Ice and Fire update

Yesterday was interesting to say the least!  I took Meghan to the Dr since she was still running triple digit fever.  Diagnosis: pneumonia.  He wanted xrays to make sure she didn't have fluid in her lungs before starting antibiotics.  I made arrangements to get Jenna to a friend's house so I could concentrate on Meghan (thank you for watching her!).  We had a time limit to get the xrays done and then back to the clinic for the antibiotics if her lungs were clear, which we just made.  I don't want to think about how they get fluid out of lungs.  Thankfully, she was good to go, which was rewarded with supposedly the most painful shot you can get in the butt.  Picked up Jenna, got meds, went home so she could start taking icky, awful meds.  I hope I don't have to see Meghan so worn out again - limp rag doll syndrome.  I had her in a wheelchair at the hospital, otherwise I carried her where we needed to go (Mark had the stroller with him in Gig Harbor).  Good news is today she's tarting to perk up, eating a little bit and excited about the snow.  Yes, snow.  It started this morning, a dusting on any surface cold enough.  For some reason it makes me want to listen to Christmas music, drink hot chocolate and curl up in a blanket, which is pure drivel since the house is 79.  Thank you, wood stove!  Jenna and I went to my other commitment last night, the school carnival.  I am so thankful that I can trust her to behave on her own - she had the run of the joint last night, had a ball, made some new friends.  Today is unwind, regroup day.  Maybe we'll go play in the snow!

Snow and Fire

There's more and more snow on the hills here - some of the ski resorts open this weekend.  There was ice on the grass this morning - not frost, actually slushy ice.  I really should get out my winter coat!  The wood stove has been going, keeping us toasty warm, perhaps a little too warm occasionally.  I don't think they've closed the pass yet, but it won't stay open much longer.  The forecast is for cold from the north, and then a storm from the south, so we could be seeing snow on the ground soon.  We might need to put some snow on Meghan!

Meghan's been home since mid-day yesterday with a fever and occasional stomach pains.  The fever has hit triple digits, but Tylenol seems to bring it down quickly.  The pain seems to have left (wrong side for appendicitis), but general lethargy and no appetite have stuck around so far.  I've heard of a bug going around with similar effects, so I'm not too worried, just trying to keep her hydrated.  There's a lot planned for this weekend, some of which has other people counting on both parents to be present (unfortunately, at over 2 hours apart).  Sigh.  We'll see how it goes!  I might need to apply some of that snow to myself, to just chill!

Powderpuff Derby

Dad had cut out the car, Mom sanded, Meghan painted and picked out "accessories" and placed stickers. Mom did some "finishing touches". Meghan said," I'm going to win!" We coached her that participating was the reward, not to count on winning. They lined up all the Daisies to watch their races.
Meghan was so excited when her car raced - even more when it won! It started out competitive, but when it reached the flats it took off! Turns out Mom's research on the 'net pays off.


Then it won the next race - and the next. The last race was for the top 4 cars, and would be run twice to make sure. Turns out Meghan was right - she won! She took first place for the Daisies! Another Daisy from her troop (Megan B) came in 3rd.
We left after the Daisies ran, since the kids were hungry and getting bored. Thinking back, we should have stayed to see if they would have run her car against the other levels! But there were a lot of other cars to race, and they were getting antsy. Note to self for next year - bring lunch (the races started at 11), and be prepared to stay the day. We'll have 3 cars to race next year - Daisy (Jenna) Brownie (Meghan) and Adult (Mom!).

3/6 coming quick!

I can't believe that Meghan's about to turn 7! She is a tall willowy girl that likes reading books and loves racing her bicycle! She hasn't been drawing as much lately, but loves to color in pictures. Permanent markers, the finer the better, are still her preferred colorant. She doesn't like to ride the bus home, but her stuffed zebra helps make the trip better. Horses still fascinate her and she likes to play pretend with Jenna, they practice dancing together! Dancing is another fun thing, especially if she can wear her dress shoes that tap. She may be turning 7, but she's past that in clothing - pants are a size 8, tops 8/10 or 10/12 depending on cut - she's long and lean! Now you know the scoop on Doodlebug!

Back in the saddle

Well, not entirely - since I promised Meghan we'd go riding at Christmas, and we didn't. I did try, the one day it wasn't raining I called to make a reservation, but they never called me back! I need to find someone in the neighborhood that would let us ride. So I still owe Meghan a pony ride.

We had a great Christmas! We're trying to make lots of traditions that we can repeat every year. I put 24 of our nativity characters in little favor bags, and each day we got one down and set it out, while I tried to explain the nativity story to them. We went to The Lights of Christmas, which was ok, but they didn't have the wagon ride, and Meghan's too tall for their pony rides (she's officially 4'4" ish, Jenna is 3' 6"). I'm not sure how much longer we'll keep that tradition, but they did get faces painted, made ornaments and did the train ride. Meghan had a first grade Christmas concert, which was fun. Her school normally does a Fall Festival, but since most of the school got sick late Oct, it was rescheduled as a Winter Carnival. I helped by picking up things the day of, including 11 boxes of caramel apples and a bouncy castle! The girls had a blast, and the schedule change may become permanent. Hamilton had a town Christmas party for the kids, with stocking decorating and pictures with Santa. That went well too, and the girls had fun. For Jenna's birthday we went to Jungle Playland for a couple hours. I wanted to make sure after Christmas wasn't a huge let-down after all the hype, so we packed the break full of activities - rollerskating, sledding, kids museum for New Years party, beach, Rasar park, their first movie in a theater (Princess and Frog) (they had a blast, were really good!). Now we're back into the regular routine.

The girls are having a joint birthday party the last Sat of the January (mid-way between) since a lot of their friends are in the same family, it's cheaper to have one party and invite everyone than to have 2 parties and pay twice for almost everyone! It also lets us celebrate Jenna's birthday away from Christmas. It's at Jungle Playland, and they provide food (hot dogs), so all I need to do is invites, cake and loot bags!

Christmas bits

We went to the Lights of Christmas tonight, one of our Christmas traditions. Meghan is officially too tall to rife the ponies (over 4'), but the promise that we'd go for a pony ride when she didn't have school at Christmas helped stop the tears. I hadn't planned on going that night when I left the house at 9am, so I didn't have my camera, so I got a disposable one, so I should have some pics from that. The girls are excited for Christmas, so we're helping them count down with 1. advent calendar 2. nativity countdown and 3. Meghan's class made a paper chain that has suggestions for things to do each day. The funky picture of Jenna is she has both feet in one of my shoes. If you've read C.S. Lewis' Voyage of the Dawn Treader (part of the Narnia series), this looks like inspiration for the Duffers, who are Monopods. She was hopping around like that!

Christmas Already?

I know, long time no post. So here's Halloween pictures. I made Meghan a Tinkerbell dress, which she wore to our party, the GS party, to town Halloween day, and trick or treating here (we went to the church parking lot for "trunk or treat", where the church members bring their cars, decorate the open trunks (one lady had real candles!), dress up and hand out candy, and to 3 houses on the street). Jenna was Cinderella (purchased dress), didn't want the purple tulle skirt with it, wore that to our party and in town and then wore a purple cat costume trick or treating (much warmer). They had a lot of fun, but they don't eat most of the candy people give out. We carved a few pumpkins, did one with lite-brite type pegs that get pushed/pounded into the pumpkin - they liked that!

In case anyone hasn't heard, my beaded doll is in a competition, you can read about it here.

Christmas is fast approaching. I have Meghan's school pictures, Jenna's should be here soon hopefully, so they can go out in the Christmas cards. Both girls chose to wear the same shirts they did last year! It makes it really easy to notice the subtle differences in their faces. Last year Meghan's front teeth were growing in, this year it's the next ones over. A little more shopping to do, and that's done. Maybe I'll even have time to do some baking this year! I'll update the kids wish lists on the side after I'm done typing this.

Tomorrow is the last popcorn delivery day for me. I've been dealing with the BSA popcorn sale for 10 years, and I'm stepping down. Ship out the popcorn, collect the money, one more trip to Everett office, and I'm done. No more crazy Sept-Oct-Nov!

Meghan is officially a Daisy Girl Scout, and loving it. The girls and I have gone to the school skate nights, and their first movie night at school (first time seeing a movie with a group of people, and on a big screen - did very well!). Busy, busy, busy!