Natalie "For the love of clean teeth!"

Cleaning my teeth has been a new (and time consuming!) experience. As time has gone by I have become better and more efficient with my cleanings (practice really does make perfect!) I love the feeling of clean teeth; I think they’re actually cleaner now than they ever were before braces! I have to confess, I did try eating popcorn- totally not worth it! Accidentally chomping down on a kernel hurts and the hulls of the corn were stuck here, there, and everywhere under my brackets and under my gums! Never again! A plus to braces, I’ve lost weight! It has to really be worth it to go through my cleaning regimen after any indulgence!

The social hierarchy of the homo studentus universitatus

I have observed that the HSU species gathers in groups and their social hierarchy is complicated. When together the alpha males are attached to video game controllers, totally focused on annihilating their cyber enemies, others are mulling around playing pool, watching the alpha males make their kill, while others are ripping open bags of chips and making popcorn…what intriguing social structure. There is also a select few, usually the females of the group that are intent on rapid communication via texting on their cellular devices. I think they may be socially stunted but who am I to comment?

Dear God....please help my kids grow up to be socially capable and productive members of society (or I will have to change my last name!!)

Raspberries of Wrath...

Berry picking in the summer is filled with lots of laughs, yummy treats, and loads of berries to boot! Gotta watch the sun though! Here's my SPF 1000 son, who loves and insists on applying his own. I know that he will never burn on his face!

My daughter, however, was more content re-enacting a scene from Steinbeck's classic - Raspberries of Wrath, no wait, that was Grapes of Wrath... Same idea.

4th of July Fun!

July 4th in Amherst!

We were lucky to share some front row seats with close friends in the Village. The kids loved the Shriner's cars, and the militia even fired in front of us! Great to be Amherst citizens living with great history and tradition. Next year, we'll enter the bike parade!

I can't believe I've been in braces almost a month!

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!



(Getting my braces on...the point of no return!)















(This is my daughter, Charlotte. She was by my side while I got my braces on.)



I recently went to visit my son in South Carolina. I ate something that I wasn't supposed to (lesson learned) and broke a bracket! No worries, I just secured it with some wax until I as able to get back to New Hampshire and have it clipped off.

(Did I mention that wax is my new best friend?)

Primate visitations...

I am the owner of two Homo studentus universitatus (HSU) primates who have migrated home for the summer. HSU is a social creature. I started seeing evidence of other primate visitations when I would get home from work at night ie soda cans lying about, multiple dirty dishes strewn about the sink (not in the sink or in the dishwasher), every light in the house on. They are also nocturnal. These and other primates seem to come and go all night. I’m not sure why they have to go to a 10:30 pm movie rather than a 7 pm one...

Dear God, please help your faithful daughter try to understand their unusual habits and not bite their heads off. Amen

Happy birthday to my precious little girl!

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!