Costumes on Parade

Sister's school hosted its annual costume parade today. Siblings often participate too. Brother LOVES to be part of the parade. I think he enjoys it more than many of the students. You'd never know he was a tagalong from the big smile on his face as they marched through the school. We had a very limited time getting Sister's costume on her before the parade began. Still, you can see the wig better in this picture and the white trim I added to the hat.After the parade, all the classes had Halloween parties hosted by the classroom reps. Brother even got a cupcake and Baby Bear snuck a frosted cookie while Mommarrazi was at work getting photos. Suffice it to say, we had a late dinner tonight and Momma was extremely tired after working, then wrestling three kids into their costumes, and finally chasing them around the school.

We're Ready for Halloween!!!

The kids show off their pumpkins prior to carving.
The kiddos and I cleaned out the pumpkins. I'm trying to train them young to make sure they save every seed. Roasted pumpkin seeds are the best part of pumpkin carving! Notice Brother actually did a little cleaning this year. Last year he said it was too yucky. Baby Bear only helped for a little while since he kept chewing on all the pumpkin lids.

Sister made her own designs for Daddy to carve onto her pumpkin this year. She also drew one for Baby Bear's pumpkin.

Brother picked a pirate design for his pumpkin. Here is Superdaddy carefully tracing it out before carving.

We had a trial run with our costumes last night since Sister has a costume parade at school on Wednesday that we all get to participate in. Can you tell we're Buz Lightyear, Woody, and Jessie the yodeling cowgirl?

After the picture, I stitched some white threading around Sister's red cowgirl hat to make it look a little fancier. Could you tell she's wearing a wig with long red hair. She loves it! I'll have to have her put it over her shoulder the next time I take pictures so you can see it better since it's braided.

Happy Halloween everyone!!!

The flu or not the flu, that is the question.

Last Saturday Brother came down with a temp of 102 and was coughing. I called the nurse line and was told he could have the start of the dreaded Swine Flu. She suggested we keep the family home so we didn't spread the infection. On Sunday, his temp lessened, but he still had the cough. So, I kept him home from preschool on Monday. By Monday his temp was normal.

Baby Bear had an ear appointment on Monday. He failed. They said that he had high pressure in both ears and could have a cold or an ear infection. We were told to keep an eye on him and reschedule the hearing test in three months. They were offering regular flu and the H1N1 flu vaccines while we were at the doctor's office. So, Brother got both (they said as long as he didn't currently have a fever, he could get it). I received the H1N1. Baby Bear and I already received the regular flu shot a few weeks ago when we were there while both Brother and Sister were in school.

When I got home, I called my dh and asked if he could pick up Sister from school on his lunch break and get over there to get them both immunized. It would save us having to wait three hours during one of the flu clinics on a Saturday. He said no problem. Thus, Sister also received both the H1N1 and the regular flu vaccines and my dh received the regular flu shot. He isn't eligible for the H1N1.

On Tuesday evening Sister complained of a headache. I figured she was just tired since she keeps staying up too late reading by her nightlight. That night (Wednesday morning technically) Sister came in and woke us up saying she felt nauseous. Her temp was 103.7 and her head was really hurting her. By 7 AM she had been actively vomiting, couldn't keep anything down including Tylenol, and her temp was 104.8. I called the nurse line and was again told that she had all the symptoms of Swine Flu. She gave me some tips on how to administer the Tylenol so she'd be able to keep it down. Once she was able to keep the Tylenol down, her head began to feel a bit better. By afternoon, she was able to eat some toast and a popsicle. By evening she was able to eat some broth and crackers. Since Sister had been actively vomiting, I didn't take Brother to preschool. Who wants to have a puking child in their van? Not me.

Thursday we were all home. Sister still had a bit of a temp, but it was lower and she was feeling better. Unfortunately, everyone was really stir crazy and we were trapped in the house all day. I tried to have them do different activities, but it was exhausting. Baby Bear was really cranky most of the day. He'd had the signs of a cold (wet cough and green nasal drainage), but that was it. At bedtime his temp was 102.4. I gave him some medicine and he slept fine.

Friday morning, Baby Bear had a temp of 102 again when he first woke up. I gave him some more medicine. I was keeping Sister home from school since she still had a slight temp the day before, though her temp was normal before bedtime. Brother was going to preschool since he still had a cough, but had a normal temp since Sunday. I called the nurse line for Baby Bear. Again I was told it was the Swine Flu symptoms.

Now, mind you, Brother had a dry cough and a low temp. Sister had a painful headache, vomiting, and high temp. Baby Bear had a really wet cough, noisy breathing, and a low temp. How can they all fit the symptoms of Swine Flu??? Skip this. I'm getting this child checked out. I wanted his ears and lungs checked before we hit the weekend when the wait time at Urgent Care is hours and hours.

So, after dropping Brother off at preschool, the other two and I headed over the the doctor's office. The triage nurse said he didn't have a temp, but that could be due to the medicine I'd given him a little while before. After about a forty minute wait (much shorter than several hours) the doctor came in. He said Baby's ears and lungs were clear. It is just a cold. I mentioned Sister's previous symptoms. He laughed and said she probably didn't have the Swine Flu. According to him, the Swine Flu doesn't cause vomiting. There can be slight diarrhea due to the high temperature for several days, but isn't known for nausea or vomiting. He said the symptoms were: severe cough, high temp, and bad headache.

I'm relieved, but confused. Why is it that everyone who is sick lately is being diagnosed with the Swine Flu? One reason, I believe, is that they don't want it to be spread so they aren't actually diagnosing anyone with it. They are just listening to the symptoms and figuring better safe than sorry. That's just my humble opinion.

Either way, we are Swine Flu free and hopefully will stay that way. I'm happy that the kids are doing better and I'm not trapped at home anymore. Next week it's back to our regularly scheduled programing, I hope.

Here are a few photos showing some of the ways we kept ourselves entertained trapped at home all week. I hope your family is staying well!!!

Picking the Perfect Pumpkins

On Friday morning we went to the pumpkin patch. Sister had the day off from school and Brother's preschool was meeting there for their field trip. My dh took the morning off from work to give me a hand with the kiddos. It certainly wasn't the crisp fall day that I would have preferred. Instead, it was pouring down rain. It was the most rain we'd had in a very long time. Baby Bear refused to stand by the "How Tall This Fall" sign. He is such a mover and a shaker now.

Baby Bear loved the goats. He kept going back to them over and over again.Sister's favorites were the kittens. Brother wasn't so sure of petting the animals, even the sleeping ones. Then, they had fun racing through the hay maze. Brother and Sister made it through twice without help. Baby Bear walked almost the whole way through, but kept trying to go down every dead end and then got turned around. So, we finally had to pick him out or we'd be there forever.Baby Bear liked picking up pumpkins and dropping them, so we had to keep a close eye on him to save the pumpkins.Sister went all over to find a BIG pumpkin.I helped Brother pick one since he had trouble making up his mind.Brother on the wagon with some of his preschool friends.Baby Bear and Sister on the wagon after getting our pumpkins.

Introducing the Dude Bug

Sister's weekend assignment was to create a new insect. She even wrote a story to go with it that explains how Dudebugs often fall in love with Ladybugs. Note, her bug even wears sunglasses because he's a dude. Below is her description.

My Insect: The Dude Bug

New kind of bug copied: Ladybug
Nickname: The Dude Bug
Scientific Name: Dudeus Maximus
Where it lives: The Tropics of Canada. Nobody knows where that is, so that’s why their so rare to find.
They live up to: 99 years
They are: 1 pound
They are: 2 centimeter wide
They have: dots on their legs
They have : allergies
They are: insects, they have 6 legs, antennae, compound eyes, and they also have 3 body parts, head, thorax, and a abdomen.
They eat: anything they find.
They like: Music and silvery items
They are: All boys, that’s why they’re nickname is the Dude bug.
They are allergic to: bugs any kind.

Teddy Bear Picnic

If you go down in the woods today,
You're sure of a big surprise.
If you go down in the woods today,
You'd better go in disguise.
For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain because
Today's the day the Teddy Bears have their picnic.

Today was Brother Bear's preschool Teddy Bear Picnic. What a fun time he had.
He was especially excited to take his lunch with him just like Sister does to school every day. He had to pick between a few of his bears and decided on Pumpkin Bear since it is October. (Obviously, Brother does not get into naming his animals like Sister does. The bears are Pumpkin Bear, Blue Bear, and Brown Bear. Creative, eh?)

After finishing their bear books and hearing a bear story, they had a special visit from a "surprise bear" while eating their lunches. What fun!

I didn't get a good photo of Brother sharing about his bear because he wouldn't stop moving around. Here's a cute photo of his class at circle time sharing their bears.


Every Teddy Bear who's been good
Is sure of a treat today.
There's lots of marvelous things to eat
And wonderful games to play.
Beneath the trees where nobody sees
They'll hide and seek as long as they please
'Cause that's the way the Teddy Bears have their picnic.

See them gaily gad about.
They love to play and shout.
They never have any care.
At six o'clock their Mummies and Daddies
Will take them home to bed,
Because they're tired little Teddy Bears.

If you go down in the woods today,
You'd better not go alone.
It's lovely down in the woods today,
But safer to stay at home.
For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain because
Today's the day the Teddy Bears have their picnic.

Picnic time for Teddy Bears...
The little Teddy Bears are having a lovely time today.
Watch them, catch them unawares,
And see them picnic on their holiday.

See them gaily gad about.
They love to play and shout.
They never have any care.
At six o'clock their Mummies and Daddies
Will take them home to bed,
Because they're tired little Teddy Bears.

Game Night

We enjoyed a lovely game night a few nights ago. The four of us played Clue Jr. while Baby Bear hung out playing with trains in his high chair between Momma and Daddy. It is neat to see Brother Bear mature. He has gotten much more independent.

After the game was over, the boys and Momma moved over to the coffee table to enjoy some car/train races while Daddy and Sister played some Hangman. Sister, of course, won. She is truly and amazing speller!!!

If you look closely at her "celebration" photo,

you'll notice her missing front, left tooth. It has created a fun lisp that wont last long since the adult tooth is already coming in.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

This past weekend Grandma and Grandpa came down to visit. The kids had lots of fun playing with the new games they brought and showing them all their new skills. We surprised Grandpa Larry with cupcakes to celebrate his birthday a couple weeks ago. Happy 59th Birthday, Grandpa Larry!!!

Baby Bear LOVES our Kitty

We have a dog and a cat. The dog hates our kids. I feel badly putting it like that, but it is true. He was our first "baby" and never understood why we decided to have any more. While the kids have always wanted to play with him and pet him, he pretty much growls at them and walks away. (Yes, you may bring in Cesar Millan anytime!)

On the other hand, our cat puts up with the kids rather well. I feel guilty because I don't really like our cat. I'm not a cat person. Cats are whinny, needy, and a their hair makes my face itch. Still, I really should give him credit for what he puts up with. All the kids have loved to pet him, but Baby Bear LOVES him so much!!!

Preschool Fire Station Tour

Brother Bear's preschool had a fire station tour on Friday in honor of "Fire Safety Month". Baby Bear and I went along to chaperone.

Brother LOVES everything about fire stations. He loves the trucks, sirens, lights, pants, boots, hat, mask, etc. So, this trip was pretty exciting for him.

Brother was even chosen to show everyone how to "stop, drop, roll, and cover". That's the new thing, to have your kids cover their faces too.

Baby bear actually was old enough to have some fun too. He enjoyed playing on the firetruck and following the big kids around like he was one of the "gang".

He even became an example of what not to do...Don't play with the knobs on the stove kids! Thanks Firefighter Pat for the amazing tour!