Minus two teeth

My poor Chloe had to have two teeth pulled today. I was a nervous wreck. She had a cavity in a back baby tooth that was bothering her. We knew she had the cavity and at her last cleaning the dentist said since it was a baby tooth we wouldn't fill it, but if it ever bothered her it would have to come out. I took her in last week because it was hurting. They gave her penicillin and scheduled us to come into today to get it out. She also had a VERY loose tooth that they went ahead and pulled while they were at it. They gave her nitrous oxide (a wonderful thing that no insurance covers) so she didn't remember much about it. It made me so anxious to wait in the waiting room while they gassed up my baby and yanked out two of her little baby teeth. I'm so glad it's over. She did great. Now the tooth fairy will fly in tonight leaving some loot for the teeth (and pixie dust - aka glitter). Chloe said she probably wouldn't get much for the cavity tooth and she might just give it to Owen. (Owen thinks the tooth fairy doesn't mind where the tooth comes from as long as it's under your pillow, because at the beach he bought a shark tooth to put under his pillow.)

Phoebe was disappointed she didn't get to go to the dentist and she said she needed her teeth pulled because she couldn't even eat. Next week Chloe and Owen both go for their cleanings. They always get a toothbrush and some goodies after their visits. Today they were giving kids a big Easter egg with Easter candy in it. At the dentist!! Chloe said it was so kids would get cavities and have to go back to the dentist. Chloe has always said she wants to be a dentist when she grows up. Now I only hope the tooth fairy can stay up late enough and doesn't forget to leave the money.

(Thank goodness for spell check, because apparently I can't spell cavity.)

Be like Mary

At our Sunday School I teach the little ones. Our lesson today was about Jesus visiting Mary and Martha. Martha hurried around cooking and cleaning for her company. Mary sat by Jesus and listened. Martha was mad at her for not helping. She complained to Jesus that Martha wasn't helping her. Jesus told her to be more like Mary and listen. It reminds me of the Bible verse in Psalms that says Be still, and know that I am God. Sometimes I rush around and do all the many things that need to be done and I don't take the time to be still and listen. I'm going to try and be more like Mary.

Sometimes I'm too busy around the house and I should probably let some things go and sit down and play more with the kids, or have some quiet time. I like this poem (by Sabrina Taylor) I recently read in a book called Life Lessons for Busy Moms.

Too Busy
The dishes are still in the sink.
Dirty laundry is piled high.
Somehow the entire day,
Seemed to just fly by.
I made a "to-do" list.
I meant to follow through.
But there were other tasks,
That needed attention too.
Like cheering on my daughter,
As she took first steps into my arms,
Making sure she stayed safe,
From all potential harms.
Cuddling on the couch,
And reading a favorite story.
Helping her explore the world,
And marvel at all its glory.
So the chores will have to wait.
They aren't that important anyway.
Because I was simply too busy,
Loving my child today.



So this week I want to be like Mary and listen to God, and to try not to be too busy to focus on the important things!

Bathroom Humor

Phoebe made me laugh out loud last night. It was right before bed and she said she had to poop. She was wearing a nightgown so she wanted me to go to the bathroom with her to hold up her "dress". We wouldn't want a dress down in the toilet. She pooped, then hopped off the toilet to flush. She always looks at what she's flushing (and sometimes tells it bye bye). She looked at the poop, made a face, looked at me and said, "Isn't that terrible?". Oh, that cracked me up.

Another funny thing she's been doing, is when she gets mad or upset she will say "I'm about to cry!". At least she gives us a warning.

She can also be so sweet. She likes to rub my upper arms. Like when she's going to sleep, drinking from her sippy, for comfort, or just because. (Chloe rubbed my ear, so this is better than that at least.) I asked her yesterday why she likes to rub my arm and she said "Because I love you". That's good enough for me.

Wordless Wednesday

Banana Chip Muffins

These are one of my favorite muffins. Danny and the kids love them too. I've had too many of them today. I went to a Taste of Home Cooking School last night and I'm in the mood to cook (and eat).

Banana Chip Muffins

* 1 1/2 cups flour
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 egg (slightly beaten)
* 1/2 cup milk
* 1/4 cup vegetable oil
* 1 cup chocolate chips
* 3/4 cup mashed ripe banana (about 2 bananas)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Combine dry ingredients.

3. Add egg, milk, and oil and stir until blended. Then fold in chocolate chips and mashed banana.

4. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin tins about 2/3 full. Bake 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

A note to God

Yesterday at church Chloe's lesson was about prayer. They wrote a prayer to God. This is Chloe's:

Dear God,
Thank you for giving me everything I have and for my imagination and dogs and my brother and sister and Mrs. Nichols. I love you a lot and thank you for watching over me and my friends and family.
In Jesus Name,
Amen

I thought it was sweet and I was reading it to Danny yesterday evening. Owen overheard and said "I want to write a note to God too!".

Pink Princess Smoothie

Chloe has a cookbook called Pink Princess Tea Parties. She also has a fairy cookbook and other tea party cookbooks. She had a tea party birthday one year and it was so fun. Another year she had a fairy party. She's always loved a cup of tea and a scone or a cute little drink and dainty snack. One evening this week she got out the Pink Princess Tea Parties book and wanted to make something for a snack before bed. So, we made the Pink Princess Smoothie. We both drank one and it was yummy. She had one for breakfast the next morning too. I think the next time I'll use another fruit besides the raspberries, or else double the strawberries.

1 1/2 cups orange juice
1 banana, sliced
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup frozen raspberries
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Fresh strawberries or raspberries for garnish

Combine all ingredients except fruit for garnish in a blender and mix until smooth and creamy. Pour into pretty glasses and garnish with fresh fruit as desired.

Thankful Thursday

Ten things I'm thankful for today:

1. Cadbury Mini Eggs
2. A trip to Target where I found lots of Easter basket goodies
3. Shopping and lunch with my friend
4. Pastel Lifesavers (the pink cotton candy ones are my favorite)
5. Chloe has no homework this evening
6. Finding Phoebe some shoes on sale today (three pair!)
7. Listening to the girls laughing together right now
8. Owen's sweet way of saying things
9. The Spring flowers blooming in the yard
10. Comfy pajama pants

Wordless Wednesday

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

May the Lord bless you and keep you;
May the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)

Anne with an E

One of my all time favorite books is Anne of Green Gables. It was written in 1908 by L.M. Montgomery. I love all the books in the series about Anne, and the movies and tv shows about them. My high school librarian loved Anne too and really made me appreciate the books. It is a book that you feel like you really know the characters (especially Anne). The book is so filled with description and clever writing, and quotes that I still remember. Anne is very clear her Anne is spelled with an E. My middle name is Ann, without an E and I so wished I had an E on the end when I read these books. Anne loves puffy sleeves on dresses, and when I shopped for my wedding dress it had to have puffy sleeves. Chloe and I have been reading the book together in anticipation of seeing the play at a local theater. We saw the play yesterday afternoon. We both loved it. Chloe likes books like I do, so I think Anne will be a favorite of hers too.



It was a busy weekend for Chloe. She also went to a St. Patrick's Day dance at school on Sat. evening. Here she is with a couple of her friends (she's on the right in green).

At least he didn't call 9-1-1

Owen has been sick the last couple days. He didn't go to school yesterday or today. This morning when I took Chloe to the bus stop (it's at the bottom of our hill), I left Owen and Phoebe in bed asleep with Danny. I was gone about 15 fifteen minutes because I talked to my friend at the bus stop after the bus ran (her daughter gets on the bus there too). When I got back, Owen was sitting on the couch drinking milk and watching cartoons. I asked how he felt, etc. Then I noticed the phone was on the couch next to him. I asked him if someone called. He said no. Then I looked at it and it still had my Mom and Dad's number on it (he didn't hang up). I was surprised he could call them because he never uses the phone. I asked what they were doing and he said they'd be here in a minute. Sure enough, I saw them pulling in. Mom said they were in bed and heard the phone ringing. This is was the conversation:

Mom: Hello?
Owen: (coughing)
Mom: Owen?
Owen: silence
Mom: Owen? Owen? Owen?
Owen: You need to come immediately.
Mom: What's wrong?
Owen: I'm worser. You better come now.
Mom: Where's your Mommy?
Owen: She took Chloe to school (Mom thought he meant to school, not the bus stop).
Mom: Where's your Daddy?
Owen: In bed.
Mom: We'll be right there.

Hilarious! If you know how Owen talks the immediately was like "immediatwee" which is so much funnier. When I asked Owen if he tried to wake up Danny, Owen said "I tried honking his nose but he didn't wake up". The whole thing just makes me laugh! Phoebe and Danny were sleeping away. Mom and Dad kind of thought it was all funny too. I made them waffles for breakfast for their early morning trip out to save Owen.

I took him to the dr. this morning and he has asthmatic bronchitis. He has an antibiotic, an inhaler (He's never used one before and said "Sweet!" when the dr. said he was going to give him one. He said he couldn't wait to show Chloe.), a steroid, and a cough medicine. He'll be home tomorrow too. Chloe didn't go to school yesterday because of her cough and asthma. She was better today and went to school. Hopefully Phoebe can stay well now. And hopefully Owen won't have to call for back up anytime soon.

A close finish

Today was the County Social Studies Fair. There were 97 projects and 8 or 9 categories. Chloe's category (World History) was second largest. We spent the whole morning there. Chloe went out to do her speech and presentation. Then later she was called back in for a tie breaker. This evening we went to to the presentation of the awards. Chloe had tied for first and the tie breaker put her in second with a score of 99 (out of a possible 100) and the first place winner got 100. I was very proud! She also did all this with a 100 degree fever, a constant cough, and raging asthma. No school for her tomorrow, she needs a rest!

Marker madness

First, I have to show these two pictures for my friend Rosie who mentioned that you can't really see Phoebe's earrings in the pics on the blog. I took these two outside this morning so you can see the glorious earrings.







Also, when I was talking to Rosie on the phone last night, this is what I discovered later that Phoebe did with a marker she was coloring with. She traced her feet on paper. This is even after I tried to wipe it off with a wipe. Hopefully a good soak in the tub tonight will help.






Then I took this video of her about it. I love how she says sorry. Who can get mad at this cute thing?

Kool Aid, Kool Aid, Tastes Great

Today was a warm sunny day, something we haven't had in a long time! This evening we played outside and ran around. When we came in Owen was thirsty and wanted to make Kool Aid. We made some and he helped stir. He asked, "I wonder why they call it Kool Aid?". I told him I didn't know and he said, "Probably because it cools you off". He says so many cute things. I love how he says Cheetos are Cheetahs. At school if he makes mistakes he says he had to get lots of "erases".

Phoebe said the cutest thing this evening. Danny was in the other room and she heard him cough. She said "That's Daddy. My friend Daddy."

The mean queen

This morning Phoebe was sitting on the counter helping me make her scrambled eggs. She was holding her plate to put the eggs on. The plate has the Disney Princesses on it. I was asking her to name the princesses. She named them and we were talking about Snow White. She said she reads that book at Nana's. I asked her what it was about and she said it had a mean queen. I asked what the queen did and she made a face and said she gave Snow White an apple that made her go to sleep. Then she thought for a minute and said "Mommy makes me go to sleep". I'm so glad the mean witch made her think of me.

First Place

Today was the Social Studies Fair at school. Chloe did her project on Niagara Falls. (We went there last Spring.) The awards were given out this evening, Chloe got first place. On Tuesday she'll go on to the County Social Studies Fair with winners from all the elementary schools in the county.

A busy weekend

We were on the go much of the weekend. Saturday Chloe had her piano lesson and then she went with my aunt to get her first real manicure. She had fun because her two cousins went too. While she was doing that Owen, Phoebe, and I went to get Owen's hair cut and shopped until time for a birthday party we went to. Chloe met us back there. Sunday we went to church and then to my cousin Josh's wedding reception. They went to Flordia and got married last month. The reception was very pretty and was at a historic hotel. Phoebe looked around and said "What is this place?". After we came home we colored eggs. Owen had been dying to color them so we did. I'm sure we'll color them several more times before Easter actually gets here. Here are some pictures of the weekend.

Ready for church:



Mariah, Marley, and Chloe registering guests at the reception:



With the bride and groom:



The girls from above:



Phoebe with my Mom:



My boys:



Owen with his Easter eggs (he likes the boiled eggs but only eats the white):



Phoebe with her eggs, she was rough on the eggs, cracking several in the process of coloring them. It's okay, we ate them anyway.