Happy 15th Birthday Mica!

Today we had an odd storm roll through. It happened very suddenly, and left many in the Omaha area, including us with no power. 

Your birthday didn’t really start out on a positive note. You were brushing your teeth in the dark. 

We are in the middle of a pandemic. I have to say out of all of us in the Apel house you’ve adapted the best to solitude + change. You said that this pandemic gives you time to self reflect.

You were supposed to start high school today. North High Magnet School focuses on Biomedical and Engineering. We found out just two days ago that classes are going to be held remote, for the first semester. You were excited that school wasn’t going to begin on your birthday.

What you got, for your birthday:

•A room makeover - You would have never asked for a room makeover. Why? Because it required work. Ha!

•You also wanted something on the PS4, but missed playing time with your cousins due to the power outage. 

•I got you some candy. I know jellybeans are one of your favorites, but you never get any because Isaak can’t have them, due to his braces. The Dentist may not thank me, but you’ll enjoy them. 

•I made you an ice cream cake, and got Chinese take out. 

Likes: 

•Eating! I went to get a snack, and the whole pan was empty. It threw me because the foil was still on the pan. You're growing like a weed, so I get why you're hungry all the time.

•Battlefront - A PS4 game

•You liked the show Hunters on Amazon Prime

•You still enjoy reading

•You often are listening to music

Dislikes: 

•Bugs

•Getting your hands dirty in the kitchen

Struggles: 

•Scoliosis is our main scare with you right now. You didn't do well at the doctor's office, they sent you to get a scan, and you didn't do great on that either. I'm hoping you just grew too fast. You have to get yet another scan in three months. 

•You have no interest in driving. We shall see. 

Strengths:

You got a big award sent your way from school last year. More on that in a big.  

Overall you're a pretty darn good kid, and I love you!

Happy Birthday Mica!

Birthday Berries

On the 21st I turned 44, for the second time. I say that because I was 44 all last year. On those grocery receipts and anywhere else I have to mark in my age, I was 44. Really I was 43. At least I'm used to writing 44 down.

I spent the day not searching for jobs. Instead I watched movies, shows and picked berries. I picked to have doughnuts for breakfast, because it was my birthday. Travis picked to have Indian food for dinner, because it was Father's day.

A quick note on Father's Day: Retail sucks with it! When Mother's Day is a thing, there's so much to buy and restaurants that give deals for it. When Father's Day is a thing there's nothing! Even the card selection sucks.

Explain this: Why do single moms claim Father's Day as their day? Single dads don't claim Mother's Day as their day. When did this become a thing? I'm not trying to judge. I'm just trying to understand.

Back to birthday and Father's Day shenanigans:

I made the boys watch the chick flick Uptown Girls. I rarely watch chick flicks. Many man flicks are what is played in this house. I consider beat them up, high action movies man flicks. They seemed to enjoy the movie. It's too bad Dakota Fanning doesn't act as much as she used to. She was such a great little actress.

After that I said, "Let's go pick berries!" If you remember this was something I did at work during lunch breaks all the time. Well I texted the boss' wife and asked if I could still pick them. I said, "Otherwise they will just drop to the ground." She said, "Sure we could come pick berries." 

Mica started out holding the bowl, and grabbing high branches for me. That was a help. Isaak's in one of those, "I'm too good to work." stages. So he walked off flinging sticks onto a tree stump. Eventually both boys ended up like this:

I think the boys' behavior drove Travis more nuts than me. I was just happy to get berries.

When we got home Travis picked up dinner, and we watched Nobody's Fool. I told Travis how Paul Newman used to be quite the sexy guy. He didn't believe me.

Here's some sexy pictures of Paul Newman:

What is an older actress or actor that you found to be good looking?

Dear Isaak,

You just turned 12 today! Happy Birthday little man!

For Your Birthday You Got: 

Stratego - a board game

Some artsy markers

A room makeover, which was a lot of work! See pictures below! We went with triangles!

 I painted the base coat over the tape to prevent it from bleeding through:

You helped label what triangles were going to be what colors:

We mixed our own tints, to give variety without having to buy more paint. Tape tear off reveal:

All day yesterday you worked on putting your room back in order:

 I'm thinking about making 3 of these (the colors of his room) to go on the blue wall:

You've been acting 12, for a few months now. I remember when Mica was about that age.

Things You Like:

To Draw: Muscle men mostly | You got the Art Award in Beveridge Magnet Middle School

To Talk: You are a talker, sometimes I need a mental peace and quiet break and have Mica and you go for walks | You love to talk on the phone to your girl friends

YouTube: You like to watch prank and art videos

Movies: You've always liked action and superhero movies, but I'm noticing you like romantic comedies sometimes too

Shows: In particular you love that new show on Amazon called Upload, and if Chris Harrison is on with some cheesy Bachelor type show you are glued to the TV

Food: Pizza and Tacos

Pet: You got his first pet this year named Sunny, he's a Leopard Gecko

Piano: An instrument you picked up just this year | We got you lessons, then COVID-19 happened | You got the Piano Award in Beveridge Magnet Middle School

Things You Don't Like:

Chores of any kind, for the most part - Does any 12 year old like to do chores?

Being cold, you wear your heavy duty robe around the house, and coat around when you were in school

You say that you don't like school, but you were really sad when you found out that school wasn't happening for the rest of the year

COVID 19 is messing up everyone's daily routine | We won't do a lot of celebrating because of this! We do plan on having Pizza Hut pizza, and playing games

When people act like jerks

Your hair getting longer, and in those eyes

Overall you are sensitive to other's feelings. You are creative, innovative, charming, and a great son to have!

Love,

Mom

Happy 14th Birthday Mica!

Mica turns 14 today! 

Sadly our Honda Civic turns 14 too. :(

Next year Mica will be starting high school, and probably learning how to drive. Hold out Honda Civic!

What a great year! Mica does well in school, and won a ton of awards. He's growing up. Mica's growing a mustache. I'd love to introduce him to a razor, but no one else in our house agrees. Ha!

Favorites: 

Hobby: Reading

Mica's a bookworm. If I let him he'd stay in his room reading most of the time.

Club at School: Quiz Bowl

Quiz Bowl is the one thing he gets really excited about!

Subject: Astronomy

Food: Arby's

Really he'll eat most anything. Watch out for the snacks, he'll eat the whole box before anyone else gets a chance to eat them. Hello growth spurts! He's taller than I am, and almost taller than Travis!

Color: Blue

Movie: Avengers Endgame

Thank goodness for his Aunt Angela. She takes him to superhero movies. Travis and I could really care less about them.

Show: Flash

We spent some time watching Stranger Things Season 2, The Man in the High Castle Season 4, and Curb Your Enthusiasm (all the seasons).

Camps and Leadership: 

Banister Leadership Academy

Healthcare Academy

Volunteer at Milton Abraham Branch Library

Hummel Day Camp

Awards:

Geography Bee Contestant

Astronomy Academic Excellence

Social Studies Academic Excellence

Student Council

Quiz Bowl

Language Art Academic Excellence

Student of the Week

Outstanding Achievement in Music

Renaissance Gold

Perfect Attendance

3rd Place in Think Tank

New: 

He gets to do the morning announcements this year. He's super excited to join the News Crew. 

Dislikes: 

Insects, especially butterflies

Bananas

Eggs

Sports

Tasks, although he's getting so much better with helping. Only when I ask though.

Happy Birthday my Leo! 

Happy 93rd Birthday Grandpa!

My Grandpa turned 93 yesterday!

As Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm would say...

He did have a scare when we were on vacation. He lost 1/2 of his blood. It's a miracle, or he's lucky to be alive if you don't believe in miracles.

Blood transfusions kept him alive. YAY for modern technology!

He's still pretty with it. Don't get me wrong, the brain gets tired just like everything else does. Sometimes he'll forget things that happened, mix up his great grandchildren, or forget that someone passed away. BUT he still has a sense of humor, he can still vocalize what his needs are, he loves us, and is a giving man.

I made him take usies with me:

He kept making faces, and I told him to "Stop it!"

We got together at my Aunt's house for fried chicken, potato salad, bbq beans, and a Costco cake. If you haven't gotten a Costco cake, you're missing out! It's inexpensive, and good!

Here's most of the Great Grands. Minus 3. My niece lives in KC, and my nephew (her brother) didn't hear us call them to come pose with Grandpa. They are the two oldest ones in the family. Often we mix them up for grands. I have a cousin that's the same age as my niece. Emerson is heavy, and won't stand up on his own, so he's missing too. All together he has 4 daughters, 9 grands, and 15 great grands.

What's the oldest someone has lived in your family?

Happy Birthday Isaak!

Dear Isaak,

You turned 11 today!

We spent much of the weekend in the car, but loved spending time with the Apel side of the family. We don't get to see them as often as the Spiehs side. Grandma Apel made you chocolate cake. Nom Nom!

You moved up in the world, and got your first cell phone. Kind of necessary when we don't have a land line. You're excited to take the Babysitting Class at the Omaha Public Library this summer. They have Basic First Aid as part of the class.

Activities:

You were too busy this year. We had to take something out of your schedule. You want to sign up for everything.

You enjoyed (not all at once) Show Choir, Strings, Basketball, Soccer, Student Council, Chess Club, and Safety Patrol this year. You go to Banister Leadership Academy on Saturday nights. We made you drop Chorus because you were so busy.

Favorites:

I still think your favorite thing to do is draw. When you don't have homework, or a sport you draw.

We've been watching all the shows of Medium on Amazon Prime. It's our show!

You go back and forth from liking basketball to liking soccer.

You love free nights where there's no homework to do. It's a woo hoo! moment!

If we celebrate it, you totally dig Taco Tuesday.

You are gentle with younger kids.

You like to hang out with kids that are nice. Your words, not mine.

You are goofy, yet empathetic.

You like to cuddle.

You're a good helper. You enjoy working outdoors the most. You hardly complain with any other task given to you.

I know you're growing like a weed! You snack all the time, and often have seconds for dinner. Later this week we get to see how tall you are, at a well visit with Doctor Harrison.

We Have to Work on:

Being speedy. You are our kid that takes awhile to get ready in the morning. You eat slow. Taking tests slow is a struggle. Especially when there are 6 tests in one day. I feel for you with that one. I'm a slow test taker too! Any helpful sites, please comment with them!

New Chapter:

You start Beveridge Middle School in the fall. It's an art and world cultural studies magnet school. We're all so excited! One of your classes will be Piano Lessons!

Happy Birthday once again!

Love,

Mom