Can you believe it's almost Halloween? We haven't gotten down the decorations, put up the lights, or anything. Well, that's not completely true. I've been buying candy on sale for the last 2 weeks and haven't touched a single piece. I deserve an award for that!

It was a very busy weekend. Lots of telescope making, water polo and rock climbing. My dh and I had to divide and conquer the schedule. And the weather was wet but we lucked out at the outdoor water polo games. Just a misting until the very last moment of the game. Then it started raining. So we packed up and left. But two days in a row is a long time.

The excitement this week will be a plan to taking off "A"'s braces! We thought they'd be on until summer. It's officially been 2 years but we thought it would be longer. But no! He's very excited but it's a complicated process. He's missing a lateral incisor but is too young for an implant. He certainly can't walk around with a missing tooth in front of his beautiful smile! So we're talking options - retainer with a tooth (good but has to be removed at meals - can you say LOST!) or perhaps a Maryland bridge (can you say $$$$?) We'll know more on Wednesday.

Few questions for the week.

1. Are you ready for Halloween? If so, are your kids young enough to dress up? If so, what are they wearing? Yes, that's 3 questions!

2. Have you started Christmas/holiday shopping?

3. Is your neighborhood safe?

4. What do you do for "you?"

5. Do you help your kids with homework or are they 100% self-sufficient?

Have a great day!

Sharon
13 year old b/b/b + 17 year old son

Oh! I am so excited for "A"! Getting that ortho removed is such a milestone in a young persons life! My ds has an appointment at the beginning of November for an ortho consult. $$$$$ My other dd is soon to follow. $$$$$ Two in braces at the same time is gonna suck!


1. Are you ready for Halloween? If so, are your kids young enough to dress up? If so, what are they wearing? Yes, that's 3 questions! We are sooo ready. Halloween is very popular around here. The kids are old enough that I do not buy costumes anymore...they find stuff around the house and use their creativity. The only one that still digs trick-or-treating is Katie. She always wants to be a witch so that makes it easy. The other kids are dressing up for our neighborhood Halloween party.

2. Have you started Christmas/holiday shopping? Gawd no but I really need to kick it into gear. I'm usually finished by Thanksgiving. The kids all want big items this year, so it will be relatively easy. I spend a certain amount on each kid and if that big item eats up that allotment, that's all they get!

3. Is your neighborhood safe? Yes (knock on wood). We are very fortunate. Everyone knows everyone else and we have a neighborhood watch. We have the mixed blessing of a couple of VERY nosey neighbors that keep on top of things,lol!

4. What do you do for "you?" I work out and I guess you could consider going-back-to-school as something that I am doing for me? Sorta. I'm really trying to take up photography to follow in my Dad's footsteps, but I haven't had the time. Between work, the kids and school my spare time is devoted to sleep,lol!

5. Do you help your kids with homework or are they 100% self-sufficient? They are pretty much 99% sufficient. Math is oldest dd's weakest subject and she sometimes asks dh for help. Once in awhile I have to remind/ask ds if he has done his homework. He has ADD and can get pretty "scattered".

Mini-vent: Still having issues with my internet connection. Literally 5 minutes after I submitted my last quiz the connection was lost. THANK GOD I was finished! I called customer service yesterday and really was not happy with the rep. I'm supposed to call back if it happens again in the next 24hours. Excuse me? Umm...it's been happening pretty frequently and I want a resolution NOW!

Have a great week everyone!

"Just remember, you can do anything you set your mind to, but it takes action, perseverance, and facing your fears."-- Gillian Anderson

Congrats for the removal of the braces, it's a long haul but worth it.

1. Are you ready for Halloween? If so, are your kids young enough to dress up? If so, what are they wearing? Yes, that's 3 questions!
Yes we are ready, we have a snow fairy, ninja, vampire and mad scientist. No more theme ones for us, kind of sad.

2. Have you started Christmas/holiday shopping? Nope, but I have been thinking about it

3. Is your neighborhood safe? Very safe

4. What do you do for "you?" Read and PC time

5. Do you help your kids with homework or are they 100% self-sufficient?
Hoenstly, we don't have a lot of homework, just spelling tests, which don't take me a lot of time.

Kim
Nate, Nick & Noel(36w4d)and Nia.

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Happy Monday!

Well, Sharon, we are looking at two sets of braces (our A and C...or was it A&B?) -- and both kiddos are each missing two permanent teeth. They are still losing baby teeth, so we have not started anything yet.


1. Halloween? --boys are not planning to go out trick-or-treating, but want to go to a local haunted house... http://redwoods.info/showrecord.asp?id=3895

2. Have you started Christmas/holiday shopping? How? What? When? Who did this to me!

3. Is your neighborhood safe? Kinda of, just a lot of cross-town traffic

4. What do you do for "you?" Go watch the waves

5. Do you help your kids with homework or are they 100% self-sufficient? I help them when they need/ask for it. Constant reminders to get their noses out of their novels and get busy on homework...I can live with that.

Vaughn and the ABC Boys
Alex, Bryce, & Calder

Vaughn-I have the same issue with the books - an ok problem to have I guess!

Sharon - congrats on the braces! Every time I think about our financial plan and feel like we actually have a good plan - I remember braces will be coming soon!

Suzanne
Proud mommy to Seamus, Brendan and Casey 4/17/00

Hi all

I am home with a sick boy today. We have felt less than 100% in our bellies since we have been in India! He was not feeling well last night so I kept him home and am letting him sleep in. The other 2 have had similar days and this is his first.

1. Are you ready for Halloween? If so, are your kids young enough to dress up? If so, what are they wearing? Yes, that's 3 questions!
They would dress up if we were home but instead we are having a party at school - will tell their class the history of Halloween, make a craft, and give out treat bags (thanks to my sister-in-law and Mom who were kind enough to send a great care package with all kinds of Halloweeny things!)


2. Have you started Christmas/holiday shopping?
NO - will get the boys each one small thing and wil bring home things from India for our family and friends in Jan

3. Is your neighborhood safe?
yes - both here and at home

4. What do you do for "you?"
Run, yoga, meditate (go to a group at home over an hour away 2x a month - that is huge "me" time!)

5. Do you help your kids with homework or are they 100% self-sufficient?
I cannot wait to read others answers to this. I am in a huge quandry about this very issue. My kids seem to need a ton of hand holding with hw. They are smart boys, but have difficulty focusing (ADD) and since we have been here they are having trouble with even the most basic things. I am not sure if it is b/c they are overloaded with stimulation or what, but it is a big stressor for me. I may just write a separate post for this!

Hope you all have a good week!

Suzanne
BBB 4/00