A Mouth Full?

Or not.  Hayden had to have four teeth pulled last week, in preparation for getting braces in a year or so.  He has a really crowded mouth and the orthodontist said that pulling these teeth will help make room.  So, when it's all said and done, he will actually have four less teeth than what is normal, just to make room!

He was a real trooper.  Our dentist said he's a very good patient ~ better than many adults.  We've been blessed with a good dentist, but also with kids who aren't afraid to go and know that it's important.

His appointment was at 11:30, we were home by 1:00.  His mouth was bleeding and numb, of course, so he didn't feel like eating anything.  I had to help him take a drink of water!  And even with my help, it still dribbled down his chin.  He started feeling a little more normal later in the afternoon and finally ate around 4:00.  Mashed potatoes and a bowl of ice cream!  Then, he crashed.

While his lips were numb, he accidentally bit his lower lip.  It ended up swelling a bit, which was quite uncomfortable for a few days.  But overall, it wasn't a bad experience.  

Here he is a few days later, all smiles. You can't really see the holes that were left in this picture, 

but I spared you the gross one.

More Chicago!

 

I was really glad that we decided to get a hotel room and stay overnight in Chicago.  Because we got to the aquarium so early, and didn't have to wait in line, we saw everything we wanted to by early afternoon.  It was an AMAZINGLY beautiful day in Chicago, so we walked to Navy Pier.  

We walked down the pier, but because it was so early in the season, there wasn't much to do.  The rides weren't open yet, and we really weren't hungry because we ate lunch at the aquarium.  So, we just walked.

We saw some beautiful artwork . . .

Some cool toys . . .

     

and enjoyed the awesome Chicago skyline . . .

both from the outside AND from our hotel room!

After all that walking, we were worn out.  (Well, the old people were anyway!)  Dad took a nap in the hotel room and mom relaxed with a book beside the pool while the kids splashed and played with other children who were enjoying Chicago on a Friday afternoon.  (Mom forgot to take the camera to the pool.)  Then, after cleaning up, we took to the streets of Chicago on an awesome Friday night.  The weather was gorgeous.  And it was fun enjoying a city that has so much to offer.  We went to Rain Forest Cafe for dinner.  The kids LOVED it!

   

The restaurant was decorated so magnificently.

                                                      

The drinks were served in colorful, sparkly glasses.

Even the ceiling was awesome!

After dinner, we walked some more.  We saw: 

the Water Tower . . .

the Apple store (Hayden thinks he needs an iPad!) . . .

the Hershey store (Mallory thinks she needs monster sized chocolate bars!) . . .

And the next morning we saw this very cool two story McDonald's.  

Then we hit the road. ~ driving to Michigan to visit the Asaro family for Easter.  I think I'll put that in another post!  Chicago was awesome!

Underwater Fun ~ Finally!

It's been a few weeks since we went to Shedd Aquarium.  And I didn't intend to wait this long to post photos, but, you know how it goes with Kincaids:  busy. busy, busy!

On Friday, April 2nd, we got up early and drove to Chicago.  Destination: Shedd Aquarium.  I had looked online about a month earlier and found a fantastic deal where we got a room at the Mariott Magnificent Mile and two tickets for $134!  Wow!  That was a deal that couldn't be beat, since the tickets were normally $25 each.  We arrived in Chicago about 9 in the morning, found our hotel and checked in.  We bought two more tickets (for the kids) and then took a bus to the aquarium.

What was super, super cool was NOT waiting in line!  As in VERY long line!  Because our tickets were VIP tickets, we walked past all the people in line, right up through the Exit doors and into the aquarium.  Very Cool.

We enjoyed the aquarium very much.  We missed out on the dolphin show because we didn't have tickets for that, and by the time we went to buy them, they were sold out for the day.  Oh well.  We've seen dolphin shows before.

The penguins were cool.  Well, of course they were! :)  

The turtle looked old and wise.

Walking under (and over) many different species of God's creation was amazing.  

Simply amazing!

The Momma Beluga whale had just given birth.  See how her skin is sagging?  

I didn't know that Nemo lived in Chicago!  (I thought he was from Australia!)

Some fish were just ugly.  Big and ugly.

Some were spikey.

Some were bright.

Some were leggy.  

(Mallory didn't like looking at this one - not even the pictures!)

This one was all clammed up.

Some were skinny.

And shy, apparently.

We liked the way these two looked, so we decided to take them home with us!

Thursday was rough

I'm trying to remember if I actually 'gave' something yesterday.  It was a killer day at work.  Spent the morning working like a dog because I had to be at a training all afternoon.  I even worked through my lunch!  Then, the training turned out to be not-so-great.  In that, I really didn't learn anything that I didn't already know, and the trainer was dry and boring, and I wasn't sitting by my open-enjoy-the-sunshine-and-breeze-window.  So, I guess for Thursday what I did give was to give my boss above and beyond work all morning, so that I wasn't leaving anything undone in the afternoon.  Yes, that's what I gave.  I can accept that.  Although it didn't feel like the right kind of giving, and by the end of the day, I was drained.  

Now today, today is another story.  It's Friday.  I'm in jeans at work, listeneing to fun country music with the window open (at leats until it starts raining - BOOOO!).  And I have already given a gift to my husband this morning.  It's turning out to be a great day so far!  Happy Friday everyone!

Update on Giving

Monday night I gave extra time and attention to two very special children: my own!  My boy needed extra help with his homework, so I labored through it with him, never once losing my patience.  And when my daughter was crying (and I mean C-R-Y-I-N-G, as in big crocodile tears) over a little Ty Beanie bear that she lost about 6 - 9 months ago, I took the extra time she needed to love and snuggle and comfort her at bedtime. 

Yesterday I gave a little message to a friend's FB Inbox.  She has an interview today and needed the encouragement.

Today:  A fresh tulip for each and every lady in my office!

If you haven't started yet, why not?

Giving today

Today I gave a mom a break.  She was visiting our church from out of town, and struggling with her wiggly- almost-two-year-old son.  She was trying to visit with some other friends, but was wrestling with her boy.  So, I took him from her and we went for a walk.  So, I guess I gave them both a gift!  See, it's simple.  Give from the heart!

29 Gifts

I recently bought a book called "29 Gifts" by Cami Walker.  It's a story written by an MS sufferer named Cami. When she gets down on life and her disease, she is told by her friend and spiritual advisor to "Give 29 gifts in 29 days."  I'm about halfway through the book, reading about her giving journey and loving it.  I've found myself more cheerful, more happy, and more giving lately.  I'm more aware of the good and positive things around me ~ they are often RIGHT in front of me.

I started doing it without really being aware that I was doing it.  It's not like I said to myself, "I'm going to take this challenge to give 29 gifts in 29 days."  I just started being more generous.  Here are a few of the things I've given: a few moments to chat on Facebook with someone I care about, even though I was at work and probably shouldn't have; a little set of post-it notes and flags with a gardener on them to my boss, who loves gardening; a cleaned out microwave and refrigerator to the girls in my office; a vase of daffodils to a friend who was having a bad morning; a thank you card to someone who returned something that was lost; and I know there's more, I just can't think of them right now!

There are a few important things to remember about the gifts.  First is that they don't have to be material gifts.  It's not about spending money, it's about offering an authentic gift out of love.  Second, and more importantly, if you decide to take the challenge, make sure that you aren't giving out of obligation.  If so, you are in scarcity mode and you'll end up burned out.

I haven't finished it yet, but I'm already recommending it.  I've always envied people who were naturally 'givers,' feeling that I, somehow, couldn't be that way, too.  Well that's just silly!  Everyone can be a Giver!  Now go on, get to it and start Giving!