Good Teeth=Big Money!!!

Well, James and Anna both had dentist appointments this morning and both had to have two teeth pulled. I have already been told by the dentist to start saving because they will both need braces! Yea!!! I was not prepared, however, for the enormous sum of money that I had to pay this morning! I have been used to the "We will bill you...see you next time." I did not hear those familiar words this morning. What I heard was quite the opposite. I said, " You are going to bill the insurance, right?" They said, "This is only what we think they won't pay, and since it is the beginning of the year.....deductible and all..." Again....Yea!!! Anyway, they are feeling fine and I have bribed them with a toy from Toys R Us. As soon as they are able to feel their little tongues again, we will make the trip to the store. I don't know why I felt the need to bribe them. They are always good at the doctor. I guess I just felt bad for them. I know how much I love having dental work done!!!

My life today!

James trying to teach Luke the love of football!!!

I just love this picture!
So, today I started my workout and diet!(1) I am smack dab in the middle of redoing Anna's room.(2) I mean door and window mouldings and baseboards and everything. The walls were in the worst condition of any room I have ever done! I had to sand every inch, spackle, and sand again and then prime. How quickly I have forgotten all of the work that caulking and sanding requires!!! I wish I had a before picture to post, but I always am so eager to get started that I forget to take one. I will post an after picture as soon as possible. I was elbow deep in caulking (literally) last night but it was alright because I had put 4 new songs on my MP3!! Wednesdays are my first day off of the week, so I feel like everything needs to be done on that day. Change sheets! (3) School! (4) And.....it's that time of year again! I need to get my clothes ready for the consignment sale. (5) I drop them off on Saturday. I am trying something new this time. I am not planning on working or going to the sale this time. You know, if you can cut something out of your schedule.....I just don't have time! I will see how it is to actually buy 3 entire wardrobes at the store. Well, I need to get going if I am going to get everything done! ....and they wonder what we stay at home moms do all of the time!!!

Let It Snow!

We had such a great Saturday! I had just gotten home from a youth group girls' sleepover at 7:30 a.m. so I was taking a nap. Brian woke me up to the best news! "It's snowing!" I looked out the window and it wasn't those usual flakes that you have to squint to see and convince yourself it is not just a light mist.....these were real snowflakes!!! It was beautiful. So, we bundled up the kids quickly and headed outside...but not before I grabbed a cup of coffee. You see, I am not a person who really enjoys the cold. Anyway, the kids played outside for a little while...until my cup of coffee was gone... and then we all came inside and enjoyed the snow from there. I am so glad they got to see snow. That was the perfect amount for me. Just enough to enjoy it and not too much to where we would have to shovel walkways and scrape windshields and watch out for crazies on the road. We have enough of those around here without any help from the weather!!!

Horsin' around!

Here is Luke playing with one of his favorite toys! He hasn't really stuck to any toy in particular that he really is attached to. Unless you count bead necklaces......which I don't! No, he is loving his "behooter" as he calls it. (Don't worry, that is 'Luke' for computer!) Also, his power tools and tool belt are a huge hit!!! He must take after me!!! Just kidding, Brian!!! Anyway, I think he just enjoys being right under my feet all of the time so anything other than that just doesn't interest him. He is getting so big!!! Now I can see how Moms think that their babies are babies forever. There is some problem with our brains that makes us think that they stay small no matter how quickly their pants are becoming 'highwaters'! How can you describe the joy that comes from your children??? I am so thankful for my 3 little blessings!

Really???!!!

Can you believe it? You spend so much.....too much money during the holidays and then you just want to do a simple thing like put your decorations away. It cost me $55 to do so. Yep, that's right! Those great containers (which I did settle for grey colored) cost me $55!!! Apparently, it does not pay,..... it costs, to be organized!!! But I am sure when I get everything down next year....it will be worth it.....I guess it will!!!

Wow! It is finally over!

You know......Christmas! I am officially putting my Christmas decorations away tonight. I usually use the ,"I just love to look at them", reason for not taking them down until early Feb., but I have just this year come to the conclusion that this is not a reason. It is, in fact, an excuse. I just plain don't like to take them down!!!!! I have been working all evening and have everything gathered and ready to pack away but I have hit a road block! I just have to get those red and green plastic containers for some reason. I don't know if it is just good advertising or the fact that my 8 year old cardboard boxes just aren't doing the job anymore. Anyway, I will be on the hunt for those great Christmas colored containers tomorrow...... but don't worry. I will settle for the grey.....if I have to!!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Anna and "Annabelle"
His face says it all!!!
I bet he has his Daddy's talent!
Mom made these shawls and hats for the girls. Precious!
Eleven of the grandkids!
The Carters!
The Phillips'!
Here we are!
Mom and Dad. I love this picture!!!

We were blessed with a wonderful Christmas this year. We missed not being able to be with all of the family this year, but it just isn't possible. We are just too spread out. I sent packages all over the U.S. this year! It was nice being able to start our own traditions and to have family come to our home on Christmas Eve. We had to go out of town on the 26th and didn't get back until the 30th so it has been crazy. Brian and I went to a youth camp that Brian was on the board for. He had a lot of stress and responsibility and I am glad I could be there to help him. Thank you to Mom and Dad for watching the kids for us! I am not much help to Brian on trips when I have the kids, so this was a treat! We picked the kids up on Sunday night and were looking forward to a good night's sleep. This was not in the cards, however. We ended up taking Luke to the emergency room at 3:00 A.M. that night with the same symptoms he had over Thanksgiving. What is it about the holidays that makes Luke not be able to breathe!! They think he has asthma. It is a scary thing when your child struggles to breathe! He is now on a lot of medicine and it makes him extremely hyper! We are praying that we can keep this under control and that he eventually grows out of it. Well, here we go.....Happy New Year!!!