Happy New Year

I will ring in the new year with the boys this year. Brett has to work. It really sucks especially because he doesn't get out of work till 12:30. I'm guessing he isn't going to sell many policies tonight. The boys have taken it easy this week not having school. It's been pajama day every day. Which is fine....I would love to sit around in my pj's all day. So tonight I got home from work, it's cold and snowy outside and I got into mine. Then the boys and I sat down to enjoy our last night of Nickelodeon (as it appears to be going off the air at 12:01 due to stupid negotiations with Time Warner). We enjoyed popcorn and milkshakes for dinner. None of us really felt like eating much. Cody is already asleep so before he shut his eyes he told me "2009 is my favorite number". Dylan and Tyler are watching SpongeBob but I am sure will be fast asleep by the time the ball drops. I hope to make it but we will see. My sister is at my brother's and I so wish I was there. We are going next week - we leave Thursday and I can't wait! My mom is going out, to a bar to listen to their favorite band. It seems the days have switched. I used to be going out and she staying home.

2008 was a good year for us........(in no order)
1. Tyler peddled a bike
2. Cody and Dylan went on their first airplane ride to Las Vegas
3. My nephew Jack was born
4. No surgeries
5. Brett became a varsity official
6. Tanya, Mom and I took all the kids to Knoebles and survived the day! :)
7. Cody was featured on the cover of the clinic brochure
8. Brett and I hosted our 2nd Annual Family day for the Lucky Smiles Families
9. Dylan "loved" the pool - especially doing "cannonballs".
10. 2009 will bring even more good memories...............Stay tuned throughout the year.

Happy New Year everyone!

Unexpected Expenses

Well today as I was at my desk, I glanced down to my ring finger and noticed that something didn't look right. Sure enough - one of my diamonds was GONE! Thankfully not the big one but rather one of the small marquise on the side. I have no idea when it happened but I am thinking it was very recent as I tend to look at my ring a lot.

So at lunch I went to Kay's to see what can be done. They are sending my ring in for an estimate. All of my prongs were very worn down and the girl said I was lucky I hadn't lost more of them. So am I. So we wait for the estimate to see if they just repair it or if I get a new wrap. (My engagement ring was a solid diamond with a wrap that went around it) If it's cheaper - she did say I could "trade in" my old one and basically they would give me double the trade in merchandise for 1/2 the cost. Example.....give me $500, I could get a $1000 wrap for $500. Or...in January they are having a resetting sale and they could take my diamond and reset into a whole new ring. So we will see what we will do after we hear the estimate.

I hate not having it. My finger feels bare and I am constantly looking at my finger like I lost something. I think my heart skips a beat and then I remember where it is at. Just was not planning on coming up with money to fix it. But don't mess with a girls diamond!

Hope Everyone had a Merry Christmas

The Luckey's had a great Christmas. Christmas Eve we went to my mom's for dinner and presents. The boys got lots of fun stuff. Then it was home to set up for Santa. We sprinkled oatmeal with sprinkles on the lawn so Rudolph could find his way. Then we left milk, cookies and carrots for Santa and his reindeer and a key around the front door as we don't have a chimney. Finally the boys went to sleep to dream of all the presents to come. Santa did a great job and we had 3 very happy little boys on Xmas morning. We finished the day with more presents and great food at my sisters. Only thing missing was my brother and his family.

On Friday we left for Cuba and had another great weekend with family and more presents and great food.

We are very lucky to have great families. And we love them very much.

An Action Shot! They all got decorative pillows...Cody Pikachu, Tyler Speed Racer, Dylan Skateboard.

A call from Santa

My Christmas boys!!!! Santa called from the North Pole tonight! (or Maryland, they are close right?) The boys were so surprised and full of smiles. It was so cute. Santa told them each to be good. Asked Cody about his pill he takes. Asked Dylan about the oatmeal he is leaving out for Rudolph. Tyler just grinned ear to ear. They were so excited. Dylan did say at one point "I don't think this is him"....then when Santa asked him "what do you want for Christmas" Dylan just sayed "I already told you". I've said it a million times - he is just like his father!

My little boys are sleeping and it's time to wrap. Have a very Merry Christmas!!!!!

Kids never cease to amaze me.

I don't usually have many dull moments in my life living with 3 very active little boys. This morning was no different. Every morning Cody need to take his thyroid medication. He knows he has to take it but has started to "fight" me on doing it. This morning we are trying to get out of the house and it's like 2 degrees outside (no joke) so I give him his pill and drink and go outside to start the Van. I come in and he is crouched down in front of our door to go to the basement. Weird! I asked if he took the pill. He says with a smile "yes". Some how I did not believe him. He just had THAT look. I asked if he put it under the door. He says "no". So I go to open the door and he hightails it to the living room. Yep, he put it under the door! UGH - so now I need to watch him every morning take it.

Yesterday I did all of my baking. The boys had parties at school today and we had to take in a sweet treat. So Cody and Dylan took cookies and Tyler took brownies. Well while baking the boys sampled. Then they started to "sneak" a cookie. Well I think Cody had way to much. He ended up getting sick last night. So I told him today he needed to eat more "healthy" food. So this afternoon, I am chatting with my mom and she said they had sampled the cookie platter more. Cody was giving her a fit about eating healthy. I had her ask him if he wanted to talk to me. He said: "No, I already know what she is going to say." Kids, they are cute!

So the teacher forgot to get out the cookies at the party. Dylan was NOT HAPPY! He loves these cookies.

Can't believe it's Christmas this week. Have more wrapping to do but not sure when that is getting done. Only 1 more full day of work left. Looking forward to that.

Merry Christmas!

The first real snow of the season

Today we got our first "real" snow fall of the season. I think we ended up with around 8 inches. Might get a couple more overnight and then they are calling for another storm on Sunday. Work closed 2 hours early so that was nice. After carefully driving home, the boys were outside shoveling and I joined them. Cody stayed out for a few minutes - he is NOT my outside boy. Dylan and Tyler played forever.

Cody enjoyed the snow (for a minute) then he preferred to go in with his Pokemon's!

Dylan and Tyler built up a little mound of snow and had to "sit" on it! Nothing like Tonka in the snow! These used to be Uncle Kevin's. Keep the boys busy for a couple hours. Molly loves the snow too!

A little catch up about the boys

So besides the hub bub of Christmas and shopping and all the prep work that goes into it - there really hasn't been a whole lot new with us. That is a good thing. Cody is taking his medication every day and doing really well with it. At times I wonder if it doesn't make him a little hyper but I can't really pin point it to the drug. One thing for sure is he doesn't complain that he is tired. So this is obviously working. The real test will come in Feb. when we do blood work to test his thyroid levels again. Dylan is doing well. I am very curious to see what he weighs in Jan at thier 5 year check up as he is really packing on the pounds. He loves to eat! He's doing well in school although the teacher said she thought he was "guessing" at some of his letters. So we are working on that. The problem is Cody blurts them out before he can get to it. Tyler got great news today from his speech therapist. She tested him and while he is still behind for his age group he has made up about a year loss of speech growth in 6 months. That is fantastic. She said actually she will need to "work with" the numbers to continue to qualify him for another 6 months. Basically keeping him in speech through this first year of preschool. I am very excited for Tyler as this was my hopes and dreams for him. He goes in January for a re-check of his ear tubes.

Cody and Dylan will be turning 5 in another month. Not sure where those 5 years have gone. I have so much reflecting to do on that. Many posts to come on that. In the mean time and on top of Christmas we are preparing for a birthday party. I called the other day and rented the movie theater. We are having a spongebob/pokemon birthday (nice combo huh). But the party should be fun with lots of their school friends.

Post maybe fewer and far between with Christmas coming next week. The Luckey family would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Shopping, Shopping, Santa and MORE Shopping

Our weekend was filled with Christmas Shopping. Brett's check came and it was time to get this party started. My feet still hurt from all the walking. I do have to say I am about done. A couple more people to buy for and that's it. Brett was great and kept the boys and just said "see ya, when I see ya". The crowds were crazy! I did the mall Saturday with the kids as we were going to see Santa. Wouldn't you know the minute we got there it was time for Santa to go feed the reindeer. So we had to wait an hour. Now going out in the north means winter coats. Well in the mall it is about a 100 degrees and so no coats...but who gets to carry them. ME! So we did some shopping for Brett and then enjoyed a pretzel and all of a sudden I see the line swelling for Santa. So we quickly make it over to it and OMG - we had to wait a good 35-40 minutes. CRAZY! Thankfully my mom was at the mall shopping and she came to take the boys for a walk and a potty break so I could stay in line. My crew LOVED Santa and I think Santa loved them as the 3 people in front of us all had crying kids. The picture was worth the wait to me:

Today, my Dad came out for his yearly Christmas shopping visit with the kids. He knows they have basically everything and finds it easier to just take them shopping. This year he add Cody and Dylan to the mix. He said "all of these toys make sounds and I think we have pushed every button". Tanya and I just laughed and said "I'm sure you did". The kids made out well. Then we went to Friendly's for lunch and ice cream and came back to my house so the kids could open the presents up. I made a mental note for Christmas morning - I need to have scissors, a screw driver and a little plastic bag for all the little junk stuff they use to wrap these toys into boxes. OMG! We of course had a photo op session with Papa too.....

We had a great visit with my Dad. So many emotions for me though but that is for another post. Now I have to concentrate on wrapping!

Merry Christmas!

Catching Up

I am happy to report that the sick bug has left our house. Sorry if he has landed at yours. I am knocking on wood that I only ended up with a cold. The boys didn't let the bug get them down for long and they are right back to their old selves. FULL of THEMSELVES!

We are all decorated for Christmas. Tree is up, lights are outside and they all work and the village is high up on the entertainment center and looks great (if I don't say so myself) After this year though I am getting all new lights. While putting up the tree I had a heck of a time with the last strand. Finally just gave up and went and bought a new one. Then I decided on the coldest day possible (cause the boys said the lights needed to get up as the neighbors are done) I stood outside in the freezing cold putting the lights up. Brett got off way to easy this year as he was at work. Trying to get the lights all connected so I was not running a million extension cords and then getting them all to work - what a chore. But I did it and they look good. Now, I need to start doing some shopping! Just waiting for the most important part - $$$$$. Brett gets his ref check and instead of shopping on credit, we will do it all in cash and it feels so much better. So I'll wait - but I am getting impatient.

I had my work Christmas party. We had fun. I had one amazing thing come from it though. There is a woman I work with that has a cleft lip and palate. I've known this for a while but we have never spoke about it. I figured she would come to me in time. She did and we had a great conversation. She had so many nice, encouraging words about Lucky Smiles and about Cody. I hope to get her to our next family day and who knows maybe Vegas in July.

My Dad is coming this weekend to take the kids Xmas shopping. He started this last year and they are anxious to get alone with Papa in Toys-r-us. I don't think my Dad knows what he is in for though. :)

Have a great rest of the week and weekend! We are hoping to get haircuts and then visit with Santa.

Sick Kids

It seems that the sick bug has made a stop at my house. I thought maybe we were done with it on Thursday when just Cody got sick. But at 4 am my mom peeked her head in my room and said "Dylan's throwing up". Are you kidding! So I get out of bed. Now this really sucks cause I just came to bed at 2. My work Christmas party was last night and well I had a few to drink and we had a good time. I am barely coherent so I take Dylan and we head to the couch for the night. He slept restless - I just slept. He got sick a couple more times, took a long nap and then woke up - FINE. Weird. Same thing Cody did on Thursday. So I thought we were done. Wrong! Cody got sick once more today. Only once though so not sure what it was all about and he has felt fine since. I thought maybe we were done but #3 needed a turn. We did baths, got all cleaned up, went downstairs to snuggle on the couch and it was Tyler's turn. All over the carpet. Eeeehhhh.......thank god for carpet cleaners. I am just hoping and praying we make it through the night.

So today we were going to go see Santa but that didn't happen. We'll go one night this week. Last night Xmas party was fun. I have to say there have been better parties in years past but I won't complain. It was free, there was an open bar, casino tables, Brett and I got our character picture done (it turned out awesome and I'll have to scan it) decent food (years past have been so much better) but we had fun and then went to a co-workers house for more after hours fun. I just wish I could of slept the entire night. Oh well - that is the job of a mom.

Christmas Parade

Tonight was the JC Christmas parade. We have gone every year and I think this year was the first year in a couple that there was no snow. While it was cold - it wasn't freezing. We got to see lots and the kids got a ton of candy.

Me and my 3 little parade goers! I have found it next to impossible to get them all to look at the camera. I guess 3 out of 5 isn't bad. Everybody loved that they had their Santa hats on.
All the way from Bikini Bottom.......SpongeBob Squarepants. The Grinch! (a little dark but his costume was awesome!)From Sesame Street to Main Street - Big Bird!Every parade must end with Santa. The kids were so excited to see him. We are going Saturday to the mall to see Santa again.
I was afraid today that we wouldn't get to go to the parade. Cody woke up at 5 am throwing up. I was hoping we wouldn't get hit with the bug (as my sister, mom and Karly) all had it. He never did run a fever. He got sick a few times and by lunch time he wanted a PB&J sandwich. He ate the whole thing and kept it down. So......by the time I got home he was up and energized and we went. I am hoping that is the last of it.

Snow Pictures

We don't have snow so this is the first of the season for us.
Helping Grandpa shovel......Everyone is building "something"Snow Devil Tyler....the horns are under the hat! :) Dylan standing on a tall pile of snow. Cody is Safe!

Thanksgiving Catch-Up

Hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving weekend. We enjoyed a nice long weekend in Cuba and found it to be pretty relaxing. One nice thing about being away from home is I don't have to look at all my house work that needs done. I just need to concentrate on keeping our stuff together and that's it. So...I called in sick on Wed. and we got home around 3. At 3:15 the boys were out in the snow as they had about 8" and we have none. I forgot how much fun it is to dress 3 boys in all the snow gear for 15 minutes. They had fun though.

Thanksgiving day we enjoyed turkey at the house. It was a first for that as in years past we have gone to either of the Grandma's houses. Brett's family is huge though - we had 20 people around the table. His sister has 10 kids so the number jumps quickly. We did get to see his Grandma Luckey as she was home for dinner from the nursing home. She is elderly and has Alzheimer's and it was hard to see her that way. She kept referring to Brett as "little Brett" and she couldn't get over Tyler. Thought he was so cute. His Grandma reminds me a lot of mine who I miss dearly.

The rest of the weekend we enjoyed more time in the snow. Took in a basketball game at the high school. That was fun. Always nice to go back and route for the Rebels. As my husband would tell me "you only go to chit chat and watch the cheerleaders"...while he isn't completely off - I did notice the cheerleaders and didn't think they looked horrible for their first time on the court. Loud, together, could of smiled more, could of done more sideline cheers, I could of done over half of their cheers with them. Saturday we got to do a little downtown shopping. Picked up some yummy cheese and salt rising bread. Went to Preston's birthday party. Got to see almost all of the extended family. Always nice to mingle with them. We headed back on Sunday and arrived safely through the snow.

One thing all of us managed to get while "at grandma's" were colds. So I'm hoping it goes away soon. I found out also on this trip I have to change my wording. I used to say "going home" cause I think and probably always will of Cuba as "home". But to my boys - Cuba is not home - it's grandma's. Our house is 'home' - so I have to break old habits and that is hard.

Since being home - the tree is up and is now decorated. We picked up Molly tonight and she was so happy to come home. I'll work on the rest of the decorations throughout the week. Thursday night is a Christmas parade and Friday night is my work Xmas party. My mom is babysitting as it's going to be a late night for sure.

The countdown is on..........24 days to go!