Summer so far

Do you ever worry about your children? I am making my 11YO bring back the letter he had sitting in the mailbox. He is rather mad about it, but um... He did "endurance testing" or something on Ghirardelli chocolate by smashing pieces together, and the one that was strongest was the winner. (? People do this with M&Ms??) So he decided to mail a corner of the winning piece to the Ghirardelli company. Just...loose chocolate in an envelope. Maybe I should have let him, but I don't think I want my kid tagged for sending strange substances through the mail...

In an hour, I get to bring all five kids to the dentist, which fills me with considerable dread, although I am very happy I'm not on the list. I hate the dentist, and so do my kids. Last week we did the annual scout physical checkup, which as usual included new vaccinations. By the time your kids are this age, they shouldn't be expecting shots at every visit every year, but apparently, what I think and what the medical community think are two different things. Ah, well. Better that than getting sick. But my boys are starting to mistrust me when I assure them it will all be okay and there will be no shots...

Yesterday we finally got to go to the library (which, it seems, always closes the minute the kids get out of school). We were a little late leaving, which is good, because the phone rang and one of the kids said it was someone official for me. It was someone from the State Department. A friend applied for a job and I was a reference. I did this once before, but I don't think I actually talked to the person--I think they sent me a very, very, very long form to fill out, instead. Luckily my kids were all in a good mood and fairly self-sufficient yesterday while I was talking.

Between now and the end of June: buying tickets to see The Piano Guys! A three-day art camp (free, for the kids), and an art class for me (illustration). Swimming lessons for three of the kids (the oldest can now watch the youngest and I don't have to hold him on my lap for an hour every day next to deep water). Getting ready for my parents visiting later this month. They haven't been to Idaho in many years, so we're trying to think of what they might like to see/do while they are here. My dad will be turning 89! while here, so making an interesting yet nonfat cake will be part of the events.

That's summer so far. Now, if we could only have temperatures above 70 from here on out, it will even feel like summer.

Dentist

Well, we survived the dentist. All 2.5 hours of it. The office staff is probably relieved they don't have to see us for another six months. The fake potted plant is even still in one piece, although someone might need to go around and fix the settings on the air circulation vents. 14--no cavities. 11--no cavities (probably the first time ever for him), but two last baby teeth that are almost but not quite out, so please yank or we will do it for you. 10--no cavities, but a bit of astonishment that she has all her permanent teeth, one 12-year molar already in, and another starting to come in. 7--no cavities, but mouth weirdness. She is missing two permanent teeth. As in, they never formed. If her mouth is too crowded and they have to remove some, well, those would be it, so it's not all bad. But it's weird. Plus, her enamel on all her permanent teeth isn't evenly laid. The dentist said the missing teeth is hereditary, but the enamel thing (which makes them a funny color) was probably due to her being sick or dealing with high temperatures or something when she was around a year and a half. Something that interrupted the process temporarily. We moved from Michigan to Germany then, and it was definitely NOT HOT. And I can only think of her being sick once or twice the whole time we were in Germany, and it was minor (ie pink eye). Maybe in Michigan, I'll have to look back. Not that it does any good now. 3--two small cavities between adjacent teeth. Which is sad, as he LOVES to brush his teeth, and they are ones we brush often. So I get to take him back next week. Fun times...