Tooth "Fairy"

Showing his sister how "cool" and easy it all is!

She'd only get in the "chair" to do something for Angie.

Almost 5 years ago I took Braxton in for his first dentist visit. I dreaded that day. Worried about how he'd do. From the first visit he's done great. Always answers the questions, opens up big, yaddah yaddah yaddah.
Naturally, when the time came for me to start thinking about Mckinley's visit I hardly gave it a thought. Last week I began to worry when I dropped her off in the nursery at church and she told one of the nursery workers she could stay and the other "to go". I started to worry a little more when I gathered all my "dentist" books to start talking to her and she said "No mama. I not going to the dentist". And last night I REALLY began to worry when Braxton and I cuddled up with her in the middle to read a book and half-way through the second page she climbed down and said "I go play". I knew we were all in trouble.
Dad met me at the office to take her if she began to cry and/or to watch her while Brax and I got our teeth cleaned. LONG story short. She refused to get in the chair. Angie offered to give her a ride up and down (worked for Brax) she screamed "No Ride!", Angie had to literally sit on her own hands and then asked Mckinley to open up so she could just see her teeth. The dentist came in to look at Braxton's teeth and she told him,"You not looking at my teeth".
We'll try again in January.

Field Trip Fun

See where I started out?

And you see I moved? Both of these kids we're a little scared.

Grandaddy bravely makes another trip with us.

We ventured "north" for our trip this week. We went to the beloved Dan Nicholas park. We've been going here every summer since Braxton was little. It's just a short ride up the road. We started with a picnic lunch and then went to the actual park. Mckinley was so excited to ride the train but as soon as we loaded she started crying. Once it started and she realized it was only going a whopping 3 miles an hour she relaxed. When she got off she screamed "That was AWESOME". We then walked over to the carousel and they were both scared to ride that. (I really don't think I shelter my kids but geez after this trip I wonder.....) You can see by their faces that they weren't real sure and when it came to a stop after a longer than usual ride, they we're very relieved that they survived, didn't fall off, came on a day it wasn't so hot.
After seeing the animals, we decided to go see the paddle boats and enjoy a cold treat before the trek back. Mckinley has been "potty training" this summer and she did fantastic on this trip. The ride up, the trip there, and the ride back she stayed completely dry. She must leave the bathroom location before the toilet can be flushed. The sound scares her so the actual job of getting her to use the bathroom in public causes me to break a sweat, however, she's catching on!
The best part was on our way home we drove by mama's "home place" where Aunt Betty is living. She was there so we stopped and visited for about 45 minutes. I love that woman. I have amazing memories of growing up thanks in part to her. I didn't think about it until after we had left about getting a picture with her and the kids. I plan to make another visit to see her before the summer ends.

Dog Days

We are enjoying our summer. We had a great 4th of July. We've got lot's more planned for the rest of our time together.
This past Make-It Monday we made a fort (out of TV trays and blankets). When I was a kid we'd make a disaster in the den and pull out the card tables and every blanket we could possibly find. We'd try to make it as dark inside as we could get it and then watch a movie while sitting inside.  Brax was trying to build his sister a fort using just pillows and so I went in and gave him some assistance. (I had considered myself an expert way back when). They had a blast! The ironic things was they wanted to make it as dark as they could get it too and then I could hear them talking about peep holes so they could watch TV. Of course all things come to an end but they have been begging for another one ever since.
After we tore the fort down we made cupcake ice cream cones. We baked cupcakes in an ice cream cone and then after they baked put icing on them. What a hit! They turned out really cute.