A less than Happy Birthday

Sunday was K's second birthday and I think if she has any more like this one she will stop having birthdays long before she reaches 29 (again)

We were out of town for the weekend so I hadn't made her a cake (although we were at my mom and dad's and my mom made her a cake on Saturday) but I figured since she doesn't really like cake anyway I would make pudding with dinner because she LOVES pudding. We sit down to dinner and she doesn't really eat but seemed interested in the pudding. I put two candles in it and set it down in front of her. We all begin to sing Happy Birthday when she lets out the huge wail and throws her head forward-

Right onto the lit candles!

Luckily, we all jumped to grab her so she singed the front so other than being freaked out when we all jumped she was fine.

We got her briefly interested in presents but her brothers and sister were far more excited about her presents than she was.

After presents she was also very tired so we put her to bed early only to have D announce that "mimi (baby) barf" Poor K was throwing up everywhere.

It's hard to be two.

Happy Birthday sweet girl and on the day of your birth, we specifically remember your birthfamily and how thankful we are to them that you are in our lives.

I was going to call this post

"A whole bunch of stuff all at once so that I don't feel guilty I haven't had time to update the blog right after these events happened"

but instead I think I'll just call it

Fall Fun

X is searching for the perfect apple.

A gets a boost into the tree from B and tries to hide from the camera

I don't care if it is a big as my head- I can too eat this apple!

D takes a journey into the pumpkin field.

Yet another attempt at a group photo. B had to hold K since she wasn't in her "photo happy place" (in other words she was screaming bloody murder about something)

Scooping out the pumpkin guts

Love the expression on her face

The finished products on Beggar's night

And finally- the answer to that question asked since time began.

"So what'cha you gonna be for Halloween?"

Luke Skywalker (with the right color light saber this year- apparently I purchased the "bad guy" color last time- they should really make that clear on the packaging)

Making a return engagement for the second year in a row- a "meow meow" (should I be worried that the costume still might fit again next year too?)

My personal favorite costume of all time (that D wore 2 years ago)- the Elephant. (and I am saving it on the very very very small chance there will be another toddler here to wear it because yes it is THAT cute)

And once again the biggest debate about choosing a costume award goes to Buzz Lightyear who won a narrow victory over Bakugan. I was personally so glad he didn't chose Bakugan that I happily purchased the gloves and wings (both sold separately of course)

A halfway decent group photo (the threat of missing trick or treat is surprisingly motivating)

Candy here I come!!!!!!!!!!!

I think I'm getting the hang of this now

Yeah that's my candy.

Who needs dinner when you have a stash of candy

Waving goodbye to Mommy who actually had to give a midterm that night (sorry again to any of my students who might be reading this)

Following

I have enabled the "follow this blog " feature so that people can well, follow this blog.  Therefore - don't be shy.   You never know I may be following you too.

Shopping While Black- or What Would YOU Do?

Even if  the majority of White America doesn't know about it, ask any Black American and they can tell you a time when they were caught "shopping while Black".  SWB (like it's counterpart Driving while Black) is the result of someone (almost always) White assuming that the Black individual is committing (or about to commit) a crime.  It is probably the most common form of racial profiling and results in innocent individuals being followed, searched and accused even in the absence of ANY evidence of wrong doing.  It is racist and disgusting but as this video shows- there may be something even worse than that.  Even more disturbing is what the bystanders who witness this racism do.  See- racism won't change until ALL people, whether it effects you directly or not, stand up for what is right and just.  

The video is a little on the long side but it is an eye-opening (and nauseating) glimpse of bystander apathy even in the face of blatant racism.

A fine example of penmanship...

So D has started preschool and is beginning to understand the concept of "writing" and she has begun to enjoy using pens and writing. The other day she was sitting at my desk writing on some scrap paper with a pen while I was working on my lecture for my college class. At some point she must have run out of paper and rather than ask for more she grabbed some from my file box and used that. At about the same time she decided that pens were boring and she switched from a pen to a Sharpie.

This is the result

Now my readers who are parents of internationally adopted kids probably already recognize what D used for paper- but for those of you who haven't had the joys of dealing with USCIS-

this is K's CERTIFICATE OF CITIZENSHIP.

D had outlined K's picture several times. I was able to get a lot of the Sharpie off (is there anything a Mr Clean Magic Eraser can't clean) but it began to rub of the certificate ink, too.

We were already annoyed that we had to pay $420 to get the thing in the first place (since D's was free) and if we have to replace it that will be another $380. B is going to take it to the social security office soon to see if they will accept it to change her status in their system. If they take it, then we will try to see if the Passport folks will accept it. If they do, then I go to the bank to deposit the certificate into the safety deposit box. If they don't then I go to the bank to withdraw $380.

Either way, it will be a long time before anyone finds the Sharpies again.

and tomorrow brings....

the suspicion that what D had was H1N1. (which probably means that is what X had as well) Although I guess finding out you might have it after you are done having it makes it no big deal. Everyone seems to be on the mend, we have been told no one is contagious and if we could get D back to a decent sleep schedule life would be back to our normal total chaos.

They May Look Like Cute Kids but

I think they are really walking Bio-Hazards.

Two weeks go K starting with the 24 hour fever thing that became a snotty cough thing, the a couple of days later X had a 3 day fever thing that knocked him out pretty good- he still has the hoarse cough thing going on. Then of course B got in on the act and had a fever for 2 days, then D had a two day fever, chronic cough thing. This week both K and D had fevers again by the time I picked them up at day care on Monday. They both stay home on Tuesday. On Wednesday send K back since she seems fine. Comes home after school with a nasty oozing ear infection so off to the urgent care and now she has a fever again. This morning D was off to the pediatrician to find out she has a "little pneumonia" but to bring her back in 3 days if her fever isn't gone. Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings......