Puppet Master

Many months (years?) ago, we got a fabulous make-your-own-puppet for the boys from our friend T. They hadn't really shown much interest in it before, but then O wanted me to pull it out yesterday, and it instantly became his best friend. He eventually even wore it himself, faced the puppet towards him, and said "Hi Owen!". Even Z got into the act of engaging with it.


We had a lovely New Years brunch for my birthday this year; Meh made a fabulous lemon meringue pie (among many other tasty treats), the boys and I grabbed bagels (a very gracious baker helped walk the three dozen rolls with holes to our car, where O noshed down happily on a piece of pumpernickel) and we had a nice time with family and friends.

Unfortunately it's been a pretty rough new year health-wise. Attendance at the brunch itself was down a bit due to a nasty stomach bug that had been going around -- and which landed with Z the next day. As he recovered, all three of the rest of us got it at the same time, leading to an exhausting and rough time all around. Here's a video of O already on the way to recovery:
Then Z's recurring cough got him sent home from school on his first day back from the bug; I took him to the doctor (where he did really well) and he was diagnosed with walking pneumonia. Pink stuff was prescribed, and he's overcome his general distate for medicine (follow up pieces of chocolate have helped) and is nearing the end of his regimen. Hopefully everyone will be in top shape by the time we head down to Arizona in a few days to visit friends P and T (the same T who gave us the puppet -- and so we come full circle) and their boys J and M.