A Christmas Miracle!!!!

I got it!! My Christmas miracle! GiGi and I took the kids today for their annual Christmas photos. I actually managed to get a picture of both of them!! It took some coaxing to get Leyland to cooperate, but at least we didn't end up at DEFCON 5. We actually got some really really cute individual pictures also. Unfortunately we won't have Mary again until closer to Christmas, so in order to get them back in time to give as gifts, I had to take only Leyland and Corey. Now, Corey is napping like an angel and I'm waiting for Leyland to fall asleep so I can type some Dr. F. Is it too much to wish for 2 Christmas miracles in one day?

Poor Whitney, Leyland, and Corey

So it turns out that Mary had an active case of strep throat which was adding to the size of her huge tonsils. Now, Leyland, Corey, and I also have strep throat.... yay. yesterday I felt..... dead.... I couldn't move. I was either freezing or sweating. Leyland seems to be feeling okay... Corey too. They have been on antibiotics since Monday. I didn't get mine till late last night. The gremlins took mine for a little while. We looked everywhere for them and then found them plain as day right on the table. I'm feeling about 75% better today. My body doesn't hurt and I'm not running a fever. I do still have a nasty sore throat, but it's much better than yesterday. I am hoping this trend will continue. We are not contagious anymore so we can still do the Thanksgiving thing. I'm glad of that. I'm going shopping friday even if I have to fill my pockets to the brim with throat drops. They do think that ultimately Mary's tonsils will have to come out, they are going to check her again in a month or so. Hope everyone feels better than me :)

Poor Mary

I'm pretty sure that Mary has tonsillitis. It is a very sad sight. Mom and I were in the living room last night while Mary slept. Let me preface this by saying that Mary has always been one to snore... loudly. Last night we noticed that not only was Mary snoring loudly, she was also somewhat struggling to breathe. Dr. Cathy and Dr. Whitney decided that she is going to need to have her adenoids out at some point. It was quite disturbing to see the child using every muscle in her little body just to get enough air. She mentioned something this morning about her neck hurting, so I took the flashlight and took a look in her throat. I was horrified. Her tonsils almost touch! They are all red and she has some little pus spots on them. Her uvula (the punching bag thingy) was stuck to one of her tonsils. It is so sad. Melissa (Mary's Mom) is going to get her seen ASAP. I'll keep ya posted.

My Dilemma

Okay, so I have this dilemma. I have three absolutely, adorable, photogenic, perfect in every way children. Well, that is not the dilemma. The problem is that even though they are all extremely beautiful, I can't seem to get a picture of all three of them where they are all smiling or even all looking the same direction. The only one I have of all three where no one is crying is from Halloween and they all have something in their mouths. I took them to have their pictures made in late August. I got some really cute individual shots, and a really cute one of Mary and Corey, but Leyland would not sit with them for anything. I guess I'm going to try again soon, but I will need a small miracle to get them all there without getting dirty and get them to all sit still long enough for **ONE** decent picture of the three of them. Maybe that will be my Christmas miracle.

On a completely random side note, Leyland has decided that it is a fun game to take off her pants and diaper and run around. Everytime I re-dress her she is undressed within a matter of minutes. I guess she is comfortable with her Nekkidness.

Attack Of The Chickens!!!!

The image that you see above has brought much laughter to the Bennett family Thanksgiving gatherings. If you will notice, there is a family of pilgrims surrounding an ENORMOUS pumpkin; also, there are two gargantuan chickens ready to devour the pilgrims. This display has been on my Grandmother's (Nany) table for several years. After a long day of Black Friday shopping, my Aunt, cousin, and I stopped at Nany's for a snack and a break. We were suffering from complete exhaustion and began laughing hysterically at this display on Nany's table. We began to narrate the tale of how the pilgrims were so excited to come upon this bountiful pumpkin. They would be able to feast for years. (About the time we had established this much of the story, one of the pilgrims fell over, probably because we were shaking the table with laughter) we decided that this pilgrim had fainted at the site of the gargantuan chickens. This has been a source of many comical discussions around the Thanksgiving table. The Christmas following the initial discovery of the Jurassic Park chickens, Nany gave me a kitchen timer with a chicken on it and informed me that she would be willing the giant chickens to me. I'm very excited that Thanksgiving is only about a week away so I can see the mighty chickens. These days, Nany has separated the chickens from the pilgrims, but we always move them back for Thanksgiving dinner.

Thanksgiving.... and the day after !!!!

I am very excited about Thanksgiving. Not because I love food (I do) but because I will have the chance to see all of my family in the space of a few days. Also, I've been gearing up for two months for the shopping marathon that is Black Friday. For the past five years, I've managed to get ALL my Christmas shopping done on that day. It is one of my favorite things to do, not only because you get some amazing deals, but my Mom has gone with me for the past three years, and we have a lot of fun. Last year, we were both sick with bronchitis and she made me laugh so hard I threw up.... I know it may not sound like fun, but it is. Trust me. Many people say that they wouldn't venture out of their homes on that fateful day because of the long lines and ruthless people fighting over .50 socks. I love it. I have never been in a "fight" over anything... it's more about strategizing so that you get to the item you want before it's gone. Anyway, I digress. I get to go to my Dad's parents' on Thursday, Dustin's Grandparents' Friday (after all the shopping, if I haven't "shopped till I dropped"), and then Sunday we double dip and go to my Mom's side and my step-mother's side. So we totally do 4 Thanksgiving dinners. Dustin said "I love Thanksgiving because we get to eat and eat and not cook". I just love getting to see everyone.

I'm so sorry...

I just wanted to let everyone know how sorry I am that we have the three cutest kids in the world ( and therefore, you do not). I'm only joking, kinda. I just have a second (while Leyland is entertained with her Daddy's "geetah") to post some pictures. So, here ya go...