Pictures!

We are in Aurora, MN 55705 for Thanksgiving. It snowed a little the other morning, so we have been playing in it daily. Thankfully Odin likes wearing his snowpants this year.
John's sister, Teresa, and her boyfriend Adam also are up for the weekend... Adam was excited to try his "new" commuter bike with studded tires...

Sick

I am really, really not ready for winter. I know it's kind of inevitable, especially in our Northern climate, but really. I have been sick this week. Yes, for real sick. I even went to the doctor, OK it was a Minute Clinic, but still I went. I was convinced that I had strep throat. Worst sore throat I think I have ever had, headache, swollen glands, and like the constant chills NO other symptoms. Thankfully the strep test was negative. I am even more thankful that Odin seems totally fine.
I just am not ready to be cooped up inside for three months. Yes, there are some days where we can venture outside, but not like summer. It is a difficult transition.
We have signed up for some classes, we'll go to the zoo and open gyms I might get him into more swim lessons, so we will be busy, it's just not the same.

Retraction

It appears that I spoke too soon, and I couldn't be happier. We really did not need that.
Today, 35 rain/snow, we need diversions like playgroup.

Quarantine.

I just wrote the following as an email, thought I might share it here.

so I am pretty sure that we have pinkeye, for like the 1,000th time. I have been doing a bit of reading online and I might try some "home remedies" [saline solution, salt water (same as saline, yes?), homey etc.]and then likely call the doctor in the morning... So what does this mean? We will not be at playgroup, again.
What is up with the bring sick for over a month? I mean really, since the beginning of October he has had something going on. Yes I suppose it would all be coincidence. But really? Cold, sinus infection, random vomiting, now pinkeye? It sounds like he is a day care kid. All of the disadvantages, none of the benefit! I wish I knew what was going on.. He has been super cantankerous also, but I think I would be too if I felt like that for 6 weeks. Ugh.

any tested and true remedies that you know of? In the past we have used tobramycin eye drops. I think I am going to take him in in case this is all strangely connected. Hearing "no" from the doctor will make the $15 co-pay worthwhile. Sometimes the confirmation is reassuring (but we have always left the Dr. with some diagnosis...)

Kitchen floor

Something strange has been going on lately. I mean more so than the normal amount of strangeness. He hasn't been feeling great, and as a result he has started taking naps is odd places. On Sunday he slept on the bathmat (yes, in the bathroom) for almost four hours. Yesterday he looked as if he would nap, but no dice. Today he has fallen asleep on the kitchen floor under the table. Actually his body is largely under a chair under the table. Much like Sampson used to sleep. (Sampson has stopped this behavior either because he does not like the new kitchen floor or the new table).
So there he sleeps. Under the table. I wonder if he will be sore when he wakes up.

Begging for Candy

Halloween. I have fond memories of trick or treating when I was younger. I liked the candy really. Dressing up was all right, but really I was in it for the candy. We took Odin out this year, more for the experience than anything. He will eat some candy, yes, but not heaps and heaps (like I used to do). Way back in September we saw a branded "thomas" train costume at a store and thought it looked a bit sad and way over priced. Odin was smitten, so we decided to make one instead. I thought Paper Mache would be a nice way for him to help make a train costume. He helped with the Paper Mache a little, and did a lot of the painting. It would up being a tad heavy, but he got into the spirit and had a great time. We went out with our neighbors and their two boys. I think it was the stuff great memories are made of, but only time will tell!

little note here, wheat flour makes terrible paper mache.. White flour is the way to go.