Kiddo Pride, Part 1

 

   Last Thursday I broke the rules, and I paid for it.  I think I set myself back a day or two, but it was so worth it.

   Halloween Friday Emma not only came home with a perfect report card, but a note stating that she was going to receive an award.  The assembly was last Thursday morning, and even though I was on bed rest, I wasn’t going to miss it.

    Of course, I forgot my camera.  I blame the medications.  Thankfully, Ms. Miskowski (Emma’s wonderful librarian) was kind enough to let me borrow hers and then email me the pictures.

   I really enjoyed the program.  All the children were so cute and so proud of themselves, which they well deserved!  Each of the teachers gave out two awards for math, two for reading, two for citizenship, and then perfect attendance.  Guess which one Emma got?

  I love that Mrs. Taylor gets down on the children’s level every time she takes pictures with them – she is just the best!

  We are so proud of Emma for everything she has accomplished this year – she has overcome her stage fright, you can actually read what she writes now, she has started the gifted program at school, and she has continued to astound us with her reading progress.  Her math is improving, and she is even making strides in PE – not her best subject, but she tries!

   I know pride is a sin, but all of my kiddos are a constant source for Jason and I.  Even Heavenly Father said repeatedly, “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.”  If we can’t follow His example of parental love, whose can we?

Quality Time

  

    First swine flu, now viral bronchitis.  Some days I think I am a walking petri dish.   Unlike my last illness, this time around my breathing  is so labored that I have to do breathing treatments.  It wouldn’t be bad, but the medication raises my already borderline blood pressure.  This means that after the treatment I have to stay in bed so I don’t start having contractions and go into preterm labor.  I just keep telling myself how much worse it could be.  I am thankful that I am doing bed rest in my own bed, and not at the hospital!

  However, there is always an upside….with Mommy on bed rest and being so sick lately, the kids have found new ways to spend time with me:

  They love when I have to do my breathing treatments, because the mist makes me look like I can breathe fire.  I thought Jake might avoid me during these times, because he had to do so many breathing treatments when he was little (hence the extra masks – the one Jake is wearing is actually a dragon.) He seems to forget how much he hated it.  He even insisted that Grady join in.

   After a few minutes, my wild things decided that Daddy needed to have some fun, too.

   This is a game Emma invented called “Lion Pounce”.  It involves jumping on someone from behind – when they aren’t expecting it.  Her prey is usually her littlest brother, who seems to find it fun.  I hope she is a lot more gentle with him than she is with her daddy.

   As much as I enjoy these little moments, I am looking forward being able get around the house and spend more time in the living areas with my sweet family…I am just glad that right now they are coming to me!

Happy Halloween x4

      So how many times did you get to celebrate Halloween this year?  Not counting an adult party that Jason and I went to, we did it 4 times.

  The first was over a week ago, when we went to Trunk or Treat at Jason’s mom’s ward.  It was a good run-thru to make sure all the parts of the costumes fit and how Grady was going to do in his Minnesota-winter Dalmatian costume. 

Our next celebration was Trunk or Treat at our ward. In my opinion, this is our real Halloween celebration.  We get to visit with all of our friends, see all the kids dressed up so cute, and we know any candy the kids collect is safe. 

This year, we actually had a theme in the family -  Jakers was a firefighter and Grady was a Dalmatian.  Emma chose to be a veterinarian. (In case the dog got hurt.)   Even our stroller got into the spirit and dressed up as a fire truck.

The kids had a great time playing games, and it turns out that Emma and Jake both had great aim – they made it through the clown and into the toilet!

  Grady seemed to have a great time just relaxing in the stroller and sampling the candy.

    The third celebration was actually two separate parties – Emma had a “Storybook Character” parade at school and Jake class went trick or treating at the office complex that is attached to the school.  Well, Jake’s class went trick or treating.  Jake, not so much….

 

    Even though it was Jake’s turn to have Mommy at school, I guess he might have been better off without me.

Emma got to have Grady and Nina though, so she wasn’t too upset. At least I was able to get her ready for school before passing her off.

  I love that Emma’s teacher dressed up like the Cat in the Hat! By the way – look closely and you might spot someone you know in this shot!

     Finally Saturday arrived and with it the big day.  Unfortunately, so did a sinus infection.  I woke up just miserable, and after a long phone call to my OB, it was decided that because of my drug allergies and the baby, there were no antibiotics that were safe to prescribe.  Instead, I got fluids and bed rest.  I couldn’t take my babies trick or treating!

   Thankfully, they have a great daddy that was brave enough to take them.  Well, he got lucky and only had to take Emma and Grady.  Jake wasn’t feeling well and refused to even look at his costume, so the two of us sat on the couch, ate pizza, and watched TV. 

   It certainly didn’t turn out to be the Halloween I had in mind, but it was sweet time for Jakers and I, and Emma got Daddy pretty much to herself.  As for Grady, he sat quietly in the stroller and collected candy – and he didn’t melt in his costume.