Leaves

We thought we would try to get a picture for the Christmas card while the weather was warm and the leaves were colorful a few weeks ago. The boys started out raking the leaves and running through the pile, which was fun until Henry got a piece of a leaf stuck on his tongue causing him to throw up all over Nate!







After a quick clothing change, we tried again...


We both look like we're about to fall asleep, but I'm sentimental, and I don't want to forget the quiet moments when I get hugs from one of my guys...


or when we're silly...


This would scream, "Wishing you a joyful Christmas" if it was the year 1900.


...love these precious faces.


We weren't overwhelmed with choices, so we moved over to the "climbing tree" hoping that would work.





(Getting comfy while watching his big brother climb.)





Oh well, we still have November and December, right?

Venus Fly Trap

I'm not exactly a great seamstress, so when Henry said he wanted to be a venus fly trap for Halloween...I was a little worried. Thankfully, turns out I'm not too terrible with a hot glue gun and craft foam. Here's the finished product - just in time for trunk'r'treating at church tonight.


He's a fly getting eaten by a venus fly trap...maybe you can see the fly wings on the back of his shirt.

Visit to the River Bottom

Nate had a great idea to visit the river bottom after church a few weeks ago. It was a hot, fall day and we thought it would be fun for the boys to go exploring. They did enjoy a little hike, climbing the rocks and fallen trees, and looking for frogs.


Henry leading the way...

Privacy, Please

It isn't unusual to hear Henry or Walter saying, "Privacy, please." One afternoon, I walked into the kitchen to see this:


Walter quickly blurted out, "No, Mommy! Privacy, please!" Hmmm...It didn't take long to notice that,
1) he was sitting on the counter top
2) he was playing with Henry's leapfrog.

What they won't do for electronics!



And a story for myself to remember:
While Henry took a quick snooze this afternoon, Walter and I shared a few scoops of Kemps' Denali Double Fudge Moosetracks ice cream...in fact we finished off the carton. As Walter took the last spoonful, he said he wanted more. I explained that all the ice cream was gone and he went to the kitchen. A few seconds later, he reappeared carrying the empty carton that he had pulled out of the garbage, his face covered in chocolate from licking the inside!

Sleeping Boys

First Day of School

I can't believe it, but Henry is officially a preschooler! How did that happen so quickly? Henry loves going to school so he can go down the tube slide and play monsters on the playground...and do some other stuff. I'd love to be a fly on the wall!

Anyway, pictures from Henry's first day. He was very cooperative ("Thanks for taking me to school, Mom.").


"Oh look! Flowers!"

Still Friends

Tiger (and his two tails) is still around...He's a great pillow, gets lots of hugs, and hasn't gotten any smaller. He is well-loved.

Dinner

A few weeks ago (ok, so it was the beginning of September), we gave the Costco bulgogi a try. It was a beautiful day, so we cooked outside and Walter enjoyed watching from his fun chair...


Nate had been dove hunting that day and couldn't wait to try the dove with bulgogi marinade. Here's the final product (Nate and the boys thought it was delicious).


On a side note, I wish I had pictures of H & W watching Nate clean the doves - they weren't phased a bit and thought it was quite fun to carry a bird or two around while getting a lesson on how to clean birds!

The next night, the bulgogi was used in japchae - probably the boys' all-time favorite meal.

Henry's definitely got the chopsticks down...

Walter is catching on quickly...and they even shared!

State Fair

On September 1, we got together with our friends at the State Fair. We got there early and hit the mini donuts before letting the kids go on a few rides (big hit with the kids and a big hit on the wallet, too!). All the boys were interested was finding the cotton candy. We managed to pick the most hot and humid day, but had a great time together.

On the rides...













Fruit Break


After taking a quick spin through the barns, we were ready for lunch!


Walter discovered that he liked corndogs.


Yum - cotton candy and corndogs



Mr. Charlie was a trooper


After holding hands in the sheep barn, Walter managed to get in a few kisses - it involved some fancy footwork.



Henry couldn't resist checking this out!

Little Red Riding Hood and Catalogs

We checked out "Little Red Riding Hood" from the library a number of weeks ago and Nate discovered that Henry loves to re-enact it. So here's our version of Little Red, with Henry and Walter as Little Red Riding Hood and Nate as the Big Bad Wolf.


"Oh Granny, what big teeth you have!"


"All the better to eat you with, my dear!"

And the following moments hold a special spot in Nate's heart - browsing the Cabela's catalog with his sons (who enjoy it just as much as Dad). Henry prefers to go right to the gun section!