Birthday Week...Bummer.

Ok, really. This has been a very strange week for us. 

You probably know that I work as a nanny. The kids' parents are out of town this week, so Jonathan, Jonah and I are staying with them. We love them dearly and care for these kids as if they were our own. (I feel qualified to say that since I do have my own) So, I can take whatever comes our way. It is just part of it, as they say.

Well, earlier in the week (my most recent post) I told you about the stomach bug. It hit 3 of the 4 kids (one at a time), Jonah included. It was short-lived. We got through it generally unscathed. 

Well, the one kid who didn't get hit with that nasty bug...came down with something else...something much different. Something I believe he's shared with Jonah. 

look at these cute guys!

Now, look what he's got.

Yep. those are what you think they are. 

Neither boy has been vaccinated for CHICKEN POX. 

We won't know for a few days...but these two are best buds, they spend lots of time in close company. 

Therefore, the Birthday Party is canceled. 

BUMMER. 

Oh, well. Thankfully the procrastinator in me hadn't gotten too much ready yet. 

We may just have an "adults-who've-already-had-it" only party. 

BirthdayWeek with a Vomit Bug.

I was just thinking yesterday that I didn't write a celebratory blog post. I had planned to write something birthday-ish each day this week. I've made a change in plans. Why? Because little man has a vomit bug and we are spending all our free time dealing with that rather than writing for the ole blog! He woke up with it this morning. He isn't alone in his misery. Two other kids we spend lots of time with are sick with the same thing (only no fever for them.)

This picture was taken around a year ago, and this is just about what he's doing now (as well as a good portion of the day.) Poor fella. He's added on a touch of fever tonight. I'm gonna go check on him now. Hopefully the next B.W. post will be happier!

Birthday Week 2011

Well, here it is! The last week of October. The little man is almost out of the "baby" stage. In less than a week he will enter full-blown toddler stage. *sniff sniff*

To kick-off Birthday Week I've created a little video. Jonah received an early gift in the mail a couple of days ago. Since Daniel and Riss couldn't be here to see him open it they requested video footage. And to make it even more exciting...well, at least for me...I expanded my horizons and posted it to YouTube.

Without further ado, I give you:

Five for Friday: hodgepodge edition

disclaimer: i do not have any cohesive thoughts today.  next week isn't looking so hot either.

1.Well, Friday has rolled around again. Have you reached a point in the week where you could use a good laugh? I am not one to love tattoos...but this one is pretty clever and made me chuckle. 

2.I might need to chuckle a bit more to burn off the calories from this new recipe I tried out yesterday. Unfortunately I didn't have any toffee bits nor pecans to add. We ate it on graham crackers. It wasn't the best thing I've eaten in my life, but that doesn't mean I walked away from the bowl quickly...at all! 

3.Fact: We do not own Horton Hears a Who on DVD. (gasp)

 Jonah saw part of it for the first time today. 

 He really likes Horton's silly moves. Every time Horton did something funny, Jonah said "adin (again)" to the t.v.

4.Oh, and a little BIG, flashy update for the Man of the House. 

Jonathan registered today for the American Board of Certification for Teacher Excellence.

That probably deserves an entire post. I'll work on that, but you can pray for him to study hard and pass the test at the end!! I think he will make a swell teacher!

5.Next week's Five for Friday post will be all about this guy:

since he will be turning TWO!! 

That's right...this coming Sunday kicks off BIRTHDAY WEEK. 

stay tuned.

(aren't you glad I didn't commit to a top ten list on Friday's...I know I sure am!)

To Sleep or Not to Sleep.

How about NOT.

Our sleep pattern has been a bit "off" lately. A few weeks ago nap time became very tricky. I'd been having Jonah nap in the morning because we leave the house everyday around 3. He'd nap from 11:30 or 12 until somewhere around 2. It worked out great.

And then, it didn't. Naptime became a battle.

We fought the battle.

Then, bedtime became a battle.

Two battles a day? No thank-you!

So, I ignored my inner "mommy" voice telling me he was too young to give up naps. And we started keeping him up.

That has been working out fine. Bedtime is still tricky, but here's why...he falls asleep in the car around 3.

WHAT to DO??? (this is one of those "insolvable problems" we are just going to have to struggle through)

Oh, and just to throw another kink into the pattern...HERE's what he's been doing this week:

on the couch, watching a movie ("rest time")

(I think he's growing)

Meanwhile, I'll be brewing up another pot of coffee! 

Happy Wednesday Afternoon!

Proper Coffee...and something worthwhile.

In honor of the weather changing to that crisp coolness which makes coffee drinking so delectable...I give you A Proper Cup of Coffee (by a folk group from my neck of the woods...Trout Fishing in America.) 

I dare you to listen to the whole thing (or at least stick with it through the chorus.) 

It is a silly silly song. I also dare you to try singing along!

My mother will not be able to stand it. 

And then, after listening, go fire up your Proper Copper Coffee Pots!

Traditional Turkish Coffee in a Copper Pot

Does anyone else find this "less-than-proper?" 

I don't think I could choke that down. 

I'll stick with what I know best.

ok, enough. go drink a cup of coffee and read some other blog with more worthwhile content. 

Here is a blog that will do:

My friend Amy and her husband are in the middle of an adoption ordeal. It was smooth until the baby was born and they discovered there were some legal issues. They AND another family have legal documents for adopting the baby boy. They attended a custody hearing yesterday which gave them more insight into the process, but did not result in a placement of their son. They are still waiting for a final answer, but trusting God with all the details. 

Read more at Becoming Five.

I LOVE Fall

Fall is beautiful. 

And it smells amazing! (I wish I could capture smell in a photo)

Things I love about Fall

*crisp cool air

*freshly fallen leaves

*marigolds

*snuggling under a blanket 

*bonfires

Fall Foods 

(which, for some reason, always taste better when the weather is cool)

*pumpkin spice latte

*apple pie

*frito pie

*hot chocolate

*most any kind of soup