An Update...Just Because

I keep meaning to write a High Five for Friday each week, then Friday passes me by.  So, I'll just write a random update of what each of us has been up to....

Luke

Our not-so-little man is approaching nine years old and has entered the world of orthodontia.  We learned, during a routine dental visit, that he has an adult tooth that is impacted.  I guess the adult teeth around it took over the space needed for the now-impacted tooth to come in.  The plan is to do "early intervention" on Luke's lower front teeth so the unruly teeth get moved back to their appropriate spaces.  By Christmas, he'll have braces on his four front, lower teeth and will have another tooth pulled to help center everything.  Luke's being a trooper about the process and we're trying to keep him informed about what to expect because he likes a predictable world:)  The hope is that the braces will only need to be on for a year at most, then we'll let the rest of his baby teeth and adult teeth finish their processes of falling out and coming in before determining any additional orthodontic needs when he's older.

Our handsome boy

Nora

Nora's been busy honing her toddler skills like: thinking outside the box, oblivion to the world around her, lack of subtlety, and initiating a chasing game anytime she's called.

Thinking Outside the Box: Tonight she had shells and cheese and carrot sticks with veggie dip for dinner.  She kept herself busy using her carrot sticks as paint brushes for her veggie dip and nicely decorated her bowl. She also discovered that the pasta shells were the perfect size to fit on the tips of her fingers (she really likes things that fit her little fingers these days...think waffle holes:)).  Suffice it to say, she had an entertaining meal.

Toddler Oblivion and Lack of Subtlety: Tonight at the grocery store, she stood at the end of the check out lane, thumb in mouth, watching people.  She received many smiles and sweet comments and told me nice and loud that she was "watching the people".  Last weekend, we all went to the Penguins of Madagascar movie in the theater.  (Nora does great in the theater as long as we're watching an animated show.)  After the movie, there was some upbeat music playing during the credits.  Naturally, she felt the need to go to the front of the theater and bust a move.  She literally danced until the credits were through and the theater employee came in to clean up the trash.  All the while she said "I'm dancing, I'm dancing!"

She is always good for a laugh and her giggles of joy make the frustrations of chasing her for every diaper change well worth it:)

Our precious girl

Brent

This fall Brent decided to grow a beard.  I have known him for 19 years and have never seen him with a beard.  I really liked the end product, even though it tested Brent's patience waiting for it to fully "come in".  Last week, he decided to give it up.  After only six weeks with a beard, it was strange to see him without it again.

My man

I think you can see his beard better here

Jen

I'm mostly keeping busy with my holiday season goals and thoroughly enjoying the season.  We're DVRing Christmas shows to watch together, filling in our advent wreath from Gma Ruth, and enjoying Christmas treats I made last week at a Community Ed class.   We had a great Thanksgiving hosting my grandparents, uncle and aunt, my parents, and my sister and family and got to spend the rest of the weekend with more family and friends.  It's truly been a joyous season already and we're only half way through:)

Thanksgiving snuggles with mine and Piper (who was sleeping)

Oh, and I nearly forgot...after nine and a half years working at Mayo, I have downtown-ish parking! (I say downtown-ish because it's still considered a shuttle lot, but I take advantage of the walk.) I got my new parking tag and used the lot I now have access to today for the first time.  I only walk about a half mile from the lot to work and I can take the skyways/subways to stay inside in the winter.  Woohoo!  I'm telling you people...this is big news in the world of Mayo employees:)

Many blessings to you all!  (I'll be sure to share pics of Luke's brace face soon;))