Yellowstone 2010 - Days 1 & 2

VACATION 2010 - DAYS 1 & 2

Warning: The narrative in this post will be followed by TONS of photos...don't say I didn't warn you!

When we asked BBug several months ago what she wanted to do for vacation this year, her response was "see elk and bears and wolves and o-coyotes." So that's just what we did back at the beginning of October (yes, I know I'm way behind).

We figured what better place to see all of those things than Yellowstone National Park. We loaded up, along with our good friends Uncle M and Aunt A and headed west. I was super nervous about the kids on the flights, because although BBug has flown before this would be BuddyRoe's first trip in the friendly (we hoped) skies. Despite some stomach issues due to undiluted apple juice, everyone did really well on the flights to Denver and then again to Bozeman, MT. When we arrived in Bozeman we transferred our 5 checked bags, 7 carry-ons, 2 carseats and 6 people to the rented Suburban and set off on the final hour and a half journey to West Yellowstone, MT.

The first thing we did after we got settled in was head to dinner. The lady that we rented the cabin from recommended a local restaurant called Bullwinkles. There was a decent crowd when we got there, so we figured it must be pretty good. Um...maybe not so much. It wasn't bad, but the steaks sure weren't what we're used to here. They were very lean and didn't have much flavor to them at all. At that point in the day though, we were just glad to be fed and on our way.

After dinner we walked across the street to one of the two very small grocery stores - for my family in GA, think IGA - and spent a small fortune on groceries for the week. I guess when there aren't any other options you (the grocery store) can charge whatever you want to for food! Seriously, $8 for a carton of Breyers ice cream!!

Once our bellies and the refrigerator were full we all hit the sack for a good night's sleep in preparation for our first day in the park!

When we woke up the next morning we ate a good breakfast at the cabin and then packed up everything we would need for lunch and snacks. See, I told you before I'm cheap thrifty! Then it was off to Yellowstone!

The first day was amazing! It truly is a "different world" out there. I know that all of God's handiwork is amazing, but seriously, this place is take-your-breath-away stunning! I was so excited that NahNah (my mom) let me take her (way better than mine) camera with me! On the first day we drove the southern loop (Yellowstone's major roads form like a figure-eight) and saw tons of animals, the Fountain Paint Pots, Old Faithful - although we didn't see it erupt on the first day - Old Faithful Inn, Yellowstone Lake, the Upper and Lower Falls and so much more! We didn't spend a lot of time at any one thing, but I think that was best with the kids.

I really can't put in to words the awe that I was in out there, so I'll just spend the rest of the post sharing pictures from those first couple of days. And I'll warn you again, there are a lot of pictures!! Also, when I upload the pictures, they get out of order and I'm just too lazy to go in and rearrange them, so out-of-order they will be!!

Did Someone Say "Free"?

What's that I hear?  Did someone say "free"? 

Indeed they did!  The very cool people at Shutterfly are giving away 50 free Holiday Cards to bloggers!  And when I say "bloggers" I don't just mean the big, fancy ones like Pioneer Woman and Kelly over at Kelly's Korner.  Not that they aren't cool or anything, but it's nice for us little people with 11 followers to get some recognition too! 

I'm super excited about this giveaway for a couple of reasons.  First, I'm really cheap thrifty, so "free" is right up my alley!  And second, I love - I mean L-O-V-E the Shutterfly cards this year!  I was actually drooling over them a couple days ago, and that was before I heard about this giveaway! 

I'm big in to square cards this year and they have a great selection to choose from in their Christmas Cards section!

 I also love that they have a nice selection of cards with sentiments that, in my opinion, recognize the true meaning of the Christmas season! 

But, if you celebrate Hanukkah instead of Christmas, they have cards for that (and others) as well in their Holiday Cards selection! 

While they're only giving away holiday cards to bloggers, that's not all they have.  My momma asked for a 2011 wall calendar with all of the family and close friends' birthdays already included.  This is actually the third or fourth year I've done this for her so it's not a secret.  Now, my momma - bless her ah-mazing heart - needs the BIG calendar so she can a) see it and b) fit all of her goings-on in it!  But if that weren't the case, one of these Calendars would be perfect! 

Yes, I know this sounds like a commercial.  And I guess it kind of is, I mean after all, I am going to get "paid" (in 50 cards) for this, but I can honestly tell you that I was a fan of Shutterfly before I knew anything about this give-away and would have told you that they have the cutest cards even if I wasn't getting any for free!! 

So remember, bloggers get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly...sign up at http://bit.ly/sfly2010!

It's Not Good to Brag

I know, I know, it's not good to brag.  But is it really bragging if someone else actually said it? 

BBug & Mrs. L on the first day of VPK

I met with BBug's VPK (voluntary pre-k) teacher yesterday afternoon for her mid-term review, and she said she is doing great!  The teacher's words when I sat down..."I'm not going to tell you all the wonderful things about her, we'd be here all day."   Now like I said, I know it's not good to brag but really...that just made this momma too proud!! 

Her teacher said that if we were to enroll her in Kindergarten today, she would already meet and surpass all of the recommended guidelines!  The teacher said in her notes that BBug is always busy, asks a lot of questions, and is very observant, leading her to the level she's at. 

A story that the teacher told me was about a day recently when she asked the kids in the class to take a pencil and piece of paper and walk around the classroom writing down any words that they saw and wanted to know.  She said all of the kids wrote down a handful of words and came back, but that BBug walked around and around the room writing down page after page of words!  I'm extremely proud of my girl for her book smarts and drive to learn. 

But what I'm even more proud of are the comments that the teacher had about her heart.  She said that BBug has a sweet heart and is always concerned with taking care of others.  She told me about a day last week when another little girl in class starting screaming that she was bleeding (she has eczema and her skin had started bleeding from it), before the teacher could even get across the room to her BBug had run in to their bathroom and brought back a wet tissue for the little girl to put on her leg.  It's that concern and love for her friends that makes this momma the most proud! 

Just so everyone knows I don't think my child is perfect (although she's pretty stinkin' close!) the teacher did she that there were a couple of issues they were working on.  She said BBug is a bit of a perfectionist and doesn't like to lose - who does!?  She said they were working on that by sometimes putting her in situations that they know she won't win/succeed at, just so she can learn that not being the best/winner is ok.  The teacher also said that she talks alot!  I have no idea where she gets that from (ahem, NahNah).  She said that anytime a question is asked BBug has to be the one to answer, and she always has to be right...according to the teacher though, the problem is, BBug is almost always right!  So, she has to remind her that just because she knows the answer doesn't mean the other kids don't need a chance to answer too!  

OK, now that you're all bored to death hearing about how cool I think my kid is...I have one funny story to end with.  BBug's teacher recently had a baby - the day that she left for maternity leave she sat the kids down to tell them that she was going to be gone for a while and to please be nice to the substitute.  Well, when she finished telling them that, BBug stood up and proceeded to tell them exactly what the teacher's baby delivery would entail!  According to the teacher she said,

"Mrs. L will go to her doctor and he'll send her to the hospital.  She'll get a room at the hospital and then the doctor will cut open her tummy.  He'll take the baby out of her tummy and then use tape to close her tummy back up.  Then she'll go to her room and rest.  Then she'll bring the baby home and rest with him."  

Yes folks, obviously I had a c-section with my second child and she paid attention!  Nevermind the fact that she was 2 1/2 at the time!!  The teacher said she was just worried she was going to start going in to more detail!!  

Operation No More Ma: Update

In my last post I mentioned that we were undertaking "Operation No More Ma" and "Operation Sayonara Sippy Cup" due to BuddyRoe's two, yes two, cavities that we must have filled. 

Well, I wanted to give you an update on Operation No More Ma.  The dentist gave us some advice on how to break BuddyRoe from the ma and we decided to give it a shot.  She said to "cut it back a little each day." 

When she said that, I assumed she meant take it away for an hour the first day, two hours the second and so on.  Oh no...she meant C-U-T, cut it!  Like literally take a pair of scissors and snip a piece off of the end.  After a couple of days she said to snip a little bit more off, and continue that pattern until

eventually he wouldn't like the way it felt anymore

and would give it up. 

I'll be honest, I was more than a little apprehensive about the idea of the screams that were about to begin but I decided to try her method out.  The same day as his appointment I went home and snipped the very tip off of all of his ma's.  Just a tiny sliver at the end.  When I gave it back to Buddy he put it in his mouth, immediately pulled it back out, looked at it, said "ma broke" and handed it to me.  He then went about his business with NO MA!!  He didn't ask for it again that afternoon.  At bedtime he was a little fussy but when I asked if he wanted his ma he said, "No, ma broke." 

I swear, I heard a hallelujiah chorus!!  The dentist told me it would probably take a couple weeks, and I doubted it would work at all, but one night...ONE NIGHT!  It was a miracle!

Now, he did wake up screaming for it three times in the middle of the night.  So, sucker that I am, I gave him the one that I hadn't cut (just in case of emergency).  But before he woke up the next morning we took it out and put one of the "broke" ones in its place.  When he woke up, it was once again "ma broke."  And when he got to daycare he walked in and immediately told his teachers, "ma broke." 

I won't call Operation No More Ma a complete success until I throw the very last (emergency) one away, but I'm more than pleased with the progress made so far!

My Mission...Should I Choose To Accept It

I'm on a mission, two really. And I have to accept them whether I want to or not!

BuddyRoe went to the dentist today for the first time. Well, technically he went once when he fell and busted his teeth, but this was his first non-emergency visit. We went because he's been fussing when we brush his front two top teeth, and we noticed two small holes on the back of them.

Yep, that's right. Baby Boy has his first TWO cavities!! We have to go in and have filings put in both of them. They're going to attempt permanent (or as permanent as they can be on baby teeth) filings, but since he's too young for sedation in their office they may have to settle for a temporary fix. Either way we're looking at several hundred dollars. Y'all these kids are killing me!

The dentist told us the cavities are most likely directly linked to his constant use of a sippy cup. So...mission #1...Operation Sayonara Sippy Cup!

As of today, sippy cups will only be used in the car on trips and for other emergency situations. For example, if he gets sick and needs fluids I'll give him the sippy cup for ease. Otherwise, it's a big boy cup for BuddyRoe. And while we're at it, those big boy cups will be filled with water rather than juice! And this coming from someone who makes their living based on a fruit juice!

The other thing the dentist mentioned is his pacifier. She wasn't overly concerned about it, but did note that they like to see the kids weaned by their second birthday. Since that is rapidly approaching (one month and five days to be exact), we are on mission #2...Operation No More Ma*!

*He calls his pacifier "ma"...please don't ask me why. It's right up there with calling his blanket "gunky." I don't know why he does it, I just know he does!

I've accepted the fact that neither of these missions is going to be fun or easy. Unfortunately, I've allowed my child to become addicted to both the ma and the sippy cup, and now I have to accept the consequences. Whether I want to or not!

A Picture a Day

I'm not sure that there's anyone left out there reading this other than the two grandmas, but for them alone I'm back to put up some pictures.

Even though we've had a good bit going on lately, I haven't really had much to say on here. So, I've stayed away. But hopefully that will change...I've set a goal for myself.

BBug officially started VPK (voluntary pre-kindergarten) on Monday, and my goal is to take a picture of her every single day of this "school year." I don't necessarily mean a posed, here she is picture. Just something to show some of the different things she's up to throughout the year. I'm taking pictures of Buddy at the same time, don't worry!

So, to catch up on the last couple of days...

Like I said, Monday was her first official day of VPK and she and Buddy were all ready for school (yes, he carries my purse)...

Although she's at the same preschool she's been going to for a while, she moved to a new classroom this week. Mrs. Libssen is now her teacher and she's fantastic! She's expecting a little boy in November, but only plans to take 3 weeks off because she doesn't want to be away from her kids at school (don't worry, she'll only be away from the baby for 4 hours a day when she comes back!).

Tuesday, here in Florida was voting day for the primaries! Charleigh was so excited to go with me, and even though she didn't go in to the polling place (she, Buddy and Daddy hung out in the car while I voted - Daddy voted earlier in the day) she made sure we all knew who she supported!

Mr. Ben is a friend of ours and we're proud to say that he won his primary race!

I don't know how well I'll do, but NahNah & Gramma, just for you I'll try to keep up with my goal of a picture a day so you'll both get your fix! And just as an added bonus, here are a few more random shots...

We have a winner!

Early this morning I put all (three) of the names for the Pay-It-Forward Giveaway in a bowl and asked BBug to draw a winner. The name she selected was...

Congratulations Aunt Beth!!

I'll get your goodies to you soon and can't wait to see what you come up with for your own giveaway!

Now I feel that I need to add a few disclaimers to the above picture!

1. It was early - like 6:00 a.m. early - and BBug had literally just opened her eyes when I stuck the bowl in her face and said draw a name!

2. The bangs...oh the bangs! We're in the process of letting them grow out and it is not pretty! We're going today to see if the hairdresser can do anything with them short of cutting them off again!

3. She picks out her own jammies. Enough said!