Hello Tooth Fairy!

Matt's mom held on to the Tooth Fairy box that he used as a kid, and Oldest Kiddo had the pleasure of using it for all of her teeth.  She lost her last baby tooth a few months ago for one more milestone achieved in her life.

Youngest Kiddo then became obsessed with when he'd loose his first tooth.  He would frequently run to us with his fingers in his mouth and garble that he had a loose tooth.  Unfortunately, it was just wishful thinking.  

Just about a month ago, Youngest Kiddo came running to us with the same garbled statement.  However, this time he was right!  He had a loose tooth!  It was not super loose, but it had to start somewhere.  I saw a lot of this:

Then when eating dinner one night, he casually said his toot fell out.  Leave it to Youngest Kiddo to be all calm about losing his tooth.  The tooth box graciously came out of its short retirement and has a new owner.

The first tooth must have told its partner that it was time to go because a few days later the next one was loose, too!  That tooth was ready to come out, but Youngest Kiddo was having nothing to do me pulling it out.  He wanted to hold on to it.  Truth be told, it looked disgusting in his mouth.  I'll spare you a photo.

We soon found out why he held on to the tooth.  He wanted the tooth to come out on vacation.  As soon as we got on the metro train in Lisbon he indicated he was ready for me to pull it.  Two teeth down, eighteen to go.  

Yes, the Tooth Fairy does visit Portugal.  

#our41daysofsummer

Our first summer in London, affectionately known as #our41daysofsummer, is over.  The kids went back to school on September 2.  They were both so happy to play with their friends again.  It was surreal how everyone seemed to scatter across the continent the moment school let out.  On a personal note, I was thrilled to see their friends' parents again to catch up on the summer.  I sure missed spending leisurely mornings with them at the coffee shops.  

Our summer was only 41 days compared to the 79 days our American compadres scored (but who is counting).  No one can tell us we didn't try to squeeze 79 days worth of fun into our 41 days.

Sometimes our fun was in London

Other times it was outside of the city

For just a bit more fun, we took trip to Lisbon & Barcelona

And then there were just some days we had to be home

We made many memories during #our41daysofsummer.  Now it's back to real life and plan the next trip!

A Hot Throat?

I have no problem traveling alone with my kids.  They've traveled on so many forms of transportation in the last six months that nothing slows them down.  Oldest Kiddo can handle a carryon and pull a wheelie suitcase.  Youngest Kiddo still needs practice with a carryon.  When we recently spent some time back in the US we returned to London a few days after Matt.

Nana & Papa dropped us off at the bus depot for the ride to the airport.    

Youngest Kiddo loved watching all of the construction equipment working along the road.  Since it's construction from the bus depot to the airport, Youngest Kiddo had a lot of entertainment.  

Once we got to the airport, both kids knew how to put their bags through the security machines and walk through the metal detectors.  After walking to the gate Youngest Kiddo was beyond excited to get on the airplane.  He could not stop asking if it was time to board our 6:20 flight (we had a good 90 minutes to wait).  When they called for our boarding group he had to get in line immediately.  He got up there so fast we were one of the first passengers on the plane.  

The flight quickly filled up, and when we heard the ding to buckle our seat belts, it got interesting.  

"Mom, my throat is hot."

That is Youngest Kiddo code for "Mom, I'm going to vomit."  There was no way we'd make it to the lavatory in time, so I grabbed the air sick bag from the seat pocket, and he proceeded to vomit.  Kudos to the United Airlines cleaning crew because I hate to think if it was missing......

He said that he was all better, and as I buttoned up the bag he started to cough.  I grabbed a second air sick bag just in time.  He assured me this time he was all better.  When I agreed with his assessment, I got a wet cloth from the flight attendant to wipe off his face and to toss the air sick bags.  I refolded the cloth so he had a clean side to put around his neck.

Not two minutes later, he perked up and asked if there was anything to eat.  Gracious.  

The rest of the flight was uneventful.  Oldest Kiddo wooed the flight attendants with her polite manners.  They were so cordial back to her when she said her pleases and thank yous.  The kids watched a few movies, ate dinner (with no negative aftermath), and finally fell asleep around 11:00PM Central time (5:00AM London time).  Unfortunately they woke up two hours later as the flight attendants served breakfast at 7:00AM London time.

Lack of sleep did not slow them down after landing since we got to ride the Piccadilly Line home (Youngest Kiddo's favorite line)!  We were the first ones on the train as well, which made for a very happy Youngest Kiddo.

Both kids passed out at 6:00PM and did not wake until we woke them at 9:30 the next morning.  

Mom.....Mommy.....

My college roommate & her husband (hi!) have two kids like us.  One time she told me that her kids said "Mom" so many times that she told them her name was now Felicia.  She would not answer them when they called mom.  I chuckled at this scenario because this did not happen with our two kiddos.

Fast forward to now.  

Youngest Kiddo cannot stop saying "mom."  At least that's what I thought.  So I began to wonder if he was really calling "mom" all the time or did it just feel like it?  He doesn't understand that he does not have to address me by name when it's only the two of us in the room.  Harkening back to my data collection days as a teacher, I needed to quantify my hunch with some good old fashioned tally marks.

The data doesn't lie:

Saturday 3:00pm to 4:00pm - 21 tally marks 

Sunday 11:15am to 12:15pm - 19 tally marks

Tuesday 4:30pm to 5:30pm - 21 tally marks (includes dinner time)

Wednesday 5:10 to 6:10 - 23 tally marks (includes dinner time)

Youngest Kiddo calls "mom" almost every three minutes of the tallied intervals.  I'm changing my name to Felicia. 

Finding A School In London - We Found One!

The kids survived their first week in British Public Schools.  Well, Oldest Kiddo survived.  Youngest Kiddo developed a fever on Thursday night.  I was really surprised that he got sick since.  In the last eight weeks they've been all over the city, been breathed & coughed on, and touched every railing and pole on transportation that they should have Superman immunity.  I guess nothing is immune to the germfest that is a five-year-old classroom.  By Saturday morning he was back to himself, eating everything he could to make up for the missed meals.

Starting school has not been without it's own set of frustration and annoyances along the way.  Back in October I shared my take on how you apply for schools.  Since we applied after the school year started, our process was a little different, but you get the idea that it's a pain in the arse.  Our house is on the border of another school council (for ease of understanding we will call it a district).  I applied for schools in our district and in the neighboring district.  We have a school that is approximately 20 houses away, and dreamed that it would be amazing to be offered a place for both kids.

I applied before Christmas, and I knew I would not hear anything until the first of the year.  In January I received an offer in the post for Youngest Kiddo at a school about a mile away.  An email to the district revealed that Oldest Kiddo would be offered a spot at the school by the house.  That was a bummer for us because we really wanted them at the same school.  A week ago Thursday, Matt received a call from the Head Teacher in the neighboring district for a school just over a mile away to offer both kids a spot.  Since the kids have been out of school since mid-November we jumped at the chance for them to start school together on Monday.

We met with the Head Teacher, and she took us on a tour of the school to meet the teachers.  Before we left we purchased the uniforms and did a little happy dance all the way home that they were going to school.

On Monday morning the kids were elated to go to school.  They got ready in record time, and they happily walked the distance to school.  I'll admit that I got a little teary when I walked away from the school; these two kids have been my shadow 24/7 for the last eight weeks.  The tears quickly dissipated when I reveled in the peace while I enjoyed a latte and pain au chocolat at the coffee shop.

When I arrived home the post man had just delivered the day's mail.  In the day's mail was an offer for both kids at the school by the house.  Are you kidding me?  What happened to the offer the district sent me last week for Youngest Kiddo to go to another school?  I was beyond angry at this moment.  Over the weekend I came to terms that the trip to school would be just over one mile each way.  We'd have to leave for school 30-40 minutes before the bell to make sure Mr. Short Legs could make the trip.  Now my district can change their mind and make a different offer?!

We could take the kids out of their current school and place them by the house.  I've already bought the uniform shirts, but the school by the house requires the same pants and shoes.  Ugh, but they could not stop talking about how much fun they had on their first day.  Oldest Kiddo even says she made a friend.  The pros & cons continued.

Ultimately we decided to keep them at the first school.  This school is rated higher than the school by the house.  To give the kids some additional sleep time, we can take the bus to and from if they so choose.  I look at the walk each day as a free gym membership.  Plus the location is super convenient to the shops I need to visit several times a week since my refrigerator is miniscule.

Case Study To Prove Helicopter Parenting Is Bad For Your Kids

I am not a scientist or psychologist, but I do pay a lot of attention.  More on that later.

One of Matt's colleagues graciously invited our family to her son's birthday party.  He was celebrating his 4th birthday at a climbing, sliding, and swinging place.  It was a bit out of town, but we knew the kids would enjoy the physical activity.  

I've been to these kinds of places before.  I know what they are all about:

• Kids screaming
• Kids tattling
• Parents disciplining other people's kids 
• Kids crying
• Germs

Hey, it wasn't about me.  My kids would thoroughly enjoy an adventure of their own today, and I had a fresh bottle of Purell in my bag.  Another bonus of the venue location - they got to ride on another train line.  So the family navigated up to King's Cross/St. Pancras station to get on the First Capital Connect up to the venue.

The layout of the venue was as expected: the climbing structures on one side and tables & seating for parents on the other.  The kids quickly doffed their coats and shoes and started playing.  

Back to my opening statement - I am not a scientist or psychologist, but I do pay a lot of attention.  In the three and a half hours at the party a paradigm shift occurred.  Past performance is not indicative to today's adventure.  

• Kids screaming - Yes but at a tolerable level on par with their play enjoyment
• Kids tattling - NONE!
• Parents disciplining other people's kids - NONE!
• Kids crying - One girl cried because she got hit by a piece of equipment, but she worked through her tears by herself and returned to playing.  
• Germs - duh

Here's my non-medically trained opinion on this - helicopter parenting is an unknown phenomenon on this side of the Atlantic.  They are actually almost opposite of this.  I have regularly seen parents pushing childless strollers at the mall and museums while their child zips ahead (sometimes a bit too far for my liking).  I get the sense that both parent and child have an understanding of each other's location, and both parties are OK with this.  A little freedom for the kids is a good thing.  

My new list of events that occur at the climbing, sliding, swinging place:

• parents relax with a cappuccino from the cafe
• kids play, play, and come tell mom and dad the amazing feat they just accomplished
• kids work out conflicts or don't have any
• everyone leaves content
• decontamination chamber when you arrive home

I won't say it out loud, but I might actually go back some time.  

That is if my Purell stash is full :)

House Renovation, Day 8

Today is Presidents' Day and we do not have school, but that does not mean that we get to rest. 

Mr. D. had to put another coat on the former pocket door wall and finish up a short punch list of things.  Zak Brown has to sand, stain, and top coat our bedroom.  We are all packed up to go back to the hotel for one more night.  Then....

Mr. D. gave me a panic when he said Zak Brown’s van would not start for him this morning and he might come tomorrow instead.  He was hoping to hear from Zak Brown shortly as to the status of his ride.  I graciously held my tongue and waited for the call.  If he can’t come today, then the whole week is off to an interesting start.   I did offer to pick him up, but he lives almost 40 minutes away.  That would not be cool for the kids.  Thankfully the stars are aligned and his van started!  The late start had a potential to push the job into tomorrow and another day at the hotel.  I think he realized the hullabaloo involved in moving two kids out for just one night, and agreed to push through and get it all done today!

We had to make ourselves scarce around 11:00.  That worked perfectly as that was just enough time for lunch then back to the hotel for naptime.  When we checked in the fire alarm was sounding quite obnoxiously loud.  The desk clerk said this was the annual test and check of the fire alarm.  This meant the alarm company and a hotel employee had to physically enter every room in the hotel to make sure the alarm sounded.  That put a potential damper on the nap, but again the stars aligned for us and it stopped just as she handed us our key.  The nap has been saved!

After G woke up, it was time to head over to the park district for his weekly tot music class.  I will say it's not my favorite but he gets to play with tambourines, bells, maracas, etc., and occasionally smack another kid.  What more could you ask for?  When we were there two weeks ago the teacher said that was the last week of class and there would be a one week break between sessions.  That worked perfectly since G would be with Grandma & Grandpa last Monday.  I had M with since she did not have school today.

As it has become habit G loves to push the button for the elevator to get down to music class.  The funny thing is that he calls it a "butt."  He calls it a "butt" really loud whenever he sees them.  Slightly embarrassing, but good thing he is cute.  As I went to open the door to the classroom I noticed that the lights were off and all the fun toys were missing as well.  Now, I immediately figured I had made a mistake.  The finer details in life sometimes pass me by.  Did the teacher say this week would be the break?  Did the class move to another room?  I traipsed the kids back to the car to double check the email on my phone.  I did not want to look like a moron to the desk clerk if I was off a week.

No, my email said 2/21 was the start date.  So I called the desk clerk from the parking lot to see if I was an anonymous moron.  She concurred that the class started today and was confused that no one was there.  I asked her to look up if the class had been canceled.  She asked me, "is your son G?"  I was impressed with her telepathy skills.  She said, "yeah, you were the only ones signed up for that class so it was canceled."  Thanks for that email, park district.  I suppose the stars were not aligned for us on this one.  You can't win them all. 

Now that we were all dressed with no where to go, we went for dinner instead.  On our way I had to stop home to see how Zak Brown was doing.  His van was gone so I kept the kids in the car (I cracked the window for some ventilation!) and zipped inside for a minute.  Our floors look awesome.  While I could have gotten used to the zebra stripes in our bedroom, I think a cohesive color fits much better.    

Furniture goes back in on Wednesday, and we’ll dusting for the next few weeks.  Zak Brown will return to our house in a few weeks to take care of the hallway, kitchen, and living room.

Anyone want to buy an entertainment center?  We are selling ours because it won’t match the new floor finish, and it’s just a bit big for our postage-stamp sized house.  The finish is cherry and it's made by Pennsylvania House.  The shelves are adjustable and there is a hole made by the manufacturer to route electronics cords from the shelves to the TV area.  It's heavy and quite a lovely piece of furniture.  Send me a message if you are!

Yeah, I know the TV is a bit small