Our Christmas tree has been standing for over a week now!  (That is huge given there are three boys and a dog that share a space with the tree).  This year I got everything out and put up, except the ornaments.  I had the ornaments organized into the boys' own piles.  Then they came home and just had to hang their ornaments.  It worked beautifully.

I am not sure how they got Bree to sit still long enough, but isn't she cute.

 Benjamin woke up this morning at 5am in pain.  We just assumed it was a crick in his neck and encouraged him to stretch it out.  He was getting some mobility then I encouraged him to take a hot shower and try to work it out more.  After the shower the pain was so bad, we were at the chiropractor's office by 8:30.  A few weeks ago, he started carrying a book bag...the kind you put on one shoulder and run the strap across your body.  (He did this because the school does not allow backpacks in the classroom...security reasons.  Not sure why they think a book bag is safer than a backpack.)  Anyway, carrying his books on one shoulder finally proved to be too much for his body.  He has a pinched dorsal scapula nerve.  The chiropractor worked on it for close to an hour.  It is better but it keeps seizing up.  We will probably go back later today, Thursday and then hopefully a follow up on Monday.  He has been excused from any physical activity or quick movements.  He was excited when he realized that meant cleaning but then very bummed when he realized it meant no xbox or Wii.  Turns out him getting in the shower was the worst mistake.  I always get confused on whether you use heat or cold and the doc said the only time you use heat is if you need to warm up the injury to work it out.  Otherwise, in this case, it softened and relaxed things but then when they cooled down it was twice as bad.

In a little bit I have to get Jacob out of school because he is having 2 teeth pulled.  The orthodontist is very concerned about his upper cuspids become impacted.  So, we are pulling the baby teeth (which refuse to come out) and hopefully the adult teeth will slide down into place.  If not...I don't want to think about the if not.  We will know by early summer if they cooperated or if we have a huge problem on our hands.

We have been in the single digits the last 2 days.  Not much snow where we are but the cold temperatures.  I am so glad all of my early, weekly, standing appointments are done and I can stay home.  No plans for the rest of the month.  The boys have a short break.  They are out of school Friday, Dec 23 and then go back on Tuesday Jan 2.  Just laying low.