Huntington Gardens Survives Toddler Visit

One of our favorite outings when we visit Kate's family is to go to the Huntington Gardens in Pasadena. The grounds are immense and include a Chinese and a Japanese Garden. Some of you will recognize the gardens (especially the koi ponds) in pictures from the past two years' family calenders. We are all about tradition and will be dragging him to Huntington for years to come (bribing him as the teen years arrive I am sure).

Henry loves nature of course and calmly sits back admiring the beauty surrounding him.
Right.
Henry loves to fully interact with nature - climbing it, trying to jump in it, pulling it off stems and branches.... Mommy spent a lot of her time yelling "Look with your EYES" and "THIS way, THIS way".
Sorry plants. Sorry flowers. Sorry birds and fish. Hope you've recovered.

Although thwarted from jumping in ponds and waterfalls, Henry did enjoy splashing in puddles.

Uncle Tim was able to join us at the Gardens!

Mommy and Henry took their yearly picture in the Chinese Garden at the arch. Yes people, this is as good as it gets with a toddler. It's our "rocker" look.

Henry and Mama hid in a large grove of bamboo but Mommy found them. Mommy ALWAYS finds you.

Henry is still fascinated with the koi. We had to pick out our favorite ones. Henry's favorite was the biggest one of course. We had to explain that we couldn't take them home. This was the first of many conversations about why we will never have certain animals as pets.

Here are "the boys" at the garden taking a little break. Look who's ready to go!