WW Benson Shoe Repair {Linky}

 

The 16 year old – Mica went out of the house with the family. He amused me when we passed this shop. 

“Mom that place has two kinds of customers… 

The WWII VET that is a traditionalist. They feel the need to go there because they only have one pair of shoes, and want to support businesses that do things the hard way. They tell the owner the same story every time they go in. 

 Their other type of clients are 25 year olds. They like retro things, are purest's, don’t like to fill the landfills with more crap us Americans buy, and know businesses like this will close down, so they go there.” 

 Ok then!

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Random Tid Bits

1. Mica is 6' 1". Considering that he's 15, he'll probably grow more.  If his back was straight, he might be taller yet. He has an appointment coming up to see a specialist about his scoliosis in a few months. I thought may be had it because he grew so fast, but apparently that's not how it works. He was more than likely born with it, but it doesn't show up until their early teens. 
   
   
   
   
   
2. The boys have to switch their main doctor out. I'm kind of sad about this. I have zero ideas on who to switch to. I don't even like my regular doctor. Errr
   
   
3. Considering that Mica's tall and lanky, I need to buy him new tops. He's not fat, but some of his sleeves are 3" from his wrist. Have you ever bought clothing from Tall stores? Boy are they borings styles! If some stores actually do have talls, online they are slim pickings, once I do find something it's super expensive. 
   
   
4. Mica's tall, but such a scaredy cat. If a bug flies in his direction, he screams, and runs away. Often times I don't know what's up with him. It's a surprise to me to. Like...why is my child screaming? 
   
   

   

   
   
5. My niece Margaret is cute. She tests to be like a 4 month old, when she's 6 months old. It's higher than Emerson, her brother with Trisomy 18. 
   
   I said to Travis, "Isn't she cute?" He responded with, "Ya she's cute. But she'd be cuter if she didn't have that stupid bow on her head." I laughed about that off and on for a whole afternoon. Especially since I just got done telling my boss that I want them to be up font with me. 
   
   

   

   
   

   
   

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!

I'm ready for Spring!

Mica is taking a school trip in the spring. He's going to Chicago. 

I'm so ready, for this to happen, for him and us. 

• I'd like to be done with the monthly payment, for his trip.
• It will be nice to have a break from Mica, and Mica have a break from us. He's a good kid, but I honestly think everyone needs a break from their routine at times.
• He'll have fun! 

I really love that their bus is a company has more than one staff member on duty at all times. One of their staff stays outside their door in the hallway at night; to make sure nothing bad happens. Kids would have trouble sneaking away. Mica's a rule follower, but you never know peer pressure could set in. I teach college aged kids, and have seen the change in what I like to call "kidadults".

The boys haven't been to Chicago, since they were this old...

It's really time we all go again. A great friend lives there. We could stay with him.

Mica will experience the big city once again, without us.

I know Mica's not flying, but I'd like the best carry-on luggage. Do you have any brands you recommend? We have toiletry bags, bigger suit cases, but nothing in between small and big.

I'm not sure what Mica's itinerary will be, but with it being Chicago there's lots to do. Here's things I would want to do:

• Eat a Deep Dished Pizza
• Go to the Museum of Science and Industry
• Check out art at the Chicago Art Institute
• Visit The Bean and other outside sculptures
• Go up the steps to the Willis Tower, ok maybe the elevator
• Visit Chicago Cultural Center (one I haven't been to)
• See Sue at the Field Museum
• See Jelly Fish at the Shedd Aquarium
• Experience art at Smart Museum of Art (one I haven't been to)
• Experience more art Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art (one I haven't been to)
• Get a taste of culture at the Swedish American Museum (one I haven't been to)

What would you want to see in Chicago?

I do love those city passes, but I kind of feel like they make you go see things you don't want to see. Then you don't go see things you do want to see.

Disclaimer: This post may include link(s) where I have gotten paid for.

Random Tid Bits

1. I've had not 1 but 2 companies lately say that I'd get something to review, and to send over my address. Then I never heard from them again. Has this happened to anyone else? I didn't say anything bad, I just sent over my address like they asked. That's like a winner not getting a prize that they spent time entering. 


2. I belong to this app called Nextdoor.
   
   This lady (we'll call her Cally - not her real name) put out a thank you for people getting her groceries and helping her out, when she asked for it.
   
   I was curious to see if I knew her or any of her friends, so I copied and pasted her name into FB. It was the same person on both. She has a dent in her forehead like she was shot, or got something removed and stitched up. She has the same star tattoos on her chest.
   
   On her FB page someone posted, "Cally has moved on to the next life and we (her family) would like people to stop messaging her. Her phone is on so we can hear her voice, but please leave her and us to rest."
   
   Now I'm wondering if there is a true mystery there. Is this girl dead to her family? Was she running from something, and that's why she needed help? My mind won't escape this drama.


3. Has anyone else out there watched Man in the High Castle - the final season?
   
   I love that show, so much! I put the book on reserve at the library, for Mica. Let's hope he reads it. He's mostly into watching videos on his phone, and laughing.


4. Mica fell at recess. Side note: How great is it that he has recess? Isaak doesn't at his school. Well he has Walking Club if he gets done with lunch fast enough. He never does with brushing the food out of his braces. Back to Mica falling...He did something like this: He went to step up, there was no step, so he lunged into a metal step with his ribs, flipped, and landed on his knees.
   
   He knocked the wind out of himself, so he couldn't breathe, or talk at first. Everyone gathered around. He went to the nurse's office. There she told him he bruised his ribs. We were never called. How odd, I thought that was protocol now a days.
   
   We weren't planning on keeping him home the next day, but we did when he fell again in his room.
   
   My Mom made me feel so guilty about leaving him home alone, and not taking him in. He's just uber sore! This is the same lady that sent my sister to school when she had an Appendix that needed to come out, and when she had the Chicken Pox after I just had them. She said they were moles. Moles that grew overnight. So if Mica gets worse it's on me. Ha!
   
   
   
   
   
5. I really wish the lady that helped us get an HSA account knew more to tell us. She didn't even know how to assign us 2 cards.
   
   We overpaid in it. I didn't even think that was possible. Now it's a mess! I think the cap is $6,000, and over all we put in more than that. Here I'm thinking it's a good thing we put money into it. Ya know to pay medical, dental, and orthodontist bills.
   
   Travis had to go to the Orthodontist to have them take that out of our checking account instead of our HSA account. Then he has to go to the tax guy to figure out our options. 

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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! 

WW: Awards {Linky}

At Mica's school he had an award ceremony.

The little tall boy likes to wiggle on stage. He seriously does this gig, which makes it hard to photograph him.

He won:

• 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

He thought they missed him for Think Tank. I told him he's good. He and a friend like to compare how many awards they got. It's a healthy competition.

He was pretty proud of his awards. So am I!

Post ANY post you want comment love on! It doesn't have to be wordless or wordful. I like rules sometimes, but they are meant to be broken. Link up a post! 

WW: Mica's Awards

I've been having a hard time getting back into blogging after Christmas. I have so many pictures, and things I could be sharing. I got sick for a few weeks, and just was slow with everything.

Travis, my husband has had quite a few studio visits, which is great, but his studio is the basement of our home. Lots of cleaning up.

Isaak's needed help with school work. More so than other years. He's just never connected with his teacher at all. He's also in a lot of basketball, so we run here and there for him.

I have a different teaching schedule this semester. It's doable. Just hard to get used to.

Now that I've given you the rundown, let's get started...

Mica's quite the character. He gets for the most part A's in school, he wins a lot of things, but if you ask him to do a task a home it's so very frustrating. Isaak, which is 2 years younger than Mica can move circles with chores around Mica. Mica's a great kid, just kind of lazy at home. We joke about how he uses most of his brain power at school.

Recently Mica was picked by his teachers to leave school to merge up with other middle schoolers, for a fun challenging day. They participated in something called Think Tank. I'm not sure what it all involves. I do know they put kids in random groups. They are not placed with kids from their school. They get a problem of sorts, and have to think how to solve it. Mica's group got 2nd place! He came home with a trophy and dog tags.

He also found out that he won 1st place for his Science Fair Project! That's a pretty big deal considering the school he goes to is a Science Magnet School. We thought his board would go on to the next level up, but I guess they went by ribbons. He gets a special ceremony at school. His project was on how long it takes to bleach different colors of hair. True fact: It took longer to bleach the red head's hair than it did the brown head's hair.

Funny tid bit: The girl Mica likes doesn't like him at all. Her parents walked over, Mica shook their hands, started explaining his board. Her Dad said to his daughter, "See this boy has his stuff together!" Ha! We all had a laugh about that at home.

Other things I don't have photos of: 

Mica was picked to participate in the Geography Bee at school, for the second year in a row. He didn't win. It's still a big deal he was picked at all to participate. 

He's really into an extra thing called Quiz Bowl. It's kind of like Jepardy, only there's no answering with a question. There are meets every other week. Mica's school group got 2nd place last Saturday! The school gets that trophy. There's tons of smarty pants kids that participate in Quiz Bowl, so it's pretty cool his school got that far! 

He was selected to take his ACT's, and does that this upcoming Saturday. We signed him up for the science selection. It will be interesting to see how he does.

Smarty Pants

I know many people have struggled with sending their kids to school too early. In fact my Mom questioned that with me. I was almost held back when I was in 2nd grade. I always wonder if we sent Mica to school a year too late.

He started preschool when he just turned 3, so he could be with his cousin Evan that had been 3 for 3 months, was in preschool for 2 years, while Mica was in it for 3 years.

Why We Waited to Send Him to Kindergarten:

Mica was slow with his fine motor skills for the 1st 2 years of preschool, and the 1st year he didn't participate in any group activities.

See the photo of him covering his eyes? That's what Mica did during group activity time.

The preschool teachers actually thought there was something wrong with the muscles in his hands. He wouldn't hold hold a pencil, crayon, or scissors correctly. We went as far as talking to his Pediatrician, and having the school district come out to access Mica's lack of muscle in his hands. They said, "There's nothing wrong with your son."

That summer before Mica's 3rd year in preschool his fine motors clicked big time. It's like he was waiting to use his hands before they worked perfectly! He drew pictures with so much detail for his age, and could cut out curves and zig-zags. He continued on with preschool, and the teachers couldn't believe the difference in him.

His whole 3rd year in preschool I wondered if he should have been in Kindergarten already. Everyone kept saying, "You'll be so glad you waited! He's a boy, and has an August birthday!"

On to Kindergarten:

Mica turned 6 soon after Kindergarten started. He was always ahead. He got 1's or A's all throughout elementary school. The only thing they'd say was, "He could elaborate more. He could problem solve more." Both of which I contribute to his laziness. He was friends with kids that were above the spectrum like he was. He was one of the only kids that was consistently in the gifted program.

Friendships have been rough along the way. He was good friends with a kid that moved, he was wonderful friends with a girl that decided she didn't want to be friends with boys - that really confused him, he was friends with a boy that was nice but switched classes and then they somehow couldn't reconnect, and he was friends with a boy that only Mica asked over to do things - Mica grew tired of the other boy's lack of trying.

It wasn't until his 5th grade year he slightly connected with 2 kids. Then it was time to move on to middle school.

Moving on to Middle School:

We've had the kids and parents over that Mica slightly connected with his 5th grade year. We like the parents!

What does Mica do when we get together with them? He hangs with the kids for a bit. Then he comes to sit with the adults. He often times migrates towards adults over kids his own age. His vocabulary has always been way above what other kid's his age is. Those kids are gifted too. One started school when she was 4, turning 5.

I do wish the Gifted Talented Teacher would work with Mica more! The one at the elementary school level is fantastic! Mica emailed her last year to ask when he'd get to see her? She responded, then never met with him. I was hoping she'd push him more.

ACT:

We got a letter in the mail from Duke Tip. It was saying that Mica did so well on his Standardized Testing, they want him to take his ACTs. He's only in 7th grade.

I don't even know how I feel about this. I did so bad! I got a 14! Begged to take it untimed, and got a 25! I've always said that determining smartness in a kid by how well they do on Standardized Tests, ACTs and SATs is not right! They put me in the lowest of low English classes when I was a kid. I loved English. I got A's, but would mess up on my standardized test. They moved me up to the regular English class, and I got an A still! All my friends were gifted kids. I wrote Standardized Tests, ACTs and SATs off as a crock of duke.

Here my son tests so high that they want to have him take his ACTs early!

What if Mica taking his ACT test is pressuring him too much?

I had to look up what Duke TIP was. I had no clue. I was in the special classes for people that needed help in school. Not in special honors type classes!

The Benefits of Enrolling in Duke TIP's Talent Search Programs from Duke TIP on Vimeo.

Conferences:

We had conferences with Mica. They have the kid in with the parents in many cases now a days. Mica's getting all A's and 2 B's.

A (B) in Gym because he couldn't run with Shin Splints. That I get!

Also a (B) in his honors Pre Algebra course. He was missing a few assignments. I asked if he could make them up? His teacher said, "Yes" and that we could find them online. I couldn't find the pages online, emailed her, and she couldn't find them online either. Mica could have done them, and the teacher didn't get them recorded. Regardless by doing the 2 worksheets he could pull up his grade. Mica's response, "Don't worry about it. I'll just bring the grade up. It's an honor's course. It's good I got a B." I had his teacher email me the pages. She gave me the instructions for him to do the even problems, but I made him do them all. He gets lazy if you let him get lazy! He did all the work. Then he told me the sheets were in his backpack. In actuality he couldn't find 1 of the sheets. Well it was on the table. He would have walked out that door making me into a liar to his teacher. I told her he'd have the sheets in on Monday!

I found out from his Social Studies teacher that he's great in class. She just feels bad because 1/2 the class is bad apples, and the other 1/2 is above average. She put Mica in Quiz Bowl, which I think is great for him! They meet some Saturdays for brainy sessions. He needs to be challenged to be less lazy! I'm hoping through Quiz Bowl he can possibly develop some good friendships! Pretty please!

Fall Festival:

Isaak's Fall Festival through school was on Friday. There were a lot of kids Mica's age there. Many from his elementary class. That includes the ones we've had over from time to time.

It seemed like there were groups of kids here, and groups of kids there. Where was Mica? Hanging out with the adults.

I decided to look up stuff on Gifted Kids because I never have. I always thought, Well he does well in school, what would I possibly need to know other than that? It turns out there is more to know. I've been good with sending the kids to camps during the summer, having Mica move up to honors courses is a great thing, but I did read this website that explained friendships:

"There’s a reason your gifted teen has older friends—or wants them. Water seeks its own level . . . and so does intellect. Gifted teens often find that they have more in common with other teens slightly older than themselves and thus, they seek out their company. Seldom is this harmful, and more often than not, it can actually help your teen mature in beneficial ways, as older youth will let the younger ones know when they are acting 'like kids'. Social modeling is frequently a positive result when younger gifted teens spend time with their older counterparts."

Leadership Camp:

The boys have been back at their Leadership Camp, for about 4 weeks now. Most kids are difficult there: Underprivileged, struggle with family life and school... Then there's our kids. We aren't rich, but our boys get their needs met. Our kids do well in school. The leaders at camp asks about our kids a lot. That's to help with the funding of the organization. When I express my concerns...all the stuff above and more I feel like, they probably think our boy's problems aren't really problems in comparison to everyone else. To me Mica's being lazy by settling for a (B) in Pre Algebra, when he could easily get an (A). It would be different if he worked his ass off, and got a (B). I'd be proud of him for that (B). Mica not having friendships with kids his own age is a slight problem in my mind. I'd love for him to connect with more people! Isaak has a whole other list of problems: He totally can't get on board with his teacher this year, his vocabulary is the opposite of Mica's - limited, and he's a Drama King. I feel like my concerns are odd in comparison to many.

I don't know if I should have sent Mica to school a year earlier to begin with. I can't change that now. It's just something I think about. I do know that I need to keep pushing him. He could easily slip down a slippery slope to Lazyville. 

Happy 13th Birthday Mica!

Dear Mica,

Happy Birthday son! You are now an official teen. Next Thursday you start 7th grade.

You've surpassed me in hight, you're always hungry, so I know you're going to keep on growing.

I still need to take you out, for a photoshoot.

Birthday Prank:

He needed a new water bottle for school, so I got him one. For some reason water bottles were a problem last year. One got broke twice, and another lost. He also asked for candy, so I filled the water bottle up with Sour Patch Kids - I know he likes them. I told him this morning that when you turn 13, you don't get wrapped gifts. The water bottle was his 1 and only gift. He knew somehow I was messing with him. As the morning wore on I came clean that he had 2 more gifts. He was happy.

Things You Like:

• You're into survival games like Risk, Pandemic, and Catan

• Wipe Out, or any other obstacle course show

• You beg for Little Debbie snack things in the grocery store

• Videos on The Black Hole

• World history - In particular World War II

• Reading anything

• Volunteering at the library 

• Music! You seem to be into Led Zeppelin, Bon Jovi, and Michael Jackson lately

• Legos 

• To make faces when I try and photograph you

Things You Dislike:

• Bugs

• If someone pops out at you, you get scared easily

• You swear you don't like the outdoors, but seem to enjoy your outdoor camp

• You dislike your brother coming into your room

• You get annoyed when other people your age don't know classic songs

• Eggs

• Tasks, but they are good for you 

Newness:

• You've been watching Isaak more and more - When we're around you fight, when it's just you two you are friends

• You want to try out for cross-country and possibly get into the drama department at school

I hope you have a great 13th birthday!

Love,

Mom

The Ripper Tales | By: Mica Apel

Just a short explanation before I go right into Mica's story. I told him towards the end of winter break that our local library had a writing competition going on. He had to include a character in a book that he's read.

It was due last week. Travis printed it out, read it, and decided it couldn't be submitted. Why? Because it was too gory, for a kid's writing. We'd probably get a call wondering what our child was reading, or watching on TV. No he hasn't watched Dexter with us. Nor is is a crazy child. He's actually very normal, gets along with other kids, and does well in school.

But the story is really good, for only being 12 years old. Just know he got the ideas from a book about Jack the Ripper.

Image Belongs to: Thomas Haynes Cutbash

The Ripper Tales 

Written By: Mica Apel

September 12, 1888, 3:00 PM

Hello diary, my name is Eel Witherson. You may have heard of me when I helped Dr. John Snow discover how Cholera spreads in 1854. But times have changed here in London. Now I am a detective and I have a very intriguing case. This morning, a young girl's body was found in a secluded alley with a slitted throat and lower body organs taken from her body. I think it is the work of a disturbing serial killer with surgical expertise. The bloke must be keeping organs as a prize of his foul doings.

September 19, 1888, 11:00 AM

This morning I woke unprepared for a hellish morning. My neighbor, Beatrice, was found dead in a damp sewer. Same scene, slit throat, lower organs out. I have a thought of who this killer is. Last night, a man, bloody to the bone, was sighted in Boar's Bottom Bar. I will go tomorrow to investigate and possibly confront this man.

September 20, 1888, 9:00 PM

I had a gruesome day with two more bloody deaths one at 8 and one at 2. I have nicknamed this man Jack the Ripper, due to him ripping organs out of his victims. As I entered Boars Bottom, I spotted Jack ordering a Bloody Mary. I asked him if he knew of four strange deaths that have happened over the past week. While he was explaining his alibi, I noticed a bloody scalpel in his left pocket of his jacket. I took it explaining it was evidence, when he rushed out of the bar fast as his long strides could carry him. Next time I confront him I will be ready for him. Bring it on, Jack.

October 2, 1888, 12:00 PM

Jack has not been sighted in a very long time, but today he struck again. This time he killed a 15 year old girl, same scene, same story. He left telling me to go to LeFonza's Talbot at 11:00 PM. Here I am waiting here at twelve o' clock! Wait! Here he comes! Thwack! Aaaoouuhh! That hurt, Jack! You want to play, Jack? I'll play, with my rapier! Shiing! Spliff! Ugghh! Well (cough!) that's the end of the Ripper. After my midnight duel, I buried Jacks halves in an unmarked grave hehind the talbot. For the rest of London's years, it will be free of the Ripper.

By: Eel Witherson P.H. D.

Random Tid Bits

1. I'm back to being sick with something. I'm just a snot bucket, with a sore throat. I really could use some energy to get things done. 


2. Mica's been selected for many things at school lately. That's positive.
   
   At home he just sits in his room and listens to music. He doesn't even read as much as he used to.
   
   I went to his room and said, "Can you be my water boy by filling up glasses of water for dinner?" He said, "Ok. I'll do that." 5 minutes went by...no Mica. I finally started to yell at him. When he came into the kitchen I said, "Listen! Kids and husbands say that Moms yell and nag too much. If you don't want me to yell or nag, than do what I say the first time." After that I gave him jobs to do. It usually takes him 3 times to get the dishes washed right. He's learning.
   
   
   
   
   


3. It usually takes Travis 2 times to get a load of laundry done right, so maybe Mica gets this having to do chores over and over again from his Dad. ;) Travis left 1/2 the pile of laundry on the floor, and wondered why the load was so small. Maybe I'll give him the chore of making laundry soap the next time that needs to be done. ;)


4. Isaak has in his mind that he wants to make a really cool coffee pot Valentine box. I've never made crazy cool Valentine boxes with my kids. I've done cool Valentines. I aways feel like the box is just going to go in the trash. At least with Halloween costumes they are worn more than once. Isaak says he wants to use it for a few years. Travis is helping him make a coffee pot Valentine box. What's the coolest Valentine's or Valentine Box that you've made?


5. My first year students are so with it that I've had to come up with more material for them for lectures. I don't find myself repeating as much as previous years. They just get things. :)

Meet Hernia

We got Mica into surgery as soon as possible after we learned that he had a Unilateral Inguinal Hernia without obstruction or gangrene.

A) We wanted him in because I had already hit my deductible. Might as well add to hit the family one. Yikes!

B) We didn't want obstruction or gangrene to happen.

C) It wasn't going to go away on its own. He had it at least a few years.

D) He'd have some recovery time before school started back up.

Travis took the boys to the doctor, and the pre-op appointment. I love the boy's doctor, but I am annoyed that he didn't look into there being a hernia before at his last appointment. At least we caught it before obstruction or gangrene happened!

I took much of Friday off to be with Mica for surgery.

The boys used to beg me to go to Children's Hospital. It was a big deal when we went. I never would let them go because I sure as heck didn't want them to pick up anything at the hospital. We really only went when one our our own kids had to go, or when my nephew Emerson was in the hospital.

Mica's sure showing his age because he wasn't stoked about the lobby of the hospital like he always was before. They even had a party going on with snacks and costumes, and Mica wanted nothing to do with it.

We had to be there 2 hours before the surgery time.

He didn't complain about being hungry at all. Surgery was at 1:30, and he hadn't had anything to eat, since 6:30 the night before.

The most pain he had was the IV being poked into him.

He laid there reading a book called Ugly, which is kind of like Wonder only less emotional (according to Mica).

I didn't see him for a little over an hour.

The nurses were cracking up over the stuff the was saying!

He dreamed about Jen and Pat talking about Mine Craft, which I happen to call Mine Crap. He wised he dreamed about kissing a girl. 

He was freaking out about not having boxers or pants on. 

He kept covering up his head to look at his incision; even thought it was covered up.

He went to the bathroom, but came back apologizing to the nurses and me because he forgot he was supposed to sit, and not stand to pee. 

Then when he was handed his bear, which they give everyone he named him, "Hernia Man". He said he had to name him that because Isaak got one and named him, "Stitches" when he was younger. I'm just glad he didn't name him "Nut Job" because that's what Mica and Travis kept inappropriately calling his procedure. 

Meet Hernia Man:

We got home safe and sound. Mica asked if he could take his hospital band off. I messed with him and said, "No! You have to leave that on until you're all better. That's how they track you!" I think he believed me for a minute. 

He's done really well! Kind of looked peeked. No fever, rashes, and just a little muscle pain. I only had to give him 1 big pain pill. His surgery strips fell off. He kind of panicked with that. I told him that the nurse said that may happen. 

He only has to miss 2 weeks of activity. That's 1 week of gym participation. 

What kinds of surgeries have you had? I had 2 C-Sections and the nose surgery. The nose surgery was far worse than the C-Sections. 

Dear Mica,

Happy Birthday Mica! You turn 12 today. You're a tweenager for sure.

A month ago we decided to get you your first phone. That's your big present. With walking and riding the bus to and from middle school we figured now is the time to get you a phone. We also lost our land line some time ago, so you needed a phone.

Today I'm giving you a set of lenses for your phone. 

Likes:

• Taking pictures with your phone is your newest hobby.

• Music! You love playing Queen, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and Brono Mars the most. You like Peter Gabriel, Bob Marley, and the Village People. 

• Reading! You've been really into this series called Spirit Animals this summer. You read classics like Of Mice and Men, Two Kill a Mockingbird and more. You'll read books 4 or 5 times over again. 

• You still love movies and shows. Grimm is one of your favorites right now. No one else around here likes it. We've been watching The Cosby Show as a family. Yes Bill Cosby has been in hot water, and on the news a lot this year. It's still a good family show. You'll watch any movie really. 

• You got your first "job". You volunteered at the library and helped stock books, and collected zip codes from people for their Read to a Dog program.

• You started playing the trumpet. There are times when you practice where you're pretty good. Other times I don't think you try. You had hopes of playing Sledgehammer from Peter Gabriel, but you quickly learned that Hot Cross Buns and songs at that level would be played mostly. You did get to learn the Star Wars theme song, which is fun.

Your Personality Shines in This Video:

Dislikes:

• You're not a big fan of chores. You had to take over for me when I got an upcycled nose (surgery) hand washing dishes. 

• I've been having you do laundry at times. Last week I had you take up a load, and you forgot to dry it. 

• You still dislike playing outside and sports, but did decided to give soccer a shot in the spring.

Other Things:

• You do this thing where you bend your elbow out to stretch it. It drives Dad nuts. Ha!

• You're more apt to want to be in your room more. That's kind of the reason why I called you a "Tweenager". 

Goofball Photos:

Happy Birthday my soon to be Middle Schooler!

Love,

Mom

WW: Last Day of Elementary {Linky}

Mica had his last day of Elementary School a week and a half ago. I think it's so odd that we make such a big deal out of kids ending preschool, which is only a year or two, but we don't for elementary that's five or six years. I'm not saying that Elementary School should have caps and gowns, but why do many of our preschools?

Anyhow Mica will be moving on up to middle school next year. He'll be bussed for the first time. Many of his fellow classmates are going to different middle schools. An old chapter ended, and a new chapter is soon to begin.

Mica and his teacher Mrs. Hume:

I admit that I did tear up when they kept calling Mica's name off for different things:

• 1st in the Science Fair that he did with his friend Aiden. They did theirs on germs in the house.

• Safety Patrol all year long, before and after school.

• Student Council where this year they mentored younger children. Mica felt super proud of that!

• Gold for academics. 

• He was mentioned for being the top of the school for the Spelling Bee, and in a group for the Golden Sower Reading Competition. 

I was holding my composer just fine, until Mr. Miller asked for the box of tissues because he just couldn't hold his tears back any longer.

I handed Mica his book that I had all his teacher's sign. I only wish that I would have thought to have his PE, art, music, councilor and technology teachers sign it. Oh well. All his main teacher's signed it.

My little boy started out at this school as a shy Kindergartener: 

Now he's a confident 6th grader:

I know awards are just pieces of paper, but they do make me proud: