A Summer of Growth

Hard to believe that summer is coming to a close, and school is right around the corner. The summer itself was pretty productive, I went into it with a list in my head of things I wanted to do with the kids: Bay Beach, Fond du Lac Pool, Movie, Few weekends up north, Holiday Acres, Paul Bunyan, Wildlife Zoo, Mini Golf, Milwaukee Public Museum, and the Milwaukee Zoo.

I'm happy to report all but the Milwaukee Zoo was visited, and I still have hope to make it there in the next two weeks.

The last month I've been able to take in more time with the kids, and less of my schooling. Taking 1 laid back class vs. 2 super intense was like night and day. I think I needed this time to re-charge and psych myself up for the upcoming school year. I will go hard at it for two full semesters, and then I will be able to scale back to 1 class next summer and wrap up my degree before the start of next school year.

The kids are starting to gear up for school, Alex (ahem, and I am) is ready for school to start-the wheels of sibling rivalry have reared their ugly head the last couple weeks so it's a sign that a much needed break from each other is welcomed. Laura is excited, she's officially starting 4k and Alex a big 1st grader! I'll probably be missing the noise in the house come next month, but I'll get Ains all to myself for 3 days a week which is a pretty foreign concept around here!

The kids are starting at a new school this Fall, so while we are excited-I think we're all (except Laura) a little apprehensive about what this new change will bring to our lives. Please be thinking positive thoughts for us in the upcoming month!

Define: Aversion

One of Wiki's definitions of aversion is as follows: opposition or repugnance of mind, fixed dislike. With that I can proudly announce that Alex has reached the milestone of losing his first tooth. This is a milestone that I knew I would have a hard time celebrating with him, its safe to say that I have an aversion to teeth, loose teeth, conversation regarding teeth, looking and feeling teeth. Let's just say it's probably a by-product of PTS from my own childhood tooth experiences.

I can thank my orthodontist for the miracles of beautiful teeth because without him, I'm not sure where I'd be today, lol. I've had numerous teeth pulled, and braces placed strategically to make my teeth form somewhat of a straight line, turn teeth 180 degrees, and to this day I still struggle with the small gap in my front teeth. Instead of showing everyone my diploma at my high school graduation party, my mom pulled out my before and after orthodontist pictures; if that tells you anything about how bad my teeth were.

There was one particular incident of having one of my teeth (not my wisdom teeth) pulled where the sheer sound of the tooth coming out just about sent me through the roof. I sort of made a faint expression at the sound and my dentist pointedly told me that "You don't need to make that noise, you can't feel anything". It's safe to say that my aversion to teeth started from that day forward.

I try to hold it together for Alex, but I told him point blank this was something his dad was going to have to help him with. You know my aversion to vomit has lessened since Jason started working nights and I'm the only one that has to deal with those moments; so there's hope that by the time Ainslee starts losing teeth I'll be pulling them out for her. . . Ok, probably not, but hopefully I won't gag when she shows me the "window" as Alex refers to the blank spot left in his mouth.

Alex was so excited when he woke up and the tooth fairy had come and miraculously given him exactly what he felt was a decent amount. As we talked about it the next day in the car, it was no surprise when Laura said "Alex, what was the tooth fairy wearing?" Alex's response: "I don't know! If I was awake she would have never came." Leave it to Laura to wonder what kind of fashion sense the tooth fairy has, never mind the purpose of her visit. Hopefully as time goes on they will perserve the magic of this milestone for their little sister!