Thursday, December 9, 2010

Taylor's New Glasses

We picked up Taylor's new glasses on November 30th from Costco. I slowly walked around the store to let Taylor get use to them. After awhile, we needed to go back and have them adjusted. I knew it may take a few adjustments before she might feel comfortable. She wears them well, especially when we are out running errands.
Hey look, more snow...isn't it pretty!
Taylor looks so cute in her new glasses! I love them and she gets lots of compliments.
So, we picked up Taylor's glasses on Tuesday the 30th, and two days later, on December 2nd, we went over to her eye doctor's office to see how they might adjust them for her. Before we could leave, we would need to shovel ourselves out, yet again...
Of course, we have been shoveling almost everyday. I heard the snow plow guy outside, so I went out with my shovel, preparing to clear the end of my driveway. I was standing outside by my driveway and Taylor was playing on the ice on the driveway when he came by. He pushed the snow across the street, then he backed up and made a second pass, clearing most of the end of my driveway. I was thrilled, as I smiled and thanked him! I was so happy! He didn't do every one's driveway. Me and Taylor will run outside with our shovels and stand at the end of our driveway, looking desperate, more often if we get that kind of treatment. The day before it took me 45 minutes to clear the end of my driveway to take Taylor to Funtastics. The snow was as deep as my entire leg and about three feet across. I enjoy shoveling, it's great, forced, exercise. However, I use muscles I must not normally use and I felt like I had been beaten with a bat over much of my body.
I shovel the snow down so I can get in and out, but here is my wonderful husband, clearing off the icy stuck snow that I couldn't move. And, Taylor throwing snowballs at him. He does a much better job than me, but I am proud that he had not had to do any shoveling until now.
Taylor thinks it is great fun to throw snowballs while we are shoveling. This was her first time to get her dad this season. She was thrilled.
Ben making my driveway wider while Taylor threatens with another snowball.

The day after Thanksgiving

The day after Thanksgiving, Taylor and I picked up Holly who treated us to a movie. We saw Tangled, which was so cute! We then went back to my house and made snacks to take over to Daniell's mom's house. We met there before heading downtown to the parade and fireworks. Matt met us at Mickey's house (Daniell's mom, Michelle). Ben was out hunting and really does not like the downtown crowds, so he was going to meet up with us afterwards. We parked and had to hike through the icy snow covered streets. Taking a few pictures along the way...
We lost Daniell and Rick and family along our hike, so we headed up to the parking garage to meet up with grandma and grandpa. We looked over downtown at all the people. This is always a big turnout.
Taylor got a candle from her grandpa.
Matt and Holly...
We watched the fireworks. I actually prefer the fireworks after Thanksgiving to the 4th of July fireworks. I love going downtown to watch them!
Then the entire downtown is decorated in lights...
Grandma and Taylor...
After the show, we all headed back to Mickey and Rob's for a wonderful steak dinner.
Matt helped carry Taylor back to the car. It was quite the hike for her little legs.

Happy Thanksgiving

We had Thanksgiving at our house this year. Matt and Holly and Grandma and Grandpa joined us for one of Ben's wonderful Prime Rib dinners. We also had salad, potatoes, broccoli and focaccia bread with balsamic vinegar and olive oil for dipping. Not a typical or traditional Thanksgiving dinner, but it is becoming a tradition in our family. We love it!
After dinner we watched Christmas Vacation, which is how Ben likes to start off the Christmas movie season. Taylor was excited to get out some Christmas decorations too.
It was a very nice evening with wonderful company and wonderful food!

SNOW in November

We had a little blizzard one night. We have never actually had snow blow between the screen and the window, so we took a picture of it. I had been staying on top of our snow shoveling. Ben works 10 hours a day and I actually enjoy the shoveling. It is hard work, but I like to do it. It gets exhausting when you need to do it everyday before you can leave the house, but it's all temporary.
Taylor comes outside to play in it while I shovel. She likes to eat the fresh snow. I don't feel like the pictures really capture the amount of snow. Or perhaps it feels like a lot more when I feel it with each shovel full, as I remove it from my driveway and approximately 210 feet of sidewalk. It was neat to see how it was blown all over. I grew up in Southern California, so I am still very excited each time we get snow.
Taylor tried to slide down the snow drifts...
Then, she planted herself right in front of some fresh snow and started licking it. I made a path to the trash can this year, to make it easier for Ben to take out. I was surprised my path didn't get filled in, but the snow kind of blew over it...
It had a neat effect, almost like a little cave the way the walls of my path curved over the top...
With Taylor standing in my little path, you can somewhat see some of the depth of the snow.
I shoveled and shoveled and then would stop and take pictures because I was in awe of the amount. It was nice and fluffy. I'm always afraid it will warm up and melt a bit then freeze over and turn to ice, which is horrible to shovel, which is another reason I was trying to keep on top of it.

Taylor climbed all over my piles of snow, looking for more fresh snow to eat.
Sliding down my piles back into our driveway...
I had not gotten my entire sidewalk shoveled so when we had the strong winds it just blew a ton over part of it. Thankfully, Matt came over with his snow blower on Thanksgiving to really clean it up for me.
I'm responsible for the entire length to the end of my fence. A good reason to never buy on a corner lot.
After Matt helped with the snow blower, I noticed a neighbor came by on another day with his snow blower and did the sidewalk by my fence, after we got even more snow. I was so thankful I tried to make sure I got out there every time we got even a little bit.

Taylor Gets Glasses

When Taylor had her 4 year old check up in October, she did not do as well as they thought she should on the eye test. She never compained and I didn't notice anything that would make me think she was having any trouble seeing. I was hoping it was not because Taylor was bored with their tests. To make sure, we went for further testing. When we first arrived, while I was filling out paper work, she picked out a pair of pink glasses and put them on and said, "Hey, these are just like Matt's." Matt recently got glasses too because he has difficulty seeing far away; however, his are not pink.
Taylor did all the tests as instructed. They were very thorough and it was a great experience. Apparently, babies see better farther away and as they get older, they begin to see better close up, like book distance. Taylor's eyes have not developed as fast, so she will need glasses for the next year or two to help her see until her eyes finish developing. The doctor felt confidet this is something she will out grow, and the glasses will only be temporary. This may explain why she may not want to practice writing her name. When Taylor had to look through the above piece of equipment she said, "I have one of these at home, but I look at pictures with it." She was referring to the view master.
We had a lot of snow. For a few days, I had to shovel myself out of my driveway for like 30 minutes (each time) before we could leave our house. Taylor always takes her kitty's with us whenever we leave the house, the little grey kitty is Marlene and the white kitty is Rosco. She played in the snow while I shoveled as fast as I could to get us out to go to the eye doctor.
Once we had the results of all the tests, we tried on many different frames. Taylor loved the first pair she picked out. Also, since it is a developmental situation, the eye doctor was covered under our medical policy, which was nice.
After we left the eye doctor, I found the lenses would be almost half price at Costco, so we bought the frames and had the lenses filled at Costco. It took about a week before her glasses were ready.

Disney on Ice

This is the first year Taylor and I went to the Disney on Ice show. We loved it!
We will probably make it a new holiday tradition.
The dragon was one of Taylor's favorite parts.
After the show I let her pick out a souvenir, and she picked out a little dragon, Mushu from Mulan.
It was raining outside, good thing we had Taylor's lady bug umbrella to keep us dry...
It was a wonderful show!