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Routine check-up

The boys had a “non-routine” afternoon today.  We had the pleasure of spending 1 1/2 hours at the doctor’s office for Lincoln’s 18 month check-up.  Nolan & Lincoln enjoyed entertaining the other waiting room patrons by pointing to the different artwork, jabbering & laughing with one another, and doing laps around the chairs.  (No one scowled at us, which I appreciated.  We only received smiles.)  When Lincoln’s name was called, we spent a few fleeting moments in one patient room before moving to one that our doctor typically uses instead.  After the good doctor checked Lincoln out, I asked her a few questions and did my best to focus on her responses as I attempted to corral the boys.  They were extremely interested in the sink & goose-neck light in the room – why am I not surprised??  I don’t blame them for getting antsy – an hour and a half is a long time to be cooped up like we were.  I’m so glad our doctor has lots of patience, loves kids and likes to laugh.

Our time at the clinic ended with both boys getting shots.  Nolan went first, which ended up being a good thing.  Had he seen Lincoln get poked first, I’m not sure I would have been able to get him up on the exam table.  He was rewarded with a chance to pick out his stickers, which made him forget the leg poke he just received.  Lincoln had no idea what was coming.  He was poked twice, and afterward, was very concerned that he had a band-aid on his leg.  Poor kid hasn’t quite figured out that stickers are supposed to make everything better.

We pulled out the Play-doh when we got home to take our minds off of the shots (and to give me a chance to put something together for dinner.)  I’m happy to report that tonight the Play-doh was only “played” with and not eaten.  Hurray!

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Dinner and buckets

After working out at the gym, we went to my parents’ house to have lunch with Nana (my mom.)  The boys have a special “fort” area under the steps leading to the lower level of the house.  The room used to be my mom’s “stash closet.”  She kept presents and snacks under lock and key while we were growing up; as teenagers, we had a habit of eating anything that was left out.  Now the space has been cleared out to make room for the kids’ toys. There’s even a funky green silicone-covered light bulb that they can turn on and off with a string (not just a switch) – this was a new discovery today and they loved it!

This evening, Nolan’s preschool invited all of the kids to bring their dads to St. John’s for the 2nd annual “Dinner with Dad” event.  The group had hot dogs, chips & carrots for dinner and floats for dessert.  Such a fun way for the kids to spend one-on-one time with their dads!

Here are the guys before they headed out.  After they returned, things got a little silly at our house.  I’m not sure who started this, but we ended up with buckets on our heads.  Nolan and Lincoln thought it was pretty funny.  Actually, I did too 🙂

It’s times like these that make me forget how stressed or frustrated I can get when the boys are having a meltdown or I can’t figure out what they want.  Note to self: make prints of these and put them where I can see them when I need a reminder of why I love being a stay-at-home mom.

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A bench for two

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.

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OTW (Over the weekend)

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.

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Sun & Swings

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.

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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