Random Rundown

Sitting around the table the other night for our Family Home Evening treat, just following our discussion of summer plans and goals, I admitted that I was having trouble thinking of my goal.  And what I should have said was, that I wanted my goal to be spending less time on my phone but I wasn't sure how to turn that into a measurable thing.  Luke, being ever so helpful, thought I just needed a goal.

 "Oooh!  Oooh!  I know what your goal should be, Mom.  Your goal should be that by the end of the summer you can do the splits!"

At nine months pregnant, that would be quite a goal, indeed. I think I'm going to stick with limiting my phone time.

While I was in Chicago last month, Dan texted me this picture of the extra tooth he discovered while helping Luke brush his teeth.

The two baby guys there in front weren't really even loose.


So last week, the dentist explained, that while very common, Luke's situation would benefit from pulling those four bottom baby teeth. At six and half years old, Luke has been quite anxious to lose a tooth.  I don't think any of us expected it would happen this way, but he wasn't really worried about it and was looking forward to the 4 tooth pay-off from the Tooth Fairy.

When Max heard the news, he was devastated.

Luke kept reassuring him, "Don't worry, Max! I'm going to be fine!"


But when the day came, both Luke and I underestimated how things would go.  Really, the whole process went perfectly and was quick and smooth, just as we had been told.  But still when it was over, he was quite woozy from the laughing gas, bleeding pretty good, and generally not feeling well.

 We had planned that he would go to school after his appointment but decided a milkshake and lounging on the couch sounded better.

On the drive home, I got a call from the school nurse letting me know that Ava had stepped on a large embroidery needle on the playground at recess and it had gone through her shoe and into her foot.  The nurse assured me that since her tetanus shot was up to date, she'd probably be fine even though the needle was "huge and dirty."  Knowing Ava, I pictured her wailing and freaking out in the nurse's office, but the nurse informed me that she was already back in class and never really even cried.

It was not the Colton kid's best medical day but they both handled things well. (And I did call the pediatrician's office about Ava who also said that because tetanus was up to date, all we needed to do was watch for infection).

Luke, minus a few teeth,

A few weeks ago, I got a desk set up in our so-far-unused study for Luke to do his art and circuits and puzzles on.  After the first day, I noticed something odd.

My poor girl head was in time out.  When I asked him about it, he said she creeped him out and had to turn her around.

Aunt Leah visited us last weekend. And we loved it! Even Finn wasn't shy!

Max finished up his preschool year.  After an unfortunate incident at church a few weeks ago, when a primary teacher insisted he was sick because he used the restroom twice, and wouldn't let him return to primary, he has gotten really nervous about going to church or school.  I bribed him to go to the last day of preschool.  And thanks to Leah's genius idea to draw a heart in the palm of his hand so he would remember that I love him, he very reluctantly went to primary again.

But when it came time for the preschool program, he didn't want to do it. At dinner the night before, he told us, "tomorrow is my preschool program.  I get so nervous it's makes me sick!"

 The heart in his hand and the promise of a milk shake finally convinced him to be brave.

  

"But I'm not going to sing."

"And I'm not going to smile."

And he didn't.  

He even pulled his turn around for the picture trick. 

I didn't care though.  I told him I was just happy to see him up there.

He will have this same class again next year with these same teachers and I think that will be great.

I thought I left the tornado weather behind in Texas but I was so wrong.  Three days in a row, my cell phone went crazy with beeping and vibrating alerting me to "take shelter!" Funnel clouds spotted right near our house.  The kids had to do "duck and cover" at school for an hour one day and 20 minutes the next.  

I never felt like we ever needed to get in the basement, though.  Instead I ran outside to take pictures of the crazy clouds.

Finn has been keeping things exciting around here as usual and has exhibited quite the variation of interests.  Some are typical baby stuff, like his affinity for remote controls,

and balls,

but others are kind of weird like his love of pencils and toothbrushes. Here is the pile I gathered on my last tidy-up.

 But by far the most bizarre, is his love of brooms.  Every day he fusses until I help him get the one from behind the trash can and he digs out the other from the mud room.  And then he carries them around the house. He threatens to take people out three stooges style, which is what happens when you try to carry something three times your height. He loves them.  

One can't be sure what would inspire such a love of brooms, but I think we can all be certain that he did not inherit it from me.