Halloween!

Carving pumpkins... and knitting

Colton, putting in his two cents (above)
The kids painting (below)

The kids helped with this one! Such a great job by them!

The kitty one is Ayla's (I carved it) and the big one is the one we grew in the garden!

Colton's monster one that he picked out (Tyler free-handed this one!)

Such a cutie!

Tyler working hard on Colton's design!

We finally got around to carving our pumpkins. We only harvested 2 from our crop that had been doing so well, but that is okay... we managed. Tyler picked 2 up at the store on his way home, so we had one for each of us. The kids picked out the designs, and we painted the green one. All in all, a great way to end the day and get ready for Halloween. Both kids are practicing their "Trick or Treat" skills, and it is just so cute to hear them saying that around the house!
Tyler has not had any luck hunting this season yet, but we are hopeful! I can't wait to have some fresh deer or elk meat! Yumm!
I have started knitting for the season, and I almost forgot two things: how to actually knit (this lasted about 2 minutes, and I had to rack my pregnant brain... and then I refreshed with a youtube video! :) ) and the other thing is just how addicting knitting actually is. I have only finished a couple washcloths (LOVE this blog so much!! So many great projects!) but it has been fun. The kids helped me pick out the colors, and the order the colors go in. I have so many more projects planned.... hope I get to some of them. Right now, I just have to get to bed!!!

Our 4th Anniversary!

Yesterday was our 4 year anniversary!! I can't believe how fast time flies... it seems like just yesterday; except for the fact we have 2 kids and one more on the way!! I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.
Our day wasn't your typical "anniversary" day. Started out with having to take Colton to urgent care because he was still having high (103-104) fevers! He was put on antibiotics in case there is an underlying infection he just can't beat... but other then that, he was perfectly healthy! Good heart and lungs, ears, throat... and such a resilient kid! He really does a great job at dealing with this sickness. So the doctors still think it is most likely a strong reaction to the H1N1 vaccine. I am just glad that they didn't get the full fledged thing! That may have been bad! He is still having fevers today, but they further time wise between the high spikes. Hope he is on the mend!


Then the kids and I just kind of vegged out around the house until late afternoon; and then we made cupcakes! Grandma Colleen had sent the kids some cupcake decorations for Halloween, so we decided to use them, and make a special anniversary cake. I got some chocolate cake mix from the store, and it was DELICIOUS! I was skeptical at first because it was gluten free and wheat free (and so was the frosting) but decided to try it anyways. It was a little more expensive than your regular boxed mix, but oh so worth it! It made 12 cupcakes and a little round cake for Tyler and I. The kids decorated with sprinkles and more and had such a great time helping me. I love cooking with the kids! There are times I have to remind myself out loud that patience is a virtue... because either the kids don't have any, or I have lost mine! But it usually works out.

So after a delightful dinner of New York steak and baked potatoes, we enjoyed some great cake and vanilla bean Tillamook ice cream... we then put the kids to bed, relaxed a little; and then by 11 pm Colton was back up to 104.5 fever! Oh, the life of a parent.

And Grandpa Pat is going to be here today for the start of hunting season on Sunday! Grammy Roxanne had to stay at home because she was feeling rather sick, but plans on taking the train out here next week to be with the kids and I. We can't wait! Maybe she will be here for Halloween?

Table forts and train tracks

So being stuck at home with sick kids that don't act sick all the time takes alot out of you! Tyler has been keeping them entertained with train tracks galore... the picture is of one of his symmetrical ones. Today, I was asked to make a fort. So we put some blankets over the table (that had to be cleaned off first) and blankets and pillows underneath. We ended up eating lunch under there and reading some books.... lots of fun!
Hope the kids fevers stop soon... they seem pretty healthy, but for the fevers.

A fever-filled weekend

The kids and I decided to get the H1N1 vaccine last Thursday at the county health department. Well it was a clinic to vaccinate the healthy children in the area, and I just happened to be in the right place a the right time, so I received the appropriate one for a pregnant lady. The kids both got the live virus nasal vaccine. Both the kids seem fine for Thursday and Friday, and then Friday night, they both got fevers. Not bad ones, but low grade fevers nonetheless. I had read up on the live virus vaccine, and knew that they would get a little sick to build up an immunity to the virus. So I wasn't too worried.
Later Saturday, they both had fevers of 102-103, that only came down with motrin or tylenol. So that is what we did, just give the medicine. Fevers continued, and still continue today. Ayla was up to 104 yesterday; Colton was up to 103.5 yesterday and today. Ughhhhh!!! I hate fevers!
Fortuneately, both kids act pretty normal for the most part. They are eating (or not eating!), they are drinking plenty, and peeing. So I am torn between being worried, and knowing it will run its course. I am not sure if they would be contagious or what not, so I don't think I will be taking them really anywhere this week except with me to the Dr's. tomorrow.
Just another day (weekend) in the Gustafson house.

In other news, Grammy Roxanne and Grandpa Pat are coming to visit on Friday! We are so excited to see them! Tyler and Pat are going hunting; hopefully they will shoot a big one or two! Then I can get a freezer!

The week in a nutshell...

This last week has been pretty busy. Tyler and I flew to S. Carolina for a wedding. We had a great time in Charleston, SC. The wedding of my good friend, Traci, was beautiful! It was on the beach and so simple and perfect. Tyler and I helped decorate along with my other great Navy friend, Bianca and her boyfriend, Chris. We were a little rushed for decorating, but it came together. The food was amazing! It was called a low country boil, made with corn, potatoes, shrimp, and crab; Yumm, yumm!! Crab is so delicious!

The day after the wedding we hung out on the beach in warm weather (unlike Montana), Tyler tried his hand at surfing... he said it was kind of hard, but exhilarating! We went on a "ghost tour" through the Charleston graveyards. A little creepy, but fun. Our tour guide was slightly crazy, but you could tell she enjoyed her job.


Sunday, we came home, and we were happy about that... we missed our two little rascals SO MUCH!!!
While we were gone, Granna and Papa watched the kiddoes, and it sounded like they had a great time. When we called, the kids talked to us on the phone, but barely! It snowed here while we were away, and there were a couple inches when we came home. Unfortunately, our pumpkins, which had been doing so well, did not fair the snowfall all that well. They were shriveled and soft.... we had put two in the garage, so we have two out of 12 really good ones... oh, well.



Today, we copied my friend, Jill, and made some halloween decorations... they turned out pretty cute, square ghosts and all.

Our last week of September

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We are gearing up for a visit from Papa and Granna, but we managed to have a good last week of September. I did babysit for a couple of the days, and we had a lot of fun. Here are some photos of the kids doing "getting ready for nap" exercises (kind of like yoga for kiddoes) and we had a great time! It was neat to see them actually listen to me all at once... I felt like I accomplished something! But it ended up being the kids pretending they were vacuum cleaners rubbing their heads all over the floor! What fun!

And also some pics of Sofa the cat out in the garden stalking mice. He will sit on the pumpkins for hours, just waiting. So cute!

We had an ultrasound done on Thursday... our 18 week one. So we had the chance to find out the sex of the baby :: we didn't! We don't really care what it is, but it WILL be a baby, and so far everything is healthy, and that is really all that matters. Plus, I believe it helps with the labor to NOT know... I found myself with both Ayla and Colton wondering constantly, and it seemed to speed labor up! We will see. March is coming awfully quickly, and we are pretty excited. The baby is kicking a lot and I see to be feeling better, so that is great. My back is starting to get sore, but when is it not!'

We are headed out for a trip to South Carolina (just Tyler and I) for a great friend's wedding! We are really excited :: we are staying in a house right on the beach with my friend Bianca! It will be fun to have a kid free vacation; but I will worry about my little rascals!! It is the first time we will leave them for more than one night ( and that was only one time!) Time will tell!