Tuesday, November 23, 2010

loose teeth (finally/already)

11/23/10 - I picked Sarah up from school today and she was beside herself with excitement at having a loose tooth. "Mommy!! I have a loose tooth! Feel it! It's wiggly!!" I was taken aback. This poor child has been lamenting the solid nature of her baby teeth for almost a year now. Most of her friends have experienced this rite of passage, and she couldn't help but be (more than) a bit jealous.

"Really?! How do you know? Can you feel it wiggle?" I asked her.

"It hurt at lunch. And because Stella said so," she replied.

"How could she tell?" I asked her. "Let me see." (At this point, I was skeptical and concerned that I might have to let her know that she'd have to wait just a little longer.)

"She said my tooth was sticking out and that it meant I have a loose tooth," she said and opened her mouth for me to check. (Sarah's tooth has always stuck out - she doesn't have enough room in her mouth.) So, in the school lobby, despite my almost-certainty that the tooth would not wiggle, I bent down and wiggled her tooth. And the one next to it too. Stella was almost right.

As soon as we got home, she called Stella to let her know that she had two wiggly teeth, not one. Immediately after the phone call, she drew a picture of herself holding two teeth, one in each hand. (She drew Stella standing next to her and plans to give her the drawing. I'm pretty sure that Sarah thinks Stella is as excited as she is about her big news.) At dinner, she asked to eat things that might help speed up the process. She wanted to eat corn on the cob and a whole (hard) apple. We didn't have either available, so she settled on wiggling her teeth several times throughout the evening. She was quite entertaining.

But (there's always a "but", isn't there?) - while I'm so happy and excited for her, knowing what a very big moment this is, I can't help but feel a bit sorry for myself. What can I say? When it comes to my kids and their growing up, I'm just not quite as ready as they are.

11/24/10 - Sarah woke up at 6:47 this morning, early for her (and for me). When I finally got to her bedroom after many urgent "Mommy!" cries, she informed me that she was wiggling her tooth. (Great. Thanks for letting me know. Just don't let me know so early next time.) At one point, a little while later, she referred to herself as "Loose Tooth Girl." Very nice. We have our own little superhero!

Friday, November 19, 2010

Tell Me a Story . . . Sarah

I gave her less credit than she deserved! I assumed her story would most certainly include princesses, horses, unicorns, or fairies, but look at this. Not a single one. She has been quite focused on her birthday recently, including a daily countdown. (One month and two days to go . . .)

Once upon a time, there was a little girl. It was her birthday and she was so excited. She couldn't wait to celebrate with her friends. When it was time for her party, she went to the park with her mommy and daddy. But she didn't see her friends. She wondered where they were. They jumped out from behind a tree and said, "Surprise!" The little girl said, "I didn't know you where you were. You surprised me!" She was so happy. When it was cake time, they sang, "Happy Birthday!"

The End

Sunday, November 14, 2010

photography

We spent a good chunk of the last two days at Duke Gardens, and while we were there, I took some photos of fall leaves. I hope to use them for a display in the office, and while I think I got some good ones that will work for us, I'd love to know more about the art of photography. I'd love to be able to capture a moment, or a leaf, in just the right way.

you're getting on my nerds!!

Sarah came up with a play on words the other day, thanks to leftover Halloween candy. (I guess something positive came of the extra sugar!) She kept telling all of us, "You're getting on my nerds!" and then proceeded to laugh at herself over and over again. When I asked her to show me her "you're getting on my nerds" face, here's what she gave me. Pretty believable, I'd say! (Note the box of Nerds in front of her.)

Friday, November 12, 2010

Tell Me a Story . . . Eric

Ms. Nancy asked Eric to tell her a story today. Here it is:

Once upon a time there was a race car driver. He got in an accident and he got hurt. Then he got a bandage. Now he is a race pickup truck driver. Now he works at a place where they build trucks. Now he has a new working truck. It is a crane. His crane can knock down buildings.

I like his use of "once upon a time." It's not quite the fairy tale one might expect with that introduction, but he's actually included some elements of story. (Note the conflict ,"he got hurt," and resolution, "he got a bandage." Nice, right?)

Just wait. I'm asking Sarah to tell me one tomorrow. Just a guess, but I don't think there will be any race cars, pickup trucks, or cranes that knock down buildings in hers.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Halloween, the Extended Version

For us, Halloween started four days (for Sarah) and five days (for Eric) before October 31st. (This is not including Sarah's many, many days of drawing pumpkins, witches, ghosts, and skeletons and taping them all over the house. Our house was very "festive". Eric thought it must be the scariest house in the neighborhood. I intended to take pictures of all the pictures, but I forgot . . .)

They both had school parties, with Sarah's entire day being devoted to Halloween activities. (I felt much sympathy for her teacher - that might be close to my worst nightmare . . . really, not kidding.) On Thursday evening, we attended a PTA sponsored event, where more candy was handed out. On Friday, we went over to Sarah's friends' house (Finley and Riley) for a party. Games were played, pumpkins were decorated and found, and sugar was eaten and more was brought home, along with eyeballs, creepy fingers, and vampire teeth. We had a break on Saturday (thank goodness) and then went trick or treating on Sunday.

We did our best to talk them into giving their candy to the Halloween fairy, in return for a gift, but neither one went for it. Instead, they kept the candy, and I've been eating it ever since. Thankfully, the sugar overload has waned and we're back to normal, at least as close as we can be.

Side note 1 - The eyeballs were a huge hit. Eric kept throwing his against the wall, where it would slowly roll down. And Sarah kept asking Eric, "Where'd you eyeball go?" And Eric would reply, "in my hand" or "on the floor" or "I don't know."

Side note 2 - Dana, Finley and Riley's mom, is the one in the pumpkin costume. She's hilarious and self-deprecating (not to mention kind and thoughtful). Really, think about the confidence and sense of humor it takes to wear that pumpkin. There's no way I could do it, which is why I love that she can.

Side note 3 - Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa, for coming over to celebrate with us! :)

One final thought - Without intention, we went trick or treating with some of Sarah's school friends. Sarah loved it and ran ahead with them, while Brian, Eric, and I walked behind. It seemed symbolic of the "letting go" process that takes place between a parent and a child. It saddened me a bit, thinking that she'd rather be with her friends than with us, knowing that this was one of many moments to come that we, as parents, will be left behind. These big/little moments always seem to come too soon, don't they?

Thursday, November 4, 2010

NC State Fair 2010

Ah, yes, the State Fair. It's something that (for the most part) we look forward to every year. We each have our own reasons for wanting to go. Sarah and Eric like the rides, the food (cotton candy), and the animals. I like the gardens and the people watching. And Brian? I'm sure he didn't mind that Philly Cheese Steak. Below are some highlights, including an 894 lb. pumpkin, some baby chicks, a praying mantis stalking Eric, MONSTER TRUCKS!!, pig races (there were goat and duck races, too!), a juggler, a giant chair, and some silly looking clowns. Oh, and a dragonfly, a butterfly, and a bee.

Monday, November 1, 2010

GG's 90th Birthday Celebration

For GG's 9oth birthday, her children, her grandchildren, and her great grandchildren gathered together and celebrated. (Not to mention all those wonderful in-laws that have joined the family!) It was a surprise party that remained a surprise, amazingly. She even flew down to North Carolina from New Jersey, under the guise that we were celebrating Judy's 65th. (I kept telling Brian that there was no way it was going to work. Obviously, I underestimated everyone's "sneaky" skills.) We ate lots (and lots) of good food, looked at old and new photographs, and told and heard stories about GG's life. And how did GG handle it all? She was overwhelmed and very happy. And she made sure we all knew how much she loved it (and how much she loved all of us too.) What a gift.