Braxton's turn

I began to realize most of my posts revolve around Paige Alise but now I have a great introduction for Braxton!!  He lost his first tooth!  He was so brave when Paige Alise was getting her teeth pulled.  He would shower her how easy it was to put the floss on this tooth!! 
So I noticed he had one that was super ready.  I asked him if he wanted to do this, Sure!!

So we put on the floss!

Did I mention he really slobbers a lot.

So that first pull was..... not as successful as one would hope, it came right off the VERY, VERY loose tooth, but did not get the tooth out!

that made him change his mind!!!  A LOT I put on some Orjel and and was blowing on his face to calm him down.

What a sweet boy.

But now he was AFRAID!!!  poor thing.

He would not move his hands so I could get in there.

First Sister tried to calm him with a great sign.

Paige Alise was videoing to show him later!!  It was priceless!

I was trying to calm him down enough to reason/bribe him

I don't know how well it was working?

Then he let daddy hold him and his hands.... If I could just get past the slobber...On goes the floss again and off again....So I just put the paper towel in his mouth to dry it off...When I take out the paper towel.

NO MORE TOOTH, he didn't even know I had it in the paper towel.

Paige Alise was ready for him with Optimus Prime and a glass of water.

Now they were excited because they are both toothless (not a dragon)

He could not wait to tell his "classmates" I hope I will be able to hear the excitement in his voice as I can see it in this picture.

What a great kid.  He kept crying a little because he was still excited and scared....

However I am proud of him and excited for his First Tooth!!!

When Past meets Present

Many years ago, when my skin was tighter, my waist was smaller and I didn't have anyone else to worry about by myself... I knew a couple of brothers... from back in the "hood".  As I was living my dream of teaching and buying my first home and being the director of the camp that I grew up at, they were starting to realize their dream.  Those bright lights of Nashville started to get brighter and brighter, and as I heard them pickin their guitars, I knew that I was in the presence of something.  So their dad, who was with his brothers back in the day pickin at their guitars, and made a little name for themselves made some calls... Then one night in early 2001 they took the stage at the Oklahoma Opry.  It was very clear to anyone with ears... Oklahoma was not where they needed to be.  And to me, that this time was coming to an end.  God was going to open the next chapter in my life, so this one had to close.

Here we are 10 years later, I am no longer in OKLAHOMA... where I never thought I would leave. And neither are they.  They left in August of 2001 and started their journey.  I met my husband in 2002 and started my family and gave up my career in 2010 to allow him to pursue his in the US Air Force.  And who shall come through the town of Wichita Kansas... The Dirt Drifters.... Yes, they made it. It isn't just the brothers though.  About 4 or more years ago they met up with a very eclectic group of men and a special sound was born.  Deeper than Red Dirt Country... something all it's own.  And they are are on the radio with the single Something Better.  There is a video out as well.  In a world were money and sparkle are what catch peoples eyes, these guys are doing it with talent, passion and being real.  I hope anyone reading this blog goes to The Dirt Drifters and checks them out for yourself.... Then on to Itunes to download their latest album This Is My Blood with 10 original songs including their single Something Better and a guest appearance in I'll Shut Up Now with Willie Nelson. 

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do and let keep getting the word out about them!!  Look for them to come to a city near you  and GO!!!

1st Day Hooray!!!

The days have been ticking away and so have my nerves!!  Let me just say as a early retired teacher, EX camp counselor & director as well as a kid at heart! 
I vote YES for year round school!  I feel that 10 weeks is just too long for kids to be out! 

• As a teacher, truly is it about the retention level.  If we give more smaller breaks and keep them in the routine I feel they will go farther each year instead of playing catch up at the beginning. 
• As a camp person, I know that schools rotate when they would be out and camps could work with those schedules as well as incorporate field trips and other experiences! 
• And as a kid at heart, well I saw how much my kids missed being around other kids, and I enjoyed getting to be a kid and not the "mean mom" saying NO, STOP THAT, QUIT KISSING YOUR BROTHER, all day long!!

That being said we started our 1st day of school TODAY!!  Listen to that.......

SILENCE and the tapping of a key board as I get things done I have been putting off or too frustrated to do!!

Also the kids were so excited to get to school, they ran off before I could get them both in a picture.  But I did get a couple shots!! Can't wait to scrapbook the pink and black houndstooth!!

  

                                                 

Even Kit was dressed for the 1st day!!

Now I relax, look at my mile long To Do list... Ignore it for today, turn on Hulu and see what TV shows I have missed!!  Lunch with an ADULT girlfriend and I will turn back on my "mom" world at 3:10 when I head to the school to pick them up!  One day of Vacation is better than NONE!

I hope everyone has a blessed 2011-2012 school year!! 

Here's to handwriting, times tables and science projects!

3 teeth and 14 days

What an interesting month August has turned into.  We have been working on the loose teeth most of the summer. And if you have read below you will see that we had a 2 1/2 gig on the 3rd.  Well this is a over view of my last 14 days!!

August 3rd (day 1).  This is the post from earlier!

I can't believe it took 2 1/2 hours and then the tooth just fell out on my foot.  She felt so silly and promised that it would never be that bad again.     Promises, Promises!!

  August 7th (day 5)

Here we decided to try corn and see if it will loosen up the remaining 3, yes I said 3 teeth!!

August 8th, (day 6)

I decided to try and get her to let me try and pull the other big tooth in the front! 

It took me 30 minutes to get the floss on the tooth, but then she just let me pull... Let's say it was not quite ready and it then took her 3 hours to forgive me for hurting her and the tooth stayed in place!!

However I noticed that the tooth beside it was SUPER Loose!!! 

August 9th (day 7)

She decided to let me put floss on the little tooth, but that was all she was going to do.

The sad thing is, if I didn't see the dates on the digital pictures, these days would just be a blur to me.

WE did NOT pull this day!  I worked on earning some trust!  And I was just not up for the fight!

August 12th (day 10)

It was time for the little tooth to the right of the stubborn big tooth to come out!

As you can see she is Billy Bobbing it really bad! 

So I told her it would be out in a snap!  I told her I called the dentist and to pull a tooth that was totally ready, without numbing it or gas or anything was $150.00.  And it is... But the nice lady at the dentist told me that she had her kids put on a little Orajell and wiggle during every commercial.  Great idea... need Orajell.  My wonderful neighbor with little ones saved the day20 minutes later!!!

That was so easy!  I was just sure we would not have a problem again!! 

WRONG!!

August 14th (day 12)

I started warning her that we were going to pull that big Jack-o-lantern tooth before she entered 3rd grade!  She needed to start wiggling it.

August 15th (day 13)

Me and her dad sat her down and she started to freak out, crying, gagging from the Orajell, got a head ache and stomach ache, face all red.  Did NOT want to do this.... I knew I had one more night left, so after 1 hour of fuss, I made a pinkie promise that it would be done tomorrow, NO BACKING OUT!!!

AUGUST 16th (day 14)  D day!!!

I stared with her at 6:00 PM because I wanted to get it over with so they could have their baths, settle in and get ready for the 1st day of school tomorrow!!  Should have stared at 6:00AM if I had known what the night would bring!!!  We started out inside, after an hour we moved outside to make her feel more comfortable.

After another hour and 1/2 when her dad got home from his training at the Humane Society we went inside and he was done... This was happening... So at around 9:15, I held the freakishly strong little thing (barely) and he got a hold of the floss and then said to me.... "Now what do I do?  Okay, I can't do this you have too" and let go... REALLY!!!!  Dude we are on tooth #9 here, you can do ONE of them!! 

We switched places, I calmed her down again and then I just PULLED the floss like it was a snake and I needed it as far away from me as possible.... The funniest thing happened!!!  The tooth shot up into the air, bounced off the ceiling and fell on the floor behind me.... Ahhhh shoot, I hope I didn't loose the tooth!!!

I didn't loose it, but she did!!!  Finally, after over 3 hours....that wonderful "S" gap!  She is excited about her 1st day of thchool and 3rd grade.  She can't wait to say our neighbors name thara!  and the best part!!!!

She is not mad at me!!! 

I love her so!  But boy is that one stubborn little girl. 

And I have 7 1/2 hours or so of work accomplished... Now if those two baby bottom ones of Braxton's would get just a little looser we will have a whole new post series ahead of us... Give me a MONTH!!

It is finished!

I can't believe it, but we are done!

 Braxton asked his dad when we were going to eat at the kitchen table again, and since Paige Alise did finally allow me to pull her tooth, I decided we better make the kids happy!  Isn't that what life is all about... making "the kids" happy!!  LOL.  anyway, here is a shot of her and I hard at work.

 We are putting the final coat of Modge Podge or Deco Podge on it.  Hers was a little heavier than mine, but it is done all the same.

  Here is a picture of it when the drawer open.  We even covered a small shoe box in the same wrapping paper for her baby dolls baby dolls clothes... Yes, I meant to say that twice.  She has two 4" dolls that are the dolls of her 14" and 18" dolls and they have clothes as well.  

This is a close up of the drawer.  There is a section for accessories, one for all the shoes (just like a woman, I know, and hats) also notice that her American Girls have their own pets and they get to sleep in the "closet" floor.

We have even hung up hooks for the purses/bag/extras that come along.

Here are her and Kit, dressed and ready for bed.  She talked about it being funny if Kit was missing a couple teeth too.  I said, NO YOU ARE NOT WRITING ON KIT!!  I know how her mind works.

And her are my girls in bed. 
This was a fun project. We got the 7" hanger for the doll clothes at Dori's Doll Boutique under accessories.  I actually got them from eBay, but the price was the same and they came quickly.  Now that I have found her site, I am sure we will do more business with her... They do have Bitty Twins...

Now that it is all done, I am ready for a break... Well at least a day's peace right!

The Tooth Epidemic

Get your drink refreshed and settle in... this one is a little long, but worth it.

Okay, for all of those that have kids in the loose tooth age, or remember the days, this post is for you!
Paige Alise has lost 6 teeth to date.  The first one she was in 1st grade and it took me 45 minutes of tears to get her to let me put on and touch the dental floss on her tooth, when I finally did, it FELL out.  She was like "that didn't hurt at all"... so we talked about how silly she was being, but fear is understandable when it is the unknown.. That next day she was with Nana and was biting on a blanket while walking, stepped on it and it pulled the next bottom tooth that did not have it's friend to give it support... So that night after another 45 minutes we got out the other tooth, that had started to turn black/gray.  So now I am thinking she has to see this is NO BIG DEAL... right.. If you have met Paige Alise you know that is not the way things roll.  So the next tooth (bottom right next to center) followed about the same path but this time Daddy was there to experience it.  We were at Nana's and she insisted on eating corn to loosen it up.  Didn't work, so I got the floss on, but she freaked out again.. Daddy tried to comfort her, but she wanted to be on Nana's lap and me to touch the floss... right out AFTER 45 minutes and tears...  Now for the 4th tooth.  We were living in Kansas as the Apartment, it was the 1st part of November and they had the 2nd graders at her school in swim lessons for 2 weeks the second half of the day.  I knew her tooth was ready, but I was not ready for the 45 minute battle, so I thought it can wait a little while longer... On her 3rd day of swim lessons, the pressure for the water as she swam forward, knocked the tooth back in her mouth though it was still connected.  She freaked out... when home...45 minutes later she finally let me pull the floss. This one came out and she didn't even know it. Anyone seeing a theme here... 45 minutes... I think I've got this... right... NO
The next two teeth are her 1st set of bottom molars.. They have had an infection for months and we cannot get it taken care of.  On Jan 20th we had a consultation with a Ped dentist because her reg dentist felt that it would be too difficult to extract the teeth, they may crack or break and he was not prepared for the little roots.  We thought it was just a consultation.  NOPE, within 10 minutes she had the gas on her nose, a shot to numb and NONE  of us noticed that he had pulled both of her bottom molars... NOT even her!  They fit her with spacer, because they don't expect those teeth to come in for another2-3 years.  So now ALL 4 of her Top Teeth are Loose... The base dentist told her to push on them for 10 minutes from the front, 10 mins from the back then turn them like a light bulb for 10 mins.  They should be out in a month... That was last week.  This Wed I got back from a meeting and I learned from my neighbor that Paige Alise had dropped her IPod on her face and her tooth had bleed A LOT!  I looked at it and you could see when she pushed back her top left tooth that the root was gone and their was an empty spot... The time is now, we are pulling the tooth.

I told her I would put on the floss but because it was the top teeth I need gravity to work with me.  It took about 15 minutes or more to get her to lay down in my lap for the floss. 

As you can see from her forehead, she was not happy about this... SCARED OUT OF HER MIND is more like it.  So I told her that she could do it.  She needed to tighten the floss around her tooth and keep pushing up until it was over the top and in the "empty" space... So off to the bathroom she went.

(the mirror is dirty because she likes to spray the smell good right on it??? ) Anyway, she tried, but realized, she can't see very well without her glasses..

Now she has the floss on, can see it and refuses to let anyone touch it.  Brother tries, I try, Even our neighbor tried...

What you are seeing in the picture above is Paige Alise with floss hanging from her mouth and Sara trying to bribe/convince her to just pull it... By the way about an hours has passed by this time.

So Sara and Brax head up stairs to play and the floss falls off, but I am in this to the end... I can't believe my 45 mins has passed... but there has been a lot of tears and "I'm not ready, it's not ready" statements...

She wants to know what they are doing up stairs and I told her we would go check if she let me put the floss back on, then we would work at her speed...

so the floss is on, we are upstairs watching Brother and Sara play and she is as far away from ME as possible.  I tried I will buy you a La La Loopsy doll. (because she wanted the boy one to give to brother so they could play together and he would stop taking hers) or we will stay up all night to finish your doll closet, or where do you want to go to eat, then down to a milk shake from QT.. (we are over 2 hours now)... Then the long annoying stair down and a irritating tapping that was driving her crazy.  Then I said, "Hey Granma told me a secret today and if you let me touch and hold the floss, I will tell you the secret"  I knew she would freak out and pull away, so that was my goal... If I could just get her to trust me enough to touch the floss we would have this thing DONE.  And she wanted to know that secret.  So I slowly got a hold and tightened... She freaked out, jumped back and the tooth fell on my feet.  "She said, that hurt a little" but then it started bleeding and that was totally cool....

 (might want to breeze past the next picture if you have a weak stomach for blood!)

I got her to clean up her mouth...

and now we have another very Loose Tooth ready to work on, but she is pulling forward 10 mins, pushing back 10 mins and twisting... I expect we will loose that guy by Sunday... Because I can't help but giggle every time I look at her with her Billy Bob smile... that one tooth jutting out the front... She loves talking with the list and is so cute with missing teeth... When she looses both I will post a picture of me at her age with missing both tops... How fun to start school with two missing front teeth.

So her is me and my girl... 1 tooth, 2 1/2 hours and 1 secret later...

Love her, even after that long, long, long EPIC story of The Loose Tooth!!