Homework

Here are a few of Mica's homework pictures. He has to read a poem or song five times, answer questions about it and than draw a picture about what he read. Daddy and I thought these were really good for age 6.

The ducks are going to the pond. I love the thought bubble, "Quack."

A cook making a grilled cheese sandwich. Above him are pots and pans. That is where we keep ours in the kitchen.

WW Thanksgiving and Christmas

Wordy Wednesday this week! Thanksgiving and Christmas are kind of wrapped up into one for the Apel side.

This weekend the boys and I went Christmas shopping. We actually saw Santa. I know it's early, but he was in the shopping area we went to. Isaak was all bubbly towards him until it was time to take a picture. Mica on the other hand was stand offish. Later he said, "That Santa doesn't look like the one we see at the mall." I quickly said, "Ya. Santa gets helpers to look like him. He can't be in so many places at once. He has Elves to help him with making and wrapping toys too!" He seemed satisfied with my answer. Moral of the story: Take your kids to the same place to see Santa every year. That is if they hire the same Santa back again.

I made both Christmas and Thanksgiving cookies.

Meet Tom Turkey. He was so easy to make. I love how I found one last bag of candy corn on clearance! I totally think they should sell them into Thanksgiving time! The colors say both, "Halloween" and "Thanksgiving"!

 My husband loves football, so I made some footballs as well. Not really my thing, but they are cute!

I made a lot of Christmas cookies, but only took a photo of the Reindeer's food. I need to make more. Notice how I go to Donner and stop!

This was my Grandma's plate. I use it every year. I will cry one day when it breaks. More than likely it will be my fault, I'm accident prone!

Mica informed me that we have to leave Santa a letter telling him that the carrot cookies are for his reindeer and not Santa himself. Last year he ate 1/2 of one and left the rest sitting on the plate. Silly Santa! He also left our stove door open!

I was going to say that I'm thankful for kids that are well. Then Mica and Isaak got the stomach flu this weekend. I am thankful that both boys are doing great academically in school! Have a great Thanksgiving!



If you have a moment, enter my low entry here.

More Sickness

Well Mica was sick this weekend. Friday night he got the tummy bug, Saturday he acted just fine and on Sunday he got the tummy bug again. Odd! On Saturday he was wrestling with Isaak, laughing and acting his normal self. Sunday rolls around and he turns white and throws up.

Now Isaak just got sick. Another load of laundry in in the washer. I just hope Daddy and I do not get it!!! This kind of stuff has to happen when it's holiday time.

Coat Mission

If you are a regular reader, you may remember me discussing kids coats here and here. I've been annoyed with spending a lot of money on a coat; than the cheap plastic zipper breaking. I've found a few coats with metal zippers at Gymboree.

I got an email from The Boys Store tonight. They have a coat that has a metal zipper that is on sale:

The only negative is that it has no hood. Hats are so in. I almost prefer their adorableness over hoods. This English Biker Coat is made by Appaman. The original price is $84.00 and it's marked down to $58.80. It's fully lined, 100% Cotton shell, 100% Polyester Lining, Machine washable and can be put through the dryer.

Lulu Loop

According to Isaak, this classic toy is called a "Lulu loop."

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The Christmas Story

We watched The Christmas Story tonight. They really did a great job of portraying the older brother and younger brother rolls. Ralphie reminded us of Mica and Randy reminded us of Isaak. Not looks wise, but in how they act.

Ralphie was eager to help his dad with pretty much anything and he was impulsive. Randy was whinny and liked to hide. The two boys also wrestled up and down the steps.

Daddy said, "Oh look Ralphie is just like Mica!" Isaak said, "No he's not! Mica doesn't wear sunglasses inside!" I'm like, "You mean glasses Isaak." :)

I told Mica that I'm getting him the pink bunny suit that Ralphie got in the movie for Christmas. He said, "Oh no you don't!"

Just for fun, here's what Ralphie looks like now:

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Here's what Randy looks like now:

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If you really like the leg lamp you can get it at Think Geek for $40. I think it's tacky.

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Crazy Traits

I wanted to blog about these traits that the boys have before I forget them.

Mica's been talking then his lips keep moving even though he's done talking. It's almost like his lips say another sentence after he says the sentence. You just can't hear any words. I mentioned this at conferences to his main teacher and the speech teacher. They both said to ignore it. They said that kids sometimes go through crazy things like that. It's just a phase. I really want to video tape him doing it just to show you what I'm talking about. It's really odd. Of course if I did that, I'd bring attention to it. He also blinks a lot when he's tired.

Isaak says: "Dendent" for Didn't, "Selery" for Sorry, "Suncunt" for Second, "Ermasen" for Emerson and "Micker Donalds" for McDonalds. The last one cracks me up the most. A few I've mentioned on here before. Isaak demands that I say, "Goodbye" to his potty before he flushes it. Odd, I know. I think all preschoolers have a little oddness to them. They are little, funny people. ;)

Christmas Time is Getting Closer

Is it just me, or does it not feel like Christmas time is near?

I think it's maybe because the weather has been warmer than usual. Although it is cold today! It's also because we (my mom, sister's and I) are not doing our annual cookie decorating event. This year it's just not going to work out.

This morning I did decide to venture out of the house. Mica's been fine all day. I waited until 11 to see if he'd act or get sick again. NOPE! I'm glad I stuck around the house most of the morning. I got dishes and a lot of laundry done! Where did we go? Fat Brain Toys. I love that toy store so much! They have toys out for the boys to play with, while Mommy shops. It's small, so I can still see the kids. Also one of my students that graduated is in charge of their website and toy packaging. Pretty cool job. It's full of many toys that you just can't find other places. I got Mica a small 3D globe puzzle (it's small) and Isaak a tiny bamboo car for stocking stuffers. The boys were so preoccupied, they paid zero attention to what I was doing. I saw on their FB that if you whispered "Hide and Seek" at the check out they'd give you something. We got a Highlights Picture Find book. We get thinner ones in the mail, but this one was bigger. Perfect for our trip coming up! Isaak played with a wooden marble track and Mica was all over playing with everything. I am glad that the boys don't beg for things. They are pretty content with me saying, "If you want that, we'll put it on your Christmas list."

If I ask Mica what he wants for Christmas? He lists off all kinds of things! Too many things, Santa won't buy 1/2 of what he wants. If I ask Isaak what he wants for Christmas? He says, "A present." That Santa can cover! ;)

After our venture to the toy store, we went to Bed Bath and Beyond to get Daddy something. The boys were crazy in there. They found a full size mirror that they were making faces in and laughing up a storm!

Then we went to Hobby Lobby. There I got dark chocolate melts. Time to make some Christmas candy! I will be eating hardly zero pieces. It's fun to do and will get me in the spirit of Christmas. I also picked up chocolate advent calendars for the boys.

Last Night Mica Got Sick

He sat down to dinner and said, "My tummy hurts!" We excused him. He went to bed at the normal time of 7:45 instead of staying up later; like he does on many Friday and Saturday nights. At 12 AM he woke Daddy up; than Daddy woke me up. He threw up on his bedding. He also has drawers under his bed, and some went into the drawers. YUCK, but it happens!

I cleared off his bed, while Daddy wiped everything down. The crazy thing is, many kids act perfectly fine after they've thrown up. You really don't know if they are still sick or not!

Mica got up in the morning and I asked, "How are you feeling?" He said, "Fine." I said, "Well it's a good thing you didn't throw up again!" He said, "Oh I did, it's in the bucket in my room." I'm thinking, "Great! Thanks for telling us!"

I made JELLO juice. I just never let it set up. The boy's love it! It's a sick treat. Isaak's strongly supporting a red mustache. Then we had toast with honey, banana and Mica had Greek Yogurt while we had ham and eggs.

So far, no more sickness. I hope it's something Mica ate and not actual sickness. I'd like to run errands today. I'm waiting awhile just in case.

Do You Regret Anything You've Done to Your Body?

This post has nothing to do with Isaak or Mica.

I have this college student. I'll call him Jay for the sake of this post. He loves attention. He came up to my desk and said, "Hey Mrs. Apel I just got a tattoo!" I said, "Oh really?!" Jay says, "Let me show you." I didn't even say that I wanted to see it. He pulls his sleeve up and shows me his tattoo. It's a voluptuous lady squatting holding her breasts up. I'm not sure how he thought I'd respond. I just said, "Boobs."

Then I asked about the cost of this tat? Jay's a student that's always complaining about not having money for rent, art supplies and food.

His girlfriend and girlfriend's parents paid for it. It was his birthday present. Never mind that his girlfriend is trying to save up to go to college herself. I said, "Well I bet they are proud of your tat!" I was of course being sarcastic. I mean what was I supposed to say?

As he walked away I thought about him as an 80 year old man with great grand kids. I'm sure he'll be either covering up his tattoo, or he'll be a sick man that shows it off to everyone just to see their reaction.

I have a lot of students that get tattoos. I work at an art college. It's the subject matter of this tat that makes me want to shake my head. It's not even a nude done in an tasteful, artistic way.

I turned to my assistant and said, "I'm getting a tattoo of a penis on my arm next week." Of course I'm totally joking!!! NEVER! 

Oh and I'm seeing some CRAZY piercing's!

One girl pierced her own tongue. Talk about dangerous!

For awhile it seemed like crazy piercing was kind of going out. Students were putting loop holes through their ears the size of a quarter. I haven't seen that in awhile. The hand above, those piercings seem to be what's in. They do look kind of cool, but one girl that has them is infected all the time.
Have you or do you know anyone that has ever regretted getting a tattoo or piercing?

I've only had my ears pierced. No tats. Daddy has a few tats. The only ones I see point in, is remembrance tattoos. Someone close to you passes away, and you get a tattoo symbol or name to remember them by.

I'd think that with the Go Green movement, artists would want the natural, unpeirced, untattooed look. The 80's style is back, so piercing does go with the punk rock movement.