An Apple A Day Keeps the.....Dentist Away

I wish that were true... But alas, we found ourselves at the dentist again. We woke up super early for us (7am) and headed to the dentists office.  Grady needed two fillings and Myles needed a crown on his molar.  Josh took the morning off work to help me out.  All went really well and now Grady wants to be a dentist.  They let him play with the tools.  He told me that, "they had a big saw that chopped his tooth in half and sparks were flyin'".  I'm glad it didn't scar him but then again he is a strange one.

Poor Myles had to have a sedative.  They gave it to him and within 10 minutes he was acting like a drunk.  Slurring his words, stumbling around, etc.  He did great during the procedure as he fell asleep.  They say some kids are belligerent and angry.  Luckily, he's a lover not a fighter.  He was a mess when we took him home and the meds wore off.  He wanted to play but was stumbling around.  It made him so mad!  I think I was more stressed out than the both of them.  It's hard to see your babies go through things like this.

I have to say, I LOVE our dentist.  The kids were even greeted by a giant Handy Manny.  He gave them balloons, stickers and pencils.  The boys can't wait to go back....even Myles.  Now, that is a good dentist.

Handy Manny made the boys feel very welcome.  He even gave me a hug....a little creepy.

Staycation

We have been trying to be a bit more frugal so this weekend we stayed close to home.  Saturday, our great family friends invited us to their house on Lake Summit.  It was wonderfully refreshing and great to catch up with old friends. 

On Sunday, we wanted to check out a few attractions in our area that we have never visited.  Our first destination was Linville Caverns, right down the mountain about 30 min away.  The caverns were amazing and the boys loved being in a cave.  The entire time they were searching for bats and salamanders.  Much to their dismay, they couldn't touch the walls or anything in the cavern.  That was nearly impossible for our kids.  If you tell them they can't do something, they just want to do it more.

After the cavern we headed to Emerald Mines, an old mining town near Little Switzerland, NC.  We checked out the old mines and bought the boys a few "jewels" (polished rocks).  We jumped on the Blue Ridge Parkway for a scenic drive back home.  The parkway runs right by Black Mountain so it was a perfect escape route to our house.  The weather was beautiful and we all enjoyed the day.

Waiting for our cavern tour to begin. 

The boys are not into taking photos unless they are making crazy faces.

Checking out the trout in the stream that runs through the caves.

The "roof" of the cavern.

Tight squeeze

Can you see how hard it would be to NOT touch anything?  Green slimy, hanging stalagmites (or stalactites, I couldn't hear what the guide was saying as I was chasing a 2 year old) in the caves were a huge temptation.

The Emerald Mines Museum.

Weighing in.  Notice that I am nowhere near the scale!

We bought the boys some fish food.  There were the biggest trout I have ever seen swimming in the pool.

 Of course, Grady was fascinated by the miners toilet.  You should have heard the questions that were coming out of his mouth.  I will not repeat them...

Feeding the fish

Poor little Myles, a mosquito got into his room the other night and ate his legs for dinner.  I think Myles and I slept about 4 hours that night.  He was so itchy and I was attempting to soothe him.

Atlanta

On the way down to Mississippi, we decided to stop off in Atlanta.  It is exactly halfway there and the perfect place to take a break.  We had dinner with my cousin, Glenn and his family.  They live right outside of Atlanta and were kind enough to have us over with very little notice. 

The next day, Mom and I took the boys to the Atlanta Aquarium.  What an amazing place!!

Going through the underwater tunnel. 

Crawling through the penguin house

Amazing jellyfish.

Myles signature look

The boys and I in front of the coral reef

Myles playing with the interactive fish exhibit.

Goofball

Loss

The McPhail family suffered a great loss last week as Papaw Mac passed away at the age of 94.  He was one of the most amazing people I have ever met and many people shared that sentiment.  He had not been doing well since March so his passing was not a surprise.  In fact, it was a blessing as it was his time.   We gathered together in Mississippi this weekend to celebrate his long and happy life.

The boys and I made the trek down south.  Luckily for me, my mom was kind enough to ride with us.  She had no idea what she was getting into.  Can you imagine being in a car for 8 hours with Gradys incessant talking?!  Thank you, Mom! 

We made it to MS on Thursday night, the visitation was Friday, funeral Saturday and we headed home on Sunday.  Busy, busy, busy.  The boys had a blast meeting their cousins and playing at Uncle Mark and Aunt Wanda's.  There were 8 kids under the age of 4.  It was a wild time.  Although we gathered for a funeral, it was a wonderful time with family.

Uncle Mark was kind enough to give all the kids tractor rides.

A few of the cousins.  Grayson, Grady, Ella Katherine, Anne Hartley and Finley.  We are missing Myles, Logan and Toxey.

Grady and Ella Katherine

If you have ever been to Mississippi in August, you know it is HOT.  Look what happened to my camera ever time I stepped outside. 

Mimi showing the boys a few things in the yard.

In true Mimi fashion she was telling wonderful stories to the kids.  Every time I turned around she had a little audience.

Myles and "Hart Baby"

There was no shortage of sweets in good ole Miss.

Grady and I at the funeral

Uncle Mark taking the boys for a ride around the pasture in the Rhino.

Look at our sleeping arrangements.  The boys are such wild sleepers that I brought the air mattress and stuck it in between the beds.  It fit like a glove.

The Pleasures of Small Town Life

All throughout the Summer, Black Mountain offers a free concert series at Lake Tomahawk Park.  It's a great place to gather and enjoy good music.  Our town is small enough where we know a lot of the folks there and our kids can run and play together.  So, every Thursday night, we load up the stroller and walk to the park to boogie down with the Black Mountain folk.  Last night was the final concert of the Summer.  I can't believe it is already August!  Our Summer flew by and school will be starting before we know it.  .

 Lake Tomahawk Park

 The boys start off dancing together

 Listening to some tunes

The boys quickly got tired of dancing and the wrestling began.  It is a proven fact that when you put more than one boy together in an open space, wresting is inevitable.

Myles gets the upper hand

The third amigo, Emmett, arrives and it turns into full blown WWF.

Myles tried to take on the big boys...not going to happen, little man.  Emmett and Grady are a good match and Myles can't quite hang...yet.

Look at this move!  Other parents probably think we are insane but the boys LOVE it.  Plus, they fell asleep in record time. 

I think the music got a little loud for Myles.  I hope the band wasn't offended by the small child plugging his ears in the front row.

Super Heros

I just had to post these pics.  The boys love to dress up.  We get out our old Halloween costumes on a daily basis.  I end up making a lot of random outfits on my own as well.  Let me tell you, I am not that crafty.  Here are a few of my lovely creations.

Super Hero Brothers.  I cannot take credit for the capes....Mimi is the mastermind behind those.

Taking a break.  Being a crime fighter is tough work.

This is one of Myles own creations.  He said he was a cowboy...hmmmm?  Since when do cowboys have light sabers, necklaces and safari hats? Just look at that tough face.