That's Quite a Gag Reflex

Well the time has come to start spending millions on orthodontics. My sweet Lexi has the worst teeth ever known to man. She has a horrible overbite and a lot of crowding. My mom figures after all my sisters and my ortho work she bought our orthodontist's boat. I suppose it's my turn now. The first real appointment, she had to have impressions. So they shove this molding stuff in Lexi's mouth to make a mold of her teeth . Poor Lexi is gagging and dry heeving during the 2 minute ordeal. Hunter was with us. I was busy paying attention to Lexi to notice Hunter. Another assistant in the office pointed to him and asked if he was ok, so I turn and look and there is Hunter sympathy gagging for Lexi. His face all red and tears streaming down his face from gagging so hard. I was just waiting for him to throw up. I'm like come on Hunter get a grip, don't look at her if it is too much for you. We made it through with no mess thank goodness. She will start out with a wire on the bottom to try and make it so each tooth so its own space. In two years, she will be a metal mouth. I had braces for three years from 3rd to 6th grade I am so glad my teeth were fixed I had some real buckeroos for my front ones. Lexi already has such a sweet smile that hopefully we can rope those front ones in and she will have an even better one.

Where's your accent from?

We all have different quirks that makes us unique and who we are. I think that I have probably the craziest one of all. Before this week I thought that it was a in the moment type of thing, but I soon learned that it wasn't. What am I talking about you might ask. Well I have the ability when I am talking to someone who has an accent whether it be Asian, Hispanic, Canadian, you name it I am capable of taking it on. I definitely don't do it on purpose, but all of a sudden I sound just like the person I am talking to. I go from plain English to rolling my Rs or talking with a drawl. It is embarrassing, I try my hardest not to do it, but it just slips out without my control. This past week a family friend of the Holman's came to stay and she is from Canada. You guessed it, the whole time she was here I sounded Canadian. This is how I learned that I can take on an accent without talking to someone with one because the whole time she was here whether I was around her or not I spoke with a Canadian accent. I might have even thrown in an "a" once or twice. I guess I just like to make everyone feel welcome and right at home.

I swear it happened...

My grandma had to have an endoscopy done the other day and it reminded me of a funny story that Wynden and and I still disagree about.

When I was 20 (sounds like forever ago), I had a few stomach problems ranging from H-pylori to a slowly digesting stomach (comparing to a 90 year old) and the list goes on. Any way during this time I had an endoscopy done too. An endoscopy is where they put you out, spray some stuff in your mouth to open things up, and then make you swallow a small camera like device so to view the inside of your stomach. Basically similar to a colonoscopy, but not :)

The nurse that was over my procedure was a man. A big guy, who had a barbed wire tattoo around his bicep. He was really nice and could tell I was nervous. I have never been good with being put out, I wake-up sick as a dog. Anyway they did the procedure and as I was laying on the bed waking up (now this is where Wynden and I disagree, but he wasn't in the room he was in the waiting room) the man nurse came over put his hand on my arm, told me I did really good, and then kissed me on the cheek. When we got in the car to go home, I told Wynden and he was like yeah right you were just out of it still. But till this day I still say that this really happened I was still maybe a little out of it, but I swear this happened, if only I could find that nurse and ask.

Is that a compliment?

For ten years I worked at a drive thru espresso that my parents owned. Sometimes I remember things that people would say to me. Most of the time I crack up, but for some reason I don't think I will ever find what this person said to me funny. He told me that I looked like Chelsey Clinton...What do you even say back to that? Certainly not thanks. We have all seen what she looks like. I have heard several jokes making fun of the way that she looks. Is it even called a compliment if you don't think it is nice? What is the worst compliment you have ever received? I think that one tops my list.

p.s. I hope you all laughed about the Chelsey Clinton look-a-like and if you think that I do look like her or resemble her in any way I don't want to hear it. Capisce.

Do the Potty Dance!

See video first http://vimeo.com/8765967

This guy's mom must be so proud. Speaking of proud mamas, Hallie is potty trained (or close enough)! I was so scared to potty train her (you would think with her being the fourth child I would be a pro right). She was really ready last summer believe it or not, but I wasn't, so then she forgot how and never wanted to. I missed my opportunity. She is enrolled for preschool for the next school year and I began to feel some pressure. Two weeks ago she tinkled for the first time since summer on the toilet. Then the beginning of last week I started putting underwear on her all day. She was a pro. She has conquered all challenges on the toilet and even stays dry during nap and every night except for one. We left the house on several occasions and she made it through. I am always thinking that Hallie is younger at this age than the other kids were, but I think I cut her short on the ability she has to do things. I tell her all the time "you are so good at this" and she says "I know I am". She is one smart cookie after all. Her reward...Chuck E Cheeses. Yea for Hallie.

It's Been A Year Already?!

You guessed it this sweet boy is one today. My baby is growing up too fast! He is bigger than any of my other kids were at this age. His feet are huge! I tried forever to find a size four that would fit when finally I figured out that he skipped that size and went from a 3 to a size 5. That is why the poor kid never wears shoes because his feet grow out of control. I struggled a little to think that this is my last. I love babies. I love to see what they are going to look like, what their personality is going to be like, and what their part in our family will be (the clown, the drama queen, etc.). Anyway Happy Birthday Diesel, we love you!

I'm Special Because...

The other day Lexi cleaned out her backpack, as I was looking through her schoolwork I came across a book obviously given to her by the counselor. It was a book entitled Read all about me. Most of it wasn't filled out, but what was filled out was the page I'm special because...and Lexi filled in "I have a family" and then below that was a picture she had drawn of our family. This was a very proud and happy moment for me. Out of everything she could have chosen she chose her family. Her family is who she is, it defines her as a person and she feels special because of this.

I have been thinking a lot about children who have to deal with divorce lately and it truly makes me sad and very mad actually. I realize there are certain situations, but for the most part divorce is such a selfish choice.

Growing up there were quite a few kids whose parents had divorced, but I guess I didn't realize how lucky I was that mine had stayed together. I wish that I had been more empathetic towards those kids whose parents had divorced, but I guess I didn't realize the toll it takes on kids when their sense of normal is suddenly taken from them. How hard it would be to suddenly have mom's time and dad's time separately instead of together. I guess I always thought it was cool that they got a present from their dad and their mom. What I didn't realize is that they were missing out on the greatest gift of all and that is being a family. So I guess all I have left to say is thanks mom and dad for staying married and setting the greatest example for me and my posterity.