February

Let's see how quickly we can get caught up to April. 

Here's February:

 

Believe it or not, these two love a good tea party...it may have something to do with the "tea" being Ginger Ale, but it seems they think it's just plain fun.  We've been using our tea parties to work on table manners (we're now one step up from a pack of wolves at dinner).  They pretend I am their "sister" (who finds a lot of excuses to use the powder room so that she can also be the British Waiter).  The most exciting part of this tea party lunch?  Using toothpicks to pick their food off the tray.

 Henry and Walter became big fans of hot chocolate this winter.

After loosing his first tooth... 

 The next morning he was happy to see that we left a few crispy ones under his pillow...but apparently not satisfied enough to cooperate and let me take a picture (I'll remember that next time!).  My little stinker - it's impossible to resist his charms!

Adenoidectomy

On March 5th, Walter had his "big, fat adenoid" (according to his doctor) removed.  We're hoping that this will put an end to his sinus infections and coughing that goes on for weeks on end.  He was such a trooper.  It took a while for him to wake up and then he threw up after a few sips of juice, so we stayed around for most of the afternoon.  We knew he had turned the corner when he heard me open a bag of treats and his head turned so quickly, I was sure he'd have whiplash!  He then requested and woofed down 2 Popsicles and we were cleared to head home.  Every now and then he walks up to someone and announces, "I took out my adenoid!"

The Tooth Fairy Makes a Few Visits

Walter and I picked Henry and their cousins, Lauren and Megan, up from school one Thursday.  Walter had picked out treats for everybody and as Henry tried to open his, he yelled, "Mom!"  I looked behind me and there he was holding his tooth!  Everybody was pretty excited for him and he couldn't wait to shooting water through his new gap. 

2/28/2013

Before his first tooth came out, Henry noticed that the tooth right next door was also loose.  He was brushing his teeth while in the bathtub this Wednesday night when Nate asked if Henry had lost his tooth.  When Henry opened his mouth, his tooth was definitely missing - which kicked off our search for the tooth in the bathtub!  Thankfully, we found it on the bath mat and he quickly put it under his pillow.  It's hard to see he's even missing a tooth because his two new teeth were already there.

4/10/2013

 

Here's the story straight from Henry:



More Checkers

These two have been practicing- they may even be eventing some new moves and rules...

Organizing and Other Fun Stuff

We all like things a certain way and Walter has decided that before he uses the bathroom it needs to be "organized."  That means taking everything that's not nailed down out of the bathroom - toilet paper holder, trash can, hair dryer, hand soap, step stool, hand towels - everything.  Yesterday he told me I could leave the radiator!  :)  This may be a good time for me to become more of a minimalist.

We usually spend Tuesday nights at Grandma and Grandpa L's house so we can go to BSF with Grandma on Wednesday morning.  The last few weeks, they have enjoyed playing checkers with Gramps...

 

....playing Little People with Mimi Erin.

(They even taught Gramps and Grandma how to play the Cavity Game they made up with Dad.  Henry is dental floss, Walter is a toothbrush and they attack the lucky person elected to be the cavity.) 

Mall of America

Over the last weekend in January, Nate and I had the bright idea to visit the Mall of America.  We don't really enjoy shopping, but we thought the boys might enjoy visiting the Lego store and going on a few rides - and maybe if we got there first thing in the morning it wouldn't be too busy, right? 

 

Are you laughing yet?  How could we have guessed that there would be an enormous cheerleading competition (which, of course, started at the crack of dawn) being held at a mall on a Saturday?  A mall, really?  I'll spare you all the details, but we saw a lot skin and sparkly eye shadow. 

 

The Lego store was a huge hit - so much so that we could hardly get Henry to go on any rides!

We went on this ride right after lunch, which was a bit of a risk since it goes up to the top, "free falling" for a few feet, bouncing up and down, more free falling and bouncing all the way to the bottom.  Just when you think it's over, it goes back to the top and starts over again...2 or 3 times.  By the end, Henry was drooping over the lap bar slightly and I was honestly worrying that his lunch was going to make a reappearance!  Thankfully, the ride ended before that happened.

I can't help but notice Henry's boots - I packed 2 pairs of Walter's shoes and only boots for Henry so he had to trudge through the hot mall wearing heavy, insulated winter boots. He was a good sport and never once complained! 

Just Like Dad

First off, a promise to myself to leave "the real camera" more readily

accessible so I stop grabbing my phone to take pictures! 

 

A frequent question/comment at our house recently is, "Am I going to be a dad when I grow up?"  Which leads to, "Are you going to be a grandma/grandpa when I grow up?" and "I'm going to be just like Dad.  I'm going to be a good dad who loves Jesus."  I can't think of a better compliment for Nate because he really is an amazing dad and husband.  If either or both of them end up being a dad later in life, they will have had one of the best examples in what makes a great dad. 

 

One Sunday (many moons ago...in January), Henry practiced being just like Dad - he watched the football game holding his glass of pop and ice while standing in front of the T.V. (just like Dad does).  He even made appropriate Dad conversation, "Which team are you cheering for Dad?" and then, "Well, I want the other team to win.  Come on!  Come on!  Go, go, go!  Yes!  See I told you, Dad..."