Go Tigers! And, don't forget to floss!

We started out a busy 4th weekend with a trip downtown Detroit to watch the Tigers play. This followed Nate's HORRENDOUS check up at the dentist. I first felt like a horrible mother when I called to say that he'd chipped his fake front tooth for the gazillionth time. We went to have it checked out because Nate had said it was hurting him when he ate. I was thinking we'd get an appointment the next week after the 4th weekend but the receptionist apparently sensed it was some sort of emergency and we got an emergency add-on spot on Friday afternoon. The chip ended up being fine and we've had the tooth fixed so many times that the dentist now does it for free. Well, we should be getting something free because the dentist kindly went ahead and did Nate's check up while he had him in lock down in his chair. 8 cavities. Yes, EIGHT. That's nearly all of his teeth. You'd think we let this kid sleep with fruit snacks or sour patch kids marinating his teeth. The dentist reassured me that his brushing is good because none of them are located in the pits of the teeth. He asked me if he flosses and after the dentist saying Nate had eight cavities I knew I couldn't really get away with answering yes. So I honestly replied with the truth, "never." These cavities are all located between his teeth and because all of his not-so-pearly-whites are tightly-packed in his mouth and touching each other and those crevices have never been flossed, well there we have rotten decay! This, my friends, comes from his father whose teeth are also rotting out of his head! So, we now have a treatment plan and have invested in those crazy floss gadgets for kids. Let's keep our fingers crossed for Tessa's check up next week.

As for the Tigers game, this was the first time we introduced the kids to the merry-go-round and boy did they enjoy it. The good news is that you don't have to break up any arguments about which animal they each want to sit on as this merry-go-round is fittingly full of tigers only! The bad news is that the parents aren't allowed to ride with adult beverages so Troy and I had to take turns each riding with a kid while the other guzzled beer. After about 97 hot dogs, cotton candy (not so great of a choice after the dentist today, huh?), flagging down Paws, and a bunch of waters 'cause it was a cooker, we managed to make it through the entire game and enjoy the fireworks display.

Playdate with Owen and Brendan

Nate had Owen and Brendan over for a playdate today. Owen (as pictured arm in arm with Nate above) is Nate's best bud at school. Brendan (the one with glasses) is Owen's cool older brother. There was lots of running and sweating...mostly by Troy trying to teach the boys how to ride the 4 wheeler and then chase them down! They had a pretty good time as evidenced by Brendan asking if he could stay at our house forever.


While the boys tore up the yard and woods, Miss T tended to her babies, all of which she has oddly named for boys with the exception of Gorgeous, a small stuffed wolverine. Otherwise, some of the brood includes Grant (a pink unicorn), Jay (brown dog laying on the sidewalk although sometimes is called Luna too), Brian (orange bear), and Bud (a wolf).

What's your password?

Tessa "checking her email." Have to say I never thought to log in donning a fire chief hat and no pants?

Annual Baughman Birthday Bash at the Lake

Baughmans came to Archer Lake to celebrate Nate's birthday. It was also Grampa Steve's birthday and Father's Day. Yes, once again we are dragging out the birthday celebrations Lisa-Abell-style (my roommate in college that insisted on celebrating and having birthday rights for atleast a week!). The weather was awesome! Nate got showered in gifts including a super-duper cool big time catcher's mask and a pitching machine. There was lots of swimming and tubing. Aunt Shannon made a delicious cake of the "ocean" at Nate's request. We batted at a pinata and burned up about 20 boxes of sparklers in a record 8 minutes or so. Tessa also smothered her cousin Christian all day. It was a fun-filled and tiring weekend...as evidenced by Tessa passed out on the boat!

Hey Hey Hand Me Downs

Tessa has secured primary ownership of the John Deere Tractor and the 4x4 Jeep since Nate has been tearing up the joint on his 4 wheeler. Life is good. We're hoping she has the same response when she turns 16 and inherits a used vehicle, probably the minivan rusted out, that will have 300,000 miles on it!

Red Bow? Check. Helmet? Check. Insurance Card? Check.

Nate awoke on his birthday morning to baseball cupcakes for breakfast and real, gas-powered, pint-sized 4 wheeler. Troy had gotten the 4 wheeler months ago and been bugging me on a regular basis to just go ahead and give it to him. To this I repeatedly responded that you don't just give a little kid a 4 wheeler on a Tuesday for no reason. It's kind of a big deal and is definitely setting a gift giving precedent. Therefore, I made him wait until Nate's birthday. In the meantime, super Dad who was way excited about the 4 wheeler went ahead and bought the kids their own helmets and other 4 wheeler related items all the while telling them that these accessories were for when they got to ride their cousins 4 wheelers in Ohio. Nate and Tessa actually bought this and were known to have worn their helmets around the yard and even in their carseats on the way to school not once ever asking for a 4 wheeler of their own. Troy had even cut some trails through the woods for some off-roading experience. So, on the eve of Nate's birthday as we rolled the 4 wheeler into the garage and placed a big red bow on it (that we borrowed from the Christmas tree down in the basement!), I gently prepared the way over-excited Dad for potential disappointment and that Nate just might not be as in to the 4 wheeler as he...There were no disappointments for anyone though. Nate went bonkers and loved it! The first thing out of his mouth after he picked his chin up off of the floor was "Did you order it or did you buy it?" This was a funny and confusing question and reaction. Nevertheless, Nate got his helmet and learned to drive the thing after a few training spins around the driveway (all the while his mother drank heavily in the kitchen trying to cope with her anxiety).
Thank the heavens for the person who invented the speed governor... ...and for good health insurance!!!

One Whole Hand.

Our little man is FIVE. Five fingers. One whole hand. Yikes! Where does the time go? Nate has successfully completed DK and has been given the go ahead for kindergarten. Crazy. And, lucky for mom and dad, Nate chose a place that sells alcoholic beverages for his birthday dinner. That is, after we completely ixnayed McDs and Taco Bell. No disrespect to the Big Mac or Soft Taco Supreme, but the 'rents would just like a civilized dinner out every once in a while and the booze was needed to cope with the fact that we are getting older every birthday that we celebrate for these kiddos. The dinner was complete with singing and clapping wait staff at which Nate completely did the fidgety-don't-make-eye-contact-they're-not-really-singing-to-me dance in his seat and then enjoyed the ice cream sundae on the house!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATE DOG!!