February is National Children’s Health Month and for the past 22 out of 25 years, I have been going to area schools teaching the virtues of brushing and flossing. (Di has been sharing this mission with me for 11 years). During my recent visit to Wilkins, I again visited Barb Piotrowski’s classroom. I love chiding her about the fact that she was my 21 year old son’s 1st grade teacher. This year, she proudly informed me that her son, who I started caring for when he was 8 years old, is getting married. He is now almost 28!…touché!... So here is a pic of two ‘old’ ladies who don’t feel old (or look old for that matter!) but have the kids to prove it!
Boy, time does fly by! Dr. Deb's oldest child, Steve, is a junior at Colgate (kind of ironic he goes to a college that has the same name as toothpaste!) and he spent a day at the office checking out what exactly his mom does for a living now that he has to decide his career path. The last time he posed for a picture in the office was when he was a year old! This photo was printed in the office newsletter 20 years ago! Katie Sodders is holding of gubernatorial proclamation heralding February as National Children's Dental Health Month. She is pictured with her brother, Brian and Dr. Deb holding "Stevie" (nice hair Dr. Deb!!)
Family fall fun! My kids are shown helping my parents with some Fall clean up around the house. More than just helping their grandparents, they are enjoying their presence for a while. (I never get too old for mom's cooking either!) It always amazes me how much kids remember their family, even if they don't see each other all that often. The last time my folks were here was nearly 6 months ago. While the kids speak periodically with my parents, they never hesitate to miss them, ask for them, and love them like mad when they are here. The power of love and family - awesome.
Have you ever wondered where all the pumpkins come from for our annual pumpkin decorating contest (this is our 20th year!)? A farm delivers them to Dr. Deb’s house in huge cardboard crates on pallets and then she and her husband (she used to coerce her sons into doing this before they went to college!) divide them up into bushel baskets and load them into her car. It is really pleasant when a rotten pumpkin gets accidentally packed up and putrid pumpkin rot gets all over everything. Our team then schleps the baskets into the office. We develop big biceps in October so don’t be messin’ with us!!
I can’t believe it; I’ve been in braces for three weeks! The first three days after they were placed, although my teeth were sore, I thought this is a piece of cake! But oh boy, after the third day my teeth started to feel like they were set in sponges and over time it started to feel more “spongy”! I could really feel the movement! 
(Did I mention that wax is my new best friend?)
Where does the time go? My precious little girl just turned 4! It's wild thinking about how fast this has been and all the wonderful things she has learned - she's starting to read, learning how to write, and developing her independence... Her little brother is now 2 1/2 and really not so little, but he just loves her to pieces too. I'm so proud of her, and wish that time would slow down. Happy Birthday, Sweet One!
