Almost Toothless

We had a traumatic day at our house last Sunday. Mr. Mason knocked out his front tooth - root and all. It took a few minutes to realize there was a gaping hole in his mouth after cleaning up the blood. Then I really lost it - screaming, hitting the wall, the works! I ran back to the site to find a single tooth, 1 inch long with the root, laying on the bedroom floor. Troy yelled to put it in milk, who knew? I did this then frantically called every dentist we know. One said there was nothing we could do, another said it was possible to shove the tooth back in, while others warned there's a very slim chance the body will re-accept the tooth after an trauma and time is of essence. It had only been 10 minutes since the incident so I quickly rinsed the tooth off and Troy and I pinned our poor screaming child on my lap while I played dentist and rammed the tooth back in. It definitely freaked me out but the adrenaline was going strong. And now, 1 week later, my son still has a tooth. Pretty amazing. We are so grateful our 18-month old is NOT TOOTHLESS, not yet. Count our blessings. Who knew you could shove a tooth back in?? Well, now we all know.

The Incident: We heard screaming from the boys' bedroom and found Mason laying on the floor by the bunkbed ladder with blood pouring from his mouth. We later questioned Christian to find out that he was "helping Mason get off the ladder" (in his full Spiderman costume mask and all so I'm sure he couldn't see a thing). "I was carrying him but he was too heavy so I dropped him," he casually tells us. Ummm, okay. It was an accident, no need for scolding but he wasn't even upset about it.

Moral of the Story: It's only a baby tooth, which he could live without just fine but it was really traumatic in the heat of the moment. With 2 wild boys, I'm sure we're bound to have many broken bones and stitches in our future (let's hope not that many) so this incident was just preparing us for those to come.

Cabo Paradise

We had a grand time soaking in the sun, feasting on fabulous food and just doing a whole lot of nothing in beautiful Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The best part of all - NO KIDS for a week!! Some of our MANY FEASTSThanks to my step-dad and wife Carla for the great Christmas present and fun memories with the fam. My brother John and sister Paige, as well as her boyfriend Bryan, kept us laughing. Troy spent his days socializing with the beach vendors and bringing them drinks and food (talk about taking full advantage of the all inclusive plan). Food was so good - sushi, mexican, pizza, the works and it was all FREE!

We hit the hotel beach party our last night and discovered our family has many hidden talents...some of which I won't even mention here. What happens in Mexico, stays in Mexico, right? We were very entertained and had a great time together! Other trip highlights: jet skiing, bad marlin fishing trip, hitting the clubs, water aerobics, SUN, FOOD, SHOPPING.

It's so hard coming back to reality and this frigid weather but we really can't complain after such a wonderful escape to the beach!
More Pics in Slideshow Post below.

Cabo Slideshow

Say What?

Mason is saying several new words a day lately. Then he smiles so proudly of his achievement, like "finally, they understand me." Hopefully this will lead to less yelling and tantrums from misinterpretation of his many demands.

Latest Fave New Words: Happy, Stinky, Christian, Basketball, Cold, Open, Help, Amen, Mine Mine Mine! (always yelled 3 times when he wants something badly or before ripping a toy away from big brother - I guess it's inevitable the younger brother learns "mine" at such an early age).

Christian suits up in his black ninja costume (with rather large padded muscles) and announces he's going to put on a play. He jumps up and shouts: "Ladies and Gentlemen, it's time for the Muscle Man!" Apparently Nana's theater gene has rubbed off on him.

He asks me today: "why do we have bones?" I explain that God gave us bones so we could move, run, jump, etc. He ponders then asks: "why did Heavenly Father just throw me where I live and throw you where you live?" Hmmm, okay. That led to another explanation of how we became families.

Christian and Jace were playing Buzz and Woody last night, Jace made the Woody doll dance and Christian says, "hey Woody, I think you need to go potty."

When we tell Christian about plans we have "later" or "tomorrow," he'll ask "today to-later?" or "today tomorrow" wanting everything to be today, right now.

I have to laugh at all the smart, logical comments and the many "WHY" questions that roll in all day but my quickly made-up answers aren't going to fly for long. I guess we really do get educated by our kids. They are too dang smart!

Come and Gone

I blinked and it was all over. Christmas chaos took over the house. Christian really got into Santa this year while Mom & Dad loved using "the elves are watching" line. I wonder how soon they start watching for next year?? Christmas day really was so great - just being with family and relaxing. The day AFTER Christmas, Christian woke up and bolted up the stairs. "What are you doing?" I asked. "I have to see if Santa came again." As soon as they kids really start to "get it," we pack up the decor and move onto the next holiday. Christian teared up when we took done the tree. It really was a wonderful holiday season, as always. Now onto a new year and new memories.

Annual Matching PJ Pose at Nana & Jace's House Christmas Morn

Mason's favorite present was a vacuum, should we be concerned?

Transformer Heaven - all he asked for from Santa, note he has them lined up by size, a little particular about things.

Doing tricks on the new board

Cousin Christmas Chaos at Grandma & Grandpa Morgan's House

Twin Superheros

Visit from Dad & Step-Mom - I love my new coat!

Christmas Parties Galore

2009 Holiday Season was filled with traditions - new and old - laughter, smiles, great memories and family fun. We have the greatest families (all 4 of them) and wouldn't trade them for the world. Love you all!
Party Highlights: Nerf Gun War (see video clip of Mason at bottom), Crazy White Elephants, Gingerbread House Competition, Cousin Nativity, Many Visits from Santa

Note: Mason in front flailing around on the floor, he wasn't having any more Santa, can you blame him??

Daddy's Lap is much better than Santa's!

Troy's baby bro Eric brought a lady home from Texas - way to go E! We know what he asked Santa for this year :)

Luminaries at Chad's gravesite, very neat to drive through, a first for me.

Cousins with our Babes - love you Stef!

The Favorite Manny Jace...Mason was feeding Jace chips and "dip dip" all night.

Happy Birthday Mother Dearest, aka Nana. We love you so much!

This is how we roll - Nerf Gun War on X-Mas Eve with extended fam - Watch out!

Crazy Aunt Faye in on the action

Battle of the Snuggies (with my Uncle Doug, I fought hard for this thing) - Wild White Elephant party with the Durbano's, my mom's great fam.

Dog the Bounty Hunter? Troy shows off his White Elephant, clipped to his famous sideburns.

I had to put on a NATIVITY at one of the MANY family parties - kid's in costumes, the works. Whew, I survived and it turned out great. Christian - back center Wise Man with gold crown, his request.

Cousin Fun (with Josh, son of Troy's bro Chad who passed away)

Gingerbread House Build-Off (Christian ate more candy than he put on the house, but that's what it's all about right?)

Get 'em Mason!

NEW BABY GIRL

Kitty, that is. We got a very spontaneous new addition at our house for Christmas. Surprisingly it was my animal-hating husband's idea...to rid our mouse problem of course. So I jumped on the chance to get a new pet. The boys are loving her (maybe a little too much). She's so sweet and so dang frisky, pouncing and attacking everything in sight (except a mouse as of yet). She curls up purring on our laps and tries to sleep with whomever will let her at night.

pow wow on the top bunk - poor kitty can't escape the wild ones
Mason and Kitty have a love/hate relationship - he grabs or swats kitty, then loves on her and kisses her on the lips. He sticks his finger in her mouth for a bite, saying "owee" then does it over and over again (like "Charlie Bit Me").

True partners in crime - Mason lifts the toilet seats for kitty to play in the water and squeals for joy when she unrolls and shreds the TP (so naughty) and tries to eat his lunch. Quite the bond. What were we thinking, adding another toddler to the chaos?!

Troy is quite fond of kitty too - I've busted him calling her over to his lap to pet her, telling funny kitty stories, and he even picks out special kitty treats at the store. He's not fooling anybody anymore, Troy really does like animals. Ha!

Name is Kaia (by previous owner), Christian voted "Buzz Lightyear," daddy likes "Simba" and mom & Mason appropriately call her "KITTY."