Just 4 kiDDS

Jordan's office has been open about two and a half weeks now. Jordan loves having his own office and doing things his own way. He says all the stress is worth it, so I guess the last ten years are slowly proving themselves. We've had great responses from our patients and literally everyone who comes through the door loves the office. Here are a few pictures of the office; the picture of the building with the sign is too big for me to upload, but you can see it if you check out the website: www.just4kiddsdentistry.com

Here's the sign just off the road.Front Desk (Jordan hates the sign- the colors were supposed to be solid, but instead they're almost see through so the lights reflect and it's hard to read. Chances are it will be different before too long!)

The CARS collection. Jordan and the boys have spent the last 2-3 years collecting all the cars from the CARS movie. Last count there were just over 120 (not counting doubles). There are no repeats in the case-each one is somehow different and from a different scene in the movie. Kids love this display.

The movie theater has been great for families with multiple children. No one minds waiting for his/her turn. My brother-in-law custom made the train table and race car track (as well as the display cases and wii cabinet). I love that the train table isn't a typical rectangle. So far, moms love being able to fill out paperwork without keeping their kids entertained- we do it all for them. The arcade center has proven to be loved by dads just as much as kids.

Open bay hygiene areas make it easier for mom's with two kids back at the same time to be with both kids. They also lend for great teaching models (nervous kids see there's nothing to be nervous about from other well behaved kids) We use benches instead of regular dental chairs to eliminate the startle factor from the chair reclining.
After a child is all done, he/she gets to pick a prize from the "concession stand" while mom takes care of the check out. (The soda and popcorn are just props- they do not work and we will not let a patient-or parent-have any popcorn while in the waiting room or before they leave. No matter how many times mom or dad ask.)
And while we've been slaving away getting Jordan's office up and going, the boys have been hard at work in the mud. Many hours were spent in the back yard this summer creating rivers, islands, waterfalls, and lakes. Good thing Idaho mud isn't like the mutant mud of NY. No clothing was completely ruined.
And our most favorite part of the summer- The SnoShack. We went almost everyday, except our last day when we went twice. We are snow cone snobs; I'd rather have no snow cone than eat a bad snow cone. The SnoShack is the only place I (and now my boys) will eat a snow cone from. Lucky for us there are about 3 in Idaho Falls and one just down the road in Shelley. There weren't many things I was excited to come back to Idaho for-but the SnoShack was one of them. And yes, that is our new (to us) mini-van in the picture. We have to have two cars here and even though I feel pretty old school next to all the SUV mama's,we like how much storage space it has. So gas guzzling aside, it's a good car. The boys love having a tv in the car and Jordan loves that they can't kick our seats anymore. So in a nutshell, that's where we've been the past few months.

Return to Our Roots

It's so very late, and I should so be in bed, but blogger is calling me... We've been home for just about three and a half weeks now. The boys love all the Grandmas, Grandpas, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends from the past. They're learning to climb trees, create rivers, islands, and lakes in the back garden with the hose, drink out of the hose, mow the lawn (they just watch that), and they're generally living life in the country. We experience one or two major melt downs a day, but we're all adjusting pretty well. Jordan is loving working for a real pay check, and his own office is getting closer everyday. I'll post some pictures of our new life when my bed and blogger aren't fighting over me; but for now, the bed wins.

Where One Journey Ends, a New One Begins...

Today is our last day in Rochester. The moving truck pulled out yesterday, Grandma and Grandpa Higham flew out with the boys yesterday, and today I turned in our apartment keys. Tears fall freely the last few days, and I'm not even trying to stop them. I am so sad to leave behind this part of our lives; we have been blessed with so many wonderful experiences and friendships in the past six years. I knew two years ago this day would come and we would once again have to pick up and move; leaving behind so many friends- some of the closest we've ever made- but that never makes it any easier. It's been a great journey and we have all grown in ways we never imagined. I am thankful for the times we've had and lessons we've learned. Just as a part of us will always be in Seattle, now a part of us will always be in Rochester as well.
As soon as Jordan finishes work today (he graduated last Friday, but had to work yesterday and today- silly I know!) we too will head out to begin our new journey. We look forward to our new lives in South Eastern Idaho. Jordan and the boys are so very excited to live there and I'm working on it. I don't deny that it will be nice to live by family; I know that we are supposed to come home. Sometimes change comes hard for me though. I am excited for the road trip Jordan and I are about to take- across the nation with no children! It was a blast two years ago when we came out here, and I expect no less on the way back. We hope to arrive in Idaho early next week refreshed and ready to jump into the next journey. So here's an advance thanks to all our family who will be taking care of the boys for this next week- THANK YOU!

Garbage Plate

The name alone makes you wonder. It took me almost 1.5 years to build the courage to try it. Food should not touch- especially macaroni salad, cubed potoatoes, a cheeseburger patty, meat gravy, and ketchup! But, that's just what a garbage plate is; a picnic on a plate. And it's awesome!
We love Nick Tahoes. Back in the Depression era, this man wanted to provide the locals with a lot of food for a little money. A garbage plate is what he came up with and it is still a local favorite. Lots of places make them, but I won't eat them from anywhere else. We've had quite a few visitors the last few weeks, and it's been very amusing to watch the different re-actions. We missed it when my sister was here, so here's a picture for her and everyone else to enjoy. I'm already working on the recipe, so it won't be another completely lost NY treasure.

Changes

Ahh, the power of a girl. The boys willingly traded in light sabers and bikes for curling irons, blow dryers, and brushes.

Miss Halle came to stay with us this weekend, and the boys got a lesson in doll beauty.

It's been wiggly for a couple of weeks now, but on Saturday, Hunter finally finished the job!

Side note: Jordan took Hunter into the clinic for x-rays to make sure all was well with his mouth about the third day the tooth was loose. Hunter is not quite 4 1/2, which is pretty young to loose a tooth, but the secondary teeth are ready, so no concerns.

And finally...Swim party season has begun. By 7:30 in the morning the boys are begging to be outside, and our "backyard" is prime water party ground. It's going to be a great final few weeks here!

Papular Urticaria or Chicken Pox?

I sold one of the boys' beds last weekend, so they are sleeping on their mattresses on the floor. Last Monday, Henry woke up with what I thought was a bug bite right at the base of his spine. As the day progressed, I noticed there were now three or four little bites there and quite a few around his neck line. So I washed all his bedding, vaccumed the floor, and didn't think about it again. Tuesday, he was the whiniest little guy ever. His tummy was pretty sad all day and just before bed, he had a little fever. Then the thought hit me- "What if he has chicken pox?" He got the vericella vaccine just over two years ago, but I've heard it could happen. Wednesday I called his pediatrician and in we went. Her words to me. "It could be chicken pox or it could be papular urticaria. I can't say for sure one way or the other." In English- It could be chicken pox or he could be having a super sensitive reaction to a bug bite. Um, thanks- that's what I said when I walked in the door. So she told us to treat it somewhat like chicken pox, but she wouldn't give us an official diagnosis of such. As the days have gone on, more spots have come and they all follow the traditional pattern, so I am taking a mother's liberty and diagnosing him myself. He has chicken pox! He was pretty sad to miss nursery today (we only went to church long enough for Hunter to give his very first talk in primary-which he rocked!) but other than that he's fine. The spots on his face are from playing in the mud Wednesday afternoon. He's a little ichy, but he's doing fine. There are more spots on his back, but these are the only pictures he'd let me take.

Picnic Table 1, Hunter 0

While playing Jedi-
Watch out for the picnic table one must.

Nothing of Consequence

I find February and March to be a bit like the third quarter of a basketball game: it just kind of drags on with little excitement. Thankfully the Strong Memorial Museum of Play is always like the last minute of a really close game- a whirlwind of excitement!

The boys love to "fly" this airplane. With a million kids and only two chairs, getting to be the pilot or co-pilot are coveted positions.

In honor of Mr. Potato Heads induction to the Toy Hall of Fame, an entire section of the Museum is currently focused on Mr. Potato Head. My boys loved "driving" the Safari Jeep.

Henry's Mr. Potato Head had have a purse. He was so proud of himself for finding all the parts and pieces by himself.

Hunter's was a little more traditional.

And when it's too cold to leave the house, Dad and his boys are fine tuning their old school race car skills.

So nothing much of consequence to blog about, but I'm tired of seeing Henry's birthday blog every time I log on to enjoy the excitement of everyone elses Feb/March. It will be April soon though, and then our lives will pick up in pace and excitement. So until it does, we will continue to be thankful for a great museum. And a great dad.

Finally 3!

Henry has not liked still being two when Hunter gets to be four, so he's been waiting for weeks to turn three. Jordan had some out of town business, so we actually postponed Henry's birthday a few days (you can still get away with things like that when your child doesn't fully understand the calendar). But yesterday was the day! And in Henry's world, you can do or have anything when you're three. Pizza and games at Chucky Cheese for me- because I'm three! A CARS cake it had to be- because I'm three.

Daddy said the candle would taste yummy. I didn't know he was just teasing me- I am only three.

Henry has grown and learned so much in the past year that it astounds me. He is my handsome prince and I love that he loves with reckless abandon; he gives loves and kisses like nobodies business. He may look/act exactly like his daddy, but at heart he is his Mama's boy! We're so proud of our little one- Happy Birthday Henry.

Worth the Wait!

The boys have been saving their money (with lots of help from family) for just over two years. We always knew it was a "Mickey Mouse House" fund, but only in the last year did we decide to make the leap before leaving NY. The boys worked really hard- we have added many gross, dirty pennies found in a parking lot to the fund. So, the day after Christmas, we let them open up their bank and count the money. I'll admit, I was impressed!

The last week of January found us escaping yukky cold Rochester for a week in sunny warm Florida. Can I just say, I would worship the sun if Icould! It honestly makes my soul happy. We were lucky enough to have Grandma and Grandpa Higham come as well; they too make my soul happy.

I know the boys may not always have true memories of WDW, but right now it's all they can talk about. I constantly hear about this ride or meeting this character, and I love how their faces still light up when they talk about it. Besides, in 15-20 years, they'll have the implanted memories from their scrapbooks to carry them through. It was a great trip, and I feel strengthened to survive the rest of this artic winter that is devoid of real heat producing sun.

Winter in our World

The New Year found us on a fabulous sled hill with some great friends. We went to the same hill last year, but it was tons better this year. It was warmer, the wind was calm, and both boys could walk back up the hill by themselves this time. It was a great outing.But when Henry's done, he's done.A recent playdate graced us with the fun of an inside "snow storm". It's amazing the amount of little clingy bead things are in about half of a large bean bag. It's even more amazing the mess two four year olds and an almost three year old can do in about 30 minutes of un-visually observed playtime. (My friend and I were upstairs chatting while the boys played in the basement.) A perfect example of why we need to visually check on our kids, not just always trust their verbal answer of "We're just playing".

Oh well, nothing an extra four hours with a borrowed shop vac and a batch of blueberry muffins (for the shopvac owners- our apartment maintance crew) didn't fix. Gotta love the winter time!