Woof Woof

Our Dog's name is HONEY-

But Elias has always called her Woof Woof.

So naturally honey is also called "Woof Woof". Elias likes "Woof Woof" on everything he eats...his bread, his cereal, even his pancakes.

I have been a baking factory this week. I have enjoyed trying new recipes. This is my Cranberry loaf. Eric likes to use it for Sandwiches with left over turkey.

"Bebe Desus"

Elias LOVES his nativity. We set it up in early November just so he could play with it for a little extra time.
Well, this week I got out all of the other Nativity scenes. Naturally, they are now the preferred toy. He mixes and matches. Yesterday I found about 10 lambs all lined up on the shelf~ all very different looking lambs from different nativity sets. but lambs none the less.
Today was the nativity highlight though. Elias decided to make "bebe desus" cereal. I came into the living room to find. My new table runner covered in baby Jesus's and milk.

Life is an adventure! And so exciting through the eyes of a 2 year old. Every Christmas decoration is an exciting new toy. Good times.

Elias and the Deer

Here is a censored picture of the deer that I "harvested" last week. It was a medium sized 8 point (4x4) white tail. I was able to field dress him by myself after watching many YouTube videos about the process. I was a little nervous that I was going to be too grossed out, because I felt that way when watching the videos. But when it came down to the business, it went pretty smooth. We have grilled up some steaks and made some roasts and we've come to the conclusion that venison is the new black- we love it. I'm hooked, I'm going next year. A word about the grouse - it was excellent, it went very nice with my alfredo sauce.

I've also included a picture of Elias at the fire station wearing his batman cape that Grandma Castle made for him. He loves wearing it.

France and Switzerland

Paris, France
I loved spending time with my dear friends from childhood~


View of Eiffel from the top of Notre Dame~ The most photographed gargoyle in the world

Lussane, Switzerland
Heidi Shop~


Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire~ They tasted really good!

Berne, Switzerland



A fun little shop just outside Paris~
CASTLE MARKET


Here is a link to my dear friend Whitney's blog. She has posted many of our pictures from France.
http://www.thepantons.blogspot.com/

While Heidi's away....

I have been busy at work and play. The paving project is something that I have been working on for a while. Last spring a student and I came up with a design and wrote a grant to get funding to build it. This fall I have been teaching a landscaping course and the students and I have been installing the design created last spring. After great work from the students and a few visits to the chiropractor it is finally coming together. So the weekend after most of the work was done I went grouse hunting and shot my first ruffed grouse. I haven't ate it yet but I'll let you know how it goes.

Lambert

This is what Elias is going to be wearing this Halloween.

Enjoy this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRtKAQJUc3g

Lambert the Sheepish Lion~

This is Elias's favorite book ever. We read it multiple times daily.
His favorite part is when the Mama sheep all start licking their babies to clean them~ at which point Elias turns around and proceeds to lick my cheek. I explain that people don't kiss/bathe with licks, we use lips to kiss and soap and water to bath. Doesn't help.

Second favorite part of the book ...the head butting. Yes, you guessed it. Elias loves to head butt now. All the other Lambs are doing it Mom...
Elias likes to head butt the other Lambs in the book and of course Mama and Papa are perfect targets...they are sitting ducks reading a book just waiting to be butted. Elias could really use a sib to play with...(which FYI we just signed on with LDS Family Services for adoption again. It is quite the long process and we are at the very beginning so no time soon)... And we are still hoping to get Juan up here to Minnesota.

Anyway~
Naturally Elias is going to be Lambert for Halloween. I will be gone on the 31st ~ so we will have a Mommy Halloween this week...