Remember last year when Punk had to miss Halloween and Fall Festival because he had chicken pox? Well, it happened again. Same exact symptoms, same exact timing. Tuesday I noticed a little rash on his face. It was worse Wednesday, but it didn't bother him, so I let him go to school. Wednesday afternoon I realized it looked just like the rash he had this time last year. So, I figured, it must not be chicken pox like I thought. I took him to the doc on Thursday and they tested him for strep (negative) and said it must be an allergic reaction. Then, yesterday, when the rash was all but gone, the doc's office called and said the throat culture came back positive for strep! Ooooops! So, not only had he been to school for a couple of days with the rash, we also took him trunk-r-treating and to the county fair! We went to a friend's house and to church and out to eat and who remembers what else! Sorry town where we live!

At least he looked cute while spreading a virus throughout the city! :)At the fair--I always get carmel on my nose!

It's hard to believe Pea's been at home with our family for only two years already (if you know what I mean!)

Yesterday, Pea and I were getting into a friend's car to carpool home from the Fall Festival at preschool (I forgot my camera--sorry!). My friend asked Pea if she wanted help with her seatbelt. No way, no how, thank you very much (except without the thanks). Pea struggled to get to the magical "click!" with no success. Finally, it seemed she had shoved the metal buckle in far enough, and she let go. Unfortunately, it retracted on her. And that's when the miracle happened. She expressed frustration! It was written all over her face and she even let out an exasperated sigh! I'm pretty sure I caught a certain rolling of the eyes! I was thrilled!!!! This was the first time I had seen her express frustration!

I know my excitement may seem odd to you, but if it does, ask yourself whether it's odd for a child to get past her 4th birthday having never expressed frustration! The fact that she has grown 4 inches in height already this year is just a picture of how she is still on a trajectory of spiritual, cognitive, and emotional growth. Seeing her appropriately express a new emotion was an amazing moment for me. Like Mary of Nazareth, I'll "treasure up all these things, pondering them in [my] heart."

Punk has been looking forward to this day for at least 6 weeks. We FINALLY went to the "Pumpkin Patch" to pick the perfect carving pumpkins. I forgot to bring the camera to the Patch, but here are a few shots of the fun when we got home.I love the expression on Pea's face here! She was a trooper and did a great job getting her pumpkin cleared of its guts.Punky hated the feeling of the pumpkin guts, so I had to take over for him. Tada! Here's Pea's happy face pumpkin.And Punk's fierce, yet happy jack-o-lantern. :)Say "Pumpkin Carving Day!"

One thing led to another and somehow Punk landed on the topic of whom he will someday marry. We do not encourage our kids to romanticize marriage or dating, emphasizing instead the weightiness of choosing a mate and the fact that marriage is fun but challenging. However, although Punk knows he will need to be at least 20 years old before he weds, he sometimes likes to speculate upon who will fill the role of the bride. The forerunner has always been a little girl from church who is two years his senior. However, things took a major turn tonight when he realized that Daddy is much (3 WHOLE years!) older than Mama. Despite the fact that we gave him numerous examples of lovely families in which the wife is older than the husband, he became adament that he must marry someone at least 3 years his junior. He asked, "Who can I marry who is MUCH younger than me?" A and I threw out the names of some younger girls ranging from age 6 months to 3 years old. Finally, A quipped that Punk could marry the unborn daughter of our friends. This being the youngest possible alternative, he declared that, indeed, he will marry this girl who is due in November. Even if it means putting off marriage til he's 25 instead of 20.