Mmmm...Alfredo!

I somehow found the best Alfredo Sauce recipe here. After reading the reviews, I cut 1T of the butter out. It's so yummy...think Vinny's for us Medfordites. :) I won't ever buy the jar version again!!

A Biblical View on Voting

Not much else to say here except that this is a truly good article written by Lynn Barton, a woman from our church, on how a believer should look at political issues, all supported by Scripture.

"Vote and Vote Like a Christian"

Too Important To Ignore

The Momentous First Tooth...and the second...

At just a few weeks shy of her 7th Birthday, Saiah has FINALLY lost her first tooth!! It was truly a huge deal in our house. Her two bottom teeth have been loose for a very long time. In fact, behind both of her two bottom teeth were the adult teeth popping up, a case I found to be called "Shark Teeth"!

Neither Jason nor I had ever heard or seen this phenomenon. I did learn from a few friends, that they too had children that had teeth come in before they lost their baby teeth. Made us a feel a bit better, but still...the idea of the teeth not falling out and the adult ones not coming forward as should made us think...oh no...we see Orthodontia bills in the future!!

Now, we are not strong believers in bribing our children. But, with a daughter who refuses to wiggle teeth and the thought of dentist bills, Jason thought it wise to tell Saiah that if she were to get her tooth out that day, he'd pay her $5!! This caught Saiah's attention. As she was mulling it over in her mind, Jason asked to see her tooth. As Saiah opened her mouth, Jason went to feel the lose tooth and instead, quickly pulled at it!!! Was she ever shocked!! With that tug, a few roots came loose and Saiah was able to successfully work the tooth out on her own. She was very excited to have lost her first tooth, and quite the money maker at that!

As we put her to bed that night, I looked at Jason and said..we don't have any cash!! Not going the traditional tooth fairy route, we decided to write up a note of congratulations along with a check made out to Saiah Merrihew for $5.00. She awoke in the morning seeing the note and smiling her semi-toothless smile.

The First Tooth

That was last Saturday. Today....

Jason and started out with $2 for this tooth. It went to $5 and then the next thing we know, Jason promises her this NFL Football she wanted from Toys R U. Oh yeah...she was all over that!! With a little thought, she decides to let Daddy again yank it loose again. We got the reaction on tape this time and it's quite hilarious.

Glad to have the two teeth gone so the adult ones have room to grow forward. Oh, and yes.....it has already been well announced to Saiah that the future teeth will not be as golden!!

The Second Tooth

Boy oh Boy!!!

We are so very excited to say....we are having a BOY!!! Saiah so badly wanted a baby sister, but is now very excited to be have a baby brother. The ultrasound went very well. He was quite the mover, so we saw a LOT of poses. He is looking wonderfully perfect and healthy so far...praise God!

First Grade

Saiah with Ms. McDonald on the first day of First Grade

Hard to believe the summer is over and Saiah is now in the First Grade!! She was unsure about first grade. Many of her friends from last year were no longer going to be at her school, and she just didn't think she could make it until 2:30. Her class this year is a K-1 combo with Ms. McDonald again. Having Ms. McDonald again is a huge blessing, as Saiah adores her.

Turns out, even though most all of Saiah's friends are no longer there, she is enjoying the Kindergartners that are in her class, as well as the other lone first grader, her only friend from last year. I also have noticed many of the kids kind of "looking up to" her as she is indeed the tallest and oldest.

The end of the day is just the first graders.....the two first graders!! Yep..only two of them. It's actually a wonderful thing as a parent, knowing your child gets such specialized attention from a teacher. The two of them really like it as well. They get to go on special walks and do their Math and Reading outside on a picnic table for a special treat every so often.

I have the pleasure of being able to work in Saiah's class this year, all five days. I am thrilled to be in her class and helping one of my close friends during this school year.

Yes, Saiah didn't quite want summer to end, but I do believe she would tell you now that she is enjoying school and definitely looks forward to going. In fact, today, she didn't want to leave Ms. McDonald. Only thing that helped was my telling her that she would see her this evening as Lacey, aka Ms. McDonald, was coming to our house for dinner. Indeed a rare treat for a child to have their teacher also be an adopted aunt of our family!!

Saiah and Chloe, helping prepare special treats for the class

Saiah's classroom

Like Father, Like Daughter

This last weekend, we headed to Etna so Jason and Jed could take Saiah and Kylie hiking and fishing up at Taylor Lake. It was a trip talked about for most of the summer, so it was really nice to see it happen. The girls popped right out of bed at 6:00 a.m. with eager anticipation of the day. Dressed in clothes to hike and fish in, they were on their way. The guys reported the girls were quite the troopers, hiking all the way around the lake, going through spider webs and bushes, having a grand old time with no complaining. In fact...they said, with glee, that the girls, when posed with the question of "what would you rather do...fishing, or shopping?" quickly responded that they would rather fish! They are such Daddy's girls!!

Both girls came home excited to share their fish stories. Kylie was able to reel one in and Saiah actually cast, and reeled in her own fish all by herself, even though neither her Daddy nor uncle believed she had a fish on! Luckily, we have a bit of it on video Jason was able to catch.

Oh, and at the home front..Casandra and I kept things low with coffee and PJ's till noon!!! What more could a girl ask for?? ;)

Saiah's First Fish all by herself!!!