Dentists and Diners

Andrew took two of the kids to the dentist on Monday and I took three of the kids to the dentist today. Between the seven of us we had zero cavities! I'm always glad when that happens because I don't really enjoy going to the dentist. 

But sometimes we have to do things we don't enjoy, right?

(Hopefully Rachel is brushing her teeth, too.)

Phoebe went first and she asked if I could stay with her, so I sat nearby while she had her cleaning and examination. She did so well—she's come a long way from when she needed me to hold her on my lap while all the dental assistants blew bubbles and sang songs to try to get her to stop screaming.

Zoë was called back next so that she'd be ready to sit with Phoebe by the time I was called back. Soon after Phoebe and I had returned to the waiting room to sit with Alexander, he was called back. And then Zoë joined us in the waiting room, and finally it was my turn. 

The kids read and drew while I was having my teeth cleaned. And then we headed home, all stocked up with tubes of chapstick and mini toothpaste. Phoebe was in heaven! 

We got other things in our goody bags as well. Some dental floss that I just don't like. And new toothbrushes, which we never use—because we have electric toothbrushes, you see? 

Those things are 100% the reason we are getting fewer cavities at our house. I swear by them. 

Phoebe, of course, wanted to open her toothbrush right away because it was a princess toothbrush. We have a deal that she can brush her teeth in the morning with her fancy princess toothbrushes (she has a whole collection) but at bedtime she has to use her electric toothbrush.

Zoë was so flattered that they finally gave her an adult toothbrush (she's been giving Phoebe her princess toothbrushes for a couple of years now). 

"It's like they finally realized that I'm 10!" she said. "I'm hardly a child anymore! I don't need a princess toothbrush!"

Along those lines, it is spring break and the children are living large. Zoë was invited to go to Fernbank Museum with our next door neighbour yesterday. I'm heard a lot about Fernbank but we've never gone because...well, for starters, it is well outside of my driving bubble. And then there's the ticket price (about $25 per person, or $270 for a membership...which would be worth it if I felt we could get there). We simply felt priced out for the effort it would take to get there (which is kind of sad because we practically lived at the Museum of Life and Science when we lived in Durham...because we had a pass and because it was just 10 minutes from our house). 

Anyway, we've never been, but Zoë got to go! And she reported that it was pretty cool. 

These friends also took her out to dinner on the way home from Fernbank. When they asked if they could/should feed her before bringing her home, I left it entirely up to them, and they opted to feed her since everyone was hungry. I was absolutely expecting like...Chick-Fil-A or something...but they went to Outback Steakhouse.

Have I mentioned that we never go anywhere?

We never go anywhere. 

My children have never stepped foot in a formal dining establishment the likes of Outback Steakhouse!

Zoë hardly knew what to do with herself (my bad), but she studied the menu and passed the test (except that she went ahead and ordered dessert with her food because she thought she was supposed to and then was embarrassed...but it all worked out). 

Anyway, she brought home this Joey Menu (for kids 10 and under) as a memento.

Miriam was looking at it over breakfast this morning and she goes, "Aussie Fries? Why would a Texan restaurant serve Aussie Fries?"

"Miriam," I said in a very poor Australian accent. "Outback Steakhouse is an Australian restaurant, mate!"

"Well, that explains the koala," she whispered with a nod.

"What I want to know about is the Grilled Chicken on the Barbie," Zoë said. "What is that even about? Like...grilled chicken...on a Barbie. Just...why?"

"So, in Australian, barbie is actually short for...barbecue," I informed Zoë.

"Oh! That makes much more sense. I shoulda maybe gone with the chicken then...because I like chicken...but I was like...chicken on a Barbie?! And that was kinda weird, so..."

Anyway, she's basically in the too-old-for-princess-toothbrushes, too-young-to-know-multiple-meanings-of-barbie stage of life. So probably she's growing up great!