Max's First Dentist Appt

Me and the boys had dentist appts last week. The boys did great! Zac was a littler nervous in the waiting room, but watched me get my teeth cleaned and then did great on his own in the other room. He and I have no cavities!

Then it was Max's turn. It was his first time. Well, almost. A couple years ago, he chipped his tooth and needed to get it filed so it wasn't so sharp.

He did great too! He was very cooperative, and even thought it was pretty fun.

He seemed a little unsure about the fluoride, but still did great!

Unfortunately, when the dentist did the exam, he said Max had EIGHT cavities! Holy @#%&*!? Apparently, we should have been flossing. Who flosses their 2 year olds teeth. They are between his molars, therefore affecting 2 teeth instead of one. Rachel, who has worked with this dr before, said we ought to get a second opinion, but how does that work? If we did get all eight fixed, we'd opt to have him put under so not to remember how horrible the dentist could be. Poor little Max also has a tiny mouth. His teeth are already crooked. Not good omens for his future teeth health. Sigh...I don't know what to do. Or to believe that he really has 8. Does anyone know a dentist that will give me a free second opinion?

Christmas Tree Tour

Since the pictures are pretty much the same every year for decorating the tree. I decided I would do a tour around the tree. Now that I am grown up, I see ornaments on my parents tree that have special meaning or memories to them. But some have not made it and I wish I could remember what they were. So I thought it would be fun to highlight some of my favorites and where/when we got them. Feel free to stop reading. I expect this to be pretty boring til years down the road, and then just for my family....

This is a china doll type ornament. I don't know when, where, or who I got this from, but I've had it for as long as I can remember. It was on my parent's tree, but when I had my own tree it came with me.

In 1995, my family was having Christmas at Nana's and every year we are there, we can pick an ornament to have when you get older. This is the one I picked. I was 13. At the time it played a little Christmas song, but doesn't anymore.

This angel was the tree topper for Jon and my first tree. The tree was a 4ft pre-lit tree. We bought it on our first Christmas.

The candy cane cluster, put on by Zac.

A few years ago I saw a candy themed tree at Roberts, and loved the idea. So our tree follows that.

I made these years ago, at a Christmas Eve, Eve sleepover at Nana's

I like the idea of having words in the tree. I got this a few years ago and painted it white. I have another that says "peace".

A couple years ago, I bought these ornaments at JoAnns. My original plan was to have each boys paint their own and see the improvement over the years. And have a recent pic in it. I couldn't find the ornaments I bought for last year, so I guess I'll start up again this year.

I made a couple of these a few years ago out of a craft box and cellophane.

I got this last year, and I really like the sparkle that it adds

I love the huge elements on the tree

I got these last year for the boys. They love them!

I really really, love this snowflake. I wish I had a lot more of them. It looks glass, but its plastic.

Nana got Jon and I each a snowman like this our first year Christmas.

I got three of these sculpy clay snowmen from the Quilted Bear, the year Zac was born.

This was our first Christmas ornament. Our friend Brian gave it to us. It made its first appearance on the Christmas tree during Jon's wedding proposal!

This is our new tree topper. I got it last year. I love the extra light it gives.

My dad made this amazing ornament out of wood. I love the shape!

Decorating

With a busy Thanksgiving/Black Friday weekend, we didn't get around to decorating until Monday.  Over the weekend, Jon was busy tweaking things on the website for work, I got to go shopping with Rachel, we met up with the WGR group, dinner with my family, I taught RS, and Jon and Max were sick.

We put the tree up on Sunday and 3 light strands were not working. So we finsihed decorating on Monday. It was fun and quick.

I actually had a banister to decorate this year. That was fun.

I can decided which pic I like better, the more ambient one, or the one with the flash...

Past pics: 2007, 2008,

First Time Ice Skating

For Thanksgiving we wanted to start some traditions for our family. We were going to go hiking but we got a couple storms in the last month, that made it not ideal for hiking with the kiddos. So we decided we'd go ice skating in Midway. The first time I went here was back my sophomore year of college with Callie and her ward.

The boys were pretty excited. Although they had no idea what ice skating required. I forgot how much I didn't know how to skate. On my own I am pretty mediocre, but with the kids....

Before getting on the ice.

A nice older man saw us struggling to get the boys to move correctly, and told us to have them put the arms straight out and march. It would help them start to balance. Zac did great, but could tell that Jon was a stronger help than I.

About to fall

Frustrated

Max's low muscle tone was pretty apparent here. He could hardly stand or keep his ankles straight. So with sore backs Jon and I took turns holding Max up so his blades stayed straight and slid on the ice. But he loved it anyway.

We made sure to have the boys do great before getting off the ice, so they would remember the fun parts.

Then we rushed over to my parents house with the pies for Thanksgiving. We met my grandparents and the family at the movies. We saw Despicable Me.  We picked up Emily to join us for dinner. We had good food. Then Rachel and Jeremy came over for games and dessert. There were lots of sweets. And we ineffectively played the game, Bang. We all have ADD when it comes to learning a new game. Its pretty comical to see.

The Tail End of November

Results of the "blizzard". Snow on the door and about an inch of snow.

The boys zoned out while watching "Frosty the Snowman"

I got my hair redone. The purple extensions really faded out, AND the glue that held the extensions in was a big pain. I couldn't condition around them or comb them or lather them. And I had to completely dry them right away.  I pretty much stopped doing my hair. So this time I decided I would try the alternative: stripping the hair and dying it purple.

This is at night with dim lighting

This is in daylight

Yeah, it feels like it almost glows neon in the daylight. But nonetheless, I really like it. And so does Jon.  And its sooo much more manageable than the extensions.

Then for the month of November, or Movember, Jon and his coworkers grew out their mustaches or beards in support of fighting prostate cancer. At the end of the month Jon shave the beard to showcase the stash.

The Decending Blizzard

November Happenings

 To continue with backposting...

At the beginning of the month, there was a sale at Toysrus a few weeks ago and I went to see if I could find stuff for Max's birthday (So far, there's one good thing about a December Birthday-lots of sales!)  I took Adam with me so he could keep the boys distracted in case I needed to grab something. And Geoffrey the giraffe came around the corner! It was so cute as soon as Max saw him he ran over with open arms and smile on his face. I can't wait to take him to Disneyland. He'll love it!  The boys were enamored with Geoffrey!

Zac and Max were rough housing and Max hit is head on a dresser. His first goose egg. Its hard to see here.

Today, I "help" with the Thanksgiving Party at Zac's preschool too. This time I decided to do games. It was so much smoother and easy going (except I forgot the treats for winners!) We played Thanksgiving Bingo and Musical Turkeys. For Musical Turkeys, I just printed a bunch of different cartoon turkeys that I found on the internet and put them on the floor for the kids to dance/walk around like a cake walk. I downloaded a few turkey songs and when the music stopped that kid got a treat. So I guess it was more like a turkey walk?! Hey, it was 9:30 last night when I planning it out.

A snow storm came in this weekend. I hear its supposed to continue til Wednesday.

Right now, I am sitting here with my down coat on and the waterproof layer too. My feet are on a heating pad and my fingers are freezing. The thermostat says 69, but I swear its colder!

Zac was so excited to play in the snow today and this time Max got to go too. They both had a great time, until Zac threw a snowball at Max's face. I was on the phone in the house watching from the window. Max was sobbing. I was trying to decide if I should go out and help them, when Zac guiltily and quickly looked around and then took his glove off and wiped the snow off Max's face. I said, no snowballs. Max is too small still. Then Zac proceeded to be kind for the rest of the time.

Other things we've be up to this month: Visiting with great friends, who are willing to make the drive behind the Wasatch. Trying to stick to a budget. Trying to go to Provo less than once a week (the gas really adds up). Making a cake for a funeral for someone/a family I've never met or heard of. Making a recipe holder with the 8 year old scouts (thanks for the help, Dad). Having breakfast at a friend's, and completely forgetting that I was hosting a playgroup at my house (I was still in my pjs and house a mess. At least I brushed my teeth!) Bringing back date nights-Woohoo! SkullCandy girls night out. Hosting a recipe exchange RS meeting. Going to the gym 3 times a week (last week only 2x :( and feeling more fit. Zac learning to read. Jon so busy at work and tired at home-yet helping out a lot. Max taking more regular naps. Christmas/birthday shopping. Making a dinner menu and following it. The month flying by!

I can't wait for spring...i know, a bad sentiment. But I got myself motivated to go to the gym often, because it would help the time go faster, and its working!!  My grandparents are coming for Thanksgiving and Rachel and Jeremy will be here too. A busy week ahead-not to mention potential Black Friday chaos!