My Faith and Joy… and Boys!

There’s something missing in our home as of Tuesday – Susie’s tooth!  Much to all of our surprise, the tooth that only started wiggling a week ago is already gone!  Apparently while Susie was eating lunch at school, she reached up to wiggle her tooth for the umpteenth time that day and was shocked to find it had fallen out.  We assume she must have swallowed it, but she took it in stride once we assured her she’d still find something under her pillow the next day. 

When the kids were young, Jim and I decided that we would tell the kids the truth about the Tooth Fairy, Santa, etc, but that we would still emphasize to the kids that we can have fun pretending.  So even though Susie knew it was going to be her parents sneaking into her room that night, she was still so excited she could barely stand it.  And honestly, I was too!  I found an idea online to paint the quarters with glitter nail polish so they would “sparkle” with fairy dust.  Much to my surprise, I actually had purple sparkly nail polish in my possession (thanks Mom!), so I was able to transform some ordinary coins into magic ones, and I printed out an envelope to put them in under her pillow.  I swapped it for the picture of a tooth we drew in place of her actual tooth.  Susie found the envelope the next morning and was so bowled over by her sparkly coins that she took them to school with her, and then took them to bed with her the next night.  I love the fact that she is still entranced by the magic of this whole experience, even though she knows it’s all make-believe.  My grown-up girl still has a marvelous childlike imagination!

The day before Thanksgiving, the guys agreed to watch all the kids so us ladies could go shopping.  So my mother-in-law, sister-in-law, niece and I had a wonderful time at a nearby outlet shopping mall while the guys herded kids.  We met up for dinner, but not before the guys took the kids to an arcade, where Danny eagerly inspected the candy and games:

Thanksgiving day dawned sunny and a touch warmer, so to further appreciate the gorgeous scenery, we drove out to the National Park and hiked the path to Laurel Falls.  Only Jim and Jon made it the whole way (the kids’ little legs weren’t quite up to the challenge on the icy path!), but it was a lovely outing. 

It was on that hike that Susie realized she had her first loose tooth!  It was a very momentous occasion!

Here’s the “kids’ table” at our take-out Thanksgiving meal:

After dinner, we took an evening stroll to walk off a few of those eagerly-consumed calories:

Danny found out that icicles look more exciting than they taste!

And we ended the holiday curled up by the fire and playing games.  It was a perfect day!

Many of my fondest childhood memories involve trips to see my out-of-state cousins, and I am sure the same will hold true for my kids.  We just returned from a wonderful, action-packed trip to Tennessee with Jim’s parents and sister’s family, and it’s safe to say my kids were on cloud nine the whole time.  From sun-up to sun-down (and usually before and after the sun!), the cousins giggled and played and squealed and wrestled and hugged and chatted with each other.  We were all so impressed by how well the kids got along with each other (the only exception being that Danny sometimes greeted his cousins’ sweet overtures with an irritated, wrinkled-nosed “Bah!”  We’re all hopeful he’ll be more receptive at our next visit!).  And of course, the little kids all flocked to their big cousin Alli, who entertained and embraced them nonstop. 

Tennessee didn’t fail to provide amazing adventures our whole week, including a chilly snowstorm that blanketed our rental mountaintop cabin.  While the adults were wishing for warmer temperatures, the kids thoroughly enjoyed the snow!  And seeing kids all bundled up with hats, gloves, boots and pink cheeks is awfully cute, even when you’re freezing!

Here’s the first installment of the many pictures I took this week.  Looking back through them is making me miss everyone even more!

Our rental cabin, complete with three levels of decks overlooking the Smoky Mountains:

We took the kids to an arcade the first night there.  Isn’t it great when they enjoy the games without having to put any money in? 😉

Danny did occasionally let himself be cuddled by Kate!

Sweet Alli:

We took a great hike, led by Jim in his new quest to take as many steps as possible (thanks to a fancy new Fitbit pedometer!).  I don’t think Danny was quite up to Jim’s speed. 

We couldn’t get enough of the breathtaking Smoky Mountain vistas:

Alli was such a good sport to squeeze in the back and listen to the kids’ incessant chatter!

Becky and Susie came nose-to-nose with stuffed wildlife behind glass:

As well as with LIVE wildlife behind glass!

Some of the group took an air tram ride in Ober Gatlinburg:

Bubba and the baby:

Uncle Jon giving the kids a breakfast Bible lesson:

The kids used a downpour as an excuse to go stomping in puddles with umbrellas:

And of course they had to warm up afterward with a soak in the hot tub:

Pappy’s lap was frequently full this week!

More pictures to come!

After reading a story about the Swan Princess, Susie was bound and determined to make herself into one.  She decided to have me draw a swan’s head and neck (wearing a crown, of course), twice, which she cut out.  She did the same with wings.  Then she instructed me to fasten these “masks” to her head in the front and the back and the wings to her sides.  She wore (mostly) white clothes and kneeled on a white pillow.  She was very proud of her creation, and I was proud of her vision and execution!  

The girls had “crazy hat day” and “pajama day” at school a while ago.  The girls were really excited about it, even though EVERY day is crazy hat day and pajama day at our house!