It's a chilly, dark Friday morning. Don't you just wish you could stay in your pj's? That's just what McKenna got to do today. Instead of a Halloween party, her class held a pajama party. I got her out of bed at 6:15, took her out of one set of pj's and put her in another.

The funniest part of the morning was Cooper's comment as we headed down the stairs for breakfast. He kept insisting, "Kenna, get dressed. Kenna, get dressed." It's hard to explain pajama day to a two year old.

In Cooper news, we've now entered the "why" stage. I stopped to get gas on the way to school this morning. It took about 5 minutes. I spent the following 10 solid minutes attempting to explain to a two year old exactly why a car needed gas. It wasn't pretty and it probably wasn't even accurate. But I tried my best. And yes, I did tell him that Elmo's car needed gas too. That's not really a lie is it?

Tomorrow is Trick or Treat. I hear that it's a pretty big deal around this neighborhood. This is the first place we've lived where people actually go all out decorating their houses. They take this very seriously. We've even been "Ghosted". If you're new to Ghosting like we are it's where one family leaves goodies on your doorstep, along with a sign for you to hang on your front door. Then it's your family's turn to "Ghost" two other families. It's pretty fun!

So, stay tuned for lots of Halloween pictures and to find out what our little pumpkins dressed up as!

An Early Birthday Surprise !

I'm not very good at keeping secrets. I was type of kid who bought Christmas presents and wanted their family to open them a week before Christmas. And as horrible as it sounds, I don't typically like surprises. That won't be big news to some of you. Having kids has changed that a little bit for me. And the past three months has put my secret keeping and surprise planning to the test.

McKenna's birthday is another 7 weeks away. It feels like 7 years to her. It feels like 7 minutes to me. Luckily, her big birthday surprise has been purchased and planned since early July.




In case you can't quite read the paper, I'll be happy to fill you in on the fact that McKenna is going to the Miley Cyrus concert for her birthday. She is, in a word, ecstatic. We are, in a word -relieved - that the cat is finally out of the bag and we no longer have to keep the secret! (We're secretly excited too but we tend not to admit that to many people. You should have heard the guys at work when Earl told them why he couldn't work overtime on November 5th!)

We have debated for the past three months about how and when we would tell McKenna. We pretty much agreed that telling her this summer would be like dying a slow death. We tossed around the idea telling her on the way to the actual concert. But, it got the best of us - well, it got the best of Earl really. He's not really good at secrets either. So last night I stopped at Wal-Mart on my way home from work and purchased a Miley poster. Inside I tucked the paper that McKenna is holding in the picture. We didn't get the high pitched screaming that we had anticipated (dreaded) but she is clearly excited. The first thing she said was that she wanted to make a big sign to take to the concert. Where do kids learn these things?

So, next Thursday think of us. We'll be at the Bryce Jordan Center with thousands of screaming little girls. The little girl in the 13th row will be the one we'll be watching though.

Pumpkin Perfection

Yesterday McKenna and I bundled up (it was cold in the morning) and headed to the Pumpkin Patch with the rest of Mrs. Evans kindergarten class. We were relieved that McKenna started feeling better on Friday and was able to attend her first field trip. That also meant that I was still able to chaperon my first ever field trip. The class was actually supposed to go last week during the October snow storm. I'm so glad it was rescheduled because yesterday was a nearly perfect fall day.

Our first field trip together.

When the kids got off of the bus I was handed a piece of orange construction paper cut out like a pumpkin. On it were the names of four kids whose care I would be responsible for the next two hours. Luckily, one was my own. Sounds pretty easy. And to my relief it was. I'm in McKenna's class about one time a week so I know most of the kids. I was still impressed by how well behaved they all were during the field trip. My little group stayed together, listened well and had a great time. I made them promise on the way out to the field that they would make sure I didn't get lost or left behind. And as you can see, I made it home!

McKenna and Siena

I continue to feel so blessed to be able to attend these sorts of things with McKenna. I'm not sure who enjoys it more...me or McKenna. Either way, I know it's where I'm supposed to be right now. Work will always be there waiting for me. But these moments I will never be ever to get back. There is of course sometimes one small, sweet hurdle that must be dealt with - Super Cooper! I just have to give my mom a quick shout out because she has done a little more than a Grandma's fair share of babysitting lately. Not that she minds a few hours here and there with Cooper! I think she knows just how important it is for me to be there for McKenna's school trips and to help out in her classroom and I am very grateful for her willingness to help.

In other news, we carved a couple of pumpkins on Saturday night. Well, let's say, the kids watched and I carved. They scooped out a little of the "pumpkin guts" but weren't all together impressed. We laughed and reminisced at the fact that McKenna used to fondly call them "Pomkins". It seems like just yesterday that McKenna and Evan P. were carving their very first pumpkins together. (I wonder where I put the picture of the two of them in the bathtub afterward....that surely would embarrass the heck out of them now!) We are anxiously awaiting trick or treat this Saturday and hoping, hoping, hoping for nice weather. Stop back Sunday to see what we dressed up as this year! I'm sure you won't be disappointed!

We're Free, We're Free!

Today was the day we finally broke out from our flu induced house arrest! And what a great day to do it. I couldn't imagine a more perfect fall day. We spent the afternoon at my mom and dad's with the rest of the family. Mom-Mom and Pappy Landis also came down and we all enjoyed dinner at Country Cupboard to celebrate Mom-Mom's birthday.

Tomorrow it's back to school for McKenna. She's excited to get back, mostly because tomorrow is the field trip to the pumpkin patch. More on that and other pumpkin related new during another post...

Hope you enjoy a few pictures from our day...

And This Little Piggy Ran All The Way Home...

As health care professionals and parents, we've been discussing the pro's and con's of vaccinating our kids against the H1N1 virus for more than two months now. It seems like an easy choice, but for us it's not. Maybe we know too much, maybe we don't know enough. I'm not sure. But this week our kids made the decision for us. They came down with H1N1. Cooper went first, although we didn't really recognize it at the time. (Remember, we're health care workers!) But when McKenna started with a high fever on Monday all it took was one look at her to know what we were dealing with.

I only spent $98.02 at Wal-Mart on Monday night. In my cart - everything from filters for the vaporizer, tylenol and motrin, batteries for the thermometer, Popsicles, vitamin water, and lots of crafts for the kids. I have to wonder what the check out lady had to think of my purchases. I tried to act casual, but really, if you were paying attention I might as well have been carrying a sign that said, "Hey, we have the flu at our house."

McKenna has been a trooper (I had to explain to her what exactly that meant) through it all. She continues to run high temperatures that are minimally influenced by the tylenol and motrin I continually pour down her throat. Her eyes appear so red and glassy that I have no idea how she continues to beat me at Wii. The Wii by the way has turned out to be a very timely purchase as it has provided countless hours of entertainment over the last three days.

While I always hate to see the kids under the weather and I swore that somehow we would dodge this swine flu - there are parts of the past few days we have all enjoyed. Being forced to spend a few days in doors is not all that bad. Long, but not bad. We've colored countless pictures, played video games, watched Hotel for Dogs and Playhouse Disney, read books and snuggled on the couch. We've taken long naps (when Cooper will allow), had yummy food and even learned to play UNO. I guess there's a silver lining in everything if you look hard enough.

I'm hoping that McKenna turns the corner tomorrow. She's anxious to get out and play with her friends and get back to school. I'm just hoping that she gets back to school and that they don't close the school first. Although, I would definitely welcome a few more days spent at home with my little ones

Hopefully I'll have some new pictures to post soon. Trust me when I say that you do not want to see the latest "sick" pictures. I can assure you though that despite it's name, no one in our house has yet to grow a snout or a curly tail from the swine flu.

When The Cat's Away The Mice Will Play

One should always look forward to the weekend, right? I normally do but I was secretly (well, maybe not so secretly) dreading this past weekend. Sunday I had to leave for Philadelphia for a short nursing conference being held on Monday. There are a few things I hate about traveling to Philadelphia - the drive, the drive and umm..the drive. Not to mention that I find folks in Philadelphia to be slightly different than the people you encounter around these parts. Luckily I was accompanied this year by three awesome friends who made the trip a thousand times better than I had imagined it. And it seemed as if there were many other people placed in our path this weekend to make our trip more enjoyable. But I digress.

I also hated to leave on Sunday because my little buddy was not feeling well at all. The nasty cough that we thought Cooper had left behind him last winter has returned with a vengeance. Needless to say, sleep did not come easy to anyone in our house Friday or Saturday night. On Sunday morning (and by morning I mean 4:30am) Cooper was awake again. This time with a bloody nose and lots of tears. As we snuggled in the recliner downstairs and watched reruns of Family Matters on Nick at Night I silently prayed for a sign. A sign that would tell me whether or not it was safe for me to leave my baby later that afternoon. I know that my mom and Earl are quite capable of caring for a sick little boy. But I also feel that sick little boys need their mommy's. After Earl got up a few hours later and took over "Cooper Duty" I went back to bed hoping for an hour or so of sleep. When I woke up a few hours later to the pitter patter (otherwise known as thunderous running) downstairs, I knew that Cooper must have turned a corner. I had my sign and I would leave in a few hours.

The kids were both more than excited to be spending Sunday and Monday with Mimi and Pappy since Earl was on-call. Plus, Tighe would be joining them - that is a definite bonus as far as McKenna and Cooper are concerned. I barely got so much as a wave before I left. And while I was slaving away at the conference the kids were having a great time at Mimi and Pappy's. There was pizza from Uncle Shane, Halloween gifts from Kyle and Caty, crafts and of course, the Wii. McKenna and Cooper love to "play" Wii. I think it was one of Cooper's first words. He's not really sure what to do but he sure shakes those controls like he does. And McKenna has come a long way in her gaming abilities. Playing Wii is always a special treat for everyone.

Monday night as we packed up to come home I received the following voicemail from McKenna :
"Umm Mom, this is McKenna. I just wanted to let you know that umm, Daddy took us to buy a Wii today for our house. And umm..., I guess that's it. Bye." I just had to laugh. I wasn't sure what was more amusing, the fact that Daddy finally broke down and bought a Wii or the fact that he had McKenna call and tell me. I guess it's just a good thing that I don't travel more often. And I guess it could be worse, it could have been a convertible or something!

So hopefully my blogging won't suffer as I sneak in some late night Wii practice here and there. I can't have Cooper beating me.

Writers Block

It's finally caught up to me. After a series (okay, well maybe not necessarily a series) of decent material to work with compliments of my kids, the well has seemed to run dry. Don't get me wrong, they are still cute and adorable but I just can't seem to get any words together that make any sense.

This weekend my roommate from college and her kids came for a visit. It's hard to believe that we hadn't seen each other since our trip to the beach last summer. The kids have grown and matured so much.

Ocean City, MD September 6, 2008


Ard's Pumpkin Patch October 4, 2009

We had a great time visiting and enjoyed an afternoon at the pumpkin patch and a trip to the playground. The kids played well together and it gave Jen and I the chance to just hang out and chat and catch a little of the Penn State game. Thank goodness they won this week.

After Jen and the kids left on Sunday we spent the rest of the day napping, catching up on a few chores, getting ready for the week and playing outside. The weather was so beautiful!

This morning it was back to the grind. Cooper was clearly the only one in our house ready to start the week. As soon as we arrived at school he started saying, "Hello everyone." He's definitely beginning to pick up where McKenna left off as the Crossroads social butterfly. There is not a day that goes by that he doesn't make me laugh out loud.

After a long Monday filled with school and gymnastics, McKenna was in her pj's and asleep at 7:14pm. Poor thing. Although, I should try that sometime.

This week I will be returning to McKenna's classroom to help with Kid Writing. I loved it last time. I hope I didn't miss my calling as an elementary school teacher. Next Friday I'll be chaperoning my very first field trip to the Pumpkin Patch. Wow, have I really broadened my horizons over the past few weeks. I think it's great that they allow parents to be so involved and I also think I'm incredibly lucky to have the time now to be there. So, more to come on that for sure.

I'll also be out shopping for a new video camera this week since ours finally bit the dust. First I have to find someone to fix it so I can at least get the last video tape out of it. Grrr....

Does anyone have any suggestions about brands of video cameras? The only thing I know is that I want one that will plug directly into my computer or will burn directly onto a DVD. This should be fun. Can anyone sense the sarcasm?

Enjoy a few more pictures from Ard's Pumpkin Patch!