Smile - first trip to the dentist!

I'm catching up... little by little!

(beginning of January)

Our pediatrician recommended that we take the kids to the dentist when they turned two years and I had originally scheduled an appointment shortly after they turned two, but then realized that they had never been added to my insurance.  I cancelled the appointments and reschedule until January because open enrollment was in October and would take effect in January.

We arrived and the first to sit in the chair was little Tony.  He started off by himself really well and even let Donna - the hygienist put the bib around his neck.  He got a little antsy but opened his mouth just long enough to see what teeth he has - only his first year molars... not the 2nd year ones yet.  The dentist did mention that it appears that he grinds his teeth, but there's not much we can do about it at this time.

 Olivia was up next. She was so good.  She's so good to deal with, but she did want to sit on daddy's lap.  She's already got her 2 year molars - she's had them for a while.  She had a good report except she doesn't have much space between her teeth and will tend to build up plaque on her bottom teeth.

Amelia was enjoying herself in the waiting room.  They had a few toys, puzzles and a tv (that the picture kept getting stuck) to entertain her.  She was not a happy camper when we had to pull her away so I didn't get any pictures of her in the chair.  Unfortunately, Amelia's report was the worst.  I say the worst because there's nothing we can do at this time.  I hate just being told we have to wait and see.  What I'm referring to is her small jaw.  She has a very small mandible which equates to have a very large overbite and her sucking her thumb doesn't help it.  The dentist suggested that we contact our pediatrician to discuss it.  If her jaw doesn't catch up with the rest of her skull, she may be looking at orthodontics and possibly surgery.  My poor baby.  I just hope everything will be ok.

Overall it was a good visit and they all got to choose from a big box of toys.  We brought home a few tiaras, balls, and glo-stick bracelets. 

A few weeks after we went, I got a call from the dentist's office and they told me that the insurance was denied because the kids weren't on my policy.  I couldn't believe it, but called my HR phone line and they indeed told me that they were not added back in October.  I (somewhat) calmly explained that I had called in to have someone walk me through how to add the kids so I don't know how it could have gotten mixed up.  So they opened up 'an investigation'.  Luckily, they track all of their phone calls so they had a record of my call and what it was about so they were able to add them on despite it being so far from open enrollment.  So all's well that ends well.  So far.

New Year's Eve

I again had to work, but we had decided to go to Tony's restaurant Hearthstone Grill for dinner.  They were offering a priced fixed menu for a really reasonable price.  After I got home from work we got the kids dressed up and over there just in time for our reservation.  Tony had specified which table he wanted and as soon as we got there, he started working.  He cleared a table - that we didn't end up sitting at while I wrangled the kids in the vestibule.  At one point Tony's dad - who was there to eat dinner himself with T's mom and some friends of theirs came out to help me entertain. 

I took these pictures just before we left... they weren't really in the mood to sit and be photographed!

We finally got seated after about 30 minutes.  Tony left me with the kids in a booth and started making a pizza for them.  He brought me out something to drink and a few pretzel bites and I gave the kids their milks.  He came back with a pizza and sat down for a minute but then was off again to the kitchen.  He probably sat with me and the kids for about 8 minutes total out the of 3 hours we were there.  In all that time I ate a slice of pizza and some pretzel bites.  I had told T what I wanted from the menu, but I think they had run out of some things... so I really didn't get to eat my dinner.  Realizing my food was never going to arrive based on how busy the whole place was and the restless nature of 2 year olds, I decided to leave.  Tony decided to stay.  Yes that's right - he stayed to work.  I took the kids home, got them to bed and I spent the night by myself because my husband found it more important to work.  I sound like I'm annoyed, but I'm not.  I'd just like to have in my back pocket to hold over his head if I need it.  Yep, it's like that!

New Years Day was relatively uneventful with the exception of the girls being dressed in their Christmas dresses.  The sleeves did get dirty with food and I again got a 'lesson' from my MIL regarding the washing instructions on the dresses.  The instructions did say it was machine washable so I washed them with like colored clothing.  The dresses did not fare very well.  All of the white areas were now tinted pink.  I let T know to let his mom know and ask for further advice... I'll end letting you know the dresses were returned...hmmm... lesson learned - you can't always follow washing instructions!

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

Christmas Eve - started out with a fall outside my front steps while leaving to go to work.  I had also found out a few days before that Tony's family was having their celebration on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas Day.  They always used to do something both - there was a dinner on Christmas Eve and then gifts and and brunch was on Christmas Day.  It was re-arranged as Tony's brothers and their wives and families decided they didn't want to split the day.  They would rather do it this way and I completely understand, but I once again had to work on Christmas Eve.  This has been the norm for the past few years/holidays - Thanksgiving - they decide to change it to Friday when I have to work and Christmas Eve - when I have to work.  Whatever.  I understand it, but it drives Tony wild because he feels like our family is the only one that has to change all of their plans for the rest and never the other way around.

I'll recall the story the best I can of how it all went down.  I got home from work and Tony had the kids up from their nap and getting clothes on them.  I don't remember if we talked about putting the girls in their Christmas dresses - the ones they wore for their pictures...this night or if the conversation took place the next day, either day, we made the decision to not put these dresses on them because we knew that the fur-lined cuffs (see below) would just get completely slopped up and on everything. 

This - we learned later on, was a HUGE mistake.  Because of our sensible decision, I had to get a lecture from Tony's mother a few days later.  I care not to recall the details of that lecture - but I'll add that I was NOT happy being told how I should dress my own kids!
Here's what we dressed them in over the two day holiday...

We ate dinner as soon as we arrived and the gift opening was soon after.  I had discussed with his mother that we'd be coming over on Christmas day and that it would be fine if the kids didn't open the gifts from them - so they'd only been opening the things from their cousins/aunts and uncles...
Well that didn't happen.at.all.  I honestly lost track early on as to who gave what gift because there was no room for Tony and I to sit together with the kids in one general vicinity.  It was just mass chaos.  We barely got to see the other kids open up the things we got them.  We left with the van packed up with most of their things and headed home to unload the incredible mountain of toys.

On Christmas morning it was just Tony and I with the kids.  We didn't get them alot of things but they were excited with the few things they unwrapped.  Included in these gifts were the ones that my sister had shipped.

 Afterwards we went to Tony's parents house for lunch/dinner.  I don't remember anything else much from the latter part of the day but I'm sure we got home and started opening up a bunch of the new toys they received and had a ball until bedtime.

Here comes Santa Claus... to Jamesburg

Santa also came to town about a week before Christmas.  He rode through the neighborhood on the fire truck.  It was an unseasonably nice day and we're lucky it was.  I kept hearing the sirens blaring thinking they were close and kept taking the kids outside so we wouldn't miss it but we ended up being outside for over an hour and a half.  I surprised the kids weren't falling over because their nap was way overdue. 
I actually didn't get any pictures of them as Santa went by...they actually didn't even know what to think of it.  It was really loud with the sirens going and they just stood and stared.
I did get these pictures of them playing around the yard!

Our Charlie Brown train (inflatable)

Hi Sally!

Amelia with Daddy on the Harley!

Two-Tone Harley

Playing basketball!

Here comes Santa Claus...Farmer's Market edition (mid-December)

During my parents trip, we made our weekly trip to the Farmer's market and to Halo Farms.  Santa and Mrs. Claus were there strolling around and just like last year we attempted to get some pictures with Santa.  We didn't get any good ones despite the Santa and the Mrs. offering to keep trying.  It just wasn't going to happen.

The best part of the whole day was actually at the Diner that we frequent on the weekends.  We went and had no idea that they too were going to have Santa come on a FIRE TRUCK!  We heard the sirens while we were eating and looked around to make sure no one around us was having a heart attack or something and then realized who was coming.  I didn't get any pictures - despite being all ready to snap some.  As soon as Santa was nearing our table, I got them out of their chairs to go say hello and they were all scared and wouldn't go over to him.  Oh well!  Santa kept walking around and ended up sitting down close to the entrance of the place.  We were leaving and I told little Tony to go give Santa a high five and he ended up running over to him and giving him a big hug.  It was probably one of the best moments/memories of the entire holiday season that I can remember.  Everyone in the restaurant aww'd at the cuteness.  Tony may have a picture of that moment because as I recall, one of the waitresses at the place took a picture and was going to text it to him.  I'll add it later if he does... Another Tony moment is above - smelling the flowers.  He is such a sweet little boy!

Wait... It's February already?

It's been a very long time since I posted last.  The holidays have come and gone and I have tons of pictures and memories that I'm going to attempt to write about.  Hopefully I can review everything in a few entries to capture the basics.

My parents came for a visit mid-December and brought their Christmas gifts to the kids - which consisted of stockings full of goodies and this huge bouncy thing.  We blew it up and it was in the living room for a few days but it literally took up the entire living room and after a few days it seemed to lose some air so we took the air out and haven't had it blown up since.  I feel bad because I know my parents knew the kids would love it during all this cold snowy weather, but it just hasn't happened.  Hopefully when the weather gets nicer we can set it up outside and let them enjoy.

Olivia checking out the bouncy thing.

Our new crew of stuffed animals.

Grandma with little Tony

Yes, Olivia's checking out boxes of bandaids!

Papa with Tony and Amelia

Boogie Wipes!

I remember being a kid and it seemed like our Christmas stockings were endless and it was like that all over again with theirs... the stuff just kept coming out.  I know boogie wipes and bandaids don't seem like great stocking stuffers, but we're practical and I love it.  I also love that it wasn't all just candy.  It was really great having my parents come - I feel bad they don't live closer, but hopefully we'll be able to see them more regularly now that they're a little older and can handle the drive.