Since I feel like the T.V. has been perpetually on since last Monday and I've also recently been accused (love you JZ) that I haven't given Raegan enough face time on the blog I thought I would quickly post a fun T.V.-less moment that we had this weekend in between illnesses (Brad and I both came down with the stomach flu two days ago after the family's long bout with nasty colds the previous week).

So Sunday afternoon we finally went to get pumpkins and although I had talked it up to Raegan several times I was doubtful that she would enjoy the messy fun as much as I was hoping (here at the Kreiders we've learned to meet most new activities with low-expectations so that we can be pleasantly surprised when Raegan loves them). So anyways, we got our pumpkins and talked about what faces we would carve, etc. and once I started carving and scooping I thought no way would she help me and touch the innards but, low and behold, she COMPLETELY shocked us by reaching in and squishing the guts to her hearts content for almost a half hour. She couldn't get enough and of course had to announce to me about 30 times in that 30 minute period that she was squishing the pumpkin guts and it was messy and I needed to watch her. Wow. I felt like we had crossed a major barrier of messiness that is usually intolerable for our little Type-A. Of course she followed up her unlikely behavior with very specific (Type-A) instructions of how to carve the faces, where to put the candles, where exactly to put the pumpkins on the front porch and then how long to leave the candles lit, etc.

Hey, we can't expect leaps and bounds. I'll take the baby-steps, it keeps life interesting around here.

Okay so I now see that I didn't get actual footage of her touching the guts, you'll just have to take my word for it. And yes, in case you were wondering, the tank-top and princess crown (on backwards) on a 35 degree evening were a very necessary attire specific to pumpkin carving; according to Raegan.

School makes me sick

So I was warned that once RG started school she would be bringing in all sorts of fun germs and illness and I'm starting to believe it. Of course it could also be that we are entering the "season" without flu shots (yet) and we frequent the germy mall tree house, the germy grocery store & Target carts, and the germy church nursery all several times a week. Guess I can't really blame it on just school but it feels better to pin-point it doesn't it?

So since Sunday we have had a range of symptoms from phlegmy coughs, sore throats, fevers, and lost voices. RG's cute quote of the week was when she finally got her voice some-what back and stated: "Mommy, my voice is talking again!"

Anyways, that would be my reason for lack of posting lately. I'm waiting for the self-medicated fog to lift and for my motivation to go beyond dragging my buns off the couch and up the stairs to this chair in front of the computer. Once I get here it feels like I have accomplished plenty and I can only muster enough thought to click on my email and Facebook. Pretty pathetic I know.

Yesterday I did, however, bundle up the kids and "drag" them outside for some much needed oxygen and it was actually good for all of us. Of course then it dawned on me that only a short few weeks prior I was doing the same thing in a tank-top and flip flops...which made me want to crawl back inside to the comfort of my couch. Yes, I miss summer.

But this kid, sick or not, is always good for some free entertainment. Goodness I could watch her all day long...

This girl

1. Takes after her father
2. Is so attached to her "Dee" (binky) that is drives me insane.
3. Is a never-ending source of entertainment.
4. Has only 8 teeth, none of which include her top-front.
5. Talks more then any other child her age I have met to-date.
6. Loves to antagonize her Type-A sister. Relentlessly.
7. Loves to hit. Constantly. And is unfazed by any sort of chastisement. She laughs at me.
8. Is a snuggler. Especially after she hits.
9. Is the loudest child I know. Happy, sad, mad...you will hear her before you see her.
10. Is why I have to get my grays covered every 6 weeks...and they keep increasing.
11. Was 18 months old on the 11th and I forgot to document it.

Love you Syd!!

Daddy/Daughter Craft Time

It never hurts to provide a simple option for Daddy to connect with his daughter(s). I mean, a man can only handle so many princess dress-up tea parties...you know?

Reality

You know how when you go to get family pictures taken and it seems more stressful then it's worth and when you leave you feel like you'll be lucky if ANY of them turn out and you spend the entire car ride home apologizing to your family for screaming at them and biting their heads off an hour earlier when you were all trying to get ready because everyone was crabby and uncooperative?

Well here's a perfect behind-the-scenes shot that I really should just get blown-up and framed for our house...
But in the end, Brenda also got some FABULOUS shots and I'm so excited to get them ordered and framed!
And all the sweating, mosquito bites and screaming was really worth it...

"Fum" Obsession

Not that he will ever be forgotten, but I feel like I need to document the gross/weirdness of my eldest daughter's bear obsession.

What started as a small, manageable-sized bear-love in her early infant hood has been discarded and become an attachment to a life-sized stuffed bear named, "White Bear". Who, mind you, actually started out pink and has since faded to a dingy white with grayish dirt spots. Where the name "White Bear" came from we do not know. But what we DO know is that since the tender age of 18 months, Raegan has been dragging around this larger-then-life stuffed security animal and the end to that need is no where in sight (So what if her mom still sleeps with her childhood stuffed bear...what's your point?)

Anyways, in addition to the strangeness of having such a large animal friend, we recently discovered that there is one particular patch that is the prime object of obsession. Namely, White Bear's "Fum" a.k.a. "thumb" that has developed on his left hand. A dingy nub of fur that has been twisted, fingered, and shoved up Raegan's nose while she intermittently sucks her two fingers. It is quite something to behold.

White Bear's Fum, pre-washed.

I finally asked her yesterday if we could give White Bear a wash and surprisingly, she obliged. So WB went through the machine and came out "whiter" then before and smelling Downy fresh. But did that stop her from grabbing him and instantly searching for the "fum" that is still stuck in it's now permanantly matted form? Ah, no.

And the first thing she says to me this morning: "Mom, I can still smell White Bear's 'fum'. It smells like peanut butter and jelly and candy and crackers and cereal." Of course it does honey.

Sick.

Fall Fun 2008

Saturday a.m. we headed to Post Family Farms with our small group and had a fun morning of Fall Festivities. FYI, if you're looking for a fun place to do "fall stuff", that place rocks! It has plenty of activities to fill up a morning and yet is small enough to not be overwhelming. Unfortunately, Brad was working so I was solo with the kids and we really missed having him there to join in the fun. But we had such a good time we just might have to make a return visit with him before the season is over!

And of course having two 'opposite' kids always makes things interesting too. One loved everything and the other wasn't so sure. I'll let you guess for a minute which was which. =)

What Sydney loved:

- All of the animals; especially the many barn "titties" a.k.a kitties. (And yes, it is a slightly embarrassing mis-pronunciation on her part, especially when she screams it at the top of her very-loud lungs)

- Chasing the 'wild' roosters a.k.a. "birdies" around the back of the barn

- Kissing and petting the "birdie", a.k.a. the newborn baby chicks that we got to hold and pet

- Eating (and feeding to the goats) the DELICIOUS crispy melt-in-your mouth donuts fresh from the fryer

- Her first tractor-pulled barrel ride...she had a perma-toothless-grin the ENTIRE time

What Raegan liked:

- The tractor-pulled barrel ride

- Picking her pumpkin to fill our sack at the pumpkin patch

- Going home and talking about being at the "Punk-fin Patch"

What RG DIDN'T like:

- The animals: namely the goats, cats, chicks, horses, pigs...etc.

- The hay-ride

- The donuts when they were fresh and warm and oh so good (And just for the record it almost took bribery on my part for her just to try the donut later when it was cold! She's slightly kooky I think, seriously. I've come to accept this)