Blank

We were scrolling through old pictures yesterday, and I came across these... rare blank faces from our expressive kiddos. :)

You'll remember this...

... as the time you almost caught Captains Riley and Noelle Green!

 

 Alright... so maybe I'm stretching the quote.  Make me walk the plank.  Let's go back to the beginning of Halloween fun, shall we?  Prepare for lots of pictures.  You've been warned.

 We headed up to Arlington Heights.  I'm just grateful the girls were feeling well enough for it.  I would have been really sad, knowing the fun they were missing out on.  But we made it to the grandparents' place and started having fun right away.  I call this next shot "Profile of a Pirate".

 Noelle is REALLY good at the pirate face... especially the sassy pirate face.

Oh my gosh, I just love these next few.  They crack me up!

You can tell that Riley's not 100%, but she was really making an effort.

 ... and a sword can cheer anyone up!

 Yes.  As a matter of fact, I did try to dress up.  Mock me all you want.  I'm pervious to mockery when my behavior revolves around a theme.  I'm nothing if not enthusiastic!!!  

Hannah is HILARIOUS in this picture.  She's just playing the part, right, Sarah?? ;)

 Sarah was playing the part of the blue ocean... I think...

Brooks got layered hats and Noelle's sword for the walk around the neighborhood.  He was really stoked about it.  Can you tell?

" Candy?!  This party is off the hook!!"

  Till the next time we decide to dress up, these are your friendly, neighborhood pirates, signing off.

Happy Halloween!

Well, we've gotten some good mileage out of our pirate costumes.  And that's good, because the girls have both been under the weather, so I'm not sure if we'll really be doing much in the way of Halloween festivities. 

 This past weekend, there was a little "trunk or treat" event at the church at the end of our street.  I decided to try to take some pictures of the three pirates before we went.

 Brooks wasn't really feeling it.

 Though pirates aren't know for their cheer, right?  You can see that I appliqued Brooks's shirt to make him even more pirate-y.  I'm not a big fan of skulls, so, as Mike said, I tried to make it look like a skull and crossbones without it being a skull and crossbones. 

 I actually like the swords more than bones.  And Little Man also got a fleece pirate hat.

 Here's the trunk or treat.  The girls, believe it or not, are really into getting free candy.  Go figure!

 It was actually a little weird, I thought.  Okay, so I thought it was bizarre.  Lots of ghosts and witches and stuff like that... at a church.  I though it would be more harvest/Fall-themed.  I realize that I tend to the conservative side, but still...  our park district event was less ghoulish.

 Happy Halloween!  Hope you get a good stash of goodies! ;)

Asthma Man

Well, this day has gone differently than I would have imagined.  You may recall that Big Man...

... was hospitalized a couple months back when he was wheezing and having retractions (the term, I have learned, which means he's sucking in air so hard that you can see his little tummy pulling into his ribcage).  Then, a couple weeks ago, when we went out to see my folks, he had another episode which propelled us into the two medications, three times a day routine.

He was doing better; then this past weekend, he got a cold.  And right when we were trying to decrease his treatments, we had to up them again.

 Last night, he gets a horrible cough.  He can hardly fall asleep.  He's upset and crying and coughing, and it's pretty darn awful.  It's especially horrible when you consider that he's usually like this:

Flash-forward to this morning, when he's coughing like a maniac, so much so that he can't keep the oral meds the doc has just described down.

Into the ER we went.  Where Brooks made tons of new friends.  And charmed all the nurses.  And got the medicine he needed.

I'll tell ya, asthma can kick a mom's butt... not to mention a little dude's (who is now napping peacefully... praise the Lord!).

Nautical Term...

 Our park district had a pre-Halloween event this past weekend called Halloween Happenings.

Our little pirates commandeered (nautical term) the event...

... even the littlest pirate made an appearance.

And yes, we donned pirate-y make-up and sat on pirate-y hay with pirate-y pumpkins.  This is Noelle making a hook.  Ha!

It was everything I love about Halloween (lots of cute kids in costumes, silly games and crafts and candy!) and none of the gross, yucky and scary stuff that I'm not a big fan of.  In other words, it was perfect for our kids, despite the rainy and, uh, brisk weather. 

 Peter Pan and Tinkerbelle were my favorite characters of the night.  First, because they fit with our theme. :)  Second, because check out Peter Pan.  He's a high school boy posing like Peter Pan! 

For those who don't know, I taught high school, in the days before kids. :)  I love high school kids, and the fact that a high school kid will not only dress up  like Peter Pan but also play the part...  well, that just warms my heart!  Peter Pan, you rock.

And in case you think pirates are all business and no fun-- just take a look here. :)

Dancing Monsters!!

 We've got monsters in our house!!! 

Fortunately, we have some monster whisperers, too.

 

 

Though, as you'll see, it's hard to catch a shot of the creators and their creations together.  

I think it's because dancing with monsters is too fun.

 ... or maybe it takes constant movement to keep monsters in check.

Whatever the reason, I'm glad I have these monster tamers on hand!