Happy Halloween!

Zackory, Drew and Joey Anna at Cub Foods
Cake walk winner at Cub

Loot!!!

Today after ice skating lessons we had some Halloween fun! We went to Cub foods first. They had pumpkins to paint, a cake walk (Drew won the first time he played), crafts and games. Then we went across the street to Lunds. They had all kinds of thing too. Including decorating a huge cookie, a grocery size treat bag, samples, face paint, story time and balloon animals. Then we headed into Wayzata for Boo Blast. We went trick or treating at all kinds of businesses in Wayzata. Drew got so much stuff! This past Thursday we went to Byerly's for their Halloween party. More loot, lots of dancing and again Drew won the cake walk the first time he played.

Tomorrow we are going to a Halloween dance and then Monday night a little Trick or Treating in our neighborhood. I LOVE Halloween with Drew at this age! He is having so much fun!!!

Week 2 of school

Drew's rash
First time on the school bus

Dylan, Drew and Joey Anna 1st day of school

a plant Drew planted from seeds in preschool. It's a monster marigold!



Drew woke up Monday morning with a rash over his entire body. A trip to the Doctor confirmed Mono. The Doctor was surprised the rash didn't happen sooner. He had been on amoxicillin for Strep for 7 days before the rash started. Usually the rash starts as soon as you start amoxicillin if you have mono.

They had to do a finger prick to test for Mono. You would have thought they cut off his arm to get the blood by his reaction. He threw a 15 minute fit. He was kicking things, ripping the paper on the exam table, trying to throw chairs and crying and screaming. So out of character for him. He did it again at home over a toy. After a nap he felt a little better and we have not had any more fits.

Drew has been sleeping 10-11 hours at night and taking 2-3 hour naps. His energy level has improved greatly in the last 2 days. He has had the Mono for at least a week and a half already. He has to be careful with activities that may cause a blow to his tummy for 2 more weeks. The Doctor could not feel his liver or spleen, but it is a precaution. He is most upset because the Doctor said no bike riding.

The school bus situation is finally straightened out. Drew is now on the bus route after school to be dropped right at our driveway. I had been picking him up everyday until I was sure they were bringing him to our house after school. I talked with the driver yesterday and she confirmed he is on her route starting today. The morning bus stop will be at the end of our street starting tomorrow. We had been walking 2 blocks the opposite direction of school to catch the bus. This is the only year Drew can ride the bus because we live so close.

So far Drew says he doesn't like school and doesn't want to go. He is fine as soon as we walk out the door. After school he is happy and seems to have had fun. Maybe his attitude will change when he is feeling better. We love his teacher. Joey had here last year so we know he is in good hands!

Kindergarten

Drew is now in Kindergarten. He seems to be having fun. He developed Strep right before school started. This is his first time having it. He is able to go to school because he was only contagious for 24 hours after his first dose of medicine. The Doctor was concerned about Mono too.

Drew has been having a hard time wanting to get ready for school. Once we are walking to the bus stop he is fine. It is probably because he doesn't feel great yet. When I go to pick him up from school he is always in a great mood. Well, except today. He skinned his knee right before school finished for the day. He said he fell off the tire swing. We are planning a low key day today to try and get healthy.

His bus stop info was screwed up so for now we are going to a temporary stop in the morning (2 blocks further than we will have to go in a week or 2) and I am picking him up after school. When it is straightened out he will get dropped off at our driveway after school. He goes to school from 9:10am to 11:40 am. Mommy got emotional, but didn't cry the first day of school. Daddy on the other hand did let a few tears fall! Mommy cried at the Open House though. It was hard to see him sitting at his table labeling his supplies. We cannot believe how fast he has grown!

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We had lunch at the farm with the Haekenkamp's and dinner in Hopkins with the Frerick's. As usual we ate too much!

At 9:30pm Thanksgiving night, Mommy, Auntie Jen and Auntie Mandi headed out to start shopping! The night started at Toys R Us where the line to get in was down the side walk to the end of the building, out the parking lot to the street and partway down the side walk! It was CRAZY! We had to stand out side for 45 minutes in negative degree windchills. The good news is we got everything (and more) that we were hoping to get! After 2 hours at that store we headed to Walmart. No standing outside this time. The store was busy! The checkout lines were crazy! I think we got most of the things we were hoping for there too. We took an hour break at Auntie Jen's house before heading to Target at 2:30am. The line wasn't that long so we sat in the car for awhile. Auntie Jen stood outside for an hour and Auntie Mandi and I stood out for about 45 minutes. The Target employees brought out hot coffee and some snack cakes while we waited. Auntie Jen got her TV, Auntie Mandi got a bunch of stuff and I got my camera. Another success! The checkout at target was quick and easy. Target definately gets the award for most organized for the night! I had to go home (my curfew was 5am) so Daddy could go to work. Auntie Jen and Auntie Mandi kept shopping!

Drew had his first playdate where he stayed by himself at a friend's house on Saturday. He did well and had a great time!

The "Elf on the Shelf" showed up at our house on Friday. He is supposed to watch the kids and report to Santa each night. When he comes back from seeing Santa, he hides in a different place in the house. The kids are not supposed to touch him or he could lose his magic and not be able to report to Santa. Drew was very skeptical. We read the book so we knew who he was and what he was doing at our house. Drew thought he was too small and not real. The second day he started to believe more. He has been talking to the Elf he named "Corny" short for "Corn on the Cob" and can't wait to find him each morning. He still wants to touch him. Good thing Corny has been sitting up high everytime he comes back! Some day Drew will understand the irony of the name he chose! Joey and Dylan saw Corny for the first time today. Joey thought he would be bigger too. She also does not think he is real because she cannot see him breathing. But yet, they have been talking about him and to him all day. So cute! The behavior is a little better, but there is STILL room for improvement!

And the boy turns 5!!!

Drew and Friends(the ones that weren't afraid of Chuck E)
The cupcakes

Hungry kids!

The boy of Honor

Buddies

Drew is now 5. Hard to believe. He had his first "friend" birthday party. He chose to have it at Chuck E Cheese. The restaurant wasn't that busy so it was nice. I think everyone had a good time!

On his actual birthday, he had school in the morning and then we went to Nickelodeon Universe at Mall of America. It was some sort of Somalian holiday so the park was packed. Auntie Mandi, Joey Anna, Dylan, Lucas and his Mom Juli joined us for the day. We ended the day with a "pizza picnic" in our living room.

Today Drew had his 5 year check up. He is 43 inches tall and weighs 41 pounds. The doctor talked to him about riding in a booster car seat (he still wants his harness seat) and eating the foods Mommy wants him to try (he told her he likes cat food). After he had his 2 injections (would have been 3 if he hadn't already had chicken pox) he screamed at Mommy that "it's YOUR fault!!!" and "I'm sitting in my car seat forever and eating cat food!!!" He was not too happy. We also had an incident today where he pulled a Christmas stocking holder down and it landed on his face. He has a scratch on his cheek, a cut along his nose and a scratch on the tip of his nose. The poor kid kinda had a rough day.

It's tough being 5...

The Wedding

Joey and Drew
Trying for a group photo

Our Family

one cool dude

Friday November 12th Drew was a ring bearer in Brent and Sami Haekenkamp's wedding. Joey Anna was the flower girl. Drew went down the aisle saying "Pizza delivery!" because Auntie Jen told him to hold the pillow like a pizza.

It ended up being a long weekend for Drew. We went to Faribault Mn for the rehearsal on Thursday. Friday morning we went to Drew's preschool conference (he is doing fabulous!) and then back to Faribault for the wedding. We spent the night down there. It took 2 hours instead of 1 to get home Saturday morning thanks to snow. Saturday we went to Monster Jam. Sunday we hung out with Papa for his 59Th birthday. Today is Grandma Luna's 60Th birthday. It is also Drew's last day as a 4 year old. He slept until 9:45am, but I guess it isn't a surprise with how busy he has been for the past 4 days.

Tomorrow my baby turns 5! When I hugged him and told him I don't want him to get so old, he said, "Don't worry Mommy. No matter what number I am, I'll always be your baby." I'm holding you to that buddy!

Monster Jam

Drew and Lucas in the Hot Seat
Drew and Daddy checking out a new video game

Drew and Grinder

Drew and Blue Thunder

Drew cheering for Grave Digger (with foam Grave Digger hat firmly on head)

Mommy, Daddy and Drew attended Monster Jam on Saturday night with Drew's friend Lucas and his Parent's Juli and Larry. The boys had so much fun together! They are both big Monster Jam fans. It was kind of a long day. We arrived at the "pit party" before 4pm and the show ended around 10:30pm. Drew did well though.

When we arrived back at our car after the show, Daddy realized he had lost the car keys! When we were walking towards the Metrodome, Daddy thought something fell down his leg. He was carrying Drew and it was snowing. When we crossed the street he put Drew down and checked his leg but found nothing. It was not until we went to the car to go home that he realized he had a hole in his pocket and what he had felt must have been the car keys. Daddy went back to walk the block between the ramp and where he checked his leg. This was 10:30 at night, 6 hours later! Mommy called Papa whole agreed to go to our house to get the second set of keys and bring them downtown to us. In the mean time the three of us walked the block again. Daddy and Drew went to see if they could get into HCMC to see if anyone turned in keys and Mommy went to Hubert's to check. Mommy hit the jackpot! A very kind person found them and took them there! Papa hadn't left his house yet, so that was good too. We were VERY lucky since it was snowing and windy. Those keys could have easily been buried, crushed or taken to the ramp to look for the car in which case we could have lost more than just keys!