Quick Memories

We've had a pretty unusual winter this year.  It's been much colder than normal and we've gotten more snow too.  The other day was sunny and gorgeous...and 55 degrees.  The kids decided that meant they should jump on the trampoline with the sprinkler!  

We're working hard to gradually complete Dillon's scout requirements this time around.  We went for a one mile "hike" along the old levy.  It was intentionally put into disarray with boulders, trees and stumps every which way.  It actually makes for a pretty neat walk.  The kids had a great time looking for "signs of life" which was the requirement.  They found animal prints, scat, chewed up leaves, a few holes that looked like burrows and such.  I'm glad we did it now, as spring continues it's going to get really overgrown and difficult to traverse.  They had a great time along the river though we had to cut our time short because they weren't being safe along it's edge.  Check out their little "bridge"!

Dillon's First Flag Football Game

The mini flag football season is upon us.  Dillon is the only one who decided to play.  Daddy is his coach which he loves of course!  His first game was on a frosty morning but at least it was sunny!

Touch Down! They were able to win their first game!  

It's great having Daddy coaching.  He works really hard to make sure all the kids get to actively participate.  It's so disappointing watching the other coaches who only engage one or two of their players.  

Kayda's "Ropes" Course

Each year the fourth and fifth graders get to go do a "ropes course" as a field trip.  It is one class at a time.  I was able to go as a chaperone for Kayda's class.  It's basically several "team building" activities that the kids have to figure out.

In this challenge the kids had to be connected to two people (except the very first and very last person) in order to move forward on the log.  If someone fell they had to go to the end of the line.  It took them a while to figure out that they had to squish together before someone stepped off the log at the end otherwise they made someone fall off.  It was a great warm up to try to get them talking to each other.

In this challenge there was a 6x7 grid of ropes.  They has to be connected and if someone stepped in a square without someone else having stepped in it the square is closed.  Each person HAD to step into 6 squares or they would have to restart. It took them three tries to figure out they really needed to do just one long line to keep too many squares from closing.

This was a balance game.  It had one fulcrum so it could shift in any direction.  They had to keep all sides off the ground long enough to sing "row row row your boat gently down the stream.  Merrily merrily merrily merrily life is but a dream".They were finally able to do it by sitting down, leaning their bodies with one person standing in the middle to help.

We all were thoroughly soaked by the end!  The kids had a great time though.

Kayda has had a really hard time with her class.  There are a lot of really rowdy kids in there and it stresses her out.  Apparently the class has been dong a lot better behaviorally since doing the course.

Dillon's Root Canal

Way back, over a year ago, Dillon fell at the hotel in California while we were in Disneyland.  His front permanent teeth took the brunt of it and a large portion were broken off.  We were able to find a dentist open late to put some filling one so at least they wouldn't be sharp.  Well, one of the teeth didn't make it.  

As you can see the one on the right has "closed" meaning the nerve has matured and the root finished growing.  It come to a nice point.  The grey "channel" in the middle is mostly sealed off and protected.  The one on the left (which is actually his right front tooth) stopped growing.  The root didn't mature so the nerve remained exposed.  The nerve died and caused an infection.  You can see the black "bubble" around the top and right side of the tooth in the x-ray.  That's where the infection was. It needed to be cleaned out before it started hurting him and caused problems.  Fortunately he didn't have any symptoms, the dentist caught it at his regular check up.  The nerve and infection needed to be cleaned out to keep the tooth from continuing to deteriorate and allow the bone to grow into those spaces.

We went in expecting a consultation.  I didn't realize it was a "evaluate and treat if needed appointment".  I hadn't prepared him to have it done that day.  He was pretty nervous and cried a little until the laughing gas kicked in to help him calm down.  He was a total trooper.  Unfortunately the inflammation was too bad to complete it on one day.  So after taking out the nerve and cleaning it as best as they could they put in a temporary filling and sent him home with some antibiotics.  A week later we were back in there doing it again so they could fill the entire inside of the tooth.

Here you can see the stages of the root canal.  You can see in the last x-ray that they were actually a "branch" leading to the side of the tooth where part of the infection was.  It got filled at the same time.  Now he could go on to have that tooth for his whole life.

We have a family history of bashing our front teeth.  When I was little we had a community pool across the street.  One day on my way home I tripped on my towel and knocked out my two front teeth (fortunately they were baby teeth) so I went extra time without front teeth.

Grandma G had an unfortunate incident with hers too!  She went head first down a slide.  One of her sisters bumper her which cause her face to slam down into the slide.  One of her teeth cracked but she ended up with root canals for both teeth.  She still has the "original" left front tooth!  So he could have his tooth his whole life even without a nerve!

Dillon's Wolf Awards!

Dillon worked extremely hard over winter break to get his Wolf completed for scouts.  Grandma Peggy, Daddy and I were right alongside him figuring out what exactly he needed to do and how to make it happen.  All his hard work paid off and he got it done!

 The end of January he received all of his belt loop awards but they had forgotten the paint for his "Ceremony" to complete the rank so they had us wait to do the official wolf badge until the next month.

This is in February now, they got to perform a skit, Dillon had a great time throwing popcorn at the audience! He giggled about it up front for quite a while!

Moving on up!  He was awarded his actual wolf badge at the Blue and Gold Banquet.  They do a whole ceremony where the parent paints on their face.  Each color and symbol means something different.

Blue is happiness from his days as a bobcat.

Red is for bravery when he becomes a bear.

Yellow is for sunlight along the wolf trail.

Purple is for pride in his accomplishments.

He made the decision to work hard to get his wolf done at the very end.  He did it without complaint (mostly) and reaped the rewards.  He was so excited and is well on his way to completing his bear requirements!

Northwest Trek

Northwest trek had a day that kids got in free.  Since Dillon needed the trip for one of his scouting requirements we lugged ourselves out there in the rain!  The kids always enjoy seeing the animals and had a good time despite the cold.  Though by the end they were definitely ready to get home to be warm and dry.

Red Tailed Hawk

Mallard Duck

Red Tailed Hawk

Bald Eagle Wingspan

Bald Eagle Wingspan

The tram ride was a great break from the cold and rainy.  Though it was difficult because the windows kept wanting to fog up.  The kids have a great time spotting out the different animals.  They're regular pros at this point.  Between seeing the animals in South Dakota and a couple times here.

Side note:  Carson regularly asks me when we can go again.  The kids all love it there but he is pretty fixated on it!

A couple extra Goodies

Just a couple little snippets here!  

Carson decided to cut his hair.  It is very suave, though he'll need to put gel in it.  Otherwise it looks something like a toupee!   He seems to love it though.  Dillon is in the process of growing his hair out.  It suits him and he looks kind of like a surfer boy.  I'm excited to see what happens in the summer when his hair starts to highlight in the sunshine.  I love that they both have such unique tastes!

We had more snow in early February!  Of course they had a blast.  Snow ball fights, snow men and a sledding "hill"!  The can't seem to get enough.  Neither can I.

We were able to meet up with Aunt Ayana and Clara for lunch one day.  Carson and Dillon lost interest after they realized she wouldn't climb up and explore the tunnels with them but Kayda loved taking care of Clara.  She followed Clara everywhere and helped her play.  By the end Kayda was worn out!