Portrait Time

Patrick and Kennedy were both due for some portraits. Patrick needed a new 4 year old picture, and Kennedy was due for an 18 month shot. (I'm fairly compulsive about this schedule: newborn, 3 months, 6 months, sometimes 9 months, 12 months, sometimes 18 months, 2 years, and every birthday thereafter. It was a revelation to me that not everyone follows this schedule, but Sean has decided to simply concede this one.) Miraculously, both kids were healthy and HAPPY the day of the pictures. I haven't had a picture taking session with both kids involved ever go this well, and quickly. And, I think we got some SUPER cute pictures!

At the last minute, I also decided to grab their new Christmas jammies in case we had any leftover time in our session. I LOVE how these turned out!

18 Months and counting....

Somewhere in the middle of the flu madness around here, Kennedy turned 18 months old. Actually, it was the day before we all came down with it. I remember because I took her to the peditrician and she was acting all out of sorts even then. Anyway, she checked out well. She's well ahead of the curve on all developmentla milestones, so no worries there. She weighs 24 lbs (40th percentile) and is 31 inches tall (15th percentile). I'm kind of waiting for the next height spurt, because she is definately on the short and round side right now. Adorably short and round, needless to say.

Kennedy is a very funny girl. We laugh at her/with her all day long. She has such funny little words and phrases and is suddenly talking in full sentences that are quite amusing. Recently she picked up "Are you kidding me?!?!" as a statement of disbelief when something funny happens. It kills me every time she says it.

No doubt about it--this girl is her own woman. She has always got a plan and can frequently be caught executing some grand scheme, often from on top of the table or desk! This is one of many pillow forts that she builds to watch the Wiggles from. I kind of hate the Wiggles, but am loving that she will sit still for about 5 minutes, which is just long enough to grab a shower!

As of now, she's also legal nursery age! We sent her once solo a few months ago and then I had been going and sitting with her (she didn't want me to leave after that one time.) However, when I got called to Primary and Sean took her, she was fine with him leaving her there. She loves going now, and talks about Church-Nursery all week. Every time a put a play dress on her she wants to go to Nursery!

Kennedy is very fun to feed. She's very adventurous in her tastes and LOVES fruits and veggies. She would live on avocado, blueberries, and broccoli if I've let her. Quite the opposite of big brother who is afraid of green foods. I hope this lasts with her and we can skip or minimize the toddler bland food phase.

What, don't you all soak in the bathtub with your sippy of "choc-o-wat miwk?" Really, what better way is there? Kennedy begs all day for tubby time, but inevitably makes poor choices regarding the dumping of water over the side and ends up getting the boot early. We've taken all the tub toys out even and she still finds a way to throw water over the edge. The other night, no lie, I watched her get her hair wet and wring it out over the edge of the tub, just to see what I would do. Can you say "limit testing behavior?"

I guess it's a good thing she's So Darn Cute. She really is the sweetest girl, and loves to cuddle and snuggle and love. Her personality has always been bigger that her body and we love that about her. It's been fun to watch the girl coming out of the baby--even though we (having now been there, done that) know that there will be many stormy minutes of toddlerhood ahead, we couldn't live without this little girl's sunshine in our lives! We love you, Addy-girl!

Halloween, Part Two

Buzz and Tinkerbell, working their door approach.
Patrick and I decided that some green hair would round out his look.
Kennedy wanted to "WALK, by SELF!" all night.

Our nice neighbor who would like to adopt the kids.

I cheated and posted pictures from the ward party (which happened a week ago, pre martian-death-flu) on Halloween day. But we did in fact, take advantage of the lull in sick and let the kids trick or treat the neighborhood on Halloween night as well. They both LOVED it. Kennedy was particularly hilarious, since she would give every door-answerer a little monologue.

"Hayo-ween! Happy Hayo-ween! I Tinka-beya! Pat-a-rick Buzz-Yight-Ye-ah! I Tink-beya!" And then she would throw in several "Twick-o-tweat!" rounds for good measure.

Good thing she's adorable--people are much more interested in cute little people at their doors at 6:30 PM on Halloween than the gangs of teenagers doing the sweep through two hours later.
Anyway, they had fun, even though it was a mellowish evening and we didn't stay out long. It's nice that they have low expectations at this age!

Surfacing

OK, am currently knocking on wood....I kind of feel like a human being today.

As opposed to the death-flu-martian-type person I was becoming. Seriously, we don't know if what we've had was regular type flu or the H1N1 kind (although, it would be nice to know, cause if I knew I had it, I could stop stressing out about the vaccination, right?) but it really hasn't been pretty. The hardest part has just been how dang long it has lasted. That would be forever, in case you were wondering. We've all had sicker and weller days, I keep thinking we're getting there, and then someone else comes down with new symptoms. We sent Mal and Carson home on Friday (she was on Tamiflu so hopefully not contagious), and on Saturday, we all started to feel somewhat better. Sean was just starting with a cough, but he usually gets a mild version of whatever we all have. We even dressed kids up and ventured out for a half hour of trick-or-treating in the cul-de-sac and were hopeful that this death virus was over.

Only then, on Sunday morning Sean went to an early priesthood leadership meeting and came home pale and shivering and proceeded to stand in a hot shower for about an hour and then shiver under a pile of down for another hour. Another one bites the dust. Patrick woke up with a high fever, again. Kennedy had a milder but present fever. I threw up twice before breakfast, whether pregnancy or flu related, who even knows anymore. And just like that, we were back out for the count for the day. More laying around feeling crummy, not cleaning the house or getting our acts together. I'd like to say that all of this promoted a feeling of family togetherness and cozy home time, but if your family is anything like ours, it was quite the opposite. Seriously, where is Mary Poppins/Florence Nightingale/your mom when you need her?

However, long story short, every one in this house went to bed at absurdly early hours, for the most part slept through the night (Kennedy was up with a fever and needed more ibuprofen/sleeping on mom at one point, but just once which was in improvement), and everyone feels....a little better today. Sean had to-had to-had to be at a meeting in Seattle this morning. I made him wear a mask. Yes, I did. I told him it was his civic responsibility to do at least that. And also I'm hoping it will make people at work send him home early. And here at home, well so far so good. We've yet to turn on the TV, the kids are both normal temperatured and playing together nicely, everyone actually ate breakfast, no one has puked (me), and I'm thinking I may just do the laundry and possibly start the cleaning of the kids rooms that is far overdue. Crazy ideas.
Crossing fingers, knocking on wood, and every other superstition that might help. We're way over this. If we could at least see some steady improvement, instead of one day better and the next day worse, we'd all feel a little better about life. Here's hoping!

(In other news, assuming I actually do feel better from here on out, I'm thinking of informally participating in NaBloPoMo, just to motivate myself to get back on the blogging bandwagon. We'll see how it goes, since I already missed yesterday. Check back!)

Happy Halloween!

Happy 4th Birthday, Patrick!

Dear Patrick,

Yesterday was your 4th birthday, and in honor of that you learned a very valuable life lesson. Sometimes the best laid plans just don't work out. I know, a rough lesson to learn at age four, but you took it well. We had these grand plans for your birthday. We had invited friends and family over for a make-your-own-pizza party. The Grover's were in town, meaning we had imported the best cake decorater we know. Mom had gathered and wrapped presents, and you'd been sent great gifts as well. Only then....everyone got the flu. Well, both the mommies around here got the flu and the kids all got hacky coughs. With the daddy off at work and mommy and Mal seriously dying of the flu, the plans had to change. We had to uninvite guests, no grand cake was going to get made, and your expectations had to be downgraded. And you know what? You STILL said it was the Best Birthday Ever when we tucked you into bed. I wish we could all be a little more four years old sometimes.

Your daddy and I love you, little man. We're amazed that you could possibly be four, and that we've been at this parenting gig that long. I'm so glad you're flexible and still love life, even when things don't go according to plan. We'll make it up to you--everyone's on the mend now. Happy birthday, kiddo!

Love, Mommy
We decided to farm the presents out throughout the day instead of holding out. This is the Disney version of Guess Who? from Nana and Grandpa, which he is already getting very good at.

The kids started their day at the McDonald's Playplace, as another act of appeasement. I felt really bad about cancelling his party. :(

Opening some cars and a Snow White DVD from Grandma Nay. He watched the movie while the sickies and the babies napped.

Having a little lunch, and some juice box. He said, "Well, we may as well drink these since the friends can't come to my house later on!" Way to be philosophical.

I made him wait to open his scooter and helmet from Mom and Dad until Sean got home from work. He was SO excited about this present--he's been waiting for awhile for one.

First he gave it a try in the house, while Carson and Kennedy followed him around like a fan club.

Then I sent him to the garage to protect people's toes. He did pretty well and I think he'll really like learning to use it.

When Sean found out that things were not going well on the cake front, and my best plan was to stick candles into ice cream, he took matter into his own hands. What a good dad.

Anyway, the birthday boy was still happy as a clam with any kind of cake with glowing candles.

And so, the day ended as birthdays should. I hope he made a wish that his mommy will always be healthy to celebrate his birthday!

Seattle with the Grovers

Kurt, Mallory and Carson have been here visiting this week, and we decided it was finally time to head into Seattle. As you can tell, Patrick was delighted. See the SPACE NEEDLE over there?
The family, out of the windy deck of the ferry. Check out Addy's awesome hair.

The Grovers. This was right after Kurt's BYU hat went overboard. It was later recovered. :)

The boys got a little wild with the puddle jumping and had wet pants for the rest of the day.

Heading to the Seattle Aquarium. We just walked onto the ferry and then did things on foot during the day.

The tide pools were a big hit. After all, it's another chance to get really wet and cold. Who wouldn't like that?

Carson and Patrick getting tangled up in the model octopus. Patrick was terrified of the real one.

Trying to get a cute shot of all three kids AND a seal was, let's just say, not happening.

Then we walked over to the Market. I needed me a tourist picture. Even though that kind of looks like me and Sean pushing our kids in a stroller, it's really Mal and Sean, pushing Carson and Patrick. Full disclosure, people.

The Pike Place Fish Market. How many of you taught with me when we read all the Fish books for Professional Development? Yeah, so now I go there.

The boys crashed in the stroller while waiting for the promised doughnuts. Kennedy, who decided that naps are totally optional, managed to clean most of them up though.

It was a fun day. We were glad to have Mal as the resident tour guide for our first big outing.