And then there were two...

Hilarious, sometimes...being a parent. It's days like these that really make ME smile. Last night as I was posting about Garrett's first day of school, he calmly walks in and gives me a big smile. I knew something looked different about his smile, but just assumed that it was because of the new vacancy in his mouth. But when I looked closer, I saw that there was not just one vacant spots...but two!
Seems as though Jeff and Garrett are getting REALLY good at this teeth pulling thing. But with Garrett's "domino" placement of missing teeth, he better stop losing them for awhile or he'll have nothing to chew with!

A day of many Firsts!

What an exciting day in a little boy's life...the first day of Kindergarten! We've been looking forward to this day for quite some time now. Then again, now that it's upon us, it seems like it crept up WAY too fast! I do have to admit though, that I was really looking forward to it just as much as Garrett was. In fact, I was shocked that I wasn't dreading it more, or feeling more anxious than I was. I guess it was because I just knew he was going to love it so much. No separation anxiety with this little boy. He's confident and secure in meeting new friends and being in new places. This kid can make a friend anywhere!Mrs. Cline and Garrett

Anyway, last Thursday we were able to go to Garrett's new school and "Meet the Teacher!" Even before we went, we heard from our neighbors that his teacher, Mrs. Cline, was fabulous and highly sought after! Looks like the 7 hours I spent waiting in line just to "register" Garrett for KINDERGARTEN truly paid off!

What an amazing school Garrett attends. It's obvious now why my property taxes are so high! But after leaving Meet the Teacher the other night, both Jeff and I looked at each other and said, "I want to go back to Kindergarten!" I mean, schools have come along way since 1980! I can still remember my Kindergarten teacher and how much I loved to help her with snack time. I helped pass out a 1/2 of graham cracker and a small box of milk to all the kids. Oh yeah, and don't forget the napkin! Heavenly memories.

Another difference of Kindergarten then and now....is that Garrett's school is all day...every day. That means he starts at 7:55 AM and ends at 2:45 PM, five days a week! Again, some parents are a little leery about their 5/6 year-olds being gone that long, and sure I REALLY missed my little friend today, but just knowing that Garrett was loving the time at school made me grateful for the opportunity and time he gets to be on his own and begin to really learn about life.

So what did he learn about today? Well, for one, that you can buy ice cream from a truck that drives around. An actual truck! I mean, can you believe that?! This revelation reminded me that I've come up very short on teaching him the most important things in life. I guess after recess, Garrett's whole class went outside to get ice cream, from none other than the Ice Cream Man! Nice first day of school!

After school, Garrett came home and had to call both his Grandmas to tell them about his first day of school. Again, it made me smile thinking about the wonderful memories he had created, all on his own. And I have no doubt there will be many more days like these, where Garrett's life is a joy not only to me, but to him, as well.

The Tooth Fairy

For the past couple of weeks, Garrett's teeth seem to be loosening by the dozens! Ok, that's a little dramatic...he really only has two teeth loose. But when you only have 20 (or so), then losing two at the same time seems like a lot!

When we first found out that these two teeth were loose, I got really excited and told him that pretty soon all his teeth would start falling out and then the tooth fairy would come and take them while he was asleep!

Uh, his reaction? He started bawling, holding his mouth like he was being asked to give up his most prized possessions! I stepped back for a second and heard my "exciting explanation" through a 5 year-old's eyes and figured that I should have really worked on the delivery of that news. So we calmed him down until he understood that this "tooth loosening" thing was actually a wonderful rite of passage that all 5 year-old eventually go through.

Fast forward a couple of weeks and here we are! Garrett's first tooth is finally gone. He was actually VERY brave about losing it. In fact, he let Jeff simply pull it out! I told Jeff that I couldn't do it. Ugh, the thought of having to do so made me nauseous... But Jeff, usually being the one that shys away from any sight of blood, waltzed in there and did the job beautifully! No tears. No blood!
So under the pillow the tooth went tonight! And just in time for his first day of Kindergarten tomorrow! We are excited to see what the Tooth Fairy will bring in exchange for a boy's "most prized possession!"

A sad loss...

I am coming out of "Blog Retirement" and posting out of turn only because there is no way I couldn't at least comment on the death of a wonderful musician.
LOS ANGELES - LeRoi Moore, the versatile saxophonist whose signature staccato fused jazz and funk overtones onto the eclectic sound of the Dave Matthews Band, died Tuesday of complications from injuries he suffered in an all-terrain vehicle accident, the band said. He was 46.

*****

Oh my! I'm absolutely devastated! DMB is one of my favorite bands and now it will never be the same. The sad thing is, is that I too, have been in a very scary ATV accident when I was ten years old, up in Island Park, Idaho. I spent a week in the Rexburg hospital due to injuries received to my kidneys and pelvis which I sustained after being thrown from the ATV (I was riding passenger) and landing on a tree stump right on my lower back. I also received a concussion and had stitches in my head. I am painfully aware how easily I could have been injured worse.

The music world lost a very talented musician and performer that's for sure.