Another One Bites the Dust

Christian lost another tooth, but this time it was at Grandma's house. He was wrestling around with another kid and got hit in the mouth. Naturally blood flowed and Christian fretted as he hates the sight of blood. The tooth stayed in, even though Grandma offered to pull it. He was having none of that! It fell out later that night and he has it in a bag all ready to come home for the tooth fairy. He didn't want to have the tooth fairy visit him in Olathe, so he's saving it for the trip home. On Saturday night the tooth fairy will be visiting him while he's sleeping in his bed.

Cub Scouts One More Time

The school is attempting to start another scout troop. Huts and I were not positive about the outcome, but Huts says there are a lot more people interested this time around. So, maybe it will work. Christian sure seems excited about it. He was anxious all evening, thinking they weren’t going to make it to the meeting. Then he brought home a couple of magazines and showed me lots in them. Hopefully it will work this time around. Keep your fingers crossed.

Right On Target

Christian is doing well, if not better than expected in school. All A’s and on a fourth grade reading level. He has a higher advanced reading goal this semester, but his teacher says he will make it. We got through the teacher-parent conference in 5 minutes. Eli halfway behaved and took off with candy from the teacher and the papers Christian made for us.

Insider

Christian once again is having trouble letting go of long sleeves and moving into short sleeves and shorts. He continues to wear long sleeves and told us that he is not going to get hot ever because he is always going to stay indoors. Then this morning, he picked out a short-sleeved white shirt until I reminded him that it was going to be cold. He changed into long sleeves after that. We go through this every year, and for some reason, his fix is to stay inside this summer. He seems to think that will get him out of baths. Wrong!

Larry The Leprechaun

Larry the Leprechaun

We got a surprise last night with Larry the Leprechaun. Apparently, the school brings him in to meet the kindergarteners. Tori received a chocolate coin from him. Christian and Tori were both sad that he was leaving yesterday, and we thought that was the end of it but…

Christian brought home a paper sack and cut a hole in the bottom of it, leaving a flap. I thought he was making something for his Legos, but he was making something for Larry the Leprechaun. He sat the bag on the hallway table, along with a note saying something to the effect of this:

Dear Larry,

Thanks for coming to my school today. Here is my bag. Please leave the candy in it.

Christian

P.S. I really do believe you are real.

We couldn’t crush Christian’s dream, so I made a bag for Tori, while Huts went to the drugstore for candy. He couldn’t find any chocolate coins so he bought candy bars. He put that into the bags with a note from Larry letting the kids know that the leprechaun had run out of chocolate coins and was giving them their favorite candy bars instead.

The kids bought it this morning and were thrilled to find that Larry the Leprechaun had dropped by. Christian woke up Tori and they danced around the room. Then he slyly questioned if I had been behind it. I told him no, that Larry must have come and scared the cats into my bed. That satisfied him and the two spent all morning talking about Larry and even wrote him thank you notes. So, to whom shall we send the thank you notes? Uncle Travis, Uncle Dale, Uncle T.J., Uncle Paul? Aunt Lucy? Let us know if you want to know what the kids have to tell Larry,

Next year, we will be ready for Larry’s visit for sure!

Mr. Indecision

Christian cannot make up his mind these days for nothing. He couldn’t decide whether he wanted to go to Portland for his uncle Sam’s wedding—we had to get the tickets before gas prices went up, so he is staying at home. He can’t decide if he is going to his grandma’s for spring break—his sister is out of here for a week! He can’t decide whether to have his birthday party at the bowling alley or the bounce house, so he just won’t have a party—or so he says. He couldn’t decide whether he was going to wear green today for St. Patrick’s Day and finally did so this morning. He can’t make up his mind about anything, and it is driving us bonkers! Mr. Indecision is going to have to make some decisions here real soon, and I am not going to let him cop out of it!

The Craziness Continues

Christian did not have as much trouble last night as his siblings, but the night before was different. He had to write several types of sentences with his spelling words in them. I could tell right away he wasn’t interested in doing this so I helped him. And of course, he argued with me that what I was telling him was not right and so forth. I gave up and told him to have at it. That fueled a fit where he decided he would just not do it and get an F. After some harsh words, he settled down and we got those sentences done. He was impatient throughout it all, though, and boy was I glad when he had the last one down.

Last night, he had much of homework done by the time he got home, so he was much better about everything. He ate his dinner without fuss and played with his Trio blocks upstairs. He also visited with us downstairs from time to time, smiling all the way!

There must be a full moon this week, and I am not looking forward to tonight. Keep your fingers crossed that it is a better one for all. We have an appointment for an estimate, and I am hoping the kids behave themselves!

New Beds On The Way

We decided to go ahead and purchase new beds for the older two. Christian chose a black loft bed with steps, and Tori, a brown one (no white available). They are not as high as a college loft, but have enough room underneath for a dresser and a bookshelf. The steps on the end also have drawers.

We wanted to give the kids more floor space to spread out and more places to put their things, and the loft beds seemed like the best solution. They were also one of the sturdiest options available.

Ollie and Tori are thrilled they are getting the beds, especially with the fact that the beds may come in the week of Easter. If so, Huts and I will be working hard that weekend to get the beds put together and everything in place before the real fun of dyeing eggs.

This weekend, Ollie and Tori helped me move around their rooms and the stuff on their walls to prepare for the new furniture. Better to get it done now since we have to put the beds together. They liked picking out where things should go and seem happy with their “new” rooms.

Loads Of Fun

Huts had a great idea this weekend: to take the kids to the children’s museum in Bloomington and let them blow off some steam. I wasn’t sure because of how quickly they got bored last time, but this time, they had a ball. They spent three hours playing on three floors and would have stayed longer if the Legos had been there (they were removed to make way for play stages—sorry, Christian).

We left around 1 and went to the toy store, where they all found something they had been looking for for a while—Christian, mini Lego figures, Tori, Tippy Tumbelina LaLa Loopsy, and Eli, a camera and Caillou video.

We were all hungry so we went to Applebee’s where we spent our gift certificate from Christmas. We got a nice big booth in the corner and the kids actually sat down and ate. Christian wasn’t too fond of his dry burgers, but he ate them anyway like a real trooper. Tori gobbled down her grilled cheese, while Eli ate his macaroni and cheese.

We got home around 4. Eli had fallen asleep in the car and slept until 6. Tori and Christian played with their toys while Eli slept, and then they all three played together until dinner and bedtime. It was a nice day.

Valentine's Day

We had one of the best ever! It started with Huts and me taking the afternoon off just to have lunch together and prepare for the second grade party. We got to relax a little before the chaos! And of course, when I got into the car, Huts had a great little surprise for me—flowers, chocolates and a Sing-a-Ma-Jig (the kids and I are obsessed with them!). I also got a surprise at work with an e-mail from a long-lost cousin whom I chatted with last night and learned much about my grandmother's side of the family.

We got to the school early to set up for the party. Our friend, Carol who recently retired, came too—many thanks to her. The kids came in and we had a great time together playing games, putting together a craft and scarfing down sweets of all types. This was our last official party of the year, and Huts and I did much better this time around. We had more than enough stuff to do. Everyone seemed to have a lot of fun, and there were no meltdowns this time. Carol even managed to sneak down to Tori's room and sit with her for a while. The kids came home happily exhausted.