Trying to Stay Healthy & General Rambling

We've been lucky so far this year. With all the flu and H1N1 going around, no one in the family has yet to come down with it.

(Knock on wood).

I did bring the boys to the pediatrician for both the seasonal flu and H1N1 vax last week. I hope this means neither of them will get it.

Since yesterday was election day, the kids had no school. For once, I was really happy that there was no school! I seem to be on the back end of a head cold (just really stuffy sinuses, nothing too major) so it was nice to have an extra day to sleep in and not worry about doing anything much in particular (and I'm feeling much better today).

Over the last six-weeks we've had a "Family Challenge" going on here. We each picked three things we wanted to achieve over the six weeks and then we worked to achieve them. I'm happy to report both boys met and exceeded their goals. Mom and Dad didn't fare so well - neither Rich nor I met our goals, but we weren't off by much!

Sam was the winner by far so he earned $25 for winning! And Josh came in second - he achieved all his goals too, but didn't accumulate as many points. BUT he also "won" $25 for doing so well in school, winning the science fair and really sticking to his many commitments and keeping his grades up.

So yesterday I took the boys out so they could spend some of their money. Sam really wanted a new Webkinz and Josh wanted an "Action Replay" for his DSLite. Part of my plan was to bring them to Toys r' Us and have them make a list of things they wanted for Christmas (and Sam for his birthday) but once we got to Toys r' Us, Josh had to get his Action Replay and couldn't focus on anything else!

So I guess we'll have to try that again another day! I did manage to get some ideas for Sam's birthday at least!

We're busy gearing up for Sam's birthday next week. We've got his birthday party here this Saturday -- please pray that we all stay healthy and the weather stays beautiful! I want to have the kids outside as much as possible. And since we're making this a "Family Affair" it may be a bit crowded if we can't move outside for part of the evening!

Finally, I wanted to give a special shout out to our pediatrician's blog: Jerry's Jungle. We love all the folks at Kennesaw Pediatrics -- they are wonderful! We've been with them since just before Sam was born and have seen them grow from having just 3 doctors to having 6 on staff and now they are on Facebook, Twitter and have their own blog too! Check them out!

Halloween 2009 - Gobble Gobble & Goblins

As you may have heard, we've had a very wet Autumn and it's been unseasonably cold for this time of year.

Well, yesterday, Halloween, was no exception!

The day started out with the Cub Scout's annual "Turkey Shoot." Josh and I headed off, in the rain to see what the Cub Scouts had in store!

Josh had to go through the safety course. Where they spoke to the boys about gun safety, and even though these are BB Guns, they are still weapons. Each boy had to attend before they could go out on the range. When they were done, their name tags were punched.

Since it was pouring rain, they didn't have the BB Gun range open, but they did have the Sling Shot range....

and a place to make a marshmallow shooter...

(yes, I did saw all the pieces of the PVC pipe and help him put this together)

By the time we were through with all that, plus we took time for a drink of hot cocoa and a snack, the weather cleared up and the ranges opened.

Josh was very excited! He got his target all ready --

Put on his safety glasses....

and then had a go...

Each boy was allowed to take 10 shots. When they were done, they had to wait until all the boys in their "range" were finished. Then they could get the targets when the Range Master told them it was okay.

Here's Josh showing off his "after" target. He was a bit disappointed because he only managed to hit the paper once -- up in the top right corner.

However, he's decided that Grampa can take the time and really show him what to do and how to aim shoot the BB Gun at a target properly when we see Grampa next. And he had fun!

And this was just in the morning!!! In the evening we went to a friend's house for pre-Trick-or-Treat insanity.

It was wet, and cold and rainy, but that didn't stop the kids from having fun, running around the neighborhood and collecting heaps of candy! Which Mom and Dad quickly "inspected" last night!

Today is cold, but sunny and the boys are outside getting more fresh air, rolling around in leaves. Rich and I are packing up the Halloween Decorations (well, really Rich is. I'm eating pumpkin seeds). And we're getting geared up for Sam's birthday party next weekend!

Wordless Wednesday: Branded Bobcat!

Pictures from Monday Night's Cub Scout Pack Meeting - Josh getting "Branded!"

He told me he was a bit nervous!

Special thanks to Sandra O'Reilly for taking the photos!


For more Wordless Wednesday visit WW HQ and Five Minutes for Mom.

Pumpkin Patch and Bobcat Badge

Man, things have been busy here! Yesterday we had two fun things going on.

In the morning, Sam had his "Happy Harvest Day" celebration at school. They used to take a field trip out to the YMCA Camp nearby, but apparently it got too expensive so now the school hosts an in-house field trip.

The kids ride a train around the parking lot...



Then got to go out to a "pumpkin patch" (which was really the church's baseball field with pumpkins in it) and they got to pick out their pumpkin. Sam was the first one in and the last one to find his - but he got the perfect pumpkin, don't you agree?



And here is (most) of his class modeling their pumpkins.



They listened to the Story Teller...



And did some Crafts! It was a fun day for all!!



Then in the evening, Josh had a Cub Scout Pack Meeting. He got his Bobcat Badge (which really is his "initiation" into scouting). He was even branded!



I had a friend take some pictures of Josh getting "branded" and hers turned out better than the ones from my camera. I'll post them on Flickr or here once I get copies of them.


And he earned his whittling chip - which allows him to carry a pocket knife to all scouting functions - except those at school. He's got Grampa's old knife so he's very excited to bring it to the Den Meeting on Monday and show it off.

This week we're just a busy -- Halloween is coming up and it seems we have all sorts of activities surrounding Halloween and then Sam's Birthday... before we know it Thanksgiving will be here!