Technological Wasteland

After checking into several options, it has come to our attention that we are completely unable to obtain internet service in our home until the phone company decides to put DSL lines in our neighborhood, or one of the cell companies strengthens their signal or places another tower in the area.  This leaves us in a pretty difficult position in regards to both communicating with our friends and relatives, and continuing to homeschool our children.

I will of course continue to update whenever possible, though it may mean postdating entries (fortunately, Blogger makes that easy and painless).  And we will continue to give our kids the best education we can, even if the technology is sparse, and even if it eventually means we turn to the local public school district (it is small, and the longer we live here, the more wonderful things we hear about it, so this may well be a very good thing).

The point is, things are changing here, and we're still progressing, but it may be a bit harder to see it from a distance.

Willow's 8th Birthday Party

Finally had Willow's friend-party yesterday

She once again decorated the cakes







I decorated a little, but didn't go too nuts (the pinwheels went home with the kids along with hibiscus-print tote bags, leis and hair clips, and shell necklaces)



Hubby printed off some coloring/activity sheets





Only two guests came (of the dozen invited), but they had a great time!

Does the Tooth Fairy Take Returns?

Ember lost her first tooth on Monday (7/4). She put it under her pillow despite her siblings rolling their eyes and reminding her that she already knew the tooth fairy wasn't real.

The next morning, she woke up to find a quarter in its place. She was very excited about it, showing it off to everyone. But near the end of the day, she grew somber. She missed her tooth and worried about what bizarre purposes that weird little fairy might have collected it for. She wanted it back. I told her that she could try putting the quarter under her pillow, but a refund wasn't guaranteed.

She woke up very disappointed to see that the quarter was still there and the tooth was not. I suggested that perhaps the Tooth Fairy didn't understand her request. It should be submitted in writing. She took this very seriously, going as far as asking her dad to help her spell out each and every letter of every word she wanted the letter to say. Major points to my husband for demonstrating epic patience.

Last night the letter was folded around the quarter like an envelope and placed under the pillow with a great deal of hope.

This morning, her tooth was returned. The quarter was left too. We are speculating that change is too heavy for a fairy to fly around with, and that is why they leave them under the pillows of children—teeth are of course lighter than coins, and fairies love gifts, so mystery solved.