Going back to school

I've waited almost a week to write this. Little Z started at the "big" school last Tuesday, and the big ones started back on Thursday. Z didn't want to leave at the end of his intro visit -- he wanted to stay and take a nap! What more could you ask for!

My girl has grown up a lot over the summer. There are things that she does that are just so much more mature than last year. I feel like the jump from 7 to 8yrs old is huge and I don't know how ready I am.

My big boy started 1st grade and he is really something special. He has always been very expressive when he speaks and he is very in touch with the emotions that different events or experiences bring out in him. The first thing he told me when I asked about his 1st day of school was, "Mommy, that was the best day of my entire life!".

My job here is done.

Until tomorrow.

It hurt me more than it hurt you

I'm the worst patient in the world.

Just putting it out there. I'm sure at least my DH would vouch for me on this one (although I'd rather he didn't).

Today I was even worse than that. I was the worst mother of the worst patient in the world.

My beautiful girl (8yrs. old) had to have her first filling done today. She is not the easiest dental patient in the world, but she was extremely brave when the dentist froze her mouth. I, of course, was not there yet (DH and I split up kid-drop-off duties). She may have been amazing had her Dad stayed with her instead of me. They sense my fear. They know that I will jump to their defense and try and bite off the head of He-who-is-causing-them-pain. Not that their Dad won't defend them when necessary, he just doesn't fall for most of their crap like I do.

As tears were running down her face, I was practically *begging* the dentist (our uncle) to take it easy on her. Of course he was. He loves her. But I had to hide my face and not speak for fear that she would see my weakness. Tears were streaming down my own face.

When we left, I took her to pick out whatever she wanted from a magazine store: a teeny-bopper magazine, an Archie comic... things I would NEVER let her near usually. The guilt. What did she choose? A Search-and-Find book (kinda like Where's Waldo) and a Hershey's cookbook.

How did I get so lucky?

Saying goodbye to friends

I had a very sad and bizarre afternoon.

I said goodbye to friends who are moving back to Israel.

One couple has been visiting for the summer. They have been here ALL summer, and aside from running into them at the supermarket, I was a horrible friend and did not manage to snag any face time with them the entire time they were here. They are the type of friends that feel more like relatives. They are the cousins that I love spending time with, but somehow, I always know that our family connection will bring us back together eventually. Only we aren't related. They are family because they FEEL like family to us. They will be missed.

The other couple has been a part of our lives for the last few years and has touched our lives. Not because of the amount of time we have spent together, but because of how we feel about each other. When I hugged my friend goodbye, I really felt so sad to be losing her presence here. I am so glad that she and her family came into our lives. I'm honoured to have been a part of their lives for the last few years, and I look forward to maintaining our friendship no matter how far apart we are.

Nesiah tova!

I think I deserve a medal!

School supplies purchased. Kids labelled everything (it was their idea of a fun treat!).

I'm ready for them to go to school.

Now we just wait another 2 weeks...

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EDITOR’S NOTE: CONTEST WILL BE EXTENDED UNTIL FRIDAY, AUGUST 14TH, 2009!!!

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Now we try to change our eating habits

I've always felt that I needed something to give me that extra "push" to start eating better. Over time, I have changed over to whole grain breads and pastas, even sneaking them into meals that my Monkeys will all eat. My problem has always been sweets. (Here's where I blame my upbringing...) I often use food as a reward. For myself and the kids. Toilet training involved candy. Going to shul involves candy. Being a good listener involves candy. I did make an effort with our eldest - she got to choose a book at the bookstore when she finished her first reward chart. It was all downhill from there.

After the dentist fiasco yesterday, I decided that we have to start limiting the crappy food that goes into our bodies. All of us. So I went to the supermarket and bought an INSANE amount of groceries that look good when fresh. The only problem is, most of the great ideas that I get while grocery shopping are fleeting. Gone. As soon as I walk in the door and put the food away.

I think I'll go make a menu. Any suggestions?

They figured out the truth!!! Run for cover!

I had a life-altering experience today. Ok, not life-altering, but definitely something that makes me question my sanity at ever having decided to have children.
Something you dread as a parent, but you know that it's inevitable. You just hope they won't figure it out until MUCH later. Or ever.

My beautiful daughter, at 8 years old, has figured out that we, her parents, have no actual control over her.

(Please give me a minute here. I hear shrieking in my head. Wait. That's me!)

We took the kids to the dentist. The Boy (6 yrs. old) and The Monkey (3 yrs. old) were wonderful. Didn't want to participate, but they did it anyway.

Then The Girl got into the dentist chair. She wouldn't let him check her teeth. Finally, we tickled her mouth open a bit and lo-and-behold - a cavity! Then, she wouldn't let him polish her teeth. I had to take her to a different room and have a talk with her. "He will be gentle, but you have to let the dentist clean your teeth so they don't all rot and give you stinky breath and fall out until you look like an old hag out of some Brothers Grimm story." Phew. It worked. She got back in the chair and whined through the cleaning.

By the way, did I mention that the dentist is our uncle. Just sayin. Must have felt good to be him today.

Where did the world come crashing down for me? When he tried to put fluoride on her teeth. Just to be clear, this is the easiest part of the checkup. He uses his finger and just rubs the fluoride onto the teeth, leaves it there for 1 minute, then rinses it off. She wouldn't do it. She screamed, cried, escaped!!! She got off the chair and left the room and would not come back!

Did I mention that the dentist is our uncle. Just checking.

What do we do now? Any suggestions would be most appreciated. Please leave your comments to help us deal with this.

We go back to the dentist on Tuesday for the filling. What are the chances...