This morning.

I'm sitting on my couch. in a clean house...well, the parts we live in are clean. I'm looking at this.

Big Daddy is playing golf.

The kids are with Grandma headed to the pumpkin patch.

It is silent except for the buzzing of the neighbor's weed eater, the ticking of the clock and the tapping of my fingers on the keys.

I am enjoying a very peaceful moment drinking my coffee before I head downstairs to tackle a heap of laundry that is, NO KIDDING, chest high. But I found myself thinking about the day when mornings like this will be the norm. My children will be grown and I will have a lot of mornings like this. And I know, when that day comes, I will miss the sounds of my kids running through screaming wildly as they play together. I will miss mornings like that far more than I long for the quiet ones now. But today, I really needed this!!! Happy Saturday!

Our Little Animal lover.

Claire is on fall break for the next few days but Cohen still had preschool today so I used the opportunity to do something special with my girl. My coach from high school was kind enough to show us around the education building at the zoo. We looked at all the animals and then got to get a few out! I took a few pictures that I had to share!


Claire petting the Chinchilla. He was SO soft!

The Bearded Dragon.

I don't remember the name of this one...but it pooped on the table.


This is Alberta the Screech Owl. SO COOL!

NOW, brace yourselves. Remember this post? If you know me, you know that I have an irrational fear of snakes. When I see a snake (on T.V., in a book or Heaven forbid...in person) I get this weird sensation in my ears, my breathing picks up and my armpits start to sweat a little. Too much info? Well, I just want you to understand what I did today just to see my girl smile!


This is Claire and a Speckled King Snake named Sir Cumference.

She loved this thing!!!!

The only thing I liked about the snakes were their clever names. My favorite...Julius Squeezer. Ha!!

This is Monty a Ball Python. Can you believe HOW close that thing is to the camera which has MY hand on it? There was no zoom. He. Was. RIGHT. THERE!!!!!

Claire and I had a great morning together. Then my mom came over with the boys and we had a fun and VERY LOUD afternoon playing and working around the house. Then Big Daddy came home. I wish this pic wasn't blurry! Check out these two cuties and my big strong man!! Keep in mind, the one on your left weighs 55 pounds!!!

Who needs a gym?

Fundraiser!

On Monday October 26th, we will be having a fundraiser to benefit Ozark's Care to Learn program. I have mentioned before how important this cause is to me. Care To Learn provides immediate funding and action to meet any emergent health, hunger or hygiene issue a child might have; addressing a physical need, restoring respect, and getting that child back in the classroom. We also are participating in the backpack program which will send home backpacks stocked with snacks and easy to prepare meals for children who may not get meals outside of school.

So please join us at McAllisters in Nixa Monday October 26th from 5-9!!

On the mend.

My sweet babes are on the mend. The rest of my family...not so. We managed to infect at least five other people with this nasty virus and I can't for the life of me figure out how my mom and I escaped. Me. The one who was spit on, sneezed on, puked on and breathed on for days! At one point the following sentence ACTUALLY came out of my mouth. "Cohen, honey, would you please not talk directly into my mouth...your HOT breath is creeping me out."

I'm not sure if Big Daddy was feeling sorry for me, or if it's because he wants to golf tomorrow, but he was SUCH a sweetheart and took the kids to Incredible Pizza. I called my mom and we headed out for lunch, shopping and THEN dinner!!! Thanks Big Daddy!!!

Looking forward to a busy week filled with the Book Fair, parent/teacher conferences and the food drive for "Care to Learn" at school. SO glad my little people are feeling much better! Thank you ALL for your prayers and concern!!!

A Letter of Gratitude

Dear ,

I would like to thank you sincerely for making such delicious coffee. Furthermore, I would like to thank you for making it available to purchase at my local grocery establishment and make in my own home! You see, with two children infected with the nasty H1N1 virus, the days were less than exciting. But let me tell you Mr. Donuts, when the smell of your delicious coffee filled my nose...all was right with the world. It was YOU Mr. Donuts that got me through 3 & 1/2 days with two very sick children and NO Big Daddy in sight. Now I must go and write another thank you letter.

Sincerely,

Chrissy

Dear ......Well, you get the picture.

Swine Country.

Just a little update on my little ones. Claire actually ran fever all night. BOO. I thought we were on the mend with her but she has been coughing and laying around all morning. She got up and 8:00 and was coughing her head off so I brought her downstairs in an effort to let Cohen sleep in.

Cohen took about half a dose of Tamiflu last night after spitting most of it out at me. I think it made him sick to his stomach because he threw up twice. He had a restless night but it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be! This morning he came down and seemed to be in pretty good spirits. He turned the corner and said, "Momma LOOK!" He pointed to his arm which was covered in blood. As I gasped and tried to keep it cool, I realized he had NO clue that his entire face was also covered in blood! Apparently they poked him pretty good when they checked him for the flu and now he has a pretty constant nose bleed. I wasn't even thinking when I sat him on the sink and he looked over at the mirror. He FREAKED OUT!!! Poor kid! So, I have a call into the doctor just to see if I should be concerned. He insists on wiping his nose himself, so here is what he looks like. I PROMISE I am trying to keep his face clean, but he just gets so upset and I'm trying to pick my battles here.

Oink.

I took Claire and Coco to the doctor today. Claire has had a fever since Saturday but no other major symptoms. She developed a cough yesterday and Cohen went down in the middle of the night with fever, chills, body aches and a cough. Each one of them got a Q-Tip jammed up their nose and then tested positive for the H1N1 virus...aka..Swine Flu. Yuck. Unfortunately I think our friend Drew has it too. I am hoping that God sent my "Mommy Bubble" in order to protect me! It's a lot easier to take care of my babes when I don't feel as lousy as they do, but I'd trade places with them in a heartbeat!

Mr. Cohen is really sad and he misses his Daddy who will be home in just a few hours!


This is Drew. I watched him for a while yesterday since he was home sick too!