Dylan lost a tooth. And for that to happen is really odd considering his age. It had been loose for a long time, but I never encouraged him to wiggle it out.

 I didn't know if it would cause problems coming out so early.

 But he came to me one day and asked me to pull it out. So I grabbed it and pulled. It popped and it was out. He was kind of taken back at the popping and he closed his mouth to tongue it and asked, "where's my tooth"? I opened my hand.

 He was happy but had a hole now to get used to. I thought the tooth looked weird. It was really long and had no blood.

Luckily, a new tooth is already growing in so I guess this kid is just a little ahead on the teeth thing.

Milestones

We went to Desert Industries (second hand store) to look for some pretty prints that jared makes frames for.

 And in search of some possible treasures, Dylan found a little bike w/out training wheels. To humor him, I set him on it and pushed him. To my complete surprise he actually peddled a few times and fell over (in my arms). So our search for a nice picture was abandoned and we left with a bike for Dylan. He was determined to learn how to ride a two wheeler. And if was there mentally, I was there to support him. Although I wonder if it had had training wheels, I would've taken them off to teach him. Probably not because I would use the cold as an excuse to wait till "next year". But luckily I didn't, I put my coat on and spent some backbending painful time teaching him. (It's kind of far to bend down that much for that long. Waaa waa waa. I know. Poor me).

So we tried two different times that day until he was sent crashing to the ground and scraping his lip and chin.

The next day resulted in this video.


It's the little milestones like this where the pride just bursts out of a parents chest. His grin was comparable to the one I had on my face.

Just venting....

I was reading a friend's post with pics of her little one at the dentist...and instead of writing a post on her comments page, I figured I'd just come here and share with all of you Ash's nightmare of an experience. He had been complaining about a tooth hurting so we took him in. He had been in a few months back for a checkup and I knew there were a few "problem" areas. (Yes it took me that long to get him in, just list it under the other terrible parenting things I've done in the past and will do in the future...) So we got him an apt with a dentist. I guess when the dentist people come to the school every year they don't explain what could happen when you go to the dentist because once the dentist laid him back and started shoving tools in his mouth, Ashton freaked!! But held it together...for a minute. He wasn't "introduced" to the tools that would be used. He was told to raise a hand if it started to hurt. He held up the wrong hand and the dentist rudely corrected him.

I'm totally jumping ahead....So I'll back up. We are taken back and the assistant tries to confirm with me that  I wanted silver. NO! I want the white! NO SILVER! I thought I made that clear, and apparently didn't. You'll see why later. The dentist comes in and says he'd need a root canal. UGH! the bottom of my stomach gave way after that. And the feeling of a nonqualified parent instantly replaced that. I will take FULL credit for not being harder on my sugar addicted child about brushing regularly, but that doesn't justify a dentist to get all jerk like on my SON! I assure you now, he brushes twice a day and even encourages his siblings to do likewise. But then who wouldn't after a visit like this.

As we're sitting, I hear the dentist on a patient next to us. An older man, and he is asking him something. The man doesn't respond and the dentist keeps asking, insisting on an answer. Finally the man answers and the dentist then goes off about wanting to know why the man didn't answer. Totally lecturing this poor man. He seriously wouldn't let it go. I felt embarrassed for the man and the way he was being treated.

It was then our turn and the assistant came back in with a box full of silver crowns. (I didn't know that's what they were for, so i didn't question it.) And she drops them, scattering them EVERYWHERE! Mistakes happen so I start to pick them up, she said not to. Ash then got the dreaded shots and was left to get all numb like. It was funny watching him make fish lips and smacking them together and poking his cheeks. Hard!

They come in and instantly shoved a drill, mirror, water, and suction in his mouth. OH and a wedge to keep his mouth open. He freaked a little and started shaking. Mr. Dentist sternly told Ash he "can't do that" and if it hurt, to raise his hand. SO, he raised his hand. But it was the wrong hand. Apparently the dentist didn't like that hand and corrected Ashton's mistake. SO, he raised the other hand. "Does that hurt?" he asked Ash and he shakes his head yes. He continues to drill and asks Ashton if it hurts. And Ashton continues to raise his hand. Dentist man was getting annoyed with how much Ash was raising his hands and even tested it. He would, without touching the tooth, turn the drill on and ask if it hurt. When Ash raised his hand, he and Miss Assistant would laugh. He took the drill out of the mouth and did it again. Ash said yes, then shook it, no. Again, the two nut heads thought that was funny and stuck all those tools in again and started drilling.

Ashton was crying, shaking, and clenching. Totally scared to death! ANYBODY could see that. Unless of course you were the dentist and his assistant. When it came time for putting a crown on, they pulled the silver things out and stuck it in his mouth, DROPPED it, then panicked a little, telling Ashton not to swallow, "don't move", and trying to snatch it out with tweezers. (Ashton has a terrible gag reflex, just like me! And I was waiting for it and everything else from the day to come up.) Finally they sat him up and told him to spit it out. After choking on it, he spat it out and was allowed to take a break. He saw the blood  on his bib and got worried. The doctor did nothing to sooth his worries or explain to him what was going on. Just another shot, and another filling to torture through.

This continued on until he recieved two SILVER filings, leaving behind a tear streaked face, and a stupid cheap toy that broke an hour after we got home. Didn't even get a toothbrush. (Not that he needed one. I just thought that was part of the deal.)

The last thing the dentist said to me was, "he probably needed nitrus, so when you bring him in next make sure you mention that." YA THINK!????
And the last thing the assistang said/asked me, "do you want me to go ahead and schedule apts for the rest of his work"?

Uhhh...."NO, I'll just call you later." (or not.)

I don't know why I didn't stand up for my son and explain to the Dentist that this was his first cavity visit, or tell the Dentist to explain to Ashton what he was doing or putting in his mouth, or insist on the white fillings like I had wanted in the first place, or to talk nicer to my son, or even request a little compassion for Ashton's sake....But I'm still angry now and HOPE I get a "survey call' asking me how my/our visit went. It was such a bad experience but wonder if I was being overly observant/sensitive with it being my child. Although that dentist definitely proved to this child that going to the dentist is a very bad thing. I'm gonna need a saint to rectify this one.

Today is the day...I guess.

As soon as I changed Dylan's diaper this morning, he said he needed to "pee in toilet". I never object to that so off he ran. Nothing came out. So I put a diaper on him and he ran off to play. A while later he says he has to pee again and runs to the bathroom, rips his diaper off and I guess he peed because he came running back to tell me. (I was having to cook something) I praise him and he runs off to play....naked. A minute later he yells at me again and runs to the bathroom. At this point I'm figuring he's just playing so I don't give it another thought. He then comes running in yelling excititedly that his poop came out. I ran back to the bathroom, scared to find something unpleasant. Yup...he did, but no unpleasantness. I get him cleaned up and put "underwears" on. I'm not going to stop this one!!!!

Since then he has ran to the bathroom two more times. No accidents. (Fingers crossed!)

Since my camera broke, I feel like I've had nothting to blog about. But I'm going to sit down and bring you up to speed. Without pictures. My camera is in being fixed so I guess that's reason enough to post.

Ashton and his team has done so well with football. Up until this last saturday they had only lost one game. The game on saturday was a battle for the number one team to beat with playoffs. But they lost. Barely! 1:30 left to make a goal. 8 yards from the endzone....but the other team held them back. They boys played really well that day. They now have to continue winning until they face this team for the championships.

My big giant pumpkin is still connected to the vine. I'm not sure that it's growing anymore. But we're going to wait a little longer. Maybe at least until the vine dies. It weighs in at 71lbs. and measure 59in. around. Not huge, but not small either. The second largest pumpkin weighed in at 34lbs. That one is still definitely growing!

With canning and harvesting this year. I bottled: Tomatoes, Dilly beans, Salsa, and Pears. I still am waiting on my grapes to sweeten up to make jelly with. We have dried potatoes and apples. My next canning attempt will be applesauce.

In the last 3 months, Jared has lost 30 lbs. His method was exercise and smaller porportions. When Ash has his football practices (3times a week) Jared would just walk and run around the field for the 2 hours Ash would practice. I'm really proud of him. He also goes out on some nights with the kids and runs. It's fantastic for me, because he wears them out right before bed and makes nighttime routines that much smoother.

The road construction in front of my house is even worse than it was before. (I didn't think that possible) But the road has been since torn up and there's a lot of dirt ALL the time. And cars are now coming (after construction crews go home) and peel out in the dirt. Really bugs me! They are also leveling the lane where they want to extend the freeway lane and it's like THISCLOSE! It's less than 100 meters from my doorstep! With winter months coming up quick, I know that crews will work less, therefore prolonging it all. OR...if i'm lucky. Take 3 months off while a beautiful blanket of white covers up all the ugly.

Kid update: Mykael, I believe, has settled into junior high nicely. Parent teacher conferences showed that as well. Jaden is living up his last year of elementary and "ruling the school". Ashton incorporates football into EVERYTHING. School work, recess, cleaning the house, running with dad, and constantly tries to talk his little brothers into "playing" with him. Eli LOVES preschool. He got into the program they have at the school and his teacher adores him. I have to say his paintings are really cool! Dylan had a hard time adjusting to loosing Eli to school, but quickly got over it when he realized it was just him and I.

I feel like I need to say, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year now! So I'll just end it before I get any more cheesy.

Oh! and my Last Supper cross-stitch...I'm still working on the table cloth! (Once every few months!) So it doesn't look any different from the last picture I posted of it....forever ago. I was hoping to have it done by the same time I started it...November. Not going to happen. I'll just be more realistic and shoot for finishing it within 2 years!

Girl's Camp

I think I was more excited for Mykael to go to Girl's Camp than she was. I couldn't wait to take her shopping for all her camping gear, but she has been so busy this summer I had to wait till two days before she was to leave. I kept having memories of going to camp myself and wishing she would have the same amazing memories as I!

Ok, she WAS excited to go. Just not as much as me. We got her all she needed and then a little more just incase. ;o) Turned out she didn't really need too much because this girl's camp was pretty nice. Immaculate Cabins, bathrooms, showers, FRIDGE!!!!, electricity and power outlets in the cabins and enough nature and wildlife to throw you into that Naturistic (word?) world with the convienances of home.

The girls could've gotten all dolled up with curly hair and make-up if t they wanted to. BUT apparently, tradition is, no one takes a shower. The. Whole. Week.! Mykael did NOT like that tradition but to avoid any possible (playful) harrassment, she complied. Although she did put her foot down when the "tradition" of ratting ones hair to the point of Motherhood Cringement was achieved. THANK GOODNESS! When I got up there, a bunch of girls ran up and my first question was, "Oh my! Are we going for dreadlocks now?" SERIOUSLY! It was crazy. My sympathies to the mommas upon discovery of what laid ahead when they saw their daughters after a week.

Back to the cabins...Very nicely built. Plenty of room for a lot of girls! Next year, Mykael's going to get a bottom bunk. She didn't like going up and down so much.

This gives you an idea of what they are like. In the back it closes off for leaders, but our ward had two cabins so leaders were in one. Girls in the other. Worked well I think. Each bed area had its own window.

Mykael woke up one morning and looking out her window saw a momma deer and her baby. She loved it!

At another time she was having daily scripture study and being off to her self somewhere quiet she was greeted by a cute little forest critter. One that explored her feet AND THEN ventured up her leg and onto her lap!!! It sniffed her scriptures and journal then once satisfied, scurried away. For those who may not know, she's obsessed with animals! Like really! Obsessed. So for her to have this experience only cemented her likeness for them and the outdoors. The girl wants to be a Vet when she's older. I think she's got the Dr. Doolittle touch already.

The morning we were to leave, we were cleaning up camp and loading things into the trailer. Not 30 ft away, a momma moose and her two babies came sauntering into camp. Feasting on the sweet lush vegetation that surrounded the camp. Girls were so excited and standing on tables and shouting to others to come see. Momma would look at us while we stared at her. Leaders continuously warned the girls to stay in camp and not to aggrivate the momma. But she didn't seem to care. Two different worlds that never collided but instead only observed. Pretty cool experience as well.

Sorry, it's the best I could do with standing on a table and zooming in without breaking the barrier that separated her and I. I know what it's like to be a protecting mother. Not Pretty!

The canyon where we were. Gorgeous!

I wasn't a leader, but I was asked (with much interest voiced, by me) to go up. So on Bishop's night I was "needed" to help in a spiritual program that was based on Christ's life. I can't tell you just how excited I was to be there with Mykael for that. Exactly the kind of bonding that I've been looking for with her. I decided to stay the night as well and help break camp the next morning. Again...SO glad I did. Mykael and I had a good time driving home together talking about her week.

Next year, she has said that she would "absolutely" go back.

SUCCESS!!!

p.s. Thank you to the youth/leaders that helped make it such a great time.

He made it before his birthday...

For a while now, the kids and Jared have told me that Dylan "walked". Of course I always shot that down not believing them because deep down, I wanted to be the one to see him do it for the first time. I've seen him take a step and then fall, but nothing like this. It wasn't until I captured this that I saw how WELL he walks. Results from "practice" I suppose. So it was proof enough that he probably has been walking here or there for a while, but with me out of the room each time. I'm gonna give the credit to the one that claim to have seen him first. Mykael!