When Wiggling Doesn't Work

We've made it through . . . dozens, hundreds, thousands? . . . of teeth so far, and yet this front top baby tooth proved beyond our abilities of extraction. A weird blood blister on his gum clued us in to the distress the grown tooth might be facing, and that was three months ago. He wanted to wiggle it; the dentist said she'd rather we pull it out than her, so we waited. But at our cleanings she noticed that little bitty was still in place. B had a filling that went missing (sure hope it's not chilling in his digestive system somewhere), so we booked a double appointment for our lads--one fill, one pull.

Since it was still a school week and we are a mobile schooling unit, the kids filled their 1.5 hours of dental waiting by schooling it up! I'm glad that people are generally very encouraging of home schooling. I've never really faced (at least TO my face) a lot of the garbage that early home schooling families had to face (the pioneers, as I call them, and I'm not talking early America!). We get to enjoy the benefit of all their hard years softening public opinion about parents educating their own kiddos. I dig it!

Anyway . . . G decided since he'd never had a tooth pulled professionally, he wanted me to sit with him through the process. He also knew he would be getting laughing gas . . . so he made sure to laugh . . . A LOT :) I was a little nervous, because my children have never needed nitrous (that's what it is right?) before, and though I did some reading up on it on the web, I wanted to see how he would react in person. Glad he picked me for his adventure :)

That little tooth proved very stubborn, but eventually it did wiggle out with the help of several cleverly-crafted tools. He chose to keep it, and wrote me--I mean the tooth fairy--the cutest note! I should post a picture of that . . .  he didn't expect any cash, since we had to pay to get this one removed, but he was very brave, and silly, and we can afford the extra buck ;) He was pretty happy about that dollar the next morning . . . it's been a profitable week for him, lol! 
 

Booyah!

We've never been super pushy about accomplishing milestones "on time." G learned to ride his bike this year. He also learned how to multiply and how to spot pronouns in a book he's reading. So . . . whatevs :)

However, one thing that I've been really starting to feel like he needed to accomplish knowing . . . the tying of the shoes. Granted we've worked on this on and off for years. Today, there was a video online that showed a faster way to tie one's shoes; I thought maybe it would be easier, so (after I learned it myself) we gave it a go. After a couple successes and 25 minutes, I said, "Do you just want to try the old fashioned way?" He did, and he figured it out!

Now the funny thing is, I was kind of hoping he'd just figure it out on his own. So about 6 months ago, I told him . . . "You learn to tie your shoes, and I'll give you $5." I know he's worked on it on and off, but finally today, everything clicked. So if I can get the video tutorial he made (just in case you can't yet tie your shoes) to load, you'll see that he's in full celebration mode by the end :)

"Man! I'm learning so much stuff!!" he told his sisters :)

Memorial Day Weekend

Well, it was quite unusual for us, but we actually spent some time at home this weekend! With the rainy days, the kids were a little stir crazy . . . having to re-learn some down time :) They helped their dad with yard work, they did a little homework, and I read books 'til the cows come home (seriously, soooo many Jigsaw Jones re-reads . . . aughhhh! :)

When Monday rolled around, the kids were thrilled to have plans with our local friends. It was a unique opportunity to socialize with children and adults whose primary language is sign language. Our kids have been really interested in learning ASL since we've started spending time with the Morgans. We recently took a tour of the ministry they are very involved with, and have enjoyed watching several special kids Bible DVDs in ASL they've lent us. However, it seems like the biggest learning curve comes when we're surrounded by families communicating in a mix of ASL and spoken English. In fact, even though we only know a pinch of ASL (I took a semester in college), it is really hard NOT to try and communicate along with everyone else :) Brennen echoed my own thoughts, "I don't want to say something weird or wrong accidentally." I mentioned this to my friend S, and she texted back, "Well, how else are you going to learn unless you try and make mistakes?"

So, the kids enjoyed a fun-filled day at the cookout with two teens adopted from Liberia--both deaf--in addition to their three siblings, five family friends plus parents, and us . . . it was quite a crew :) So much laughter! I'm so glad they enjoy playing games and visiting even when they might need a little help to get the whole message through. Oh, and the smoked chicken we ate for lunch was amazingly good! Yummy!

I didn't take any pictures of the party, but here's one of the red satin ball gown C sewed out of my pajama top (the bottoms have been missing since we moved . . . odd?) Her stitching and design is getting more complex and intricate all the time . . . this gown even has sleeves!

Drum Roll, Please!

 

 
This morning, we slowly rolled out of bed (okay, that was me; I stay up way too late :) and headed out to see our friends' new home! It so happens, they live just a wee walk from the town's annual parade route. We've never even once attended a parade in our new town . . . in our old town, they were practically a monthly occurrence! Technically our kiddos could have joined this parade for their taekwondo club, but I wasn't familiar enough with the whole shebang, and didn't feel comfortable abandoning them downtown and catching up with them a couple hours later. So, we watched :)

I was surprised (pleasantly), how many kids they could pick out of the marching bands, clubs, etc. rolling past! We've actually made quite a few connections in this sprawling place. We even had hugs from parade marchers, high fives, and plenty of excited waving :) I didn't realize it was a "candy parade" and our boys stuffed their pockets AND the pockets of the two little boys we were watching the parade with . . . until the middle little almost lost his pants with the weight of the goodies! :) Too funny!

We walked back to our friends' house and enjoyed lunch with them--they are still just barely moved in, so we admired the gorgeous woodwork and heard all their plans and dreams for remaking the frequently-pink place into their own style.

What was extra fun, is the giant mansion . . . 1893? I think I heard someone say . . . just three houses down (always down here, or up, soooo many hills! :) was hosting an estate sale. We walked through this swank abode looking for unique pieces for M and B's new home. My girls L.O.V.E.D. this opportunity (B's hubby watched all four boys, so we ladies could browse :) I ended up finding this super cute vase, that just happened to be my sitting room's colors! And I know I got a good deal, because the original price tag was on the bottom, lol :)

Today was our cleaning day, top to bottom, toilets to garage . . . so after our tour and bonus activities took until mid-afternoon, we had some catching up to do (but isn't it fun to do things "off schedule" sometimes? Just roll with whatever fun, fellowship opportunity God throws our way?) Well . . . my girls were excellent helpers, and it turns out that by introducing this one new piece, a domino effect occurred on all the other décor in the upstairs room :) We arranged, rearranged, and started all over again when it comes to pictures and candles and all the do-dads decorating the room. We even got out the hammer and nails, whew! In the end . . . I love the vase! I  . . . think . . . I like how everything else is arranged. I'll just have to see what Buck thinks about it when he gets home :)

Moments

G writing his grandma a letter . . . writing is so "magical" to me . . . it's like bringing into existence the secrets in someone's head. I don't know what's going to be next or what he's thinking about sharing, but once his pencil hits the page, all that mystery is revealed. Ahhh, I love words!!

I think maybe this is an Urban Cowboy look? Stripy shorts, shark shirt, fringed vest, boots, sister's hat . . . I told him he looked like the Crocodile Hunter :)

Look who got put in charge of upper level mowing! We split work yesterday--the boys cleaned up the yard and ran errands with their dad, while the girls and I went to the mall :) Yes, the distribution of responsibility sounds unequal, until you take into account, I was tasked with finding these "no longer children sizes, but not quite teen" girls swim suits!! Hello, triple the price even with sales and coupons! Anyway, I was informed that the boys were extremely helpful . . .even the little guy with the rake who dreams of mowing like his big bro :)

 

The suit search proved successful, but after all that mall walking, we needed some grub! My daughters took advantage of our inability to find the food court (where do they hide that thing?!) and our rare opportunities to have a nice lunch out together and talked me into a pricey place that serves giant portions. Never fear, my growing children polished off their yummy lunches and the bill was alarming, but the meal well enjoyed :) After this we did our grocery shopping at Costco and Trader Joes (in a thunderstorm) and then returned home for an evening together. Nice :)

Mother's Day

It's funny the things we do as moms . . . things that actually don't bother us all that much, even though it seems like they should. You know, things like . . . taking a van load of kids to street hockey on Mother's Day. And then sitting on steel bleachers watching the hockey children and their sister-coach dance to all the songs playing through the plastic-covered speakers. Why were the speakers covered in plastic, you might ask? Well, while sitting (on Mother's Day) the rain might be pouring down, as the 7-year-old who didn't let a ball fly past him the whole first period, gets swapped midway through the third period, because the game end is looking sketchy and they need him back in the goal box. Did you catch that . . . in the pouring down rain . . . on Mother's Day . . . lol :) The boys have so much fun, and their big sis is a really good coach (between dance moves), and the sister who sits with me cheers loud enough to make her Aunt J proud! It's also nice that this year we know more people and our neighbors' two kiddos are on our team too (a little recruitment after only four kids showed up to the first game -- our boys being half the team; they played non-stop in the hot sun, and won!!) So all in all, despite the weather, doing "mom" stuff isn't such a bad gig :) 

 

 This was a little pre-game skill building :)

 

 


Little did I know, that somewhere on our journey to and from hockey on Mother's Day, in the rain, we picked up a screw in our "new" tire (we had them all replaced in November). It was flat as flat can be when we backed out for karate the next day. So flat in fact, I didn't even pull the van back into the garage. Good thing I know a guy who knows a little something about changing and fixing tires ;)

Back to the game  . . . here's a video of the last few seconds in the rain and how excited Mr. G is when he finds out they won!

(B is at the line with the red shoe laces, G is the goalie)

In addition to my lavender plant from the boys, the girls gifted me with the Burt's Bees chapstick (peony-colored) I've been wanting for  . . . years? (I can't make myself buy a new one, even if the old one is a color I can't stand, until the old one is used up, but I can receive the correct new one as a gift :) They also got me a second 5 lb. weight. I purchased one for myself a decade ago, figuring I only need to work out one arm at a time. But that really doesn't make much sense, so I've always tried to hold two 3 lb. weights, to make 6 lbs. in one hand and the 5 lb. in the other hand, and then switch so one arm doesn't become noticeably stronger (hee-hee). And while I won't buy myself a second 5 lb. weight, I can ask for one for Mother's Day . . . now I have two! Hooray! Though Buck had to work on MD, he had the previous day off and did his best to cook, clean, and let me relax. It's nice to have the day off myself :)

Puzzle me this . . .

Grandma Judi left a challenge in her wake . . . this National Parks 1,000 piece puzzle. Normally 1,000 pieces are a breeze, but this one had every kind of wonkily-shaped piece you can imagine! Just figuring out the edge pieces took a major team effort! I was thinking this one was really going to slow us down, but then I noticed (and started photographing) this . . .

 

 

5:13 P.M.

This was shortly before we took a dinner break. I was enjoying an early Mother's Day off, since my hubby had to work on the traditional celebratory day. Normally, I would be involved in the food making process, but today I was told just to puzzle :)

 

 

 

7:06 P.M. (Hello, progress!)

 

 

7:50 P.M. Done!

 

 

And this was the next day, because we needed a break from schoolwork (on Mother's Day, I know! :) After we reached the point of only those big, giant words you see there, left to build . . . it became much easier, because all we had to do was find matching colors. It was a brain bender though, and we enjoyed it!