The Heater Saga

It's a long story but after 26 days WE HAVE HEAT!!! They got finally got the part, could finally get a repairman out (a week later) and he worked on it for 4 hours, staying overtime until 8:30 trying to fix it. And then it began to rain so he couldn't finish the electrical work. So, our hopes of a Thanksgiving with heat were dashed. And the appointment to complete it the next day had to be cancelled due to more rain. At last, on Friday, a repairman who volunteered to work the holiday weekend came and finished it. I could smell it when it came on. I warmed my feet by the vent. I turned it up to the 70s! I cannot tell you how much my mood improved having heat! The house is now clean, the kids will play in their rooms instead of congregating in the warmest room and I don't hate taking a shower only to freeze getting out. It's glorious!! I won't ever take my heater for granted again. 

Thanksgiving

Well this past week nearly every member of the family came down with sickness. I got the worst of it. Fever, headache, body aches, coughs, congestion, the works! And since Moms aren't allowed to be sick and no little people give them a break, I was a zombie for 4 days (2 of which were days when all 4 kids were home). When Thanksgiving rolled around I was still sick, Darby was recovering but had a hacking cough and congestion and Paige had just come down with it. We stayed home while the rest of the family went to the Andersons for the feast. The littles and I stayed on the couch and watched movies for hours cuddled in a blanket. Paige slept about 2/3 of the day (this girl NEVER naps anymore and certainly doesn't sit still).

Dad and the kids had fun at the feast (besides watching a the movie version of The Giver that freaked Brendan out - I could've told you that it wasn't child appropriate but apparently no one else there knew). I got this picture from Shawn Anderson.

I guess Turkey Bowl that morning really knocked him out. 

Silly selfies

Due to the cold house there has been lots of couch cuddles. One session yielded this series of Paigey pictures.

Party Time

Brendan was invited to a couple of birthday parties. One was at a roller skating rink. The birthday boy (a boy from his school class) actually broke his arm and ended up in the ER, but other than that things went great.



Here's Brendan trying to get the hang of skating.


Birthday party #2 was at Fun, Fun, Fun at 7:30 pm on Saturday night. This time it was the birthday of a pal of his from school named Anthony. The kid wanted Pokemon cards and he was inundated with them. He got a lunchpail full of cards. Then another. By the time he got to Brendan's gift of a couple packs of cards it was a bit anticlimactic. But Bubbs was so excited to show Anthony his gift and some card holders. It was pretty funny.


Brendan got a few tokens and blew most of them on pinball. Then they played laser tag and we went home. The Boy didn't get to bed until about 10:30 though.

Spectacles

As part of the IEP process, Brendan was given a vision test at school. He did not pass. I had already made an appointment for an optometrist appointment anyway so  last week, we went. He tried very hard but it was difficult for him to sit still for eye drops and take the vision test. I could tell by his answers though, and was not surprised when the doctor said that he was nearsighted. He would need glasses. He was not excited about that. We picked out the frames that day. It was much more difficult for him to pick frames than Eva. I knew he especially needed comfortable ones or they would bother his ears and nose so much that he wouldn't wear them.  He finally settled on some black wire frames with straight ear pieces.  On Thursday we went to pick them up. I told him that he may not be excited about glasses but he would be excited to see.
When he out them on he exclaimed, "This is too detailed!!" and kept talking about how he could finally see! "So this is how other people can see?!" It was a little heartbreaking.
But I think the glasses are adorable on him and he actually really likes them (mainly because he can actually see) and we haven't had any trouble with  him wearing them. Here's a picture of our handsome man.

Eva's Ears

Eva went to her check up with the ENT last week. She got her first ear tube surgery almost three years ago. Last time, she was shown how to pop her ears if the sound got low because the ear drums would suck in and not carry sound. This time the doctor said she had finally had enough growth and had taken care of her ears well enough (she can pop them easily and recognizes when she needs to) that he gave her a clean bill of health and released her from his care. It was exciting but a little sad. We love Dr. Pantelakos. I never minded those appointments (too bad other appointments aren't so time efficient or pleasant). Eva is very happy to be done though.

Awards Assemblies

Eva's awards assembly was on Thursday. She received an award for perfect attendance (not pictured because she could hold all her awards), a Terrific Kid Award for the value of Responsibility and the Writer's Guild award (only one kid from each class got these last 2 awards). In fact, she was called up so much that the announcer gave her special notice on the third time. :)

Brendan's awards assembly was on Friday. He also got a perfect attendance award. He was on A Honor Roll as well (100 in three subjects, two 98s and his lowest score being 97). What a smarty pants. :)

I'm so pleased that my kids try their best at school!

Lately

November has been very busy. Here are some moments from the last 2 weeks.

Our heater doesn't work. The repairman came out and said that there are rust holes in our heat exchanger. He has to order a part. It could take 10 days to get here. Oh yay. And so we bought electric blankets, a space heater and Jason used the fireplace for the first time since we've been here. Its not been easy but we have managed. I will be SO grateful to have the heater operational again. I didn't realize how spoiled we are by central heating. Paige is cuddling with me under a blanket in this picture. I do like the extra excuse to cuddle.

I found this when I went into their room one morning. Darby had climbed in to Paige's crib with her pillow and blanket and the slept that way all night. Awww. I don't know how they fit though.

Paige loves dress up, in ANYTHING!

Darby wanted to play hair salon. This is her "Elsa braid" (made with repeated tiny rubber bands). Paige got pig tails.

We've been having lots of hot cocoa lately as well.

Paigey's gotten sick. She has a fever and cough. Poor girl.

I'm almost finished with Christmas shopping (go me!!) and the kids LOVE the boxes they come in. This is one creation - Brendan's "amazing armor".

Trick or Treat

Jason here. Halloween night was sort of hectic and a bit on the chilly side. The kids were very excited!

Everyone looks primed for a good time.

The children were very well behaved on our trick or treating walk. Paige got a lot of praise for her cuteness and manners. However, she didn't quite get the memo that you had to get close enough to the candy giver to get the treat in her bag. The man in the bottom picture almost fell off his chair reaching for her bag.

Everyone went out to trick or treat at dusk, and about 30 minutes in, the girls were done. Brendan was not though, so he and I went out to get some more candy. There are lots of decorated houses in our neighborhood. This was one of my favorites with the fog and purple lights. The kids call the lower picture "the Spooky House".

 When we got home the kids helped pass out candy. For the girls, that was as much fun as trick-or-treating.

Japanese Maple

Last weekend we drove for two hours to see some awesome leaves. While we had a great time, it seems like we missed the peak season for leaves.

Then we came home and I noticed that we have an amazing display of fall color in our backyard.

And that is how life is sometimes. We go far and wide to find something amazing that is often right there at home. 

Trunk or Treat

This year our ward had the Trunk or Treat on a weekday night. The youth were in charge and so it made sense to have it on their usual activity night. It was packed! We took pictures and then arrived late, hoping to miss the games and get right to the candy. Meet out skeleton, Princess Leia, a girl from the 50's and a ladybug.

 Well, the carnival games were still going on and the kids loved them. It was just hard to keep track of all 4. After the games there was a costume parade and contest. The best family costume was just outstanding. The Tanners were dressed as the cast from the 80's move Labyrinth. Brother Tanner does a very convincing David Bowie. :) Paige got to spend time with one of her favorite people, Michael. He offered to take her around to the games.

There were lots of car trunks decorated but so many kids that many ran out before we got there. The kids had a blast though! It was a good practice run for Friday night.