When we last left the Ribclan...

So, it's been a week+--where does the time go? Well, I guess that's a silly question. I do know! Family, friends, fun. And lost teeth. And infections. And Civil War medical re-enactments. Intrigued?

After I last wrote, I was greeted by Kdee during her school pick-up with a "Mom, mom, I have a surprise...close your eyes!". When I opened them, I was handed a small ziploc bag with a tooth inside it (as well as a "I lost my tooth!" sticker). According to Kdee, she was eating lunch when she noticed her tooth was bleeding. She then went to the bathroom and decided, in her own words, "now is the time to pull it out". Since the tooth was already swinging in the breeze, it pulled right out. Her teacher gave her a sticker and she was super proud. The tooth fairy actually followed Kdee to the cabin, where we went that weekend, and left her $1.25 (she gets an extra quarter when she pulls it out...and, yes, she remembers that fact now!). She laughed that she'd have to tell her Great Uncle Bart that "he's out of a job", now that she can pull her own teeth out (this is tooth #2 for her). She can sing loud and proud now during the Christmas classic, "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth". She's adorable.

Little B no longer resembles Eric Stoltz's character in Mask. Thank goodness. I was getting worried that ribB would receive a referral call on us (as he does Child Protection social work). Little B really looked miserable. Our Dr. wasn't sure if it was a histamine reaction or an infection that resulted from a bug bite, and in the end, the antibiotics were the trick that cleared up his swollen face. Throughout the few days of swelling, he was really a trooper and didn't seem too impacted by any discomfort. Any adult would have been grumbling, but kids are amazing that way.

He was probably so happy because we decided to go with ribB up to the cabin for the bow hunting opener. RibB didn't see much, but still enjoyed his time out in the woods. While he was in the woods Saturday night, Kdee, Little B and myself went for a big walk. Kdee was determined to walk all the way to Bart & Donna's cabin...which would be a long way on little legs. Kdee is quite the negotiator, and was really trying her best to influence me that we could do it. Needless to say, I turned us around earlier than she wanted (although she handled the disappointment better than I initially thought during her "almost tantrum" moment (as little B began to fuss, and I wondered "what have I done? We're a good 15-20 minutes from being back to the cabin!!!)). Near the end of our walk back, Kdee then realized how tough a long walk can be on little legs. She was a trooper (again!). And ready for bed that night...yippee! Thanks to Cassie & her friend KC, ribB & I got out for a "grasshopper" break with Uncle Bart later that night, which was very fun.

Last week seems like a blur now that it's Monday. One highlight was the date night ribB and I had on Thursday, which was our first date since late July. We are very blessed to have a great babysitter who was flexible to fit us into her busy college & work schedule. We had a blast going out to a movie ("Little Miss Sunshine") and coming back home to kids in bed and taped season premieres of The Office (so dang funny, I so love that show) and Grey's Anatomy (I'm trying to see what the buzz is all about, especially with all of my friends!). It was really nice to get 3 hours of uninterrupted talk and time together.

This past weekend was overall good. We enjoyed (in no particular order): Michael's first birthday party (thanks for the cupcakes & goodie bags for little B (since he was napping)!), visits with Michelle and her family (especially nice since they made time to stop by after a busy weekend), visit with my mom (who gave me a surprise hour break--yippee! Odd side note: was it wrong to run out the door during a tornado warning?), hunting for ribB with Uncle Myron and Cousin Dan (during lots of rain and area tornado warnings), gardening/yardwork and enjoying a fall Apple Festival (full of delicious apple foods, pony rides (little B was too scared to get on the pony!), apple picking, a magic show, music and Civil War encampment. The Civil War piece had us laughing pretty hard--as we entered the Festival, we were approached and told that the "re-enactment of Civil War medical care was at 4:00pm"...and there, next to the "bloody" looking table, were fake severed limbs. Just the thought of taking our young kids to that just left us in stitches. Later that night we enjoyed some fresh apple cake and prepped lots of apples for our freezer...always enjoyable during the long winter.

With such a full and fun family weekend, we look forward to a nice week. Next weekend, we might get a nite or two away without kids. That would be our first time in a year without kids, and to say that we're just a wee bit excited is an understatement. Cross your fingers!

Photos: Kdee without her top front teeth, Little B as Mask boy (photo doesn't do it justice), Kdee ready to ride (and Little B clinging to ribB in the background), me & the kids in the orchard (photo doesn't convey little B's screams to sit for a photo and me prompting Kdee to smile...we look so much more pleasant than that, don't we? :-)