He Found It

 His thumb, that is. 

I love it!! 

Thank you Mr. Dentist!

Daniel had a chunk out of his front tooth (from who knows what?) and some discoloration (which was apparently from something that happened while his teeth were developing in the womb). We took him to the Dentist and it was amazing to see what can be done! 

BEFORE

 AFTER

 He has more dental work to be done in the future (he has a few bleached-out spots that can be color-matched) but they recommend we wait until he is a little older to do it. I am just astonished with how much better his tooth looks! Daniel is thrilled, too. Now he can smile and feel good about it! 

Hooray for Dentists!

Catch-Up Blog

I should do more than one post but I am falling behind, so I will just make it one post full of a bunch of random things. I still don't even have this new blog the way I want it, but I will get it there, someday! 

SAMMI'S BIRTHDAY

First off, Sammi's Birthday. She turned 11 this year -- I can hardly believe it! My baby is almost in Young Women's! Yikes! This year was special for her, we decided to finally make her room look like a real room. It was time. I don't like to use the word "deserve" because I don't like the idea of being entitled to things -- but Sammi has spent the last 4 years sharing a room with her brothers, and living in a closet-bedroom in our 2 bedroom house. She was a real trooper, she made the most of it, and even loved her special closet room. (It was pretty awesome, I thought!) 

Sammi and her closet bedroom

It was a combined effort, and now her room is a lovely place for Sammi to be. She LOVES it, and is so grateful. I highly recommend depriving your children, it makes them appreciate simple things so much more. :-) 

HOORAY FOR SAMMI! 

 She wanted a Harry Potter birthday, so that is what she got! 

Sammi with her cake and Hogwarts letter

She woke-up to find she was accepted to Hogwarts, but the letter said her mother would be too sad to let her go . . . she was OK with that. Though I think she was a little disappointed she did not get to enter the Wizarding world. She will just have to keep the magic alive at home. :-) 

Grandma slaved ALL DAY to get Sammi's cake just right. I must say, it was a masterpiece! Way to go Grandma! 

She even used fondant, she found a recipe for it that actually tasted good. (Sometimes it is NASTY!) 

Sammi and Henry -- CUTIES! 

Birthday Girl

REMODELING

We have been doing some painting/remodeling furniture lately . . .

Sammi's shelves used to be wood-colored

Her drawers used to be nasty brown-stained with square handles . . . much better now! 

  Our dining chairs before . . . GROSS!

AFTER!!!

MUCH BETTER!!!

HENRY
 Henry is growing SO BIG! He is nice and chubby-cute now. I LOVE this age. He is smiling and cooing and sleeping better, too! What a doll-baby he is. 

 Just a view from our yard . . . Somewhere over the Rainbow

 It's been a fun week!

Music Time with Grandma

 I wish everyone could have a Grandma living with them . . . especially the kind of grandma who can play the piano as amazingly as my mommy! 

We have been enjoying her magic fingers in our home. 

 Last night she played music from the Phantom and Les Miserables, so the kids were THRILLED to sing along! 

There was a moment when my kids were singing together, and my mom was playing . . . and tears filled my eyes. 

There is only one thing I enjoy more than singing myself and that is listening to my children sing! There is nothing better. Nothing at all . . . 


Love, Mari


Quote of the Day: 
“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent”
― Victor Hugo

Music of the Night

While other teeny-boppers jump around dreaming of Justin Bieber . . . my daughter dreams about The Phantom of the Opera! 

A few weeks ago I showed Sammi a musical DVD of Love Never Dies, the sequel to Phantom. It had been sitting on our shelves for quite awhile, it was a DVD that grandpa sent -- but it looked a little cheesy (a sequel to THE Phantom?? That just did not seem right!). Anyway, we finally unwrapped the plastic wrap and stuck it in the DVD player. Despite my concerns . . . it was GOOD! (Not fantastic, but good.) Some of the music was super, and some just OK. And some parts were a little weird. 

But Sammi LOVED it! 
Then she watched the stage-play of the REAL Phantom of the Opera (thanks to grandma and grandpa who had it), and ever since that day she has been singing the songs, ALL THE TIME! (Think of me, think of me fondly . . . . ) She has also forced Daniel to dress up like the Phantom -- she has made him a little mask and everything. 


Since she suddenly seemed to take a keen interest in music, I thought it was time I showed her Les Miserables (The BEST MUSICAL EVER!). She liked it, a lot. However, Phantom remained her number 1. 


But who can blame her, really? The Phantom vs. Jean Valjean? When you are 11 years old, there is no question who's the winner! :-) 


And, really, who doesn't love a singing-psycho in a mask? 


Love, Mari


Quote of the Day:
Softly, deftly, music shall caress you. Hear it, feel it . . . Secretly possess you. 


-The Phantom

Bruised

I was looking at Charles' phone and I came across a picture I had never seen. Apparently, he snapped this photo right after Henry was born. (I didn't know cause I wasn't really there -- though my body was lying on the bed.) Now, just ignore that poofy-looking lady to the left, and focus on the baby. Look at his coloring. I recall mentioning how "wrong" the descent of Henry felt, it was too fast. This picture shows the crazy bruising that Henry had after he shot-out of the canal at turbo-speed. The nurses kept mentioning to me how bruised he looked. He really was banged-up. I remember (vaguely) the nurses told me I was not ready to push, but I just could NOT keep him in any longer, so I pushed! Just another result of forced labor/contractions. Poor thing. 

I was also happy to find out THIS is the image Charles has been showing all his friends/colleagues. 

Thanks, honey. 

True Love

It just doesn't get any sweeter than this! 

*Hugs*

Love, Mari 

Quote of the Day: 

"Grandmas hold our tiny hands for just a little while, but our hearts forever."