The Queen of Pulling Teeth

Mason came home from school on his third day holding a film canister.  

"Mommy, guess what's in here?"

(I was so terrified it was a bug.)

I was beyond surprised when he showed me the contents.

A tooth?

Apparently, one of his classmates had a really loose tooth, and their teacher, Mrs. McGann told him that she was the QUEEN of pulling teeth.  And of course, she pulled the classmate's tooth right out.

Now, it should probably be reiterated that this classmate's tooth was actually LOOSE.  Not barely wiggly with a teeny, tiny range of motion.  So how exactly did Mason leave for school with a barely wiggly tooth, and come home with a hole in his smile?

Well, he said something like this:

"Mommy, I just had a feeling that she could do it.  I thought it might be ready.  And it was!"

The funny thing is that it really was far from ready.  He would have thrown a tantrum if either Rip or I had tried to pull that deeply rooted tooth.  But he thinks teachers are superheroes (I do, too), and he had full confidence in her.  So he bravely let her pull it.  

A hole in his smile and $2 later, and he's a happy, happy kid.

If only it were that simple forever!

First day of FIRST GRADE

I can hardly imagine it. . .Mason is in the FIRST GRADE!

Where does the time go?  Just the other day he was home with me.  Then just the other day (a different day!), he was starting Kindergarten.  The poor kiddo actually started Kindergarten at THREE different schools last year with the chaos in our jobs and lives, so I was beyond happy to see this as we waited for the bus:

Mason has friends.

He's a very "friend-worthy" little boy. . .it's not that.  It's just that we enrolled for one Kindergarten in Texas a year ago, started at a different Kindergarten in Indiana due to a last-minute move, then proceeded to move TWO MORE TIMES during the school year.  To two different states.  It's hard for a five-year-old to make friends when his parents keep moving him to new schools.   But his first-grade year has started very differently.  He had the whole summer to play with lovely Manaal, whose yard abuts ours, and sweet Elliot who lives a hop, skip, and a jump away, just through Manaal's yard and in the next cul-de-sac.

I hope this move is it for us for awhile.  While I'd love to live in one of the counties near where I grew up (and where my parents and many dear friends still live), I'll happily stay here for now.

And watch my big boy board the same school bus each year with his neighbors and friends.

How is it that my "big boy" actually looks so little next to that bus?  Perhaps he's still a "little boy" after all.  Just don't tell him I said that!

A WIN for the Silverhawks!

Yes, a year is a long time for a blogging "break."  I have a jillion excuses, and a few stories to accompany those excuses.  But for today, I'll jump back in with a normal update.  Excuses to follow soon.

With summer fading to fall, I'm trying desperately to check off all the "summer to-dos" on the list we assembled at the beginning of the summer.  Yesterday's activity?  Our first South Bend Silverhawks baseball game!

On SUCH a gorgeous day, a trip to the ball field almost screamed our name.  Seventy degrees, blue skies, and a slight breeze.  Aaaaah. . .a little slice of Heaven.  Thanks to Rip (as always!), we had great seats behind home plate.  Mason kept asking me to catch any home runs that came our way.  Ummmmm, okay, buddy.  Maybe I should have put "explain fair balls vs. foul balls" on our summer to-do list!!!!!

With beers and Cracker Jacks in hand, we settled in for a perfect family afternoon.

Mason was beyond excited to talk to Swoop the mascot. . .

And of course, the EVER exciting "running of the bases."  After the big Silverhawks' win, all kiddos are invited to run the bases.  Mason was OFF like a lightning bolt!

Brody Ray was a different story.  He started off strong, even making the big screen (in the way background!)

But as he rounded second base, he suddenly stopped, panicked about the tar balls in his Crocs, and refused to go further.   Rip saw this happening while I was photographing Mason crossing home plate. . .Daddy to the rescue!

What a perfect family afternoon for me and my boys.

And it's worth noting that Mason said I was "boy trapped" as I stood between him and Brody.  Yes, baby, such is my life.  I'm ALWAYS boy trapped with these three!!!