Jubilee of Trees

We went to the Jubilee of trees this year.  It used to be a yearly tradition for us, but we have missed a few years.  It will be easier to go again now that we have moved back to southern Utah.

Anyway this year the Jubilee of Trees was for the NICU.  They had a special booth with all the babies that were born this past year and had to stay in the NICU.  There was an ornament for the babies with their birth pictures on one side and their current picture on the other side.  They were all so cute.  And how humbling it was to see these miracles.

Many businesses also donated trees for the auction and as always they were spectacular.

Of course the kids had to see Santa.  Lucas was a little scared so it helped that his sisters went with him.

Thespian

Thespian
adj.
1. Of or relating to drama; dramatic: thespian talents.
2. Thespian Of or relating to Thespis.
n.
An actor or actress.

MaKady had her induction into the National Thespian Society this week.  She was so excited.  Honestly I wasn't sure what it was, but she said basically it's the national drama society.  She wants to letter in drama so part of the requirement is that she has to be in her school drama club as well as the national society. 

It is so much fun for me to watch her setting and achieving her goals.  I can't wait to see what else she will accomplish.    I am a proud mom.

I

I is for "Ivins City Park"

Last Saturday we decided we needed to get out of the house so we packed the kids up and drove out to Ivins to let them play for a while.  They loved it because there was nobody else there and they had the whole place to themselves.  Then we went to Dell Taco for lunch.  Fun, simple day.

The Cure

We have discovered that at our house there is nothing better than a root beer float.

Reading

This year in school Paige started out below grade level in her reading.  She has been working with a tutor and that has helped, but we also have her read out loud at night.  The babies really love it and Paige is becoming an excellent reader.

It was time...

So I mentioned when we went to Zion National Park that on one hike Lucas had me carry him the entire time.  But I failed to mention why.  We had just gotten off the shuttle at Zion's Lodge to go to the emerald pool trail and Lucas was skipping along on the side walk and tripped.  He fell and smacked his mouth on the ground super hard.  His gums swelled up and he was bleeding a little.  So I carried him for that trail.  

After a couple of days the bruising and swelling went away and I didn't think much of it, but then a week ago I noticed that his little front tooth was turning gray.  :(  Dang it!!!!   My sister Mary works in a Dental office and they were running a special for new patients so I made the appointment. 

Today I took Paige (who has been in several times) and Lucas for his first visit.   He was first.  He sat up in the chair and then I could see him starting to break down.  I climbed up on the chair next to him for a little while until he was calmed down.  Then after that he did great.  

 Feeling the little brush 

 Getting his teeth cleaned

 He loved when they would spray water in his mouth -"Oh that's good" he would say, then he would ask for "more".  Silly boy.

 Paige - she's an old pro at going to the dentist.  She always brags that she never has cavities.  She actually did have a little one this time, but it's on a tooth that is already very loose and set to come out any day now, so she can still tell people she has never had a cavity.  

 If you look closely at his front teeth you can see that the one on the left is going a little gray.  The dentist said that they have to do a baby root canal on it and fill it.  But even after they do that there is still a good chance the tooth will turn black.  Sad.  But at least it's a baby tooth and not a permanent tooth.

The other thing we found out when we went to the Dentist is that Lucas is "tongue tied"  Literally.  The little piece of skin under his tongue comes up further that normal. It is attached up by the back of his bottom teeth instead of down further so it literally ties his tongue down.  See when he stick is out, the middle section doesn't come out into a point it is actually held back.  The way to fix that is to have a frenectomy where they go in with a laser and cut that tie.  If not treated he could have problems with speech as well as problems with his teeth.  So that's another one of those things he gets to have done.  

It was a good trip to the dentist.  The kids did great.  I'm so proud of Lucas for being such a big boy.  

Happy Halloween

 Princess Peach, Mario, Toadette, & Luigi

 Pregnant Alien, Toto, & A She-Woman 

 Mario & Luigi

 Jessie, Woody, & Buzz Light Year

 Pirate Princess & Scarecrow

Scarecrow, Dorothy x2 (MaKady & her friend Carly) & Toto

Mario Party

For the twins birthday party - Tabi decided to do a Mario & Luigi theme.  She made the cutest decorations.  We had soup and bread sticks and yummy cake.  The boys got lots of presents, but the best one was that they got to Skype with their daddy.  He got to watch them eat their cake and open a special present that he sent to them.  They each got an American flag that he flew on the 10th anniversary of September 11th.  It really was a special birthday.  How lucky we are to have been able to celebrate with them.

 Tabi put together a display with some of the boys clothes and things from the hospital from when they were born.  It's still hard to remember how tiny they were and to see them now.  What a difference a year makes.