Growth Spurts x 2!

Over the past few weeks, Thomas has grown out of FIVE pairs of pants, they are fine in the waist but too short in the length.  He is growing out of size 5.  Some size 5's still fit, depending on the brand and the cut.  So, I have been ordering size 6 online.  I remember last Spring, I was trying to find size 5 online and by that time, all that was out were shorts so it was terribly hard to find pants.  I'm not going through that again, I'd rather stock up and have them on hand.  

This week, I noticed that Toby is growing out of all of his 18-24 month pants.  They look fine if he's not wearing shoes, but when he is--they are floods.  So, now I will pull out the size 2's, put away the smaller size and see what needs to be ordered (if anything) in size 2 pants for Toby.

Until later,

Emily

Sick Toby

Our healthy streak has come to an end.  Toby has been "off" since the night we returned from France.  Not really unhappy during the day, but screaming and crying at naptime and night time.  We chalked it up to the fact that he shared a bedroom with Thomas while we were in France and they have their own rooms at home.  Yesterday, Toby was really, really cranky though and last night when James put him in his crib (I'm in NO hurry to put him in a big-boy bed!) and his mouth was wide open while he was screaming and he tilted his head back the lights from the ceiling hit the back of his mouth and we could see right then and there that he had a terrible sore throat.  Red and swollen with white spots all over.  We thought for sure we were staring at Strep Throat.

So, this morning, I called the military health clinic to see if, by chance, I could get an appointment there.  Of course, I could not.  So, I called our German pediatrician and was able to get in 1 1/2 hours later which was perfect since Toby was still sleeping and I hadn't even brushed my teeth yet. And it takes about 20 minutes to drive there and then you have to give yourself to find a parking spot, go print off your parking ticket, put it in the car window, and then walk to the doctors office.

The doctor checked him out, ears were fine, no fever but yes he does have an awful sore throat!  However, it is NOT Strep!  I was instructed to give him Tylenol and Motrin and keep him away from other children until Saturday.

Until later,

Emily

Tailer: Back on a Diet

Last August, I put Tailer on a diet.  I could tell she was losing weight and about two weeks ago I tightened her collar four notches, and had tightened in one other notch a couple of months before.  I didn't really know how much weight she should lose so I put her on maintenance diet about two weeks ago.

Well, today, I took Tailer to the vet.  She weighs 14.6 pounds and the vet told me she needs to get down to 12 pounds.  The last time Tailer was weighed was in August 2007 and she weighed 16.7 pounds, but I am sure she weighed a pound more than that this August when she started her diet.  So, the diet is working and the vet said this is the right way for her to lose the weight, very slowly, but she needs to get down to 12 pounds.

Other than that, she is in good health, but it was a little sad for me to hear her called an "older" cat already (she is 8).  She got her rabies and distemper shots and unless she has any problems she won't have to come in until 10 days before we move back to have get her health certificate.

Until later,

Emily

Me? Relief Society President?

In my church we have "callings" or jobs.  These are not jobs that we get paid to do and oftentimes, they are not jobs that we would ever volunteer to do.  Nevertheless, for the most part, when we are asked, we accept the "callings" and do our best until we are "released" and someone else gets to do what you have been doing.

About two and a half weeks ago, I got the shock of my life.  I was called to be the new Relief Society President of our ward!  As far as the women go, there are 3 presidencies that you can be part of: Primary (which is over children, boys & girls up to the age of 12), Young Women's which encompasses girls ages 12-18 and then Relief Society which is for women ages 18 on up.  Besides the presidencies there are also lots and lots of teacher callings, musical positions and some others.  I guess it depends on how you look at it, but to me being the Relief Society president is the most intimidating calling because you are over your peers and also over people that are older, wiser, more experienced than you.  It also seems like Relief Society focuses on the families of the women, not just the women themselves.

Of course, I have two counselors (which I got to select) and other leadership "under" me that I will get to delegate to but it is a huge responsibility to have.  It all became official yesterday and this week I am starting to get my feet wet with what I have to do.  I'm going to have to play it all by ear.  The woman that I am replacing is married but without children and her husband was deployed for 15 months out of the 2 years that she served, oh and she worked (as in a paying job) only part-time.  So, she had a lot more time on her hands to fulfill this responsibility.  In other words, I'm going to have to do A LOT of things very differently than this wonderful woman was able to (I admire her, I think she did an awesome job, and I think I can do a good job, too, it's just going to have to be different!).

Until later,

Emily

France--February 2009

Thomas was out for 9 days for "Ski Week".  We wanted to go somewhere at least part of the time.  James put in to have the work week off way back in November.  Five days before the first day of leave, he finally got it approved.  Which is nice, but five days before makes it a little difficult to get any kind of decent price on flights for four.  We almost decided not to go anywhere at all, but with time off being so hard to get, we decided we better take what we could get and make the best of it.  We decided we'd drive to France.  We got an amazing deal at a Marriott Resort Villa five minutes away from Disney France.  It had two full-sized bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms, a full kitchen and a living room and dining room.  The place could sleep six comfortably because there was also a hideaway bed/couch.  It was so cute.  The place was decorated in your typical French hues of pretty yellows and blues and reds.  I could have spent five days just in our villa and been happy.

The first day, we just drove there.  It takes about 4 hours and 15 minutes if you do not stop.  But, of course, we did, so it took us about 5 1/2 hours to get there.  Our kids were amazing.

On Monday, we went to Disney Paris.  We had thought that it would be kind of "un-busy" since it was in the middle of the winter...but I think there must have been a lot of Europeans out of school too, it was pretty crowded.  Lines were still 45-50 minutes long.  It was still fun, though and both kids seemed to enjoy Disney, although neither one of them are too keen on the big dressed-up characters so we just kind of walked quickly by them when one popped up.

The next day, we took the train into Paris.  It was colder this day.  We took in some of the sites and rode the train a lot.  I never dreamed I would ever see Paris.  I would like to go back.

Actually, James and Thomas did go back on the third day.  It was raining and cold and my feet were absolutely killing from all the walking we had done the first two days.  My boots have sort of a wedge heal to them and I foolishly only brought those boots and house slippers to use.  James gave me the option of staying "home" with Toby on the third day and I took it.  I had started reading Twilight the first night and wanted to finish it.  So, I literally, put my feet up, relaxed and read my book, and Toby played with matchbox cars around me most of the day and then we took a 2-hour nap, I bathed and Thomas and James returned home.  I was in need of some R & R and I got it!

On Thursday, we had to check out rather early, 10 AM.  I think that's a little early, 11 AM is more reasonable, in my opinion!  Nevertheless, we checked out and started on our way back home.  We stopped off at Chili's which left us with one hour left until we were home.

Now that we've done it, we hope to drive to France again soon.  We really, really loved where we stayed.  The train station was only five minutes away too and I think we'd like to take the kids to Disney again.  And there is still so much to see in downtown Paris! James and I both commented that we think Toby has kind of gotten over that really "hard" stage.  He's improved since we were in London, let's leave it at that.

Until later,

Emily

Back from France...Back to Reality!

We are home.  It was a fun trip!  I will post all about it in the next couple of days.  Now, back to reality...and what a reality it is!  

Until later,

Emily

And...He's Back!

James got home from Norway this evening.  He left on Thursday and came back tonight (Saturday night, Valentine's Day). And, we're leaving for France tomorrow!

Until later,

Emily

Thomas' First Lost Tooth!

Tonight, I am sure if any of my neighbors were out walking their dogs, they probably thought I was trying to kill Thomas.  His tooth was so loose and it had gotten to the point where it was bleeding, and I decided tonight was the night! Thomas, however, was not brave, nor was he cooperative.  I might add that James was also not at all helpful.  Through the crying and carrying on he threw his hands in the air and declared, "I can't handle this, I'm going downstairs!"  Admittedly, I really had no idea what I was doing, but now we all know that the tooth pulling will be up to me or the dentist in the future!  I was finally able to give the tooth a good yank and at the same time keep Thomas from pushing away from me and the tooth was out.  I was scared that the tooth would fall into his mouth and choke him.  I was glad that it came right out onto the Kleenex that I used to grip the tooth.  Once I had the tooth out of his mouth, I dramatically asked Thomas, "Ooh, where's your tooth?" He immediately moved his tongue to the hole and his normally large eyes got even larger.  He was still crying at this point. Then I said, "Why are you crying? Your tooth is out!" That changed it all, the crying stopped and it was time to clean up the blood and call the grandparents!

Until later,

Emily

P.S. You'll notice that his permanent tooth is already up quite a bit!

Tractors and Crackers

Toby is crazy about tractors, he also quite likes crackers so things get a bit confusing around here since he uses the word "Twack-tors?" for both!

Until later,

Emily

100th Day of School

Today was Thomas' 100th day of school.  The Pre-primary, Primary and Grade 1 had a little presentation/assembly this morning and then they did fun activities in the afternoon all involving the number 100 (flying 100 paper airplanes, popping and eating 100 kernels of popcorn etc.)

Until later,

Emily

Our Little Bruiser!

Toby is a dangerous child.  Mainly he is dangerous because he does not sense danger and yet he is somehow drawn to it.  He has been lucky and injured himself very little.  Mainly he breaks things and give James and I gray hair.  Today, as Toby and I were leaving to go to the gym, he was a few steps ahead of me going out the door.  He has gone up and down our outside steps numerous times and generally has pretty good balance--for a 2-year old.  However, today, his luck ran out.  Right as I said, "Toby, wait for Mommy!", he lost his balance and face-planted into a step, a step made of textured blocks.  Sadly, my first thought was not worry of him, no the first thing that came out of my mouth was, "See-- you need to listen to Mommy!".  I felt a little bad when I lifted him up and saw this damage! (And, as usual, it really does look much worse in person!) However, I was still hopeful that a lesson had been learned somewhere.  I found out this afternoon, as we left to pick up Thomas from school, it had not!  He did the same exact thing.  Will this kid survive?  Will this mom?

Until later,

Emily