PHOTOS: Winter Wonderland

Christmas Ninjas

Christmas Comfy

The boys relaxing (momentarily) under new fleece blankets with their Pillow Pets from their Christensen grandparents.

Christensen Christmas

New Family Photo

Duck and Cover!

Both boys received Marshmallow Blasters from the Deur grandparents. Forty foot power (according to the box) and plenty of zing behind the fluffy ammunition!

The Deurs

Christmas PJs

Pre-Travel Christmas

VIDEO: HCA Christmas

HCA First Graders

Aidan and Miss Richter

VIDEO: Church Program

A few clips from the boys' Christmas Program at church last night. It was Kellen's first program and he spent a little time looking for big brother Aidan. They had practiced together at home for two weeks. Both boys had speaking parts and did well with the reward of cookies awaiting them

Blizzard!

This weekend we got hit with a lot of snow and some very high winds. It was so treacherous they actually cancelled church on Sunday morning...the first time we've had anything stopped by snow in Minnesota. In fact Aidan's never even had a delay at school because the people of our fine state are hardcore winter warriors.

Below you'll see Kellen and Logan demonstrating the size of the drift on our deck. This was before the winds really picked up.

I found the snow in the driveway to be light and fluffy but very deep near the street. In the back yard trudging through the drifts was very difficult and I lost a leg a few times...as in they disappeared in the snow, I still have all of my appendages.

I shot a little video of the snow and wind but the clip below is slightly more dramatic. Nothing says dangerous snow like a stadium roof collapse!

I do wish I had some video of me clearing the driveway in the high winds. Some of the gust were so stiff I could loft the fluffy stuff into the air and watch it fly over the neighbor's driveway. It was very entertaining until I turned my head and caught whatever was blowing down the street.

For more information on what it's like to live in Minnesota refer back to my reflections from our first winter in the Great White North.

Memory Man

Aidan shares some of his recent memorization work from school. Not sure why the video is so jumpy.

Do It Yourself Dinner

Meltdown

Do you love Christmas candies? Assorted items covered in white chocolate or almond bark?

Make sure you peak in the oven door before preheating for your chicken nuggets. That's a Tupperware lid melted on the treats Rachel made for Aidan's teacher. We had stashed them in the oven before vacating the house for a showing. I thought the preheat was smelling extra delicious.

Kid Compare (10M)

Logan

Kellen

Aidan

You Choose

I'm sharing this photo to...

a) show you Logan's newest talents of standing by himself and taking a few steps

b) illustrate the horrible daily choices I make when dressing him in clothes that are not the appropriate size

Improvise!

Your parents don't own a ping-pong table? Build your own with Mega Blocks and find make shift paddles!

Bear in the Air

The big boys favorite game at Grammie and Papa D's...

Lower the stuffed bear on the unsuspecting person on the couch.

VIDEO: StairMaster

Sled and Slide

We missed the first snow of the season as we were away from home this past weekend. Rachel called today and said she was coming home from work early so the boys could play in the snow before dark...a development Kellen deemed "seriously awesome".

Random Memory 8

I’m not sure what made me think of this the other day but I guess that’s what makes it a random memory.

While In Chicago and working in finance I needed to acquire a number of licenses. The time came for me to sit for my big securities (investment) exam and the most convenient testing facility appeared to be at the end of the Metra line into downtown Chicago. I boarded the train several miles west of the city and sat slightly nervous glancing often at my study materials en route to the end of the line.

When I hopped on the train every thing was sunny and clear. The closer we got to Chicago the darker the skies became. I was concerned because the walk between the train station and the testing center was substantial enough that any precipitation was going to be very unwelcomed. By the time we arrived it was coming down pretty hard.

The only potential shield I had from the elements was my study books and if I happened to fall short on the exam I was going to need them dry and legible. I tucked them under my shirt and walked briskly through the rain.

By the time I reached the front door of the appropriate address I was drenched. I entered the building looking in all directions trying to decide exactly where I needed to go next. A pleasant voice behind a giant desk inquired as to whether I was there to take my securities exam. Did everyone show up looking like they’d just wet their pants?

I shivered as the elevator carried me up floor by floor. The doors open and I checked the time…it was early enough that I could sneak into the men’s room and try to dehydrate my wardrobe. I spent several minutes in the stall squeezing the weather out of my shirt and shorts. It was time to test.

It was summer so they were naturally pumping as much cool air into the computer lab as possible. I sat still moist twitching as I punched in my answers. The time came to hit submit and I waited for the terminal to tally my score. I literally missed a passing grade by one question.

As I walked out into the noise of the city the sun was shining once again. Perhaps if I had not sat in a puddle during my exam I would have been able to focus a bit better but that was irrelevant, I would have to try again. I was anxious to get home and relax in dryer clothing.

On the walk back to the train station I approached a red light. I stopped near the curb and waited. A guy, one of those people who’s always in a hurry and just has to get a step ahead of you, pushed his way in front of me. He was wearing a very nice suit. As he impatiently willed the light to turn green looking for a potential hole in the traffic to shoot through I caught a quick glance of vehicle approaching our vicinity, noticed a fresh and substantial puddle just off the curb and instinctively took a giant step back. Mr. Impatient was suddenly wearing the puddle. Sometimes it pays to be patient.

A few weeks later I would wake very early and drive to a different testing center in the northern suburbs for a second go at the exam. I over estimated traffic that morning and arrived well in advance of my scheduled time. I put my study materials on the passenger seat, dropped the seat back, took a nice nap and passed the exam with ease after waking to the alarm on my cell phone.

Some Light Reading

Hurricane Logan struck the magazine rack today...there were no survivors.

Out of Gas

Logan drifted into an unscheduled, mostly vertical slumber at 8:30 this morning.

VIDEOS: The BK Dash

We got booted out of the house during a showing last week so the boys and I went out for ice cream at DQ after school and then hit the indoor playground at BK for awhile.

Here's a look at Aidan and Kellen's individual bests in The BK Dash.

Mac Attack

Logan has a new love. He attacks macaroni and cheese like a wild animal feasting on something he fears might try to pop up and run away. I think he might be fully capable of consuming an entire box by himself.

The evidence/aftermath...

Rub A Dub Dub

The butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker...

Super Slide

Our Sunday afternoon geocaching runs have introduced us to some new parks in the area. This one features a steep slide that really zips (I know...I've tried it several times).

Waiting in the Wings

Logan waits patiently for his turn to participate in the family Rock Band 3 jam. He's fond of the drumsticks and likes to howl along to whatever song is playing.

Kid Compare (9M)

Logan

Kellen

Aidan