Daddy

The Daddy who lives here is someone special.  Someone who loves hugs and playing chase.  Who tolerates kisses from all sorts of messy faces.  He works hard so his family can have enough of everything they need, and some things they don't.  He doesn't mind having small people crawl into bed early in the morning for some extra snuggles.  Obliges late night kisses when he comes in after bedtime.  Loves to go and do fun things as a family, as well as staying home and doing nothing.  Or as close an approximation of nothing, since no one with kids does "Nothing".

Happy Father's day to one of the best dads I know.  The one who lives here.

Tooth Fairy

Man that tooth fairy is becoming a regular visitor at our house these days.  Hannah had this one loose tooth that was ridiculous.  So loose you could see the top part that was supposed to be up in her gum.  But still attached somehow.  Finally Saturday I told her it was time.  It needed to go, and she had my permission to go to it and get it out.  She hates the idea of anyone touching her teeth or wiggling them.  She wants to take them out herself, and save one, she always has.  Until Saturday.  She wiggled, and she twisted, and it was GROSS!  Eventually I told her to head to the bathroom, that grabbing it with a tissue was a much better plan.  So I got a tissue, and showed her what I meant.  I put the tissue in my fingers and her tooth in the tissue and then I said "then you say OK, and you count to three, like this:  One.... Two...." Yank!  And that was the end of it.  She shrieked when she realized I'd actually done it myself.  Then she told me later that she was so glad I pulled it for her. 

Apparently Kayla texted the Tooth Fairy (aka Heather) to tell her to make a stop.  And sure enough, Sunday morning there was a surprise waiting for her when she woke up.  I just can't get over how different she looks with that one gone.  I think it makes a bigger difference because it's one of the top front teeth, which are bigger in general.  Today she had her spring concert at school and even across the gym, you can see the gap.  My baby is growing up, and I can't stop it.... but I think it's getting tougher to "enjoy".

Full

Over the weekend we had a houseful, but mostly full of girls.  Amanda is here, since she needs someone to stay with when college says she can't stay there.  Apparently Heather and Kayla like it here too, so they came over Friday night and left late Sunday after dinner.  Add to that Amanda's friend Ashley coming for a visit, and Steven was sorely outnumbered.  And you know what, I don't think he minded one bit.  I think he thinks it's nice to be "needed" by someone.  I love him, but I don't "need" him the same way teenage girls with cars they don't understand do.

Speaking of Steven, he was offered a fantastic opportunity to join a new company, and he took the offer.  He'll be leaving his current job in about a week and a half, and he's already started training for the new one.  He started Friday night and while he was supposed to be home around 11:30, he was good enough they kept him most of the night, not walking in until about 3:45 Saturday morning.  That makes for a long day, but so far he says he enjoys it, and he's actually there, and Hopefully will be home around 11:30.  We'll see, but he does have a regular job to head to tomorrow... so we'll hope.

Walking!

A year ago we were in the hospital with Hannah after her surgery.  Today she walked the entire course at Six Flags excepting one short piggy back ride!  In fact we didn't even SEE her for probably 2/3rds of the walk because she was hanging out with her friends.  I'm hoping someone will be sharing pictures, because I only have a couple of her.  She had such a good time, despite the weather being less than stellar.  We got drizzled on, and sprinkled on, and it's unseasonably cool.  Fortunately, everyone turned up to walk anyways!  We had a great time, and Mimi was a fabulous ambassador!  They told us that to date we had raised over $50,000 total for all of New England.  That's wonderful and all the money will stay right here, which is even better.

Purple Sock Monkeys

We're walking with the Purple Sock Monkeys again this year for A Walk In the Park at Six Flags.  The walk is this coming Sunday, and the girls are both really excited!  Hannah has totally blown away her goal of $50 thanks to generous donations from people who love her and Mimi.  I'm so proud of her, and of Mimi for fighting and looking good doing it!  Hannah has such a big heart, I'm sure that it will stay with her as she grows up.  Next year Norah will be old enough to start raising money also, I love these girls, so I know she'll do just as well with Hannah as her example!

Busy!

So things have been a bit crazy here.  On June 1st, we had three tornadoes touch down here in our little area.  No major damage to us, besides some crazy hail dents in my car.  But some of the surrounding areas haven't been so lucky.  There was a ton of damage in several other places, and they said on the news this morning it was an EF3 that cut a 39 mile path through the state!

Despite that, we had a fun weekend.  We went to the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, and Hannah got her Strega Nona book signed by Tomie dePaola.  She was over the moon excited, and she even got a picture with him. 

Yesterday we headed up to Grampy and Mimi's house for a bridal shower for Auntie Sara and Zach.  The girls had a great time playing with everyone, and eating a ton of food.  I can't believe they'll be leaving today and back in three weeks to start the countdown to July 3rd!  We booked our hotel, and Hannah gets out of school a couple days prior, so it all works out great.

Speaking of school, Hannah has to go to school until June 28th to make up all the snow days we had this winter.  She's a little unhappy she won't still be getting out on the 20th, especially since some of her friends had the same amount of snowdays, but get out on schedule next Wednesday.  I don't know why the city doesn't plan some days in, but maybe they will now.

Countdown

Hannah's looking forward to the summer.  Unfortunately, after the winter we had, her summer doesn't really begin until 4th of July!  She's going to be in school through part of the last week in June.  Which sounds ridiculous to me.  Yes I know they started late, but why on earth can they not start earlier?  Start the last week in August, or the first in September. This year her first day was the 13th of September, which is crazy.  Add a gazillion snow days, and we can't do anything fun until after Auntie Sara and Zach get married. 

She's having a concert in a couple weeks, and she's also the yellow pig in a play.  However they have yet to be bothered to tell anyone when this play takes place, only that they don't know yet.  How is anyone supposed to get time off work to be there to support her?  I'm really frustrated with her school and how they run things.