A Few Firsts

Karson's 1st time sledding.

Miles, the one glove bandit.

I have the house all decorated with Easter and spring decorum and BAM, our town gets blasted with snow. I think I would've enjoyed it more had this storm come in January, but I'm truly ready for some warm weather. We made the most of yesterday though. Matt and I bundled up in our ski bibs, heavy jackets, hats and gloves. We stuffed the kids up and headed to Pap and Nana's for sledding and four wheeling. Matt and Miles on the four wheeler. I think Miles would've rode all day long despite the fact he was half frozen in this photo.

Those of you with 2-3 year olds know how impossible it is to get a good photo of them. Isaac rarely poses for photos. Most of the shots of him are long distance or backside.

I like to rotate out toys in our home by storing them in the attic. Karson has SO many different playsets that I can only handle a few at a time. Polly Pocket has become my nemesis. Polly sets consist of about 1,000,000 tiny pieces from shoes, hats, handbags, hangers, scarves, clothes, SUNTAN oil, etc. Karson wanted to put her Polly sets up yesterday and retrieve her Fisher Price dollhouse. Although the task at hand was great, it was well worth banishing Polly back to the dark attic. While I was upstairs at the Toy Barn, I decided to pull some "new" toys down for Isaac and Miles. I LOVE these shots of Isaac playing with his Elmo Tool Bench.

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ONE HOUR OF SHUFFLING TOYS AROUND IN THE ATTIC: priceless

(for the underwear tool belt advertisment)

Karson was invited to a skating party yesterday at The Skate Box (aka Greenwood Skate Center). I was concerned because this was her first time, and she strives to be PERFECT at everything. She learned how to ride a bike, write her name, TAKE CARE OF HER TEETH all on her own =). I was impressed with her perseverence at skating. She fell a couple of times and got up and kept going. She even did the hokey pokey and chicken dances. My shoulder is sore today from aiding her around the rink, but it's a good kind of pain. I'm proud of her for trying something new.

Me and my peeps looking fine in our skates.

Torture Chamber Round Two

Move over Flavor Flav, there's a new blingster on the block. Karson went to the dentist AGAIN this morning. I made Matt take her this go around. More work needed to be done, and I, honestly, didn't want to see my eldest undergo that kind of pain again. She had a spacer inserted where the extracted tooth had been, got ANOTHER crown (bling, bling) and had a baby root canal. I mean SERIOUSLY, have I marred her for life with all this dental torture? Please pray for my Karson. Her dental nightmare is far from over. We have another appointment in June.

Karson and the Flav morphed together.

I wonder if they still make the bubble gum waxed lips--play with them now and chew them later. Do any of you fellow bloggers remember this brilliant invention? After the novelty of playing with these awesome Angelina Jolie lips wears off, you can chew them and turn them into bubble gum. I am a gum chewer and never managed to turn those waxy pearls into gum. I would gnaw and gnaw, chew and chew, grind and grind--NOTHING. I also remember the fad with Cinnaburst gum where you could chew the wrapper. Again, a brilliant idea with terrible results. My gum always tasted like papery putty. Not sure why I went off on this tangent, but memory lane always serves up some good laughs (which I can certainly use with our impending ER and dental bills).

Are You Readdddyyyyyyy?

I have been pining over what to do for my birthday this month. Should I have a nice relaxing weekend at the spa, go to Gatlinburg for a day of shopping, eat at P.F. Chang's in ritzy downtown Nashville -or- see MONSTER TRUCK JAM live at Rupp Arena? Isaac LOVES his monster trucks. He has a few in his collection.

We went to see the trucks in action Saturday in Lexington. It was quite entertaining.

Grave Digger flipped during the freestyle competition. Digger was the crowd favorite.
Devastator making wheelies.
Rap Attack (driver Dave Rappage) walking over the cars. The truck actually stayed upright over all four cars.
Destroyer which is appropriately named for it's ability to pulverize cars and eardrums. The event is LOUD. Be sure to take your plugs and cotton.

Why yes, we'll be happy to purchase that $10 program. What a deal!!!

Pap covering Isaac's ears. I love the look on Isaac's face.

My sweet Karson and I will be attending some interesting events with two baby brothers.
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Matt and I left early for Lexington. I wanted to see my cousin Lyndi who had a baby two weeks ago named Katie Isabella (KatieBell).

Matt and I posing with Katie.

Randy, my Uncle Ron holding Katie, and Lyndi.

*I should clarify that my birthday isn't until the end of this month.*

Tiny Treasure

This tiny treasure chest houses Karson's extracted tooth. Yes, that's right, EXTRACTED TOOTH. It was abcess and looked terrible. She had a visit with her dentist yesterday. I had prepared her as much as any pertrified Mommy could, but it was a traumatic day. I had horrible teeth as a child and remember getting shots but nothing like what she experienced. She was given laughing gas for her nerves. Once she was good and calm (if that's possible in those uncomfortable chairs and the anxiety of knowing what's about to happen), the dentist came in and gave her a couple of shots. When he left, I told her how proud I was and that the worst was over. I was SO WRONG. They wanted to x-ray the tooth, I can't remember why--maybe to send to Guiness Book for the "worst abcess in history" (just a hunch). The dentist came back in, put the bite in her mouth which looks like a giant black piece of licorice and gave her more shots. AHHHH!!! She was wincing in pain and getting a bit hysterical. I tried my best to calm her down while the dentist gave her a break. Once he came back, he got right to work filling the cavity on the tooth behind the abcess, and then, the extraction. I can't remember all the details, but I'll try my best to paint a picture: legs curled up, tears, screams, complete and total body tension--a Mother's nightmare seeing her child in that much pain and trepidation. She had a blue, plastic mask over her mouth which had a be lifted numerous times so she could breathe. Needless to say, it was BAD all around. It took her at least 10-15 minutes to calm down once it was over. My poor baby! Her dentist and hygenist were fabulous though and did their best trying to ease her obvious distress. After biting down on numerous gauze, filling an antibiotic, a trip to Barnes and Noble to pick out a well-deserved treat, we went home. As many of you know, children are are all around resilient and Karson was ready to show her friends at church last night her lose-did tooth. She said, "I can't wait to show Brooks and Tucker. I'll tell them I was the first to lose-did my tooth." I told her, "Karson that doesn't sound very nice. Losing teeth isn't and shouldn't be a competition." Later she told me in such a sweet voice "I'll just tell my friends that I lose-did a tooth."

What's a Snow Day???

Growing up in the city school system, there was nothing more eminent than a snow day. It was/is the pinnacle (and plight) of every youngster. I would get up, peak out the window at the covered, snowy street streets, and think to myself..."YEEESSSSS, I can sleep late this morning." I was WRONG 90% of the time. Every school within a 100 mile radius would be out except BGISD. It felt like an eternity watching that Polar Report ticker run through the alphabet of schools: Glasgow, Logan, Metcalfe, Simpson, Todd, Warren, Barren,.........CUMBERLAND, AHHHH--BG didn't make the cut. What is it about these sensational snow days??? If you attended city schools, you certainly know the excitement they bring! Fortunately Karson will be attending county schools. I believe Dale Brown understands a child's need for a SNOW DAY. Yipppeee for the snow!

Another coveted perk about attending county schools is the choice of mascots for all the high schools. You have the Raiders, the Dragons, and the Gators. I, of course, was a Purple and feel that Purple Pride that will always run through my veins. However, trying to explain a colored mascot to an opposing team is an impossible task. It also didn't help attending Western which also is represented by a Big Red.

Live from Plainfield Court

Our boys are golfers by default. Matt LOVES it and decided to take Isaac to the driving range on Monday. They were gone for over two hours. Isaac loved every minute of it--the grip, teeing the ball up, hitting, taking turns ("okay Daddy, it's my turn, you stand over there). Matt used his MONSTEROUS new Cobra Speed driver which hurt Isaac's ears. He would tell Matt, "hey Daddy, don't use that one, it's to loud."
Check out that stance and strategic placement of shoes on the wrong feet. You can tell he knows all the secrets of the pros.

He's getting some serious AIR on this shot.

Matt tried teaching him how to back swing which hasn't helped. Isaac is such a patient kid. I believe golf could be his sport.

Alfalfa wanted in on the action too. Hitting is his favorite past time. Speaking of hitting, we got some party favors that were swords which Miles adores. He carries them around the house jabbing at anything: a pesky brother or sister, the ottoman, etc. Are fencing classes available in BG or do we have to fly to Buckingham Palace???

Practice makes PERFECT!

Chipping in the backyard last spring.

Golfing at Myrtle Beach.

Glow Golf in Nashville for the more experienced golfer.

Copy Cats

We are finally recuperating from sickness. This warmer weather has helped with the stuffiness of being inside the house. This time of the year is enough to make any stay at home Mom a bit edge-y. I'm chomping at the bit for spring weather--just a bloom, sprout, fresh mulch, SUNSHINE, the smell of flowers and lawns. I miss the company of our neighbors: the bachelor across the street who owns a lawn business and mows daily, our friends next door who bring us fresh fish and let's us steal from their beautiful garden, and Dave and Jenny who have two precious daughters Mia and Laila who are Isaac and Miles's age.

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FOR NOW, here's what's happening inside the courtroom (I love the People's Court):

Karson is enjoying preschool. I've tried implementing homework time each day to stimulate her brain. It also gives us some one on one time. I found three $1 workbooks at Dollar General which have been good with skill sets like counting, reading, fine motor, receptive language, etc. I just LOVE watching her think and try to problem solve. Her memory is amazing too!

Isaac has had success with our 2nd attempt at potty training. He's accident-free for the most part but does get excited in some situations and forgets. He's actually doing it all by himself which is nice. I have never seen a child who loves his clothes as much as Isaac. He can put them on by himself and changes numerous times throughout the day. Sometimes he packs a backpack with clothes that he might decide to wear at a later point in the day. Although this was cute at first, it's become a bit of a nuisance laundry-wise. I try not stress about it because I know it's a phase which too shall pass. Right now his favorite pastime is tea parties. Karson got a tea set for Christmas which I believe was meant for him. Cheeri-O!

Miles is Isaac's shadow. He follows him around everywhere even the bathroom. If Isaac gets a drink, he needs his too. He is 15 seconds behind Isaac anytime he leaves a room. He reminds me of that doo doo bird on the old Bugs Bunny shows "Which way did he go??? Which way did he go?" He is also accident prone by his own doing. If he hurts himself, he does it over and over again just to prove a point. Our little bruiser!

Bathtime is always event-FULL in our house. Miles decided to regulate his b.m.'s to the sounds of the bathtub filling up. After two nights of brown floaties, we decided to let him brush his teeth while the older kids took their bath. For almost a month, he had a b.m. every night at bathtime and his teeth are looking ORBITZ white =). What a stinker--literally!