BIG Tree

Our friend Linda gave us her old tree this year.  Our previous tree looked like it needed to eat a few cheeseburgers, so it was a welcome addition to our house.  This one is taller, and much, much bigger.  The kids absolutely love it, and I am very thankful for the gift.

Here are some pictures of our decorating fun.

Lost Tooth

Sophie's first tooth has been loose for a while.  She's not the kind of person who tolerates such things, so this tooth has been causing a little bit of drama around here.  I tried pulling it out one day - it was so loose that it bent completely forward, but she shrieked and I really didn't feel like it was worth it, so I told her to deal with it on her own.

Yesterday, she asked me for an apple.  I handed her a giant red delicious about the size of her head.  She complained that I didn't cut it into pieces for her.  Oh child, I know exactly what I'm doing.  So she heads off to eat the apple.  I rub my hands together like an evil genius.  Soon, there will be no more complaining and whining about how the tooth is hurting when she eats yogurt.  Seriously.

So she comes back up about 10 minutes later and tells me she can't finish the apple, it's too big.  I look in her mouth, and the tooth is GONE!!!  I asked her where it was...she produces an utterly horrified look and bursts into tears.  Plan backfire.  So now I have drama because the tooth is out!

I inspected the apple - no tooth.  We searched her clothing, the couch where she was sitting, the floor - no tooth.  So, Sophie literally lost her first tooth.  It's gone.  I'm just glad it's out.  Hopefully the one beside it will wait a little while to loosen up.

She is in a much better mood about the situation, so here's her showing off her gap - you can already see the adult tooth coming up behind.  Donations for our orthodontia fund are always gladly accepted.

Eli's First Performance

One of the things I love about our school is that they put a big emphasis on "specials."  Art, Music, PE, etc.  Eli has been practicing with his classmates for his first special performance, one themed for Veteran's Day, in music class.  It was a short performance, with 3 of the second grade classes participating.  I was very impressed.  The kids were clearly having fun and loving the performance aspect of music.  Eli was thrilled when he got done.  He was proud of himself, and knew that they had done a good job.  I clearly remember performances on the East Elementary school stage when I was in elementary school.  I have been trying to gently push him toward singing and loving music, but I feel like I've been striking out.  I hope this performance will tip the balance.

Since this was a Veteran's Day program, the kids dressed in red, white and blue.  The Captain America "costume" became useful yet again.

TOT 2014

Last night our locality held Beggar's Night (or what I grew up calling Trick or Treat, though nobody else appears to use that term).  I've been hearing from friends all over that it is very odd not to celebrate Halloween on the 31st, but again, I've never know anything different.  We had fairly nice weather, and the kids had an absolute blast.

Let me tell you about Daniel, though.  Daniel dressed as the "Itsy Bitsy Spider," which is one of his favorite things in the world.  A lot of stores this year used spiders as themes for their Halloween area, and now each time we go into a store, he yells for the Itsy Bitsy Spider.  Kroger had enormous inflatables - and as a result is now his favorite store.  I'm wondering how long it will take him to realize the spiders are hibernating until next year.  Anyway, we walked down to one of our neighbor's houses to start.  The other kids run ahead, TOT!, and come back.  The adults are encouraging Daniel to come and get some candy.  He walks halfway up the driveway, and when I tell him to go ahead and get candy, he takes his plastic pumpkin and hurls it at them.  I was mortified!  Daniel is a very happy, calm, friendly kid, but boy, that temper flares up when I am least expecting it.  I am sad to see my kids growing up, but I will be glad to be out of this toddler stage for many reasons.

The other kids had an absolute blast.  We saw so many neighbors and I got to meet a few of the kid's classmates and their parents.  I could take or leave Halloween - it's not something I even really think about much, but it is such a great way to connect with the neighborhood.

Here are a few pictures for you:

The Itsy Bitsy Spider, Captain America, a minion, and a ballerina.  

My "fire pumpkin" as Daniel calls it.  You can't tell, but this
pumpkin is huge!  The lady at the local nursery still had some
as of yesterday at noon, which is when I got around to buying
one.  It was carved at 4:30 and on the porch just in time.  

2014-2015 School Pictures

Opening up a packet of school pictures is a little like opening - well, I really can't explain it.  The element of surprise is definitely there, along with the expectation of nothing amazing.  I hope for eyes open (all the way!).  Bonus for a smile.   Sophie came home from Kindergarten today and told me there was an envelope with 4 of her heads on it for me in her backpack.  The moment of truth.  She is a very photogenic kid, so I wasn't expecting it to be too bad.  Eli's will be the true test, but he isn't home yet.

Here is Sophie:

Update: As predicted, Eli's are pretty bad.  We will be doing a retake for him.  I'll update when I get the second round back.  Thankfully we are doing family pictures soon, and I know those will be great!