Fourinarow.net

I’ve been trying to get Jack to let me at his loose tooth for the last couple of days.  I’m not sure why I’ve felt the need to “help things along,” but I have.  I haven’t been too agressive, but it has been a constant topic for discussion around here.

This evening I had a brilliant idea.

“Jack,” I said.  “How about if after dinner we tie a string to your tooth and tie the other end to your new train engine and let the train pull your tooth out?”

“Okay!” Jack said.

Of course, as we got closer to the big event there was some a lot of stalling and some silliness.  He had an entire audience - Luke and Maria sat on his bed while Sam kept trying to fiddle with the train before we were ready.  Cheerio was even in on it.  (Dan was working late and missed it.  I’m sure he’s devastated.)

The first run was a failure.  The string pulled off of the train.  We made some adjustments and tried again.  Then the string came off of Jack’s tooth.  A third try failed to pull the tooth because the train was going too slow.

Finally (with a teeny bit of covert help from me)… success!

(Don’t forget to click on the pic to enlarge it, so you can see the string.)

Now we just have to worry about what the Tooth Fairy is bringing.  I don’t know what nut has been talking to my kids, but they have their sights set waaaaaaayyyyy too high.

We took down our tree even before the first of the year.  It crowded our living room and I was ready for the chaos to end.  After putting everything away, though, things were looking a little bare.  I still haven’t put much anything on the walls since painting, so I had a blank slate.

While Dan worked on the trim in our bedroom last night, I decided to get some Uppercase Living on the walls.  What a difference it makes!  I didn’t do a lot, just a couple of things here and there.  But, it’s a relief to have something up - and it was easy and quick!

Here’s the one across from the front door (so you see it upon entering) and just to the right of the stairs leading up.

And here’s one I put in the eating area of our kitchen (click to enlarge):

If I’ve got you interested, now is the time to place your Uppercase Living order!  Just go to my website at http://fourinarow.uppercaseliving.net

There are several new incentives for the months of January and February.

Customers can get a Little Hands Kit (isn’t it cute?) for just $25 when they place an order of $50 or more.  Perfect for a nursery, new moms or grandparents!  (This is in addition to the regular free customer gifts!)

Hostesses (hosting a party - catalog or “real”) get a free bump-up in their benefit level if the party closes before February 28th.

Interested in becoming a Demonstrator?  Get $30 - $50 off your Starter Kit if you order before February 28th.

Please, get your orders in soon, lest my husband make me go out and get a “real” job.

Hear that?  Shhhhhh.  Listen.

It’s quiet!  The only sound I hear right now is the slight humming of my fridge, my fingers on the keyboard and a plane flying overhead.  Weird.  These are not sounds normally heard at my house.  No way can you hear things like that.  Not over all the whooping and hollering and running and clanging of light sabers.

Why is it so quiet?

Sam is sleeping. (Poor guy had a rough morning.  I hope he’s not getting sick.)

And The Father of the Year has taken Jack, Maria and Luke ICE SKATING!  Oh!  What fun!  For me!!!!

Jack should be no trouble, as he’s an expert, having been exactly twice now.

The other two… who knows?  By the time Dan gets there, pays for everything and gets skates on everyone, they’ll probably have all of five minutes left to skate.  I can’t wait to hear all about it, LATER!

I’m only sorry that Dan refused to take the camera.  I’d love to have pictures to show you.

Speaking of pictures, I’ve posted a few of our Christmas pictures on flickr.  You can click the flickr badge on the left to see them.  Here’s just a sampling - Jack opening his new train set.

Bye, now.  I’m off to revel in the humming of the fridge.

Jack can claim the first legitimate loose tooth.  We discovered it several days ago.  Why he didn’t mention it to us, we’ll never know.  (After all, he’s been claiming to have one - always a different one - for a few months now.)  Dan discovered it during a tooth-brushing session and it’s been the talk of the family since.

Then Maria joined the melee.  I was out shopping the other night and Dan called to tell me Maria had a loose tooth - very loose.  When I returned home, she got out of bed to tell me about it and I asked why she hadn’t said anything before.  “I just noticed today,” she sobbed.  (Girls.)

After a few days of two kids with loose teeth, I decided we should try to speed the process along.  I suggested we pull the teeth.  “NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” was the general response.  “Come on,” I said.  “It’ll be fun.  We’ll do it with string!” Still no.

I then suggested we look up loose teeth on the internet.  Lo and behold there were a TON of YouTube videos of kids enduring the tooth pulling process - either of their own hand or that of a parent.  I thought watching the videos might encourage my two, but it backfired.  “NO WAY!”  They said.  “HOW EMBARRASSING!” they said.  “Maybe tomorrow,” they said.

This morning over a shared Pop Tart, Maria informed me that she had changed her mind.  She was no longer even considering speeding the process along.  “I just want it to fall out on it’s own,” she said.

As if in response, Mother Nature intervened with the next bite of her Pop Tart.

“MY TOOTH!!!!” shouted Maria.

Sure enough.  The tooth was out.

One down, one to go.

We traveled down to Tennessee over the weekend so we could be present for our new Goddaughter’s baptism.  It was a whirlwind trip, but well worth it.  I’m so thankful to Troy, Kyle and their family for letting us intrude during Kyle’s last few days before re-deployment.

Zoë was baptized on Sunday and Kyle had to leave on Monday.  Too painful to contemplate.

Anyway, here is the beautiful, freshly baptized Zoë and family.

(Luke tried desperately to re-baptize himself in the font several times during the ceremony while we were busy with Zoe, but thankfully he was unsuccessful.)

Dan and me with our new Goddaughter (we’re so proud, you’d think she was ours!):

…will there be a perfect family picture of us.

Oh, well.  They at least accurately reflect the life we lead.

P.S.  This must be a record number of posts for me in a day.

At the suggestion of my sister Caroline, yesterday the kids and I made chocolate-dipped pretzels.  I just happened to have the necessary supplies on hand, and after a long day inside we needed a boredom buster.

I melted the chocolate,  Jack did the dipping and Luke, Sam and Maria applied the nonpareils.

I wonder… what does the factory floor of the nonpareil manufacturing company look like?  I’m thinking it probably looks a lot like mine.

My sister called me this morning.  Being on the west coast, she was lucky enough that some of her family was still sleeping.  We, however, have been up now for hours.  We even managed to get out for a quick trip to the pet store, just in case Santa forgets to bring something for Cheerio.  Now she’s well covered.  (Shhhhh… don’t tell Dan.)

Anyhow, soon after we returned, Caroline called.  I couldn’t answer in time, so I called her right back.  We chatted mostly about The Snow.  We’re both buried in It and getting just slightly annoyed with It.

During this conversation (literally 6 minutes), Luke asked for a piece of pumpkin bread.  I acquiesed, telling him to take the remainder of it (a huge chunk).  He walked over to the table with it happily.

A few minutes later, Jack was downstairs in the kitchen telling Luke he had messed up his room. (All rooms are spic and span because Santa doesn’t come to messy houses).  In a panic, Luke ran up to check and returned wailing that Jack had messed it up.

I told Caroline I’d have to call her later and hung up.  Then I calmed Luke down and sent Jack back upstairs to repair the damage.

A placated Luke returned to the table only to find his pumpkin bread missing.  And the dog licking her chops.

Thankfully, I had a spare loaf and all was saved.  For the time being.

On Monday, December 22, our Goddaughter was born!  She weighed in at 7 lb and 12 oz. and is 20 3/4 inches long.  Zoë Elizabeth is just the latest addition to this beautiful family.

Jack, Maria, Luke and Sam are so excited, you’d think she was their own sister!  I guess this is as good as it gets without adding to your own family.  I just wish we were closer so we’d be able to see her more.  And the boys.  And the parents

Congratulations to the Remick family!!!  God has certainly blessed you - and us.

Don’t you LOVE the hat?