This morning we had three dental appointments for the kids.  I knew there was a chance I'd be going it alone, but I figured the worst that could happen would be for all three of them to scream through the entire experience.  We read our Dora the Explorer "Show Me Your Smile: A Trip to the Dentist" book before we left.  Alanna was excited, Emory wasn't so sure, and Aidan had a very furrowed brow every time the topic came up.  Jason had clinic this morning, so I was on my own. 

When we arrived, they checked out the cool salt water aquarium.  It is the cutest office, with an ocean theme throughout the waiting room, check in/out area, and all the treatment areas.  When they called us back, they had initially planned to try to do all three cleanings simultaneously.  Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans. 

So, they asked Aidan to go first.  I knew this was probably not the best idea, but I wasn't sure if they'd go for me calling the shots.  So he fought his way through it, and he really got mad.  I've never seen him get so angry; it was a little unsettling to see him like that.  Also...I would've preferred for Emory to see someone cooperate rather than flip out, which I fully expected from her. 

Alanna asked if she could sit in the big chair, which was great.  She started to change her mind, but when I said I'd hold her hand, she sat back in the chair.  She got to wear a pair of crazy round sunglasses with pink flamingos on them.  She was really calm the whole time they cleaned her teeth...so brave...not a single squirm. 

Emory was very happy for Alanna and impressed by her willingness to cooperate. In fact, she applauded Alanna, but she was not fooled into doing the same.  She made it very clear from the get go that she did not want a turn.  period.  So she wailed through the whole thing.  She was none the worse for wear when all was said and done though. 

They were all very happy to collect their bags of toothbrushes and floss and pick their stickers and prizes.  After we were done, we went to lunch with some friends, and the kids all behaved really well.  I have a great peanut butter wash on my jeans now, since Emory wanted to sit on my lap.  Very fashionable. 

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Alanna, who gets the job done...Miss Task-Oriented...

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Emory...who found them one at a time...

 

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Busy eating...don't bother me...forget the eggs...I want the food!  (Mommy's girl!)

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Easter Sunday

Learning to play the harmonica...

March 2008 3-23-2008 9-46-04 AM

Yes...that is chocolate while they are still wearing their pajamas.  And at long last...note the beloved Lightning McQueen pj's.  An update:  The Lightning McQueen at "The Jungle" is officially Emory's...she told me so this afternoon. 

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Toby!!!

March 2008 3-23-2008 7-40-26 AM

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After I tucked the kids into bed,  as I was closing the door to Aidan and Alanna's room, I heard Alanna say, "Thank you, God, for Easter."  So I listened at the door to see if she'd say anything else.  I didn't hear anything, but I decided to go back in.  I had rushed them to bed because it was late, and we didn't say our usual prayers.  So we did, and, again, as I was leaving, Alanna had more to say.  It went something like this, though I don't think I can get it verbatim:

"Dear God, Thank you for Mommy and Daddy, and thank you for giving us to Mommy and Daddy.  They are the best mommy and daddy, called Megan and Jason."

Then Aidan sweetly chimed in with thanks for Emory, which was extra adorable, since they tend to butt heads the most.  Alanna protested:

"No, Aidan.  I'm thankful for Emory, but she's not my mommy.  I'm thanking God for Mommy.  God, thank you for our Mommy and Daddy, called Megan and Jason." 

Then, a random comment:  "Aidan, why does Grandad call Aunt Maureen "Aunt Mo?" 

A brief pause followed, as Aidan didn't respond.  Then she said "That's so silly."

We had a very nice Easter weekend with lots of fun family time.  We had an Easter Egg Hunt in our front yard with our sweet neighbor who is 13 months old.  She seemed to enjoy it, and our kids were very sweet in helping her find her eggs.  I had filled our smallest eggs with Cheerios for her, and I told the kids to let Katie (and Emory) get them.  It was a cute scene.  At Mom and Dad's house, we were inundated with chocolate...and lots of fun...and delicious food, as always.  The kids had 4 egg hunts, and Maureen and I had to make each hunt a little harder to try to extend the fruits of our labor.  Mom and Maureen made these delicious chocolate-covered-coconut eggs (a.k.a. moose droppings, as coined by Mom), and little bird nests (like rice krispie treats, but with chow mein noodles) with Peeps and little candy eggs in them.  I should've taken a picture, darn. That doesn't begin to describe the amount of treats there...I think I had at least 5 pounds of chocolate candy in a bag when I left.  If anyone who reads this needs some chocolate, call me.  Seriously.  

We are thankful in so very many ways for our many blessings.  It is nice to have days like today as a formal reminder; I know we get bogged down in the daily grind at times.  This morning I was thinking it would be nice to be able to put life on "pause" now and then, so we can hold on to these times that are so very perfect.  They pass by too quickly, and I'm not ready for our children to grow up.  (And we could use fast forward for the tantrums and other challenging moments! - I know there was a movie about this in the last few years with Adam Sandler...don't know what it's called though.)   

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This morning we took the kids to "The Jungle," which we'd heard was lots of fun from several sources.  So, we thought we'd give it a shot.  It was a little noisy, and there were a lot of kids, so it took them a little while to acclimate and feel comfortable letting loose and having fun.  There were several HUGE inflatable bounce houses/slides...Lightning McQueen, Mickey and Friends, Nemo, a T-Rex, a giant ape and Tiki style one.  No one needs to ask which one Emory loved the most.  She LOVED the gigantic Lightning McQueen  slide.  She and Alanna jumped right in on that one, and Aidan seemed like he was interested, but he got halfway up and came back down.  There were a lot of bigger kids bouncing pretty hard, and he wasn't up for that just yet.  Jason went with him, and then he was hooked.  I eventually ended up going with Emory once, and it really was a fun slide, but I could feel the static build as I slid further and further.  No wonder so many kids were wandering around with their hair standing on end. 

As usual, our crew had the most fun when we had a bounce house to ourselves.  Emory stayed on the Lightning McQueen slide as much as she could, but she got a great deal of confidence knowing that Aidan and Alanna "had her back."  When she was alone, she did not want ANYONE getting on the slide.  She started to cry and came back down.  I can't blame her; her first attempt at going it alone, 6 big girls came bounding up behind her.  She was crying, and I couldn't get to her...and she couldn't get back to me.  Fortunately, the girls were sweet, and the first one in line stopped and knelt down with her.  Then she helped her get back to me.  Emory was so upset; she wouldn't stop crying.  All she wanted to do was "go inside 'white queen,'" but she wouldn't even try with all those bigger kids on there.  Aidan and Alanna were taking a little break, so they weren't there to help her feel secure.  Fortunately, interest in the slide seemed to ebb and flow, so it wasn't long before she had it (almost) to herself. 

Aidan and Alanna wanted to go on this giant T-Rex, but every time they got halfway in, they wanted to get back out.  it was quite an obstacle course in there, so it was not an easy task getting in or out.  Maybe next time!

Everyone had a great time, and we will have to go back again at some point.  The best part was when the kids having parties all disappeared, and it was nice and quiet, and there were only a handful of other kids in the entire room. 

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I just love them!

March 2008 3-16-2008 9-00-28 AM

March 2008 3-19-2008 7-19-38 AM

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This afternoon we went ahead and dyed our Easter eggs.  The kids were so excited all day, and they could hardly wait for Jason to get home.  They loved it, and I think I enjoyed it as much as they did.  We only dyed 12 eggs, but I was tempted to do more.  They kept asking for more eggs; it seemed like the fun just came and went so quickly.  In a flash, all the eggs were colored.  But what on earth would I do with more than 12 hard-boiled eggs?  Besides make egg salad and deviled eggs...which would be great if Jason wasn't already on cholesterol-lowering meds.  I can't possibly eat that many hard-boiled eggs myself! 

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March 2008 3-20-2008 2-49-53 AM

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Aidan didn't want to get in on the dancing action today...maybe another day though. 

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As promised...

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If you look closely, you'll see bubbles inside bubbles:

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I don't recall exactly when Alanna started to crawl without digging out her calendar and/or journal...but this wasn't too long after she started.  We were getting ready to move back to NC.  I don't know why it always makes me laugh when little ones do "down dog."  My kids still do it now and then, and it cracks them up for some reason.  Jason's dad got a rearview of Aidan doing "down dog" in the buff a week or so ago, as he pointed through his legs at Grandpa.  Very cute.  That boy loves to run around in his birthday suit.

Alanna Crawling copy

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