Jacob is the third of my five children to get braces! 

Last February, Jacob became affectionately known as "Brace Face."

It was quite the process.

He was thrilled with the idea of braces, though you cannot tell from the pictures...

This last Wednesday, we returned to Warren Orthodontics.

Before....                                                                        After...

Maybe not a "million-dollar" smile, but a couple thousand, anyways!

Jordan and Skyler Anderton have been friends for as long as I can remember. 

     For many years, Kathy and Greg Anderton have welcomed Jordan into their home. He has been a guest at the breakfast, lunch, and dinner table countless numbers of times, napped on their couch on many occasions, slept over on their floor too many times to count, attended sporting events (front row and all), crashed many "Anderton" and "Bahr" family parties, and even gone to several concerts with them (Lady Antebellum, Blake Shelton...). His relationship with their family has been the envy of several "unnamed" Paynter children.

I have stayed clear of the envy until.....NOW!

      Kathy won a cruise for four to the Caribbean. They invited Jordan to go with them. As I speak, he is leaving Miami bay on a 6-night, 7-day cruise, the cruise of my dreams! I am trying to live vicariously through him, without having pangs of envy. It's NOT working!

     Nonetheless, enjoy a few of his pictures from Miami:

 (I will need to remind him of Dad's number 1 picture rule-"Put someone we know in the picture!")

    I will forever be grateful for the kindness the Anderton's have extended to Jordan and my family over the years. They have not only been Jordan's second family, but they have been dear friends, babysitters, plumbing/electrical consultants, etc... I couldn't ask for a better "second home" for my son.

I have to admit, I haven't loved a Disney movie in a while. But we went and saw "Frozen" over the break and I loved it. So, when I saw this, I couldn't resist sharing:

Thanks Brenda and Kaylie....I think!

 Brenda has prodded me to read the Hunger Games series for years. I could not make myself read the books for no good reason. I had seen "Hunger Games" twice and when "Catching Fire" came to the theaters this holiday season, I was excited to go. I loved the movie, so much so, that I went a second time with Kaylie.  She loved it as much as I did and resolved to go home and start "Mocking Jay" all over again.  Her enthusiasm prodded me to finally pick up "Hunger Games" and begin to read. I am hooked! I have officially finished the first two books but must wait till AFTER parent-teacher conferences to begin "Mocking Jay."  

So...thanks Brenda and Kaylie for getting me to read this series. Thanks for the most unproductive weekend. Thanks for the escape from reality! I'm sure I will pay for it this week. 

**I think this is why I choose not to read anything except for what I have to read for school**