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.)