with my sheer joy and Henry's amazement...

My new position...

I have an announcement!!!! I have recently accepted a new position with Henry & Saylor INC. Yes, you guessed it. I have given my formal letter of resignation to PCC, effective April 3rd. I figured that now is as good of time as any to really get involved and have a big hand in shaping who Henry and Saylor will be. I just love these babes so much and the timing is right! Of course, I will not be giving up my slacks, heels and accessories... I am going to try my hand at freelance design and hopefully get my foot into the door of interior design. It's a major love of mine and I feel like it's time to give it a shot! So, please keep me in mind if you have a "before" room that needs a stunning "after!" Loves...

Halloween...

I forgot to post these... Here is Henry as Joe Dirt for Halloween. Saylor was a cutie kitty! Trick or Treat...

Now this is camping...

Russ traveled to Bend today to pick up our new trailer. Truthfully, it looks more like a second home. Bunkbeds, flat screen, aero bed couch and so much more. Seriously, it's crazy! If anyone out there is interested in taking advantage of the fact that they are practically giving these things away... do it, NOW! We got a great deal and are really excited for all the great years of camping ahead of us. It's not exactly how our parents and their parents grew up camping, aka "roughing it," but truthfully we feel pretty blessed to have the opportunity to camp in such convenient style. Great memories are ahead...

This and that...

Cheers to vacation! What's vacation...

So we went to Sunriver for a family vacation. We went ice skating, sledding, hot tubbing, hiking and most of all, just really had fun. It was the last night we were there and we went out to a nice dinner with the kiddos. We had our glasses of wine up for a toast and included Henry in a "cheers to vacation." So he says... "Cheers to vacation" then, pauses and says, "dad, what's a vacation?" It was priceless! WE had a great time and can't wait for our next adventure. To the good times...