Don't stand so close to me

Tonight Zack told us at dinner that he didn't feel good. After 5 years of parenting now, I'm starting to get the hang of the "I'll tell them I'm sick so I don't have to eat fish sticks" ploy. He nibbled on his dinner and then we told him if he wasn't feeling good he could lay down. So off to the couch he goes, and less than a minute later we heard the squeaking of the wheels on his monorail. Sick maybe, but definitely nothing that was going to keep him down. He plays with Daddy and Sydney after dinner, and then wanders in to see me in the kitchen and inquires if he can have a "treat". I begin to laugh wholeheartedly at the request and remind him (for the millionth time) how kids who don't finish dinner, or aren't feeling good certainly don't get a treat. Next comes a very sad pout and crying from Zack. He's dramatic, but usually not this good. I take a look at him and he starts to grab his stomach in pain. I pick him up to see what's wrong and set him down on the counter next to me to get a good look at him. Luckily, I wasn't looking too good because next comes the projectile vomiting. ewwww That blueberry yogurt had turned into something green and he looked like a sea serpent spraying some evil goo all over the floor. Yes, all over the floor. Why hadn't I put him next to the sink instead of on the island!? Anyhow, at least the multiple pukes made him feel much better and the rest of the night was spent in peace. Poor little guy.

Wednesday!!!

When Zack was told this morning that it was Wednesday, he started into a 15 min grouchy phase, complete with bawling and pouting. He said "I don't want it to be that day. I want it to be Friday." He wouldn't even use the word Wednesday, just referring to "that day". Who knew that Weds was sooooo bad!!

Mom's latest obsession

Since I got that new camera, I find myself with an abundance of photos and wanting some way to show them off. Well I got the scrapbooking bug and now I'm trying to make my Photoshop Elements do something! Here is my first scrapbook page, a piece of history :)

It starts with the letter "G"...

In the kindergarten class they have an assignment called Secret Letter Detective. One child is given a letter and told to bring in an object from home that starts with that particular letter. It must be hidden from the class, and the students will guess what it is based on three clues. Sydney was the chosen one this week. She had been the SLD in the past, and a student had guessed a "picture" was in the bag after hearing just one clue - "it's square". We all thought there was something fishy going on - "did she look in the bag?" "did someone tell her what it was??", so in the competitive nature of the task (really?) Dad picked out the object for the letter G. We're still surprised no one guessed it this time!!

1) it's in your computer

2) draws pictures

3) hooks up to monitor

Let the decorating begin

As soon as the turkey is cleared from the table at Thanksgiving, we're ready to decorate for Christmas. This year it was hardly even a chore as the kids pretty much ripped into the boxes of ornaments and started putting them all up on the tree! Granted, the decorating pretty much stops at 4 feet on our tree, but that's what makes is special :)



Christmas is a beautiful sight around our house....

My kitty...

Don't tell Zack this, but what he calls "my kitty" is really a blankie. I know, it's hard to believe, but our little guy likes to drag around his blankie and make it meow. It's also know as "school blankie", but mostly it's just kitty. Kitty is often found rubbing against Zack's ear (that's how he makes sure something is oh so soft...) and cuddling with Zack in bed. But often Kitty has super great powers, like how it knows Zack's full name and his age. We all love Kitty.

Happy Thanksgiving!

That's right Pilgrims, it's time for turkey eating again!!!




















Remember when Zack through that 40 minute fit about putting that shirt on??? geez!





















Bust out the cameras! This is the first (and maybe only!) full size turkey that we have ever made. Yum Yum Yum!!

Here's the guys enjoying the feast...

3 generations of hot chicks at the feast too!

What?.. that outfit again?

Who would have thought that Zack would take such an interest in clothes these days! When he got home from preschool on Friday, he scurried upstairs. When he came back downstairs again he was all smiles and proclaimed the new clothes that he just put on to be "his favorite outfit". He wanted to sleep in them that night. The next day he wore them again - ok, really they only had a few hours of "wear" on them. However when Sunday rolled around and he wore them yet again, it was time to come up with a plan. That night they were promptly thrown into the wash, proclaimed as "dirty" and it was announced that he would need to find something else to wear. Yeah for running pants!!

Happy Halloween!!

Unusual for Ohio, it was a beautiful Halloween night - weather was in the 60's, warm enough to leave the coats at home. We went out as soon as 6pm hit (thanks to Grandma & Grandpa coming over to pass out the treats!) and didn't stop until 8pm. The kids bags were packed full of candy. More candy than the whole family even needed! One special treat for night was the visit from the Monclova fire department. They drove their big fire engine through the streets, passing out candy to the kids and just being silly. My favorite part was the neighbor that was passing out Jello shots for the parents! yum!!

Sweet dreams

So far I would say that the tonsilectomy has been a success - Zack has been sleeping through the night for a few weeks now. Another test will be when we go to the Dr's and get his weight rechecked. hooray!!

Goodbye Chyna :(

Today our kitty, Chyna passed away. She was 17 years old and suffering from chronic renal failure. We loved her dearly and she will be missed very much. :(

Tonsils & adnoids removed

Today Zack went to Flower hospital to get his tonsils & adenoids removed. We are hoping this will make him a better sleeper, which will help him gain some weight and be a happier kid. The surgery started at 10:30am and lasted about 40 mins. When we got to see him in recovery, he was very very unhappy. Coughing and crying uncontrollably. It was a sad thing to see, knowing we couldn't help him much. He did calm down for a little bit and napped, but when he woke up he was still pretty sore. When we got to the recovery room, we stayed there a couple more hours. We were getting pretty discouraged when he refused to try any Popsicles and would only drink a little bit of water. Then the nurse found some apple juice and he sucked that down, and also ate some applesauce and 2 Popsicles! After that he was feeling much better and started talking and laughing. Daddy had put Cars movie on his iPhone and that really saved us. Zack was happy to watch it while we waited to leave. By the time we got home at 3pm, Zack was talking non stop like usual and not willing to sit still for hardly a minute. I hope he decided to calm down so he can get the rest he needs! He's eating bread, pudding, jello, Popsicles, and lots of juice.

the great dinner battle

With Zack being a picky eater, it's not unusual that our dinner turns into a battleground some nights. Recently I thought he would really like some meatloaf (which he probably *has* liked before), since he really likes meatballs, and they're pretty much the same. Well he refused to eat it and then told me "when you make some good food I'll eat it". !!!!!!

The big saver

When told that going on vacation costs money, Zack said that he was going to contribute by giving us all of the money in his piggy bank. His goal is to get to ride on the Barnstormer roller coaster at Disney World again.

"I willn't!!"

You have to give Zack credit - he sure is a creative child. He's made up his own contraction. "I willn't" is a pretty popular phrase when he speaks. "I willn't spill the milk!" "I willn't break it, I'm just looking at it"

the Shape of Things To Come

Zack has been talking a lot lately about when he grows up - he's going to be a "Daddy". When I told him that a Daddy has babies, he told us that he was going to have 3 boys! One of them is going to be named "Dad". Not to be outdone, Sydney reported that she will also have 3 kids - two girls, named "Ashley" and "Chloe" of course.

Kindergarten!

Sydney started Kindergarten today. She was all decked out in her new outfit, complete with pink sequined head band and her Barbie wedding backpack. What a cutie!! We can't believe she's starting school already. Zack also just started in his preschool room yesterday. They really do grow up too fast. sigh

Rolf Water Park

The Rolf Water park was a big hit for the kids. I picked a day when it was supposed to be 89 degrees and sunny. Little did I know that thundershowers were also in store! Less than an hour after we got to the pool the clouds moved in and the lightning started. So that caused an hour and a half long rain delay and we left the park for a little while. Eventually it cleared up and we got to go back. We met our friends there and they all had a blast!

Put in Bay

We took a day trip to Put in Bay today. We rode on the Miller Ferry, which was as much a part of the whole experience as was being on the island. Zack is every so enthralled by boats as much as he is cars and trains so it was a great trip - Sydney on the other hand was starting to get very leary of the rocking of the boat, but she did relax later and enjoy the ride. No trip to Put in Bay would be complete with out pizza and beer at Frosty's, so that was first on our agenda. The kids enjoyed an ice cold chocolate milk. Since we went on a Saturday it was quite busy. We did get to rent a golf cart, although it was the slowest cart on earth! I guess we were lucky to get the cart, since there was a shortage, but it was a terrible cart! After riding on the cart we played at the playground, and went up to the top of Perry's Monument. We ran into our friend Dawn so we went out to dinner with her. It was a long day, and the kids stayed out until the last rays of light. Needless to say they were conked out by the time the car got rolling home. What a great day!

Enjoy the silence

This morning Syndey told me that she wanted to be a mommy so she could "do anything she wanted".
I asked her, "oh yeah, you know what I did last night? I went grocery shopping after you went to bed! Doesn't that sound fun? And I didn't get home until late - and I went right to bed afterwards".
She asked "did Daddy go too?"
"Nope, just me"
"well, I would go grocery shopping by myself too if I were a Mommy. So I could have some quiet time".
She'll make a great Mommy :)