No more Mr. Wiggles...for now

Inflation has hit home at the Barton Casa. Connor lost his first tooth and the Tooth Fairy left a Lincoln. I don't know about you, but in my day a tooth got you about a quarter.
It was a pretty painless first tooth loss - he was running down the hill and yelled, "Mom, I just lost my tooth."

Negligent

It has been brought to my attention by my readers (ok, just one reader) that I have been negligent with posts this summer. I'll agree with that statement and promise to try to do better.
It has been a bit of a crazy summer. I've been home with the kids, but we've barely been home.
We've taken trips, adopted a dog, hit numerous parks and swimming pools, and explored much of Denver. It has been an amazing couple of months and the kids have taken huge leaps in development.
Monday, Connor starts first grade at Powderhorn Elementary (YEAH!) - his first foray into public school. He can even ride the bus!
Quinn is headed back to preschool the end of this month!
Over Labor Day weekend we will head back to Manhappiness to cheer on the Cats against UCLA and spend time with family and friends.
It's been a great summer with lots of funshine!

All in a days work

Yesterday while at Target the kids were falling just slightly short of my expectations (holy hell, they were HORRIBLE). So, the consequence is not being able to get the free cookie at the bakery. When I broke the news to Quinn she screamed, "What? I don't get a cookie? You are ruining my life." Yeah - she's 2.

Later that day, feeling like mother of the year I told Connor that we weren't going to go to the pool with degrees in the 70's and chance of rain. "Mom, you are totally wasting my whole summer."

So, there you have it. I've pretty much got this parenting thing licked. Now taking calls.

The Graduate

In the midst of Quinn's colicky days someone once told me when times are hard the days may drag on, but be careful because the years will fly by. That is certainly true, because I'm not sure how my little guy is 6 years old and graduating from Kindergarten. Yesterday, bursting with pride Preston and I watched Connor and his class graduate. As a parent there is nothing like watching your child smash through milestones. It's joyous and a bit sad at the same time. As I sat there with tears in my eyes watching these children, I envisioned how quickly the time will come that we are watching the next milestones and the next.
But today, we're just going to savor the moment and the diploma because although the year did fly by there were days that did drag on with counting charts, spelling tests, nap times and Weekly Readers.
Congratulations Connor. We are so proud.

Come on now...

Really get in there and enjoy that chocolate cake. Quit with the pretense of manners and decorum and enjoy all of the deliciousness.

Major

With Kindergarten graduation fast approaching as well as the one year mark on our residency in Colorado I am shocked and a bit freaked out about how big the kids are, how quickly time flies by and I'm trying desperately to savor my family, friends and moments. Quinn is slimming down (no comments, please), Connor is acing spelling tests and I'm getting more laugh lines everyday (again, no comments are greatly appreciated).
Two weeks ago the kids bumped up to bigger beds and it made a HUGE difference in how I see them. I love watching them sleep and am all of the sudden shocked to see them in these big beds sleeping like big kids.

I'm not laughing...

Seriously, it's just not funny any more.