Pre-Halloween

I have to do all the updates now because hell is about to be unleashed and I will not have time until I have a picture backlog. Today is trick or treat and Wm has a pre-game with a group of friends and then actual trick or treating with another friend. Then, tomorrow is his parade/class party and trip to the Harvest Party at the middle school with more friends in the evening. Saturday we are having a big get-together with the family of one of his friends. So, basically, I will be exhausted. Introvert Steve may not be alive. Wm….will be thrilled.

Carving Pumpkins!

Glorious fall street on Walhalla!

Schroeder napping in Wm's violin case

My favorite thing ever

And, we are so proud of Wm's school!! This article just came out yesterday. Wm is getting his learn on!! And one of the boys in the picture is a great friend of his! Super cute!!

Random Weekend Stuffs

Wm decided he wants to be a Death Eater from Harry Potter for Halloween. He has the PERFECT glasses to be Harry Potter (they had a whole section in the Halloween store dedicated to selling Harry Potter-like glasses), but he won't hear of it. He was torn between a Dementor or a Death Eater and he ultimately chose the Death Eater. To be a Death Eater, you need a black robe, a silver face mask, and a black wand. Easy enough. We have everything he needs! Steve has to draw the Death Eater tattoo on his arm before Halloween and he's done! For those that haven't read the books - what? who? WHY? - here are the Death Eaters (followers of the evil Voldemort):

Wm has less than a hundred pages left in the very last book! He will finish Harry Potter today!! He is suuuuuper sad about it and said as soon as he finishes he is just going to start reading the entire series all over again. Been there, buddy.

Steve got up early and left work Sunday morning. While Wm and I lazed in bed for a while. Wm was looking puffy-eyed and cute first thing in the morning!

I made a chocolate zucchini cake over the weekend. I decided to dust the top with powered sugar and Wm's job was to make cutouts for a design in the sugar. He decided on a nighttime sky theme. I think he did a very good job!

Interestingly, I hate the cake. I think it's bland and gummy. Steve, meanwhile, says it is the best cake he has ever had and LOVES it. So, someone is eating it, at least! Wm also likes it, and was shocked and horrified to learn there are zucchini in it!

Wm did really well at his first Level 2 swim class!! He is still working on putting his face in the water. He will do it, but begrudgingly. He could float on his back all day! But, when he goes to swim, the force with which is holds his head out of the water forces his body down and he just sinks. Baby steps…

It's Halloween week! And the craziness begins. I hope I am still standing by Sunday!! Wm, meanwhile, is a ball of energy and excitement. And so it begins.

Science Invention Shoes

Wm is sooooo excited!  Because, thanks to Aunt Jess, he is a test subject for what he calls his "science invention shoes." Friends of Jess's are piloting a new lace up system that is super fancy and they were looking for kids to try out the shoes. Jessica suggested Wm and they emailed - and we were signed up!! Wm gets a free pair of science invention shoes and just has to wear the heck out of them and then we give feedback on them. They arrived yesterday. And Wm is positively gleeful!

Science invention shoes

Taking a walk in the new shoes

Looking good!

Wm couldn't believe his good fortune. Because there were TWO packages on the porch for him yesterday. The shoes and a Halloween cookie delivery from Mimi!! Wm took one of the cookies in his lunch today - he will be the envy of the lunch table!

Spooky Treats!

Also arriving (but Wm didn't really care) were his soccer pictures! I cared - because he looks super cute!! And giant. I think he's growing!!

Pepperoni Love

All kinds of exciting Halloween-y things are happening for Wm next week. We are getting his costume  and pumpkins on Saturday, his class is having a party, he's going trick or treating, we are taking him to a "Harvest Party" at the middle school he'd funnel into if we stay put, and on Saturday we are all headed over to his friend's family's house for a delicious dinner! Wm cannot contain himself!! I am also plotting his school picture outfit for next week…which, as would be expected, Wm doesn't give a fig about. Which actually works in my favor.

As everyone knows, Wm has been off eating cows since visiting the dairy farm last school year. In fact, when there really wasn't any other food he would eat at Roscoe Village and he ordered a cheeseburger out of desperation, he only picked at it. When he was hungry and grumpy later, I asked why he hadn't eaten a good lunch and he wailed, "I JUST COULDN'T EAT THE COW!" Lesson learned. But now, he's adding other meats to his list and only picks at them. I told him he'd easily be a vegetarian if it wasn't for pepperoni. That kid loves him some pepperoni. So Wm is a Pep-Vegatarian. We watched Food, Inc on Netflix and Wm said, "I just cannot be a vegan. I love cheese too much." He could eat cheese for every single meal. Grilled cheese, man n cheese, cheese pizza - if cheese is the main ingredient, Wm will devour it. I showed him how to make his own cheese on toast and it's like Wm Nirvana. The two things Wm loves above all else: cheese and bread.

This was the view from my office yesterday morning. The picture doesn't do it justice. It's full dark when I get in now and the most beautiful sunrise happens right over the Shoe every day (which is there, but you can't really see in the picture). It's because god bleeds scarlet and gray. O-H!

Swimming Graduate

William has graduated from Swimming Level 1! He got a certificate and everything. And he had his best class yet! He says going underwater doesn't bother him anymore and he has also learned how to tread water and flip himself onto his back and float by himself. So, if nothing else, he can be safe if he falls into water! Interestingly, swimming has turned out to be Wm's favorite activity! He went from crying copious tears on Day 1 to demanding we sign him up immediately for Level 2. He says he wants to do all 6 levels and become an expert swimmer! 

And here are some random things...

Wm snacking by the light of his self-created candle!

Plaid on plaid. HOT.

Jack-O-Lantern Clementines

The family all drew pumpkin faces on the clemmies I got at the store yesterday. Then we had a contest to see who had the best jack-o-lantern clementine. Wm won. Of course.

Roscoe Village

Wm successfully (and barflessly!) went to Roscoe Village! We got there and discovered it was some kind of apple butter festival and was full of activities and people. So there was extra fun stuff to do! We met Grandma and Grandpa there as well, so that was great!

First, we revisited The Scene of the Barf. Wm was sad because he threw up at the candle-making station and didn't get a chance to make any. So, today, he got to make candles!

When we got home, we ate dinner by the light of a Wm candle.

Then we saw a bunch of other cool stuff like...

Goats!

Lunch!

Old timey schoolhouse!

Amish people making apple butter!

Wm intensely pointing at things!

Fun signs!

We also saw an old timey house - Wm loved the kitchen. He was fascinated. After a snack on the way home (because someone was grumpy due to low blood sugar) he said his favorite thing was the kitchen. The lack of running water blew his mind.

It was a bit cooler than anticipated, so I bought a cute hat for me to wear this winter, but let Wm wear it today. When he got hangry, he looked like a grouchy old lady. Here he is annoyed that I was trying to get him to dance instead of paying attention to his story:

 

We had a super fun day!! And now Wm is resting for an hour before heading over to a friend's house to sleep over. He is going to be exhausted tomorrow!!

I See Sick People

Wm is feeling much better. He didn't eat much at all this weekend, but he was otherwise fit as a fiddle. He even went to the playground with friends and had an amigo over yesterday. Steve is, likewise, feeling fine(ish). As expected, his queasiness was just Steven Stomach. But now he says he's getting a cold. He spent all day yesterday moaning and groaning that his throat hurt. He woke up this morning and said he is "full of snot." I remain the sole family member still standing. Pray for me.

Since ⅔ of the fam wasn't feeling 100%, we spent most of the weekend laying low. It was cool on Saturday morning and Wm snuggled up with a book under the heated blanket. I was baking cookies and Wm goes, "This is great. Snuggled on the couch with pillows, a warm blanket, and a good book." He disputes the exact wording, but I wrote it down right after he said it so I wouldn't forget, so I'm standing by it.

Perfect Saturday morning for Wm

I spent most of the weekend baking. I made Irish soda bread, scones, and cookies. All to tempt Wm into eating something. Sadly, it didn't work. He ate none of it. BUT, he woke up this morning and devoured a scone before school! So, I think we are back on track!!

Did not tempt Wm

And, to make up for Wm missing his big field trip, we are planning to take him to Roscoe Village in Coshocton this weekend! It should be even MORE fun than the field trip because we will take him to the old timey candy store, out to a nice lunch, and let him skip the boring stuff. AND, we are meeting Grandma and Grandpa there! (Can you tell I'm trying hard to sell to Wm that this is going to be waaaay better than the field trip he's sad about missing?)

Terrible Goings On

I was sitting at my desk yesterday awaiting my next student appointment, when, at about 10:30, my cell phone rang. It was Wm's teacher. He was throwing up. In Coshocton. I got to talk to him, and he didn't sound good. Right about then, my next student showed up (one of many). I furiously waved at her to go sit in my waiting room and called Steve. Steve had to drive all the way to Coshocton to collect a very sick Wm while I tried to rush through all my appointments. I got home about 15 minutes before they did, Steve dropped Wm off, went back to work, and Wm and I laid around. Poor bunny was white as a sheet and emitting heat like a furnace. Of ALL the days to get so sick!! The kid hasn't thrown up in 5 years and he picks THAT day to get sick! He usually has an iron stomach. He said he wasn't feeling well that morning, but didn't tell us because he really wanted to go on the big field trip. So the result was Steve having to drive 4 hours in the car to collect him after he puked on his friend's shoe. Now he's the Field Trip Puker. We definitely have to move because he'll never shake that!

He fell asleep on the couch at about 7pm and was OUT:

Still has on the watch!

At about 9pm, Steve carried his sad, limp sleeping body up to his bed:

Haven't done THIS in years!!

Wm slept like a log for nearly 12 hours, got up this morning and said he feels, "fine." He doesn't feel hot anymore and he's got his color back. He is refusing to eat anything still, so we'll see how that rolls. But, it looks like we are through the worst of it!! (In fact, he hasn't been sick since Steve got him - he got all his barfs out in Coshocton!) I wondered if it hit him worse with all the field trip action. 

Steve woke up this morning and said his stomach hurts. But, that doesn't really mean anything. Steve's stomach hurts if he's nervous, if he's excited, if he eats too much, if he eats too little, if it's Wednesday (or Thursday...or Friday...) So we'll have to see how it plays out! I am hoping Steve doesn't get it since he weirdly scream-pukes and no one in the house can relax when you hear "AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" coming from the bathroom constantly. At least Wm throws up like a gentleman. 

Forlorn

We had to drag ourselves out of bed at 5:30am and have Wm to the school at 6:30 for his Big Field Trip today. Wm was SO EXCITED (and also a little nervous!) He won't be home until dinner time. But there is one person who was not excited AT ALL. And that someone is furry...

There was a rush of activity as we got Wm up, dressed, fed, and to school by 6:30. Then, Steve and I sat down to eat breakfast around the same time we would normally - but Wm wasn't there. Schroeder did not like the change in the routine one bit. He sat in Wm's seat looking forlorn while we ate. Schroeder missed his little buddy!

Where is my friend?

Short Inexplicable Conversations Overheard

Wm: Would you like to smell my finger?

Steve: No, thank you. 

Wm: I will give you a dollar if you smell my finger. 

Steve: No, thank you.

Wm: [disappointed sigh]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve: Unintelligible 
Wm: Don't get emotional about it.

Time

Wm got a watch this weekend. Now that he's roaming somewhat autonomously and I say things like, "be back from Isaac's house at 5:30 for dinner," or "you can stay at the playground for an hour," I realized he has no way to measure what I'm saying (because he never actually comes home when he's supposed to!) We were looking for a cheap digital watch, but all the kid's watches had some theme Wm didn't care for (superhero or Frozen seemed to lead the pack). But the adult men's watches were way too big. So, unbeknownst to Wm, he is sporting a ladies' watch. DO NOT TELL HIM. He is convinced he has a grown up man watch. Steve almost let the cat out of the bag and I had to give him the Devil Eye to shut him up quickly. But, anywho, Wm LOVES his new watch and feels very grown up. He wears it everywhere. He tried to wear it to his swim lesson!

Watch shot

I came upstairs to put the little rat to bed last night and found him reading and eating an apple in MY bed!! It was very cute, so I let it slide.  If it was a cracker, he would not have been so lucky!

Harry Potter and an apple - living his best life

This Friday, Wm has to BE at school at 6:30am. The 4th grade is going on a chartered bus on a "historical tour of Ohio." They won't be home until the evening. Wm cannot even contain his excitement. He is most excited about the bus, which has bathrooms and TV's. He was like, "I can watch a movie and pee ON THE BUS!!!" His only sadness is that they were told only G-rated movies will be shown. They are taking some kind of canal ride in Coshocton, which sounds AMAZING. He is not even looking forward to it as much as peeing while on a bus. He's killing me. Also, I am not excited about having to wake up at 5:30am to get him there by 6:30. I will be surprised if Wm sleeps 10 minutes Thursday night! Next year, the kids go to a sleep away nature camp for their big field trip. Wm goes, "I'm not sure about that one…"

Bad Guy

We were eating dinner and I decided to introduce a conversational "hot topic." And Wm was, as always, hilarious....

Me: If you were in the worst pain imaginable 24 hours a day, constantly, all the time - and you could end your pain immediately and permanently by pushing a button that killed a bad person...would you do it?

Steve: I don't know. Who would it be?

Me: Someone evil.

Steve: Like Hitler? Yeah. Totally.

Me: OK - not Hitler. That's a given.

Steve: Well....how evil?

Wm: I would.

Me: Wow. No thought needed for you, eh?

Wm: Nope.

Me: What if they were only bad because they jay walked frequently? You have no information!

Wm: Well...how bad?

Me: SUPER bad. EVIL, even.

Wm: Like Donald Trump?

Fall Gear!

It was in the 40's this morning, so Wm has on his first long pants and sweater of the season! He looked super cute this morning, so I told him I wanted to take a picture. He stood there like he was taking a mug shot, so I go, "do a cute outfit pose!" And this was his pose:

Cute outfit pose

You will see a flurry blur near his foot. That is Schroeder, who we could not make go away and stop intensely rubbing himself all over Wm's legs as we tried to get a picture.

Morning cat loves

Tomorrow is going to be colder and rainy. Wm is a bit sniffly, so I'm not 100% sure I want him out playing soccer in cold rain!! We'll have to see how things play out. I have to work at an Engineering Open House tomorrow morning, so it may be Steve's call!! Later in the day, we are heading over to a friend's for dinner - and Wm is VERY excited because their son is one of his besties. It should be fun!!

Then, Steve does know me well…

Steve: I saw a video you will love today.

Me: Really? Why?

Steve: Well, it's a good song, the one by Elle King. But you'll really like the video.

Me: So, why will I like the video so much?

Steve: Because Elle King objectifies the hell out of men and it has a ton of abs.

Me: Ooooohhh!!! [immediately watch video]

Me: OK - that is an AMAZING video.

Steve: I know you well.

Me: Indeed. [watches video again]