Happy Halloween!!!

This Halloween, Jacob went as The White Rabbit and Ella went as Ella's in Wonderland. We just did our block, as it was kind of chilly and the kids can't really walk that far anyway. Ella surprised us by being very into the door knocking and talking to people. Both kids yelled "Trick or Treat! Happy Halloween!" and were polite when getting their candy. Our last house was our own, so we brought in our pink-nosed children and warmed up by dumping their bags on the table to inspect the loot. Soon it was bedtime and Kris tucked the kids into bed, Jake in his bunny mittens and Ella in her tights.

Are You KIDDING Me???

Jacob woke up this morning with a fever. This has been one a week for three stinking weeks! Ella is fine. Kris is fine. I'm still playing catch up with last week's cold... ridiculous!

Sized Up

The kids had a WIC appointment yesterday and had their measurements taken. Jacob is 38 lbs, 8oz and 41" tall. Ella is 28 lbs, 8oz and 36" tall. Both had finger pokes, but only Ella cried. Luckily in Indiana, you only have to have the poke once a year. The kids got shiny band-aids and stickers.

The Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday we went to the Tuttle Orchards Pumpkin Patch to pick out our pumpkins and take some Halloween pictures. Ella is Ella's in Wonderland and Jacob is the White Rabbit. The kids were only nominally interested in pumpkins- they mostly wanted to play in the play area. It was a nice day and in the 60s, so we played until they shut the place down. Today is cold and rainy so we lucked out!

Sickness, Fall Break, and House Sitting

First Jacob was sick for three days, then Ella was sick for three days, then Kris was sick for three days... and it seems like today might be day #1 for me.

Thursday and Friday were Fall Break. I house/dog sat Wednesday through Sunday at a fellow teacher's house while he and his family went on vacation. The dog is old and has a myriad of medications, but was really nice and the kids loved her. They liked taking her for walks and picking up leaves along the way. Near the house is a stream where we threw rocks and horse apples and leaves before heading back to the house for hot chocolate. Jacob likes his with marshmallows, Ella prefers without.

On Saturday while Ella napped, Jake and I went and bought new shoes for Irish Dance class. They're basically black shoes with black laces that he'll wear with his uniform. We ordered the shirt and shorts last week and will probably have them this week. I just found out yesterday that one of Jake's teachers, Collin, was in Lord of the Dance, so I'm a little more in awe of the spiky haired teen I see on Wednesdays.

Ella thinks about going to bed

We're house-sitting right now, and the kids are sleeping in a room with a bunkbed. Ella's on the bottom, Jacob's on the top.

I heard a noise so I went to check on the kids. Ella was starting to climb the ladder to the top, so I said "Ella, get off the ladder and lay down on your bed."

Ella stopped climbing, but just stood there, not looking at me. "Ella, get off the ladder," I repeated.

Now she looked at me and said "I'm still thinking!"

Trying not to crack a grin, I said, "Okay, go ahead and think about it."

Whereupon she put a look on her face that very clearly said "I'm thinking," and continued making this face for five or ten seconds. Then she sort of snapped out of it, grinned, and said happily "I think I'll go to my bed!" and she trotted right on over and laid down.

AGAIN!

Jacob is sick today. He woke up last night with a cough and a fever. He and Kris stayed home today, but Jake has had no fever, only a cough. He's doing fine, just a little bored. Unfortunately today was picture day...

Last Weekend

Saturday was a day of relaxing and laundry, but we topped it off with a trip to Tuttle Orchards. The kids picked apples again, but really only cared about the swing set. Sunday we all went to Fort Ben Harrisson State Park to ride bikes and play on the playground. The kids even go to have a pony ride! At first Ella was skeptical, but after seeing Jacob on the horse, Ella wanted to do it too. But not on just any horse, she wanted Jacob's horse. After Jake's turn was over, Ella got her chance to ride on Strawberry before we headed home.

Ella's Trip to the Museum

On Thursday, Kris took Ella to the Childrens' Museum. There were a lot of school kids there, so Ella preferred to stay in the stroller, but she enjoyed looking at everything and has asked to go back.

On Friday, Kris and Ella ate lunch with Jacob at school. Kris reports that school pizza in 2009 is the same as it was in 1989- rectangular, floppy, and bland.

Jacob's School Work

This week, Jacob has mastered the stick figure.

This is pants and a shirt.

Thanks Gram!

The kids are now ready for winter thanks to a care package from Gram on Thursday. They each received hats, coats, gloves, pants, and boots. They both are excited about their loot. Ella keeps asking, "Can we go to the snow now?" The inner liner zips out, making the outer jacket perfect for Friday's rainy weather. (And since Ella fell asleep in the car, napping.)

Go Maire Tú! (Congratulations!)

Jacob went to what we thought would be his third and final Irish Dance class and was told that even though he was a little too young, he was trying very hard and was a good listener so he could continue in the class. There is a wide age discrepancy, but the instructor said that once the other instructor gets back from maternity leave, the class will get split into two so that the older kids can move on and the younger kids can get help.

Jacob is really pleased. On the way to the lesson, we had explained that this would be the last time because to go to this school, you needed to be 5 or 6 years old, not 4. He asked if there was a dance school he could go to for 4-year-olds and we told him that there probably was and that we'd have to look for one. I am embarassed to admit that a small shiver went down my spine at the thought of Jacob being in class with a bunch of ballerinas (not because I care about him taking ballet, but worried what other people would say) so I was very relieved when Irish dancing was back on the table. Thank you Lord of the Dance!

In class, Jacob will wear a dark green shirt with the Richens/Timm logo, black shorts with logo, and black shoes. For recitals, he will wear black pants, white shirt, and black tie.

Jacob's School

Jacob's teacher is now going to put their daily activities and newsletters online so that family can see what he does every day. Click on the link below and choose Mrs. Sherman. Right now, there's a really cute picture of Jacob with a bike helmet on!

http://elc.ltschools.org/elc/winding-ridge/classroom

Fake Out!

Jacob is not sick. Hasn't been all day. We had a pajama party and watched TV all day, but there was no stomach upset, no lethargy, no fever... just entirely too much TV watching for a child of 4 and a child of 2. He's been starving all day, but we've limited what he's eaten. Right now he's running around being a robot or something. Crazy...

We skipped out on the museum today so he could rest, so maybe we'll go tomorrow...

...and now he's sick again.

Jacob went a full day at school- ate breakfast, ate lunch. Once at home, he didn't want to eat, but seemed otherwise okay. He and Kris were playing video games when Jacob said, "I think I'm going to throw up." And did. Now he's playing happily, sitting in the kitchen twirling the mixing bowl we gave him to throw up into. Sigh.

Jacob Update

He's fine! He just sat around bored all day today. He's been fine, had chicken soup for lunch, and has been up and playing. I'm glad these have all been 24 hour illnesses!

And Now its Jacob's Turn...

Jacob seems to have a completely unrelated illness. He went to dance class last night and was fine. He skipped dinner because he said his tummy hurt, but was fine. Then when going to bed, he threw up. He was fine all night, but this morning when we woke him up, he threw up a little bit again. So now Jacob is having his first sick day...