Warning.... Graphic photo ahead.... you've been warned!

Hanging on by a thread was no idle term here last week.

His tooth was literally hanging by a thread for about 7 hours.

I know it was seven hours because I couldn't bare to look at him, listen to him talk, ect. without feeling a tide of nausea come across me.

I did everything to get away from him and shield him from my view.

We could not convince him to just pull it out.

So we suffered, looking at him with his top tooth hanging over his lower lip all day.

It's taken me a while to be able to post these photos. 

And at times I thought I would spare all of you the sight of it but....

LOL, I can't!!!

You can all thank my darling brother Patrick for this. A week or two ago when Pat was here Sam went running to him, with excitement about his lose tooth. Pat gushed all about it with him. Brian and I kept encouraging Sam to pull it out, but Patrick in all his pronounced wisdom said, and I quote, "No.... no. You just want it to come out all by itself.... naturally. It'll hurt if you pull it out and there will be a lot of blood."

The slow motion switched had been turned on.

 

At that instant fire shot out of my eyes and

'Noooooo' ..... is all that went through my head. At the same instant Sam's mind had now been imprinted with the words hurt and blood. 

That's all it took.

Common sense would tell us that since Sam had already lost two other teeth, that experience would out weigh words but...  

His beloved and wise (I use that term so loosely) uncle had spoken.

End. of. discussion.

So there you have it.

Any comments can be directed towards Patrick.

Don't be mad at me.... I'm just the messenger! ;)

Enjoy.

Oh- by the way I will not have my laptop for a few days. The hard drive is being replaced. I am hoping to have it back before New Years.

Cheers!

Fairytale of New York by The Pogues

Merry Christmas.

I took a few days off and whisked myself away to the 

romantic Scottish Highlands. 

I read somewhere that the cheapest vacation you can get is to wrap yourself up in a book....

 and that is precisely what I have done. 

Our Christmas Day was decadently relaxing.

Slipping from a pair of pajamas to a fleece ensemble, watching Brian and Sam play Wii for hours, listening to Beth's imagination while she conversed with her new toy playmates, and curling up on the couch to start my vacation, that was our day.

Absolutely perfect.

The morning had been full of happy Christmas morning chaos. My mom, Patrick, and my father came over with overflowing arms of gifts. It truly warmed my heart to see the kids actually appreciative of everything they received.... honestly I wasn't expecting it.

The icing on the cake was that once the kids went to bed Brian and I cuddled on the couch and watched Love Actually. He watched it with me without one complaint of it being a British romantic comedy. 

Now how's that for some Christmas magic?? ;)

P.S. I did not get my new puppy for Christmas. 

(I write this in the hopes that it will make him feel a twinge of guilt, although I know better.)

;)

Valentine's Day..... maybe???

All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey

Lots and lots of Christmas activities going on here.

Grammy found a star for Sam.

I baked cookies.

Brian went to his mom's family Christmas party on Saturday. We kind of had the plan to divide and conquer. He went to the party. I was finishing up shopping. The kids went to the Syracuse Symphony with my mom.

We came back together at the end of the day to meet up at my dad's for Luke and Danielle's holiday weekend. They were only able to come up for the weekend. The kids were pretty disappointed their stay was so short but I was glad for anything.

Zeke was here too. 

Sprawled out across the kitchen floor that he claimed as his own. We quickly learned to redirect ourselves so as not to bother him. 

Spoiled! ;)

A pancake breakfast at our house with my mom.

Brian and Luke made everything while Danielle and I attempted to take glamour shots of ourselves.... laughing our butts off.

Thanks guys.

How many pancakes did Pat eat anyway? Anyone keep count?

They did get presents from Luke and Danielle but seemed to like the box the most.

Luke broke this year's rules. 

We were not supposed to buy anything for each other.

But of course they came in with an armful of gifts.

I guess we are the spoiled ones now! ;)

In true Zeke form he planted himself right in the middle of the unwrapping action.

And like any lab, he methodically tore apart a piece of wrapping paper.

Our own little Marley.

Rachel stepped in with her assistance and snapped some glamour shots of us.

Yes, we are pathetic and we could definitely feel the eyes rolling behind us from Brian and Luke but we had some good laughs.

And so it begins... the marathon Christmas celebrations.

I'm not sure how much time I will have to blog but I will continue to try to carve out a little time. Also, my computer is making some strange sounds so it may be off to the Apple store tomorrow. 

Keep your fingers crossed.

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town by Bruce Springsteen

How do you get here?

How long does it take?

Do you travel through magic tunnels?

Where are the reindeer?

What do you do on your day off?

What kind of cookies do you like?

Which list am I on?

Do you really get to everyone houses by magic?

... and it went on and on and on....

(well, at least in the car.) 

As soon as they got up to Santa they forgot everything they wanted to say to him. I had to remind Sam and right before we left had another opportunity to speak with him.

Sorry for these dodgy photos. The Santa ladies did not want me to take my own photo and told me I could only stand in a certain spot. With a little line behind me, I was rushing the camera and not choosing the best settings. Sorry. ;)

The kids both had their holiday parties at school. Beth's consisted of lots of fun with friends and yummy treats. Sam's was the "Polar Express" theme and he got to wear his pajamas to school.

KA, Molly, and Colin came to Beth's party. I snapped a picture of the girls together. While I was looking at this photo tonight, my mind got to wondering if this is what Kristin and I would have looked like together when we were little. Kristin has said before about how she sometimes wishes that we all knew each other before kids, husbands, and all responsibilities, ect. 

In school age days.

People come and go in our lives. Everyone has a purpose for being there at a particular time and place. Beth and Molly have been friends since Beth's birth. I hope they remain friends for a long, long, long , long time.

So I guess this could have been KA and I. Although I don't think I would have known, instinctively, how to strike a pose like my little diva. 

:)

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer by Gene Autry

END OF SEASON UPDATE

VS.

Today, being the last day of deer hunting season I thought I would give an update.

His week 1 total is still accurate.

It's not that he didn't have opportunity.

He had lots and lots of opportunity.

A lot of time and a lot of deer.

?

Brian and Patrick set strict rules for themselves this year.

No does (with exception of the first week) and no bucks under 2 1/2 years old.

They challenged themselves. They could have easily filled all their tags within the first few weeks but didn't. 

Today is the last day and I am sure they will try one more time.

So unless they get something this afternoon this will be my final hunting report until October 2009.

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by James Taylor

I just want to know who at the post office thought that this year's 

Christmas stamps were a good idea.

These are so awful!

I am a little biased since I can't stand nutcrackers to begin with.... but really?

This thing is just plain scarey.

Our little friend, Molly, actually thought it was a monster.

Kristin A. thinks they look like Animal from the Muppet Show.

I have to laugh every time I see the "Happy Holidays" stamped across of it.

I helped make this the busiest postal day of the year. 

My cards were finally sent this afternoon.

One more thing off the checklist.

Here Comes Santa Claus by Bing Crosby and The Andrew Sisters

Hello there!

I am opting out of a formal post today. Lots of things to do... one being that I have a maternity session this afternoon and have to focus on that. Two... Christmas "things" that I have been neglecting to do need my attention.

See you tomorrow!