I'm feeling just swine, thank you

Well, it's a good thing we squeezed in a vacation when we did because we spent the rest of the the month of October getting sick, then getting better, then getting sick again. By some miracle Jef was the only one who never got sick at all. As punishment for his doing well while we all felt horrible, he was forced to take care of us and listen to us complain. He handled it quite well, but I have a feeling that it wasn't the funnest vacation time he's ever taken.
The silver linings: I didn't eat nearly as much Halloween candy as usual this year, we got to spend lots of quality time together watching movies and not having to change out of our pajamas, we have become close friends with all of the lovely people at the Pediatrics office, and we don't have to get vaccinated for the swine flu. Please do not call it H1N1. The swine flu is definitely the more appropriate name.
Also, when we have all been able to get out and do stuff, we certainly appreciate it more. This has been one of the prettiest autumns I remember in a long time.
Logan at the park. Can you believe he is 6 months old now and has gotten his first tooth. He also says Dada. So far the score is Jef -4, Julie - 1. Jonathan was the only kid to say Mama first.

This is the stone pillar at our park that says "park" on it. I think it used to say the whole name of the park at one point, but all we really know is that Hannah likes to climb on it and do some major belly dancing for the whole neighborhood.
Taylor at his school costume parade. Jane didn't go to school that day, but she wasn't really sick that day, she just refused to go. We think there was a little first grade drama going on, so we tried to be patient and firm at the same time. We told her if she was going to stay home, she was absolutely not allowed to have fun. It was a little hard to monitor, but it must have worked a little, because she was anxious to go back again on Monday.
Where Jef found Jono watching TV. He may be just a little jealous these days. The other clue is the fact that he follows me around hanging onto my clothes and fake-crying. He has also started trying to change his own diapers. A step towards potty-training, I suppose, but not a very sanitary one.
This is Halloween night. Hannah was "Sick-or-treating," which means that she had to watch out the window. You can tell she didn't feel good because she hardly complained. Good thing she dresses up like a princess all of the time, so she will still get lots of chances to use the costume that we didn't have to buy for her to begin with. Taylor and Logan were both in bed at this point, and didn't even bother to go to the window.
Little does he know, his turn will come in a couple of days. He is just enjoying being a really useful engine.


I got this dog costume for Taylor when he wasn't even two yet. Talk about one size fits all. I love it that Jane didn't even ask for a new costume and just figured she'd use something we already had.
Please tell me if you notice anything out of place in the above picture.
Happy late Halloween everyone. And hello Holiday Season - I am sooo excited to spend our first Christmas here in our home. Last year we really enjoyed the time spent with my parents, but it will be fun to be able to get out our own tree and all that stuff that was in storage last Christmas. We've already started watching Christmas movies.