We're back

All little piggies intact.

okely dokely neighborinos

After the kids, the dreaded flu bug hit your Mom and Dad. One of those where you think you're going to die. Well, I do. I can handle needles  (not your Dad!), but I can't handle nausea. Forget it.  Thankfully your Grandma Jane was able to come on over (ANGEL OF MERCY award) and take care of you while we both slept in the morning. I think it's whacked us all out of sorts. There's nothing like sickness to make you appreciate health.

Your mom's got a short work week, so we'll see if we can update the blog a bit. Despite the ice coated landscape, we did make it out today to see Curious George Live. Maybe too much excitement. :)

Roman is...

...working on getting better. I think we're into 3 + hours on the nap. I've got the door open now so you two will wake up.

What's worse than one sick kid?

Yeah, you guessed it...2 sick kids.
Apparently 8 out of 9 kids got hit whith this stomach flu.
Poor Daddy. Roman started this off with a surprise in the middle of Costco. Just your Dad, Zoe and Roman.  Uh, now what?
Not fun. Zoe woke up at 10...and we all ended up watching a Tinker Bell movie until midnight. Good thing today was my day off (and still in pajamas!) because I was up with Zoe two more times. Poor things.
Sort of getting better. We'll spare you the details!

It's snowing kiddos!

 And you know what THAT means? Fall time orchard rustle in the leaves (or corn) time is over.  So I better post the remainder of the fall photos I intended to get to, eh?

Your dad is geared up to decorate outside for Christmas, he wanted to make it before the snow fell, but he didn't quite get there. Chances are...well no. I was going to say chances are he'll have another shot. But my inner lifetime Minnesotan weather sense says that the 60 degree days are gone until next year. 

Those were the days

.

After you've been amazed

Visit the petting zoo!

The MN Zoo has an area where you can walk around with goats, but this the first time we've actually gotten this close to the animals. You guys loved it (except when the goat went to get the non existent food in Roman's hand. Roman didn't care for that).

File under Cookie Monsters

We finally got back up to see Sister Helenette... I thought I'd bring some freshly baked gingerbread cutout cookies.  Guess who got those?

 Help myself to a cookies, why yes, I just might...

  It did get you to sit nice for a short time...

And then ask for more.

 Good thing Sister Helenette is generous :)

Twin Cities Corn Maze

I figured I better post these pictures of fun at the Twin Cities Harvest Festival and Maze before the snow flies (which could be any day now). Halloween morning we went to check this place out. I attempted to get some discount tickets online and I thought that effort had failed. The last week this place was open for the season I discovered that yes, I had paid for the discount tickets...so after some relatively painless digging (really! What a nice surprise) I was emailed our vouchers.  I'm glad we went!

 This corn pit was one of the highlights. It was huge,and we had a lot of room to ourselves that morning.

 DON'T eat the corn Zoe. Yes, this is something we had to tell her more than once.

You guys weren't all too keen on being buried in the stuff, but I attempted it on myself. That corn was c-o-l-d. I've been weaning this jacket and the first time I put it on after this visit I tucked my hands in the pockets. Corn. It made me smile. And I left it there - it reminds me of this visit!

Dancing in the corn? Why not?

Yee- haw!

There was also an appropriately sized maze, which you had fun in.  Roman had to climb up top, which was fine.

Me, I just followed you around with my camera!

My nudge is your smack

The other day your dad asked me if he was grinding his teeth in the middle of the night. Yes, yes he was. Why do you ask Daddy? His answer: you smacked me!  Hmmmm. I remember hearing the tell tale sound of teeth grinding (yuck!) and being annoyed by it. Then thinking I should nudge him to make him wake up and presumably stop. Then thinking I really should nudge him for his own good (not just a selfish endeavor, that the logic). But I don't recall actually doing anything about it. Funny how memory works. Apparently I did take action and apparently my nudge was your daddy's smack upside the head. Let this be a lesson in perspective, kids.
And, unfortunately, you two have discovered a bit of the push and shove. So not nice.  Normally this involves the lap space you want to yourself, or a toy that you don't want to share. Although you ARE capable of sharing as well - I've seen it with my own eyes!
Tonight Zoe woke up in the middle of the night crying. This isn't normal. Or if it is, your parents are really sound sleepers.  I sat with her for 20-30 minutes as she gently rested her head on my shoulder. Just a little cuddle time, that's all she needed. I asked her if I could put her back in her bed and she nodded. I don't know why I find this so...mature, but I do. Reasonable maybe. Or maybe I'm just amazed that we can have a two way conversation - you get me Zoe, you really GET me. :) Which I suppose is a substantial shift from "babyhood".

Monkey time

We have a lot of "times" in our house. "Diaper" time (said in a very distinct way not easily transcribed- diahpha time!), nigh nigh time. Why not monkey time?

The weather this time of year just throws me. I don't know how to dress. Too cold. Too warm. I'm NOT complaining. I love days like yesterday where we could go out without a coat. Or nights when you can get by with a light coat. Nights? 5:30 is now officially "night" because it's dark. I don't entirely mind that - there's something about the transitional time where it throws you off a bit that I like. Same with the weather. It goes away pretty quickly, but I do enjoy the changing of the seasons. And this time of year we have Thanksgiving and then Christmas to look forward to. After that it's a long gaze out to spring (rebirth!).

A Halloween visitor

Our neighbor came over Halloween morning to deliver some treats. In tow was a little helper...Josie!

 

Josie - the one you call for when you're in the backyard. Josie - the one you search for over the fence. Josie - the one who makes you giggle when she nuzzles your hand, your face or whatever you put in her way. You guys love Josie.

And when she's in a pumpkin costume - well that's even better!

For the Record

Roman DOES have two hands (and feet).

For the Record

Zoe now has some hair.

What can YOUR Grandpa do?

 Thanks for the awesome t-shirts P-Paw and family! ;)

If

If you can't give your son a hug in a pile of corn, where CAN you give you son a pile of corn HUG. (Wow, I think I was more tired than I thought when I originally posted this).

Not a trick question.

There's a monkey on my back!

  

Or a mouse! Zoe is ALL about the pink. You give here the wrong color sippy cup and she sends it back. Actually, she tells you it's Roman's and refuses it. Pink!

Friday night is movie night

And this gets your attention- straight out of the bath, even!
You like to repeat the announcement after we make it.   Last week: the Charlie Brown Halloween special. This week: Toy Story 3. Looking forward to it.