What a day…fun but totally packed. Carlos and Levi had a visit to the dentist this morning, they both got gold stars and did a good job. It’s more to get them used to it so they don’t freak out and never want to go as an adult. They love to brush their teeth so we’re good there, just have to start flossing (yuck!) and I’m not looking forward to that one.

Dee took Carlos to finish up some last minute shopping, while I headed to the Evil Empire with Trey and Levi. Shopping was quick (I had to get a Wii controller) and when we got home we got a visit from Gay and Rob. So nice to see them and they brought some cool dinosaurs for the boys. I love the “hat” and “slippers” that roar and the boys all took turns putting them on and being the dinosaur. They also made some delicious cookies that we will be enjoying for awhile!

Nana and Papa came over for dinner tonight and we made Pork Chops with Hot Slaw. It’s a recipe from Beth (thanks Beth!) that we LOVE. We don’t get it too often because if we did, well, we’d expire. It’s got bacon, pork chops, cabbage, brown sugar and cider vinegar. If you want the recipe, just ask, it’s well worth it. Tonight was the night that the local fire department came around our neighborhood with the Christmas firetruck. One of my very favorite things about living here, it’s the small town stuff. We heard them coming up the road, we grabbed the boys and Nana and Papa and went out on the porch. They stopped the truck right at our driveway and played a whole song for us! The boys loved it. You just don’t get that anywhere.

After dinner we dropped in on Kathy and Glenn (Kathy’s the boy’s teacher and they’ve been friends for years) to drop off a check, we bought the van from them. They had an amazing antique train set under their tree that the boys fell in love with. Glenn made the calculated mistake of getting on his hands and knees and being a horse, and all three boys jumped right up on his back. He also wrestled around with them. Kathy and Glenn and truly special people and we just think the world of them. After the boys got all hyped up, we came home and tried to get them to bed. It wasn’t tooooooooo painful, they were tired.

Dee and I got some time to play the new Nintendo Wii. We love it, it’s going to be great. Lots of moving and competition. Carlos likes the bowling, we like the baseball (duh) and Donkey Kong is pretty fun. We haven’t played them all yet, but it’ll be something new and different for us to do.

Also, some pictures of Family Dinner with Mary and Alice….the gingerbread house making (which we discovered this morning that Abbie had eaten a wall of the house!) and Mary’s new slippers!