What To Do

What can one do on a cold winter's night with no television to watch and no DS allowed on a weeknight?  Draw!

Bennett worked on this for a LONG time this afternoon and evening.  After she drew it in pencil she asked if I would trace it all for her in permanent, fine-point permanent marker.  Um, no thank you.

Out of Hand

A couple of weeks ago, Bennett asked if she could hang a couple of posters in her room because her little bulletin board was full.  I said it would be fine.  I should have realized what would happen next.  KABOOM!

POSTER EXPLOSION.  This is what can be seen as of today.  This is just one wall, mind you. 

 Here is another wall.  I think things are getting a bit out of hand.

And it doesn't stop there.  Ainsley has the fever as well.  So far her "signs" are limited to one side of her bedroom door.  I have also confiscated all Scotch tape and hidden it.  I feel the need to regain some control.  Who taught these girls that paper was such an acceptable form of wall decor?

I think we can safely point the finger at their father.  Here we have the south wall of the garage...

 ...and the north wall of the garage.  Ridiculous. 

 As as I close, a little creepiness for your morning blog read.  As I was taking pictures of Bennett's walls, I stumbled on to...you guessed it...Rubber Fetus.  R.F. is snuggled up in two tiny Santa caps this morning.  Weird.

I also found Repunzel resting on a soup dish.  She appears to be "Tangled" up in fuzzy googly-eyed somethings.  Double weird.

Jackie Chan!

Bennett's class has been working on reading and writing biographies.  Each student had to choose a person of interest to write a report on.  They were given the option to dress in character while reporting their biographical information to the class.  Bennett chose...not Abe Lincoln, not Amelia Earhart, not Martin Luther King, not Al Capone (but almost).  No.  She chose Jackie Chan.  Of course!  Why wasn't he the first to cross my mind as a suitable selection for a class report?

 Some friends of our loaned us a sweet jacket and Grandma found an old wig in her play clothes.  The wig had lots of read highlights so we had to spray paint it.  Let's just say that spray paint inhibits one's ability to style a wig, but it's cool.  Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to introduce you to "Jackie Chan." 

Bennett's teacher just emailed this photo from school.  Bennett gave her report this morning, and it looks like she made a fine poster to display her information.  I also love how there is a huge picture of Jackie Chan on the projector screen behind her.  I think he's smiling his approval of her report and costume.  Never a dull moment with Bennett, I mean "Jackie."

Family Game Night

Last night during dinner, Dad and I were discussing how it seemed like a fine evening for a family game night.  We enjoy having girls old enough to participate in a little friendly competition.  A mildly intense game of Monopoly Jr. or Quirkle Cubes is always a good time, and it's fun because the girls are capable of holding their own.  No easy win for Mom and Dad.  Well last night, Dad mysteriously disappeared mid-meal...

                                                

...and returned wearing this get-up.  Compression base layer, hiking shorts, tennis shoes and his beloved Dominique Wilkins jersey.  The girls and I raised a few eyebrows and his defense was that this was his family game night uniform, designed to inspire team spirit and promote enthusiasm.  Okay then.  He also said he was going to "kick my (Mom's) butt at Quirkle Cubes."  Sure...we'll see about that.

 Dad always does his best when recording his score on tally sheets.  Here is his sheet from our last game night.  Perfect penmanship, tidy tally marks, winning score contained in a fancy scalloped circle, and of course, a bit of bragging.  Notice, Mr. Snowman is even holding a chicken leg in his stick hand.

Well, the tides have turned!  Last night, Mr. Winner Chicken Dinner came in last place, despite his fancy outfit.  Here is his score sheet.  Regardless of his finish in a game of Quirkle Cubes, he will never be outdone in score card design. 

Ainsley decided to talk a little smack (all in good humor) to him after his loss last night.  She wrote him this note, "Lose, lose, chicken boogers."  I should not promote smack talk from a child to the authority figure in her home, but every once in a while a person needs to be put in there place, right?

Family Photo

Bennett had to draw a family portrait for an art project at school.  She decided to make it look as if we are at Sears, posed on the white backdrop, getting our picture taken.  There are a few things I really like about this drawing.  1) I like how the sign on the studio door states that pictures are FREE today!  I'm a sucker for a bargain. 2) I think Bennett did a terrific job drawing us with some dimension, as far as the posing goes.  Ainsley and I are clearly in front of the bench and she and Dad are behind.  3) I love how she drew us affectionately touching each other.  Hands on shoulders, hands being held...feel the love.  4) I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE how even though it's 2012, we are being photographed with a camera from the late 19th century.  You'll notice that the photographer is under a curtain.  Maybe Bennett thought she could achieve the vintage Instagram look if the photographer used a super old camera.  Fun, fun stuff.  Also, a bizarre comment came as she was coloring this drawing....She accidentally used a relatively dark shade for the photographer's hand as she colored it.  Not realizing this until it was too late she said, "Oh no!  This is too dark of a skin tone.  I didn't mean to use this colored pencil!  Oh well. Maybe the photographer is a Nez Perce Indian."  Again, it's 2012, but we are now referencing a people group that originated in the early 19th century or before.  Never a dull comment or drawing from this girl!

Photo Rewind

Ainsley is the student of the week at school this week, which means she gets to complete a poster and take some pictures to share with the class.  We were looking through pictures as a family last night, searching for photos for the poster, and I came across this.  I LOVE this picture and several others from Halloweens past. This was a few years ago and the back story is that Bennett really wanted to be a color guard girl, twirling a flag.  Grandma D. and I attempted to make a tiny color guard costume from an old velvet dress-up dress.  We failed.  Miserably.  When finished, the suit looked more appropriate for a bull fighter, so we coaxed Bennett into being a matador.  It was not an easy sell, but she went with it.  Ainsley was a tiny, happy little friend back then, so she was totally down with being a little bull.  We have some hilarious pictures of the "bull" charging the "matador" in attempt to run through her red cape, but they are blurry.  Shoot!  Ah well.  Enjoy this little photo rewind!

Record Breaker

Well this has just been a crapper of a week in the health department.  I don't know what this illness is that Bennett has, but it's a record breaker.  It has produced her highest fever ever (104.3) and caused her to miss a record-breaking number of consecutive days of school (5.)  It has also resulted in the use of a record number of Kleenex (probably 6,000.)  And due to a poor reaction to amoxicillin, it has caused her to mess her pants a record number of times for a "big kid" (7 times.)  Too much information, I know.

 Today is Friday and I am seeing a couple of glimmers of hope on the road to recovery.  First, Bennett asked for and actually ate all of her breakfast for the first time this week.  She just ate all of her lunch as well.  Yes!  She also wanted to watch a documentary on Alcatraz and/or Al Capone this morning.  This is a good sign because for the past 4 days she has just laid on the couch and stared at the wall, basically.  I found a documentary on an education website and while she watched it she made lots of little "popcorn" out of a clean tissue.  The making of tiny objects is also a sign of the return to normalcy.

This is also a sign of improved health.  She actually had the energy to make a sign telling me to keep the tiny popcorns.  There is a light at the end of the tunnel!

Ho Hum, Still Sick

Bennett is still sick.  I am glad to report that her fever is coming down, but it is still present.  Her symptoms are less severe but she still looks and feels yucko.  The crazy comments are still rolling in, but at a lesser rate.  Yesterday's quotes:

"My hands feel like an elderly couple."

"I see fifteen Oklahomas." (while staring at some wall decor while laying on the couch)  Hmmm.

Bennett has been doing three things.  Laying on the couch with a blank look on her face, sleeping, and watching Dad or me play the DS.  She has repeatedly requested that we attempt to pass world 8 of Super Mario Bros. for her.  Now, watching someone else play a video game is generally torture.  Bennett is obviously not feeling well if she wants someone else to do the playing.  Let me just say that world 8 is super hard.  Even a healthy person has trouble passing it.  Dad and I are not very good video gamers, so yesterday while laying on the couch, Bennett played a super easy level repeatedly and earned me 38 lives, hoping that would be enough for me to succesfully pass world 8.  After about 15 attempts and 15 lives lost I told her I simply had to do better things with my time, no offense.  In the above photo, Dad gave world 8 his best shot.  No luck. 

Here is Miss Bennett this morning.  The first thing she said when she came down from her bedroom was, "I feel like I look like I was in a freedom march with Martin Luther King where I was attacked by water hoses and dogs and police officers."  I don't think she looks quite that bad.  And compared to the other day, I think she's feeling better.  I know I would prefer a freedom march attack vs. having a baby through my mouth any day!  Things are looking up!

Break Out the Fire Bowl!

Is this the best winter of all time, in regards to weather, or what!?!?!  It's the end of January, there is NO SNOW on the ground and temps are in the 50s/60s.  We simply had to get the fire bowl out for a little while last night.  Dad, Ainsley and I enjoyed a little time around the fire.  Bennett was too ill to participate.  She was on the couch with a temp of 104, and she was mumbling nonsense about seeing a giant frog face and Kung Fu Panda characters kissing chickens when she looked at various objects in the room.  She also talked about people swimming in her head and a blue bird working in a factory.  It was really bizarro.  I am glad to report that while not absent, her fever has come down considerably this morning.  No more crazy talk.  And weather wise, the next day or two look to be rather mild yet, so maybe we'll enjoy some time by the fire again.  Maybe some smores this time, and maybe Bennett will join us!

Bennett Is Sick A.K.A. Crazy Talk

After what has been a really good winter in terms of health, Bennett has finally fallen victim to a relatively miserable illness.  Unsure as to whether it is viral or a sinus infection, I took her to the doctor.  The doctor confirmed that it is....either a virus or a sinus infection.  Good, thanks. 

 Here is the little lady waiting for the results of her blood work (via ouchy finger prick) and influenza nasal swab.  Not lookin' so good, Bennett.

 A pretty good indicator that your child is ill comes when they fall asleep on the hard kitchen floor at 11:00 a.m.

 You can also assume illness when your non-napper decides they need a second nap at 3:30 in the afternoon.  This one was taken in a softer location.   She went to bed at 8:30 with a fever of 104, her eyes hurting horribly, super stuffy nose and a terrible headache.  Poor little thing.

I am glad to report that while still feverish with painful eyeballs, she is looking a tad better this morning and the Motrin seems to be effective today.  Notice, the bathrobe is off, her eyes are open and she is wearing her blanket as a scarf or boa of sorts.  Let's hope today is a better day!

Now, not to make light of illness, but when Bennett is sick she is crazy hilarious. She is not trying to be in any way. But she always has this really pleasant disposition, although physically miserable, and she says really whacked out stuff.   I have documented several quotes from the past 36 hours in the book above.   If you are a parent, I highly recommend getting this journal to write down all the fun stuff your kids say.  Ours is full of little gems!  The following statements have been made, in all seriousness, by Bennett during this current bout with illness:

"If you could take the temperature of my eyelids, it would be boiling.  My tears are like hot steam."

(right after a violent vomiting episode) "OH!  That hurt SO bad!  I feel like I just had a baby through my mouth!"

"I think I should write a book.  I would call it I Survived the Finger Prick...or maybe I Survived Influenza."

"I feel like E.T. when he was dead!"

"Mom, I think I have that disease that Helen Keller's teacher had where her eyelids got connected to her eyes."

"Mom, I feel like I look the way you did in that picture from when you were a kid and Uncle Charlie is attacking you."

(unrelated to illness, but related to her get well treat) "How I feel about cheesecake is the same way that Chappy (grandpa) feels about mayonnaise."

(unrelated to anything) "Mom, here's a hard one...What is the angular momentum of a particle rotating about a fixed axis?"  (I kid you not.  She really asked me this.)

Goodness me!  I hate when my kids are sick, but I must admit that dialoging with Bennett brings a bit of joy to the fact that she's under the weather.   She cannot go back to school until she's been fever-free for 24 hours, which means I should have today and even tomorrow to log crazy comments.  I am actually looking forward to it!