Categories
Holidays

Christmas 2023

Twenty-three was a good fun year, full of travels and new things.
Jacob turned twelve, William is eight, and Henry is eleven.
History day for Jacob's grade, William made First Communion.
Chicago U-Boat, Mammoth Cave, horseback riding on spring break.
We flew out to California, went to Disneyland!
Boundary waters with the family, Whoa! A great big moose was swimming!
Beauty and Beast musical shows, distance running, then diving.
Lots of concerts and Christmas prep, we are now on Christmas Break!
Categories
Activities

Christmas 2022

Merry Christmas! We hope you enjoy our Christmas tradition.

Lyrics Written by Jacob, Henry, and William
Hark how the bells
Sweet silver bells
All seem to say
Throw cares away

Christmas is here
Singing good cheer
To young and old
Meek and the bold

Sounding the gong
Here is our song
With joyful ring
All caroling

One seems to hear
Words of our year
Werths everywhere
Thrilling we swear

Oh how they sound
Singing a round
O’er hill and dale
Telling their tale

Gayly they sing
While people ring
Songs of the year
Christmas is here

Papa, Mama, Jacob, Henry, William Werth
Papa, Mama, Jacob, Henry, William Werth

On, on they send
On without end
Their joyful tone
To every home

Sing, song, sing, song…..

‘Leven, ten, and seven, now thee boys have turned.
Spring break up to Lutsen, skiing with the Werths.
Started rock climbing at in indoor gym.
Kept at it through summer, hope to start again.

Went down to St. Louis for Sophie’s wedding.
Apollo joined our family he’s the best kitty.
We had plenty different summer camps.
Hunting, fishing, scouting, they were all the best.

Gophers, Wolves, and Twins sports are oh so fun.
Wisconsin Dells with family water parks and more
Time together, driving in the car.
Singing songs on repeat as we went along.

“Oh yeah! The Pi Song!!” 
3 point 1 4 1 5 9
this is pi followed by
2 6 5 3 5 8 9 circumference over diameter

Up at the cabin, we were remodeling.
We put in a dock, stairs to the lake.
Up on dry land we made a hunting stand.
Bridges, banks, and jumps mountain biked for fun.

We went to some big fairs, valley and state.
We had lots of fun there, it was really great.
Wild Thing was fast. We had food and fun.
Stage debut as Simba, Jacob couldn’t wait.

Went to SJU, hiked around the lake.
We went to the chapel, view from there was great.
Grandparents came to the football game.
We had lots of fun, and thee Johnnies won.

Dad went hunting, Henry came as well.
They hiked in the woodlands, it was really swell.
Boys have been wrestling, very promising.
This has been our song from all year long.

Merry Christmas!!!!
The Werth's lying in the snow
Categories
Holidays

Christmas 2021

We three boys of Delano here
Bearing news we bring Christmas cheer
hear our story, guts and glory 
Following this past year

Oh, year of wonder, year of sites
Year with awesome outdoor nights
Northward driving, still providing
Calm is found in nature sites

Start the year with Jacob’s birthday
Skiing, sledding, cold winter play
Bought a cabin, finally happened
Forest and lake display

Oh, year of wonder, year of sites
Year with awesome outdoor nights
Northward driving, still providing
Calm is found in nature sites

End of school and William turns six
Baseball, bikes, warm weather predicts
Swimming, boating, fishing, hiking
Our spirits these do fix

Oh, year of wonder, year of sites
Year with awesome outdoor nights
Northward driving, still providing
Calm is found in nature sites
Scout camps come, so more camping out
Family Twins game random, no doubt
Rockets, circus, tree down on purpose
Water - not fun - in drought

Oh, year of wonder, year of sites
Year with awesome outdoor nights
Northward driving, still providing
Calm is found in nature sites

Fifth and third and first grade school time
Mountain biking, hunting no dime
Holiday gathering, teeth a-chattering
Christmas bells soon will chime

Oh, year of wonder, year of sites
Year with awesome outdoor nights
Northward driving, still providing
Calm is found in nature sites

This past year at times could be rough
But together we could be tough
Christmas greetings, New Year leading
Can't wish you joy enough!

Oh, year of wonder, year of sites
Year with awesome outdoor nights
Northward driving, still providing
Calm is found in nature sites
Categories
Activities Holidays

Christmas 2020

Merry Christmas all! We wanted to send our Christmas greetings and well wishes in a year that has been challenging on a number of fronts. As in years past, we wanted to spread a little joy by recording a song for you to enjoy. Grab your favorite beverage, sit down by a fire (or other heat source), and enjoy this song while perusing the pictures below.

Up to Duluth we drove one day,
At the Edge waterpark we stayed,
Scout winter camp, Jacob’s ninth birthday,
Deep Portage in the North, winter play.
Ho ho ho, who wouldn’t go, ho ho ho, who wouldn’t go,
With all the Werth boys, 1, 2, 3,
That’s the Werth year through February.

In early March we played paintball,
Soon thereafter the world did fall,
COVID came and changed it all,
Home became workplace and school ‘til fall.
Ho ho ho, we couldn’t go, Ho ho ho, we couldn’t go,
Out to parties, sports, and more,
So our backyard we did explore.

We had planned a porch add-on,
Now our vacation plans were gone,
So we built a patio too,
Now our backyard is renewed.
Ho ho ho, flowers will grow, Ho ho ho, flowers will grow,
Rain garden, creek bed, scoop, scrape, swish,
Off to the lake to catch some fish.

Despite the bug we went camping,
Lots of State Park hiking,
Then to Mount Rushmore in the RV,
S’mores, prairie dogs, and family.
Ho ho ho, who wouldn’t go, Ho ho ho, who wouldn’t go,
Into the fall and school for all,
William’s in kindergarten having a ball.

The last few months have been very odd,
The teachers, police, nurses we do laud,
Despite it all we have lots of joy,
Time with our family we’ve enjoyed.
Ho ho ho, we wish for you, Ho ho ho, we wish for you,
Love and Joy, a good Noel,
We hope your holidays will be swell!

Categories
Activities

Christmas Tree Hunting

It’s that time of year: the annual quest for the perfect Christmas tree. Eager to find the right tree, we headed to the Crow River Nursery. It was a beautiful 40 degree day, with the sun shining, so we took our time walking around and finding the right one. It did take us a while, but we found the one. The problem? It was the top of a 40-foot tree.

Cutting down the tree.

Not easily swayed, we brought that tree down! (We were encouraged to do so after asking first.)

The result? A very nice Christmas tree:

Categories
Activities Holidays

Halloween!

‘Tis that time of year where the ghouls and goblins come out. Only this year, we had to make sure they stayed 6 feet away, but we wanted to still distribute treats to any brave souls. As a result, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for something I’ve been wanting to do: build a catapult!

During a trip to the home improvement store, we picked up a few supplies (small panel of plywood, and a scrap piece of decking). I introduced the concept of a trebuchet to the boys, and asked them to design one. The result:

In addition to the launching of candy, we enjoyed getting the boys dressed up in costumes, carving jack-o’lanterns, and roasting pumpkin on the fire.

Categories
Activities

First Day of School 2020

For the first time, I sent the whole family off on their first day of school: K, 2, 4, and 6.

Categories
Holidays

Christmas 2019

Categories
Activities Holidays

Christmas 2018

Merry Christmas everyone! I’m glad you made it to the blog. Unfortunately, I haven’t been here since last February, so it’s a bit lacking in updates. In keeping with our Christmas tradition, we have created an audio greeting for your listening pleasure. While you listen to the song, take a look at the pictures below, offering a recap of our 2018 year. We were blessed with a fantastic year of fun activities, combined with plenty of opportunities to get outdoors and spend time with family.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Categories
Activities

February Fun

Along with our to to Deep Portage, there were plenty of little activities going on this month. We had some illness, the 100th day of school, and FRED night at Delano Elementary. And of course we can’t forget the Ice Palace (coinciding with the Superbowl in Minneapolis) and tuning at Elm Creek with the Lidbergs!