Dear Tooth Fairy, We have a situation.

Last night when Julia brushed her teeth, she realized that a tooth which had been very loose was gone.  That resulted in this note.


Julia was completely distraught until I suggested the note.
What does one do with this?  As Julia was finishing her note, she faced the dilemma of whether or not to outright ask for a dollar from the tooth fairy. I suggested that she leave it as it was, and it paid off with this note from the tooth fairy along with a dollar.

Dear Julia,

This is not the first time that a tooth has been lost without making it to a child's pillow.  As I recall it has happened to both your mom and your big sister. Sometimes I am able to find the tooth even if you have lost it. I was not able to find your tooth, but I do not want any child who has lost a tooth to miss a treat from the tooth fairy.  Therefore, I am still visiting you tonight.  Thank you for your note.  You are a sweet girl.  Hang on to the next tooth you lose.  Of course you know that I would really like to have the tooth.

Love,

The Tooth Fairy

a birthday celebration

Savannah will be 13 on Wednesday, and Andy and I will officially be the parents of two teenagers.  We gathered family at our home tonight to celebrate this upcoming milestone.

I will share more pictures later, but I wanted to share this special moment before going to bed tonight.

Andy bought Savannah a professional paintbrush and used a paint pen to note the following scripture references on it.  He presented it to Savannah tonight with the following thoughts.  Naturally, the video camera battery was dead :(

1Peter 3:3-4  

He reminded Savannah that her beauty comes from within and not from make-up and jewelry.  Andy then pointed out that her gentle and quiet spirit is pleasing to her family and to her God.

Isaiah 64:8  

Andy used this scripture to remind Savannah that her life comes from the potter and should always be directed by Him.  He talked of her artistic talent and love for math as well as her academic success.

1 Esther 4:13-15

Andy was touched when one of Savannah's leaders at the Believe conference told him that Savannah named Andy as her Mordecai.  He used this verse from Esther to remind Savannah that God has a plan for her life and that she is her for "such a time as this."

Andy did something similar with Zach for his 13th birthday.  He gave Zach a sword that we purchased in China and admonished him to be a warrior for the faith.  The paintbrush seemed fitting for Savannah as she has an artistic bent.

Another 13th birthday tradition we have is to ask family and friend to send us a scrapbook page (8.5 by 11) including a picture of themselves (if possible with the birthday child) and a letter, prayer, funny or special memory of a time they have enjoyed with the birthday child.  If you would like to participate in compiling this scrapbook, send the pages our way.  There is no hurry.  I still have to compile Zach's book, but hey, I'm a busy mom, and the pages are all together in one place.

Third Day

Once again I have learned of a cool thing from a blogging friend.  Katie shared on her blog that Third Day (a band we like very much) is requesting pictures of families who have adopted children, so that they can use the photos in upcoming concerts.  We had several people here tonight to celebrate Savannah's birthday, so we made an attempt at a family picture.  I am not sure about Julia's expression, so we may attempt a retake on Sunday.  Of course, the artwork on the sign was completed by our resident artist, Savannah.

crazy hair

Wyatt wants to grow his hair out some.  He wants "cool" hair.  I don't think this is a good start, but he sure got a kick out of it.

Spring Break! a mid-week review

We made it to spring break.  Make up days for snow days cancelled all in-service days scheduled for the nine weeks leading up to spring break...not that we had that many scheduled days off, but we even had to work one two three-hour days after school to make up one of the days.  I needed spring break, so much so that I really did not think I would make it through that last week of work without a sick day.  I was exhausted but pushed my way through.  I worried needlessly that my spring break would arrive, and I would spend it working at my second job.  Fortunately, I only have to work one day there this week, and it is on Saturday (I may have to work Sunday as well, but that remains to be determined).


This year has been unbearably hard, arguably the worst year of my life thus far, and it will get worse.  At least 34 of my co-workers will be relocated next year.  We have grieved over and over again about this situation.  I dread the end of the school year and the start of next year when that dreadful situation becomes our new normal.  I have always loved my job, but I have never desired to quit more than this year.


I had plans for this break, but they were not huge.  My goals were simply to purge a lot, possibly paint the trim in the kitchen, and maybe attempt to fix my new table. Above all else, I planned to rest.  I have done some purging.  I have rested and exercised and caught up my Bible study.  I have been thrilled to have Andy home this week.  I am not sure if he has ever had spring break off with the rest of us before now.  


We have rented movies and enjoyed being at home together.  Megamind is very cute in case you haven't seen it. Unfortunately, we also started the week by replacing the alternator in the van. I really could have done without that.  


Yesterday, we took the kids for our much anticipated annual trip to the Children's Museum.  We have made this trip for six or seven years now.  I have digital files for my photos since 2005.  I would love to pull some of the older ones to add to this post, but I will have to save that for another day.  I decided to mix it up this year and post some of our pictures from previous years along with the new ones. Watch them grow!

all the kids 2005

all the kids 2006, Julia's first year

the arch picture became a tradition -2007

2008

2009 -Wyatt's first year

We missed the arch picture somehow in 2010 and never got all the kids in one shot.

2011

Julia 2006

2008 -she still loves monkeys

2011- designing fashion...which may be her calling

trying to get some toothless grin pictures as those new teeth are quickly growing in

Wyatt 2009

2011
Wyatt offered my favorite quote of the day.  Julia lost herself in many of the computerized activities, so she fell behind the group quite a bit.  I stayed behind with her.  At one point when we caught up with Andy and Wyatt, Andy shared that Wyatt had been discussing rocks and gems with an employee and answered all the questions from the employee correctly.  She asked how amber is formed, and Wyatt correctly answered the question.  When I praised him for this, he humbly (ahem) stated, "I know my rocky stuff!"

Unfortunately, Wyatt did not end the day well.  He insisted on visiting the gift shop.  I warned him that we would not be making any purchases.  Naturally, he found rocks.  He really liked a huge chunk of rose quartz.  They also had sliced agate.  All of the other kids have gorgeous Christmas ornaments that are painted mountain scenes on sliced agate.  We purchased them in Estes Park, and if I ever make my way back there again, I will be on the hunt for an ornament for Wyatt.  I really wanted to purchase a piece for Wyatt but could not get that started with the other three. I knew Wyatt had some money at home and when we returned to the museum, I asked what he would buy if he had his money with him.  He was already pouting at that point, and he said he would buy nothing.  I knew better and discussed it with Andy.  We decided to go ahead and buy him a rock of his choice.  Unfortunately, he continued to pout, so we were not about to reward his behavior with a purchase.  He left with nothing.  I did sneak back for a piece of sliced agate to give him as a gift later.

Savannah and Logan 2006

Austin, Savannah, and Logan 2007

one of my favorite pictures, Mom and Savannah, 2009

I have a picture of Zach and Savannah next to this polar bear when they were really little.  Unfortunately, I don't have it in digital format but would love to find it and add it to this post.

I also have a picture of Savannah in front of the trains when she was about four or five.  She was crazy about them when she was little.  I would love to add that one as well.

Austin and Zachary 2006

Zach loved the incredible costume area with actual costumes worn by actors in the movies.  I have a picture of him with a great Star Wars display taken when he was about seven.  Again, it is not digital or I would have included it.

Zach loves The Terminator.

Tessa joined us for the first time this year.

no comment

Silliness 2007

You wouldn't believe how long we spent at the checkers table...really? $79 to get in for this?

2011

jelly bean art, I forgot to take a picture of the Starry Night jelly bean mosaic on my way out.  It was my favorite.

As for the rest of spring break, I owe the little people and Savannah a trip to see Tangled at the second run theater.  We were planning to go on Monday while Zach and Andy attended an NCAA championship party at our church.  Unfortunately, the alternator on the van derailed that plan.  We also plan to celebrate Savannah's birthday tomorrow night. In just under a week, I will officially be the mom of two teenagers....time flies!

Savannah's latest piece

This is Savannah's latest artwork.  She completed this for her Aunt Tara by request.  Our scanner is not big enough for the entire print, so the border is cut off on the right and at the top, but you get the idea.

An Easter Experience

Our church produces an incredible Easter pageant.  Last night our family had the privilege of enjoying the experience.  While we have attended this event in the past, this year was different.  Our church has decided to retire this program as it has grown too expensive to continue.  Wyatt and Julia had never seen it.  Our church guides families to bring children only if they are over five years old.  Andy and I have traditionally made our children wait until they are seven.  The crucifixion appears to be pretty realistic, and we do not want our children desensitized to it because they have been exposed to what it must have been like at too early an age and then watched it too many times.


Wyatt showed no interest in attending this program.  I was slightly concerned about how he would sit still for two hours.  It was my privilege to sit next to him.  He was on the edge of his seat for most of the program.  He remained focused on the stage, but I had to point out that a huge camel passed right by us on the way to the stage.  I also pointed out when the adult Jesus walked right past us to make his first appearance.  While I cannot be sure, it appeared that Wyatt's eyes were damp during the crucifixion.  He asked me at one point if the performance was real.  I responded that the events really happened.  Wyatt revealed today that he really thought that someone was killed on that stage last night.  Did I mention that our church does an incredible job with this?


Julia sat with Andy and was completely out of my view.  Andy told me about how enamored she was with the angels suspended above the crowd at the birth of Christ.  "Are they real?" she asked.  Andy told her they were not.  "They are real humans, aren't they?" she asked.  Andy explained that they were.  "How do they do that?" she asked.  Julia could not see the wires.  Unfortunately, in true Julia style, she fell asleep shortly after the angels appeared and slept until the crucifixion.  She slept through the triumphal entry and awoke for the end of the performance.


Savannah loved it.  Zach compared it to the program produced by our church a couple of years ago which was more in line with The Passion.  Zach is torn on which he likes better.  Andy and I were grateful for the return to the original pageant.  We love the uplifting music and the live acting.  The pageant does not disappoint with the live animals, poof, pomp, and wonderful music.  My favorite parts of the pageant have always been when Jesus danced with the disciples and several other men.  It just seemed to be a joyful moment.  Our current Jesus actor does not sing.  Our previous Jesus used to sing a beautiful song at the last supper.  Another favorite moment of mine is always when Jesus awakens a dead child.  In the past, she would run to him and be swept up in his arms and then tossed in the air.  A mishap several years ago altered that scene (injury was averted), and the scene changed as a result.  Instead, Jesus would spin around with the child in his arms.  He was so real in those moments, someone you long to know.  In the end a talented singer portrays the scene in Jerusalem as he sings from the perspective of a father arriving with his two young sons and a lamb to be sacrificed.  He is commanded to carry the cross, and the song depicts the scene beautifully. 


 The only glitch in the program last night involved the situation with Legion.  His mic was not working, so his screaming went unheard.  When Jesus asked the name of the demon possessing the man, the response could not be heard.  The man who plays Jesus in this production is a professional actor, so he knew to altar his lines enough to clarify what was happening for the sake of the audience. I was impressed with the man who played Legion.  He managed to depict the physical aspect of that situation very well.


As I continue with my own struggles of late, I remembered during the pageant about how John the Baptist struggled.  He declared that Christ was coming.  He begged the people to repent.  He knew what he was doing.  However, he also sent word to Christ from prison asking if Christ was who he said he was.  Even he had his doubts and then was beheaded.


I am saddened that our church will cease this production.  I know the workload is incredible.  The price of tickets do not cover the cost of the production, and we do not bring enough of the lost to see the performance,  a production specifically for them.  My concern is for the children.  Where else will the next generation see a realistic portrayal of the life of Christ?  Hollywood does not do the story justice.  Broadway seems less than anxious to produce a realistic performance.  If not in the church, where will they see it?  We have a very visual generation being raised in our midst.  In order to reach them, we may just need this tool even if they are being raised within the church.