Friday, July 10, 2009

Man tools

H is fascinated by tools--all tools and especially ones that anyone is using and most importantly if Steve is using them. The other day we were trying to fix the vacuum and got a screwdriver. A minute later, H leaves the vacuum and then comes out of the laundry room with his own screwdriver he'd found so that he can help. I didn't know H knew where I kept my set of tools but apparently he has been watching.

When we were setting up the girls' beds and H's crib, H was right there with Steve putting in all the hex screws with the hex wrenches. He figured that each hole needed something in it and set about putting a screw in each hole. Steve would do one side and H and I would do the other. H and I finished first on the last bed so H decided to crawl under the bed with Steve to help him. He just wanted to put the screws in :). He knew what needed to be done.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Bloody tooth

If we were English, that title would be exactly how T felt about her tooth on Monday. Not only was it the bane of her existence but it was in fact bloody as all teeth are when they are going to come out.

I was doing something upstairs when E and T come running from the basement with M in hot pursuit. E is yelling that T's tooth is bloody. My first thought is what were the three of you doing because T is crying uncontrollably. I look in T's mouth and blood is coming from one of her bottom teeth and E is saying that her tooth is loose. T has never told me that her tooth is loose so I'm wondering how it can be so loose right now and bloody. The answer came as I inspected her mouth more closely and saw that the permanent tooth was already pushed up through the skin behind the baby tooth. This also explains why T keeps complaining that there is something caught in her teeth--she's felt the other tooth and I now feel like a lame-o because my solution was for her to floss more. I should have looked. T is crying because she sees blood as she's wiggling her tooth (she is my daughter after all and I don't handle blood well either). I'm trying to calm her down and tell her that this amount of blood is normal for when you loose a tooth and that if she can wriggle it in all directions we can loosen the roots of the tooth and out her tooth with come. She asks me to help wiggle it. I push it to one side and you can hear a "pop" sound as the root loosens it's grasp. Meanwhile E is giving T pointers about the best way to wiggle her tooth so that it can come out quickly. This is coming from a girl who has lost two teeth when she has been brushing her teeth. M is sitting in awe at what is happening. I think the tooth is ready to come out. I know I'm ready for it as T is still somewhat crying. I try to pull but I can't get a good grip. I have her wiggle it some more and then decide to use a napkin to help pull the tooth out. I figured I couldn't have her scared when I pulled because I learned from E that if one is scared and I reach in with my fingers that soon the teeth come clamping down hard on aforementioned fingers. So with my lesson learned from E, I told T that I wanted my fingers and got her to laugh. I grabbed a hold of that tooth and I yanked (none of this counting to 3--makes them scared and my fingers get hurt). Out came her tooth and one big eyed T stared at this tiny tooth I was holding in the napkin.

She was so excited that she wrote a note to the tooth fairy saying that this was her very first tooth that she had lost on June 6, 2009. When I went to tuck T in, I asked where she put her tooth; she lifted up her pillow and there on the bed was her tiny, little tooth. I suggested we move her tooth up to the dresser where the tooth fairy wouldn't have to move T during the night searching for this itty, bitty tooth. T was concerned that the Tooth Fairy wouldn't find it but I convinced her that we needed to give the Tooth Fairy a fighting chance at finding it. T woke up on Tuesday morning a little richer and when she asked why the Tooth Fairy didn't take her tooth, I told her that the Tooth Fairy lets them keep their first tooth to show others. She liked that idea so don't be surprised if she shows you her very first loose tooth.

After T's tooth came out, M came and looked in my mouth and told me that my baby tooth looked good still and that she thought it looked rather big compared to T's tooth. Oh well. I figure that my baby tooth better stay in for as long as possible because I don't want to pay for a replacement.

Dead fish

Yesterday I took all the kids to a park. I thought it would be just another ordinary park day. The temperatures were bearable, kids from our old ward were going to be there so that the girls could see some of their friends and the park has water features for the kids to play in. What more could one ask for? I would simply say, "No dead fish." You see about 10 minutes after we got to the park E, T, and M all headed over to the "river" where the water comes from a stocked pond and emerges about 100 yards away in a cement stream bed. Kids love playing in algae infested water. Did I mention that there is perfectly clean water spouting up about 100 feet away from this fake river?

Well E comes running over to me (as H was the only smart one and wanted to play in the clean water) and shows me her dead fish. Yeah, it was dead. Not flopping, not moving, nadda. Well after a while I decide to take H over to where the girls are playing and see what they are doing. When I get over there, M is wet up to her waist and she is holding a dead fish in her hand, holding it exactly like she holds a treasure. I asked M what she had and T quite excitedly exclaims, "She found a dead fish! Wanna see mine?" No I don't want to see yours and I would appreciate it very much if you would throw them away in that garbage can. Yet this is what came out, "Do we really have to find the dead fish and hold them? Let's leave them alone." M tells me, "Dook (look) mom. It dyed." Yes, all the fishes that the children were finding were dead. One of the mothers I was with asked if we should worry if all the fish were dead and that if one of the children got sick we could probably count on all of them getting sick seeming as all the children were hunting for these two inch dead fish.

Now to make it even more memorable here is what I see:
Girl running and screaming hysterically followed closely by E and her friend H. In E's hand is a dead fish. Girl keeps running and screaming and E is laughing saying, "It's just a dead fish!"
I know that this girl has taunted E and H for the past year and is always saying that she's the princess and they are the slaves and blah blah blah. It is funny in that E and H are finally getting the upper hand but at the same time I know that I should step in especially when I see E getting ready to throw the fish at the Girl. I told E that it wasn't nice to throw dead fishes at others and that they really need to stop chasing the Girl and that perhaps they should really go wash their hands. E agrees to throw the fish away and to go wash her hands of the fish smell, but not before looking one more time at the fish and the Girl.

So all in all it was another great but not so ordinary day at the park.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

The end of the beginning

This afternoon I will make my last trip to the old elementary school to pick up E. We've been in that neighborhood for 7 and a half years. My girls have literally grown up there. We said our goodbyes to the crossing guards this morning as they have helped us cross safely for the past 3 years. Today, they have one more time to help my daughter cross the streets safely. They amaze me with their dedication to crossing the children safely in all kinds of weather. I have seen them day in and day out brave the cold snow, blizzard winds, the pelting rain, or the hot sun. Today we once again gave them a small token of thanks for all that they do because how can you ever truly express your gratitude to someone who has helped to keep your child safe.

I've said goodbye to teachers who have taught my daughters the joy of learning and wish that the younger ones could have been taught by them and hope that new teachers will pick up where these outstanding teachers have left off.

The trips past the old house will become fewer and fewer. Already when I drive by I see my flowers blooming and hope that the new owners enjoy them as much as I did.

Yet as much I will miss all the familiar places and people there is much to look forward to in our new area. The next stage is just beginning and I for one am excited to see what it will hold.