Swim Lessons and the Orthodontist

We started the morning with swim lessons. I thought I could talk Jaelyn into trying them and they offered her a free class, but she refused. Instead, she sat beside me dangling her feet in the pool while we watched Allie and Caden have an absolute ball with their lessons. While Caden got to practice blowing bubbles and dunking his head, Allie got to learn actual strokes. She was learing how to do the breast stroke and back stroke. Now, she's going to need a lot of practice, but she wasn't just flailing around in the water like she was last year. We'll do 3 weeks of lessons, 3 days a week, take a break over the middle session and then I might sign them up for the last session of the summer. Maybe between now and then I can get Jaelyn comfortable in the water. She has a huge fear of getting her face wet and going under. They really scared her two years ago when they made her jump into the deep end of the pool at the Athletic Club.

We picked up lunch on the way home and ate quickly until Kelley and kids came to watch Allie and Caden while I took Jaelyn to the orthodontist. I loved Dr. G! When we signed in there was no one at the reception desk. Dr. G walked by it and noticed us. He signed us in and took the paperwork, making sure I'd filled everything out. I don't know about most doctors, but I'd say from my experience it is not the norm to have a doctor help out behind the front desk. He was friendly and patient with Jaelyn and he suggested we do exactly what Dr. Karen has been telling me she'd do. We have another consult scheduled for next month, but I'm going to cancel it. He pretty much sold me on his practice the second he stepped up to help behind the reception desk. We did records which involved pictures, an xray and molds. We'll go back next week for the consult and then Jaelyn is going to be a very unhappy girl as they put in a RPE (rapid palatal expander) and braces on her top teeth. We need to expand her arch to correct her cross bite and move her front teeth together to get room for her lateral incisors to come in. Fun, Fun, Fun!

Danny's Playtime

Dan sent us a video this morning. They blew up a motorcycle at the bomb school and thought we'd like to see it. And of course, I thought you might to see it as well.

It's going to be tiny in the little window, but look for the tiny motorcycle in the background and watch it go ka-boom. The kids enjoyed watching.

A Few Extra Snappies

One of the many perks of having Grandma and Grandpa visit - spare change!

Allie playing with her new dollies.
Jaely and Allie - they can be so sweet sometimes.

Caden playing "Press Nose" with Granpda. Caden says whoever presses the hardest wins.

Me with the kids

Baba and Grandpa with the kids.

Baba helping Caden (aka Tattoo Boy) learn how to hula hoop.

Caden's getting ready to "get" somebody. They better watch out.

Baba and her girls.

The Grandpa Effect

I don't know what it is about my Dad, but my kids have always had the same reaction to him. It's the craziest thing...I call it the Grandpa Effect. All he has to do is be in the room and they go insane. He doesn't have to talk or interact with them in any way. He can sit on the couch to read a book and the kids start bouncing like someone pumped sugar into their veins. They scream and climb all over him like he's a jungle gym. Poor Dad - I keep trying to tell them he's getting fragile in his old age :p (totally kidding, Dad), but it doesn't matter, they can't control themselves around him. They make him mad sometimes, but secretly, I bet he's loves the extra attention.

Happy Birthday Dad and Jaelyn

My Dad's 64th birthday was Thursday. Since my parents won't be back for Jaelyn's birthday in July, we combined their birthdays and celebrated together with a VERY delicious chocolatey cake (that I've eaten way too many pieces of w/o a visit to the gym in between).

Anyway, we had a fun party and got to open a few presents. Jaelyn got a new ipod shuffle which she's been wanting. I've been letting her use mine as a calming technique when she feels anxious and it seems to help. She likes having her own so she isn't constantly asking to borrow mine. The kids also all got money that they enjoyed spending at the store. Jaelyn and Caden have no problem picking out toys, but Allie has the worst time deciding what to spend her money on. Toy departments have too many toys! No one had enough money for what they wanted, but thankfully we'd brought Baba with us so she floated everybody loans - which I'm sure will be repaid in hugs and kisses.

The Chicken Dance Hula

At Least They Are Temporary

This is what happens when you let big sister and little brother play with temporary tattoos unsupervised. At least they are bad quality and will come off in the bath tonight...right??

Fun Times with Baba and Grandpa

My parents came on Saturday and we are having a wonderful time. We've been on the go for the last 2 days with Allie's recital yesterday and errands today. First thing this morning (after I slept in till 8 - sleeping in used to be defined as 11 or noon maybe - now 8 is LATE for me), we took the girls to get hair cuts. Allie has wanted her hair cut short for months, but I've been putting her off because she had to have her hair in a bun for her recital. She got an incredibly cute bob this morning. Jaelyn just had her hair trimmed. She wants to grow it to her waist and then donate it to Locks of Love again (she has a good heart). After the hair cuts, we went to Sears and everyone got new shoes ~ even me. Thanks Baba and Grandpa. Next, we stopped at the library to sign the kids up for the summer reading program.

The highlight of the day for me was a trip to the dentist. My mom seems to have instilled a love of the dentist in me. I'd go once a month if my insurance would pay for it. I love the feeling of nice, clean teeth.

In the late afternoon, we took the kids to the school to ride bikes and play on the playground. Allie has the balance, steering and stopping down. Now, she needs to work on starting by herself and going downhill. She doesn't like to go to fast (who would have thought Allie would be scared of speed?!) She's almost there.

We finished off the day with the slip n slide and wacky sprinkler in the backyard. I'm hopeful that everyone will go to sleep easily today.

Check out Allie's hair and her snazzy outfit. Her tap costume is now in the dress-up bucket and a neighbor dropped off a hand-me-down bag that had these shoes in it - va va va voom!

(Unfortunately, the shoes caused a major issue between Allie and Jaelyn. They are now in the Goodwill bag.)

Domesticating Jaelyn

Jaelyn has always been a wonderful helper. She's been doing even more to help around the house now more than ever. She makes the beds most mornings for all of us. She loves to help fold laundry and dust. Lately, I've been letting her clean the bathtubs and shower with baking soda and vinegar.
She's starting to help more in the kitchen. Not only can she crack eggs, she's learning to scramble them herself as well.In the last few weeks, I've been letting her chop vegetable for salads. She's being very careful with the knife....no injuries yet.

Allie's Recital

Allie's recital was today. We've only semi enjoyed dance class this year, and honestly, I'm glad it's over. We will never again do an activity after school. Anything we do will be on Saturday, at least until the kids are bigger. It was just too much structure at the end of a long day. Allie's class was ballet and tap. They always started with ballet and you can tell watching the video. Allie was done with class by the time they put on their tap shoes and didn't know the routine very well because she was always too busy playing to pay attention. Her teacher's name was Miss Elizabeth and she wrote me the sweetest card about Allie. She said "I am glad I had the opportunity to work with Allie ~ she has reminded me of the importance of imagining and dreaming :)." So true...

Allie with Miss Elizabeth in her ballet costume.

Allie with Baba in her Tap costume.

The Day of Baba

Jaelyn woke up this morning (at 5:30, but that deserves it's own post..grumble, grumble) declaring "Today is the Day of Baba." She added in Grandpa as well at the end. Their plane lands at 4:38 this afternoon. We are excited!

My Friend Knows Me So Well

The mailman left me a box of my doorstep yesterday and this awesome shirt was inside. I think my friends know me a tad bit to well!!

Encase the writing is too small, it says "Chocolate: Here today - gone today."

Bye Bye Earrings

We pierced Allie's ears about 2 1/2 years ago. She loved them and they were so cute on her. BUT they have also been a major pain. It took a full year for the holes to heal. Since then, she's had several infections in one ear. The other night I noticed there was blood around her earring. Her ear was so swollen and puss came out the back when I took her earring out (yuck - sorry, TMI). There is no way she will let me put it back and I don't really want to try. Allie and I have talked and decided to let her holes close up. If she wants them pierced when she's older, we'll try again, but for now, bye bye earrings.

A Little Teary Eyed

I don't know what's the matter with me. I've been looking forward to this day for months...the last day of school. But I got all teary eyed this morning as the girls got on the bus. I'm silly. They went to school as Kindergartner and 1st Grader and are coming home as soon to be 1st Grader and 2nd Grader. I guess I'm a little sad to see them growing up. And boy have they grown this year. They have learned so much, they have grown more mature and they've grown bigger. I miss my little baby girls, but I do love these new big girls!

The first day of school 2008-2009The Last Day of School 2008-2009

Prayers For Mrs. H

I would love prayers for a family friend. I only know the basics so can't give you a ton of information. Mrs. H is the mom of Dan's best friend. She is a kind, caring, wonderful Christian lady and we love her. I just found out she has lymphoma. She's in the middle of 6 rounds of chemo. Would you please join me in praying for a healing miracle? Thank you.

Hunting a Dr. Karen

My mom worked for an orthodontist for a few years. Every time we are in Pensacola, we go in and visit Dr. Karen. The kids love to get in her chair and let her look at their teeth. We've known Jaelyn would need her cross bite fixed since she was about 3 or 4. We've just been waiting to see if it would shift itself when her 6 year molars came in. It didn't and they are in now. Jaelyn doesn't do so well at the dentist. She'll let them clean, but it really upsets her. We have 2 orthodontic consults scheduled in the next month. Could either of them be as nice and comforting as Dr. Karen? I'm praying and hoping so.

Allie is going to be right behind Jaelyn needing expansion as soon as her baby teeth start coming out. Her mouth is so crowded with her tiny teeth. I can't imagine her with big huge permanent teeth. She's 6 years 2 months and not a single tooth is loose; so we have time.

I'm afraid Caden will follow in both the girls' footsteps. My 4 1/2 year old is STILL sucking his thumb. He's got a weird bite thing going as well.

We are so going to need that raise Dan is about to get. Orthodontics is so expensive - even with bad insurance.

Set for Summer

I have been worried about how I would manage all 3 kids 100% of the time while retaining my sanity this summer. My babysitter called me back yesterday and she's going to be able to help me. 1 day a week , 4 hours, I am going to get to escape. Not sure what I'll do during this hours - probably grocery shopping because that's just not fun with 3 kids - but whatever it is, it'll be alone!

I bought our pool pass today and signed the kids up for a week of VBS. We have our bowling coupons being emailed to us daily and the free movie schedule is posted on the frig. Add in a few morning at the gym and a breakfast at Ikea here and there and I think we are all set!!!!

Major-ly Excited

The Major's list came out today and Dan's name is on it. The list still has to get approved by Congress and the last article I read said promotions should start by the end of the summer. So...Dan will be a Major in the fall. Very cool! I'm proud of him and of course, I'm thrilled with the major pay raise :p!

Last Week of School F-I-N-A-L-L-Y

I wasn't sure this week would ever get here. While Allie has enjoyed school even through her struggles, Jaelyn has been done with school since day 1. She came home that first week complaining about having to go and telling me she'd finish 1st grade, but that was it. No more school after that. We've obviously had our other struggles this year. Just recently there's a been a call from the assistant principal about inappropriate language one day and a note home about hitting another day. Sigh...but in 5 days summer will officially start and we can forget about school for a few months. This week is busy with Allie's space camp, class picnics, a good news assembly, dance class and recital dress rehearsal. Saturday, my parents come. Don't you just love the word "reinforcements?!?!" Allie's recital is Sunday and then we are done with scheduled activities! Our summer plans consist of play dates, pool time, bowling, picnics and free movies. And of course, we'll wrap summer up with a wonderful homecoming...2 MONTHS...we can do this!

Jaelyn's Dinosaur

Jaelyn has been working on story writing. They've spent time writing story beginnings, middles and endings and then they put them all together into a complete story.

When I came home from the bus stop a dinosar had stept on my house. It hapend on the first day of school. I started to criy. I cote a dinosaur and made a dinosaur house in my back yaord for hime. He liket it so much. He did not come in side to eat. So I need to punish my dinosaur. I am going to let my dinosaur come out. He is going to eat.