Lunch Bunch

Today was a good day.  I was lucky enough to get some time with the Preschool E lunch bunch!  The seating arrangments were such that Carmen, Garrett, Addison, and Miles shared a table.  Aren't they a nice looking group?

The menu included tator tot hotdish, peas and carrots, pineapple, buttered bread, and milk. A very well-rounded meal with plenty extra on hand for kids with an extra big appetite today. The cooks know that tator tot hotdish is popular among energetic 4 and 5 year olds (and their younger siblings located just down the hall...).

We enjoyed a lively conversation that bounced around topics such as tator tot hotdish (shocking), eyeballs, vegetables (Garrett only likes the long crunchy kind of carrots - not the diced ones that were on his plate), basketball, first names vs last names vs middle names (mostly in that order), how to spell first names, how to pronounce last names, Federated Insurance (and which offices parents work in), snow, knock-knock jokes, and...once again...tator tot hotdish.  It was actually a very civilized lunch. Much more civilized than many lunches I've attended, actually.  With Grandma Bonnie (the room's volunteer grandparent) and two teachers, there was one adult at each table - and the adults were all eating, too.  At Kids Korner the teachers are required to sit with the children during meal time, but as a perk they get free food.  Very cool.  In the grand scheme of things, that's a big deal.  The sad reality is that for some kids this is the only sit-down meal they get with an adult most days. 

I was impressed with the kids' manners -- all of the children sat nicely at their respective tables, carried on reasonably-volumed conversations about mostly appropriate topics, and followed the usual protocol for cleaning up their spots and selves and then finding their cots for rest time.  The room was running like a well-oiled machine.  Kudos to the teachers!  Kids Korner starts these habits early on for that we are very grateful.  I admit that I put the hood up on my jacket as I walked (ran) by Westy's room (the poor boy would have been miserable if I stopped in for a smooch and then left him....), but it was the same scenario.  All 10 of the toddlers were sitting at a table enjoying a peaceful lunch.  It's so adorable. And again, so civilized. Sort of strange to see so many two year olds sitting around a table like that -- just hangin' out, eating lunch. No big whoop.

Why do meals at our house seem so chaotic by comparison?!  And with only 4 of us at the table! Two of whom are over the age of 30!  Ruh roh.  Sounds like I need to visit Kids Korner for lunch more often - and maybe I should bring daddy :)

Sunday chills

Sunday is almost over.  Sad.

We mostly hunkered down at home in order to avoid slipping around on the ice that fell over Southern MN late this morning. I did do a quick run to the grocery store, where it quickly became obvious that my fever has persisted into a fourth day -- pretty sure I had only one more layer to strip off before the manager would have booted me from the store. Eeeek!  That is not okay.
While I was shopping and trying hard to not spread germs to innocent bystanders, Tanner took the boys to the Federated gym for some quality energy burning. Thank goodness! Those poor little boys have been going bonkers at home lately.  We all miss the fresh air.

Unfortunately as the day wore on, Tanner started showing symptoms of strep or whatever actual illness has been stirring up trouble in my body the last few days.  We all feel so sad for him!  He's now drinking some generic Airborne and playing Fruit Ninja on the iPad.  All good signs.  We made a huge orange salad tonight. What was in it? Oranges, oranges, and more oranges. I think there were 6 total.  Well...and some banana slices on top, mostly because the poor banana looked lonely on the counter.  Among the mix were blood oranges. We love them - the boys love their messy staining juice, and Tanner and I love the flavor. Blood oranges are packed with more vitamin C and antioxidants than your standard naval orange, and they're also on sale at HyVee right now :)

Miles spent quite a bit of time working on a new lego project this afternoon.  We didn't realize just how good he has gotten at following the booklet of instructions...it was clear that I was hovering too much at first (surprise surprise), and he was more interested in my company than my assistance. Hey....some day I know the "company" part will also fall by the wayside, so I'll take it while get gettin' is good! 

The mining truck comes in three batches, assembling each section individually and then combining them at the end.  Daddy took over keeping Miles company part way through phase II, mostly because he's better than mama at running interference with Weston (note the blur in the right corner)....

The boys are snoozing and we're ready for bed ourselves. Ummmm, wait a minute. Tanner just started swinging his Momentus Swing Trainer (you'll have to use your imagination because I am too lazy to take a picture). Rest assured it's a golf thing, and let's take it as a sign that he hasn't fallen too ill yet.

Good night!

Enough already!

Weston has battled strep throat three times this winter.  His latest bout was shared with me.  We've had enough!  Yesterday the doozas and toothbrushes were sterilized and towels and sheets washed. Today it was the dogs and teddy. They prefer to air dry, though...

Strep, strep, go away!