Sometimes there just aren't words...

for Addy :). This picture isn't from a trip to the beach nor the pool. This is Addy in the bathtub this morning :). The reddish color around her eyes is lipstick. Wow, it's been quite a day :)!

Leapin' Lizards...Nope, Just Cale!

Hanging Out :)...

Clowning Around :)

Princess Picasso, an Orange Marker, & My Refrigerator...

A one minute phone call and my refrigerator became her canvas :)...

Mama & Daddy Sittin' In a Tree K-I-S-S-I-N...

This pic (above) was taken by Cale :). Cash has a plastic spoon in his mouth. He has an obsession with plastic (toy) utensils- LOL :).
Me & my 3 littles...isn't funny how they act as if they've never smiled nor looked at a camera before as soon as it is picture time- LOL :)...
Celebrating "31"...never ever imagined I would be so blessed :)!

Well, not really :)... Before anyone has a panic attack singing the rest of the verses (no more baby carriages for this family- LOL :)...) it was much more like Mama & Daddy going out alone for Japanese food and then heading to a few stores for some kid-less shopping (and returning some online buys :)...). Saturday night was date night- the first in a year. Yes, I am serious A YEAR :). We had a great time, but it was very weird being without the kids for a few hours. No diapers to change, no arguments to break up, no sassiness to correct, no sippy cups to keep up with :)... My heart stopped only once in Kohls when I thought I'd lost my children for half of a second. I had briefly forgotten they were at my mom's (yes, I am a little crazy at times :)...)!

Moo...Moo.... Eat More Chicken :)!!!

Today was Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-fil-a. Dress like a cow & get FREE food! Whoot whoot :)- We were all about it! Thanks Chick-fil-a!!! We had a great time!

One Broken Needle, Two Holes, & a Lot of Prayer :)

Today I had a battle with a stretchy knit tank top. What started out as a simple plan for a Uniqua shirt, turned into an all morning adventure. One broken needle, two holes, and a lot of prayer later- this is what I ended up with :). One star is covering up a hole where my machine ate part of the shirt...user error of course. I was adding another for balance and then ended up with three per Addy's request as she is "THREE not ONE Mama...". I guess somehow in her mind the amount of stars directly relates to her age :). It is far from perfect, but she likes it... and I guess that is what matters most :)!

Cale with his Reading Chart...Look at all of those stickers :)!
Cash with my Grandmother. She couldn't see much of him...didn't know if he was a boy or a girl, but just being with him and the kids brought her so much joy.

This is a picture of a picture that hangs in their room. These are my Grandfather's grandparents! He couldn't remember their names today, but hopefully I will be able to find out a little more about them.

So after our dental drama, we had just enough time to make it to the Reptile Show at the library. Cale really enjoyed it! Afterwards, he turned in his reading log for the Summer Reading Program and got 27 stickers for his chart as well as 3 prizes :)! He was so excited! Three disappearing cavities, seeing wild animals, and earning 3 prizes :)...an almost perfect day if you are 6!

We went by to pick up Addy & Cash from KK & Pop's house, and then headed to the nursing home with them to visit my Dad's parents. I am not sure that my Grandfather knew much about me or the kids, but Granny did enjoy us being there, though she couldn't see much of the kids (she is losing her sight) or remember a lot about them. Just the same, I am glad we went. There is just something about bringing little ones to a nursing home. The older people were just drawn to them...waving and smiling :). Though it was sad in ways, it did my heart good :).

Dental Drama...The Case of the Disappearing Cavities

Cavities or no cavities...THAT is the question :)!!!

BEFORE
AFTER
BIG Smile :)!
The dentist...that is one place I dread almost as much as my annual "yearly" exam. As a child/ teen, I spent lots of time in the dental chair... I had braces and surgery for an underbite (which required my mouth to be wired shut for weeks...man how that could help me now :)...) along with the normal cleanings and such. Now that I have kiddos, I want to make sure they have a healthy smile as well. I am beginning to learn that is much easier said than done :).

When Cale was about 2 1/2 or 3 he fell and hit his front tooth...causing it to turn dark gray. When he was 4, we had it pulled. That was one of the worst experiences of my dental history...and his. At this time we also learned he had an "extra" baby tooth. It came down in the space where the tooth was removed, but it had an unusual look and shape. This led to him being teased a bit, and it being referred to as his "shark tooth". Of course this broke my heart (even though it did lead to some great conversations about differences, treating others with kindness, how to punch mean kids in the nose- just kidding :)...), and when his current dentist said that they could bond the tooth to make it appear more "normal" we were all excited :). At this visit. he also had a cleaning and we were told he had 3 cavities (this was a week ago today). They suggested fillings, and we started on their "treatment plan" on Monday. Well... Monday may have been the second worst experience of my dental history (and Cale's), and I wasn't even at the office (I figured I gave birth so Joel could have this joy :)...). Cale was terrified, and I think the dentist was terrified as well - LOL. After several attempts, the tooth was finally bonded, and Joel and Cale were sent on their way with a referral to a pedodontist who uses nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for fillings :).

On Tuesday, I called the referred dental practice and was told we could come in Wednesday (today). So, I put my big girl panties on, and with Cale in one hand and the dental X-rays in the other I headed out to face our fears. After getting lost and having to call for directions twice (Cale said, "Man this town has a lot of Super Targets!"...little did he know it was the same one....I was driving in circles- LOL :)...) we finally made it. After 6 pages of practically signing my life away...and a few minutes of waiting, Cale was in the big chair, and I was praying that God would help us both through this adventure :). The dental assistant looked over our X-rays several times and asked if we were there to get the front tooth fixed. I answered no, it had been fixed on Monday, Cale needed 3 fillings. She looked at our X-rays again...and again... and again :)... and then said the dentist would be right with us. A few minutes later the dentist joined us. She looked over the X-rays, looked puzzled...looked over the X-rays...looked puzzled, and then she decided to do a quick exam. Low and behold...(drum roll should go here)...NO CAVITIES. Yep, not one, not two, not three...but NONE. A week ago today, using the same X-rays Cale supposedly had three cavities that needed fillings...today NONE. Go figure. She said it was a difference of opinion..his teeth were fine... no cavities... no fillings needed. So where did they go? How is a cavity a difference of opinion? Is that like being a little bit pregnant? If he hadn't flipped out at the first dentist, what would they have taken out if there wasn't a cavity...good tooth? Needless to say, Cale leaped out of the chair and has decided this dentist is the best ever :). I am at a loss as to what I should do. Dental drama stinks!

Six Flags

Yesterday, we went to Six Flags! It was a great day trip, and we had tons of fun! We had a couple of hours of rain right after we arrived, but once that cleared we had an awesome time! The kids played games, rode lots of rides, and Cale enjoyed meeting several "famous characters" (Addy was a little scared...). One of our favorite areas was the Thomas the Train section where there was a Thomas train ride as well as a Thomas playground.

Rain, rain go away!!!

Waiting out the rain...

Addy making the best of her wait by playing peek-a-boo through the stroller "window"...
Cale "holding up" the bridge at the Thomas playground.



Riding Thomas

At the end of the day we were exhausted, and our stroller was too! Notice the missing wheel :)!!!