Tummy Bug and not Tailgating with Dad...Lessons learned

Our family has recently survived our first stomach bug. Thankfully, Ethan made over 3 years without ever having to deal with one but poor Caden just made it 18 months. And like champs, Ben and I decided to join in the fun.

Caden got sick at noon on Friday and threw up until midnight, bless his heart. I stayed in his room with him and asked Ben to bring us whatever we needed and pass it through the door so that no one else would be exposed. Saturday shined bright, he was in good spirits and able to keep the little that we gave him down so we began to get excited thinking that maybe it would just get him since his immune system was the youngest. We had been very cautious and he was isolated from everyone until after naptime on Saturday. Even though we took it easy on Saturday we decided not to go to church on Sunday just in case. Good thing because by lunchtime on Sunday, Ethan was in meltdown mode but had not gotten sick. And by the time Ben and I went to bed Sunday night, Caden had begun to throw up again. You heard me, AGAIN! YUCK! This threw me for a loop because he was on round 2 and no one else had gotten sick. So, I made a pallet on the floor in his room and slept in there to keep an eye on him. What do you know, by 2 a.m. I found myself in the bathroom. Ben was not too long after and at 5:30 a.m. Monday morning Ethan had joined us :-(. I pretty much knew that I would probably wind up with it, but I was so sad when Ethan and Ben got sick, too, because Ben and I had worked so hard to keep the two of them away from Caden and myself.

We spent Monday laying around and feeling horrible but thankfully Ethan and I were able to quickly get it out of our system. And after Caden's bout of nighttime sickness, his seemed to subside as well. Ben's however has hung around for a few days. After some initial stress about whether we will all have a second round like Caden did, it seems that we may have kicked it.

Unfortunately, Monday was Shadowbrook's annual Tailgating with Dad's event and the boys had spent the last several weeks learning songs for a special program and preparing special projects and treats at school to celebrate Dads. Ben had planned to attend the program and have a special football lunch with the boys. And we ended up spending the day laying on the couch :-( So sad, but his awesome teachers sent the special treats home for Daddy to keep.

Although appetites are still returning and energy is just now coming back, hopefully it's gone for good. If not, I'm going to cry because I spent all day Tuesday sanitizing the house and Mimi is coming this weekend! There is one huge lesson that I have taken away from this ordeal...it doesn't matter how hard you work to keep your family "safe" or "isolated" from a stomach bug, if it wants you, it's going to get you, period.

Around the house...

 

Brotherly hugs

All in the family

Gettin' around

Stone Mountain Pumpkin Festival

Saturday afternoon we put the boys back in their pumpkin shirts and took a trip to Stone Mountain to check out the pumpkin festivities. After our obligatory train ride for Ethan, we were able to spend some time walking around and exploring the area.

The great thing about the Pumpkin Festival is that they had tons of set-ups for posed pictures! Unfortunately, our boys are not posed picture kind of boys, so we attempted only one of their displays and this is what we wound up with...

 Ethan tortured "hurry up and take the picture because I see something more interesting" face

AND

 Ethan's choke hold on Caden trying to keep him in place while I snapped a shot with the "I want to go over there NOW" look on both of their faces.

So, I gave up and we went to play. Both boys got a kick out of trying to pick up and move the giant pumpkin and thought it was hilarious to see one so big!

And the last couple of shots before I put the camera away...

Another visit to the Pumpkin Patch

Monday was family day! So thankful for a husband that has a job that allows him all of the school holidays, too! 

So we bundled up and headed a little ways up north to Jaemor Farms to check out the farmer's market. They actually had a whole lot of things for the boys to do but that part is only open Friday-Sunday. We're thinking we may check it out again this weekend. Ethan got a kick out of seeing the trucks and tractors and getting to touch the vegetables in the market, though. And we, of course, walked away with some special homemade treats like apple cider doughnuts, peach salsa,  apple butter, veggie chips, and some fresh green beans, too! YUM!

Then we stopped back by the pumpkin patch right near our house on the way back home for a bit. Caden's mood was definitely showing by this time :-)

Our attempt at the hay ride...so sorry for all of the poor people riding with us

I seriously think we have horseback riding lessons in our future. This is becoming the only thing that he talks about when we drive by it!

One of the pony's pooped while he was riding and he could NOT get past it! He thought it was the most hilarious thing ever!

I'm so excited that I have a posed picture of him! I can't believe he actually looked!

Because this one is much more like the pictures that we take in our house :-)

Caden's Dance Moves

 Caden is all about dancing right now. His moves are precious with his little bounce and if he's really into it, you'll see some head bobbing, too! Pure Sweetness!!!

Fall is Here

Since nice weather has finally made its appearance, I felt like our special teachers at school needed a treat to celebrate the coming of Fall. Using the Autumn Scarecrow mix I found on Pinterest, I filled up their festive cups and sent the boys off to school on a great fall morning!

And now we can spend our afternoons in light jackets having a blast playing outside!

Happy Fall Y'all!

Dr. Seuss Drive-In Movie Birthday Party

This weekend we went to Ethan and Caden's cousin, Heston's, 4th birthday party. Aunt Cheri did an awesome job with this party that included special book readings from the Cat in the Hat and a drive-in movie complete with cars for each child. The boys had a blast!

 A special visit from the Cat in the Hat

The 2nd book reading, Ten Apples on Top. So cute! 

Each child placed an apple in the bowl after she read the corresponding page while trying to balance the bowl on top of her head!

Then all of the kids climbed into their cars and watched a movie at the "drive-in,"

which was none other than Dr. Seuss!

Ethan had so much fun driving his car!

He absolutely LOVED the car and did not want to get out of it when time to go.

Caden was not too sure about his, though :-)

Game Ball Day

I know pictures of each week look the same, but I can't help posting a few. It just makes me think about what a big boy Ethan is becoming!

 

Off the tee

At first

 High-5ing Daddy at third

 Running home

 Chasing the ball in the infield

Running the ball to the pitcher's mound 

  Good game

Coach Chris giving Ethan the game ball

 Coach Daddy and Ethan with the game ball

Buford Corn Maze

 What do you do on an overcast fall afternoon? Take a visit 5 minutes up the road to the Buford Corn Maze! We have been looking forward to this fall since we moved from Texas. I feel like we really weren't able to take advantage of fall in Georgia last year due to the house hunt. So this year, we are determined!

While we didn't go through the corn maze this time, there were plenty of other activities to keep us busy! We are already planning another visit to go through the maze and take a hay ride.

First stop: checking out the animals...

 Caden was fearless...

 and thought it was hilarious to get so close to the goats

Next stop: Mommy trying to get a posed picture...yeah, didn't happen

 Then: the pony ride. Ethan had been looking forward to riding the pony since before naptime

 The sweet girl that walked beside Caden adored him and loved making him giggle

Then: a visit to the bounce house

And: a stop by the corn box. Yes, just like a sand box :-)

After that: Mommy attempted another posed picture, a half success

 And, the best one of the day even though Caden is not looking

 Oh yes, Ethan still has a fascination with Caden's head. Just in case anyone was wondering. Still trying to figure out what we did wrong to give him a compulsion to touch his brother's head anytime he is within range and make that face

Lastly: we headed over to pick out our pumpkins

 Until Ethan got sidetracked by another tractor

 And Caden made friends with another family that had food. Can we say dinnertime???

 And the clincher: you always know it is time to go when Caden sticks his thumb in his mouth and his finger in his bellybutton. You can't really tell from the picture, but I promise it's there :-)