Okay.  I'm not opposed to our four kids getting braces.  They'll all probably HAVE to end up getting braces at some point.  I can deal with that when the time is right.  Imagine my surprise though when our Dentist told us to take our oldest son to an Orthodontist NOW...our son is NINE.  
    I've never heard of a nine year old going to the Orthodontist.  Believe it or not though, Christian has some friends from his class that already HAVE braces.  Eight and nine year olds?  Whatever happened to getting braces in Jr. High or high school?  Do the kids in the second and third grades have to get them all over again when they're older and don't have...oh I don't know...baby teeth?!
     We absolutely ADORE our family Dentist and only because we trust him wholeheartedly, did we go ahead and make the appointment.  
    When we arrived, Christian was taken back for x-rays and pictures.  About a half an hour later, I was called back to discuss the results.  Christian sat in the dental chair as I came in with the three younger ones behind me.  (That's always fun.) 
    The Orthodontist explained that he wouldn't recommend putting braces on at this point, but he DID want Christian to get a retainer for his top teeth to work on an overbite.  That seemed pretty reasonable.  The Orthodontist was very likable and he treated Christian really well.  Overall, I was actually feeling alright about the situation.  That's when he left and his assistant stepped in.  She calmly explained how from start to finish, the RETAINER and check ups would run around 1,300 dollars.  ugh.  A hundred years ago when I had braces, I think the entire process from eighth grade through my senior year of high school was around 2,000 dollars...total.
    I don't want to sound old, but wow.  Like I said before, I've never heard of a nine year old going to the Orthodontist...but here we go.        

    I might be addicted to sugar.  I think I'm probably addicted to sugar.  Okay...I'm addicted to sugar.  
    It's pretty bad when you can live off of leftover cake for most of the day from your husband's Birthday, mixed with a few cookies as snacks in between.  
    For whatever reason, I actually do love to cook.  I usually make a big healthy and balanced dinner every night for our family.  It's throughout the day that gets me everytime though...well, that and late at night after Adam and I get all four kids in bed.  That's when we usually turn the TV on and eat snacks.  I like snacks.  I don't care much about chips or popcorn...that's good and all, but I have too much of a sweet tooth.  Ice cream, chocolate, candy...sugar.  That's my weakness.
    I'm finding that the biggest problem that I have though, is that the older I get, the harder it is to fight the weight off.  Not to mention how unhealthy I'm sure it all is.  
    Over the weekend I decided to try to get a little healthier while bringing better food into our house as well.  Not really a New Year's Resolution...but something I should just do.  I figure that if the cookies and chocolate aren't here...then I can't eat them.  We'll see how it goes and I'll keep you posted, that is...right after this one last piece of Birthday cake.  : P     
       

    It's hard to be the youngest.  Even though Preston has a younger sister, he is the youngest of three boys.  For years now he has watched his two big brothers go to Birthday parties, have play dates, have friends come to our house...you get the picture.      
    He always watches from the sidelines saying, "Can I go?  Can I play?"  To make matters worse, his two big brothers are so close in age that they share many of the same buddies.  It always stinks for Preston to watch them run off to a party together as he climbs back in the car to go home. 
    All of that finally changed.  Preston was officially invited to his very first Birthday party...all by himself.  One of his little friends from class gave him a very cool 5th Birthday invitation at school.  Preston held onto it the whole way home and put it on the fridge with a magnet as soon as we walked through the door.  Every single day - he asked when he got to go.  
    On Saturday, it was time for him to get a gift.  He carefully went up and down each aisle at the store to pick out what "Gavin would like" for his Birthday. 
     Sunday was the big day.  At 3:00 sharp...Preston was ready to go.  He carried his present for Gavin and watched through the car window as we passed each house.  "This one?" 
"No Buddy."  
"Is that the house?"  
"No Little Man...not yet.  You'll know it when you see a lot of cars."
    Finding the address, we didn't need to look for the cars.  A bouncy castle peeked over from behind the back yard and you could hear kids laughing and playing.  Preston could barely get his seatbelt off.  
    Running to the front door, he found his way through to the back and kicked his shoes right off.  Climbing into the bouncer with the rest of his classmates, he had a smile from ear to ear.  Gavin's parents threw an amazing party.  There was more food and fun than anyone could imagine.  The kids had fun playing, hitting a pinata, eating tons of food and celebrating Gavin's big day.
     Happy Birthday Gavin!...and Thank You for having, "The COOLEST PARTY EVER!!!"  (Love, Preston)
  

    Okay.  So before I go into this post, allow me to grab an awesome song from your memory.  How about..."The Summer of '69" by Bryan Adams.  Here you go - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f06QZCVUHg 
    Since the day that I met Adam, his favorite singer has always been Bryan Adams.  I'm talking...favorite as in - the first dance at our WEDDING was to a Bryan Adams song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thYUIiFUK2I 
    From the time we dated, Adam has always said that one of the biggest regrets he's had as far as music/concerts go, is that he never got to see Bryan Adams live.  It was a concert that he always wished he could have seen, but missed his chance.  Who would have thought that all these years later, Bryan Adams would tour again...guess who's coming to North Carolina in a few weeks?  Yep...Bryan Adams. 
    A brother and sister that I grew up with in Ohio, happen to live in North Carolina with their families as well.  They also have relatives that are from North Carolina and were able to help with getting the tickets as a surprise for Adam's birthday.  (THANK YOU a Million times OVER Sarah and Chris!!!)
    So...last night, as Adam opened his presents, the kids and I kept a wrapped Bryan Adams CD for his last gift.  He opened the crafts that the kids made and he loved them.  The kids made cards for him and he loved those too.  When we gave him his last present, looking at the size and shape, it was pretty obvious that it was a CD - but he still acted curious.  When he opened it, he smiled and said, "No way!  A Bryan Adams CD!  I Love it Guys, Thank You."  He had no idea what it meant. 
     I stood there and waited until he looked up with confusion.  Smiling, I said, "You're going to see him."  The kids started to giggle.  Adam looked even more confused and asked, "What do you mean?  Going to see who?"
    "BRYAN ADAMS!  He's giving a concert in North Carolina!"  Adam's face went blank as he tried to process what I had said.  "How?  WHEN?"  He began to smile and shook his head in disbelief.  After explaining everything to him, for the rest of the night, all he kept repeating was, "I just can't believe it.  I just CAN'T believe it!" 
    It will be hard to wait until the night of the concert but worth it just to see Adam when we're actually there.  I can't believe that Bryan Adams is giving a tour.  It's something that Adam truly thought he would never see.  It was a birthday to remember and I hope the concert will be a night that he'll never forget.  Happy Birthday Adam and THANK YOU again Sarah and Chris!!!  You guys Rock!!!  (Literally!)

      As a kid, I never understood when my parents had a birthday - they would always say, "We don't need anything.  Just make something for us."  
    I get it now.  Adam's Birthday is today.  I have been racking my brain trying to figure out what to do for him.  The funny thing is, all he's been saying is, "I don't need anything...just have the kids make something for me."  Hmmmm. 
    I have gone 'round and 'round on what to do until we finally went to the craft store to see if something would jump out at us.  It did.  There was a little kit of "Paint Your own Pottery" with six tiny animals inside.  
    We actually took the kids to a pottery store last year, you know, the kind where you pick out what you like, sit down, paint it and then they'll fire it for you?  It sounded like so much fun and probably would have been for a family that didn't have chimps.  I swear that experience took about three years off of my life.  As the kids ran around like little bulls in a china shop, the woman behind the counter peered over her glasses at us the whole time with a look that said, "Don't come back here...ever."  
    Needless to say, we haven't been brave enough to try it again, but THIS?  This would be in our own house, with no "You Break it, You Buy it" signs hanging about. 
    I cranked some music up and let the kids do their thing and they had a ball.  It was so much more stress free - even when Lauren knocked her cup of paint water over, it didn't even matter. 
    So, six little pottery animals of ALL different colors were handpainted by four little monkeys for Adam's big day today. 
    I think he's going to get a kick out of them...especially the pink and purple kitten.  
    It will be a fun Birthday for him I hope.  Oh - and there's one big, crazy, huge surprise that he's not going to believe.  JUST in case he's reading this though...I'll have to wait until tomorrow to spill it.  Happy Birthday Adam!  We Love You! 

    It finally happened.  As I sit, I don't even know how to feel about it.  
    My parents were visiting for dinner and Mom watched as I squinted while reading a recipe.  I've been noticing lately that when I see something with small print, I need to adjust until I can read it.  When Mom saw me do this, she immediately said, "We're going to get some glasses for you...now".  
      Going to the local pharmacy, we picked out a cute little pair of reading glasses with light green sides and a tortoise shell front.  When we got back, I put them on, looked at the recipe and - bam.  Perfect.  Everything was crystal clear and easy to read.  
    There was something about them that bothered me though.  At first I thought it was because of my birthday coming up in a few months.  It's not just any birthday...it's my 40th.  I have less than three months to be in my 30's and now I'm getting reading glasses?  Fantastic.  The more I thought about it though, that really wasn't it.  I don't care too much about turning 40 for whatever reason.  I actually think it's all about the glasses...well, the glasses and the second grade anyway. 
     You see, when I was in the second grade, our family Optometrist said that I had to wear a patch on my right eye.  To make matters worse, he gave me a big pair of glasses to wear OVER my patch on one eye.  Oh - and have I ever mentioned that I have the craziest, thickest head of wild curly hair?  I fight it now to make it straight, but think of the Disney movie, "Brave" - and that's pretty much it.
      So...give a scrawny second grade little girl a huge head of wild hair, glasses with a patch on one eye and while you're at it, name her...ohhhh, I don't know...Beatrice.  Yeah, that ought to do it. 
    I'm lucky to have a great family and an amazing hometown full of wonderful people.  It was a safe place to grow up and I never remember being laughed at or teased.   I just remember hating the way that I felt.  I hated wearing that patch and those glasses every single day.  I hated putting them on in the morning before school and keeping my head down while I was there.  
    Needless to say, as I write with my new pair of glasses, seeing the computer screen better than I have in weeks, it pulls up a bit of emotion.  It's amazing to think that at the age of almost 40, things from your childhood can still sting as though they were yesterday.
     These glasses are a good reminder for me to think through the eyes of a child though.  Things that might seem pretty insignificant to us, may be extremely huge to them.  
     Sometimes something so small as an eye patch, crazy hair, or even a simple pair of glasses...may be more important than we could ever imagine. 

    Our neighbors had a get together for New Year's Eve last night.  They were so kind (and brave) to have everyone over.  The kids played and were able to stay awake until midnight when everyone cheered, "Happy New Year!!!" 
    May the year be one of happiness and love for you and yours.  God Bless You and have a Happy 2013! 

       Aaaaaaaand, Christmas is over.  Just like that...bam.  We have waited and been so excited for the day to come that it almost seems surreal that it's done and over with.  
        The worst part is, we haven't even sent our Christmas cards...scratch that...we haven't even DONE our Christmas cards yet.  
        Having four little ones, I wish we had the excuse of saying, "Ohhh, we've just been so busy," or "You know how it is..." but the truth is, EVERYONE is busy.  I don't care if you have four kids, eight kids, no kids...you're BUSY!  Life is life and it's usually flying by at about a thousand miles per hour.  
        No, our cards are sitting in a neat stack, ready to be sent - except for one thing.  Genius me bought cards that have a place for a photo on the front.  The problem is, it's literally next to impossible to get one picture where all four of the kids are good to go.  It's the age old dilemma and every year I SWEAR that we won't get photo cards again.  Guess what we got again...a nice big stack of blank front cards waiting for a picture.  Even better, the insides are already printed with the year 2012 - so they HAVE to be used this year.  Again...I'm a genius. 
       So...either one of four things can happen.  1. We can send very strange blank Christmas cards with no picture.  2. We can scratch the year 2012 out and use them for next year.  3. We can keep trying to get a "perfect picture" to use for this year - and send them out sometime by June...or...4. We can just use one of the hundreds of pictures that we've already tried.  Oh - and we've tried.  We've been to the beach, to the park, to see Santa, to Williamsburg...on and on we've tried to get that "Christmas card" shot.  Adam and I have even gotten in the picture thinking it would help...but - well, you can see for yourself how well that worked.  
       I hope that our family and friends won't be too upset with their "Merry Christmas, New Year's, Easter cards" this year.  We really are trying...I swear. 

    We recently went with my parents on a trip to Williamsburg, Virginia.  It was so nice and beautifully decorated for the holiday season.  
    Maybe I'm too much of a dreamer, but I couldn't help imagining how romantic it would have been to live back in the day with the dresses and the lifestyle.
    My Dad who used to be a history teacher quickly reminded me otherwise as we stepped over a pile of horse manure in the middle of the street.  He kept telling me how it was a very hard way of life...full of trials and struggles.
    My thoughts still wandered though, as we went into little stores, smelling of handmade soaps with beautifully sewn hats and aprons hanging about.
    In the afternoon, there was a parade of fifes and drums.  A large group of people dressed as soldiers marched down the main street playing a majestic song.  It was a sound and sight to behold.  As the parade  marched closer to us though, it was surprising to see how young many of the soldiers were.  My thoughts of a romantic way of life quickly turned into ones of sadness for how it must have been to have the innocence of children taken so often.  I put my arm around our kids and swallowed back tears as the musicians who were not too much older - marched by.  What must that have been like to watch such young children go to war?  
    The time in Williamsburg was a wonderful experience.  Even though I loved the romance and the feel of it all, it made me realize to be thankful for the time we live in now...and maybe just get some soaps in the gift shop.  

     We went to the Christmas Eve service last night at church and the kids were asked to be in the nativity scene.  They were pretty excited and couldn't wait to dress up.  Christian was a Wise Man, Ethan and Preston were Shepherds and Lauren Elizabeth was an Angel.  I went back to snap a picture of them before they went out.  

     The service began and one by one, they walked to the front of the church to stand with the other children around Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus.  When everyone was in place, it was a sight to behold.  The  church sang "Away in a Manger" making it hard to keep a dry eye.  
    In the constant hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it was a good reminder to stop and take time to realize what Christmas is really about. 
    A baby boy was born to common people on a dark night.  He wasn't born in a palace of Kings and Queens, but in a stable...to a Carpenter and his wife.  He came to be the light of the world, which is still so very needed in this day.  
    When the service was over, we watched as the kids jumped in the car with eager anticipation.  It was hard to get them to go to bed last night as they whispered and giggled.  
    We hope you have a Wonderful Christmas and that you're able to take a minute or two to step out of the hustle and bustle of it all as well.  May your year will be blessed with faith and hope - and your days be filled with laughter and love.  Merry Christmas to you and yours.