Our Garden

Not pictured are the chives, the Thyme, the Sage or the Strawberries.

Tomatoes



Pumpkins

Giant Sunflower

Zinnias

Drew the cutey

Giving Virtual Realty a try...


Granddad would be so proud...


Enjoying a chocolate cupcake. Prior to eating and wearing it he gave it a long sniff and said, "Mmmmmmm, yummy!"



Trying out walking barefoot on sand. He kept saying, "This feels good." But was reticent to actually walk anywhere.

Jack, Jack, Jack...

His latest request for Christmas...sneakers with jets on them and a neck helmet to protect him as he rockets through the air. (Think Incredibles...Buddy)

Orthodonture

Madi has begun the long odyssey towards straight teeth. She has a crossbite (the top tooth is hitting the tooth on the bottom and rubbing) that has to be corrected before either of the teeth is ruined from all the grinding. So, we had many, many mouth molds made and lots of X-rays taken. Last week she was fit with a custom-made palette expander. It will gradually pull her upper palette apart, thus widening it. Because she is still young the tissues in-between will fill in as if there never was a space. This added space will make room for the tooth that is sideways (the one in crossbite) to be turned and straightened. She'll most likely be getting the 4 top teeth braces around Christmas and will wear them until the end of the year...maybe into the summer. We've been told that after all her baby teeth are out, she'll need a full set of top and bottom braces to correct a bite issue. So, lucky her...she gets to do the braces-thing twice.

Right now it's a novelty and b/c so few kids have anything orthodontic related...it's "cool". She is being very brave and accepting each new thing with courage and grace.

Here is a pic of the palette expander.

The Pikes Peak Ascent

Just a little shout out that Andy completed the Ascent on August 15th. After limping around for a few weeks he threw caution to the wind and decided to give it a go. He climbed over 7,ooo ft in elevation in less than 6 hrs. What an amazing feat!!!!!! And...his leg hasn't felt so good in weeks!

The kids

Well, seems like Christmas has come early here. The kids are obsessed with what they are going to ask Santa for. Drew is pretty stuck on the idea of a very big parking garage...he carries the toy magazine around everywhere and likes to tell everyone and show everyone. Madi isn't completely sure, but thinks maybe a digital camera or Polly Pockets or Littlest Pet Shop (aw...these in-between adoloscent years...big girl stuff or little girl stuff!). Jack has bounced back and forth between Lego sets, guns and knives and swords (we quickly put an end to the weapon ideas) and today he is certain he wants a jet pack with a helmet. Not just any jet pack mind you...one that has light up fingers (like Iron Man) and operates on voice control. "Wings Out!", "Up", etc... Is there anything cuter than a 5 yr old boy???

Happy 15th Anniversary to us! (Belatedly)

This past Aug 20th was 15 yrs for us! We celebrated the following weekend with a chick-flick! (Thank you honey!)