Eleanor's Braces

And so it begins . . . We've known for years that Eleanor was going to need braces.  We just had to play the waiting game until all of her adult teeth were in.  After her semi-annual dentist check-up this summer, we were told that the time had arrived.  We chose a local orthodontist and within two weeks, she had braces!

 

The plan is for Eleanor to wear braces on her bottom teeth for six months before she gets some contraption in her mouth that will start to move her bottom jaw back.  Top braces will come in around this same time and she'll wear those and the bottom braces for at least another 18 months.  I'll be eager to check back in in two years to see how things have progressed!

Ben and His Chores

Speaking of doing chores, Ben told me last week after Hayes lost a tooth at school,

"I can't wait until I loose a tooth because then I won't have to do chores to get money."

I don't think that is how it works, buddy. 

Chore Chart

About six months ago, we created a weekly chore chart for the kids.  We were encountering daily battles of who would set the table and who would feed the dog.  We also wanted the kids to realize that we were all contributing members of our family, and that we each could contribute to the greater good of the household every day.  The chart below now hangs in our kitchen in a location where the kids can refer to it whenever they forget (or claim they forget) their weekly jobs. 

 

Thomas and I also decided to pay the kids $2 at the end of each week if they followed through on their responsibilities.  This weekly payment would give them the responsibility of (1) keeping track of their money and (2) determining what to do (or not do) with it.

The help we are now receiving has been very beneficial, especially when it comes to our dinner routine.  I'm sure our chores will evolve over time but right now, this chart has established a great framework on which we can build in the future. 

Tuck in

Last night as I said goodnight to Hayes,

I asked him if he wanted me to tuck him in or if he wanted to tuck himself in once he was done reading.  He said to me, "I always want one of my parents to tuck me in."  Wonder how much longer this will ring true?

Boys' Current Favorites

While we spent nearly six hours in the car one-way to Florida for Labor Day, we forced our kids to look up from their electronics and talk to us for a few minutes.  As Thomas likes to do, he had the kids rank their top three current favorite "things" to do/talk about/think about.  Eleanor quickly opted out.  The boys, on the other hand,

 

were very eager to share their thoughts.  

Hayes ranked his current top three faves as the following:  (1) playing soccer outside; (2) Fantasy Football; and (3) anything Minecraft (books, talk, game). 

Ben then followed up with his responses:  (1) the Panini World Cup sticker book; (2) playing soccer outside; and (3) drumroll, please . . . Minecraft. 

Needless to say, most of the discussions at our dinner table each night center around these four (in total) topics. 

Hayes' Self Portrait

We love seeing Hayes display his artistic side.  When we arrived at Parent Night for his grade at Morris Brandon, his self-portrait was hanging on the bulletin board outside his classroom.  

 

(The number was there for the parents to guess which portrait was their child's, but Hayes had already told me that he had drawn himself with his Oklahoma City Thunder hat on.)  Do you recognize this kid?

Ponte Vedra for Labor Day

For Labor Day weekend, we felt like we really needed to get-away.  The month of August was a whirlwind, and we wanted to slow things down.  We pounced on the opportunity when we heard the Carrolls' Ponte Vedra beach house was available that weekend.  Usually, we don't think it is worth fighting the I-75 traffic south to get there but this time around, we felt stronger about needing a vacation!

We were blessed with great weather all weekend.  The traffic wasn't bad once we got out of the city limits around 3 and pulled into PV around 8:30pm Friday night.  After a big breakfast Saturday morning and Thomas getting a good bike ride in, we hit the beach.

 

We always come to the beach with tons of gear

to cover the many moods of the kids!

Later in the afternoon, we swam in the pool before heading in to watch some football. Before dinner, we took some pictures to show how well we cleaned up!

 

 

Sunday, we spent more time at the beach

 

 

before Thomas and Hayes played some golf. 

We all relished the slower pace and relative quiet of the beach.  Did I tell you that I read two books over the weekend?  Traffic heading back to Atlanta wasn't nearly as bad as we had anticipated . . . one final sign that we had made a great decision to hit the beach for the weekend. 

Ben Picks Candy Corn over Gummy Bears

Ben said to us in the car this weekend,

"Remember how Dad buys us Gummy Bears all the time?  When I grow up I'm going to buy my kids candy corn."  (Thomas often treats the kids to little bags of gummy bears when they run errands with him.  I think it is just an excuse for him to replenish the stash I always seem to find in his car.)