Fae's Wedding

This is a slide show of my mother-in-law's wedding we attended in San Diego. The old(er) couple are Fae and John's young women and young men advisers from 50 years ago! They were very happy about the wedding.

Why Pediatric Dentistry?

People have asked me many times why I want to do pediatric dentistry, especially my Dad and brother who are general dentists. In fact just the other day I called my dad and his assistant answered and as she was about to take my message Dad says: Tell him I'm busy doing real dentistry! And when he answers the phone when I call he says: Hello Baby Dentist!

Well, yesterday the cutest thing happened to me and it illustrates why I love Pediatric Dentistry. My patient was a 2 year old little girl coming for her first visit. She started crying right as her mom picked her up to sit in the dental chair. I did a "lap to lap" exam, which means I sat facing mom who held her on her lap with kid's head on my lap. Mom holds the hands and I support the head. Anyway, she cried while I I cleaned and examined her teeth and
I sang Christmas carols, then put on a sticky Fluoride varnish. She then goes back to mom and stops crying and is fine. Appointment over. On the way out the little girl stops and looks up at me and puckers her lips up at me to give me a kiss. I leaned down and gave her a hug and she kissed me with her sticky fluoride lips! It totally melted my heart and made my day. It was so nice.

This is ONE of the examples of why I love to work with kids.

Cool Runnings Season 2

We just got two "big" snow storms. Not really big, about 8 inches each time, but remember we are a little state so it equals about 3 feet. No really it totally shuts down the state. Thursday it took people over 6 hours to get home from work! Luckily I had stayed home that day. =) So Max and I were able to enjoy the snow. Then today we got a call saying Church was canceled!!! I couldn't believe how wicked wussy this place can be when the roads get a little snow. So...we built an igloo, and had our own church time together with Christmas stories and songs.

Pinata Dangers

Some may say it isn't smart to stand near a pinata when there are 3-6 year olds swinging at it. I would agree, yet it was the only viable option.

Max had a great B-day last week and got to have lots of Dad and Max time, including a professional magic show! (It was really good/amazing, even if the lady magician was corny and wore strange tights!)

Photo Book

For the last two years Em and I have been dying to do a photo book of our 4 years in San Francisco. A few times I have started making a folder of photos we wanted to include, but never ended up doing it. Then recently while ordering some photo prints from Costco I saw that they had a photo book publisher. So I got recharged in my determination to make the book. Their software was very easy to use, but then I compared theirs to Snapfish and forced myself away from the easier program to Snapfish's due to a significant difference in price (Snapfish has a coupon code for 50% off! photobooknow I think). It was still pretty easy once I resigned myself to using the templates they provide.
(This is kinda what it looks like.)

So I finally finished the photo book today and it is being printed right now! I am so excited to get it. We loved SF so much and miss living their. We turned on our "Christmas By The Bay" Christmas song today and we again, like last year, teared up while we danced to it. We have so many good memories of living their and are excited to have it in a printed photo book. I'm already getting my ideas ready for our New England book!!

*The cover is an amalgam of our restaurant business card collection.
**I recommend using Costco if the coupon isn't available.
***We had Blurb before our computer crashed. I think I'll try it for the next one and see how it goes.

Pumpkin Bread

This is the best pumpkin bread I've ever tasted. I got it from the best nurse I've ever met. (She also makes the best Italian Meatballs.)

Pumpkin Bread

(makes 2 Loaves)

4 eggs

2 ½ Cup Sugar

1 Cup oil

1 ½ t Salt

1 t Nutmeg

1 t Cinnamon

Mix together above ingredients then add:

2 t Baking Soda

⅔ Cup Water

3 Cups Flour

1-15 oz. can Pumpkin Puree

350° for 50-60 min.

*sorry I'm not as good as Pioneer Woman and didn't take any pictures!

Christmas Bells Are Ringing

As we trimmed the tree I thought, hey we won't worry about Gabbers messing with the tree until next year! Wrong!

Photograph Debate

It is foam on a sandy beach. I'm just curioud if people think it is a good picture.

Please tell us what you think of this photo:
Em and I disagree about it and would like to hear your input. Good? Bad? Pretty? Lame? Thanks.

Christmas Cards

If any of you would like a Christmas Card please email updated address and phone number* to ems.important.stuff@gmail.com

*optional

New Teeth, Trauma, Malocclusions, and Defects

Gabriel now has his first two teeth! And he is within the normal range of 5-8 months! It now hurts when he bites my finger. His next ones will/should be the top ones at 6-10 months.

Sam had the family's first dental trauma when he walked into a door knob, chipping his tooth (uncomplicated crown fracture). (Notice the chocolate on Sam's lips.=)


His open bite has closed and he is now left with an overbite (overjet to be precise).

And not to be left out, Max has some unexplainable (so far) enamel defect on tooth #D.

Two weeks ago yesterday we were in Boston. When we got back I saw that my bag was missing. We thought that perhaps it somehow fell out of our van as people got in and out. Saturday Em realized that her wallet was gone. We put a few more pieces of the puzzle together and realized someone had taken them out of our car while we were parked next to Boston Common. We went through the steps of canceling credit cards, identity theft protection, witness protection, etc. One night I felt inspired to call the Boston Police and file a report. So 4 days after the incident I filed a police report without a whole lot of hope that anything would come of it. Two days later I had a message from the police saying they had my bag. Yesterday, while back in Boston I went to station A-1 and got it back! Here's how the other part of the report reads:

ABOUT 10:30 AM ON 11/21/07 OFFICER FOLEY IN THE AT55D WAS GIVEN A BLUE BAG BY AN UNIDENTIFIED PEDESTRIAN WHO STATED THEY JUST FOUND THE BAG IN THE PUBLIC GARDEN.
OFFICER FOLEY FOUND BOOKS AND PERSONAL PAPERS IN THE BAG. OFFICER FOLEY FOUND THE BAG WAS REPORTED STOLEN...PROPERTY LOGGED IN TO AREA A1 EVIDENCE ROOM AND SECURED ...

I got the bag back and everything was still there minus my iPod and Em's gift cards. Another amazing thing is Em's wallet was inside my bag. It was empty and then I found her credit cards and license in another pocket.

So...we are very very grateful and happy that we got so much back in the face of almost no odds in our favor!

So I'll add this "unidentified pedestrian" to Em's list of Random Kindness. Unless of course its the person who took it...

Thanksgiving Dinner- Take 6

Tonight's dinner marks the sixth Thanksgiving meal in the last 5 days! It was so good: Sandwich composed of dark meat turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce and a side of sweet potatoes! Meal #5 was lunch today-turkey nachos! (they were actually pretty good). I must say though, that Emily's turkey skills are most excellent. It was done on time, looked perfect, was moist in all the right places and tasted wonderful (as is evident by my continuous consumption of said bird).

Happy Thanksgiving!?

A Great Fall!!

When we moved here this corner was inhabited by a dirty, children threatening, mosquito attracting Koi pond. We have since removed it leaving a large hole. This has become our dumping ground namely for leaves. So this leaf pile is actually about 3 feet deep. And the trees around our home still look like no leaves have fallen yet. So this is my last 3 hour leaf clean-up until the last leaf has fallen on our street!

Providence Photo Shoot

Downtown from the Eastside

Bank of America Building

Providence performing art center-PPAC

Providence

I like this one of Max taking a picture of the horseman.

Foliage in RI

I stopped and took these pictures on the way to work this morning. (Unfortunately as I tried to leave my car wouldn't start, but I got a pretty picture and eventually made it to work.)

Chicago

This past weekend I spent in the beautiful city of Chicago. I had a dental conference there and got to stay with Dave, Laura, and Eden. I hadn't seen them for almost 3 years. They treated me very graciously. They have a very cute apartment, decorated nicely and modern (Way to go Laura). I was privileged to be in the home of such a famous blogger! They even took me to one of the best breakfast places I have ever been to for lunch. (See side bar for my favorite dish).

My conference was as good and exciting as can be expected from pediatric dentists and endodontists. What I really enjoyed was walking around Chicago (and I walked a lot). I took the train down from the Dub's and then walked 30 min to the conference both days. When I got back off the train yesterday, and still today, my calves were sore and cramped!

Chicago is a beautiful clean city. Walking the streets, seeing the tall buildings, cool architecture, all the bridges and river, and lots of people filled me with an energizing excitement. There's so much going on, so much energy in the air. While walking around the city and figuring out the transportation, I had to ask quite a few people for directions and help. Everyone of them was kind and helpful. It may not have been a large sample size but it seemed to me, Chicagoans are nice friendly people.

Dave hooked us up with tickets to the Bulls opening game. We were in an executive suite for his company. That was awesome! Dave and I were huge Bulls fans growing up. His rooms was plastered with Jordan posters, magazine cut outs and every other "Shop" project in junior high was Bulls related. I think I made at least 20 Bulls insignias, wood and plexiglas!

I also spent the afternoon after my conference Saturday touring the Art Institute of Chicago. It was a very nice art museum. I loved the Monets, my favorite. Renoir was very stricking to me as were some others I hadn't heard of: Gustave Caillebotte, Camille Pissarro, and Henri de Toulouse Lautrec. Impressionist Art seems to be my favorite. There were also some awesome van Goghs and Degas.

It has been an excellant trip. I only wish I had Em with me!!

Thanks Dubs. You rock!!

Rooar!!!

HAVE A HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Gigglers

These two boys love each other so much. Gabe will laugh everythime he sees Max.

And the Winna Is:

"Ayuh, I see you all lookin'! You know you want some of my sweet stuff!"

by Brandoneous

We were impressed by his use of regional Maine dialect ("Ayuh") and when you say this with an old lady voice it's pretty darn funny.

This hasn't been easy to decide. Many of you had various elements that are indeed praiseworthy: I must admit I didn't think Enge's was funny until I actually looked closer at the lady (closer than I wanted) and saw that there is indeed an alien in the swimsuit. Fris did pretty well especially since she can't see the picture and her husband--who described it to her--isn't all there (we love you James). Some of you defiled my blog with your swearing, but that cancels itself out since Em enjoys that.

So after some consultations and lots of arguments between E and Me we have decided upon the winner of the coveted Snikerdoodles. Good job Brandoneous. (It may take Em awhile to make/mail them. Sorry she has three kids.)

Now for the Honorable Mentions
The caption that started it all: (thanks anonymous!)
"Grandma? We thought you were dead!"

Best Caption(s) Using A Swear Word
"D@mn that sand in my crotch!"
"Nine months my @$$"

Best Caption(s) Alluding to Body Parts
"Honey does this cap make my butt look big?"
"Surfs UP, Boobies down"

"Oh, come on! You know saggy boobs are this year's perky!"

Best Caption(s) Alluding to Pop Culture
"Don't ya wish your girlfriend was hot like me..."
"That's hot."

Thank you to all loyal viewers and the many visitors. Thank you actegratuit for your support, editing, and for the suggestion of this whole shindig (she claims she told me to take the picture too, but that may be pushing it.)

Come Again!!!

P.S. If anyone really wants some cookies we can make some for you too =)

A Few Unanswered Questions...

No, we do not know this lady.

Yes, it was a random snap shot.

Yes, this lady is real.

Yes, some of you really are funny.

Yes, the contest is almost over.

No, the winner is not yet decided.

Yes, She Who Must Be Obeyed wants to bring in a few consultants.

Yes, snikerdoodles will be sent and taste very good.

Yes, you are all appreciated for your efforts.

Do you know me?

Em has been bugging me to post this picture since I took it randomly on the beach in Maine. =)

ATTENTION! This is Emily here. Doug just gave me permission to turn this into a "Photo Caption" contest.

I mean really...have you ever seen a cooler picture?

SO, let's have your funniest or most appropriate caption.

You've got...

a few days. (We're new at this.)

The winner will get some Snickerdoodles in the mail. For realzies. 'Cause we're totally famous bloggers* and we're sponsored by Snickers**. Make sure we know who you are and how to contact you in case you win.

Let the contest begin!

P.S. We fully expect to get 2500 entries just like Pioneer Woman. So get busy.

* We're NOT totally famous bloggers

**We're NOT sponsored by Snickers

Local Wildlidfe

This is the marsh/creek near our house. We drive by it everyday and all of us look for herons. We have ducks, Canadian geese, egrets, little other birds, white swans, and our favorite Great Blue Herons.

Look what I can do!

Em took this picture and it turned out like this:

Then I made made it into this:

and this:

and with the help of a pioneer woman I made this!!!!!

Apple Picking Season!

+=

Go New England!!!!

Patriots are 5-0!!

The Big 3-O

I turned 30 on Tuesday! It was my best birthday in 30 years.

A while ago I was planning on attending a Sedation Course in Seattle on this weekend. Then Em began telling me that because it was my birthday week I couldn’t go to it. It was maddening. I tried to get her to move whatever she had planned but she wouldn’t budge. So Monday evening I come home from work and there is a strange car in the driveway. I walked in downstairs and there was a little girl watching TV with the boys. She looked familiar but I wasn’t sure where she fit in. Then when I made it upstairs Mike and Lindsay Dunn were there. I think all I said was “What!” then just stared in dumb silent astonishment. I was totally blown away. I couldn’t believe that he was there!!

(Mike is one of my best friends. He was part of the V3ST (V Hall @ Deseret Towers, 3rd floor, Sauce Troupers=a silly name for our group of friends, I was an honorary member as I lived on the 4th floor. He is also partly responsible for me meeting Em as he taught me how to rock climb and also was the friend I made go climbing with me and Em on our first date)

So they stayed with us until Friday morning. Tuesday we had Eggs-Ala-Goldenrod for breakfast, then went up to Boston to spend my B-day. Along the way we stopped in Quincy to see the Adams National historical Park. I have been fascinated with John Adams ever since I listened to his Biography on CD by David McCullough. After Quincy we went to Boston Common, let the kids play and then walked the streets and had Pizza at Upper Crust. It was very good. I elected to go back to that restaurant despite the crowds because I figured it would be better then one down the street called Nino’s where there were no customers. Correct decision.

Wednesday night we had a babysitter and we went down to a nice restaurant in East Greenwich, Table 24. Very nice and very fun. (Great Lobster Bisque!) Thursday ended with Wienerschnitzel and kyacking with Mike at night.
It was so nice to have them here. I can’t believe 1)Em invited them, 2)that they came, 3) They pulled it off and surprised me. I don’t think I have ever been surprised that well before. They all made it my best Birthday ever.

Dr. Sam

Sam came out today randomly wearing my surgical loupes. When he saw this picture he laughed hard and said: HaHa dats mee!!