Random Tid Bits

1. I was full steam ahead over break. Now I'm just blah feeling. It's like I have no energy for anything. Possibly I need to up that vitamin D. Possibly I need less stress in my life. Possibly it's from switching schedules so much. Possibly it's from Isaak's teacher. I'm not even kidding about that last one.


2. Travis has been working more hours at work. His bosses were out of town all of the kid's break, one girl has been sick a lot, and another girl is pregnant (different appointments). Good for the checkbook, but he was less there for the boys. 


3. I have a sort of friend that's always been a hot head. He's a liberal that's very out spoken.  He reminds me of the character Yosemite Sam, but he'd have a cigarette, and wouldn't ever have a gun.
   
   
   
   
   
   He's a college instructor. He said because of the government shutdown, students wouldn't get their financial aid checks. I check with our financial aid director to see if this was true. It isn't. While things may be slow, it's still going to happen. Anyone new to school may have trouble. Anyone already attending school won't have trouble at all. 


4. Isaak got his first C in a class: Social Studies. I decided to order the book off Amazon. It was $6. It came in on the 2nd. They don't want the books to go home because there aren't a lot of them. It's out of print, so pricey to order in bulk.
   
   I had this wonderful thought that I'd act out his Social Studies. I had a teacher that did that for me, and I got into it! The problem is that the book is just really informative, with highlighted vocabulary words. Not really acting out material. It is what it is.
   
   
   
   
   I started to read to Isaak the first part because she said, "Unit 1", but what I was reading was "Lesson 1". Anyhow I read all of it out load to Isaak, made flashcards all for very little. It's not what he's learning right now, or being tested on. He got an earful from me on that.
   
   Isaak came home on Monday and said, "We're not learning that stuff Mom." He showed me where he was at. I started reading that material. Travis texted to see when his test is over Unit 1, and what pages it's over exactly. She texted back that she didn't know; it depended on the kiddos, and how much the retained. What ever happened to lesson plans?
   
   That night I got a text saying that there would be a test on Friday. He can use notes, but he was at Strings when she had them take notes! FLIP! Talk about random! So Thursday night was our cram study night. 


5. Monday the boys started back up to school. I kept thinking, It's a new semester. Things can turn around for Isaak.
   
   
   Isaak went to watch the National Football Championship game with Travis. They didn't watch it all. Just some. They were out late for a school night. 
   
   
On Tuesday morning I get a text from his teacher saying they had a math Standardize Test that day, and to eat a good breakfast. I was like, We always have a good breakfast! But bloody hell! They just got back from break. They are testing right away! How about send the text the night before to get a good night sleep!

Isaak took the test. 20 questions in, the computer flaked out on him. Then it started him back at question 1 again, but the problems were really hard.

His teacher said she'd take care of it for him. The next day his teacher said she couldn't do anything for him, and will give him a homework pass.

I was at home thinking, He's not going to get into the middle school we want him to be in if he can't finish his test, and gets a C in Social Studies.

I emailed Mr. Principal all these new concerns. 

Part of our 2nd meeting with the teacher and Principal was saying that we'd have more time to help Isaak study, and be informed on when tests would be. He called me back in 2 minutes. He was clear, to the point, and told me that the testing was on each student's individual growth. No other school will see the results. He also looked up if Isaak has results, and he did not. So he will be finishing up the test. I felt better.  

#happynewyear

When New Years Day rolled around it was snowing, and very cold. I asked my parents to come over, but they didn't want to get out. We went over to their house.

We were all pretty tired from the night before, but hey we were chillin'.

We brought over Won't You Be My Neighbor?, and watched it.

I love that move. I found it the day after Thanksgiving, for super cheap-o. That makes me like it even more. 

I think my parents enjoyed us coming over, and the movie. 

I think this movie inspired me to get Travis these sweaters at Alpaca Mall. He had a button down sweater already, and wears it ALL THE TIME!

He likes the blueish greyish one best, but I like the brown one. Which one do you like? 

When he wears them I just want to sing out, "It's such a good feeling to know you're alive. It's such a happy feeling..."

The shipping was $9, which I dislike. Hey we both love the sweaters, and I spent less than $100. Most alpaca anything is super expensive! 

Disclaimer: This is not a review. I'm just sharing something I purchased. 

Happy New Year #2019

We debated if we should have a big get together, or not. We invited many people on facebook to a Dance Party, and so many didn't RSVP. We had 3 people that said they were coming.

Isaak was sick prior to the big Dance Party. He invited about 5 kids to come. None of which said they were coming. Mica invited 2 friends. One couldn't come, and the other didn't respond.

Awkward:

One of Isaak's friend's (that wasn't invited) Mom messaged me on facebook, "Is Isaak still having a New Years Eve Party? My son didn't get an invite, and was wondering if he could come?"

Awkward considering that Isaak has kind of had a falling out with the kid. He cusses a lot, is pretty negative, and got on his friend's YouTube channel to make some not so nice comments. That was handled by the school though. We're not supposed to know anything about the incident.

Isaak was pretty bummed his friends weren't coming over, so I was not sure how to handle the facebook message. I messaged her back saying, "We haven't had very many of our own friends RSVP, so we're unclear if we're having a big Dance Party. He is welcome to come play games, and eat food if he likes."

Then I had Isaak asked a kid that hangs with the other kid. We had 2 crazy boys at our house for New Years Eve.

It wasn't until last minute that one of Isaak's other better friends RSVPed. Get this...it was the kid that had not so nice things commented on his YouTube Channel. I informed the Grandparents that are much more involved in the kid's life than his parents about the situation. He came over anyhow.

Drama in Isaak's Room:

Isaak pouted as soon as his friends started rolling in. Much later, and after the fact I found out that Isaak was annoyed that all of his friends had smart phones. They were all on them talking about what games they each have. Isaak doesn't have a smart phone, so he was feeling pretty left out. He didn't communicate with me what was bothering him. I would have had a basket for phones to go; had I known the problem. Even when Isaak's cousin Elijah came, he too was upset that all of Isaak's friends were on their phones. He didn't say anything because he didn't want Isaak's friends to get in trouble.

I was preparing food, and talking to different people that walked in the door. I had no clue what drama lurked in Isaak Apel's bed room. It never occurred to me that technology would be so fun for some, and such a drag to others. Now I know. He's in 5th grade, so I didn't think I'd have to watch them like a hawk.

The next thing I knew the kid that came late had a knock at the door from his Grandpa to pick him up at 8. The kid texted him, and I again had no clue. I'm still wondering if something was said in that bedroom that offended this kid. If so it bothers me. I tend to worry about stuff too much. I'm where Isaak gets his strong empathy. I just like everyone to get along. I dislike school clicks. Isaak's classroom is full of them!

The kid who had his Mom message me on facebook was dropped off with a, "He's spending the night ok?!" I was like, "Ok." It kind of took me off guard. I wonder if she just wanted him out of her hair, so she could have fun. I guess that's ok, but I didn't invite him to spend the night. The kid has asthma worse off than I do. He was packing in the sugary food and drinks. Then his asthma went crazy. I called his mom and she said, "He has his medicine. You can drop him off at home if he's a problem." He's 10 with an asthma flair up. I don't think I'd ever drop a kid off in that condition. He crashed on our floor. Later on his parents stopped by to get him.

Our Own Guests:

We had 5 guest of our own show up. None of which RSVPed. All the RSVPers didn't come.

Poor Mica only got to hang with his cousin Evan just for a little bit. Otherwise he was on his own. He's fine though. It doesn't bother Mica in the least bit to hang out on his own.

He talks about kids, but never has too many over. His school is quite a ways away though.

Do you hang out with people on New Years Eve, or do you just have a quiet night at home? I told Travis I'd be ok with a game night, and food. He rolled his eyes at me when I first brought that up, but now I think I'm rubbing off on him.