Halloween has come and gone and things are back to normal for the most part. All the skull-shaped candles, plastic skeletons and other assorted scary decorations have been packed away for another year. Last year's Halloween candy has been dumped from the kitchen's candy bowl, which has now been filled with this year's trick-or-treat bounty. Yes, the kids get so much candy that it typically lasts an entire year. And even though we've combined all the acquired candy into one central bowl, apparently the kids have secret stashes around the house. Even with the candy bowl out of reach, I keep finding candy wrappers all over the house.

Everyone in our house is sick. We've been passing around a bug for the past week or two and now it's my turn. Lots of sneezing, nose-blowing and bathroom time. Yay. I had to work for a few hours Saturday and I felt okay then, but by the time I got home my head was pounding. Susan had to wake me up from a nap to come eat dinner, after which I went right back to bed and slept another nine or so hours (ten if you factor in daylight savings time).

Speaking of Susan, she's in DC on a whirlwind trip -- out yesterday, back tonight. That puts me in daddy daycare mode for 24 hours. The kids and I met our friend Emily for dinner at Taco Bueno. Morgan likes beans and Mason likes any meal that comes with a toy, so it all worked out. Morgan left the restaurant with half a party burrito but by the time we got home, no one could find it. I'm sure it'll turn up soon.