Traumatized

I took Logan to the dentist today.

I had been planning to make an initial appointment for him before the end of summer, but hadn't gotten around to it. Then after noticing some changes in his teeth recently, I couldn't put it off.

We were at Tropicanoe Cove a few weeks ago when Logan and a friend crashed into each other (twice!) while running through the fountains. I didn't see the actual event, but was told that the other little boys head hit Logan's mouth. (Not a big deal. Accidents happen. I'm glad the other boys head was alright.) Logan was crying and complained of his teeth hurting a lot right after the incident, but said nothing later so I kind of forgot about it.

Then about a week and a half ago I noticed that his front teeth looked like they needed brushing. Bad. I brushed them, but to no avail. Within the next two or three days they got darker. That's when it became apparent that something was wrong. So after talking with some "experts" we decided a dental appointment was necessary. We went to Dr. Sammons.


The verdict: Apparently the blow to Logan's teeth was hard enough that it made them die. The nerves are shot and the darkness is the blood that shows through from the inside. The left one is almost purple! (Apparently a pretty rare thing.) The x-ray showed no damage to his permanent teeth, but the dentist said Logan's baby teeth will abscess; it's just a matter of time. So we're going to have them fixed. We scheduled the appointment for next month.

 

Logan was a trooper today. He made me proud. Now here's the big surprise. I didn't expect to be so emotional when we were at the dentist's office. I didn't expect to be emotional at all!

I have been secretly panicking while watching Logan's teeth darken. Apparently it brought back insecurities from my childhood... My permanent teeth are discolored from tetracycline. The front two are splotchy and the rest are gray. (Not that you'd notice. Or say anything if you did!) I remember the feelings I had as a child when people would look at or ask about my teeth. It wasn't my fault that they looked the way they did, but I felt like something was wrong with me. Even as an adult I'm still self-conscious about them.

So. I'm grateful for good doctors and modern medicine. My nerves have calmed. I'm glad to know that even though I have been, Logan won't be traumatized from this event. He may not even give it a second thought.

Keep Out!

Logan loves to watch Max and Ruby. He. Must. Watch. Every. Day. At. 6. PM. If he misses it things can get ugly. Even if we're not home when it's on.


In a recent episode Max kept going into Ruby's room and getting into her jewelry box. She was downstairs making something like a tiara with her friend Louise and had to keep running up to her room for supplies (jewels). Each time she'd get to her room Max would be there. And each time she would usher him out and tell him to stay out. After one too many of these encounters, Ruby made a sign and put it on her door. It said: "KEEP OUT", had a bunny in a circle with a line through it, and "This means you!"

Logan couldn't even wait for the show to be over. He jumped up and said, "Mom, I want to make a sign to keep Bergen out of my room!" Of course after explaining to him that it was her room too, smarty that he is, he decided to make a sign to keep his dad out!

Here it is:

 

The next morning Craig decided to have a little fun and taunted Logan by putting his foot just inside the door. When Logan realized what he'd done, he ran full force down the hall, crashed into him, and yelled "keep out!" Craig and I couldn't help but laugh.



Now for the kicker...
I was at my friend Kerry's house a little over a week ago and saw a sign on her son Logan's bedroom door. When I asked about it she told me that he had seen the same Max and Ruby and had made the same sign.

Kids come up with some funny things!

My Mom and Dad, by Logan

Logan commandeered the camera not too long ago and had us all posing for him. He had a great time "shooting" and I must say I was pretty impressed with some of the pictures he took. I'll share more in another post, but for now here's a rarity -- Craig and me in the same picture!

 

Thanks Logan. Maybe we'll have to start thinking seriously about a digital camera for you. Maybe.

Oh the possibilities...

We've been out of town, but are back and I've been catching up by running errands today. (Laundry can wait. Feeding your family; not so much.) I took Bergen to the doctor this morning for her 18 month check up (She's perfect by the way!), then went to get a few groceries AND to pick up my new stroller! It's a Sit-N-Stand by Baby Trend and from the fun we had with it in the living room and on the front lawn this afternoon I think we are going to love it!

 

Even though Logan is four, he still likes to "ride" when we're out and about and the regular stroller isn't cutting it anymore. We go places all the time and when Craig was with us for an outing a month or so ago, he got tired of the whining I'm accustomed to hearing. So after talking it over, I did some research, found what I think is the best fit for our family, and ordered it.

I'm thrilled! Here we come Indianapolis Zoo, Kentucky Kingdom, The Children's Museum, and anywhere else we decide to go. The possibilities are endless! Of course if you live near us, you're welcome to join us if you want to.

Traditions

I have always loved the idea of family traditions. Growing up we had many. Although I didn't realize they were traditions at the time.

Thinking back, some of my favorites were: Easter breakfast at Omi and Opa's (Oma and Opa mean Grandma and Grandpa in Dutch. My big sister couldn't say Oma when she was little; she could say Omi -- and it stuck!), summer swimming parties with artist friends my parents knew through their gallery, a card and heart shaped box of candy waiting for us on the dining room table Valentine's Day morning, singing the "Anniversary Song", three little after-dinner mints left in the same spot on the kitchen counter whenever my mom and dad had gone on a date the night before, Kentucky Fried Chicken for Sunday dinner (at least once a month), staying up late and talking to my mom as she ironed a shirt for my dad each night, and especially getting a fudgesicle during intermission at the drive inn movie!

Since Craig and I have been married we've started a few traditions. The biggest one being going back to Salt Lake every Christmas. We leave Indiana and get there before the big day or take off from home the day after. And it only takes us two days of driving to get there! (Yes, we drive. We take a lot of gear and need our car to get up to the slopes.)

I don't think a tradition has to be a big event.

Some of the smaller traditions that I cherish in our family are: family hugs, snuggling at bedtime, reading together, kissing hello and goodbye when we see or leave each other (just like my mom and dad always did), camping out in the living room, looking for lightning bugs, going to the pumpkin patch in the fall, and in the summer time... picking blueberries!

We've gone blueberry picking for four years in a row now. We first went when Logan was a little over a year old. He had a great time picking and eating the berries and has loved them ever since!

 

Last year we went with some of our extended family and had so much fun that we changed the tradition to include them each year.

***picture to be inserted here***


So we all went again last Monday and while filling our buckets, we parents had fun reminiscing about how little the "big kids" seemed last year. Bergen was only six months old then and sat in the stroller. She was right in there picking this year though, and had no problems keeping up!

 

 

I think family traditions are a tremendous blessing. They give us memories to pass on to others and to cherish for a lifetime ourselves.

Saweet!

I reaped the first benefits of my garden tonight. I ate three beautiful cherry tomatoes. Warm. Sunshined-upon. Tomatoes.

I showed them to Logan and asked if he wanted one first. He didn't. Let me clarify that: He didn't want to eat one. He did want to carry one around with him while he ran circles in the living room! (Sorry buddy, not on the freshly cleaned carpets.)

 

Lucky me. Since I'm the tomato lover in the family, I'll be able to gorge myself on these tasty little treats without having to share them. Mmm. Mmm. Mmm.

Independence Day

I finally had a post ready to go last night, but it's so far past the 4th now that it didn't seem relevant anymore. I thought I'd lost my camera that day and couldn't write about it without pictures; which is why things were behind in the first place...

Let's just say, so much for being independent. We didn't spend a lot of time pondering the sacrifices made in our behalf this year; although we are grateful very for our freedom. We relied on our family to entertain us this 4th of July. And entertain they did! Thanks for having us over Lee and Nicole and for all the fun.

While we adults relaxed and visited, the kids participated in swinging, climbing, bicycle riding, running, jumping (on the trampoline), laughing and smiling, a little arguing, a lot of hugging, and even some Grandma and Grandpa time snuggling! Oh and let's not forget the sparklers and watching fireworks!

 

Our kids have such fun being close in age with some of their cousins. They can't seem to get enough of each other. Here are Spencer, Logan, Bergen and Jordan, who I am happy to announce were happy most of the day (and night).

 

Just a few more pictures of some of the festivities...

 

and one of my "handsome hoosband" with a smile on his face! It must have been the Doritos.

 

By the way, I was able to sneak away from the crowd to read for a little while. Now that was freedom!

Burned!

Have you ever done something so stupid you can't believe you did it? I have. This very evening in fact. And this could (possibly) be the dumbest thing I've ever done! Embarrassing even. So why not share it with the whole world?

I'd given the kids their dinner when I decided I wanted something different. I'd also noticed some perogies in the freezer earlier today. Hmm. I got them out, thinking to myself, "yum".

I prepared a pan of water and boiled a few. Then I decided I wanted to brown them. So I put a little butter in a sauce pan and moved them into it. No problem there. And they were delicious! Which was absolutely the problem.

Those perogies were so good with that little bit of buttery crunch on them, that I scraped the baked on parts off the pan and ate them! And as I pulled the fork out of my mouth my lips screamed! That fork was so hot it burned my lips as it slid through them. Ouch!

 

So there you have it. I got burned. I sure hope the blisters peel off before church tomorrow morning.

Daddy's Girl

Bergen is a Daddy's Girl! Don't get me wrong, she's all mine too; she's just really crazy about her dad.

She'll be the one of our kids who is out in the garage under the cars with him, she'll be excited about changing the oil, she'll be asking to go four-wheeling, she won't mind getting her hands dirty, she'll probably be a wise-cracker, and she'll definitely be happy to wear hats!

 

And THAT could just be the best thing of all for Craig. No waiting around for the girl; she'll just throw on a hat and be ready to GO!

Nap Time

Logan fell asleep on the couch a few days ago and was still there when Bergen woke up from her nap. She tried to rouse him by patting his arms, legs and face pretty vigorously, but he was out. So even though she wasn't tired, she decided to climb up and join him! What a sweetie.

 

Zach and Logan

Zach and Logan have been friends for a couple of years now. Which means (fun for me!) I get to hang out with Zach's mom Margot.

These guys are really growing up and I am enjoying watching them interact with each other. You know how boys are: goofy, rough-housing, competing, fighting, arguing, playing... Well I'm happy to say that these two get along quite well. See?

They were best buddies until - Bergen came along. Since then the dynamic has changed. Now they both want to sit by her, push her, pull her, hug her, hold her...

I'm glad they both love her. And I wonder how they'll get along as brothers-in-law. ha! ha!

Christmas in July!

 

 

 

After an hour or so of playing in the water in the backyard this afternoon Logan dried off, wrapped up in his towel, and said, "Hey Mom! Look! I'm Santa!"
(He was really proud of his beard.)