HEALTH NUT

While the rest of the kids are begging for sugar cereal and pop tarts, this little one has chosen a healthier diet. Ben and Nick had Sugar Puffs and peanut butter toast this morning... Kate fed her sugar puffs to the dog. Instead she had a scrambled egg, plain Greek yogurt with fresh raspberries, Kashi cereal and just a dash of honey. Other days she fights for MY breakfast, egg whites with spinach and peppers. Other than an occasional slice of turkey bacon, she doesn't eat any meat. And she loves Almond milk....

HARDWARE

In the last two weeks, both Olivia and Nick have entered the exciting world of orthodontia treatment. Unfortunately for both of them (or us, really) they have their mom's big teeth and their dad's tiny mouth. Olivia has a couple of years worth of work and then she'll be done forever. Little Nicky will have a longer road and wear braces twice. Both will be done by high school though so that's pretty nice. Of course they have been complaining about all of this but I know they are excited. Olivia's first comment to Ben after her expander was put in was, "Hey Ben, lemme show you something cool" as she opened her mouth and threw her head back. Nick couldn't wait to choose the colors of his bands today when his braces were put on. He went with the 49ers colors of red, black and gold. I think it's cute. I remember making retainers out of paper clips and thinking I was the bomb. (Then when it came time to actually start wearing headgear, that bomb exploded....;) Ask me where my retainer is today.... I have no idea.) The fun does wear off and Sissy had some sore days and tears last week but she is doing great. And the beautiful smiles they will have once it is all over will be worth it!

ADDENDUM: It's been seven hours since I wrote the post above....and the fun has officially worn off. Nick spent a good portion of his afternoon curled up in a blanket in his underwear, wailing. Apparently the kids at school made fun of him because he talks funny now and he is certain that, because of the low expander bar now in the roof of his mouth, he is going to starve to death. That worry didn't last long though.....he's already broken a brace off and I came home tonight to his expander in a plastic baggy. Heaven help this child's mother.....

TUTU

Kate wore this skirt for the first time today:

It was a very special day for me, seeing her little body dance around in the living room with it on. I screamed and cried nearly exactly two years ago today, when we first opened the wrapped box that held it. The fluffy pink tutu meant we had a healthy, perfect baby coming to our family. A miracle really. There was a time when I didn't think we would ever get our little angel. This little girl is our tiny, sweet, sassy beautiful girl and I don't know what our family would be like without her. I cried a few silent tears today as she fell asleep in my arms at nap time. Her little bare feet were crossed at the ankles like they always are and her hands were wrapped around the neck of her stuffed pig. Her little lips are perfect and her eyelashes are so ridiculously long. I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father. She is His little one and because of His love, now she is mine too.

"CHURCH DAY"

This morning, Nick came down and asked if he had to shower today. I told him yes, it is Wednesday. (FYI, he is contracted to shower on MWF and SUNDAY.) Amost immediately, Ben blurted out, "Well I'm just glad it's not Sunday. I don't like Sundays! I don't like music games. I don't like to be quiet. I don't like to wear church clothes and I DON'T like to listen! I just like the candy....."