And that would explain it

I keep forgetting to put my good Mary Kay 3 in 1 cleanser back into the shower . . . that would explain why my skin isn't fabulous this last week.

This touch/mouse pad on this laptop is hypersensitive . . . that would explain why I normally have a wireless mouse plugged in and am super annoyed by my screen zooming and shrinking when I don't wan it to - so annoyed!

Oh yeah, I have been awake since 2am with listening to and helping family members puke . . . that would explain why my eyes are about to close and therefore there will be no washing of any dishes, no cleaning of clutter piles, nor no vacuuming of any carpets tonight.

Oh yeah, I fell out of bed last night . . . that would explain why my shoulder blade feels bruised.

Last night around 9pm when I got home from Columbia Youth Soccer Club Board meeting, Neil wasn't feeling well.  He had eaten Taco Bell earlier in the day and thought that meal was causing issues.  I stay up late typing up minutes from aforementioned meeting - like 11:30pm - late for me.

At approximately 2:09am, Neil wakes up and states he's not feeling well, he's not sure if he'll be puking or something else.  He politely requested that if he did puke I could bring him a large glass of water.  After a few minutes, I am up and getting a glass of water from downstairs.

I'll spare the details.  He returned to bed and proceeded to watch TV as he was now wide awake.  I really don't mind, I usually fall asleep to TV.  For some reason, I was having trouble falling back asleep. 

Around 4:09am, I hear Fischer crying.  He didn't stop.  I went to get him to have him lay down with me.  He snuggled down.  A few minutes later he was rolling around crying.  I knew he was next with the puke.  So, I am on the outside of the bed, closest to the door.  He's next to me on the inside.  I grab him and try to roll over so I could get out of bed.  Next thing I know, I am somewhat sliding out and plopping down on the floor with Fischer on top of me, along with his puke on my shoulder.  We get to the bathroom. He doesn't have any more puke. He's crying and wants me to pick him up.  I need a new shirt.  So, I get him to calm down and we go back to my room.  I change his shirt.  I change my shirt.  We lay back down.  Some while later - it was still dark out - again he has to throw up.  Again, I try to get him to the bathroom.  Again, he pukes on my shoulder - same spot as last time.  I did not take a mulligan on the falling out of bed, however.  That was the highlight.  Only one episode of falling, which is always nice.  So, we repeat most of the first scenario again.  By this time, Neil is up in our bathroom again.  Paden is awake and getting his little net book computer out of hiding.  It's about 5:30am.  Fischer is feeling better and demanded his Angry Birds time.  So, on comes Disney, Jr channel and we are up.  Guess what else, I had a 3.5 hour meeting in Kennewick this afternoon and had to drive home in the almost dark, which isn't really my favorite past time.  The room was hot and making us all delirious.

Neil stayed home from work, which he never does.  Fischer went to the sitter.  I am pretty sure I've never told her about my blog, so my secret of sending my sick kid to the sitter is safe.  In reality, he was fine.  He had no fever and he felt fine after the second episode.  He was starting to cry at the thought of NOT getting to go to the babysitter's house. 

I know I am an awesome parent because last week I also sent Gunnar to school following his puke episode from his top bunk.  He had a speaking part in the Veteran's Day Assembly and his grandparents were driving nearly three hours to see it.  A little puke never stopped no one.  Well . . . OK, maybe that is one thing that does usually stop people from proceeding with normal life activities.  He was fine.  He did awesome at the assembly.  It was fantastic.  I did leave when the mayor started speaking - other meeting to get to - really. :-)

Anyway . . . I should have been in bed already.  However, the aforementioned sitter has requested relentlessly for a "face shot" of Fischer for a project they are doing.  I keep forgetting.  So, I sat down to print a picture, finally.  But, then felt the burning desire to share with all three of you devoted readers out there the reason why I AM SO STINKING TIRED RIGHT NOW!!!

{Insert Blog Title Here}

It is one of those days that I believe I should blog more often.  I just switched to Google Chrome because Blogger was being kind of difficult.  I hope this turns out well.  

Anyway . . . I am not sure what I have missed. So, we'll just start with Halloween and see what else comes to mind.  I got into Halloween a little late, but in the end had a good time.  So, next year, hopefully I will get the Halloween bug a little earlier.  We told the boys that we are done buying crap-tastic Walmart costumes for them.  Well, Fischer can still get away with it for another year or so.  Instead, we went scouring Goodwill stores for pieces to costumes.  Value Village had a HUGE selection of wigs and other Halloween stuff, so got to go there again!  Next year we'll start earlier.

At the boys' elementary school, they have Red Ribbon week.  Thursday was Storybook Character day.  Gunnar went as Shaggy and took the giant stuffed Scooby Doo with him and it sat next to him all day.  Paden was pretty creative and wanted to be a Greek or Roman God.  He decided on Kronos the Titan after a very close "eenie, meanie, miney, moe" rally.  They all really look the same, so it doesn't matter which one he chose.  It was going to be a white toga with white hair.  It was awesome.  He did say that only about 122 people asked him who he was.  He also said that he wasn't sure it was a good costume because not that many people knew who he was.  We told him it was a great costume because only the coolest cats would know who Kronos the Titan was.  The same date was also the Student of the Month assembly where Paden was student of the month for Academics.  His teacher said that he had the highest imaginable reading score.  His wig and beard didn't make it all the way through the day, which we knew it wouldn't. :)

So, then came Halloween night.  Fischer went as Scooby Doo.  Paden went as Dr. Doofenshmirtz from Phineas and Ferb.  Gunnar was a swamp monster (recycled costume from some other year which was getting pretty small, really).  

"Curse you Perry the Platypus!"

Dr. Doofenshmirtz took his 'wrap-it-in-a-little-bow-a-nator' trick or treating with him.  It changed to a shrink ray later in the night. :)

The Kiwanis club here always puts on a good, safe night of trick or treating around the high school.  So, we went there and down a few houses of two streets, then came home.  The boys wanted to weigh their candy.  TEN AND A HALF pounds of candy.  Yeah . . . a little excessive.  That was for two nights, but still.  We did the trunk-or-treat at the Church on Saturday, too.   I will definitely need to schedule a dentist appointment for them ASAP.

So, what else?

We went to parent-teacher conferences this week.  Gunnar is doing pretty well.  The one area that he used to excel in is now his weakest, which is writing.  In kindergarten, he got rave reviews for his creative thinking and writing.  Now, he's a little less creative apparently and his grade for writing was based on one assessment of a creative writing piece he had to do.  So, I guess we'll be working on that.  The area he used to struggle more was math and he's now exceeding standards there.   Reading he's at grade level and other areas on his report card were mostly exceeds, with some other meets thrown in there.  Overall, we're very happy with his work.

Then to Paden.  I suppose because this is my blog, I get to brag about my kids as much as I want.  I didn't really want to post anything on Facebook because we all have the smartest kids and I didn't really want to brag or offend anyone.  But, for our family record's sake,  Paden is doing exceptionally well in school.  In fact, his teacher, Mrs. Files, called me at 7:30am the morning of the conference and said that she didn't need us to come because she didn't really have anything to say.  He's exceeding grade level in all areas - doing second and third grade work all the time.  He pushes himself very hard to be the best. He has not lost any points (or colors) for behavior.  She said that we could come if we want, but not to worry if we didn't make it; she'd send home his report card with him.  I replied that we'd probably still come because we are scheduled to do so and Paden will want to - that's just how he operates.  I said we won't worry about being right on time.  I did ask her how he doesn't get in trouble because he's SOOOOOO wiggly all the time.  The kid CANNOT SIT STILL ever!  She said that he wiggles w/in himself and doesn't bother or distract anyone else, so  she doesn't have a problem with his wiggles.  He is only 6 after all. :)

So, we did go to his conference because we were scheduled and committed to doing that.  She said that the spring conference this year and the fall conference next year they will be able to start determining if he will qualify for the TAG Program (Talented and Gifted).  He's already scored in the 97th and 99th percentile for math and reading and I think one of those was a second grade test, not first.  I can't remember what all she tested him for.  He's in a 1st/2nd grade blend class, so he has the chance to work on 2nd grade work quite a bit.  He's reading up to 3rd grade 4th month level as a 1st grader, per his test scores.  He has wanted to start reading books like Harry Potter and Sons of Neptune, which are a little higher than 3rd grade.  We told him that maybe he could work on the Percy Jackson series first.  He blew threw Junie B Jones last year and Magic Treehouse.  He does still read Magic Treehouse sometimes.  He's working on a Reading Naturally program.  Because he reads so fast, he sometimes puts his own words in and it doesn't always sound natural, so that's what she's helping him focus on right now.  I am not really sure what programs are offered through our school for TAG, but hopefully enough to keep him motivated and stimulated.  Right now, he's fine since he's in that 1st/2nd blend class.  I am not sure what we are going to do with him next year since he'll be repeating everything.  We'll see . . .

That's my Padey Boy.  His teacher said that he pushes himself really hard and her only concern is that he'll hit a wall down the road - get burned out - or make himself physically ill because he pushes so hard. We'll have to keep an eye on that. He does get tearful and emotional when he doesn't get something right or doesn't get his way right now, so that could get worse as well.  I think that's the maturity/age factor.     

Other than that, I suppose life is just pretty normal.  The boys finished soccer and started wrestling.  Today was the first tournament.  The boys decided before the season started they didn't want to do any of the tournaments, which is fine by me.  They just like to go to the practices and wrestle around.  It gets them out of the house, gives them some exercise and helps develop their athleticism.  It works.  

Paden is seen here doing the normal "Paden" - hamming it up, choosing his pose carefully. No one told him to lay down in front, that was his doing. He didn't even ask, he just did it.  :)

I am not sure that I have any pictures of Gunnar's soccer season since I was the coach and Neil couldn't handle watching Gunnar play.  I do have the team photo and his individual from picture day . . . at least it's something.  

Well, I guess that concludes this blog post for today.  If there is more, it escapes me now.