Recovering and Playing

Well, Nico didn't have an overnight miraculous recovery form his cold, so we kept him home from school last Friday. He missed picture day, but he'll be able to make it up in November. I caught the cold on Friday night, and Guy followed suit on Saturday. It was a pretty mild cold overall, no fever involved, just sore throats and runny noses.

On Friday, though he missed school, we went out to the dollar store to get him a new Cars puzzle. He was very excited about it. 48 piece puzzle, and after helping him put together the border, he can put the entire inside together on his own. Saturday we pulled out ALL his puzzles, pushed the couch to the edge of the living room and used the living room floor.

We've also been playing a lot of the memory game, which Nico is getting quite good at. Flipping cards over and trying to find their match. We also pull out the board games for older people and take out all the pieces and pretend we're playing the game. He builds fences or towers with the game pieces.

Then on Saturday night Papa and Grandma Salisbury came by to bring us some fruit. Guy had left for work already and so we weren't able to go get some pears, which is what I was wanting. Nico wanted a green apple, and so the Grandparents Salisbury went and got us some fruit since they were in town already. It was just what we needed after feeling icky all day with a cold!

I made some apple butter this week in the crockpot. It turned out REALLY yummy, so I think I'll be making more of it when the apples go on sale. Five pounds of apples made more than a quart of apple butter. No sugar or spices added, and even Guy said it was really good! (G.G., I am bringing you some on Monday!)

Guy worked Saturday night and then he has a total of 9 days off in a row. Wowww! He has worked every night for the past 2 weeks (at least! It may be closer to 3 weeks), and he was ready for a break. We have been having fun so far. Going to parks, and having friends over. On Wednesday, Jeff and Allicia came over. Evie and Nico played in Nico's room while the adults (plus Avery) played a board game - Pandemic - the one that we got Guy for his birthday. It was a lot of fun.

Nico and Evie playing in Nico's bed.

Today I volunteered again at Nico's school, this time cutting out leaves! I got to see Nico this time, too. I went into his classroom to pick up the stuff. He was excited to see me, and showed me what he was playing with. This week they are learning about scarecrows and pumpkins and the colors black, orange and white. They are doing a pumpkin patch activity tomorrow and they have an early release.

Tonight, Guy is out with friends at another Rifftrax event (MST3K spinoff). He was very excited about it and I'm so glad he has some major relaxing and enjoying going on this week.

Nico has been talking a lot about bumpy things lately. The road is bumpy when the car bounces, so he says "Buppy Row" (bumpy road). Bumpy hand (when he's driving one of his cars over his hand) or bumpy _____ depending on what his cars are driving over when he says it. He repeats most everything we say now, using his own words. It is difficult sometimes trying to figure out what he means, but when we do figure it out it's just genius, that he can say that particular thing. Lawn mower, for instance, or Sound, Big, one more piece, too big, nico's turn, fix it, broken bumper, Nico too big bus (Nico is too big to fit into his toy bus), wheels, broken train... he has even started saying "cooo" for Curious George! He has also learned how to scream at the top of his lungs :)