It's Not Too Late To Post Pictures From October '09, RIGHT?

Remember when I told you I went on a sibling trip to visit my Dad and Step-Mom in Washington? Somehow I never got around to posting pictures. So for posterity's sake, here they are. And I'm sorry it's so late.

We decided our LAST TRIP was so much fun we'd try to make it a yearly tradition. Unfortunately, not everyone could attend this past year. Grant and Joyce weren't able to make it, but we still had fun without them (although they were DEFINITELY missed).

It's funny to look back at these pictures because I was in quite possibly THE MOST AWKWARD STAGE of braces to date. We're talking a 4 inch gap in between my two front teeth. So, any smiles in the following pictures are completely absent of teeth or any hint of a smile at all (and rightly so. Believe me when I say you did NOT want to see that gap).

Moving on...
The drive to Washington is a highlight. Sure, we all get severely bloated from snack intake and our armpits start feeling a teense sticky by the end, but it IS SO MUCH FUN to sit in a car without screaming children in the back and carry on normal, adult-like conversation.

You see? I wasn't kidding with the awkward smiles, was I? It's really nice of me to post these pictures for everyone to see. Maybe now I understand why it took me so long.



I LOVE this picture of my sister, Laura (below). You see, Laura thinks I'm pretty hilarious. She's laughing at me because I'm so funny.

But really, Laura was the one who was making me laugh my head off during the trip (which I really needed because it was a REALLY REALLY bad infertility time for me. Possibly my worst month EVER). I distinctly remember her fake sales pitch for 'Scab softening cream'. You had to be there, but believe me when I say you'd be rolling.




I also love this picture of my sister, Charlotte, because well... let's face it. It's hilarious. But look at her teeth! One day soon my teeth are going to be straight like my sisters' teeth. And then I can be lovely and smile with my mouth wide open just like they do. I can't wait. I'll be sure to post a picture when it happens.



Is it just me or does this picture scare the living crap out of you? Look at the road, CLARK! We're all going to die!



Four of the kids and my handsome Dad...



While we were at my Dad's house, there was a HORRIBLE incident. We were all hanging out one night and my brother Clark was making himself a health/protein shake. He added flax seed to it. My step-mom, Bette, wanted to taste it. She dipped the tip of her spoon in the shake and immediately started coughing. She coughed for quite a while. And pretty soon her coughing turned into wheezing. And pretty soon after that, her wheezing turned into her not being able to breathe very well. It was VERY SCARY. And then all of a sudden, she collapsed on the floor. And we had to dial 911. Once she came to and we were waiting for the ambulance, I asked her if I could take a picture of her on the floor so I could put it on my blog, but for some reason all she cared about was her stupid hair brush because she wanted to brush her hair so she could look pretty for the hot ambulance guys once they got there. That and she wanted to brush her teeth. Oh, and she wanted to tell us about her new comforter. And all of this happened while she was trying to come to and she was laying on the floor and she sounded a bit drunk. She was making us laugh, but we were also REALLY worried so it was really nervous laughter. She passed out three times and I hope I never have to see that again because it made everyone scared and worried; especially my Dad.

It turns out that Bette had a pretty SEVERE allergic reaction that we eventually found out was affecting her kidneys and giving her a LOT of problems. And it's all Clark's fault. He was the one with the shake, afterall. He was trying to POISON her! And we kept telling him that to make him feel better since he was having a lot of guilt over the stupid shake.

Poor Bette had to be in the hospital practically our entire visit. We sure missed her, but we visited. She pretty much hated being stuck in the hospital bed. She's not one to 'sit down and take it easy'.



Even though the trip didn't go perfectly, we still had a wonderful time. I can't wait to go this year! Hey Dad and Bette, can I come this year and bring my nursing baby with me? Pretty please? I promise to be good.

And to not poison you like someone else I know.

Being '30' Now Means Looking Like A Teenager If You're Me

Two days ago I took the plunge and got braces. Let's rewind for a sec, shall we?

When my permanent teeth started coming in as a child, I remember feeling really alarmed and angry. Why couldn't my eye teeth come in pretty like everyone else's (Okay, not EVERYONE'S. We all know people have problems with those teeth, but it just felt like everyone's, okay)? I remember my Grandpa telling me that if I put my tongue in the hole after I lost a tooth, then the permanent tooth would come in crooked. He was kidding, of course... but deep down I wondered if he was right and blamed myself for my crooked teeth. I have HATED my teeth ever since. Yes, HATE. In Jr. High and High School, I remember being jealous of those fortunate kids who had braces. I don't blame my parents for not getting me braces. Okay... maybe a little I do, but I DO realize it was an IMPOSSIBILITY to get them for me though I'm sure they wanted them for me just as much as I did. Every time kids would complain about their teeth that were in braces, I wanted to slap them and tell them to be GRATEFUL!

Fast forward, to today. I take back ever wanting to slap other kids over their complaints. BUT... I still think they were lucky to get them when they did. But at least I'm old enough to know to take care of my teeth and not let them decay and die underneath my braces because I just don't care enough about them. There are so many kids that just don't get how much money gets sunk into braces and how much care needs to go into them for them to come out well.

People keep telling me that I'll look like a teenager, that they'll make me look young, etc., etc.,
We all know that's a bunch of CRAP! What I look like is an adult with braces. People make fun of adults with braces all the time. I'm geared up. Hit me with your best shot (FIRE AWAY-hay! ♪ ♫ --I've apparently been playing too much Guitar Hero.)

So... I know you all want to see pictures. And I'm posting them for all to see though the pictures are less than flattering and really hit hard on my self esteem. But I'm not complaining. In 15 months, I'm going to have a beautiful smile with straight teeth. SO. WORTH. IT.

A special thanks to my adult braces friend LORENA for sending me pics, telling me what color bands to get, and walking me through the whole process! MUAH!
And a special thanks to John for telling me not to hide my smile just because I have braces. And kissing me as soon as he saw me despite the sour look on my face. He must really love me! ♥

Ready?

Here's what I look like before.

Take a good look. See the right side (your right, but technically it's MY left) of my mouth? That's where the majority of my problems are. I still have to have a tooth pulled so that all the teeth on that side will align properly.

Why am I so happy in this picture? Don't I know that I'm about to go to war at the Orthodontist?

Here's the AFTER:

If you think I look pained and drugged in this picture, it's because I am. I also look downright scared. AND REALLY WORRIED. Which I still am... worried AND scared. (Not to mention, that my nose holes are really prominent in this picture. But seriously, how do I avoid taking a picture of my nose holes when I'm trying to show my teeth?) I'm almost glad no one told me about that horrible mouth spreader they shove down your throat to get the braces on. That was a terrifying, claustrophobic experience I hope to never have again. The teenage boy laughing at me didn't help either.

Do they REALLY need to show you a mirror after they put that thing in your mouth? You really thought that would help me feel better about the whole process? Seeing my skeleton-like teeth?

And...

Is it just me or do my teeth look MORE crooked after braces than before? That ain't right.

And here's what I'm probably going to look like in pictures until I'm done. This was taken the day after when I got together with Jill, Jill's sisters Shauna and Jaylynn, Jylaire, Heather (who left before this was taken) and a new friend Janeal. I was nice and self conscious the whole time I was there. My lips kept sticking to my braces and I had to do that weird 'O' mouth that people with braces do. And you think to yourself, why do they do that? It's so annoying.

Thanks for catering to me with soup, Jill!