Blocked Tear ducts no more! (Hopefully)

We went to the eye doctor for Sam today. He's had drainage coming from one eye for several months and the other eye started last month. The cause is a blockage in the tear duct so the tears don't drain like they should. The doctor probed these ducts, but first they had to strap him down and numb his eyes - the poor guy. It looked like an awful experience. I sure don't ever want to go through it. It seemed to look harder then it should have been and we heard a "pop" when the blockage gave way. She said it was the most plugged she's seen in a long time. OOOOWWW! He seems to be doing fine now. Let's just hope it worked and was worth all that pain and anguish

Faces

Dani decided she needed some lipstick so she used the marker Taylor left on the table then Taylor saw all the attention Dani was getting for it and decided she needed to make her own statement. Needless to say they won't be using markers for awhile. I suppose there are worse things they could have drawn on.

Background

Thanks to those who helped me figure out the background. It took me a while to get it figured out. I'll have to play around with it a little more until I get something I really like, but I don't have the time right now.

Good deals

Most of you know I thrive off of good deals. Especially when they're free. I've had a good weekend. Sam is absolutely going to love his new toddler bed when he gets a little bigger. It's a race car bed just like you see in the picture. We also ended up with another toddler bed that has pink rails (we have no use for it now, but maybe in the future)? We also ended up with a lot of new clothes. I actually have jeans that fit me now! I love Craigslist and Freecycle!!!

I was also wondering, I've noticed some real cute backgrounds on other people's blogs and was wondering if anyone would be willing to explain how they do it. I know how to change templates, but how do you choose your backgrounds (ie: hearts for Valentines day). I get bored with the look of my blog.

Happy Valentines Day!

Thanks for the Valentine shirts Grandma!







































Matching shirts from Aunt Shirley.





























Swinging in his swing during a spurt of warm weather.





































Happy Valentines day from us!

Valentine Tea Party

Thanks to Grandma for always sending fun packages. The girls were begging to have a tea party when the valentine package arrived so the Valentine treats were a big hit as well as the outfits for the animals. Of course Sam had to be a part of it all.

Taylor making Daddy lunch (Peanut Butter and Jelly). She tried to make him the same thing for dinner too. She is into making us meals. Every morning I wake up to her trying to make me breakfast. And yes, she is wearing a Raggedy Ann Daisy Kingdom dress and gets lots of compliments on it which makes her want to wear it even more. She insists on doing her own hair too. Both of the girls did just get new hair cuts, but you would never know if I didn't tell you. The purpose was to even out the hair which had been previously cut by Taylor a long time ago, but I don't think they did much.

Sam enjoying a new chair.

Dreams do come true!

It's official! We're actually going. Unexpected, but a pleasant surprise. This is one of those trips you always plan to take, but it's always well in the future. However, an opportunity arose that we just couldn't pass up. Mark's employer requested that he attend an all expense paid Psychiatric Nursing conference. He had the choice between Las Vegas, Philadelphia, or Orlando. When considering this we agreed that there will never be a time when we get 4 free nights in a very nice Disney resort (Corondao Springs)

for this price ever. All we have to pay for is the flight for the rest of us (which is expensive enough) and park tickets. And I guess we should eat too (except Mark will be eating well with his food allowance). We figured with our decent tax return we could splurge this once. We are excited and the girls of course can't wait.

Tents and dancing

I have been trying for a week now to create a new post and I don't know if it's my computer or internet service or what, but it won't let me post anything. If you don't see anything for awhile again, that's probably what's happening. I've noticed everyone else seems to be posting just fine. I haven't had any other computer related problems, oh well. This is a picture of everyone crammed into a little tent. The girls love to play inside and even get Daddy in every once in awhile. The video is Sam dancing. Pretty soon and the girls will have their prince to dance around the room with which is what they requested when they found out we were having a boy.

Firestation and Standing

Sam has finally learned how to pull himself up and he does - on everything. I can't move anymore because he always pulls up on my legs and if I move he topples over. We went to the firestation for Dani's preschool and since it was a snow day Taylor got to come along too. I can't believe how much snow we've been getting. The igloo from the last post melted and caved in, but today we got a brand new pile and Taylor's been begging to get a new igloo started. I've been trying to make this post for a few days and the site hasn't been letting me until just now. Has anyone else had this problem? Sam and Dani have had some excretions from their eyes - pink eye? I'm going to try to take them to the doctor tomorrow. Mark was scheduled to fly to Spokane today, but because of all these storms his class was canceled. It's nice to have him home, but now they'll just have to schedule in another time to go and that won't be convenient. The snow was so bad today that church was canceled in all of Nampa. I was grateful because I didn't want to be driving on those roads. Mark spent the whole morning shoveling off driveways - what a good man. Because of all the snow-ins he has to go to work tonight though. Poor guy - worked hard all day and then won't get any sleep tonight.

Igloo

We just keep getting more and more snow. Yesterday was the first time in 7 years Boise has had a snow day. It's been coming down all week and continues to come. Daddy has been able to come home from work a little early to avoid the bad roads. Taylor has been playing in the igloo Dad made for her everyday. Unfortunately it's starting to cave in now.

Krispy Kremes

We went to Krispy Kreme doughnuts for a night out with our friends. The kids (and adults) love watching how the doughnuts are made and getting a free one right off the line is delicious.

Library

I try to take the children to the library once a week. Our library, however, does not have a very good children's section. While Taylor was at preschool I took them to a library in Boise. The had all kinds of fun activities. Dani played with puzzles while Sam enjoyed the toys. They played on the computer, had story time, checked out books and played with puppets. I hope when our new library comes soon they will have a better children's area.

Teddy Bear Picnic

Grandma sent the grandkids a box full of bear stuff to put on a teddy bear picnic. The girls were so excited to set it up. Taylor got up here to give a speech before the fun began. Dani was too enthralled with taking pictures with the camera grandma sent. The girls wanted to make it look real fancy so they scattered candy hearts and gummi bears all over the blanket. Before I realized it, Sam had already had two gummi bears in his mouth going for more. Needless to say, they got picked up. Even Dad joined in the fun as he sipped his hot chocolate. "Pinky up" as the girls constantly remind us.

Sam was having a lot of fun being pulled around in the laundry basket.

First tooth

Sam's first tooth was found poking out this morning. Okay, so this isn't really a picture of his tooth (teeth), but hey, it's not really a picture of Sam either.

pacifier/thumb sucking free zone!

It's been a week and we are officially pacifier and thumb sucking free. We've been debating ever since Dani started sucking on her thumb how we were going to get her to stop. It turned out easier than we ever thought possible. Over a week ago we started putting "THUM" on her thumb. We tried this in the past and it didn't deter her, but she abhorred the taste and smell this time around. However, she willingly let us put it on for her for a week and after that the habit was broken! Hallelujah! As for Sam, we decided it best to take his pacifier away now before he became so attached to it. He didn't like the idea, but a week later he's finally going to sleep on his own again. Unfortunately - or fortunately, he's become a lot more vocal and that pacifier would sure be nice to stick in his mouth at church. Oh well.

Sam the man

Snow, snow, snow

We got several inches of snow that actually stuck around and more is coming tonight. Daddy took the girls on a sled ride and then the whole neighborhood (okay, a few) came and helped shovel our driveway.

Family Pictures

We just got our family pictures taken. Here are a few to look at.

Sam the musician

Earlier Sam was in his walker while Taylor was trying to play the keyboard and he walked right up to the keyboard and was trying to play. Taylor kept trying to push him away, but he was determined. Finally Taylor decided to give it up and we put Sam in the chair. He played for quite awhile although this video shows more of his exploring after he had had his fun.

Dani's song

Dani was singing her heart out in the car and when we came home I had her sing it for the camera, but it just wasn't the same. She gets really into it when she thinks no one is paying attention (but wants the attention).