She's Got Moxy!

Elsa came home for lunch the other day declaring she had her first loose tooth. At five and a half it wasn't a big stretch. I was stunned. Another child moving along through childhood. She'd reached that next phase before I was ready.

After school she became quite curious about getting that loose tooth out of her mouth. It annoyed her. She was curious about the process and the anticipated pain. She was thrilled about the prospect of a coin!

By the time Greg got home from work she had made that tooth quite wiggly. She petitioned for help, but Greg told her to be patient. "When it's ready it will come out," he told her. So a minute later she just pulled it out. I couldn't believe. She worked that tooth from mildly loose to very wiggly and gone in one day.

What a showing of tenacity and determination. I couldn't be prouder!

The Much Anticipated BTS Photo

I waited to post about reentry into school this year. Maybe pessimism has taken over, but I didn't want to say it was good and have that be a lie. I hesitated because they were so happy about going back to school this year. Obviously still shell shocked from last year I had to wait until they weren't coming home saying it was "the greatest day in their life!" I'm pretty sure the new colored pencils and markers has a lot to do with that.

I'm proud of them. They both have good teachers and have been optimistic about learning and making friends.

Seeing this photo actually makes me really emotional. They go to school with children whose backgrounds are so diverse and so different from theirs. It isn't easy for them. They're so sweet. They go every day and try their best to fit in. I hope this experience has taught them to be a little kinder and a little more empathetic. It has me.

Soo. . . a month into it we're still cruising along. We've had a few sick days already that had to be milked because Grandma and Grandpa are here.

Henry started his supplemental English class this week and came home from that with a book he read to me on the way home. Learning is a thrill.

Zermatt and the Matterhorn

Last Saturday we drove up to Zermatt and to view the Matterhorn.  It's about a two and half hour drive to Tasche where you have to catch a train into Zermatt.  The city is closed to all vehicles except for the hotel taxis which resemble large electric golf carts.  Once we arrived we took another train up the mountain which would give us a great view of the Matterhorn. Minus the big cloud covering the tippy top.

Once at the top of the mountain, you could visit with some big St. Bernards and enjoy the thin cool air.  We decided to hike down and catch the train at another stop.
The kids loved the walk down.  They felt like real mountaineers.  Walking DOWN the mountain!

We walked for about an hour and then got back on the train to take it the rest of the way down. 
It was such a great day trip.  Zermatt is a lovely town and all of the trains kept the kids plenty entertained.

If you're curious how it compares to the Matterhorn in Disneyland, Greg has a witty post on his blog.