Scratch That

All the boys are now sick!

During this H1N1 craze, it appears they've picked up a different virus.

James was our control at the doc's office today--he was not immunized earlier in the week for Swine Flu and has started running a fever.

The verdict? Negative for H1N1. We have another bug.

Looks like it's going to be a grand Halloween in Gasperini-Ville! ;)

M is definitely on the mend and should be raring to go tomorrow. As for his brothers, well, I'm sure it will be the kind of day I enjoy--a relaxed one.

TGIF!

Keeping Busy, Sort of

This week has felt a whole lot busier than what we've really been up to...

This poor guy has had an unfortunate reaction to the flu vaccines he received Monday. While T has been as healthy as a horse, M has succumbed to high fever for the past 2 days. :( Poor thing. At one point he said to me, "Mommy, I'm sorry I got sick" and "Thank you for taking good care of me when I don't feel well." Melt me! What a little sweetie... He is really beginning to think more selflessly and it is totally endearing. I think he turned a pivotal corner today, so hopefully we'll all be back in the land of the living soon. Get well, my love!

To help stave off all the ills, I've been trying to come up with some clever culinary distractions. This was a tasty breakfast puffed oven pancake we feasted on the other day, the tip coming from Blair over at Blair's Blessings. Thanks for the assist!! The boys loved it. This morning, after dashing out for new meds at Wal.greens, I returned with Kris.py Kreme donuts to start the morning off right. Who said I don't need these luxuries just as much as the kids?

You would think that all this cooped-up-in-the-house-ness would have been a good thing for my cleanliness. Well, I beg to differ. Check out the laundry pile, which has doubled in size since this picture was taken. I'm thinking I'm putting it off so I can feel a HUGE mother-rush when I officially tackle it... Nice excuse.

When will this happen? I make no promises.

I hope you and yours are staying healthy and happy during this last October week. November is around the corner and that means one *awesome* thing in Gasperini-Ville: Gramz and Pappy are coming to visit. "I'm bringing Halloween candy for the kids," my mom reported on the phone the other day. Like we need more reasons to anticipate their visit!! :) I'm definitely not telling the kids.

Blessings,

**Update 10/29: The LAUNDRY PILE is history! That is, until the dryer stops and we start this process all over again! :) It does feel good to be caught up!

Patchin' It

We visited a beautiful, quaint vegetable farm last week and really enjoyed ourselves. Now we're eager to turn those pumpkins into jack 'o lanterns. M has been asking ever since to carve and roast the seeds. Yum!

Me and T--anyone notice the dark hair?

I decided to go back "au natural" a few weeks ago. I call it my "economy do".

The whole gang!

Happy Pumpkins,

Anatomy Lesson

M: Mommy, why do we have all these bones (pointing to body)?

Me: Well, without your bones, your skin and organs would be a pile of mush on the floor. Bones give you structure. They help protect soft parts of your body.

M: Bones are really strong, especially this bone (pointing to chest).

Me: Yes, that's your sternum. It has to be strong to protect your lungs and your heart.

M: Yeah, the sternum is really strong to protect Jesus and all the people in there.

Me: All the people?

M: Yeah, Jesus lives in there and he needs to be kept safe. How does he live in there?

Me: His Holy Spirit lives in there, but it's pretty tough to explain so just know He's with you always...

lol. Utter cuteness.

Stegosauruses visit Gasperini-Ville

"I am a stegosaurus!" M declared.

And before I knew it, we had two dinosaurs plunging face first into their salads!

How can I argue when boys enthusiastically consume their greens?!

When Little Boys Grow Up

Today over lunch I asked the boys the age-old question: "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

They were a little confused as to what I meant at first, so I gave them some examples. "Do you want to be an astronaut?" "No." "Do you want to be a race car driver?" "No." "Do you want to be a lawyer, like Daddy?" "No." (surprising because they worship him!) "Do you want to be a teacher, like Mommy?" "No." (not so surprising :) "Well then, what do you think you want to be?"

M thought for a second and said with confidence, "A Soldier."

In that moment I felt what many mothers have felt throughout history...

a whole lot of pride and a great desire to get down on my knees and start immediately praying!

TGIF Musings

On a cold, overcast, rainy, thank-goodness-it's-Friday 5 o'clock, me and my men are perched in front of the computer, listening to college football fight songs, of all things. Because dinner does't matter and neither does the time... but football definitely DOES. Love these guys.

Love that M prances around with football in hand, imagining running out on the field to the roar of the crowd. Love that T nestles close and takes in all that is happening on the computer, sometimes reaching up to control the mouse with adeptness. Love that J toddles in to check on all the excitement and grunts to crawl in my lap and snuggle. His face is immediately alight with smiles and brightness.

I love Fridays. Their potential energy is infectious and we are delighting in it.

Blessings,

Spent, but in a good way

I'm sorry I haven't been on here as often as I would like, recording all of life in Gasperini-Ville. We've been so busy living that life, I've had fewer chances of late to record it. That is a very good thing, I will say.

We've been busting at the seams with things to do, places to go, and people to see, it sometimes feels like a whirlwind. But definitely one that I'm loving. We've gone hungry for a bit since moving here, but it feels like now we are finally reaching "full" status. It is very good, especially for an extreme extrovert like me. I need this kind of thing to feel alive, to feel purpose.

The boys are enjoying preschool immensely. M just came home today singing of the 12 months of the year. T hums Bible songs often while working on his various crafts. They both seem to enjoy being there. J and I, meanwhile, have been frequenting the gym in the earlier morning. He spends time in the nursery and seems to love the sitters, while I frolic off to a class or to the treadmill. This is beyond a blessing for me. Time alone. Time sweating. Time to meet other women with similar fitness goals. I joined the adrenaline fitness team and now have a former runner training me (and 10 others) and inflicting sore muscles and aches that I love. Call me weird. I have also decided to run a half-marathon here in town the second week of November. It will be good to get the race under my belt before winter sets in.

GG and I are taking an Alpha class through church on Thursday nights. We are also finishing up our talks for Engaged Encounter and will present during our first EE weekend in early November. M and I are journeying through our church's catechesis program--I am a helper for his pre-k class on Wednesday afternoons. My involvement in MOPS is also in full swing helping with hospitality. It is a blessed group of women and one growing in cohesion and faith. I just love it. We are all making more friends and finding goodness around many corners. Thank you, Lord. You knew just what we needed!

If only all this busyness meant good things for my laundry pile. A woman can dream, right?! Someday I'll get to the bottom of the basket. Someday... :)

So that's that from our little corner of the world. I am sitting here snuggled in a sweater for the first time this season. Tomorrow promises hayrides and pumpkin picking for the boys and me. Fall is in force, for sure.

I hope this finds you warm and cozy in your homes tonight. Many blessings to you from Gasperini-Ville.

He's Done It!

Hooray for Baby J, Gasperini-Ville's newest walking citizen!

How can walking be this cute?

First Shiner

I'm happy to say this was not caused by a brother... but rather by a mean doorframe.

Trying Not to Laugh

Tonight at dinner both older boys went to timeout for "bringing out their guns" (made with their hands and fingers) during the meal. I told them that if I saw guns at the table again they would head right back to the timeout.

So I just looked up and saw M with his hand in gun position. When I raised my eyebrows and reminded him of my warning, he said:

"Oh Mommy, this isn't a gun. This is a gun statue. See, it doesn't move or shoot. It just sits there."

LOL.

I tried so hard to keep a straight face. And then ran in here with stifled giggles to type this out. How do they know how to be so stinkin' funny and melt their mama?!

Off to regulate...

Boxing?

I caught M and T today taking jabs at one another.

Instead of nagging them (the usual), I tried to find a way to turn the situation into a positive one.

Together we decided that no boxing would occur until we had the proper equipment, especially gloves. They were excited. A legitimate chance to hit one another without being in trouble?! Oh mama! M also stated that he wouldn't wear a shirt, like the pro boxers (where does the kid get this stuff?!)

Many hours later, I shouldn't have been surprised to find this sight:

M was all ready to go with his Lightning McQueen socks inside-out as gloves, no shirt, and all the boxing animosity toward his brother to boot. Funny thing is he really thought he was ready to go. Yeah right, my son!?

His brother, well, he decided boxing meant no shirt and no pants.

Only in Gasperini-Ville--unisex, naked boxing.

I love my life.