Stupid Flu Bug...

I'm happy to report that I am NOT sick...and neither is Bradlee! However, had the flu last week, and Emma's got it this week! This means the odds are not so good for Bradlee and me, but we're working on it!

Last Saturday, Emma and I had a "Mommy-Emma" day...and what a great day it was! We ran some errands and then went to a craft show down at Holly High School. She brought some money she had saved in her piggy bank to buy some crafts. I bought her a crown and she bought herself a Disney princess necklace. She was very proud of herself! She had a little purse and everything. It was quite comical to watch her dig the money out to pay the girl for the necklace! She has become quite the young lady!! I took a picture of her in the crown, then when we were leaving and walking out to the car, Emma was running ahead of me, looking back to make sure the ribbon from her crown was flowing behind her....how cute!

That night, we picked Bradlee up from Tony's parents and then came home. While we were eating dinner, Emma went to get a drink and accidently dropped her cup. Fortunately, it was a "water bottle -type cup with a lid, so it didn't spill or make a mess...however, Bradlee started laughing. Now, whether Emma noticed that it made Bradlee laugh or she was just not paying attention, I don't know...but she started picking up her cup and dropping it, picking it up and dropping it, etc. Bradlee was laughing so hard I couldn't believe it! I had to take a picture...Neither Emma nor I knew what was so funny but Bradlee just laughed and laughed! What a funny kid!!

Sunday, the 8th, was my 30th birthday! I had a concert at a nursing home in Frankenmuth and had sloppy joes for dinner at Tony's parents'. The rest of the week included helping Tony get better! Not too much excitement, but I did get to take Emma and Bradlee to school and pick them up each day. I enjoy doing this, even though it's totally out of my way to work. I love seeing them interact with their friends and classmates and teachers! Emma didn't cry one day when I dropped her off, probably because I got her there just as Pre-K was getting going, so she didn't have a chance to realize I was leaving! She was supposed to go on her first field trip on Wednesday this week (in two days) to the elementary school across the street to have a "shared reading" time with the 1st/2nd grade split. I don't think she's going to make it, though, since the school district is requiring her to be "fever free for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medication"...we'll have to see, though!

I did have a coupon for a free dinner at Mongolian BBQ, and since Tony was sick, I asked my parents and Karyn if they wanted to go so I could use it. We had a nice time, and I had a great foil hat made for me...it's supposed to be a giant flower, but it wouldn't stay up, so the waiter called it the "drooping flower, because I was now 30"!! We had a nice time, being able to talk about adult things and not worrying about a 15 month old throwing food on the floor!!!

On Friday, my mom and dad made my traditional birthday dinner - homemade tacos! I think I've had tacos for my birthday since I cut my first tooth! :) Emma was probably starting to not feel good then, 'cause she only wanted dessert (although, dessert was Cold Stone Creamery cupcakes, so I wouldn't put it past her to just want the dessert anyway!!)...Bradlee, on the other had, ate a WHOLE taco!! He loved the tomatoes and cheese the best, but ate everything, including the tortilla and meat! A kid after my own heart, I tell ya!

Tonight, I picked Bradlee up from school and we had a "Mommy-Bradlee" night! We played, ate dinner, sang songs, and then had a bath....Bradlee LOVES his baths! He has to wear ear plugs because of the tubes in his ears, and he doesn't seem to mind them too much. He'll play with them at first, but then I start the bath water and he's so excited to get all his toys in the bathtub that he forgets all about the plugs! Here are some great shots....As I'm sure you can imagine, I got a bath, too!

It's Halloween!!

Well, it's been quite the Halloween for us at the Coggins' house! All the festivities started about 2 weeks ago when we went to Crossroads Village. Then our friends, Matt & Desiree, had a Halloween party last weekend, there was the trunk-or-treat at church last weekend, also. Then there was the kids' Halloween parties at school and FINALLY, Halloween! I would have to say that we got the most use out of the costumes this year than any other year in my ENTIRE LIFE! LOL

The parties were so much fun! The trunk-or-treat was a blast as well. There was a contest for "best dressed car"...and we won! Emma was Dorothy from "The Wizard of Oz" and Bradlee was Toto, so I dressed up as Glinda and we had all kinds of things from the movie to decorate our car. Here's the final product (you may have to click on the picture to see it magnified!):

On Friday, Bradlee had tubes put in his ears, so he didn't have his party at school. We're hoping this will solve all the ear problems he's been having. His surgery was about 30 minutes from the time he went into the room to the time he was out of recovery. He was so good! Once he god some glucose (sugar) water in him, he was his old self again! We were concerned that they wouldn't do the surgery, because he had a fever when we went in, but it was because he had ANOTHER ear infection that they just drained before inserting the tubes. Whew! I'm glad it's over and I'm anxious to see how they help. He's been great now that his appetite is back! :) So Friday afternoon, I picked Emma up from school and took her over to the bank I work at to show them her costume. She got to play the "cupcake walk" and won a cupcake with M&M's on it! Then we went to Kroger over in Flushing and she played musical chairs and won a prize, "throw a bag through the pumpkin's nose" and won, a ring toss and won (a 2-liter of pop!), putt-putt golf and won, and hockey shoot and won! We walked out of Kroger with a TON of goodies and didn't have to pay for any of it! :) LOL She was really proud of herself! We were in the card section and I said, "Hey Emma, let me take your picture!" and this is what I got:

So on Saturday morning, we carved our pumpkins! Since Bradlee was only 3 months old last year, he didn't get to carve pumpkins...he wasn't too interested this year, but I let him check it out on the table just the same. Emma was interested until she realized just how much "guts" can actually fit into a pumpkin! So I finished scraping out her pumpkin, and then carved it for her...she wanted Ariel (from "The Little Mermaid"), so that's what I did! I think it turned out pretty well! Then I did a face on mine. Tony went his own creative way and did an "H" for Holly!!

So it was finally time to put the costumes on (AGAIN) and go trick-or-treating! We went to my parents' house first, then headed out to Tony's parents' and then we met up with some friends and walked around a part of Flushing. The kids (all 6 of them that were with us!) only lasted about an hour or so before the whining and complaining started...so it was a quick night! It was pretty cold out, plus I just think everyone was so tired! We still had a nice Halloween....now only a week until I turn the "BIG" 3-0!!! :)