Braces and Barbies

I remember being around 8 years old and using the milk lid pull-tab as 'pretend braces'.  Man, if that didn't make look like a teenager, I didn't know what would. 
I guess I also faked being nearly blind in my 5th grade eye exam, but that was only because I DESPERATELY wanted glasses to be twinsies with my best friend.  Apparently I had a craving for some sort of medical intervention at an early age...

On that note, today was Molly's best day ever.  It's no secret she has an underbite, which somehow makes her resemble Gfunk.  However, Gfunk had false teeth; so go figure.

Molly finally reached the point where her dentist suggested she visit an orthodontist to determine the next steps in an effort to protect her killer smile.

After careful examination of her bite, her age, her permanent teeth yet to appear, and the baby teeth she still has, it was determined she would benefit from braces on her upper teeth...the sooner the better.

I wouldn't have guessed in a million years Molly would be our first experience with braces, yet here we are!  She was basically mute throughout the entire examination, but when the dentist and nurse left the room I asked her what she thought about getting braces this summer....

With clenched fists, a slight squeal and excited giggle, you would have thought she'd just won the  Jackpot.

Do you even KNOW how huge getting braces was to an almost 7 year old!??

Apparently it even trumps my attempts with the milk jug lid.

And that was even BEFORE the nurse showed Molly all the colors she could have in her braces.  O.M.G.!!!!

And because my little love was nervous beforehand, I bribed her by telling her we'd look for birthday ideas at Walmart afterward. 

We're extra fancy like that.

These are a few things she is currently passionate about:

This is a horse.  

It lives in a padded purse and has a hole to stick it's head out for oxygen. 

Bless his/her heart. 

This is a wheelchair for an 18-inch doll.  Aka: generic American Girl Doll. This item on the wish list goes back to the first paragraph of this post regarding craving medical intervention...

 And after an endless search for an 18-inch doll that in Molly's words "Does Not Have White Hair, we found this beauty".  She's called Brunette Ballerina. 

She's all about brown hair these days.

Maisie went ahead and picked the doll she wished for.

She's called "Baker". 

Again, it appears we're craving a little more color these days.

This special item is also on the list.  It involves a blue plastic Walmart basket filled with fake food for an 18-inch doll. 

Okay, sure honey...

And that was even BEFORE we entered the Barbie aisle. 

So there's this dog whose collar lights up includes a stethoscope, bone AND eardrum light/reflex checker! 

 Can you even imagine the scenarios you could play out with this little pooch!

 And lastly she selected Emerald Check Fashionista Barbie. 

Again, she's into brunettes these days. 

And not to take anything away from her gorgeousness, but honestly that dress?  

What ever happened to the true fashion of Barbie....

And the townhouse! 

Oh my!

Amen!

Hunting, Fishing, Loving.

The girls found themselves hunting in the backyard last weekend...

What could it be?

Wild Raspberries!

These were a hit for the girls as well as our Asian!  Mack couldn't stop eating them... Something about the tart berry... warm-sun-kissed temperature and the fact that are a bazillion of them in our backyard!

For those wondering, yes. I think the playhouse is done.  The steel sheeting on the front porch is just extra... I think.

Isn't she cute!?

Buy yah, flowers... we need flowers.  And I'm still wishing for a mailbox.  

Who doesn't love to play Post Office?

I have no idea who took this picture, when it was taken or why.  However, these are MY legs, my feet and my shorts.  If there was a photo to describe what this summer feels like, this photo sums it up.

Braced and Busy.

In the meantime, I'm hosting a cooking camp in my classroom at the school for elementary kids.  Why the heck not!  

As much work as it is to organize, there's something about triggering the culinary instinct in kids and watching them fly that makes my heart soar.

Totally Worth It~

Summer Lovin

The kids had their official swimming lessons at the pool last week.  The weather was hotter than a rats ass and the water was perfect.  These are a few of "The Faces of Maisie" while she waits her turn to jump in.

Molly was hesitant to jump off the diving board this year.  I thought for sure she'd be flipping off the edge by the end of the week, but it wasn't in the cards this year. 

Perhaps if there hadn't been some creepy old guy under the diving board....

Meanwhile, the girls are going through a 'piss each other off' phase.  It was so ridiculous I snapped these photos one morning as they woke me up arguing at my bedside.  Maisie was trying her hardest to squeeze out tears as Molly was perfecting her bottom lip fold and laughing at Maisie. 

It's a good thing their cute.

One of the perks of living a mile away from a winery is once in a while, the winery has karoke night. And because we're the couple who brings our kids to a bar, Maisie finally got to sing The Fight Song again infront of an audience.  Mike and I sang along.

And this handsome fella and I got out there as well.

 Oh Summer Lovin' Had Me a Blast!

Summer Friends

There's something about childhood friends, that you simply can't replace.

Wordless, Photos and my Loves

I meant to post the next series of photos yesterday and call them, "Wordless Wednesday".  But then life happened and it didn't work out.  Anyway, it's all about a story where the PHOTOS tell their own story.  Kinda fun.

In the meantime, we've been ball diamond rats.  And this cute little Asian of mine.. he's pitching!  When he's not playing 2nd base, he pitches.. who knew!

My 4 loves trying to get Molly on a rope swing.

This morning I was driving to Winterset and passed a house with a bunch of glads growing along the north side of their house. I was tempted to stop, but knew I'd look like a stalker, so I didn't. So many colors... the height... the amount of blooms. 

I couldn't help but think of G'funk and her Glads.

My heart felt a little pinch and I looked at my girls and knew she was with me.

For example, here they are devouring Ice Cream Drumsticks like nobodies business.

And remember her old bathroom... and all the baby powder and white shoulders perfume? 

Yep, she's totally here.