Dear Tooth Fairy

Our Tooth Fairy has been a little lazy lately. And given how often teeth are falling out over here, there is much disappointment amongst the ranks. Audrey and Cyril each lost a tooth this week. After several nights of not showing up the kids finally wrote her letters. I found these on their pillows: (Audrey wrote both. I copied her spelling. Figured I'd have better chances that way).

Dear Tooth Fairy,
 I would like to keep my tooth. If you take it, I will get very sad. I didn't get to keep  my first molar and if I can't get that back, I would at least like to keep my second molar.
                                           God Bless,
                                                      Love,
                                                             Audrey

PS: You owe me $10 for all the days I've had to wait.

PPS: I have another loose tooth.If you don't come tonight I'm firing you.






Dear Tooth Fairy,

I lost my tooth. I accually lost  it lost it. It did fall our of my mouth but then, well, it got lost. Please leave the $ anyways.

Sincerely,
 Cyril Patton


PS: If you don't beleive me, look in my mouth. Or find the tooth.

PPS: You owe me $10 for making me wait so long.

Then and Now

I was reflecting back on the last year, especially as it pertained to kids and school and Cyril, and I was amazed at how different things are this year. We were sitting down doing phonogram dictation, after we'd already finished math, and there he was getting 100%, sitting nicely in his chair, holding his pencil properly, and being 100% cooperative. That last one was the major accomplishment. I think just being really "ready" made a huge difference. I remember last year most of our attempts would end in tears, sometimes for both of us. We made very little progress. This year, he is cruising through the lessons, retaining everything, and it is actually very enjoyable. Although he still likes math better. It is very wonderful to have thought this day would never come and, and now here it is.  He's growing up. And not just acedemically. I've been thinking more about the next 9 years and what we want to have accomplished and be working on by then. I think the recent progress and the new routines- more about that later- have given us the knowledge that the sky's the limit. I'm excited to take on the New Year, with all our Resolutions, and to enjoy all the opportunities it affords. I will write down what we are doing, but on of my resolutions is to get the kids up early and now is the time.

Iguana cake by Grandma Trudy. We passed on the live ones though Cyril was willing to give up his entire room for its habitat. We got him to go with a remote controlled helicopter instead.

Biting off way more than he can chew. He loves seafood, but even this was way too much. The rest will be dinner for him tonight. And the other kids as well.

A Birthday, a Ballet,and The Light at the End of the Tunnel

Cyril turned 8 on Jan 6th. More amazing than the fact he is eight, was his declaration of wanting to do his writing. I think it really helps seeing Audrey and all she can do. and even though we have been working little bit by little bit, we have been making huge progress since we started up after Christmas break. I have been daily amazed at how well and cheerfully he has been co-operating. We can see the same progress in 30 min as we used to see in 2 hrs.
He does still question why there needs to be 5 different ways to say "er" and how much easier it would be if there was only one. And why does "ch" have to also say "sh" when you can just use "sh". But even not seeing any logic in it, he still does it and making wonderful strides. (Finally) So, after 3 years, I very am happy to see the light. And so is Cyril.

We played some games so the kids could win prizes and I could give them their Christmas presents that were finally delivered.

I'm not sure who is blowing up who in this picture.

Cyril requested an oreo ice cream cake. And then cookie dough ice cream on the side.

Audrey had her Nutracker performance. She was a tin soldier. She did well and danced her hear out, as forgot to follow the other soldiers who were exiting stage left. She was also tired as they had two performances in one day. But it gave the opportunity for everyone to get to see it, including her friend Anna. Kateri was a little bored since the first half of the concert was made up of the other classes in the school. Everytime the little girls in their sparkly jazz outfits with sneakers left the stage she would ask "Is Audrey coming now?" I was a little tired of waiting too. And I was fully expecting a mini-stonhenge to descend any second. Actually, that would have been far more entertaining.

But the Nutcracker was sweet. Shane did get a video of her dance so maybe I'll post it later. `

Wake Me Up When June Comes

September is here ,and with it came the warm weather that should have been in August. I was just starting to feel comfortable to the cool morning with hot coffee, cozy pants, and school work around the kitchen table. And then it it got warm again. So I decided we'd wait to open our books until next week. Besides, we still have a family vacation to go on. I figured that would be the end of our summer.
I did, however, sign up Audrey for a literature class. She loves to read, not as much write- unless its for fun-but I decided it was time to move on from Nancy Drew and The Black Stallion. So now she'll be reading Chesterton and doing various styles of writing. The class starts today and I am interested to see how she likes it. I'm not sure how much it will work to drive to Mercer Island every week, with all four kids, and keep them entertained for 2 hours. Or keep Pippin from falling asleep on the way home and ruining his bed time. But I guess we'll see.

I'm not a huge fan driving. Much less in traffic. Even more in downtown traffic. So Tuesday was a good day for me. Cyril had an appt with a urologist- the first guy just wanted to cut him. I said I'd like a second opinion. So I had been waiting for a particular doctor and had to schedule this appt months ago. They ended up having a cancellation and we were able to go in a month early. They sent directions to their Eastside office but when we arrived were told the doctor was at the Seattle office. I knew I wouldn't make it in 15 min but the receptionist said if I showed up in the next couple hours, they would see him.

Cyril was not happy. He asked the entire time if we could just go back to grandma's so he could play. I was tempted but really wanted to get the appt overwith so we headed to Seattle. Where there was traffic and construction all around the hospital and the entire drive Cyril begging to just go home. Then he started complaining how it was better to be a girl. As he put it,

"Girls don't have these kinds of problems. All girls do is clean messes."

Anyway, the appointment went well. The doctor did not recommend cutting him. The first thing she asked was if any ointments had been tried. I told her the first doctor said he didn't know of any such thing, when I told him my pediatrician suggested that would be the course of action the urologist would prescribe. She said there is and its very commonly used and wrote up a slip. So, everything is fine. We got the ointment. And in a month things should be fine.

And there was no discussing of anatomy at the dinner table that night. The first appointment ,the doctor gently explained what and why he would need to look at. Cyril stared at him blankly. Thinking Cyril was shy, the doctor went on to say that only a doctor or his mom or dad could do this and asked if it would be ok for him to have a look. Cyril still just sat there. Then I realized the problem. Cyril had no idea what the doctor was asking to see . I leaned over and translated for him and he was fine cooperating. That night we ate dinner with Shane's parent's house. And Cyril decided, between bites of mashed potatoes, to share his new found knowledge,

"Some people call it a nee-nee. But it's really called a penis."

I offered to clean up the dinner mess.

I have a problem

And no, its not related to the above picture, unless you consider that we don't have any to go with dinner tonight to be a problem. Ok I have two problems. But since we're here I'll intoduce you to our new "special ocassion wine" first. So far we consider any night we open a bottle a special ocassion. So that's good. Shane just picked it out to try and we both loved it. It smells- do they call that the nose?- coconutty and rich. It tasted slighty coconutty as well, and after awhile it got better with hints of nutmeg and vanilla. Like a new crush victim, I could go on ,but for now I will just say we both highly recommend this wine. It was $24.99 at QFC- another reason it is a special occassion wine. Shane, Cyril, and Grandpa Ron went hiking this week-end. It was Cyril's first time and he was so excited going to REI with Shane to pick out his gear. They had a great time, got an acceptable amount of mosquito bites, and no major mishaps. Shane said the majority of the camp-site time was spent trying to dry Cyril's pants and shoes. Cyril didn't mind and played barefoot in the snow.
On the way home Grandpa asked Cyril what his favorite thing about camping was. After a long pause Cyril responded,

"What? Who are you talking to , Grandpa?"

"You, Cyril. What was your favoriet thing?"

"Hmmmm. Probably sharks" Cyril answered.


When I asked Cyril what his favorite thing about the week-end was, he said the frogs.

I think Trudy has a similar picture of Shane standing by the water on one of their hikes. Ron said watching Shane and Cyril it could have been him and Shane.


And my problem will have to wait until later because it is lunch time now and the natives are restless.

This Just In...

I was sitting in the library and looked out the window to Cyril sitting on the fence, wearing a life jacket, and holding a rope. Not being able to imagine what he was up to I ran out to ask. He explained the life jacket was connected to the rope so he could slide down it. I thought maybe he wanted to try "fence climbing" and was debating whether or not I should let him try or make him climb down. I figured he's a boy and needs some creatinve outlets for his energy so I told him go a head. But he had to wait until I got the camera. Here he was getting into position and I realized he wanted it to be like those long cables you whiz down. I can't remember what its called but you know that thing you do on the obstacle course in 6th grade camp.
Unfortunately, the rope was a little slack and after awkwardly climbing to the ground he ended up walking across the yard to the big tree where he had tied the other end.
Luckily, we have a bit of slope at that end of the yard so he could finally hang from the rope. He lay there ginnning and calling

"Audrey, come see me. I'm flying."
I guess it was not quite the success he was hoping for because he told me it would work better in the woods. I told him to wait until Papa gets home and they could talk about it.

Little Lost Lamb

The search continues for Lambie- Cyril's favorite toy when he was little. We left him at the house in Hatteras one year. It was pretty crazy when we discovered he was not packed and had to frantically search a 6,000 sq foot house for a 5" little lamb. We didnt' find him and 2yrs later are still searching. I found a website that posts wanted ads for lost toys here and posted an ad there but thought I'd add one here in the event anyone has information about the whereabouts of this lamb.
He was maybe 5"- could be a little less- had plush head and I think feet, with beans in the body. I can't remember the brand. We got him for Easter in 2003.. His face and feet were tan terry-cloth and his fur was more cottony than silky ,but after so many trips through the wash you can't tell how he started out. He had pink thread mouth and nose- already gone in this picture. I've found some similar ones but they are ususally bigger than he was and the feet are different. His were fabric soles on the back and fabric mitts on the front. I'd like to find an exact one to return home after circumnavigating the globe- like the gnome in Amelie- but Shane says we could try out a big one and say he grew up. Maybe I should add a finder's fee and put out posters. Not sure why I can't quite let him go. Not sure who was more attached to him. Lesson for next time- if they really like it, buy extras.