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Brought to you by Bounty

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!

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Boo!

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 😉

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Melt my heart

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.

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Shecklet #2’s lovey

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!

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Quarantined

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!

chicken
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Lunch Conversation

Out of the blue today at lunch, Nolan started up this conversation with me:
Nolan: Do you remember going to Alan & Kim’s house?  They have a dog!
Mom: Do you remember his name?
Nolan: Ummmm…
Mom: Is it Dakota?
Nolan: Ya, Dakota!  Dakota tackled me! *big smile*  We should go to Alan & Kim’s house again. It was fun!
I guess Nolan is ready for a rematch with Dakota 🙂

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!

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Look back and laugh

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?

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Twinkies and the telephone

Shecklet #2 must have known the Twins are closing in on the end of the season and hoping for a trip to the playoffs.  This afternoon, he donned the Twinkies hat in support of their efforts, taking after big brother Shecklet #1, who started the hat trend by sporting the Rocky Mountain National Park hat from Grandma Patti & Grandpa Dave.  Speaking of Grandma, she called to talk to Shecklet #1 today.  They chatted about what he did in school this morning.  Very cute!

I also just had to post this pic of Shecklet #1.  His eyes are this crazy gold/green color and the shirt he wore today really brought them to life.

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This one’s for Auntie Stacie

Jake and I both went to the U of M, so naturally, we’re Gopher fans.  However, it seems that Jake’s sister, Stacie, would like to see our boys wearing red & black instead of maroon & gold.  Shecklet #1 has been asking to wear his “Badger socks” for months (probably since we stopped wearing socks for the summer.)  With today’s temps in the 50’s, I figured today he could bring Bucky out of summer retirement.  Shecklet #2 naturally followed suit.

Here’s the kids’ feet all decked out in their Wisconsin footwear.  We miss you Auntie Stacie!

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Who needs toys when you have…

club size packages of diapers and wipes.

A recent trip to Sam’s Club replenished our stash of size 3’s and wet wipes.  I threw the packages on top of the clean laundry I was already hauling upstairs and let the boys help me unload everything in their room.  They had so much fun playing, building, crashing in to, and moving the compact & semi-cushy “blocks.”  When we finished putting away their clean clothes, we switched rooms and the diapers & wipes came along with us.  Here are a couple of shots of the boys building and destroying a “road.”  I love how Shecklet #1’s creative juices are flowing so much lately and how Shecklet #2 mimics his brother’s every move.