The Tooth Fairy

    After weeks and weeks of loose teeth and anticipation, Evelynn finally lost one of her teeth. Every one of those days of waiting to lose that first tooth was exclaimed over. It began with "I have a loose tooth!" and then became "I have four loose teeth!!" She told everyone, literally; everyone at church, all her family members, the workers at Target and the grocery store, the people in New York City along the Thanksgiving Day Parade route, everyone at dance. No one was left out of her enthusiasm and if you know her, you are aware that she gets excited about anything and it knows no bounds.
    Every night she wiggled those teeth before falling asleep. My hand mirror disappeared from my bathroom and I found her late one night sitting up in bed, one hand holding the mirror in the dim lamp light and the other aggressively working away on her teeth. Daily, she approached me with "Can you see how loose they are now? Look at this one. It's really wiggly." After agreeing with her, she would declare "If my tooth falls out today, it will be the best day ever." I could not wait for that day. Her passion for her loose teeth was quickly not being returned. I asked her if I could just knock it out for her. She politely refused and said she would do it herself.
    It took another two weeks for her loosest tooth to fall out. And she never knew it. We were at the dance Christmas party and she ran up to eagerly tell me something. I noticed right away that her tooth was gone. "No, I didn't lose it," she said. Oh, but yes, it was gone. There was nothing there. "But where is it?" she asked, frantic. Weeks of obsessing over this first tooth and she never had the privilege of removing it herself. Maybe it fell out or maybe she swallowed it, we will never know. Her precious tooth was lost, and there was a new problem. How was the Tooth Fairy supposed to know she lost it? She had nothing to put under her pillow.
    She fretted over what to do until I suggested she write the Tooth Fairy a note explaining the situation. She had renewed fervor. Here is her letter to the Tooth Fairy. She had some spelling help, but her letter is priceless, including the picture she drew to further illustrate the missing tooth.

 

 

The Tooth Fairy visited her and left a note for Evelynn. In it, she said she had found a tooth and had been searching under pillows trying to find who lost it. And in case you're wondering, the Tooth Fairy left $1 coin, like the Sacajawea coin, but with George Washington on it. She gets excited about the First President, too.

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Living to 100

Evelynn is fascinated with the number 100; its importance is illustrated on her number chart. She believes it to be to the largest number ever (at least what her first grade mind can comprehend). She has made it her personal goal to live to 100 and knows that she only has 94 years to go. No sweat, she's got this. And a list of what she should do to make it that long:

1. Eat only enough. Not too much. Listen to your stomach.
2. Get plenty of sleep because the days don't go well when you don't get enough sleep at night.
3. Excercise by running in place as fast as you can and as long as you can. (She's working on building up her time.)
4. Don't get frustrated with school. You have to learn to grow up.
5. Color inside the lines when you are coloring.
6. Keep your room clean and make your bed.
7. Don't die.
8. Listen to your Mommy and Daddy.
9. Ask before doing things that could be dangerous.
10. Try not to be bad.
11. Learn about God.
12. Be happy about the things you don't like to do (like school).
13. Be kind.
14. No fighting, no fussing, no whining.
15. Don't listen to the Devil. He's bad.

She might be onto something. I told her she's off to a good start and just might make it to 100.

Scene Stealers

The Smithsonians were the undeniable favorites for our family when we were in Washington D.C. recently. We did two museums in one day (it turned out to be our longest day for the kids). Dinosaurs reigned supreme at our first stop at the Museum of Natural History so by the time we got to the Museum of American History, excitement had waned just a bit. All the museums do a fantastic job of being kid friendly. One of the features in the American History museum is the eras of our history are portrayed in lifelike scenes. A train on the tracks, a streetcar, a shop... and there are mannequins adding to the realness of these events. My girls, especially Evelynn and Caelan thought this was the best part. I managed to snap several photos of them joining the scenes.

The Treacherous Deed

Fall in Pennsylvania is magical. The trees, the golden light of the sun... and then the lovely autumnal confections of pumpkin, apples and spice. Pumpkins and apples grow here in abundance and there are plenty of festivals throughout September and October to usher in the season properly. It's an exceptionally difficult time for the waistline. Three years ago, Evelynn started dance. And three years ago, we began our weekly tradition of visiting the nearby Pennsylvania Bakery while the girls danced their jigs. That place is heavenly, their offerings lovingly made to enhance the season. I'm not one to always jump at whatever pastry beckons from those glass cases but it is very difficult to turn down a great coffee or tea, and I love their Pumpkin Chai Latte. It's a beautiful thing and only if it's made by Amber.

Yesterday was dance and so I found myself in the PA Bakery, but Amber was not the one to take my order. I usually walk in and Amber asks me if I'm up for my Pumpkin Chai Latte, and the answer is an immediate "Absolutely." I have three months to enjoy that before I have to wait another year, so it must not be refused. I have never seen the lady who took my order yesterday and another girl offered to make it for her. My heart sank and I held back the "No!!! I had what you call Pumpkin Chai Latte once last year and it was poison!" I scanned the PA Bakery employees and saw Amber in the back sweeping. I begged the woman in front of me to let Amber do it. I'm not sure if I offended the other woman but her concoction truly is disgusting. I don't know what Amber does to make the chai latte so heavenly, I don't even know what size I normally get. The woman taking my order must have thought I was insane. For at least two years I have asked Amber to make my Pumpkin Chai Latte and it just appears and it's perfect every time. I told my cousin about this on the phone and she says I'm spoiled. Maybe. But it's only for three months.

Loyalty has paid off. I have great conversations with Amber. After making my latte, she told me that it was heavenly with a pumpkin cream cheese cannoli and made up a small box with one for me. She said I had to try it with the latte because it would be perfect. As I turned to leave she also said she put in a small square of the pumpkin cheese cake to try with my latte as well. Amber truly is the best. It was amazing. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

I decided to wait until I was back at the studio waiting for Evelynn to try drink my latte and the goodies she added. When I got there I noticed some kids coming out and wondered if she were done earlier than expected (which never happens) but I decided to check any way. I left Caelan, McKenna and Paxton in the car watching Return of the King. I was gone maybe 30 seconds. I walked back to my car and saw Caelan through the window DRINKING MY PUMPKIN CHAI LATTE IN THE BACK SEAT. Ohhhhhhh, noooooooo.... I ran around the car and tried opening the door. SHE LOCKED ME OUT OF THE CAR. I ran back around to my side and thank goodness I knew the code for my pad. I got the doors unlocked and ran back around the car to her side. The "No" I uttered was long and inhuman. I found myself pulling a Galadriel and in a firm shriek saying "TREACHEROUS IS THIS DEED." Caelan said "What? I was thirsty." I pointed out the water bottle sitting next to her and she said "Oh, yeah, I forgot about that." Yeah. I might have an issue. Or two. I will not share my Pumpkin Chai Latte with my children. EVER.

loose teeth, new teeth, ladybugs & mooning

It's been a long time since I had one of 'those' days, and yes, today is totally deserving of a Pandemonium post. My day started out quite smooth, too easy. "If it's too good to be true, it probably is." And it was.

Evelynn has been looking forward to school starting for us for several days. I've had everything strewn out along one half of the dining room table, planning as much as I could so that whatever happens in the coming months, her school year doesn't fall behind. She has been eyeing her new books and had to be convinced that we were not starting school on Saturday, Sunday or Labor Day Monday. Holiday weekend past and she was ready to go this morning, really wanting to skip breakfast. Her siblings, however, thought she was crazy. We had a great first day, basically reviewing some things. If you have ever been verbally ambushed by Evelynn, then you know that she is quite the talker. Now picture that in a schooling situation. Here are some blurbs from today:

"I'm so excited to start school today, I just love it. I've been wanting to for a days. I just love my new books. That is such a cute reindeer on the front of that book." That's a giraffe. "Oh, well that giraffe is so cute. I just love it. What is this book?" Math.

"Mom, you know that I get frustrated when I'm learning. It's very frustrating. I can't help it. I will try not get frustrated, but it will happen. I don't like being frustrated."

In the middle of math: "Remember when I ate that apple yesterday?"
Me: "Please let's finish the math problem."
Evelynn: "But my tooth hurts. It hurts because I bit into that apple and bit the nut (seed, she always calls it a nut) and my tooth still hurts."
Me: "Which one?"
Evelynn: "This one in the front." I check and it's a loose tooth. I explained why and she was so excited her body started shaking-- face, legs, arms, hands-- I thought she might hyperventilate. The exclamations of joy, and "I'm so excited! My friends have lost teeth already, but I've been waiting and waiting. I can't wait to tell everybody. My tooth is loose! Hey, Caelan and McKenna! It's loose! My tooth will fall out and I'll put my tooth under my pillow and then the toothfairy comes and leaves me money or a present. I think I just want a present." --- I want to know who told her she was getting a present. Whatever happened to the traditional quarter??-- Okay, back to school.

Reading comprehension is going to be so much fun this year-- yeah, not really. Evelynn has a tendency to seriously zone out. I read a short story and she knew she was to answer my questions and tell me what she remembered. I got the blank stare. This story was only three short paragraphs. Evelynn: "I'm just so frustrated right now. I don't anything about this story. I'm so frustrated I can't think." Her face scrunches up and she produces two full sized tears that fall down her face and onto the table. I've seen this too many times to really care. I tell her to stop and breathe. "I know that's the only way I can get over frustrated. Can you tell me a cheerful story?" Me: "I just did. How about you tell me about it." Evelynn: Well, I'm  frustrated, but I'm breathing now, so it was about a tiger and a spider?" Oh, yes... the drama is past. "That part when the spider rode on the tiger's back, that was cheerful. I'm not frustrated anymore." I promise you, I will ban the word "frustrated" before the end of the week. I now know what Mr. Bennett meant when he said "You mistake me, my dear. I have the utmost respect for your nerves. They've been my constant companion these twenty years."

While she is over the moon about her loose tooth, Paxton has at least two teeth coming in right now and he's exceedingly vocal on this. Several naps today. And each time, I turned my attention to him, my two middle children were in mischievous cahoots. They 'tried' to make oatmeal. I found them with three bowls, three packets of oatmeal (two spilling onto the counter and floor) and one in the microwave with water and a spoon. Thank goodness they didn't turn on the microwave with that spoon in there. Cleaned up that mess, sent them packing to their rooms to clean up their messes up there. Paxton chimes in again, and they decided they want PB&J sandwiches, stat. The process was underway by the time I got to them. Ate lunch, and oh, yes, it was naptime. For all children. Fighting breaks out between Caelan and McKenna (hazard of sharing a room at naptime), Evelynn comes down stairs "Oh, Mom, I just woke up from a great nap" and fake yawns. After five minutes? I think not. McKenna fell asleep on the couch. I got school cleaned up, the kitchen tidied, the floors swept and rugs vacuumed. Evelynn and Caelan still weren't sleeping so I let quietly play in Evelynn's room. Paxton was already awake and yelling loudly. He wanted me to sit in his room. Not to hold him or feed him, he just didn't want to be in there alone. I sat in the rocking chair, enjoying the nonsense of Angry Birds and Evelynn and Caelan came in to talk. They tussled over who got to sit in the window, so I sent them out telling them they were going to pull the curtains down. Two minutes later, Evelynn told me Caelan was swinging on the curtains in her room. Yep, curtain down (only a tension rod curtain) and she was back in bed. Evelynn came back into Paxton's room, tried to sit in the window (because she forgot that I said not to) and that curtain came down. Fine, everyone just stay in their beds, in their rooms and it should all be okay. I picked up some toys in Caelan and McKenna's room and see that someone has colored on the wall. The exact same strip of wall that I just painted three weeks ago because they had drawn on it. They both denied it. I confiscated their crayons. And stickers. I just peeled Tron stickers off a door a few days ago. Don't they know this house is on the market?

Everyone was up from naps and mother-imposed time in bed by mid afternoon. Only McKenna scored a real nap. The rest of the afternoon was a blur of playtime and watching the rain come down outside. McKenna came to me at one point and asked me where her panties were. I asked her if she had an accident. She said "No, I didn't. A ladybug did." Well, that was innovative. Kudos for coming up with something different than "She did it." Caelan had shut all the bathroom doors and McKenna couldn't get any of them open. Sigh.

Right before dinner, I had the girls take their laundry upstairs to put away and to clean up their rooms in time to eat. Waffles were on the menu. I made them as fast as they could eat them up. Then I walked past the dining room door to see Caelan stand up in her chair, drop her pants and moon everyone at the table. That was it. I was ready for the day to be over. BEDTIME. No excuses. Crazy kids. They will one day tire of me asking "What were you thinking?" I really was on a roll when I took them upstairs for bed only to find Evelynn's room a disaster area, namely Caelan's clean laundry unfolded and thrown on Evelynn's bed and floor. They are too fast, really. Wish they could clean as fast as they make messes. Talked to Evelynn and Caelan once again about responsibilities and McKenna ended that conversation with a giggly and smug "I not in trouble right now." Well, prayers and then to bed. Good thing days like this are not habitual or daily. We're on the right track, at least, if it only happens once every few months. And it really seems like I'm leaving some things out... :)

Queen and Taylor Swift

Evelynn, Paxton and I went over to the Hershey Outlets this evening for a bit of shopping. Having two less children made it a much smoother trip than usual. I'm assuming this lack of chaos and noise prompted her to double her animated antics. I have a sit-and-stand stroller (obviously Paxton was sitting) but the standing part was vacant as this is normally reserved for McKenna. We were quietly shopping when Evelynn stood up on the standing platform, began stomping her feet and clapping, and then sang very loudly "WE WILL, WE WILL ROCK YOU!!!!" As this was not exactly something I had expected from her, I just stared at her. As she started a third round, I stopped her. By then several people were staring at us. I asked her to get down and then I asked her where on earth she had heard that song. "Daddy was singing it today". Oh. "And you have to sing it loud because it's an exciting song." Yeah, well, how about not in the middle of Carter's.

On the drive home, Evelynn asked me to turn on Taylor Swift and to put it on her favorite song, which is 'Mean'... and also sung loudly. No problem since we were in the car. After a while 'Speak Now' came on which I'm not a huge fan of... the music is pretty but I think it's a little ridiculous. Any way, Evelynn said "That's my new favorite Taylor Swift song." Great. "Mom, is Taylor Swift a fairy tale or is she real?" She's real. "Wow, like a human?" Yep, like a human. "Where does she live?" I don't know, maybe Nashville, Tennessee. "Why would she live there?" Because she is a country singer (under my breath: sort of...) and that's where a lot of country stars live. "Have I been to Tennessee?" Yes, we drive through Nashville almost every time we go to Grandma and Grandpa's house. "Really?!? Next time we go see Grandma and Grandpa, we should stop and spend the night at Taylor Swift's house." Um, I don't see that happening. We don't know her. "Well, then we need to meet her." Why? "Because I want to tell her that I love her songs and that one (Speak Now) is beautiful. She sings so pretty." Sigh. It could be worse, I suppose. She could be wanting to visit Freddie Mercury.