"Snips and snails and puppy dog tails, that's what little boys are made of!"
Surrounded by my sweet boys (hubby Eric, sons Connor and Ramsey, and our dog, Jango), I thought this a rather befitting name for my crew's blog. To our cherished friends and family, happy viewing! We love you!
The biggest Christian holiday has finally arrived... the day we celebrate the birth of Baby Jesus.
And... open up presents from Santa and his elves.
Ramsey dug right in and found fun boxes of Legos (WWII soldiers and Task Force/SWAT), candy, and other larger items that would not fit inside a mere stocking.
First bigger gift: a gun.
Ramsey was questioning how the elves could possibly make toy AK-47s.
We talked about potential out-sourcing.
Oh look. Another gun.
Handmade M1 Garand, straight from the North Pole (Etsy?).
While Ramsey played with his new Legos and toys, Eric, Jango, and I all chilled with some football. Yes, football. On Christmas. So weird.
On a wintery Christmas Eve, with just three of us, there was no need to rush or scurry. We just did what we wanted to do.
Step 1: Bake cookies for Santa!
Do NOT miss any of the batter - get every ounce of it!!
Step 2: Take lots of pictures!
Even if your husband thinks you're a weirdo and hates having his picture taken! Take 'em anyway!!
Someday, we'll have the wonderful photos to remember happy times.
Step 3: Open presents!!
Of the gifts I gave Eric, this one was the best. ha!
Aaaaaand, here's a gun. I think it was a toy M16. I dunno. Ask Ramsey.
A beautiful onyx chess set was in this box. Nice! I used to play on a tan/beige and cream onyx chess set with my grandmother when I was young. I loved it!
Hmm.. what could this be.. in a long skinny box?
Ya, another gun. ...some sort of toy long rifle. Again, no idea what it is... ask the kid.
Cold hard cash!
Ramsey loves him some cash.
And a check for mo money!
The kiddo brought in a good haul, with Army and Delta Force t-shirts, a Delta Force baseball hat, some pants, camo Dude shoes, a pair of new tennies, boxing gloves, a new gaming controller, socks, plus two new board games for his teacher (how sweet was that?!)
Jango got a chew toy.... and a beef stick.
Eric helped Ramsey put his AK-47 together.
Step 4: Put out cookies and milk for Santa, plus carrots for the reindeer. We left them on the table this year so Jango wouldn't try to eat the cookies.
Today was the big day that the elementary school kids had been practicing for, for months - the holiday concert.
Ramsey isn't so enthused about wearing bowties anymore (not since some kid told him he looked like an old man in them - argh!). But, for me... he wore won. Also, for $5. 🤣
The 4th Graders performed three songs; "look What Old Man Winter Has Done!", "Decorate the Christmas Tree", and "Oy Chanuke" (a Jewish folk song).
Ramsey was asked to read in church today. Silly Mom didn't check emails to see the request that had come through the week prior, for said reading. So... Ramsey was late getting the request, rehearsed once before church with the mic, and is depicted as "Child 2"!!
The video is difficult to understand. But...
He loved it and is looking forward to the next time he's able to do this.
Ramsey HATES losing teeth. I'm not sure if it's the uncertainty of possible pain or discomfort. I do know that it's a sign of growing up and he doesn't like the idea of growing up.
In late June, he showed me his front incisors (the ones next to the front teeth). They were both loose - very wiggly indeed!
On the first day we were at Nana and Bumpa's cabin (July 1st), Ramsey lost the top left lateral incisor tooth. The permanent tooth had already been growing in behind it, eagerly wanting to be the only tooth in that position!
We thought, "for sure", the right lateral incisor would be coming out that very same week!
WRONG.
For the next few months, he twirled that tooth around and around, up and down. It was literally hanging on by a thread. And, that thread/gum was stubborn and had a grip like Iron Man.
I'd do periodic updates to make him show it to me. Ramsey told me I was obsessed and he feared I'd just yank it. I didn't... I was nice. (Boy did I WANT to thought!!) After a while, Eric didn't ask to see it anymore... he just couldn't look, as it grossed him out so bad. ha!
Before school started, I told Ramsey the tooth was COMING OUT before the first day. He begged me to let him keep it because he was so freaked out. I caved and let that darn thing continue to dangle. Ramsey's friends at school told him, "Just yank that thing out already!" Apparently they also could not understand why it needed to remain intact.
School picture day was noted to be September 19th. I told Ramsey, he was NOT going to have his crazy tooth in his 4th Grade picture... it was coming out, for sure!
On the Saturday morning before, I told Ramsey he was banned from playing video games until I got that tooth out. Reluctantly, he agreed.
Today was the day... September 16th - a momentous day indeed! Or not... glad we're finally DOING this.
After semi-wrangling this child with verbal Judo, he allowed me to take a Kleenex and pinch his tooth. He barely moved and it was out of his mouth. BOOM. Done. It was so very anti-climactic, but it was over.
Unimpressed, he put a wash cloth dipped in cold water and sucked on it. Jango was curious. HE seemed impressed.
Here's that naughty little stinkin tooth:
And here's a much nicer-looking smile!
He still had a weird flappy piece of gum that was going to need to shrivel up. But, better than that a snaggletooth on picture day.
Picture Day 2024 - 4th Grade:
I've already said a few prayers that the next tooth comes out with a bite of apple or something!!
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