Welcome to our World

Neighbors and classmates means lots of play time in the gorgeous fall weather. D's new favorite hobby:  biking the dirt train near our home. The twin's party for N to attend and siblings D and M to crash. Dandelion wishes that Mary could be N's sister and live in the same house with her. Z's birthday party for N to enjoy. M's birthday party for M to enjoy with her new classmates. A balloon from when C's family took K out to eat dinner with them.

M was very excited to go to the orthodontist because she knew she had done the work she needed to obtain the big prize she had been aiming for: at $30 Target gift card.  She was not happy, however, when she learned the baby tooth that was being pushed forward by the adult tooth behind it had to come out immediately.  M did NOT want that Novocain shot!  After convincing her it had to come out and to tell the orthodontist he could do it (she demanded I buy her a horse if she had to get a shot), M decided she was going to yank that wiggly tooth out herself.  She began pushing forwards and backwards and with the verbal help of the office manager kept on working at it, even with the obvious pain and outpouring of blood.  By the time the orthodontist came back (and I was taking N to the bathroom) M had that tooth so loosened up that the orthodontist was able to just use some floss to make it come out!  Once the blood was cleaned up -- there was a lot -- we were ...

I feel like I have some explaining to do!  And here's what I wrote to M's teacher about all this chaos. M began crying on again Thursday morning -- giant, huge sobs alone in her bedroom at the thought of going to school.  This happened a lot toward the end of 1st grade (the up/down/cry every morning).  I couldn't stand the idea of doing it for an entire school year.  M "shadowed" at the Waldorf school all day on Thursday and Friday.  She was the 16th child in a place where for science they walked to a stream and dissected a milkweed seed and where she is one of only a few students who knows how to read at all.  Michelle was so calm and happy, especially knowing she won't have to take any tests again this year.  Although my husband and I don't want to pay the money or deal with having children at 2 different schools, it is obvious the Waldorf approach is highly beneficial to this particular child. Her #1 regret is that she will not have y...

For Grandma's first check up in Aurora after school began, N joined us for the first time and we drove a quick 15 minutes over to the DMN&S on the way home.    We pushed Grandma around in a wheelchair while we checked out the new exhibit called "Marvelous Machines" about the mechanics of certain animals.    I wish I had a picture of N and I learning about bird wings.    We sat in a chair and lifted an artificial wing up and down and spun around faster and faster.    I was so nauseous by the time we were done I felt like I was going to puke all day.    Lol.    N's favorite part was squeezing the giraffe heart in simulation of pumping blood all the way up that long neck.    By the time we were done N was ready for lunch and we headed to Costco to eat and shop there.    We got home just in time to pick up the other children from school.    Score! We've had plenty of play time around here,...

The elementary school's first Monday after school began was the event everyone had been talking about.  I was very grateful we were all given glasses.  The school provided them for K, D, and M; Hubby's work gave him a pair, and Hubby's co-worker, when he explained the hardware store was sold out, gave him 2 pairs for N and I.  Her preschool pick up was right around the time the entire school was out looking, so we were able to join D's class for viewing enjoyment.  Hurrah! The most surprising part to me was all the crescent shaped shadows. N and I helped with the neighbor's puppy one day.  Here the dogs are waiting for a milk bone. There was a pirate invasion! And gorgeous sunsets (K is riding her bike a lot more this school year). K's birthday present made me cry tears of joy.  She may never know how much her gift meant to me.  It was the best present in the entire world K could have given me. And M's notebook she handmade m...