Our youngest is now seeing the orthodontist for braces and an expander. It been an adjustment for the whole family, though. She can't swallow, her throat hurts, nothing tastes good, she can't eat, the expander was put in too far back, she talks funny, it's not fair, she wants them out, and she'd rather have crooked teeth.
She doesn't want to eat french fries, yogurt, apple sauce, oatmeal, or anything else that is soft. The only thing she likes is pancakes. She even admitted that Grandma will have a hard time putting up with her next week (I thought that was cute). But despite the drama and crying fits, we're actually observing her improving each day.
Here's the list of foods to avoid during treatment:
- popcorn
- bagels
- pizza crust (can have the center of pizza, though)
- hard pretzels
- suckers or hard candy
- ice
- raw carrots
- nuts
- taco shells, doritos, cheetos, and other hard chips
Have fun at Camp Grandma!
Families are the compass that guide us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter. -- Brad Henry
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Colorado
Eric and Ashlyn took off for a week to explore Colorado. First stop was the Colorado School of Mines, the most renowned school for engineering.
Second stop was Canon City and the Royal Gorge River, in which they went white water rafting down Class 4+ rapids.
Their next adventure was climbing Humboldt Peak, soaring above 14,000 ft. The trail was vaguely marked, so their decent was elongated after venturing far off the path. Additionally, they battled snow, hail, rain, wind, thunder, and lightning along their climb. After covering 10+ miles in 10 hours, as well as camping out in the back of their rental car for two nights, they were beyond exhausted.
Before heading home, they tackled an extremely strenuous 2,000 ft climb up the Manitou Incline and finished with a relaxing train ride up to the top of Pike's Peak.
Their next adventure was climbing Humboldt Peak, soaring above 14,000 ft. The trail was vaguely marked, so their decent was elongated after venturing far off the path. Additionally, they battled snow, hail, rain, wind, thunder, and lightning along their climb. After covering 10+ miles in 10 hours, as well as camping out in the back of their rental car for two nights, they were beyond exhausted.
Monday, June 8, 2015
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Graduate
Our oldest graduated from high school last week. Here's one picture before the ceremony with her friends since childhood....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjjB3uf0e-E0FaDQY0pGERFVlUNDqoXfKOAa1xzDHlNKMsj9ZPafDy0jt7sFWbjlgtyW9WpyZn9IcSZbAnX7G8Ywp3-SCYY32T9tETHAIv5NW8hHHIAqCqJiDJBF7NQ2rt9ZCE6tZIxLf/s400/P1000030a.jpg)
Or, for the rap-only version professionally recorded, follow this link: https://vimeo.com/129541563
Outside, we finally get to hug and congratulate her. So proud!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEoM6KDuazsTO8-WbQ1SUxNVrtlDP5u3Ci4TCbjMc389lCa1dgvucpM93IwBCVfqZOG-PGrxetHkl0OnsEALKGPKpdWRV5A_i4jkldve4JWWpTFjaH4PVqY0LqMBIgEp0PdoCAOAruiSt/s400/IMG_20150529_104733.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjjB3uf0e-E0FaDQY0pGERFVlUNDqoXfKOAa1xzDHlNKMsj9ZPafDy0jt7sFWbjlgtyW9WpyZn9IcSZbAnX7G8Ywp3-SCYY32T9tETHAIv5NW8hHHIAqCqJiDJBF7NQ2rt9ZCE6tZIxLf/s400/P1000030a.jpg)
During the program, she's on stage (below) between the student body president on the left and the salutatorian on the right.
If you'd like to hear her amazing valedictorian speech, we've saved it on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=322g8Q3OKos
Or, for the rap-only version professionally recorded, follow this link: https://vimeo.com/129541563
Afterwards, you can see her walking out through the line of faculty applauding. She's the one in the middle with the light blue stole and has such a beautiful smile on her face!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFt6aHs2ft1zwS3EqNt2v7TeWsF9mC2OnmXkUkcGZFJsJzJInu_fAXzewS_FrLE10TbT4POxEsNCEMDB9fmNp7YqooZQqDyHInv90mNQbYCpIOTdRO-wJ93bzd84ocRYyQMKqZf_8TVbHg/s400/P1000042a.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEoM6KDuazsTO8-WbQ1SUxNVrtlDP5u3Ci4TCbjMc389lCa1dgvucpM93IwBCVfqZOG-PGrxetHkl0OnsEALKGPKpdWRV5A_i4jkldve4JWWpTFjaH4PVqY0LqMBIgEp0PdoCAOAruiSt/s400/IMG_20150529_104733.jpg)
Thursday, June 4, 2015
New Driver
Our son was finally ready for his learner's permit. In SC, you can get it at 15. The nervous look is so apparent on his face.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidR5mr-zTQLpu72WXJas_YfWGGRM-i2qJ6OZlAbkf55F2BHbVH0lfghcRejRm79xPonN1yrhC46fMZBgZnb4NTWsfoqefFZUyVk1d8qvnCjwXHGoiv-rVcBdx-GEmo5e2o5oPfZez-TTj6/s400/IMG_20150528_151920.jpg)
Here you can barely see him taking the on-line test. Cameras weren't allowed, so this is the best zoom I could do with my phone.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vXbJxlx4J9UOaAmgLHtX-JRcowhTQ9tIljN0EQel778XxgJH1eBqWyUCDE43pevVTv7l8BTIK_Ydo8lmT7xQgZqmyCvwf029TPQL5n8hLFvtTytCdEq2v3Gvg4EIKvUmZzYi2bw3IHzt/s400/IMG_20150528_151030a.jpg)
He passed, missing only 4 questions! Now he begins 40 hours of logged time behind the wheel before he can qualify for his restricted.