Last night, I went downstairs to let Ginger into the house. She was in the front yard. As I walked to the front door I heard some strange noises from outside. It sounded like something was banging against the house, I thought the wind was blowing.

When I opened the door, I saw that she was carrying something in her mouth. I saw a tail and figured it was a lizard. I went back inside to get a flashlight to look closer.

Ginger had caught a *big* rat. Toby picked it up and threw it away. She said that it was about 8 inches long, not including the tail. Yuck. But better a dead rat than one that might end up running across the kitchen counter one day.

Sorry no pictures.

Well, after Lucy’s face-first fall into the coffee table last fall (ha-ha), the dentist said to watch for a little pimple-like thing in her gums.  This would mean an abcess, and that the tooth was dead, and that it really needed to come out.  Guess what I found a few days ago!  So, in an appointment that I thought was merely for x-rays and evaluation – the dentist announces yesterday that he can take it out right then and there.  Um, yikes!  I remember my girl from only months ago who used to cry all the time, for various reasons.  How would she deal with this? 

She was AMAZING.  They gave her laughing gas, then the topical anesthesia, then the major shot in her gums, and the tooth was out in 6 minutes.  I can’t believe she was so brave and calm – thank you God!

Over the years, we have posted various bits about Max’s artistic talents.  Well, now those talents are being put to good use.  Last night Max made the first sale (outside of the family) of a piece of his artwork.  He produced a skull and crossbones in exchange for a Tic Tac container with 5 tic tacs left in it.

He is well on his way.

Disneyland all day!!

Papa and Yaya met us at our resort for the short drive over to the park.  Toby had got ‘2fer’ tickets for us.  One day at D-land and then one day at California Adventures.  We started off on the train that circles the park and then headed over to Frontierland.  We went on Jungle Book then Indiana Jones, thinking Max would love the Indiana Jones ride (he loves all things Indiana Jones).  He thought it was too loud and too bumpy.  With hindsight, we should have ‘warmed him up’ with some other rides before taking him on this one.  He told Toby that he was going to have nightmares.
He loved Big Thunder Mountain, though, and every othe ride of the day.  With closed the day with a trio of hits for everyone, Buzz Lightyear Blasters, Star Tours and Space Mountain.  I was very surprised that the height requirements allowed Lucy to ride Space Mountain.  She was so excited.  She wanted to do the ride again, but the park had closed.  She is definitely my daredevil child.

We had some problems with our camera battery today, so we don’t have a lot of pictures.

On the train.

Lucy wearing her new princess dress.

Tomorrow is California Adventures!

Tuesday was our ‘vacation’ day of vacation.  We didn’t have any plans except to meet Papa and Yaya at their timeshare in Newport Beach.  The kids swam in the hotel pool for about 2 hours in the morning, then we leisurely got into the car for the short trip to Newport Beach.  Toby and I had a date this evening (Cheesecake Factory for early dinner followed by a viewing of ‘Benjamin Button’) while Max and Lucy hung out with Papa and Yaya.  When we returned to Anaheim, it was straight to bed to prepare for the return to the theme park adventures.