Cooking, Building, & Grandpa

Nate spent a few days hunting in South Dakota in early December.  While he was away with friends, grilling steak and pheasant, and celebrating his birthday, we kept busy at home.

While I made fried rice for dinner one evening, Walter made his own "Tasty Soup."  He had a ball inventing his new recipe and would have taken a bite if I hadn't stopped him!  If you'd like to make it at home, this is what you'll need:

Walter's No-Cook Tasty Soup

1/3 C flour

6 ice cubes

1/3 C frozen peas (don't thaw)

handful of uncooked egg noodles

1 small container of cumin

lots of old, cold Spanish rice

a little old shredded taco-seasoned-chicken

a couple handfuls of chopped raw carrots

lots of water

"Who wants some Tasty Soup?  It's only $3."

Both boys have been building like crazy, but only Walter wanted his picture taken. 

This is his "Jericho."

Nate's parents were very thoughtful and treated us to dinner at Max's on the last night Nate was gone.  It was the beginning of a snow storm but we made it.  After we made it back home and ate a little dessert, Henry suggested I take a picture of these two with their Grandpa Will (after getting over my shock, I got a quick pic).



Decorating the Christmas Tree

We put our tree up after Thanksgiving and the boys were excited to help decorate. 

As you can see, they had a nice straight line of ornaments going.

From the day we decorate the tree until the day it comes down, the ornaments are constantly moving around the tree - well at least the ornamnets on the lower half of the tree.  So I wasn't too surprised when I noticed two new ornaments on the tree today.  Can you spot them?

Yep, that's right - no tree is complete without a "Western Ranger" and a bowl from your mom's kitchen!

Failed Christmas Picture Session

In mid-October, our Maple tree was beautiful so I thought I'd try to get a picture we could use for a Christmas card...but after 20-some pictures we didn't have a single picture that worked!  So it goes.

The boys seemed to be in a good mood when we got home after running some errands...

Feeling hopeful - a few smiles and laughs - maybe this will work!

"Joy to you!"

The sinking feeling kicked in - I don't think this is going happen.

Wait!  Maybe?

"Okay Mom, we're cold and done!"

The last few weeks

While Nate was hunting in Canada and S.D., the boys and I did a lot of driving back and forth between our house and Grandma and Grandpa's house.  Of course they loved spending time with Gramps, Grandma and the Mimis. 

Playing the guitar with Mimi Megan

Just a few days left of Dad's trip - Pretending to be the Bentley Brothers singing 2 Chronicles. 

They couldn't wait to try on their costumes for Trunk or Treating...and then play in them.
Henry was Boba Fett.

And Walter as "good" Darth Vader.

A few days later Walter put on another Bentley Brothers concert with his friend Amar. 

Their cover song was 2 Samuel.

And the next day - resting in their favorite spot at Grandma and Grandpa A's house.

Bonding

Brothers bonding over a few phone games...

Birthday Party

In September the boys and I took a little road trip so we could help celebrate our friend's 5th birthday in Blaine.  Henry fell asleep just as we entered Blaine and Walter said, "Blaine is a really far away place...I think it's more far away than where Mimi Erin is (Italy)!" 

Thankfully, Blaine is NOT as far away as Italy and we did arrive at Parker's house on time.  Henry and Walter were thrilled when they learned that it was a Lego themed party.  Oh, the fun they had outside climbing, jumping, digging and running with the T Family's kids (and eating a few dozen gumballs out of their gumball machine!). 

The birthday boy taking his turn at Pin-the-shark-on-the-Lego-lake.

Walter's turn...

And now, Henry's turn...

Parker, Walter, Noah

 

Two sweet boys!

A fantastic japchae dinner.

A wild balloon battle.

In the midst of the balloon battle, Henry was completely absorbed in a Lego's catalog.

Happy Birthday! 

Back outside:  A running start...

...jump, and a priceless facial expression on the landing! 

It goes without saying, but everybody slept well that night!

Duck Opener (Warning)

WARNING:  Dead ducks are pictured in the following post...

It looks like I'm finally getting close to catching up because these pictures are from September 22 - MN duck opener.  It was a successful expedition (a little too early in the morning for me) and Henry and Walter couldn't wait to run out to greet their Dad and see all the ducks.  By the time I got outside with the camera, Henry was heading back in to play with his Lego's but Walter was happy hanging out with the guys as they cleaned the birds.

"These ducks aren't in heaven because they didn't have Jesus in them."  I thought that was pretty deep - he definitely understood that the ducks were dead.

Walter just loved carrying around these two...

Talking with Daddy about bird identification. 

He plopped this little duck up on the cleaning table and talked with it for a little while and then, "Bang," (notice how he's using his left hand?).  I think he may be counting down the days until he gets to go duck hunting.

Lots of curiosity - figuring out how the wings work.

Telling me about his blue winged teal.

Learning how to clean a duck.

Helping Uncle Jon - he doesn't mind digging and getting dirty.