A mouth full of wires

Exactly one year ago this week we took a chance on a new orthodontic procedure that would hopefully change Carter's life. Carter had a class two under bite that would require jaw surgery when he was older because it was getting worse as he grew. Not satisfied with that option, (and despite the fact that I'm sure uncle Bryce would have done a wonderful job) I found an pediatric ortho who was willing to try a new thing on the market to manipulate Carter's bone structure as he grew naturally into proper alignment. There was the chance it wouldn't work and there was the huge cost associated with it (not covered by any dental insurance) but I knew there had to be something worth trying. We signed on the dotted line and hopped for the best in about 2 years. One year later, Carter is the poster child for this procedure. His jaw is completely realigned. His case went so smoothly you can now find his picture in a couple of publications and his case was used last October to help get insurance companies to pay for the procedure. This week he got braces on to complete the process and cosmetically make his smile look beautiful. I love modern science. Anyone who's in the same boat I highly recommend contacting Dr. Michael Tew near Jordan Landing...

The Last Day of School

School is officially over for the year... Jensen is now a 1st grader and Carter is a 4th grader. It's amazing. We celebrated the last day with the traditional fanfare and fun.

Jensen participated in a kindergarten graduation and was also recognized by the school as the top reader--in quantity-- in the entire kindergarten but also as the only kindergartner to make it to the 10 point club (usually reserved for first and second graders). We are so proud of him! Carter was recognized as a member of the 25 point club. We've got two readers!

There were many tears shed as Jensen said good-bye to his teacher, Mrs. Vickie Hansen. She's been a wonderful friend and teacher to Jensen. She has built him up and given him the confidence he needs to push himself.
This is Jensen's bestfriend, Connor.
Our kindergarten class consisted of 18 students the majority of which were boys. Sometimes things got a bit out of hand, but overall, they were all good boys.


Carter played lots of water games as part of field day--followed by a choco-taco!

He enjoyed his homeroom teacher, Mr. Alan Shino, who encouraged him to write stories instead of journal entries (which he hated). I have several books filled with stories from my son's wonderful imagination!
Congratulations boys, we are proud of you!

Togas anyone?

Carter has an amazing music teacher at school. C. Shackelford rocks! She decided to have the entire 3rd grade--all 75 of those critters--participate in the Utah Festival Opera, Operas for Kids program sponsored by Michael Ballam's group. She orchestrated the financing, getting the student teachers from Utah State University (one over music, one over art and one over drama) and worked her tail off to have these kids create three original operas.

Carter's group wrote an opera called, "The Big Switch". The boys of Greece are tired of having to work outside all day and want to be inside, where the girls are, out of the sun. The girls want to switch too, so they ask the Gods to make the "Big Switch" and with a flash of light and an exploding volcano, the switch is made. But, when a war looms, the girls want to switch back and the boys are hungry because they can't cook--so they ask the Gods to switch them back...and they tell them to figure it out themselves.

Who knew Carter could sing? He did an awesome job! The show was 20 minutes long, took four months to create and was awesome! I love the arts.

I forgot my kid

Thursday was a crazy night. I had to time the pick up and drop offs to the minute to get us where we needed to be on time....

Cooked dinner at 4:30, Carter to scouts at 5 pm, Jensen and Anja eat at 5:10, pick Carter up at 5:55 for Inspirations Awards at school, arrive at school at 6:15, home by 7:30, homework done by 8 and in bed by 8:30 pm.

All was well until I pulled into the school parking lot at 6:15--on the dot!!--- only to realize I left Carter at scouts. I drove right by his leaders house and didn't stop! Call leader--so sorry!!!-- turn around, get Carter-- get back to school at 6:40 in time for group pictures.

Crazy day! Regardless, congrat's to both boys for doing well in the Inspirations contest. We can't wait to use our museum and planetarium tickets (kudos to Chantelle!) Maybe it is time to get Carter a cell phone..

Really? Are you sure you are talking about my kid?

Remember the kid who froze his own pee? Today was parent teacher conferences and I had to ask several times if they were talking about my Carter, the one in 3rd grade.

"He's very mature for his age and is very polite," one teacher said. (really? Is this the kid who got grounded today for saying 'fart' one too many times in front of me)

"He gets all his work in on time and seems to be very happy to be at school," said another teacher. (really? The kid who I have to strip down to his undies and pour cold water on to wake up every morning.)

"The only time he got upset was when I hung the BYU flag up for football season," said his gym coach. (Okay this is our kid)

"He's reading at a high fourth grade level so we moved him up a grade," said the English teacher. (who knew you could get that much out of Goosebumps and Diary of a Wimpy Kid books).

Okay-- nice of them to say such nice things, but really-- mature? Carter? Maybe he is better behind my back. I guess when it comes down to it as a parent, you'd rather have your kids acting normal in public and acting like themselves at home, behind closed doors. I guess I should thanks Carter for making me look like a good parent?! Weird.

Happy Birthday, Carter

I can't believe my oldest is nine today. This is a miracle. Why? Because he hasn't been grounded for life, yet (not even after the pee in the freezer incident), he's still cute (but is starting to smell like a boy), he's funny, I can negotiate with him, I'm still stronger than him, he is a movie junky, and quite frankly-- I wasn't sure motherhood was in the cards for me 15 years ago when we got married. Now, life is grand with Carter.

These are the boys who celebrated his big day this weekend with a "late-over" (all the fun of a sleepover without actually sleeping--the fun started at 7 and ended at 10 pm).

Happy Birthday, sweety-- I'll always be proud to be your mom!

Do not freeze your pee in a cup!

This is a new rule at our house. One I wasn't aware we needed to verbalize until tonight. Conversation at 9 pm with Carter:

mom: "Carter what are you doing in the kitchen? You are supposed to be in bed."

Carter: "Um, nothing, just getting something out of the freezer."

mom: "What is it, another cup of frozen water? You know the rule, I hate it when you freeze water in the bathroom cups because when I open the freezer they fall out and hit my foot. Give it to me."

Carter: "No mom, no. Let me throw it away."

mom: (getting suspicious) "What? Let me see it."

(mom takes it away and for a moment is dazed at the frozen yellow liquid, until she puts it together)

mom: "Carter Richard Coombs!!!! Is this what I think it is?? IF so you are so dead!!!!!"

(mom leaves room in daze and finds dad to deal with situation-- mom looks for parenting book)

Dad: "Carter we do NOT freeze our own pee. It's gross and now you are going to die." (His answer to anything weird our kids do).

--Carter pretends to be worried--

--mom can't stand it any longer and starts laughing--

--Dad laughs, then reminds Carter he's going to die now.--

Everyone stops laughing. Mom tells Carter this is really gross and not to do it again.

New rule at the Coombs house:

"If you freeze it, you eat it."

Carter promises not to pee in any more cups.

Note to all parents: There is not a "Frozen Pee Problems" chapter in any parenting book I could find. You'll have to deal with this one on your own. I just blamed Rich's DNA for this one.

It's my birthday.. and I am lucky

As the song goes... "it's my birthday and I'll cry if I want to..." and I did, tears of sweet joy. I woke up and found Anja's bedroom door decorated. Carter secretly made this sign (is it normal for an 8 year old to know how to make block letters?), cut it out and hung it on Anja's door knowing that's the first place I would go when I woke up. He is awesome! Thanks dude!

Is he old enough?

This week Carter got "braces". Not really like you think of but more like retainer-things that will widen his jaw and push the bottom jaw out while pulling the top jaw in to correct an under bite (thanks to my DNA). Ten years ago, he would have been stuck in headgear and hating life. Thanks to science, you can't even tell. His appliances are small and if he smiles big you can see the small wire that jets out in front of his teeth (not in this picture) but for the most part you can't really tell. Or, we could have decided to go with jaw surgery. We'll take the retainers. Carter is only eight so it seems strange, but all his friends have braces/retainers now so why shouldn't he? He hated me for making him do it for about two days. Now he seems to be okay with it. I'm hoping he'll thank me in 10 years.