WOW

We had our follow up at the dentist today ... being the "good parent" I took The Bee in for a re-check of her tooth ... everything was fine. Nothing left and her tooth seems to have set itself back into place.

But, and here's the WOW part of it, neither visit cost me anything!

They didn't charge me last week, so I was expecting a big number this week, but nothing. Zang.

Nice. Now, how can I pay it forward?

The Garden Trifecta

You may remember me complaining about how the rabbits had obliterated my green peppers and hostas, and how the chipmunks have taken up residence under both the front and back porch (nothing like a buckling sidewalk to say Welcome to Our Home!). I think I mentioned that the only thing that would make my garden complete would be a visit from horn worms.

Well, they're here.

I found my first one yesterday morning, I'm expecting to go get more this morning.

These things are ugly in a cool sort of way, if you can overlook the fact that they are on a course to destroy my tomato plants. Which, I might add, are growing the most delicious tomatoes this summer, even if they are splitting from too much rain.

I'm sure that horn worms serve some purpose, other than turning into a moth. I can't imagine what it is, other than a source of enjoyment for my neighbors that watch me scurry all over the place searching for them.

And, if you haven't ever had the joy of meeting a horn worm, they blend perfectly with the plant, which makes them that much harder to find. But, if you look for the strangely naked branches on the plant, look on the underside of the stem and there you'll find them. Their poop is also strangely geometric in a gross sort of way.

So ... my summer is complete ... I've achieved the trifecta of terror.

Dentist Update

So we went to the dentist to have the tooth looked at.

You never really like it when a medical person makes *those* faces, especially when it's your child they are looking at. Although, I do know that the dentist has a child of her own, and maybe she was just channeling some of her mothering instinct into looking at my daughters bruised up mouth.

One of the first things she said, "Wow, I'm surprised she didn't break her nose."

Not the way you want to start out a visit to the dentist.

So, it turns out that when The Bee fell, she caught herself on her moustache area, and when she hit the slide, the force of it bruised the inside of her upper lip, leaving four nice tooth imprints. She also has some major bruising and a little swelling. And, her front right tooth is loose.

So, the dentist told me to keep an eye on the swelling, and if she turns into a puffer fish (my words, not hers) to call her asap. And to come back next Wednesday. If she doesn't like the way it's healing, or if there is an infection up in her gums, then we get to go to a pediodontist. Lovely. That is so NOT on my list of things to do in this lifetime.

Apparently, if it doesn't heal right, an infection can set in her gums and that could affect the way her permanent tooth comes in, since it's already forming up in there.

And, because my daughter is a thumb sucker, she can no longer do that because of the loose tooth - the pressure can keep it loose or make it jaunty. So basically more of a confirmation that at least one of my children will need orthodontic work.

And, that little connector thing that is in the front of your mouth, when you stick your tongue up over your front teeth, that's your frenum. She ripped that too, when she fell, so that is why she was bleeding.

She seems to be fine, except that she is having a hard time not sucking her thumb. I made a deal with her that she could only suck her thumb in bed - after she falls asleep it falls out anyway, so I'll settle for that for now.

It's been a long, hellish week. I think I'm glad it's Friday.

Days at Preschool 3, Injuries 1

It took three days before the first "boo boo" came in.

Apparently The Bee was going up the slide, as children are wont to do, and her shoe fell off. She hit her face on the slide. Now she has a very lovely bruise on the inside of her upper lip, her mouth is bleeding on and off and she won't let me touch her tooth.

We have a dentist appointment today at 3:00.

This could be a very interesting school year.

The Beach and The Museum: Vacation Part 2

The second part of our Mini Vacation took us to Warren Dunes in Michigan on Sunday. If you have not had the chance to visit this particular stretch of lake, I say, DO IT!

After having been introduced to beaches on that side of the lake when my folks moved there when I was 11, I have become a Beach Elitist. Yes, an elitist. While yes, we do have beaches on this side of the lake, they are nothing compared to beaches in Michigan.

Illinois beaches: rocky, dirty, stinky, usually accompanied by a few floating fish
Michigan beaches: the smoothest sand I've ever seen, clean, no floating fish

Now maybe I've only been to yucky Illinois beaches, but when compared to Western Michigan beaches ... there is no comparison. Like I said, an elitist.

Warren Dunes was only a two hour drive from our house, less than a tank of gas, and very doable with two small kids. We loaded up some snacks, sunblock and the sand toys and off we went.

We played on the beach and in the water. Had some corn dogs for lunch, at a very reasonably priced concession stand - $9.00 and some change for four corndogs and an order of fries. Technically it was three corndogs after The Bee dropped hers in the sand on her first bite, but still ... and anyway, there was about an inch gap between the towels, and wouldn't you know, that is the exact place where her hot dog fell. Kind of like the buttered side of the bread always landing down.

After two and a half hours on the beach and in the water, we took our stuff back to the car, put on our shoes and decided to climb the Dunes. I have a few hints for this:

• flip flops are a no-no - either do it barefoot or in gymshoes
• don't do it on an 85 degree day at 3 in the afternoon
• bring your water
• wear a hat
• bring a camera - the view is awesome!

Much to our surprise, both kids made it to the top. They were both determined to make it ... it took a few stops and starts, and a short rest on a toppled tree, but we all made it to the top. And, if we're being honest, I think that Mommy and Daddy appreciated the breaks too.

The Lake is always beautiful, no matter where you get to see it from - a variety of shades of blue, waves coming in, the sound of it breaking on the beach ... I don't think I've ever been to the Lake and been disappointed. Growing up, after my Mom married my Bob, we spent a lot of our weekends on the boat on the Chain of Lakes. For me, the Lake is so calming ... the sound of the water lapping, the sun shining, the wind as you bounce across the water ... it almost centers me, in a way, if that makes any sense. I know that this weekend, as we went around a corner and we got our first glimpse of the lake, I gasped. And I think that I felt everything wash out of me, like the water going back out from the beach. In that one moment, everything stopped and it was perfect.

After our day at the Dunes, we made our way to our Hotel. If you're ever in Stevensville, Michigan (exit 23, I believe), stay at the Choice Hotels, just off the expressway. Stevensville is a nice little town, the hotel was lovely, and the staff was excellent. We had dinner at Cracker Barrel, and then headed back for more fun in the pool! Can you say waterlogged?!

The next day we made our way over to Curious Kids Children's Museum in St. Joseph Michigan (exit 27). St. Joseph is another lovely town along the lake - wonderful old building, homes that used to belong to area lumber barons ... beautiful woodwork, wide staircases, big front porches. And of course, the lake.

The kids had a good time, and we left to come back home when the meltdowns started. Travel back home was quick and uneventful.

So now we're home, and getting ready to settle into School Mode. Kindergarten and Preschool start next week. Just like it seems like Q and The Bee were just born, and now they're going to school, it feels like summer just started, and now it's over.

I don't remember summer being this short when I was a kid, that's for sure.

A mini vacation - Grama and the Wild West

Yesterday was the unofficial start of a family vacation weekend.

The kids and I took yesterday and went "home", which is the town where I grew up. There is something so comfortable about going home, even if "home" is getting a little worn around the edges, and they are making changes you don't necessarily like. I must have made that right turn a zillion times, and it still feels so right. Then the left by the Junior High School, then the right to go past the High School, left past the Cop Shop, through a few back roads, and then to Grama's House we Went.

Yesterday was her birthday, she is 77 years old now. This is a good long time to be alive. She is in good physical health, although I fear that her mind is starting to dull a bit. I think that one of my biggest fears is that she will follow the Alzheimer's Path that her mother took ... I pray that she takes a different course.

The kids wanted to bring her a cake, so we made one. It was beautifully decorated with bright blue glittery sugar and rainbow sprinkles. We also took food to grill, because crowds tend to make Grama nervous. This way, if a bunch of us showed up, she wouldn't have to worry about having enough food to feed all of us.

We were there. So was an Aunt. And another Aunt, although she is the crabby one. And then my Dad showed up! Yeah! The kids got to play with Poppy (my Dad), I got to chat with his girlfriend Susan, and Grama and Poppa finally got to meet her. This took a huge weight off of her - she told me in the kitchen while Dad & Susan were outside, that she and Pop were afraid that maybe Daddy was ashamed of them, where they lived, or something like that. I quickly squashed that thought - the honest reason that Daddy hadn't brought Susan yet is that every time they were down, it was always an "event" and it's easier to visit with Grama one family at a time. She's too nervous otherwise.

We stayed for what is for us, a long time, almost four and a half hours. I usually try to get home so I'm not sitting with two kids in (you're not) rush (ing) hour traffic, but this time I said No, I'm having a good time, I'm tired of leaving early, screw traffic. And in the end, it wasn't such a bad ride home. A good visit, and pretty okay commute, and short naps for the littles on the way home.

For today, Day 2 of our Mini Vacation, we went to Donley's Wild West Town in Union, Illinois. We spent a good chunk of our day there. While there, it was mostly for the kids, but I'll say "we":

Saw the first five minutes of a Wild West Show, until the kids declared it too loud, so we went in search of something quieter.

The kids got to ride in mini canoes

Rode on a pony

Pet and fed goats, sheep and a chicken. We didn't feed the duck or the potbellied pig, though.

Pet a donkey that had wandered out of it's pen

Rode the hand cars

Had a picnic lunch, complete with Peanut Butter and HOMEMADE BLUEBERRY JAM sandwiches.

Panned for "gold"

Had strawberry "sundaes"

There were big naps for the littles on the ride home. Q woke up, but the Bee stayed asleep, and I had to wake her up at 6:00 for dinner. The drawback to this, is that I checked on her before I started this, and she was still asleep.

In fact, I should be getting ready for Part 2 of our Mini Vacation, which will take us to Michigan,
this time for fun on the beach, maybe a museum ... the only thing we know for sure is that we have a place to stay tomorrow night! Whatever happens before and after that, we'll see.

Zukey Bread

So, we've had a bit of a cold front come through here ... it's down to the lower 80s with humidity in the mid 70's, so it only feels like 84 degrees outside, with a slight breeze and some clouds ... so what better to do than bake! It's been crazy hot and humid here for the last two weeks, and I've been staring down the zucchini on the counter. Today, I baked.

I think this may be my favorite recipe for zucchini bread. I've got a couple I work with, but I like this the best - it's a combination of my Moms, an aunts, something from a cookbook, and a tip from a friend.

1 stick butter
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla

3 cups of grated zucchini - I grate mine on the smallest grating board, since I don't like big pieces of zucchini. It also seems to kick the seeds out. When I'm done grating it, I put it into a strainer and let some of the liquid drip out, and then before I measure it, I sort of toss it with a fork so it's not so compressed together into a zucchini blob.

3 cups wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

For the topping:
more chopped walnuts
raw sugar

Preheat oven to 350.
You can either butter and dust your loaf pans (you'll need 2) or line them with parchment paper, which ever you choose. I come from a family of butterers, so parchment paper is new to me as of a few years ago.

In the mixer, mix the butter until fluffy.
Add the sugars and beat again, on low speed, until mixed well.
Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well, still on low speed.
Add the zucchini, about a cup at a time, mixing well between each cup.

In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking soda and powder, and cinnamon.
Add the dry ingredients, about a cup at a time to the mixer. Mix well between each addition.

If you choose to put walnuts in your bread, add them at the end, again mixing well.

Split the batter between the pans, and give them a jiggle to even out the tops.

For the topping, I take a handful (1/2 cup?) of chopped walnuts and sprinkle them on top of the bread. I follow that with a sprinkle of raw sugar. I like the crunch that it gives the bread.

Bake the loaves for 45 - 50 minutes, on the middle rack of the oven. My mom was an overbaker, so I tend to under bake bread to keep it on the moister side of life. After you take the bread out of the oven, leave it in the pan for 5 - 10 minutes to cool, and then remember to take it out of the pan (sponge bread, anyone?) and finish cooling on a wire rack.

Happy Gardening & Happy Baking!

Mmm ... it's National Night Out

and we have fresh blueberry pie, made with the blueberries we picked last week.


Tonight is National Night Out and this is my contribution to dinner with the neighbors. They will supply the pizza, we'll supply the pie and soda, the neighbors across the street will wander on over too ... we'll see how it turns out. I'm hoping the rain will hold off, at least long enough to let the kids play when it's a little cooler. Nothing says oppressive like a heat index near 100, with humidity not too far behind. Can I also say that I look like a chia pet this week?

This is my attempt at creating a little slice of neighborliness (is that a word?) on my street. I like where I live, and I like my neighbors, it's just that they all get home and go inside, only to come back out the next morning to go back to work. It was two years before I even knew that the neighbors had an older daughter!

Tonight, turn off the tv, stay away from the computer, turn on the porch light and go outside and visit with the people on your street.

What else are you doing for National Night Out?

They've been Simpsonized

I've seen quite a bit of people on the internet lately with their alter, Simpson images.

Here are my kids:

Todays the day for a Festival

It's North Aurora Days this weekend, and it's a perfect weekend for it. We've got friends coming over today, and we will be:

• grilling our dinner
• watching an Emergency Vehicle Parade - if it's got lights and/or a siren, you can bet it'll be here
• going over to climb on the trucks, etc
• playing in the bouncy house and going down the inflatable slide
• eating Rice Krispy Treats
• eating fudge
• watching fireworks from the front yard
• eating popcorn
• drinking a few beers
• listening to the band from our front yard

We all look forward to this every year ... it's very small town and it's very nice. It's one of those, "what summer is all about" type of things in my book.

I think the part that gets me the most is you hear the fire engines before you see them (they're almost always in the lead because they're the biggest, and I would think, the most difficult to park) and they have their lights on and their sirens going, and they have the very big American flags up. Almost every year I think I catch my husband tearing up at this ... I definitely married a Proud American. It is quite the sight ... a nice reminder of us, as Americans. And then the kids are so excited, and my son screams at the top of his voice, and jumps around and claps and waves, and he can hardly speak he's so excited ... I absolutely love it. It is one of my best and favorite Mom moments.

Whatever it is you find yourself doing this weekend, I hope you enjoy it. If you're in the western suburbs tomorrow and you hear the incessant droning of a helicopter, give a wave, it just may be us taking a ride!