Dalton Gang, the Oregon branch: January 2010

Christmas passed. I know. Still, it was memorable enough that I wanted to write a quick post about it and share a little video that I think ya'll will enjoy.
Story first: We're not big on getting a lot of things for the kids for Christmas. Maybe one big thing, whatever, for us it's not about the stuff. Still, we like to make the kids happy so we try to get at least one thing that they'll really like. For Mia, well couldn't really think of anything she'd really like so she got a teething ring and socks. We needed Corbin's crib for Mia, so he got a toddler bed with Lightning McQueen (from the Disney Movie Cars) on it. He seemed to love it. Still a little young to get the whole thing though so I wasn't super excited. Chase, however, I was really excited for. He'd been begging for another DS game, MarioKart to be exact, and I'd led him to believe that he wouldn't be getting it. Yeah, I was stoked for him to open it. We hid it to make sure it was the last thing that he opened because we were trying to pull a little Red Rider BB Gun magic of our own. When he did find it, he was super happy and excited but then said something that worried me a little bit.

"Too bad I don't have my DS."

"What do you mean you don't have your DS?"

"Dad took it away from me."

"What? Denver did you take Chase's DS away?"

"No, I didn't take the DS, are you sure you brought it home from school?"

Silence. Awful, wretched silence. I think you could hear the sound of Chase's heart breaking which caused mine to break to. I tried to look on the bright side of things and hope that he would finally learn to take care of his things because I didn't think I could handle watching him be devastated over and over until the lesson sticks. Don't you just hate free agency and watching your children suffer, knowing that there's really nothing you can do about it because there are certain things that they just have to learn on their own? Gut-wrenching. Bess, I know you hear me on this one-up for a puzzle? Anyway, I told Chase he'd just have to look for it and hope for the best and maybe someone at school would turn it in. Denver, however, wouldn't give up. He looked and looked. We're talking most of the day. He tried to help Chase think of places, tore our room apart thinking maybe he had taken it away and placed it somewhere strange, checked the car, diaper bags, purses, moved furniture-you get the picture. Finally, about 4:00, Denver got a 4th wind and decided to go check the car one more time. I'll admit that I was pretty pessimistic and irritated at this point-I'd already told him to give up several times and let it go. Well, as he stepped out the door, I said something to Chase about how lucky he was to have a Dad that loved him so much. Chase, with tears in his eyes, just said "I know, and I'm so grateful that he's still helping me." Just then Denver opened the door with the DS in hand. I can still see Chase launching himself across the room and into Denver's arms. I think we all cried for a minute-it was way more rewarding than just seeing him open his presents. I sometimes forget that I'm not always right. If Denver had given up like I'd told him to, he would have missed this opportunity to show Chase how much he means to him. I cry now just thinking about what it did for Chase to have his dad set such an example of hope and perseverance and to feel that loved. It was awesome.

Okay, now that the sappy is out of the way, you ought to check out this video. I decided that the family game for Christmas this year would be Dominoes because I figured it was something that Corbin could play with too. This video will demonstrate why I think I'm always right.

We've seriously spent hours lining up dominoes just so that Corbin can knock them over and do his victory cheer. It's a total blast. Well, Merry Christmas.

Oh, and just in case you're wondering, Corbin has now learned that pushing just the one on the end will knock them all over.

Yes, I know that it's been ages. I also know that I have several half-written posts in my mind just waiting for me to make time for them. They're great, all about the wonderful visits we've had from family, Christmas, I've even got one planned for the random things my children say and do. You'll love them...someday. For now you'll just have to content yourself with pictures of my broken husband and son. Denver was kind enough to really bust up his ankle while playing basketball. Luckily, and yet unluckily, it was during the few days that Morgan and Charisse (brother and sister-in-law) had flown in to surprise Denver for his birthday. I say luckily because Morgan was able to get Denver home while I went to work. I wish I could say that our misfortunes ended there-alas, it's not to be. Corbin didn't want to be outdone by his father so he threw himself down the stairs and ended up with a broken leg. Same leg as Denver! Atta boy, Corbin! They called me at work and I came home to take the boys to the doctor. I asked Chase if he wanted to throw himself in front of a car or something so that he could have a busted up leg like the other boys but he respectfully declined...I think he mentioned something about "not being that dumb". So I had a mini-date with my husband, while my ever-so-gracious in-laws watched Chase and Mia. So what if my date entailed a visit to the Dr.'s office, the ER, an x-ray, a splint, and aching arms-Corbin wouldn't let me set him down and didn't want *Gimpy to carry him either. It was a date and it was nice. Anyway, Corbin's gotten used to his cast and although part of me had hoped that it would slow him down, the other part is glad that he's learned to get around with it on. I suppose it was just too much to hope that he'd sit still, happily, for four weeks. Enjoy the pics...until next time!!!

*Denver's new nickname. Also goes by Hop-along and Cripple.

Yeah, cuz that's not nasty...This is a few days later when the swelling had gone down...