You read correctly, it snowed in Dallas today. Although a rare event, it does happen occasionally. Since we are so well prepared for snow here in the southwest, and since all drivers are so experienced driving under those conditions, I decided to stay home and “work” from here. Not so much because of the snow, but because it was well below freezing, and you can imagine how well them Texans and icy roads mix. This gave me a chance help a little with the trimming of our Christmas tree, even though that simply consisted of me bringing down all the boxes. Mandi and Larsen were really the ones that made it all come together.
This lack of involvement on my part did have an adverse effect on the distribution of the ornaments this year though, resulting in zero Star Trek ornaments on the tree this year. I ask you, what is a Christmas tree without a Klingon Bird of Prey, a Romular Warbird, the NCC-1701 Start Trek Enterprise, or even the Galileo Shuttlecraft with Mr. Spock’s voice saying that warm and wonderful holiday message: “Shuttlecraft to Enterprise, shuttlecraft to Enterprise…Spock here. Happy holidays. Live long and prosper.”?!
On a brighter note Larsen thought the snow was great and had a great time trying to catch a few flakes with his mouth. He really wanted to build a snowman, but I had to do my best and explain to him that building a snow man with a 1/4″ of snow would be a daunting task. Instead I grabbed my camera and snapped a few photos to have a proof that snow does fall down in Texas…sometimes.
This year the Vallecillo’s spent Thanksgiving in Texas. The plan was to spend it with my side of the family in Orlando, but for various reasons that trip just wasn’t possible this year. We still spent the day with family by having Thanksgiving dinner at our house, and in the end that’s what really matters.
Oh…and I guess I’ll take this opportunity to say that although everything was absolutely delicious, it just wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without Judi’s (Mandi’s mom) deviled eggs or Mandi’s sweet potato casserole. And before you even think about it…no, they were not the reason we didn’t go to Orlando.
This weekend we packed our bags and drove out for an overnight birthday party in Mr. Pleasant (yes, in Texas). We drove about 140 miles east to Lisa’s (Aidan’s mom) sister house, out in the country…the real country. The idea was for the kids to camp out in the back yard (we are talking the “woods” here) and then spend the next day playing games (cow chip toss and all!), fishing (small pond = small fish), four-wheeling (with crazy aunt-Lisa at the wheel) and culminating with the birthday party.
Even though there were 2 huge tents available, the Vallecillo’s ended up staying in one of the bedrooms inside the house. It was cold outside, and thankfully Larsen wasn’t really into spending the night outdoors when there was a perfectly good available warm bed inside. I love that kid!
After all the kids finally collapsed for the night the adults crowded around the fire pit until the conversation turned to guns and hunting. Coincidentally that was when most (yours truly included) checked out. Some were more ready than others and I suspect the moonshine that was being passed around the fire may have had something to do with it.
The next day was all about having fun, so Larsen decided it would be “fun” to drop someone else’s Maglite flashlight into the pond (I do love him, but sometimes I’m ready to sell him to the highest bidder). After everyone’s failed efforts to retrieve it from the pond using every pole and broom at hand, I finally decided to take matters into my own hands and use the best tool for the job: ironically is was my hands. Even though I was able to rescue the flashlight, getting in knee-deep freezing water with jeans hardly seemed worth it was all said and done. Oh, and if you have ever wondered…yes, Maglite flashlights are truly waterproof!
Desperate times call for drastic measures. After continuous unsuccessful attempts to get Larsen to stop walking on his toes by simply telling him not to do it, we have decided to take the next step and cast his feet/legs in an attempt to break this bad “habit”. But I’m getting ahead of myself…
For a long time now Larsen has increasingly been more inclined to walking on his toes rather than using the normal heel-toe action we are all accustomed to (on the plus side, the boy does have some killer calfs!). Confused about whether this was bad habit or a physical limitation, we talked about it with his pediatrician (Dr. Coco). He suggested we took Larsen to the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for an evaluation, which he graciously arranged for us.
Our first hospital visit went well and we were sent home with a few exercises for Larsen to do on a daily basis. The purpose of these exercises was to help stretch his tendons since they did appeared to be a bit on the “stiff/short” side. By the time his follow-up visit came around we were already convinced the exercises were not going to cut it (granted, after a couple of days the “do on a daily basis” part kinda went down the tubes). Since nothing had really changed since the first visit, a decision to put him on casts was made. This would involve casting his leg with his foot in a position that would slightly stretch his tendon.
Which brings us to today. Although Larsen did get his casts today, the doctor decided not to bend his feet to the point where his tendon would be stretched. The good thing about this is that Larsen won’t experience any pain from the stretching, and having his feet held at a 90 degree angle would re-train his mind by forcing him to walk using the desired heel-toe action. On the other hand, the downside is that if his problem is physiological rather than habitual then he will surely go back to his old ways shortly after the casts come off. Only time will tell.
For now it will just be nice not having to tell Larsen “get off your toes!” constantly, although I foresee having him in casts for 4-weeks is going to present far worse challenges and difficulties.
It was another one of those days when I walk past Larsen’s computer desk and get a glimpse of something that makes me stop and do a double-take. This time it was the sight of a frustrated Larsen and a website on his computer screen with the words “Secure credit card information” clearly visible.
Do you know those credit card offers that come in the mail with the plastic “pretend” credit card enclosed? I had given Larsen one of those a while back, the very same one he was now trying to use to order (of all things) something from real.com. Much to his frustration the card wouldn’t go through, event though he had carefully filled out the form with all of the correct information 
