Happy Halloween!

Originally, for Halloween this year, Zane was going to be Schroeder and Lily was going to be Lucy. However, when I got them all dressed up, they looked like...toddlers. No one would get their costumes but me and I've have to explain to everyone who there were and that I didn't just throw clothes on my kids to go snag some free candy.

This year we carved a pumpkin. By "we carved a pumpkin", I mean Jason and I carved a pumpkin while Zane and Lily looked at us like we were nuts and ran around the backyard.

"What is that?"

"eww, it's slimy"

"Is it a bucket?"

Lily would come over now and again to stir the pot

She also let me know if I missed a spot

and helped dad dump seeds in the trash

Then we dressed up in another Halloween outfit. Their Aunt Tiffany sent these adorable outfits from Hong Kong over a year ago, so we decided to sport them around town. We went to the Children's Youth Center because they were having a carnival. Their carnival was lame. We left. But at least the kids got to run around the park.

Stomach Sliding is the new "in" thing to do

Then Lily posed for pictures, she's practicing her baby modeling career

Intense

Naughty

Pensive

Flirtacious

Mr. GQ

Then we all came home, ate dinner and went trick-or-treating. Which was really more of a quick walk around the block and stopping at a few houses.

At first they didn't want to go, they wanted to stay and play in their playhouse

but once they heard candy was involved they perked up

After we got home Lily sorted the candy by taking the candy out of Zane's bucket and placing it into hers. Such a smarty.

Ants and Algae: A Miami Staple

ECK. A word to all out there. Do not keep your strollers outside. Ever. It is worth the effort to haul them inside the house. Especially if you happen to live in South Florida. This is a nest of ants that were living under the stroller seat of the double stroller. It formed in two days. There was also a nest living under the seat of Lily's single stroller. Unfortunately we did not find that one until Miss Lily was in the seat and crying. We have since eliminated the mess but the lesson will not soon be forgotten.

ATTACK!

Ugly little buggers

In other news, power washing the patio! Gotta do it when it rains like 300 days out of the year here.

Weekend around the house

We had a pretty mellow weekend around the house. Zane is almost fully recovered but we still didn't want to go parading around town while everyone is in sick mode here in FL. CDC shows that flu levels are extremely high in this region. And based upon the sniffling and hacking I hear each time I'm at the grocery store, I believe them.

So we just hung around here. Nana came in for a visit this week, and Jason is getting ready for a few days in Houston. Hopefully with Zane feeling well and Lily not looking ill, we should have lots of fun outside the house this week.

Hey you...Me and the monkey say hi.

OH! and with Nana in town, Jason and I were actually able to leave the house and have dinner together! Crazy concept I realize. So here's a snapshot in case you've forgotten what we look like. Hope you have a great week out there!

Have table, will climb

Lily the monkey was intrigued by the new table, especially the hole in the middle

Before Zane fell off the table backwards...

...after Zane fell off the table backwards.

...and I ask...

How big are the ants where you live?

On the mend

Mr. Zane is getting much better. Keeping his skin from itching is the trick. He's still very sleepy and is sleeping about 17 hours out of each 24. If he wasn't sick, I'd be elated.

He still finds the time to compose a piece or two however (and this is why he is going to be Schroeder for Halloween)

Lily and I have all this free time to spend together. Her brother is snoozing away and she is anti-nap (except for 1 quick afternoon one) at the moment.

Therefore, we decided to do some learning activities.

Lily, how do you pour from one container to another?

Mom is thinking maybe this wasn't such a good idea at about this time.

With practice she started getting the hang of it, but we had to quit because she started eating all the rice.

For being such a good pourer, she got to love on her new Pillow Pet. We haven't named him yet.

...and Zane loved on an apple. Just remember kids, an apple a day makes you catch Parvovirus!

Turkey Slap!

Now what the heck does Zane have?

Fifth Disease, also known as Turkey Slap Disease. He wanted to celebrate fall with an appropriately named illness. It is named Fifth Disease because it is number 5 in the list of viruses that cause childhood rashes.

From Wikipedia:

The name "fifth disease" derives from its historical classification as the fifth of the classical childhood skin rashes or exanthems. The other common skin rashes are: 1.measles, 2. scarlet fever, 3.rubella, 4. Duke's disease. Following fifth disease is 6. roseola.

It is caused by parvovirus but not the kind you worry about with your puppy.

On a walk yesterday we stopped to pet some puppies for sale. I went into a long explanation as to why my son had a rash all over him and when I said "parvovirus" the puppy sales lady looked at me with horror. I told her they were different but we left quickly to ease her mind. I should just stop talking to people about things other than the weather.

If you're bored and want to know more:

Wikipedia it!

Zane's doing much better but his rash is much worse. It appears to itch so we're doing oatmeal baths...he tries to eat the water.

Twin Talk

Mommy: Lily can you say Zane?

Lily: Apple

Mommy: No, Zaaa-ane

Lily: Ahhh pulll

Mommy: Zaaannne

Lily: Ahhhpulllll!

Mommy: Sigh...Zane, can you say Lily?

Zane: il-ee

Mommy: THAT'S RIGHT THAT'S RIGHT! Say Lily!

Zane: eeeegggghhhh

Mommy: Lil-lee

Zane: aeeeggghhh

Mommy: no, you just said Lily, say Lily

Zane: akh akh ahhhhh

Mommy: Lily did you hear Zane?

Lily: AH PULL!!

Mommy: who wants a snack...

[emphatic head bobs, Lily raises her hand]

Where's Dr. House!?!

Wanted to take Zane back to the doctor today because his temperature still won't go away and he's just not feeling well. Plus he had a few new symptoms. BUT, when I got to the doctors office, I had a minimum 2 hour wait because the shipment of the H1N1 vaccine came in and Coral Gables parents were freaking out. It was like something you'd see on TV...give my son the vaccine!! (complete with pounding fist on the counter top). We decided to leave thus avoiding catching something or being trampled by the angry mob. Hopefully this thing will blow over soon.

blotchy skin...picture doesn't do it justice...think more red and spider web looking

and a nasty raised rash on his mouth :-(

No idea what happened

What can start out as a fun afternoon learning about the differences between pumpkins and gourds can sometimes turn nasty

ah...the hallmarks of a mom with toddlers. Bloody shoulder, graham cracker crumbs, and tearful child.

Went to change Zane's diaper, came back to bloody child. We got most of it off before she wiped the remainder on my favorite white hoody so let's see if Shout really works.

Sickies and Elephants

What Zane looks like...

What Zane feels like...

Miss Lily is showing no signs of the mysterious bug, so since a cold front blew through Miami last night, Dad and Lily had a date day at the zoo. Hope everyone is having fun!

Zane's sick

Woke up this morning basically looking like this with a 104.5 fever. Took him to the doc, he's negative for everything. Whatever this is, it just has to pass.

...and he looked like this all day...

...and didn't want to leave my side. Poor baby.