Jacob 2 Year Pictures

 It is getting harder and harder to get this little monkey to sit still for a photo shoot.  Still I think there are a few cute ones.

Emma First Day of 3's Class

 Finally it was Emma's turn to go to preschool.  Her preschool starts so late that we have literally had weeks of asking if it was her turn yet.  We woke up to a special breakfast (Dad went and got donuts) and had scrambled eggs.  

 Then we took a few pictures on the front porch.  

 Finally we got to school.  Emma got her nametag on, and we stayed through morning circle time.  

Then circle time was over and she was off to the kitchen area for free choice.  See that little one next to her on the left? He had to be removed kicking and screaming because he didn't want to leave, yet he is also the one who cries in Nursery because he has to stay! 

Epi-pen

I never in my lifetime thought that I would be the mother of a child who would need an Epi-pen.  My brother-in-law has serious seafood allergies so I always imagined it would be my sister who would have one for her children.  But after Jacob's 2nd year doctor's visit we now have Epi-pens.  Back in August Jacob got some peanuts.  We were eating at a Vietnamese restaurant and the chicken satay came out with peanuts sprinkled all over them.  The menu didn't say anything about peanuts so I just assumed it would be fine when ordering.  We found the two bottom skewers that looked like they hadn't touched peanuts and gave them to him.  He was fine which I totally expected because before the allergist tested him we had given him peanut butter with no reaction at all.  Then the next day, Jacob got a hold of Emma's leftover peanut butter sandwich from the kitchen table after she left her seat.  Before I could even stop him, he had eaten some probably about two bites.  Fast forward to that evening when Jacob was acting so funny.  He was just scratching and scratching his stomach.  We got him underdressed to find his stomach covered in large, itchy, red hives.  The poor thing was scratching himself raw and the welts were getting bigger and worse.  So at the doctor yesterday I mentioned this reaction.  He got concerned and wanted us to have an Epi-pen just in case, because as with the case of peanut allergies things can get worse with every exposure until it is life threatening.  I now have to pack Benadryl and an Epi-pen with me wherever I go.  So now $67 dollars out of my pocket later (I didn't even look to see what insurance paid on it) we are the proud owners of two Epi-pens.  I am praying they never have to be used!

Harvest

We pulled out the garden all except for the tomatoes.  We have had hardly any tomatoes this year and it is really sad.  No frozen homemade sauce to be enjoyed this winter.  Boo!  We left those plants in because there are still so many green tomatoes and since the weather has still been warm we are hoping that a few more will ripen.  Our pumpkin and carrots did really well as you can see except that neither got very big, but it was an exciting harvest nonetheless.

Jacob's 2nd Birthday

We started off the morning by having a birthday breakfast of pancakes.  We also opened presents in the morning.  Jacob got a new tricycle (that can be pushed!) and a new basketball hoop.  Then Dad and Benjamin had to leave to work for the day of service collecting food for the local food bank.  The little kids played until they got home.  Then it was nap time followed by dinner with some family friends.  It was a small group, but we had so much fun at the Thomas Birthday Party. Happy 2nd Birthday little Jacob!

Benjamin and Dad's Date to the Fair

Since Benjamin was at school when we went so he and Dad got to go together.  They went to animal showings, rode rides, saw his scrapbook page, shared a giant hamburger which was the size of a plate, and ate the famous scones.  They had a great time!