State Fair!

Is this a teenager or my 3 year old?

The state fair is officially here.  It's a little strange heading out the fair in early February but the temperature is a cool mid 70s with little humidity so although that's not warm enough for me it's warm enough to be outside all day and enjoy the bouts with fried Pepsi and hamburgers sandwiched between two donuts for buns.  There is so much to love living in an obese culture.  I think we'll check it out tomorrow.  I'm thinking we might make multiple visits this year now that the boys are a bit older and can enjoy it.

The boys have been ill and took a trip to urgent care last Sunday.  Fun, fun, fun!  Quinny was diagnosed with a severe case of bronchitis.  They stopped short of pneumonia because there was no fluid in his lungs but the doctor could hear "a good rattle" in there.  He went to his normal doctor on Monday and he also confirmed the "rattle."  He's on breathing treatments multiple times a day and some medications.  I actually missed the first quarter of the Super Bowl to run out to the pharmacy.  I lost the coin toss with the wife.  I'm not sure if that makes me dad/husband of the year or if my wife just sold me short?!  Oh the humanity!  I can't imagine that I have ever missed any part of the Super Bowl.  Kids, how is daddy supposed to win his bets when he can't watch the game?  I totally had the over on the national anthem.  Did you know you could bet whether or not she was going to sing the right words?   Heads?!?!  It's never heads.

Gavin had some less intrusive something or other and his also on meds but his wasn't as big of a deal.  I think he has a sinus infection.  It's allergy season down here so the doctors wondered if he simply has allergies.  I've heard many a horror story of childhood trauma of friends getting repeatedly stuck with needles trying to identify what they are or are not allergic to.  You have to love the advances we've made in the medical field!  We'll just stuff him full of Allegra and call it a day.  Your welcome, buddy!

Look at me - I can stand!

Lazybones still isn't walking but does fancy standing up on his own and then clapping wildly at this accomplishment.  Once in a while you can get him to take a single step but mostly he stands there whining for you to come closer so he can grab on to you and scoot over.  If you don't move he'll often sit back down and crawl the foot or so.  So lazy!!  He's still demoted at daycare and hangs out with the infants.  That has made them think our kid is really advanced, which we heard yesterday.  It was nice to hear but Carrie reminded me he's like 2 years older than the babies in there.  Okay, so he's only 15 months but he's clearly ahead of the game.  He can officially say Stinky!  The dog appreciates that.  He knows the words fishies, eat, more, outside and many others.  At this rate he'll learn how to read before he learns how to walk.

Quinny is currently hooked on phonics. He is starting to recognize letters and numbers and the sounds they make.  B - ba ba, ba.  That sort of thing.  He's manning up and is so tall.  We converted one of Gavin's sit and scoots to a scooter so he has been in love with that.  Our neighborhood is nowhere near as child friendly as Iowa's was so that's a bummer for activities like the scooter.  Cars are zooming and since no one parks in their garage (that's your pseudo basement down here) cars are crammed into the short driveways covering the sidewalks forcing walkers into the street to get around them.  That's less than ideal for a three year old.  (We're currently saving for the mansion on the water - I use the term mansion facetiously - it's in the eye of the beholder).  However, the Powerball is officially $300 million-something ($193M cash option - wahoo!) so if we win that then we'll be buying multiple mansions as in the traditional sense and no I'm not being facetious.  If you're nice to me maybe we'll buy one for you too.  We asked Quinny what he would buy and he said a pirate ship and a jet ski (Uncle Andrew - Carrie's brother's influence).  I'm all for the pirate ship so be on the look out for that.

So if you see us land our private jet near you with a big sign that says, "Pile in we're going to nothing but exotic locations for the next 12-18 months" don't hesitate, just climb aboard.  Your mortgage will be fine without you.