crabtrees's Xanga

Update!

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:01:13 GMT

Theo is doing well. He has been fever free for over a day. His energy and appetite are back. He has been a bit feisty. Ok a Lot Feisty. ugh..

Josie is fussy. But we are not sure why. Watching her.

Wrigley is fine. She brought home her first phone number from a little friend wanting to schedule a playdate. Oh My.

EDIT: Josie is now running a fever. (sigh)

H1N1

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:56:39 GMT

Yep.
Theo has it. Now you may be thinking....wait a minute, just a few posts again she said the kids got their shots for that. You are right. Good memory. They got their shots last Thursday and it takes about a week for the vaccine to become effective. But over the weekend Theo (all of us) were around lots of people and Theo was exposed to it before his vaccine was complete. So Tuesday night he started running a high fever and coughing. Hopefully, the girls were not exposed to it over the weekend and were just exposed yesterday to Theo. So Hoooopefully, their vaccine will be complete enough to be immune. And HOOOOOOOPefully, Aaron and I will not get it either.

To catch you up about Homecoming weekend: it was great. We saw several of our classmates from 1999 and students "of ours". We enjoyed a great Variety Show. We enjoyed two funny comedians and lots of amazing desserts and coffee. Aaron got to watch the boys basketball game and some of the girls' game too. I was sitting beside him, but am able to completely miss the game in front of me. I still like my blue blouse. It also washed nicely.

I attended the Moms Connection at WLGBC on Tuesday morning. It was interesting. All about hospitality. Good thoughts.

Three quick stories from today to illustrate the "never a dull moment" rule.

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:33:24 GMT

Wrigley found a picture of herself when she turned one. She decided to give it to the babysitter tonight. hmmm? anyway. She wanted me to help her write the year on the back, but she couldn't figure out how to use the pen she had found. I noticed that it was untwisted a bit. So I twisted it and then pushed down on the button. Oh My...not a pen or pencil but a razor blade. Sure looked like a pen.

My kids were anxious to begin eating their lunches so they suggested we all pray quietly on our own. I agreed thinking a moment of silence would be excellent. But in that silence we ALL realized that Poop on the Potty by Over the Rhine was playing. What a way to set the tone for lunch!

Driven by despair I took all three children to Kohls to look for something dressy for tonight. I have one nice warm outfit, but I've already worn it twice this fall and will need to wear it one of the two dress-up nights this weekend. So I thought I'd peek around and see if I could find something. Here's what happened: Josie fell out of the stroller, we lost Wrigley, I lost my cell phone, we left a trail of gold fish, Theo did not use his inside voice and I bought a blue blouse.

Friday, November 06, 2009

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:18:23 GMT

I would like to talk about Wrigley a bit. Some things that surprise me.
When school started she asked me to walk her into the school and to her classroom door. So I did. This created a bit of a dilemma with the other kids, but we managed. After a couple weeks I gently explained that when cold weather arrived I would need to drop her off. Then after another week or so I asked her when that could be. SHE set a time "after two weekends." Then to my surprise she did it. She had me pull up to the school in the drop off line and she jumped out of the car and ran (she always runs) to the door. What surprised me also was that I cried. It wasn't the first day or school. and I'm surprised to say that I still get choked up to this day. (ok that sounds dramatic, I know it's only been two or three weeks)
Today I took my logical level headed girl to get an H1N1 vaccine. I expected her to act the way she did for her Kindergarten shots. I was surprised because instead she completely freaked out. I had all three with me, but that didn't even matter because she was at a point where she wasn't even listening. It took two nurses and a full body hold. ugh

Josie and something that surprises me
Josie hardly ever had shoes on this summer. I was concerned that this fall she wouldn't like them. But she does like shoes, in fact she loves them. She crawls around the house trying to put her foot into other people's shoes. She cries when her shoes fall off. Loves em. However, she also loves to throw things in the kitchen trash....legos, cups, play-food, and sadly (I think) one of her best shoes. Josie is so precious right now. (For those of you who know me, you know I am not a gushy person.) She is so full of smiles and giggles.

Theo... Surprise!!
Theo wipes off kisses. A couple weeks ago just following an awful coughing fit that woke him up and took his breath away, he used the little air he had to tell me that he "didn't want a kiss." However, if he is playing Open-Sesame, then you will have to kiss and hug the gate twice and say Please Open Sesame, to get the gate to open.

I'd like to say more, but in that blank line...I feel asleep twice.

Funfest and T&T and POWF

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:58:10 GMT

We had a great time at FunFest.

For most of the night Josie looked like this. Her costume is Piglet with ears and eyes on the hood.

Aaron and I joined our children in costume. Aaron went as a dragon.

I was a bunny.

Yep...I just wore ears. Maybe I exaggerated my efforts. Here's our family (also sideways)

Then on Saturday night we went Trick or Treating. The kids had a great time although it was mighty cold. We quickly returned home and they enjoyed handing out candy.

On the trail.

We ran into our friend and neighbor Clarie.

Playing outside with friends
Clarie and Margot came over today (with their mommy Liz) and it was warm and sunny outside. So we played in our yard for quite some time. We played Mother May I, Red Light Green Light, London Bridge, Next Car Color, and rode bikes. I wanted to play Duck Duck Goose, but that idea was shot down. Here's a few pics from the day.

Sweet sweet Girls.

Sweet Little one with Big Teeth.

Aaron is super busy this week with Grace's homecoming. Woot Woot!
That's about it. Sorry for the ton of pictures.
Anyone watching FlashForward?

Friday, October 30, 2009

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:46:34 GMT

How do you wear your underwear?

Moments later these were on my son backwards but I didn't get a picture of that.

Wrigley likes to throw parties for Aaron when he comes home from work. Sometimes they require much work on my part which is a bit interesting. But one of the bits to the "party" is a foot soak.

Aaron is reading a jokebook to Theo. This is the kids' first experience with jokebooks. I remember reading Calvin and Hobbes with my brothers. Anyway, Theo saw a bookshelf of them at the library and wanted to get one. Notice Wrigley's ribbon.....yep, she is choosing to be drug free! Today Wrigley asked if we could hang up the Christmas star. I said we should wait until after Thanksgiving.

I love pumpkins.

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:57:50 GMT

I enjoy their warm orange color. I was a fairly old child before I could spell orange. I think it's hard to sound-out and visually it just didn't seem right to me. Tonight, while I grocery shopped, Aaron craved pumpkins with our two oldest. On the table cleaning out the pumpkin.

Finished pumpkins.

Here are some pictures of leaf pile fun. Sorry about the sideways...If I were Aaron he would rotate it. But I don't know how and don't want to take the time. Sorry (Have you seen the SNL skit about Gilly....now when I say Sorry, I think of her.)

I feel really homely in this picture.....

Today I went to a MOPS group. I haven't been to a MOPS type group since....Wrigley was 18months. She is now 66months old. I went because I've been feeling worn down with life. My kids have been sick a lot, a lot. So I haven't been to church in months, haven't had many playdates, and my home has sunk into chaos. I recently have been thinking much about how I act and interact with others and have lost some confidence. (probably not all bad) Other things have been weighing on me too. So today I went to MOPS.

Amazing Becca

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:51:20 GMT

For supper the Brahams came over. It was great.

(Nate and Christa - your kids are doing great.)

Becca brought pumpkin rice crispy fun. Thanks!

Sorry Miles is sideways also he's out of focus.
Ok - off to chat with Chad and Becca.

together

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:18:28 GMT

Tons of room and frequently the five kids can be found playing together. Can you see Josie's curls?

Today

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:27:23 GMT

I got super creative with the title. We are keeping an eye on things for Nate and Christa.

The boys were up first this morning with Josie.

Then the girls came down. Each child has a special something. Audra and Wrigley both have puppies. Campbell has the train, Percy and Theo has a rubber snake (and some other dragon toy).
So Nate and Christa....hope you have a great day. The kids are off making a train track.