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..."

All Dressed Up

These two were lookin' pretty smart one Sunday...but turns out Charles Stanley was the only one who could have seen.  We were running late for church but going to make it there anyway, until we opened the car doors and realized both of the car seats weren't in the car!  Needless to say, Nate and I looked at each other and knew we'd be doing church at home!

After a Bath

 

Walter wanted to try wrapping a towel around his head the way mom does. :)

 

A Morning at the Office

Walter and I stopped in at the office one morning to start gathering the paperwork we need for his Certificate of Citizenship.  He was one patient kiddo and passed the time by checking out all the fun stuff in Dad's office

Family Pic, Dog Sitting, Big Wheels

We needed at least one picture of the four of us together!

 

We did some puppy-sitting in early January.

 I felt compelled to call my dad after Nate and I finished putting these Big Wheels together - it was a lot of work and my dad put a lot of Big Wheels together in the day!  Thanks, Dad!