Game Night

Over the past couple of weeks, every night at our house has turned into game night. Board games and card games that we have had for a couple of years are suddenly a hit. We tried to play games with the kids when Evie turned 3, because the boxes say ages 3+. They either weren't interested or Andrew was a total brat or Evie melted into tears. Phil got Evie started playing Go Fish about a month ago and she loves it! She has started asking to play other games, and Andrew is joining in and playing nicely too. If he can't handle sitting still for very long we let him play his Cars game on the Wii. He would probably play that for hours if we let him.

Andrew playing his Cars game

Candy World~known to the rest of us as Candyland

2 babies + 1 rainy day = 3 years of discomfort

Rewind to fall of 2005. I was taking an 18 month old and a 6 week old to the pediatrician in the pouring rain. I had a raincoat on and was trying to keep the babies dry under an umbrella in the double stroller. I opened the rear door of the van as I went by to buckle in my daughter. I grabbed the baby carseat from the stroller to run around and get my son into the dry car, but the van door had only gone halfway up and I slammed into it with my face. I thought I was going to pass out in the parking lot, but I was determined to get that baby out of the rain. Somehow I managed to get the stroller into the van and get myself into the driver's seat. I had a huge gash across the top of my nose and my nose was bleeding pretty badly. However, since I wasn't really feeling any pain, just a weird numbness, I decided to drive on home. We only live about 5 miles from the doctor, but about halfway home the throbbing pain set in. I dragged all of us into the house and called the husband to come home and help with the kids. I really should have gone to the doctor then, but my life was just so crazy taking care of myself was quite low on the list of priorities, so I just sucked it up and moved on.

Three years later I have had so many sinus infection that I've lost count. My PCP started mentioning getting a CT scan and seeing an ENT a few months ago, but I didn't seriously consider it until I found myself back at the doctor again last week for yet another sinus infection. The nurse practitioner I saw took my hand and told me it really was time to deal with this mess and set me up for the tests and appointment. I discovered that the Parkwest outpatient center is completely empty at 6 pm, which means no waiting! The CT was no big deal at all and they told me my doctor would get the report late Friday afternoon. My phone rang at 7:55 on Monday morning, early enough to make me nervous. Usually calls before 9 am or after 11 pm are not good! It was my doctor wanting to make sure I was taking an antibiotic (yes), that I had an ENT appt very soon (tomorrow), and that I should be prepared to talk about surgery (yikes). Their office doesn't even open until 8:30, so I was a little freaked out by all this.

My ENT agreed today that surgery is going to be the best option to clear everything up. Actually having a procedure done doesn't scare me. I've had kidney stones and been through childbirth with a failed epidural. I understand pain. It is the recovery that makes me uneasy about having surgery. I know I am not indispensable, but I have a house to run, kids to care for, and commitments to honor. I look at my calendar and wonder when I can just take 2 weeks off. There really isn't a good time, but I am going ahead with the surgery anyway. In a couple of months I am going to have sinus surgery just like Andrew did last year and willingly have my nose broken again. My doctor laughed when I told him how I had broken my nose and said he was going to have a lot of fun writing the letter to my insurance company. In the future I will use much more caution around minivans!

Andrew goes to the Dentist

Andrew had a great first visit to the dentist. He watched big sister be brave and get her teeth cleaned first which really helped a lot. When it was his turn he started to get upset, but Dr.Daryl let him hold the mirror in his mouth until Andrew decided he was going to "open wide like a crocodile". I had no idea how taking two kids to the dentist at once would work out, but it went really well. This was the first time that Evie hasn't cried at the dentist, and I think telling her she needed to be the big girl and show Andrew how it was done really helped her get past her fears. It could have been a complete drama fest with two crying kids, but thankfully it was an easy morning of smiles and high fives.

Andrew in his new shirt with a Diego toothbrush and his bouncy ball from the treasure tower

Wasabi Fieldtrip

Evie's preschool class is studying children around the world this week, so they got to go have a Japanese lunch today. Evie was so excited to go to her favorite restaurant. A few of her friends didn't want to try the food and ended up only eating a few bites, but Evie kept trying to convince them it was really good. Even though we eat Wasabi a lot, she actually got to try something new today too. Sprite! She loved it, of course. While we were driving back to preschool Evie told me this was the best fieldtrip ever!

Snow Day & Daddy's Birthday

Watching it snow

Evie throwing a snowball at Mommy

Andrew playing in the snow

Andrew eating with chopsticks~apparently closing your eyes helps

The family at Wasabi for Daddy's birthday lunch
Evie and Daddy
The view from our back deck

Children's Museum

We met some of our MOPS friends at the Oak Ridge Children's Museum this morning. It was definitely the perfect activity after being stuck inside because of the cold weather for the past few days.

Evie in the space shuttle

Andrew talking through the pipes to Daddy

Andrew dragging the bear up the stairs in the life size doll house

Binoculars to see all the animals in the rain forest

Evie in the castle

Baby, it's cold outside

Ways to stay warm when it is 8 degrees outside

Snuggle under a blanket

Zip up in the tent

Cuddle up with your bear

Work up a sweat cheating at Hungry Hungry Hippo

The Little Gym

Evie completed her Fall semester at The Little Gym today with a show for the parents. We can tell a big difference in her strength and confidence level from last Spring. Our family loves TLG and really can't say enough good things about the program and the instructors.

Getting her medal from Mr.Steve



Showing off their teamwork and listening skills



Evie's bars routine

Cars, Cars, and more Cars

Andrew decided to line up all of his Cars in front of the speedway, so I just had to snap a picture. For all of you who have helped populate our own Radiator Springs, you have brought a lot of joy to this little boy. He has spent hours playing with them. If you can believe it we actually have more than are in the picture, but they were in his car seat, my purse, etc. We have 11 Lightnings now, but I am learning you can never have too many (none of them are alike either...how many ways can you depict one car?!)

The Cars fleet

Christmas Pictures

We made it through another Christmas marathon. Phil did a wonderful job playing with the brass quintet at the Christmas Eve service. Evie got to go to big church and she did a great job sitting still. I was very nervous about giving her a candle to light. She did drip some hot wax on herself, but she didn't burn the church down. Christmas morning we woke up at my grandparents' house for a big breakfast with the whole family. After lots of yummy food and playing with cousins, we headed to Auntie Laura's house to have dinner with Mimi. The kids were pretty wiped out at this point. We got up the day after Christmas and headed back over to Laura's for breakfast with Papaw Rick. We finished up the day with a hair cut for me, shopping/making returns, and driving home. We still had more celebrating to do with Phil's parents on Saturday. Luckily it was a beautiful day so the kids got to play outside on the playground after being cooped up inside for a few days. We are so blessed to have big families that love us, but Christmas travel always wears us out.

Evie on Christmas morning

Andrew and Phil

We Three Kings of Orient are...okay there are four, but you get the idea

Jared~Papaw~Darrick~Uncle Jimmy

Evie's new umbrella from Mimi

Andrew's Lightning helmet

Roller skates were the only thing Evie asked for~ Thanks Auntie Laura

My children playing with bubble wrap

The Banshee from Papaw Rick...he eats a "teeny" Mater

Andrew's new bike from Nana and Papa
Matching pj's with her bitty twin Ana