dave & janet horsman ::: keepin’ it real since 1998

Three of my boys are down for the count with the flu. Elijah, Zeke, and Dave have got all the classic symptoms: fever, chills, a terrrible cough, bloodshot and runny eyes. I’m thankful that Noah had the flu shot, and I, mysteriously, have not caught anything all winter.

So, blogging will go on the back-burner for today…and maybe tomorrow. I’ll be busy nursing three sick boys. Have you ever heard that stay-at-home-moms work the equivalent of two and a half full time jobs? I think it’s true. Not only that…we never get to call in sick!

Zeke, Noah and I spend most Thursday mornings at Eden Prarie Mall - a place that is absolutely filled with mothers and their pre-schoolers on weekdays.  We like to go to the story-time at Barnes and Nobles, and then spend an hour or so at this play park.  It’s every mothers dream…made out of soft material, and surrounded on all sides with comfy seating, with only one small exit to worry about.  I usually snag a seat right by the exit, and let Zeke and Noah run off their energy.  It’s super! 

Here’s Zeke.  His hair is wet because, while washing his hands in the bathroom (the family bathrooms are great - equipped with a little toilet, sink and hand blowdryer) he rubbed the soap all through his hair. (?!)  I had no other choice but to wash it!

Noah loves this place.  Above the hub-bub of all the other playing kids, I can always hear Noah yelling, “Zee…Zee!” (that’s what he calls Zeke) as he tries to locate his big brother.  Brotherly love…so adorable.

And this is how Elijah arrived home from school last night!  Doesn’t it look like he’s been in a brawl?!  “What happened to your face?!” I exclaimed in horror, when I saw him.  (I know… I over-reacted!)  “Nothing!” he told me.  Upon further investigation I discovered that on his field-trip to The Childrens Museum yesterday, he’d had his face painted, and this was just leftover paint!  Phewf!  He’s a little young for a school-yard fight yet!

And we finally got a photo of this elusive little creature this morning!  An albino squirrel!  I’ve seen many albino creatures (I’ve always been sort of facinated with albino animals) but never an albino squirrel.  He’s been living on campus since last fall, and he’s just taken up residence in this tree, which is right outside our patio door.  So exciting!  Elijah and Zeke were delighted when they spotted him this morning.  

Elijah continues to take piano lessons this year. Yesterday evening, while he was practicing, he shouted out, “Hey! I’m really gettin’ pretty good at this!”

While I can’t say that he’ll be a great pianist someday, I definately think that piano has played an important role in his maturing over the past year. For a while, a new piece of music would completely overwhelm him, and I would need to sit with him at the piano and walk him through each note. It was time consuming, and I wondered, “Is this worth it?”

It was, and it’s so cool to see the “fruit.” Elijah now really savors tackling a new piece of music, and loves to make it sound just right. I think his piano lessons have given him more of a “can-do” attitude and “stick-to-itiveness”…and we all need more of that. I know I do!

P.S. I got my teeth cleaned at the dentist today…ouch! I won’t be doing that again while I’m pregnant! Apparently being pregnant makes one’s gums more sensitive…ouch!

Elijah got himself dressed this morning, while I was dressing Noah.  I laughed when they emerged from their rooms wearing exactly the same outfit.  Cute.

Here are few photo’s from Zeke’s party, as promised.  Dave’s working on a video too - it’ll come later this week.  We had a great time!

The race track cake…

Here they are in their “hot-rods”.  We played musical chairs (a Horsman family birthday party tradition), and when each child got out they got to choose their car.  They had decorated licence plates as soon as they arrived, and they got to attach those to their chosen cars.  After all this, we informed them that their new vehicles needed gas!  And what do you suppose cardboard cars take for gas?…Candy, of couse!  So we had a piniata, and they got to fill their gas tanks…and then of course, we had to have a race.  But to avoid injuries, we had them run to one end of the room, put on their car, and then, (as the movie “Cars” reminds us!) on the way back they moved slowly, using baby steps.  It was cute!  As you can tell, it was a jam-packed party!

Opening presents…

Enjoying some apples and caramel dip…

I have to say, that Dave and I make a great team…I like to plan the parties, and he prefers to host!  In the end we have a well organized and energetic party…very nice.