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Good news!

We have been searching for an orthodontist for Alaina. Three offices later, I found one that I liked (thanks Susan!). We had to get our flex account contribution in by Thursday and our appointment was on Tuesday. This Dr contradicted the other 2 and said that he recommended Alaina be put on observation only. He doesn't want to do anything to her for possibly another year or two. I said, Are you sure? The other 2 guys I went to wanted her to start "Phase 1" with an expander right away.

"I don't typically do a 'Phase 1,'" he said. "She has too many baby teeth to do anything right now, I do everything start to finish over a period of time so the mouth is fixed and fixed right instead of starting appliances too early and fixing the same problem later."

I love Dr Olin! My kind of guy. Kevin was extremely relieved. He loves Dr Olin too.

Halloween

We had a fabulous, fun-filled Halloween. This year was fraught with anticipation since I had been making costumes for 3 weeks. Claire was determined to be a “super hero” with detailed instructions for colors and fabrics. I have NEVER sewn anything other than quilts. No cutting around patterns, the disorienting folding and unfolding of said patterns, and measuring children and figuring out sizes, reading the back of the pattern to figure out how much of what fabric was needed, etc. etc. etc. Oh my goodness. It was difficult and many times I had to enlist Kevin to make sense of what I needed to do next. But. I learned, I experienced, and her costume turned out fabulously. She and I were both very happy with it. I made the boots (2 weeks on those alone), mask, skirt, cape, belt, and the gauntlets and yoke and C on her shirt.

Alaina didn’t really care about her costume. She was a bride last year, and it was fine with her to be a bride this year. I had a brilliant idea that she could wear my old jester costume. It’s adorable, and who cares if it’s big because it’s a fancy clown. She liked it ok except for that hat. It stands up very tall instead of the points flopping over. She mentioned on a few occasions how embarrassed she would be to wear the hat. I do not want to add to her tween angst, so I started to think of something else. And, while we were waiting for her to get her hair cut, I picked up a Family Fun magazine and saw a jelly fish costume. She “oohed” and “aahed” over it. So we made it. Believe me when I say that EVERYWHERE Alaina went her costume stole the show.  People were taking her picture at church’s Trunk or Treat, at the school parade parents asked me how I made it, and as we walked outside Trick or Treating we heard choruses of “Look at the jellyfish! That’s awesome!” She was completely pleased. And so was I.

Bryn was Cinderella. We already had that costume. I wanted her to be a ninja girl. She wouldn’t have it. Ok then. (A month or so ago, Kevin was downstairs doing something. Bryn went to the basement door and said “Dad, whatcha doin? Secret ninja stuff?”)