Prayer Request

This is a picture from Christmas of my grandma and mom.  Mom is showing her the sock monkey I got her as a present.  My grandma, we think, has maybe had a mini-stroke.  We're not sure.  She's on the way to the hospital.  Please keep my mom in your prayers, and I'm sure this is incredibly hard on her.

Thank you all so much.

Grand Opening of Simply Elegant!!

Hey guys!  We're having the Grand Opening of our jewelry shop today, and we're kicking it off with a fun giveaway!  If you would like a chance to win this pair of earrings, titled "Whimsy," head on over to our website HERE.

And if you want to check out any of our inventory, you can look at our store front HERE.

Social Security Cards . . . Check!

Today we went to the Social Security Administration and spent two very long hours (much worse than the DMV) trying to get Social Security Cards.  The boys were real troopers and we're good despite the fact that we ended up eating waaaaaaay late.

Here we are inside the building.  You can't tell it from this photo because we were in the back corner, but people were really crammed around in there!

Here's Mateo showing off his US Citizenship papers that we brought for the SS Card.  It was the last photo we got before a big fella called to us from behind a locked door, " NO CAMERAS INSIDE!!"  Ooops.

Here we are leaving the building, bellies rumbling and thankful to be DONE!  In the top photo I managed to get the SSA logo in the photo!  I had to snap photos quick!  I didn't want the camera taken away!

And here we are heading down Roanoke City to find our car again.

The boys were great, and I'm soooooo thankful we have one more thing checked off the list!  Hurray!  (Or as Mateo tries to say, "Pee Pee Hurray!)  *chuckles*

An apple a day, keeps the doctor away . . .

But what about the dentist?

. . . 

My theory is that it's a result of: not brushing well or regularly, not having fluoride in the water, eating lots of sugars and drinking lots of juice.  No matter what was the cause, both our sweet boys have a mouth full of trouble.

Ray likes to joke that the estimate on their dental work, looks like a write up for smashed car at a body shop.  It really is that bad.  I think both boys need something done to every single tooth in their head.  Some are cavities that need to be filled; some are so far gone that the tooth needs to be pulled; some have decay and need some kind of work done to repair the sides of the tooth . . . it's, well, it's a lot.

After lots of debating -- even trying to get some work done just a little at a time -- we've decided to have the boys get all the work done at the hospital after being put to sleep.  We're hoping that way the boys will be able to quickly begin having good memories with the dentist, and have their mouth fixed with the least amount of trauma.

The big day is scheduled for Feb. 12.  Danny is going to go first and Mateo will follow much later that morning.  The dentist said that they'll make sure all the bleeding and everything is done before they wake them up -- that way, with a couple of Tylenol, hopefully they'll be feeling pretty good by that evening.  

 . . . 

Meanwhile, in other news, Mateo is doing well with preschool, Danny and I get to start the storytime at the library next week!  I'm looking forward to it because I think it'll be a good way to start getting Danny ready for preschool.  And it'll be good for him to have some fun, separate experiences from Mateo.  

Anyway, that's the news from this way.

I hope everyone's off to a great start of the week!

School Fun

We've been having fun doing a few painting projects around the house.  Here are the guys at work.  Intensive labor, huh?  :)

Can you see the lion with the purple mane?  Cuteness.

I love how kids do that!!!!

Mateo was so happy to have the class bear, Kyle, come spend the weekend with us.

Here's Kyle sportin' a Guatemalan flag bandana.

Kyle visiting with Mocha . . .

Kyle enjoying church!

Kyle riding in the car . . .

The end of the story is that Kyle returned to school on Monday, and Mateo was sad for 48 hours.  He's recovered (I know everyone was really worried) and is back to playing with Monkey.

In other news:  we've got both boys lined up for dental overhaul at the hospital.  They've both had teeth removed already for infections and as Ray puts it, their medical work-up looks like something a mechanic would write out for a totaled car. . .  We're scheduled for the second week of February.  I know it's going to be super-crumby, but it'll be good for the boys to have all the pain gone from their mouths, and to begin having good experiences with the dentists.

Also, we're getting closer to Danny's library story time class beginning!  I'm really excited because they're going to let me stay with him, and I think for that reason, he's going to love it.  

School is so much fun.  )

Isn't my dad fun?

!!!!!BLOG GIVEAWAY!!!!

**Super-fun giveaway is all over now.  

Thanks to all who participated; I had a great time!**

Go HERE by Thursday night for a chance to win "Georgia Peach," a freshwater pearl bracelet from Simply Elegant.  :)  Whoo hoooooo!!

Blog Give Away

Check out my other website for a give-away on Wednesday!

A Fun Epiphany Party at Uncle Cory's House

Today we had so much for out at my brother and his wife's house.  They had an "Epiphany Party," which means we had lots of great food, great company, and great fun.  I even got some great pictures for the occasion!

Here are my three guys!

Here's Danny and Ray, with Ray trying to work out a smile from Danny.

Here we go!  He was a happy boy playing with the horses!

This horse was particularly friendly, though it took my feminine wooing to get him to come over to the fence. No jokes please!!!

Danny spent most of the time playing with the horses, trying to feed them and pet them.  

Ray was such a good sport to keep taking him out for one more look!

Mateo was right at home with his family!

Look at these fun guys: my brother Cory, Dad, and Mateo.  :)

Here's Cory's wife, Brittiny, being kind enough to pose by the massive table of goodies.  This girl can put out a spread, let me tell you!!

And here's my cute mom, helping out a bit.

Danny and Mateo both took a try at tree climbing.  They weren't quite there yet, though they LOVED the idea of it.

The End.  The best part for Mommy and Daddy?  Two sleeping boys all the way home . . . *sigh*  Beautiful.

Cough, Sniff, Sneeze, Weeze, Ache . . .

Well, I am utterly impressed.  

Do you know a teacher?  They have the immune systems of the gods.  I'm not joking.  Living proof is my dearest husband.  He's been home for a week and a half.  In that time, Mateo, Danny, and Mommy have all had a cold.  Then Danny got a stomach virus.  Then Danny got an ear-ache/toothache some-kinda-nonsense, where we got emergency antibiotics called in on New Years Day!  My cold keeps going down into my chest, getting some better, then returning full speed if I lapse on my meds.  Mateo still has a yucky cough that sounds like there are frogs in his lungs, and sometimes finds it funny to cough AT his baby brother!!!

Ray?  

Ah, he's just fine.

HOW CAN THAT BE?!?!? you ask with utter amazement.

It's the mystery of being a teacher.  Alas, since I am no longer one, I've fallen prey to this horrid germs.  So, when people say, "Being a teacher is great because of June, July, and August," you can now add that they also have heightened immune systems that are impressive as well.  Of course, you only get that by being around lots and lots of sickly, contagious children for long periods of time . . .

Well, you can decide if it's a perk or not.

Meanwhile, I'm heading for a nap.  :)