The Tooth Doctor Is Fun!

Two weeks ago, Cadence went to the "tooth doctor" or the dentist. We explained to her what was going to happen before she went so she wouldn't be scared. After much deliberation, we chose a pediatric dentist, Dr. Stanton Allen, at ABC Dentistry. I think it was a good choice so far.

At first, the hygenist showed Cadence all the equipment she was going to use and what the tools did. She even let Cadence spray some water and vacuum it up.
Then Cadence got to choose a movie to watch from the TV in the ceiling. She picked Monster Inc. She liked the headphones she got to wear while the hygenist cleaned her teeth.

Following her flossing, Cadence was lead to the sink to put the floride in her mouth. She had to bite on this foam insert that the hygenist told her would make bubbles. Cadence gagged and disliked it. She kept telling people, with a sad face, "Me no like bubbles."

After she got her teeth cleaned, they took x-rays. The technician told her to smile at the camera. She did exactly as she was told and it only took one time to get the x-ray taken.

The dentist then counted her teeth, examined them and said they looked great. He also told Cadence (at my urging) that she needs to let mom and dad assist her with brushing a couple of times a week. She likes to be totally independent and misses many areas in her mouth.She got to choose a princess sticker, a new toothbrush and paste and a little toy. Cadence was a rock star at the dentist. She was so brave and cute. I think she liked the dentist - except the bubbles. I was very proud of her!!!

Falling Down The Stairs

As Cadence was walking down the stairs, she was watching Cooper and I playing. She misstepped and fell down the last three steps, scraping her nose. She was ok, just a little scared. The next couple posts have pictures with the resulting bonk. We were going to get family pictures a few days after this, but I nixed those plans until her nose heals!

Families ARE Forever

Two weeks ago, one of my mission companions, Kim Knighton, got married in the Salt Lake Temple. She looked beautiful! I'm happy for her!

I attended while Chris watched the kids outside. The ceremony was very nice and as I sat there, I just keep thinking about my wedding. How grateful I am that Chris and I have an eternal marriage and that our beautiful kids are our forever too! Families ARE forever. It doesn't make sense that these relationships end at death! I love Chris. He is more than I ever dreamed of having. The kids are such an amazing addition to my life. How boring my life would have been if my plans of never getting married would have happened. It is strange to think that five years ago, I was very single. Now, I am married with 2 kids. Time definitely changes things!!!

Cadence, of course, loved the temple and wedding. She talks about getting married and has even had a wedding ceremony for herself. (I need to post it when I figure out how to get the pictures uploaded from a different camera.) She was enthralled with all the beautiful brides in their beautiful white dresses. She enjoyed playing on the temple steps. Hopefully, when she decides to get married, she will choose to be married in the temple. It will be fun to compare the above picture with her in a wedding dress!
Cadence kept trying to open the temple doors and got a little frustrated because "they're locked!"

Watching the water fountain and playing in the reflecting pool was a highlight for Cadence.

The temple grounds have so many places to get amazing pictures. If anyone knows a business that needs cute models, let me know. I would love to have Cadence and Cooper have a college fund with some money in it soon!!!

After the temple, Chris and I splurged! We ate lunch at Rodezio Grill, a Brazilian BBQ. We figured that if I got to relive some of my mission memories, Chris should get that same opportunity! Lunch was delicious! Wow! The meat was out of this world. I ate chicken heart for the first time and it tasted decent.

The best part was, of course, Cadence. Some person at another table had a birthday. So the employees played a drum and sang him a song. Being very excited, Cadence wanted to see and play the drums. Chris took her back to the grill and asked if she could play the drum. Because she is so cute, our waitress got the group of employees together to sing and play the drum for her. They gave her a piece of milk pudding cake (I think). She told everyone it was "my happy birthday song" and I think she believed it was her birthday again. We love Rodezio! Too bad a splurge like this happens once a decade!

Bad Hair Days

This is how Cadence wakes up some mornings. I'm not joking. We didn't rat her hair for this picture!

She calls my names and wants me to hold her for 15 minutes - not Cooper. Then we proceed to get ready for the day. She doesn't want to use the big girl potty because she wants to be a baby, but usually she will oblige my request and sit on the potty. Then we get dressed, make her bed, put her books away and....do her hair. This is the major morning struggle. She doesn't want me to comb her hair. It is snarly. It hurts. I have to get it wet. I have tried detangler that smells good and it doesn't seem to work. I put conditioner on it when we wash her hair and it helps some. Combing her hair seems to take forever. She squiggles, dances, plays around and turns her head back and forth so I can't do it. All of this happens while she is on top of the counter in the bathroom so she can't run away.

Some days, I almost give up and let her go without getting her hair combed until I think about her looking like a neglected orphan when we go out. Really, who would let their daughter be seen in public looking like the above picture? So, I am looking for solutions to this battle. Any ideas? How do I make her hair less snarly so she will let me comb it? Until the blessed day comes that I can do her hair without a huge fuss and fight, please understand that I do my best. Some of the cute braids and intricate hair styles that would look so cute will have to wait. A pony on the top of the head will have to do.

Garbage In The Road

The other day, we walked out our front door and Cadence said, "Mom, there is garbage in the road." I squinted a little more and walked a little closer to discover what the garbage actually was.

Yep. To my horror, it was a dead duck! I told Cadence that indeed it was just garbage in the road.

Why is a dead, run over duck in front of my house so horrible? Because it demonstrates to me that the people who speed through my neighborhood don't pay attention. This duck does not run fast. It was probably standing there for a minute when somebody ran it over while speeding. That could have been any of the 10 kids who live within 4 houses of mine.

While we teach oue kids to look both ways and stay on the sidewalks, there is always the implusiveness that comes with kids to run after a ball, not be able to stop their bike before the end of the drive way or something else. My plea is to please slow down on my street (and all residential streets) so no kids end up like the duck. Enough said!!!

Pictures of Pictures

I love getting my babies pictures taken when they are less than a week old. The baby hair, skin, wrinkles, and smallness just need to be captured. These pictures are pictures of the pictures I got taken about 2 months ago. Cooper is six days and Cadence is 2 years.

What beautiful children they are!!! JC Penney's did a great job on these photos.

I hope that taking close pictures of these pictures is not illegal. It is not my intent to break the law. If I get thrown in jail in the next couple of days, you will know why!

Walking In Style

I love everything about this double stroller I bought at DI except it doesn't provide shade very well. I finally found hats that cover the kids faces. Cooper looks so cute in a baseball cap. Cadence looks darling... when she will keep on her hat. She likes to take it off as soon as I put it on her. When we walk, we walk in style!!!