Family Visit - Part 1

July 14th. Mike's Mom Margie and his sister Melissa, her hubby Scot and daughters Melissa are here for a visit. We played Putt-Putt earlier that day and then everyone was hot and sweaty and ready for a swim. We had the pleasure of being able to use a nearby pool for the evening. We cooked a yummy dinner of lasagna, salad and garlic bread, dessert and took along a cooler of drinks.

BELOW: Here are Mackenzie, Courtney and Megan eating poolside.

BELOW: Jason and Ryan eating poolside!

BELOW: Melissa (center) and Courtney (right):

BELOW: Here is Scot. He had just come back from running over 11 miles!

BELOW: Mike's Mom Margie (in yellow) and Melissa:

BELOW: Here is Mike - proudly sporting one of the nieces sunglasses!

BELOW: The 5 cousins in age order: Jason 15, Mackenzie 14, Courtney 11, Ryan 9 and Megan 9.

Megan was invited to be on Team ASI Gymnastics

In early June - we received a call that Megan has been invited to be on a gymnastics team. She has been taking girls gymnastics a bit less than 2 years. She participates in floor, beam, bars and vault.

She is in Level 2 and now takes class 2 hours per week. She has a practice leotard now - and later will get a competition leotard, a warm-up suit and a gym bag. The girls will compete later this year, but we don't know when yet.

Here Megan is in her brand new Team ASI practice leotard!

Learners Permits-- July 3rd

July 3rd - a day to be remembered. Jason and his friends Cody and Dylan (from baseball) and all us moms - met at the local DMV to get their Driving Learners Permits.

7:30 a.m. walking up to stand in line. Dylan (left), Jason (center) and Cody (right) I think these looks are a combination of the early hour and embarrassment that I was taking their picture to commemorate the day!


Below: We are too cool to have our pictures taken !

Below: REALLY Mom!!? Dylan ducked and Cody hid behind his hands!

BElOW: We aren't worried - we are cool!

Below: Jason is proud of his permit - but embarrassed I am documenting it in front of everyone!

Below: The three Amigos... All VERY cool with their new drivers permits.

From THAT to THIS

On June 22nd, I injured the middle finger on my right (dominant) hand while cleaning the carpet in my van. I saw the orthopedist on the 25th and he confirmed that I tore the tendon that goes over the top of that first knuckle completely off the bone. However, it did not chip the bone. The official diagnosis is called "Mallet Finger". My injury also includes a "Swan Neck Deformity" . This is where that second knuckle was being forcefuly hyper-extended. So, what to do now?

For the next 8+ weeks this "Stack Splint" is my new best friend. I must wear it 24/7. No exceptions. It holds the joint in the proper position to, hopefully, allow the tendon to re-attach itself to the bone. If I bend the first joint for even one second, it will undo any healing that has taken place.

Isn't this attractive? The Dr. was not all that encouraging about results of any potential surgical correction. So, I am being very compliant with wearing it. And, I must say that my finger is much more comfortable IN the splint than OUT of it. This isn't a painful injury - just really awkward. Please wish me luck for complete healing without surgery!

Trick Photography?

Ooops! That just doesn't look right!

Yesterday - I hurt my finger. Mike and I were scrubbing the carpet in my van. I was scrubbing and the tip of my middle finger caught on a ridge in the carpet and buckled under - I also heard a loud POP sound,

I see an orthopedist Thursday - but unofficially - it seems that I have torn the tendon on the top of my finger resulting in the inability to straighten the tip of my finger.

It isn't terribly painful - but it is awkward.

Swimming Lessons

The twins started some private swim lessons this week. They have 4 more days next week. I think they are doing quite well. It has been a few years since they took lessons.

It was time for some "tuning up".

This is Megan working on the back stroke:

Another of Megan working on the backstroke:
Ryan working on backstroke:

Time to wipe our faces!
Megan working on breaststroke:

Ryan working on breaststroke:

Ryan doing freestyle:

Megan doing freestyle:

Megan practicing her kicking with her coach Olivia:

Ryan practicing his kicking with his coach Chase:

I think that they are doing very, very well! I can't wait to see what next week brings!

Dang Tomato Hornworms!!!! !!*%#!**!!

For the second time in less than a week - we have had a VERY hungry Tomato Hornworm chomping on our three tomato plants! We had two last year nearly kill our jalapeno plants before we figured out what was happening.


This year, what tipped us off was all the greenish black poops that look like miniature grenades all over the patio and on the leaves of the tomato plant. My twins and I looked and looked - and the dang worms are always in plain site! Megan spotted it with her eagle eyes.


See below:




Could you see it? That sucker was longer and bigger around than my little finger! No joke. Here it is with Jason's hand next to it for comparison:


We found another one the SAME SIZE this morning. Crimony! Again - it was Megan's eagle eyes that spotted the thing hiding in plain sight.


They bleed green if you squash them. I think I will go and feed the catfish in the pond with it.

New Product Review !!

NeoStrata® Problem Dry Skin Cream
3.4 oz. tub for $30.00

Get those unsightly dry heels ready for spring with NeoStrata® PDS Cream. It is like a pedicure in a jar!

Wow! Is this a great product!! I received it several weeks ago to try and I am really impressed with it.

NeoStrata® Problem Dry Skin (PDS) Cream is formulated with 20% Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) to smooth and moisturize severely dry, rough and thickened skin such as knees, elbows and heels. This new, fragrance-free formulation contains Pro-Vitamin E and Maltobionic Acid and also helps reduce scaling and flaking associated with hyperkeratosis. Hyperkeratosis is a thickening of the outer layer of the skin, which contains a tough, protective protein called keratin. This thickening is often part of the skin's normal protection against rubbing, pressure and other forms of local irritation, and causes calluses and corns on hands and feet.

This product was created by dermatologists with a special blend that enhances AHA gentleness, helping to reduce stinging and improve tolerability sometimes associated with AHA use.

I saw an improvement in my heels quickly with daily use. The dry scaly appearance was very much reduced and I am happy to wear sandals. One time daily use is recommended and a little product goes a long way. It is odor-free which I love. It isn’t particularly greasy when given adequate time to absorb. I prefer applying it in the evening when I can cover my feet with socks. I highly recommend NeoStrata® Problem Dry Skin (PDS) Cream.

NeoStrata® products are available through physicians and through select online retailers. For more information visit www.neostrata.com or call 1-800-865-8667.

Jamie lives in Keller, Texas, with her husband Mike and 3 kids – Jason (15) and boy/girl twins Ryan & Megan (9) She served as a board member 4 years at her local twins club, volunteers at church and school, rings in the handbell choir and taxi’s kids here, there and everywhere. In addition to doing occasional reviews for Mommy’s Company – Jamie also holds two part time jobs.

Salsa Garden !!

The year before last, a co-worker of Mike's kept bringing him baggies of home-grown jalapenos. Mike enjoyed them so much on pizza, tacos, home-made salsa and the like, that last spring we bought 2 jalapeno plants of our own. It was great fun to watch the progress of the plants and eat the fruits of our labor.

In fact, it went extremely well except for a brief battle with 2 tomato horn worms. They were very gross - bright green and as big around as my little finger. They EAT leaves, stems, etc. Crazy. They nearly brought our growing to a halt until I picked them off and destroyed them.

This year, we decided to branch out a bit and make a [partial] Salsa Garden! Jalapenos, Serranos, cilantro, green onions, and tomatoes too. I didn't bother with the garlic this year.


These are the green onions. Turns out that we didn't plant nearly enough seeds, so we will only get about 6 green onions on the first harvest. Jason planted most of the remaining seeds, so hopefully in about 6 weeks - we will have plenty more!

This is the Cilantro! Turns out we may have over planted this. We have 3 large bunches of cilantro and probably NO way to use it all before it goes bad. We have already made 3-4 batches of salsa with the cilantro and it is terrific!

These are 3 tomato plants. It is hard to differentiate the plants - but the one on the right is cherry tomatoes, and the other two are small tomatoes - not cherry sized - but a bit bigger. I can't remember the name.


This is a cluster of the cherry tomatoes. They have not begun to turn red yet. I am beginning to think we need to tie up the plants so they can get more sun! We want to harvest tomatoes soon! If, they get red.....

This is a broad view of 4 pepper plants - 3 are jalapenos, and the 4th is a Serrano pepper plant. We just had a taste test with the peppers recently when we had homemade pizza. The family decided the Serrano's have more heat than our jalapenos.


Here is a close up of a jalapeno.


Here is another shot of the jalapenos. I think Jason forgot to snap a picture of the Serranos!

MEGAN: BEFORE & AFTER Phase I Braces

On April 2, 2007, at age 7, Megan & Ryan began their journey in Phase I Orthodontics. Both of the twins had severe issues that simply had to be addressed while their mouths, jaws and palates were still malleable i.e. able to be molded and/or expanded with orthodontic appliances such as palate expanders and head/neck gear, etc.

Megan had an open-bite and over-jet of her front teeth from sucking her thumb, plus in general, her mouth was just too crowded to accomodate the size of her future permanent teeth. These permanent teeth were visible on her panoramic xrays.

So, 25 months later Megan has completed her Phase I journey with absolutely beautiful results. But, before you scroll down to the bottom to see the finished results - please take a look at Megan's before pictures that the orthodontist took!

BEFORE

You can see in the lower 3 pictures (in the above photo) how 'open' her bite was - not only from missing teeth - but from sucking her thumb. You can also observe in the top right photo that her lower jaw had not grown enough and appears almost receded.

Here is Megan a few weeks before her braces were removed. She is so proud of how far she has come!




This is the day her upper braces were removed. Her lower braces were left on 4 weeks longer to aid in straightening the lower 4 front teeth.


Here is Megan following removal of her upper braces. Look at those pearly whites!



Below is Megan wearing her top retainer and with her lower braces. She is waiting on her turn to be called back to have the lower braces removed!

AFTER !!!!!!

And here she is! Miss Megan - with no metal in her mouth at all!!



Doesn't she look so proud of herself?!?

Where the Irritable Yellowbelly Water Snake lived

Joyce asked where our creepy visitor came from on Friday. You can read my post here.

This is the view from our front yard. It is definitely safe to say that the skunk-scented, very-irritable Yellowbelly Water Snake came from this body of water.

I think it is also safe to say - that was one stupid snake!! The information found regarding the habits and habitats of that species state that Yellowbelly Water Snakes are often found in yards, garages and other cool dark places when they attempt to find new water sources, especially if the yard is watered on a regular basis. Regular watering also attracts frogs and toads, which are a favored food item for these snakes.

Duh!! There is a LARGE body of water 100 feet away from my garage!

Snake !! **Not for the Faint of Heart!**

Yellowbelly Water Snake
Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster
Nonvenomous
The Yellowbelly Water Snake is the harmless snake most often incorrectly referred to as a "water moccasin" (even though there is no such snake) in Harris County. This is because of its generally dark coloration and its irritable disposition. When threatened, Yellowbelly Water Snakes will behave like all other local harmless water snakes of the genus Nerodia. They will usually coil up and flatten out their head, making it look arrowhead shaped. However, head shape cannot be used to tell venomous snakes from harmless ones. They will also vibrate their tail, let out large amounts of foul smelling musk which smells like a skunk, and strike out repeatedly at whatever is threatening them.

So, after school today, we found one of these in our garage! Bless Mike's heart! It really sucks to be the Dad sometimes! A snake that looks like this was coiled up in the corner of the garage. And irritable it was! Mike was truly forced into whacking it with the hoe. This is a bit graphic: When he chopped the snake in two - out popped a LIVE baby frog! FOR REAL.

Wordless Wednesday