Introducing Applewood Family Dentistry

This is the Place. BEFORE we took over.

Task 1- Way too many out of control shrubs. The morning after we signed Brent woke up at 3:30 a.m. and couldn't go back to sleep of course. So he got out of bed for an early start. I sent him with the camera. By the time I showed up at 10 a.m. the worst of it was out and ready for the girls and I to haul off. Behind the lot there is plenty of wild areas to just drop it off and forget about it.

Take away the jungle, new stain on the deck, fresh bark and a red door. Now that's more like it. The Doc is ready to hang up his shingle. We still have some black shutters up in the attic to hang.  The building is actually way bigger than it looks. It has a couple office spaces downstairs and around the back that are rented out. Also an upstairs storage area that we need to finish and for a staff room and office for the boss. 

We were so anxious to get going the first day inside that we had all the original  furniture out on the front lawn before I remembered to use my camera. We pulled the bench back inside and snapped this photo.

We decided to work around the Dr.'s original murals, and even incorporated them in with the name of the practice -Applewood Family Dentistry. The selling Doctor (and our girls) would've killed us if we had painted over this artwork.

This whole wall display was free. A yard sale was giving the baskets and vase away at the end of the day when I passed by on my way to the practice. And Ed Stull from the Buffalo ward once offered us the mantle, which we took, though we had no use for it. After 3 years, and several coats of white paint we finally found a place for it. We would love to have a nice picture of our Washington Apple orchard displayed here (How about it Ben?) but until then this will have to do.

THE Bathroom. Not too pretty.

A little better after paint, lots of scrubbing on rust stains, a stolen mirror from my living room, and some lovely Goodwill art. Once again it will do until something better arrives in my inbox from Brent's brother Ben.

This is another precious mural that definitely had to stay. This is the old doctor's operatory. He had a patient paint his home there. I wonder if the patient does trailers? That way the new Doctor could personalize his own operatory.


We are still working on it. I can't wait to have the floors refinished and get the operatory lights and upholstery all color coordinated but we also have to make a living and lately he is pretty busy doing that instead. . . and I am glad. 

First Day/New School

6 a.m.

 At wake up,  Camille is discovered asleep with her first day outfit already on, including the book bag over her shoulder.

 6:10 a.m.

Everyone is looking refreshed 10 minutes later during our family scripture study.  Well, Camille and the Dentist are. There is no telling why Caroline is looking scared.  The other two are clearly still sleeping, though they are sitting up.

7:05 a.m.

 The 7th grader and 6th grader waiting for the middle school bus. One takes the first day outfit very seriously. The other plans to blend in and not look like she tried too hard.   Both will make friends just fine!

No posing in front of the bus shots in middle school. I hid behind the tree and popped out for this one.

8:10 a.m.

Our third grader got bored and decided I woke her up way too early. I agree. She spent the time finding the perfect accessories. Her sister's scarf given to her by her aunt's Candice and Andrea, and a headband she made last year at Activity Day. Our first grader is the only one who got free school clothes this year.  The other girls bought a few precious items they picked out with their office earnings.  I love shopping with them now they are using their own money. They head right back to the clearance rack with me, ignoring all the stunning displays up front. If it is under $10 they will consider it, but usually decide it is too expensive if it isn't less than $5. They have been trained well and now I am turning it over to them.

Our first Visitor

Uncle Peter is the new favorite uncle, and has the title of first visitor. He'll probably be our visitor with the shortest stay also. I thought my parents were the best at that up to now. Peter arrived at midnight and was gone by 8:30 a.m. Caroline and Camille had a blast turning their room into the guest bedroom and even left him his favorite cookies (baked by Camille) next to his bed. He is interviewing for a summer law internship in Manchester, which would really be a dream come true to get him and Candice up here.

After we said goodbye, the kids and I headed straight to the beach for only our second day enjoying the ocean we live right next to. I don't know how two weeks could make such a difference but we all agreed that the Atlantic was way warmer than it was on our first visit. The weather has been in the 90's for 3 days straight so I guess that made all the difference.  Here we are at Rye Beach enjoying our last day of summer. 

I get so nervous having five children at the beach. They can't hear you when you holler at them because the waves drown you out. And they keep getting braver and braver and farther out in the surf.  Marcus wasn't too brave.  He just wanted me to put him down so he could chase the gulls on shore. That's seagulls, by the way, not girls. Marcus calls girls, "Gulls".    I tried to bridge the gap in the middle and keep an eye on them all. It's not as fun as it could be.  Can't relax on the beach or ride the waves but it's better than. . .  not being at the beach. 

I spent some of the time talking to a couple next to us. I cherish each time I can have a new conversation with someone because. . we just don't know anyone. It's easy when you live in a area where you naturally have a social life with family or even while we were in dental school because there were so many others like us that they kind of became family.  Now I realize it is going to be much harder to make a friend.  I am a lot like my Dad in that I could just talk to complete strangers forever and have the best time in the world. But then I have a harder time taking it past that point and turning it into a friendship. People have always done that more for me and if they didn't then I just didn't have a close friend.


Another thing I have definitely been noticing is. . everyone is so warm and kind in New England.  I can't think of a single rude encounter I have had. . .and that is something coming from Buffalo. Our neighbors in Buffalo were fabulous. Just like the saying goes, "City of Good Neighbor". But drivers???  and Almost everyone in the service industry were so rude and acted like you were really inconveniencing them to be in their business at all. It was so bizarre.  I can't tell you all the times I told myself I was going to call a manager, and then all the times I observed a manager acting just as badly. And the swearing. I heard really bad words every time I went out. And much of the time it was from employees. I think I have heard 2 swear words (We don't have cable) since I moved to New England.

If you ask me, I think there were a lot of unhappy people living in Buffalo, at least on my side of town. And now I am surrounded by happy people. It's pretty great. So I'm just enjoying the overall friendliness and great conversations I have had at random places like the post office or grocery store..  People are especially friendly when they hear we are a family of 7 that moved here. . .  just because.


Totally untrue what they say about New Englanders being standoffish.

Date night in Boston

After one very long, very strenuous week at the office we got out of town Thursday evening. Only 1 hour and 20 minutes to our nearest temple- Boston, Mass.

It is so nice to have a three day weekend right now with the practice only open Mon-Thurs. Brent needed this time to recover.

Second week starts tomorrow. Hopefully things run a lot smoother. It has been a little crazy for him jumping in like this. He has had a full schedule of dentistry every day. .  .well except the day he had to make an unscheduled shut down for maintenance. We are still confident we bought the right practice in the right town. But As Anticipated it has been a bumpy ride so far.  It would've been so much easier to just get a job. . but it'll all pay off in the end.  . . WE HOPE.

Brent can fix anything. If it breaks. . .  He takes it apart- Superglue's, jimmy rigs - Whatever it takes, but he has it back together and running smoothly by the end of the day.  Around our house that is a prize possession. The kids and I break at least one thing a day. 


Apparently that is the way it goes around the office also.

Brent's VERY first day was a total bust. After 15 years without a single glitch, the suction system went out exactly at 10 a.m. Monday morning just as he was finishing making his first buck ever as a dentist. 

All appointments had to be canceled for the day for both him and the hygienist. I guess you can't do dentistry without suction. His office staff urged him to call the dental suppliers after a couple hours of his tinkering.  But Brent was determined to figure it out and avoid a thousand dollar professional office visit. 

Turns out, the system was completely backed up with 15 years of amalgam. He spent the rest of the day in the attic or basement successfully unclogging it.  (Just a little edit by Brent.....I didn't unclog the system, I had to replace the entire plumbing of the suction system by working on top of and around the desks of the office below the practice-Not my idea of an ideal first day as a dentist.  I felt like I was back in my farming days fighting fires)

Tuesday they were open for business again. 

I don't know how a normal person manages to be a dentist. I am sure that there are people that can be hired to do these things. . but how much would it cost and how long would it take? I am convinced Brent is is our best resource.

He also found out during his first appointment that the burrs used for drilling don't shut off with a simple foot tap. It was more like a long pronounced stomp. That's something you would prefer to find out before you are inside someones mouth. Later, after questioning the former dentist he told him it had been like that for years and he'd grown accustomed to the extra time and strength it took to shut the darn thing off. 


Brent fixed that also. . . of course. Just another day at the office.

And he also fixed THE CHAIR. The one that has sat right in the middle of it all collecting dust for over five years. There are three operatories in the office and one of them has been out of commission forever due to a dental chair that just stopped working one day. Two different dental supply reps came out and spent several hours with no luck. Rather than replace the chair, that operatory was abandoned and became a storage room.

 Brent took a look at it, and within an hour of tinkering . . . It was the best seat in the house! His hygienist liked it so much she asked him to please exchange it for the one in her operatory. 

So that is how things are going at the office. 


At home. . Marcus refers to the big blue house as "New Hampshire". I spoke with him so much about his new house in NH that it is all one and the same in his mind. Now whenever we run errands or leave for the day. . . or even go on a walk he keeps asking "When are we going back to NH?" 

His favorite game is Marco Polo. Sometime in Washington this summer it started and he would play forever, us saying Marco and him answering "Polo".  Yesterday he took it way too far. I didn't even know we were playing. I just knew I couldn't find Marcus and I had been yelling "Marcus" all over the house for over five minutes and was beginning to panic.  The girls came to help and Smart Savannah hollered out "MARCO".  Just then from behind the dehumidifier we heard a "POLO".  He had been there the whole time just waiting for it. Little turkey. 


Caroline is insisting on doing some school shopping with her hard earned painting money. I reminded her of her overflowing closet. Not only has she inherited the hand me downs of four sisters, but has also been the recipient of many other families in Buffalo that thought we looked like we needed a donation. The last bag we got in her size were full of Hannah Montana T-shirts. At least 10. She was in heaven for months and even went through an "I am going to be a rock star when I grow up" kick. 

But now that she is looking forward to first grade. . .  Hannah Montana is so yesterday. Everyone knows it's Miley Cyrus now, right? So she was telling us all this on the way home and declared that she won't be wearing a single hannah montana to school, they are all "too Kideous".  

Don't you love it? Kiddish and Hideous all in one word. I think that word is going to be used a lot around here. I love it. 


"Caroline stop whining, You are acting so Kideous!" 

Savannah has declared our sunroom to be the Dress up/Craft room. She had it all unpacked and organized before I had any say in the matter. Now it's easy to put on shows like this with all these accessories right at your fingertips. . rather than down in the Halloween boxes in the basement. 


Camille and Caroline go along with everything she comes up with.  They each redecorate their separate rooms every other day. One day they have yellow throw pillows on the bed. The next day they are silver with sequins thanks to a shirt they found in the donate box.. They have learned the art of re purposing quite well from their mother. 

Kennon thinks decorating your room once a day is way too kideous for her. She spends her time blogging, playing the hymns, and reading Twilight. I finally gave in and let her read the series.

As for Kashann, for the first time since we we arrived I'm enjoying settling in and having some time to figure out what you can do with a big rental house after moving in from a 15 ft. pod. So many empty spaces. Too many windows to cover.  No money coming in from dentistry. (It probably isn't even that big but you have to remember what I am coming from) I can't help but call that one- our house in the hood and this one- the Big Blue House.

We were invited to our first party here. We were pretty surprised to recieve an invitation from the dentist that once interviewed Brent in his office, since instead of working there we bought a practice just 10 miles away from Dr. Howard.  That's another big plus about the area, I guess. They don't seem to hold a grudge. This party wasn't your typical backyard bbq. It was an actual pig roast, and we all wore our island garb.

 Brent and Marcus were the only ones in the family who own Authentic Hawaiian. Brent was super proud to put on his Dad's shirt with the gold buttons. It isn't usually very appreciated but that never slows him down and he always insists that when it comes to party shirts this is as good as it gets.  Marcus is wearing Brent's shirt that he got from Hawaii when he was a toddler. Thanks Momma Jo for saving it for Marco. Talk about a proud father son moment. And look at the perfect backdrop that is everywhere to be found outside.

There was a craft table, bounce house, slippin' slide, and a hired band. And I was the only one who came potluck style with a salad and fresh peach pie. It was all catered. Oops! 

We met many other dentists and specialists in the area and everyone was super encouraging. Nice to make a few friends.

Month long road trip recap

Here's the moving crew - Ezra, Chris, and Andy- that brought all our junk out of our home in Buffalo. Brent was the master magician that fit all of our belongings in a 15 foot pod. It took way more time than we thought it would and we left Buffalo for Utah way behind schedule. But of course made excellent time with Brent at the wheel. It took us 33 hours to make it to his sister Debbie's in Cedar Hills, UT. The next three days we spent in Springville at a lodge up in the canyon with about a hundred  Pieper relatives.

 This is Marcus's Great Grandma Pieper- the lady that started it all.  He kept running around the place saying, "Where's Grandma Pieper?" For some reason it was love at first sight.

We finally made it to Washington at the end of the week and met up with the Casper's at Brent's sister Jill's home for some fun time around the pool.

Brent cleaned up the spare Buick from our garage and tried to figure out how he could get it back to NH and swap it for the old one we have been running. With no running AC or Title, and little time on his hands though he was forced to leave it behind. He's still trying to convince me to fly back with a couple kids and deliver it here. Since we all know I am such a good cross country driver now. Our old tan one ain't running well at all.

Marcus thought Grandma and Grandpa had really big front steps.

And really wished he could stay and be a farmer boy. He loved the big open spaces and we could hardly keep track of him. This was all new for a city boy.

Savannah spent her 11th birthday at the mansion. We planned a pool party.

I have no idea who invited this dude or what happened to his shirt but the guy acts like he runs the place. 

This was Savannah's first birthday in 4 years that we haven't been on the road moving or leaving on a trip. It was probably her best ever.

 Candice and Alainna are the young fun aunts who take care of our kids at all the reunions. We hope they can keep it up now that they have started their own families.

And it was the only night that we were able to stay at the mansion. It's tough to book a room at Grandma's house these days.

Caroline and Marcus each had a Grandpa in Summerville, OR. Can you guess which one is the real Grandpa Fielding?

We all gathered around the old cowboy for picture. These are all my siblings except Ciana who hadn't made it up from California yet.

Marcus made instant friends with his four year old twin cousins -Aidan and Avery from Dallas.  He really needs a brother. I have never seen him enjoy the dirt so much.

Spencer just started his own PI firm back home. I caught Jeremy and him discussing the possibilities of Jeremy leaving the exciting life of Dallas behind and getting back to his roots, while they waited for their turn behind the boat on the Snake River. This was one of the best days in Washington for me. I remembered how much I loved the sun and the river when I was growing up. I began second guessing our future in New England. Especially if the rest of the family moves back home.

I LOVE getting together with my brothers and sisters. It seems like it just gets better and better.

Somehow I got over it, though and have settled in just fine over here without them. As long as we can do this for a   week once a year I should be okay. Brent? 

We had our annual Casper Reunion at Jill's and it was easy for Grandma Casper to steal Marcus away from his Grandma Pieper now she wasn't around anymore. He is definitely a Grandma's Boy.

This was probably my second favorite day in Washington. I always look forward to the Casper swimming races (which I had a pretty good showing in this year, right Chelsea?) and of course the annual family talent show. We had a pretty lame entry this year at the talent show. Caroline sang a song she made up for her cousin Will on the spot after she found out it was his birthday. She couldn't keep his name straight though and sang Happy Birthday Austin throughout the whole song even after Savannah ran up to remind her that his name was Will.  She was so embarrassed. We are still trying to figure out who the heck Austin is.

Our very last stop before heading across the country was at the Casper Cabin in Priest Lake, ID.

I swam and swam and swam with the kids. It is my new favorite sport. Actually it is probably the only sport that I like and probably could've been competitive in if I would've figured this out earlier in life, rather than at 34.  I am looking to join the adult swim team here in NH.

All of my sisters were supposed to come and hang out with us. Alainna opted not to at the last minute and we were all pretty mad at her about that choice. Especially, Ciana who drove all the way from California with her five children to join us.

I am so glad that I endured all the stress, packing and unpacking, and DRIVING that this big trip entailed. It was totally worth it.

We're BAAAACK!

Here it goes. My first post from NH. After skipping all of July and most of August I am finally physically able to blog and catch up on our summer adventures since we left Buffalo.

If you have wondered what cliff we fell off. . . here's the story. I was on the road for a whole month hopping here and there around the west coast, finally culminating in a 20 hour drive with my children to Sioux Falls, SD on August 1st where my husband flew to meet me and saved me from enduring another 25 hours on my own on the road. We arrived in NH on August 1st but up until last Friday had no land line for internet or phone connection. I didn't mind so much, because who had the time anyway?

The 20 hour drive I took on my own was something I will always be proud of. It was very liberating to find out I was capable. And Honestly?  I could've done the whole 45 without him. I called Brent after about 15 hours somewhere in WY and told him so. But by then we are so anxious to get the family back together, he came anyway.

I don't know how the rest of you feel about driving 45 hours with five kids on your own but it was enough of a concern to feel me with constant dread and reduce me to tears several times during the first 2 weeks of our trip out west.  When Brent flew back to NH and left me behind with a van and children that in WA,  it hit me hard that I was REALLY going to have to do this thing.  I was terrified. Once over the phone I told Brent that it was like my Mt. Everest. I really wanted to climb it to prove to myself (and him) that I could.  But with narcolepsy, it was like I had a broken leg and no matter how bad I wanted to climb this mountain I just wasn't physically able.  So, he flew back to meet me. Somehow he couldn't break down and fly all the way to Washington. I was 10 minutes from Iowa when he finally hopped in beside me.

Driving across the country without him was very liberating. Maybe it wasn't such a Mt. Everest after all. I would do it again no problem. So much for the broken leg.

Since then we moved into our big blue house (on our own in one day with Brent and his girls as moving crew. Even the piano was safely brought in though we opted to leave it right inside the back door as we knew we would never get it up the stairs.)

And we sealed the deal on the dental practice purchase.

It was in need of some serious TLC.  We were pretty sure no one would ever find a dental practice in the jungle.

                               So Team Casper was called out in full force.

Even Caroline got to work. She was our most willing helper by far. The whole time she was there she is right by your side, begging for new jobs and reminding you with a smile, " Mom, I love to work!"

We had more than the jungle outside to attack. This was AFTER the Dr. had cleaned up his desk on his last day.

We had lots of galloping horse stencils to paint over.

There wasn't even a computer in the office. 

Kennon or Savannah entered names in while the Dr. and his wife did the painting, decorating and organizing. The other preteen babysitter stayed home and watched kids. Though I loved working at the office full time, it was tough in other ways. Marcus is no longer what I would call potty trained, taking any naps or listening to a thing I say. We were seriously working around the clock for the last week and half while his new staff enjoyed a scheduled vacation. As we left the office on Saturday at midnight, we could hardly believe we had pulled it off and things would be ready for Monday morning.  We had to hold off refinishing the hardwood floors,  are still waiting for upholstery for some ripped dental chairs, and haven't begun organizing the mess upstairs, but we are very happy with the office transformation already.

Before and After shots are in the works. Still trying to decide if it looks good enough without the refinshed floors and red upholstery we have ordered for it's debut on the blog. Plus, it was too late on Saturday when we finished.

As far as New Hampshire, did we luck out or what? We spent so many hours researching towns looking for our ideal location and folks I am pretty sure This is the Place. It seems to be everything we were looking for. I've told several people that my rental house is in the sacred grove. I hope that's not sacreligious. But see for yourself.

This is off my back porch. We are definitely out in the woods. Besides that we are a short walk to the bay. From there you can hop in your boat, mooring for $150 a season, and head right out to the open seas. As soon as we have time and money that is seriously on the agenda. I think we will start small. Maybe a couple kayaks.

But first things first. So far my husband hasn't made a dime as a dentist. And he also hasn't done any dentistry since May.

Today was the big day. First day at his new office. Good Luck Dr. C! Team Casper is home cheering for you. . and crossing our fingers.

Goodbye Buffalo!

Yesterday our realtor stopped by and made it official. For me it was a very exciting moment. How come so many frowns?

Maybe because they all have to say goodbye to their bff's. Camille and Sarah had a tearful goodbye. Her Dad actually had to pull Sarah off of Camille so we could leave. Caroline doesn't have any of the other kindergarterner's phone numbers . . so she jumped in with Sarah and Camille.

This is Savannah and her best friend Tracy. They will have no problem keeping in touch because they already have the constant skyping habit down.

Kennon said goodbye Wednesday to her young women girls and leaders.  Kennon will definitely miss the leaders (Sister Reyhies and Sister Evans) the most. They were awesome! She had a great start to beehives and got tons of attention thanks to being the only one in her age group. I totally changed my mind about smaller young women groups. They aren't so bad after all because she spends more time with leaders that really are the best examples anyway.

We are real busy packing, cleaning, and selling stuff on Craigslist right now to get ready for our move on Saturday. We are loading all of our belongings in a Pod and having them deliver it a month when we have a place to deliver it to. We got the call on Tuesday that the house would be closing any day so I called Brent and  Kennon attending Girl's Camp and Brent house hunting. in New Hampshire, and told him to get home quick because our time was up.  They had been living there over a week. I know I am totally crazy for allowing him to do that again. This time no big surprises though reminiscent of four years ago, when I got the call. . ."Hey honey, congrats you own a home" . . before even asking my opinion on the $30k Matter. As you know it all worked out in the end, though.  ,

He was unable to get the financing to buy a home though in New Hampshire, so it looks like we will be forced to rent for the first time in our lives. He pretty much came home with little results except figuring out where we want to live if we are able to get into a rental. And nothing was available till August 1st, so that left us with the whole month of August with nowhere to go. 

So I begged and pleaded . . . and Guess What? I talked my husband into driving 38 hours in the opposite direction. First to Utah to hit the Pieper Reunion, then on to Washington for the Fielding and Casper Reunion in late July and our cabin week at Priest Lake, Idaho.

Unfortunately, there was one big catch. When we made the deal I had to agree to drive back to New Hampshire by myself with my 5 children. Brent bought his airline ticket back so he can get to work on the practice by the middle of July and that leaves me with 5 kids, a van pulling a trailer full of our Washington valuables we left behind 4 years ago, and a 45 hour road trip. I'll think about that later. It wouldn't be such a big deal if I hadn't inherited narcolepsy from my father. 

We are so excited to see everyone again and hope that this will be the last across the country road trip. 

Here are some other updates: At the end of the year award ceremonies. . . Kennon was given the Peace Award. Her classmates voted on the person who was the kindest and promoted peace at all times.  I almost stood up to protest, "Excuse me but I have lived with this young lady for 12 years and I can testify that she does not promote peace. . I mean are we talking about the same girl because I am pretty sure there has been some mistake. . . "  but I held my tongue. She also received the technology award but was unable to tell us why or how. 

Savannah got the Presidential Academic Award for her class. 

Camille also got the Academic Excellence Award for her class, an award for some artwork that was chosen as the best in her Manatee club, and was chosen to read her essay about the flag.

We have no idea what happened at Caroline's kindergarten celebration because we missed it for WDW, along with the wonderful solo that I still feel bad about.

So I just am doing a quick post before our my life is in limbo I have no idea where or if I will be posting from after this until I arrive safely in New Hampshire the first of August. 

One quick story I have to tell though before it expires from my memory.

Tuesday night Brent got home from his trip and we were only together about an hour and I took off for a baby shower. The last thing I remember telling him as I walked out the door -"Bye Brent, I am taking Savannah" Two hours later at 9:15 I walked in the door and Brent came down the stairs and said, "You have Camille with you right?" 

"No of course I don't have Camille and you had better be kidding me!"

No they haven't seen her at all and just ASSUMED that she had left with me . . .  and did nothing about it for two hours! So now the trail has gone cold two hours later and it's getting dark outside. I ran outside and found her bike gone. About two minutes went by of total and complete panic, Brent and I racing up and down the street trying to figure out where to even start. No one could remember actually seeing her since dinner. I was so angry. . . pretty much all directed at my assuming husband. 

Suddenly Savannah came running up the street and announced that she had been found in the basement, asleep under a makeshift tent and 50 packing boxes ready to move. Marcus had gone down and found her while we were all running crazy down the street.   Now Marcus keeps running around telling us, "I saved the Day!" 

 I hate those moments when your heart stops beating. I have way too many of them since I became a parent.  

We figured out the next day that her bike had really disappeared. Stolen out of our backyard. The carnival's back in town this week for the 4th.  They set up in the park two blocks away.  The only other time we had a bike stolen was three years ago during the same week.  Those darn carnies!

This is the final post in the Buffalo Chapter. Looking forward to what's next.