We have a piano in the living room that doesn’t get played as often as I would like. I took lessons from the time I was 5 until I my 1st semester in college. I wish I had kept it up. I keep saying I’d like to take them again, but at this point, I don’t know when I’d find the time. For now I have to settle for the random 5 minutes here and there when I can sit on the bench before the boys come join me. Today they climbed up and tried a duet.
Jake and I had a rare opportunity to go downtown on Friday night to celebrate with a friend of mine who just passed the bar exam. The 4 people I knew who recently took the bar all passed. Anyone need a lawyer? While we were at The Local, the boys went with their grandparents to Auntie Larissa’s place to go swimming. I think we have a couple of little fish on our hands. They really do love the water.
Saturday morning instead of waking up to frost on the pumpkin, we woke up to SNOW on the pumpkin! The kids were ecstatic! Nolan immediately started talking about skiing, snowballs, and sledding. He’s just a little bit more excited than I am about the white stuff, but I do enjoy seeing the twinkle in his eye as he thinks about the upcoming winter months.
It’s been nice getting back out with the rest of the world after living in seclusion last week. I feel like we had a week full of Saturdays – wearing pj’s all day and napping in the afternoon. Starting tomorrow, it’s back to preschool and workouts at the gym. Oh, and apparently more snow.
Today was the second day in a row that we were able to get outside. Let’s hear it for the sun! After Shecklet #2 got up from his nap, I loaded the boys into the wagon and headed for the park. I would have taken a few pictures of the two monkeys on the playground equipment had I remembered that the technology I needed was right in my pocket. It wasn’t until I noticed two teenage girls using their camera phones that I realized I actually had a camera with me as well.
Swinging was a tolerable activity this afternoon, (some days it is definitely not!) so we ended our trip with a lesson in how to move our legs out and in to “pump” the swing. Then Shecklet #1 wanted to help push Shecklet #2. Shecklet #2 was a good sport even though he looks a little annoyed in the picture.
Prior to the day getting warm (and dry) enough for us to venture outside the walls of our house for the first time in 4 days, the boys discovered just how fun paper towels can be. Again, I have to thank Sam’s Club for the large number of rolls of fun we have in our basement. Apparently these are the blocks of choice today. They are easy to carry around, somewhat challenging to stack up, and loads of fun to knock down, kick around, and collapse on. And the great thing is, they don’t hurt when you get hit by one.
Shecklet #2 has discovered that his spoon (which he only parts with when he sleeps & eats) makes a great catapult. Today’s launch item was chalk. He challenged himself by loading up the spoon and attempting to stand up without dumping the contents prior to being able to throw the pieces everywhere. Where do kids learn this stuff?
Yes, the boys were dressed alike today. We were going for “comfy” and when Shecklet #1 saw what Shecklet #2 was wearing, he wanted to wear the same thing. This is the exact opposite of what we experienced a week ago when Shecklet #2 HAD to wear the same Lightning McQueen outfit that Shecklet #1 had on. Good thing we had an outfit his size!
We’re going a little stir-crazy after being stuck in the house for 3 days straight now. (The never-ending rain is keeping us from even being in the backyard.) I pulled out a few of our Halloween decorations this evening and let the kids play with them. Shecklet #2 particularly likes the “spooky ghost” who is just a smidgen taller than him. Here he is pushing the ghost to the ground and then hugging him afterward. What compassion 😉
This morning did not start off well. I woke up at 4:30 with a migraine, which proceeded to last about 12 hours. Yuck 🙁
Jake worked from home today and took care of the boys so I could rest. (I sure have a wonderful husband!) At one point during the morning, Jake brought me something for my migraine along with my water bottle, leaving the boys downstairs. When he went back down to the living room he saw this:
The boys were saying a prayer for their mommy to get better. Talk about making my heart melt! Jake said Shecklet #1 was leading Shecklet #2 in a combination prayer of the Our Father and Angel of God (which Shecklet #1 has recently been singing with his classmates at preschool.) Their prayers must have been heard; I’m feeling much better this evening. The plan for the week is that we have no plans. Our calendar has been cleared and the goal is to rest up and hopefully recover by week’s end.
My youngest son seems to have an affinity for kitchen items. Forget using a blanket as a “lovey,” give my kid a utensil. Last week, Shecklet #2’s preference was a mini rolling pin. This week, it’s a large black kitchen spoon. He has discovered it is like a “Go-Go-Gadget arm” that he can use to reach things on the counter, use as a drum stick, or fend off his big brother. Crazy kid!
Here’s something I never thought I’d be writing about myself.
After consulting with the nurse line at my clinic this afternoon, I went to urgent care for a suspicious set of bumps on my hand and a sore throat that has been annoying me for several days. I left the doctor’s office with a prescription and a chicken pox diagnosis. Can you believe that?!?
I’m not really sure where I contracted them from. There is one possibility, but if it’s true that the virus doesn’t make itself known until 14 days after exposure, then my potential encounter last week was quite likely not the cause of the outbreak. Then again, I really shouldn’t even be a candidate for even getting them – I already had them when I was a kid. Apparently I’m one of the few lucky ones who gets to experience them twice. I’m hopeful that the breakout won’t be too bad, but regardless, I’m now home-bound until things clear up.
Thankfully, the kids and Jake are currently in the clear, and not subject to the same quarantine that I am. I’m praying things stay that way. I’ll gladly endure the sore throat and house arrest if that means they stay healthy!
Grandma Patti & Grandpa Dave joined us for dinner tonight. The kids practically jumped through the front window when they saw them arrive – they were so excited! After we ate, G & G took the boys to the indoor playground near our house. Nolan has been asking to go for quite a while – we drive by it every time we go to preschool. I’m glad they had a chance to get some good play time in today. The recent cold weather and rain are making it tough to get them outside lately!
I think God gives moms a few extra special gifts when it comes to being able to handle disgusting situations with poise, skill & composure. I know I don’t embody all of those gifts in every situation where they could be used, but I am proud to say I did keep my composure and used a little skill with a tad bit of poise this afternoon.
When I got Shecklet #2 out of his highchair after lunch, I noticed he needed his diaper changed. I thought I had a few minutes to clear the table and then change him. WRONG. Next thing I know, he’s sitting in the hallway whining because he has somehow managed to dislodge the contents of his diaper and make a total mess of the floor and himself.
Forgive me if this is a tad too gross for those of you who are checking in with me, but I am actually sitting here chuckling about it as I replay the conversation I had with myself this afternoon….
“Should I pick him up? Of course I should. But wait, I can’t just walk off with him…the dogs need to go somewhere. I have to get him upstairs for a bath! Where is Shecklet #1? Oh, there he is. Ok, Shecklet #1 needs to come with me, but manage to walk around the mess. That’s right Shecklet #1, don’t step there, step here. Good job! Mav, Coop – upstairs, now! Alright, dogs are in our room, where’s the baby gate? What in the world is that? Great, something else to clean up. Ok, Shecklet #2 needs to get scrubbed down. Shecklet #1, stay where I can see you. Towel. Washcloth. Johnson’s Baby Wash. Phew! I think we’re going to be ok now.”
And we were. Ok, I mean. We all needed a nap after all that excitement though. Good thing it was dark and rainy today – I didn’t feel bad snuggling back under the covers and dozing while the boys took their naps.
One final tidbit for today. This actually happened last night while I was blogging. Here is what my dogs think of “Where The Wild Things Are.” Can you believe these two can do this?
This is the 2nd book Mav & Coop have sunk their teeth in to. Number 1 was a library book. Not good. I’m beginning to think they have a preference for pricier books. They have yet to chew apart the cheapo books from garage sales or the thrift store. Who knew they could tell the difference?