still spinning

If you're a parent, then you've probably been asked around the time of your child's birthday or Christmas the obvious question: What's he into right now?
For Henry, that's a difficult question to answer. The answer isn't as simple as dinosaurs, trucks, or trains. The answer has to be accompanied by a rather detailed explanation. About this time last year it was all about angels. From sun up to sun down he was talking about, singing about, and playing with angels. Currently his life (and ours) revolves around flags. Yep, flags.
It all began back in August when we went to the premiere performance of the Husky Marching Band on the lawn of the courthouse. I parked the double stroller right in front of the color guard kids, thinking that would be the most entertaining part for Henry. I had no idea that colorful fabric flying about in the wind would steal my little boy's heart. Soon after, he found my Swiffer duster and started using it as a flag. That original model seems like a distant memory compared to the array of flags we have since acquired. Step 2 was to attach a piece of tissue paper to the Swiffer with scotch tape, but that turned out to be far to flimsy for Henry's choreography so we graduated to a handkerchief attached with packing tape. And outdoor performances in our front yard.
By this time, marching band season was in full swing and we attended our first half-time show of the year. It didn't take long for Henry to realize his flag was nothing compared to the real thing, so Dameon proposed he bring home a real flag from work for Henry to have as his very own. Oh happy day! Henry started spinning and still hasn't stopped. And we learned he is actually kinda good at it. Our living room was transformed into a field and we've all had to endure our share of knocks upside the head. Even poor Warren got left alone near the field for a minute and ended up with a scuff mark across his forehead.
The first weekend of October I took the two boys to the Urbandale Marching Band contest. Henry absolutely loved it and the flag obsession was here to stay. We started watching the video of the show in our living room/field and he quickly memorized the routine. Plus he started requiring an audience and every time we sat down to watch he would say, "Have you been here already today?" and "Did you find a special spot to watch the flags?" Oh, and the obligatory "Clap! Clap for me!" But the real pinnacle came the following weekend when Aunt Suey and Uncle Jim came to town. They took Henry to the football game, experienced the flag obsession first-hand, and before they left Suey promised Henry special customized flags which would be delivered the next morning and the Valleyfest competition. And you better believe she did NOT disappoint. I'm pretty sure she didn't sleep that night, as she showed up with three flags, which coordinated with the official Husky Marching Band flags. Henry was completely thrilled. For the past three weeks, he has been spinning his flags and doing his routine. In fact, his favorite flag is completely frayed from all the spinning. He sets his flags before his performance, changes color at the appropriate times, marches off the field with all flags cradled in his arms, and has started referring to himself in the third person... as THE PERFORMER.
The color guard kids were even gracious enough to invite us to their end of the year party last week and they performed just for Henry. I'm quite certain it was the highlight of his life!