Our fall "break" that wasn't a break at all

So were SUPPOSED to go visit my dear friend Kim in California, but her kid had the gall to come down with Fifth Disease last weekend. Apparently it's fatal to pregnant women and their fetuses. The nerve.

Instead I was faced with a full week of school-less, energetic kids. I did what any other sane mother would do. I overbooked.

Monday: First exercise class (it takes up half the morning!) and then off to Home Depot. Not only do they have CAR CARTS, but they are already decorated for Christmas. We spent a full twenty minutes staring at Santa Claus in an airplane. Then we got all the boards and doo-dads and gadgets needed to fix up Little Prince's bed, curtains, and shelves. The afternoon was spent externally sweating and internally cursing those three items.

He was pleased with the result, however.















We decided to decorate with original artwork, since the frames' previous contents were deemed "dumb." Obviously, our homemade skills are anything but.




















Tuesday was ZOO DAY! We'd heard some incredible things about the Phoenix zoo, and were, therefore, pumped. We invited some friends to go with us, but they promptly got sick upon arrival. People must be really desperate to avoid us.

(I put my kids in matching shirts, Daddy's cell phone scrawled on their arms in permanent marker, and lectured so thoroughly on stranger danger that I probably scarred them for life. Anyone else paranoid in packed, public places?)




















By far their favorite thing about the zoo was the splash park. Bathing suits? Who needs 'em.




















I had visions of framing this giant oyster shot with the words "My Pearls" beautifully calligraphied on top. But My Pearls weren't having it.




















Wednesday: After exercise class (it takes up half the morning!), we headed off to the temple. The kids love the Big Jesus Statue, although they promptly hid as soon as I pulled out the camera.




















After running walking reverently around the visitors center and pushing all the tour guide buttons reverently asking questions of gospel significance and trying to jump in the fountain contemplating their lives on the temple grounds, it was off to visit Daddy at work! They think he takes care of the fish tank all day. PLUS he has a candy dish. They all want Daddy's job when they grow big.

Wednesday night was spent in the emergency room. Ouro Branco shoved beads up his nose. I giggled the whole time, except for the part that they strapped him down and shoved long scary instruments up his nose. Then I cried. But mostly I giggled. Really. Isn't having beads shoved up a kid's nose some kind of official initiation into the Mommy's Club? I've survived hazing.

Thursday, our plans for a picnic in the park went out the window when Little Prince developed a fever and a headache.

Friday, our plans for the science museum went out the window when it was confirmed that Little Prince had influenza. (Not the piggy kind - just the regular, home grown I WANT TO DIE kind.)

Saturday, our plans for dinner with friends went out the window due to said influenza and a badly planned midterm for said friend. Homework stinks.

Sunday, plans for making plans this week at church went out the window due to (again) said influenza.

Today, any plans for finally feeling good about the second trimester got FORCEFULLY BOOTED OUT THE WINDOW when I got influenza, too.

Happy fall break.