What a difference a week makes!

So Friday, Jan 22, this was V:

Poor thing was so dehydrated after a 3 day vomitfest that we were sent to Accent Urgent Care to get her some IV fluids. She passed out on my lap while she got a drip, drip, drip.

But by Saturday, January 30, this was V:

Getting pelted in the face by sleet while making a snow angel at 8 a.m. and

attempting to pelt me in the face with snow as we played on her iced over swing set.

On Saturday, January 23, this was T:

Resting in the ER after fracturing his collar bone in 3 places. He managed to go shoulder first over the handle bars of his single speed on the Art Museum trail. Ugh.

But by Saturday, January 30, here he is all smiles:

Hanging out in the snow with the wife and

warming up by the fire with V and some hot cocoa.

I'd like to formally request fewer weeks like Jan 22 and more weeks like Jan 30. Thank you in advance.

V's first trip to the dentist!!!

Virginia is officially a big girl, and here's how I know. She went to the dentist for the first time and was an absolute model patient.

Never fussed, never cried. Acted like a tiny adult. It was truly amazing and I am now the biggest advocate for pediatric dentists in the world.

Why? Because they have kid-sized doors to enter in. They have movies above the chairs. Movies! Can I request this at my dentist???

And, they have sweet dental hygenists that talk nonstop and comfort slightly agitated and anxious mothers like me.

I thought they'd just look at V's teeth and then we'd come back for a "real" visit. Nope. They scraped, polished, flossed and x-rayed her tiny 3 year old teeth.

And then they gave her 2 stickers, a toy and a bag full of dental goodies that made her so happy, I thought she might ask to come back the next day.

Hooray for unexpected surprised! We LOVE the dentist.

Delayed New Year's Celebration

We had planned to go visit the Coynes on New Year's, but the sick hit us. So we went MLK weekend instead and had a fabulous time. While our visits to DC typically include a lot of leisurely coffee drinking mornings

and laid-back cartoon-watching pajama relaxation

this time we ventured out of Alexandria and hit the DC Mall for some museum action. The kids took in the exhibits for a few minutes, but mostly enjoyed the lunch cafe at the end of the tour.

We had tons of fun with Molly, who is walking these days. V cannot wait to really start to boss her around. I think she may have been busted ordering her to get out of her stroller here.

Much to Tres' delight, we also made time to hit a Dogfish Head ale house for dinner.

Steph and I were happy to go along with the beer tasting.

Molly also seemed to enjoy her outing.

and James was just there for the ice cream.

It was a great trip and we even made time for an IKEA layover and a lovely lunch in Ashland with Grandma and Pawpaw plus my running buddy April. Next time I'll try to remember my camera...

Sickmas 2009

Merry Christmas (a little late) from the VeggieBruces!

What did we do over the Christmas break? Well a little of this...

and a lot of this:

Poor V started the week with a cough that somehow turned into a double ear infection and walking pneumonia by the day after Christmas. Not one to let being sick get her down, she still had fun...

it was just in spurts between naps and coughing fits.

As is our annual tradition, we went to Queenie & Granddaddy's house for Christmas Eve dinner, then came home and put out cookies and milk for Santa.

Santa appreciated the cookies...and rewarded V with a stocking full of musical instruments, a collection of princess dolls, legos and plenty of dress up clothes

.

Tres must've been a good boy this year because he got lots of camera goodies and his very own corn hole game.

V got a camera of her own, which she clicked no fewer than 1,000 times within the first 30 seconds of opening it.

I was a good girl too and Santa rewarded me with Wicked tickets, new slippers and a watch!

We took our time (maybe 5 minutes) opening presents....

then had a time out for V to rest by the humidifier before heading to my parents' house for more presents and family time.

My brothers Charley

and Malcolm

were there and this year Malcolm's wife Sarah was able to be with us on Christmas Day too. It was a real treat!

Virginia opened 200 more presents and had the nerve to be disappointed when they were all opened. Luckily, we had a princess castle to distract her.

After a huge late afternoon meal, which I am proud to say my mother finally let me contribute to after 33 years, we headed home. And started the count down to next Christmas...