Week 46

Punky was sick a good chunk of the week.  We first noticed her fever on Wednesday night.  She went to school on Thursday but when she came home she was burning up.  She skipped choir that night and stayed home from school on Friday.  Grandma came that afternoon for our annual girls weekend shopping trip, so I was able to go to work for half the day.  I guess there were 6 kids sick in her class and another that went home at noon.  She was still not feeling 100% on Saturday but she was doing much better, so I let her go to a classmate's birthday party at a karate studio.  She was exhausted afterwards.  She didn't eat supper and went to sleep early.  Thankfully, she woke up feeling great on Sunday!

All of this was fine, except for the fact that Punky struggles so much with taking medicine!  In our medicine cabinet, we had orange flavor, grape flavor, strawberry flavor, chewables and liquid medicine and every combination.  On Saturday morning, it took her 3 hours to drink 2 tsp of Tylenol.  She stalled, hyperventilated, counted down, and cried.  I sympathized, bargained and threatened.  I had had enough, so on Saturday night, I put her on my lap, pinned her arms down, shoved two chewables in her mouth and covered her mouth with my hand.  Boom!  She was done in two minutes!  She wasn't happy and I felt a bit guilty, but there was no time to waste!  She needed to get to sleep!

On Sunday, we headed to the MOA to attempt our shopping trip.  It just hasn't been the same in the last 6 years.  We used to shop from sun up to sun down.  Oh well!  In between a few stores, we visited Nickelodeon Universe, the Lego Store, American Girl, etc.  Next year both kids will be in school, so Grandma and I will be able to get some shopping time in for awhile at least!  

So we don't forget where we parked!

Poor guy wanted Rainforest Cafe, but it is still closed for remodeling.

Chicken on a bone and tablets to play on is nice too.

Grandma and I did the log ride- we didn't get too wet.  Buddy was scared!

Lego Store

Candy that Grandma bought and he didn't like.

IKEA!

Week 45

Another busy week- so busy in fact that I didn't take any pictures until today.

Derek's great grandma died this week.  She was 95.  We are so thankful that the kids had a great-great-grandma that they knew and will remember.

We got school pictures back this week.  We decided to skip the pricey studio where we normally have the kids' birthday photos taken and had Buddy take his picture at school this year.  The pictures at the studio are okay and we had only been buying a headshot pose anyway (for $80).  I am pretty pleased with the way they turned out- especially for $30ish total.

Buddy had his well-child check-up on Friday.  He got all his kindergarten shots and the flu shot.  Three pokes and no tears!  He did tell me he never wanted to do that again though.  I showed our pediatrician the small bumps Buddy has on his neck and armpits.  While at the appointment, I noticed the bumps had spread on his legs, feet and elbows. He confirmed that the bumps he saw on his neck were molluscum and gave us a referral to the dermatologist.  (Punky had molluscum when she was maybe 2 but it was only 1 or 2 bumps and it went away after a month or two.)  He didn't really look at the bumps on his lower half and I didn't think twice about it until Sunday when Derek and I were discussing that it looked different than the neck bumps.  Buddy complained a bit about the leg bumps itching and had never before about the ones on his neck.  Then I remembered that a girl at daycare had scabies and I started panicking.  We went to urgent care this afternoon and it turns out the kid got poison ivy (or poison oak or sumac- we don't know!).  They called it contact dermatitis since we don't know the cause but we are treating it like poison ivy.  Seriously, how does that happen?  He has been wearing pants, long sleeves and shoes.  And we haven't been in the woods, etc.  I would not have been surprised had this happened in the summer, but in November?  Whatever- I just hope it goes away soon.     

Week 44

Halloween was fun.  We had a late night at our friends' house and an early start today since Punky had to sing in the church choir at 8 am.  With the time change, we are exhausted.  So that is all for today.

 

Week 43

After the Vikings game this afternoon, we decided to get out of the house and enjoy the beautiful fall day.  We headed to Henry's Woods, a nearby forest that Derek "discovered" a few years ago.  Our family calls it the "Gruffalo Forest" because when we first started going there the kids really liked the book and movie, The Gruffalo.  What a beautiful day!

I knew the kids were not really willing to pose for pictures today and I have learned not to push it.  The photos don't really turn out when they are whining/crying anyway.  Luckily, they forgot I had my camera and after playing tag with Derek, they were happy to be on our family adventure.  If only they had matching shoes, combed hair and no dirt stained clothes.  That's just the way it is these days, so oh well!

Week 42

Punky had a few days off of school this week for MEA, but we didn't have big plans.  On Thursday, we made puppy chow (it was gone on Friday).  Buddy's preschool was canceled too, so we were able to sign him up for one nature school class that he loved going to last year.  I had to work on Friday, but we stopped for donuts on our way to daycare.  Always a good day to start the day!  On Friday night, we went to Grandma Trudi and Grandpa Scott's.

There was a baby shower to celebrate Baby B who was born in July.  A lot of friends and family were there, so it was a fun morning!

All the great grandkids

Grandpa raked a big piles of leaves for the kids to jump in!

I'm kicking myself for not checking the exposure on this one!  I have one with Punky in focus and another shot with Buddy in focus- now I just need to learn Photoshop!

It was a beautiful fall weekend- I hope not the last warm weather of the year!

Believe it or not- bunny ears and a tongue sticking out was the best shot!

Week 41

I sound like a broken record... But man we had another crazy week!  

Monday we were still trying to catch up from being gone the week prior.  

Tuesday, Buddy had preschool and Taekwondo.  He is improving!  And learning so much!  I am so proud of him!  He was able to give the meaning of respect and recite "Focus your eyes.  Focus your mind.  Focus your body."  He earned a stripe on his belt for doing so.  

On Wednesday, Punky had ice skating.  She didn't pass her level but was so close!  Just two more boxes to check (and one of them she showed me she could do during her practice session).  

Buddy had his first preschool field trip on Thursday.  We went to a farm that had a hayride, corn maze and petting zoo.

Thursday was also our actual anniversary and Taekwondo was canceled so Punky skipped choir so we could all go out to dinner.  

There was a BBQ at school on Friday.  It was fun to see Punky eat lunch and play at recess with all her friends!

On Saturday, we went to SD for my cousin's wedding.  It was a beautiful day!  The reception was outside and the kids had a lot of fun dancing on the lawn in the dark.  

It's tradition to have a drink at The Ice House and break your beer bottle under the dock.  When the kids saw this, they just had to participate!

Today we played at the farm in the morning- my parents got new kitties!  

And then we drove home with two exhausted kids.  Back to the grind again tomorrow!  Hope you all had a good week!

Week 40

There isn't much to report about Punky and Buddy this week because Derek and I were gone all week celebrating our upcoming 10th anniversary!!!

We went to San Diego and had a great trip with equal parts relaxing and doing fun stuff.  

We took our time getting ready each morning (me more than Derek).  Then each day we did 1 or 2 things.  We spent the rest of the day walking on the beach, eating yummy food and tasting many different beers.  We made it back to our VRBO early enough every night to get some real sleep- turns out we are old and exhausted by the early flight and time change.

Day 1- In n Out Burger (meh), walk on the beach, Mexican food at Old Town (blah)

Day 2- More walks on the beach, California Burritos at Lucha Libre (fries inside!), Balboa Park, Ballast Point Brewery

Day 3- La Jolla, hike at Torrey Pines, quick stop at Lost Abbey/Port Brewing before dinner and tour at Stone Brewing

Day 4- Cabrillo National Monument, Coronado Island, back to Ballast Point

My parents watched the kids while we were gone and I think it's safe to say they all had fun!  They were plenty busy shuffling the kids to school, preschool, birthday parties and activities.  I was worried the kids would miss us or be scared and there was none of that!

Grandpa had talked about having an activity with a rope for Buddy every day.  We weren't so sure what exactly he had in mind, so it was fun to get picture texts each day.  I am sure they got some silly looks from the neighbors, but I also know they made some great memories!

Grandma and Grandpa had nothing but good things to say about the kids behavior when we got home.  They had lots of cute stories to tell about the kids.  And the kids said they had a good week with Grandma and Grandpa too.  

It was a great week for Derek and I to reconnect and celebrate 10 years.  I think it was also a great week for the kids to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa and create a special bond with them.  We are all so lucky!