Anna's Art

I want to save everything that the kids bring home...especially those things they create or write that I think they would like to see when they are older. You can sure see how much they've grown when you look a the changes from year to year. This is Anna's Kindergarten story about a funny character. She loves school and she is soaking it all up like a giant sponge! I especially love her art doodles that she does in "free choice centers"!

Austin's Solar Cooker Science Project

Austin's school is having a Science Fair and he chose a project related to solar energy. He wanted to construct his own style of solar cooker to cook hotdogs. He had a good idea and good rationale for the process. He even had a great plan to test his solar cooker. He decided to monitor the temperature and check it every 2 minutes. After 20 minutes, he let it cook for an hour. He was somewhat disappointed to find that it takes alot of patience to cook with solar energy and that cooking food that would spoil was best left to the microwave or grill. He is compiling his data and putting his board together now, so more to come on his project....

Life with Braces

The boys survived their first day with braces! They came home excited, but a tad bit sore and STARVING! Their friends and teachers loved their new styling braces! Their mouths are both sore...probably from that extender they had to wear for so long while getting the braces placed...it didn't hurt (they said), but it didn't look so fun! They are bound to be sore after an hour in that! But, as you can see, they are all smiles...aren't those some cool braces? I'm going to admire them daily and be sure to get our moneys worth! LOL They were in search of soft foods...ice cream, pudding, soup, ramen noodles and cheese toast (lightly toasted). Since they are only 20 months apart in age and only 1 year apart in school, it seem like having twins. I thought we would have at least a year in between braces, but apparently that plan didn't work so well. Thankfully when college starts we'll get 1 year in between...the baby years are nothing compared to the teen years!! But, it's all GREAT and we are so thankful for our kids and the new things they teach us every day! I'm glad they like their braces and I can't wait to see their smiles when they get them off. SMILE!!!!

Austin's Orthodontist Visit

And it's Austin's turn...while (thankfully) too young for braces and still missing lots of baby teeth, he did need to get a space maintainer appliance to keep his teeth from shifting into the space left by his missing baby teeth. It's funny how the boys are all so different...Brandon lost his late, Connor lost his early and Austin practically lost his all at once! So, here we are in the Orthdontist office all at once...that's one hefty bill! So, today Austin got fitted with for a space maintainer and they put in spacers to give a tiny bit of extra room between his back teeth to make it easier to put in his new appliance in about 4 weeks. He is most worried about all the things he will have to give up...you would think they eat nothing but gummy candy, but I guess the thought of not having it for 18 - 24 months is crisis to a 10 year old. Afterall, I would NOT like to give up dark chocolate, so I guess I can relate! LOL They made molds of his teeth...that was the worst part...didn't hurt, but sure tasted gross! But, he was a great patient! The spacers look like tiny rubber bands and they use dental floss to place them in...interesting little trick I think. He is so funny...always making funny faces! He thought he would get a reprieve on the candy ban since the appliance takes a few weeks to make, but since he got the spacers, that didn't work out so well. More to come on the dental progress in about 4 weeks....

Brandon's Braces 3-18-10

Brandon's turn for braces...he was pretty excited...then he read the "do not eat" food list...what...NO GUM??? No doritos??? Maybe he is rethinking the braces...NOT! Thankfully, in today's world braces are not geeky, they are cool! They come in all colors and are very small compared to the braces or our generation. He was a good patient and everyone was in great humor during the "installation". Jeffery and I were in sticker shock, but it will be worth it to see those perfect teeth in 18 - 24 months...it was worth it just to see their excited smiles this morning! Brandon chose blue(blue-green I think) and black...braces are a fashion statement to todays teens I found out while in the Orthodontist office. They really made it a great experience for the boys...can't wait to hear how they did at school this afternoon!

Connor Gets Braces 3-18-10

Today is the big day! Connor was excited to get his braces...I don't ever remember kids being excited about this teenage rite of passage, but he sure was! He was so funny talking about all the foods he would have to give up...gummies, sour patch kids, popcorn, gum and so on. He made sure he got his fill the night before...he ate so much he was about sick, so he shouldn't want any for a very long time! Braces these days are very cool and you can pick from a rainbow of colors...they will even change colors at every appointment if you want to...that makes it fun. He was a very good patient...as he always is. He chose red so that they would match his Tomato costume for his OM performance that is coming up in a few short weeks. I thought they looked awesome and he was ready to surprise his friends at school...he kept his braces a secret for the big reveal! We will see if he loves them as much after wearing them for a while, but for now, they are cool and in 18 - 24 months, his teeth will be stunning!

St. Patrick's Day 2010

It's St. Patrick's Day! Green, rainbows and a pot of gold!
Austin and Anna made cupcakes for their classes...Anna and I made the rainbow cupcakes and she and Austin decorated them...Austin made rainbows out of twizzlers and Anna used Jolly Rancher jelly beans...both topped with a gold coin at the end of the rainbow. I think they did a super job on them! The were all decked out in green for school...it was sure to be a lucky day! Anna came home excited to share all the havoc the leprechan reaked on the Kindergarten classroom! She wanted to know if they destroyed anything at our house while she was gone! Well, it wasn't the leprechan's that made the mess in our house. LOL Brandon and Connor indulged me (sort-of) by wearing the hat for the picture...St. Patrick's Day is not a big deal in Middle School. Wishing everyone the luck of the Irish today...

An Irish Prayer May God give you...For every storm, a rainbow, For every tear, a smile, For every care, a promise, And a blessing in each trial. For every problem life sends, A faithful friend to share, For every sigh, a sweet song, And an answer for each prayer.

May your blessings outnumberThe shamrocks that grow,And may trouble avoid youWherever you go.- Irish Blessing