Random Tid Bits

1. I asked Travis to put our work lunches in our cars last night because it was cold enough to be a refrigerator. I went out to start my car, and the key was just left in the door. Any random stranger could have easily stollen my 14+ Honda Civic. That would have made me sad! 




I'm kind of wondering why he had the key like that anyhow. It works as a remote.


2. I got a Jury Summons, for the first time. They sent me a return envelope, but there's nothing to return. It has a website to go online to fill out some info, but no paperwork to put in the envelope. What a waist of money and paper! Unless I'm missing something. Ekkk! Have you been on a Jury before?


3. Not a great picture, but still funny! Isaak thought if he put his shirt like (the image below) he looked like a true Egyptian.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Isaak had his first wire poke out of his braces. Just his luck - not - the Orthodontist Doctor is out of town. He has to go in on Friday to get the wire removed, so it doesn't drive him nuts all weekend. Then go back in on Monday to get the wire put back on.
   
   
5. Mica had a few girls over, for their Science Olympiad project. Last week one of them forgot. I was so happy she gave us an, I Sorry Card. All is forgiven. It was funny listening to them work. They were so giggly. Isaak kept saying how annoying they were. LOL!

WW: Kailey's Wedding {Linky}

My niece Kailey got married last month. It was a pretty wedding, and reception. 

The only sucky thing...my sister told our Dad to put his camera away. I think she didn't want him getting in the way of the paid photographer. She didn't tell me that, but I knew to stay clear of the paid photographer. I didn't get any great shots of the bride. You know how it is, hustle hustle. I do hope the paid photographer did a great job. 

This one would have been good, had I used my camera, and not my phone. But they were like this for literally 2 seconds for me. 

My niece with my nephews that were the ring bearers. Too bad we couldn't of gotten Emerson turned around!

A few dance shots:

I did get other family members though! 

Meet my Dad and Mom! My Mom was off looking at the wedding party, so I snagged a single shot of my Dad. It was click, as fast as you can time.

 My Dad, Isaak and Nephew Elijah (both age 11).

My Dad, Mom, Nephew Evan and Mica (both age14).

Mica and Nephew Evan (both age 14) being goofy! Mica loves to do this, for photos.

Isaak and Nephew Elijah (both age 11).

The Bride's Brother, my Nephew Ethan (age 19 I think).

Mica, my Nephews Evan and Ethen.

Then my sister Terra wanted me to shoot some photos of her family. Well, she kept wanting me to shoot photos. She wants to use one for her Christmas card. Try shooting a photo of 4 boys, one special needs that bobs around a lot. Lots of things going on! The other kids wanted to hang out, or play. I wasn't expecting this at all. By the time I shot a lot of her family, my kids were so done. I didn't even get shots of them alone, or with each other. I think I shot 20, or so of just her family. With Emerson, you almost need an assistant. The next day she was after me getting the photos to her. I love her, but wanted to scream.

Here's us:

An Us-ie of Isaak and I. Isaak got sick later that night. He slept late the next day, was sneezy, coughy, and didn't look good. 

The highlight of the night wasn't the photos, it was the wedding, but also when my Uncle Dave was getting a beer - Travis and I started dancing with him all crazy like. He didn't honestly know what to do.

When was the last wedding that you went to? 

Get Off My Lawn!

I think I'm a pretty patient person. I can talk down a crying, panicking kid. I'm great with any kid young, old, or even adult coming to my house to Trick or Treat.

There somethings I will only put up with, for a little while.

Travis came home from Isaak's basketball practice last week saying, "I just can't stand the older kids getting in the way of Isaak's practice!" I asked if he said something? He replied with, "No it's not my job."

Who's job is it than? Coaches at the Y don't get paid. When I went to Isaak's basketball practice this week; I made it my job to say something. I said something 3 or 4 times actually.

I let the older kids shoot for about 5 minutes into my son's practice. Then I said, "Hey guys could you kindly not shoot hoops, or bounce the ball, while these guys have practice. It's hard for the coach to talk, while you do that. We're paying for the gym right now." They looked at me like, Really lady!?

They left. Then they came back again. Their body language was like they want to flip me off. I said something again much more stern.

Two of them proceeded to dribble the ball up, down, and around the curtain. Every time looking at me. I got up, and sat down on the floor, right by the curtain.

Then much older guys came in to use the gym. They actually started out pleasant by asking when the gym would be open. Ten minute later they grew tired of waiting, and didn't just play in the practice space, but dunked the ball several times. The younger kids saw this, and lost total respect to join them. I went over and said, "Can you guys do this later? My son, and his team are in practice? The coach can't even talk to the team." One of the older guys said, "We're not distracting!" As he was hanging off the net of the hoop. I said, "Ya you kind of are!" The coach piped up and said, "Ya you are. Play later."

Once another Mom sat down, for the next practice I asked if the older kids were a problem the week before. She said, "Yes! Our coach had to cuss them out by saying, 'Get the hell out of here!'" 

As I left the Y, I told the staff up front about the punk kids. 

Isaak said, "Mom my friend James said, 'Your Mom must really not like those kids!', but he was happy you said something." 

I said, "Isaak it's not that I don't like them. I don't know them. I just want you and your team to have a good practice you can hear. I'm paying for you to learn. Next time I should just sit right under the net."

These are things that came to my mind:

I used to be so shy, but with being a teacher I got over that! I don't believe respect for older people is always needed, but instead respect the situation. An asshole adult may not deserve respect. Maybe I was that asshole adult that day. I started with asking nice. It was my son's team that was paying for the space. 

It isn't just the punks showing up on the court, when my son's team was in basketball practice...

It's also my own students. I have for the most part the best student ever. I have three that horse around in lab. Ok, so it's their time to work. If they don't want to do that, their loss. The same three all get on their cellphones when I'm in lecture. I stopped my lecture to say something. I just haven't been in the mood to put up with disrespect. 

What's something you can't tolerate? I believe we all have breaking points. 

Random Tid Bits

1. Isaak has had a sub for 2 days in Math. It's been so nice. Zero homework. I feel quite a bit more free.


2. The day Isaak had in school suspension, for playing essentially tag when he was in Walking Club he got all his homework done. Travis said he should have that more often. Um no! I emailed the Boy's Dean, as did Travis, and we both never got a response. Insert eye roll.


3. Mica's so smart in school, but does the craziest things. The other night I had him helping me make Chicken Quesadillas, with some toppings.
   
   I asked him to spray the Quesadilla pan. What does he do? He starts spraying the top of the Quesadilla maker, and not the grill part. Ya I did a face palm! Then I told him about the fictional character Amelia Bedelia. I find myself snapping at him a lot. He's a sweet kid, but just does the most dingy things!
   
   
   
   
   At least the Quesadillas turned out good!
   
   

   

   
   
4. Another day Mica was being critical about how I peel eggs. Travis suggested I boil a whole bunch, and let him peel them. He thought I did them just fine! I did just that. When I posted about this on FB I got a bunch of comments on how to make eggs. I can make and peel them just fine. Since Mica commented about them, it's his job now.
   
   He held the eggs as high as he could, dropped them, then peeled them. Hey whatever works son. I could care less about his process. It's a lesson...you complain, you get to do the job.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Mica has a partner for Science Olympiad, which is an extra curricular thing. Mica made arrangements that we would pick her up last Saturday at 10. I went to go pick her up. It takes about 15 minute to get to her house. When I got there she wasn't even up out of bed. She bowed out.
   
   I told Mica if it were him, he'd have to get up, and get ready in 7 minutes. Her Mom handled it differently, which is fine. She was grounded. Mica said she cried. He told her it's ok. I said, "I wouldn't have told her that." He said, "Mom if I would have said something harsh she would never talk to me again. She's sensitive." How would you have handled that if you were her parents? 
   

Happy Halloween!

This is the first year I won't have my boys going out for Trick or Treating. Actually Mica stayed in last year as well.

It's supposed to snow AGAIN! I'm afraid we won't get too many Trick or Treaters. I might be wrong though.

I'll turn on something spookish, for the boys.

Isaak is dressing up in his all one colored body suit; to hand out candy. He wanted all black, but they were out of stock. It was supposed to be all white, but came red. I won his costume, so I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. I thought if it was all black he could be a shadow, or throw anything scary with it. If it was all white he could be a mannequin, or ghost. What does one do with an all red body suit? Ideas are welcome. Otherwise he's happy just answering the door with his all red body suit, for the Trick or Treaters.

Since my work is crazy about Halloween, I went dressed as Salvador Dali. 

The Good: 

It's an art school, so why not dress up like an artist?

It wasn't expensive! All I had to buy was a T-Shirt that I'll wear other times, plastic ants, a mustache, and I did buy black, white makeup, eyeliner, and black hair spray (all of which I can use again).

The Bad:

I didn't get up any earlier than normal; to get ready.

I couldn't find my face glue, and know I have some.

There were students that didn't get it. I had one student ask me if I was Charlie Chaplin? Not the right mustache, for Charlie Chaplin. I found out first year hasn't gotten to Surrealism yet, in Art History. My Aunt Becky said on Facebook, "Who are you supposed to be?" Ya she isn't into art. I even had a hashtag #salvadordali in the post. Some people just don't read.

I didn't get first, second or third place, for my costume - when it came to the staff. I don't get anything for it anyhow, but I thought it was original, and I fit the part. I also was in my office quite a bit. It wasn't a teaching day.

A little bit about Salvador Dali:

He uses crutches and ants in many of his pieces.

 

I added ants, and borrowed a crutch from my Dad - put ants on that. I wish the ants were smaller.

I made myself more black and white because that's how I view Salvador Dali mostly. From black and white photos. 

My shirt had The Persistence of Memory on it:

 Will you, did you dress up for Halloween?

Poop Already!

The oh so cute Sunny AKA our Leopard Gecko is backed up. When we got him he had blue sand in his tank. After researching, we found that sand even if it has calcium in it isn't good for him to digest. They lick everything.

We reset up his tank to have coconut substrate in it made for lizards. I read that, that was ok.

He's pooped, but it had blue in the poop. Now it's been 2 weeks, since Sunny has pooped.

At first I was just like, "I don't know how much he actually needs to poop. Maybe there's poop that's hiding in his tank."

We've researched some more. Any loose stuff in their tank isn't good. Out went the coconut substrate. He now has a cork board, for the ground. He has fun things to hide under, and climb on.

Travis didn't believe me at first, but to help Sunny's body relax, and keep up hydration he needs some warm baths. In the water he goes. We've been watching him, so he doesn't drown. He just needs water to hit his under belly. Then if your lizard likes you, you can rub his tummy to help him. I did that. He didn't seem to mind. After that Olive Oil can be applied to his lips (we used a q-tip), and put in his drinking water. We did that. Still no poop!

We only have to take him to the vet if his eyes seem sunken in, and he's not active at all.

There were mixed reviews on feeding him, or not. We laid off on feeding him one day, but fed him the next. Then we followed up with more Olive Oil.

We decided to take him in to see a Lizard Veterinarian. It was $60 for the visit, and $10 for a laxative.

After he had the laxative one day he pooped. YAY! $25 for them to test his poop sample. Then they want a follow up. I just want him to be regular. If he can become regular, I'm all for skipping the follow up. Ha!

Moral of the story:

Leopard Geckos do best with a hard surface, for a ground. No sand, no substrate. Just newspaper, paper towel, and Scotch Brite Pads (Smooth Surface, not Rough). I think cork board will be just fine. It can be taken out, and washed.

Have you ever had problems with an animal? If so what was your problem?

WW: Road Kill Pizza {Linky}

We were at Subway, and I spotted this pizza in the parking lot outside. It was both gross, and funny as hell!

I decided to give it better looking cheese and pepperoni. 

Then I decided to make the pepperoni tops of mushrooms, and then this little village slowly took place.

My Jailbird Plays the Piano

I got a call last Friday, right before I was supposed to give my 1 hour lecture. Who was it? It was the Dean at Isaak's new school. Before I really talked to him I confessed that the reception is horrible where I work, just in case we got disconnected. The call took me off guard.

Here's How it Went: 

Isaak was outside in Walking Club. He started to tap or jab a few other kids. The other kids did the same. No one was hurt, or threatened. BUT Isaak didn't own up to it. It was behavior that often leads to fighting. Touching others isn't tolerated at that school. He gets an in school in school suspension on Monday (today).

I said I'd talk to Isaak, and got off the phone as quickly as I could because I knew my class was about to start.

Fast Forward to the End of the Day:

I mentioned this distraction phone call to a few people that all responded to, WHAT? You've got to be kidding me. I got out of class, went back to my office. I tried to call Mr. W., but he left for the day of course. I sent an email. I mentioned that if in fact he had bad behavior (which I don't think what he did was really bad per say), please help Isaak with getting more speedy - give him tips. All week last week he went to bed at 9:30, and probably didn't fall asleep until 10 due to the Strings Concert he HAD to go to, for his grade, and homework. I'd love for him to go to bed at 8:30 because we wake up at 6.

I wanted to say:

I'm just really glad Isaak's making friends he can play with! My co-worker thinks I should talk to him, and take him out for ice cream because of your ridiculous punishment. Don't you know boys play like that? Heck even some girls do. 

I picked up Isaak:

I got Isaak because he was at Poetry Slam. He didn't seem too bothered. I thought the boy would be in tears.

He said, "Mom look what I got!" It was an award, for the most outstanding Piano player. He was the only one that got one. Along with that he got candy, a free ice cream at Dairy Queen, and a few other random things. He was super excited!

When I brought up that the Dean called me, he said, "That was super annoying. Mom I didn't even feel like we did anything wrong. I seriously touched them lighter than if I was playing tag with them. They weren't bothered by it...until we got in trouble." 

I said, "Well I'm proud of you for your award. That is a big deal. We'll have to take a photo tomorrow when the lighting is better. You may have to serve the time for the touching big. It seems crazy to me! I emailed Mr. W., because he was gone for the day. I told him if you have to have suspension, which I don't agree with, I want them to give you all your homework, and work with you on tips for speeding up the process. Mr. W. really should focus on other kids that bully." 

Isaak said, "Am I in trouble at home?" 

I said, "No. Just know the rules at school, so this doesn't happen again. It's really ridiculous!" 

When Travis caught wind of it he email Mr. W. as well. 

We haven't heard anything back. Maybe I should call, but I kind of feel like I did what I could do. Isaak's learning about injustice today. I sent him to school in a sweat shirt that says, "Do Good", and "Be Good". I said, "Please don't wear your jacket, let them see the shirt. I love you! Ask them a lot of questions. Make them help you with your homework." 

What's something that you got in trouble for that was not called for? 

I had a few things happen:

I had to stay after school in 5th grade because I didn't realize there was a back to a homework assignment. My Mom was pissed at the teacher! I always did my homework. This was one time that I missed something not purposeful, and was in trouble for it. 

I used the word Enormous one year, and the teacher I had LOVED it because it was such a big word for me. The next year I used that same word again. That teacher kept me after school because she thought I copied that word off the board. She wasn't my favorite person in the world. 

Random Tid Bits

1. I got invited to one of those online parties. In my younger, just an adult years I didn't mind them. I went to a Tupperware, a Pampered Chef, a Discovery Toys, Usborne Books, some craft, and some costume jewelry party.
   
   I even hosted a few of these parties with my sister Terra.
   
   Now I can't stand them. I'm tired of feeling like I have to buy something at them. It's like, the pressure is on! My sister Terra has had 2 Norwex, a Young Living, and a LuLaRoe party. I managed to skip the Norwex and Young Living ones.
   
   I did buy a magic glass cleaning cloth from Norwex. I never really fully believed in the oils. Sure they smell good, hold some different properties, go well in some homemade cleaning recipes, but they aren't going to magically make all your problems go away.
   
   I just got invited a few weeks ago from a high school friend to join an online Usborne party. I said, "Really? I've hosted one, and been to another, my kids are ages 11 and 14, what could I possibly get out of this?" He convinced me it would be fun. The party happened to land when Mica's conferences were. Their books aren't cheap, and I have a plethora of gifts saved up for my youngest nephew Edison from blogging. I did very little participation. I just entered my name for the drawing. Go figure I won.
   
   Part of me wanted to just pass, but I'm like maybe it's something I can hand off to one of my nephews. It's a hard book cleaning rag. It's going to Emerson because he can't be around any germs.
   
   The host messaged me, "Can you tell me why you didn't participate in the party?" I think I gave her more of a response than she needed to read. Hello I'm a blogger. 


2. Isaak's rotated out of Piano, and is now in Drama. This also fits him really well. To Travis I've always called him my Drama King.
   
   Tomorrow he has to act out a family member. He's torn between acting out Mica or his Gecko Sunny. I think it would be much more fun acting out Mica. They are for the most part opposite with so many things. One likes sports one doesn't, one likes trivia while the other could care less, one is slow and the other is fast. The list goes on and on like that.


3. I think Isaak's finally sort of used to his braces. I haven't given him meat on the bone or anything, but he can have more solid things. Yay!


4. I was just messing around. Not sure I like this in the least bit. It's just not as funny as I thought it would be. I tried putting Putin's face in with Trump's. It didn't really work like I thought it would. Trump's face is fat and short, Putin's is long and skinny.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Isaak hasn't cried with homework for a long while. I so wonder if a kid can get PTSD from a teacher? My cousin brought that up to me. The thought crossed my mind, but I didn't really want to go there. His teacher covered so much when he wasn't in the classroom (strings, bathroom duty, safety patrol) and then would expect him to do homework. He felt so unsure how to do it, because he'd miss full lessons. I think when school started back up he felt that pressure again.
   
   He is super slow, not dumb. Just moving. That's on him. We're trying to figure out how to get him to move faster, without changing him. It wears on all of us when he's doing homework all night. Mica has to do more around the house than Isaak does. I put Isaak's clothes away, when Mica has to put his own away. I'd like it if it wasn't like that. Mica is older, but Isaak should have responsibilities too. The fact is, is that Isaak has a night of homework, and Mica hardly has any. Parenting is hard at times!
   

Conferences

We had conferences last week. Both boys ended up with A's and B's. I couldn't ask for better report cards.

It was the first time Isaak was in middle school, and the middle school is very different than Mica's. As much as we didn't try to contrast, and compare it was natural to do so. 

We have, and continue to find all the staff at Mica's school to be so positive!

He's the news man in the morning. He loves doing it! He's free to change up things within reason. So he changes his accent almost every time. He makes silly jokes. A sixth grader came up to him in the hallway and said, "Are you the guy on the screen in the mornings? Man you're a good actor!" It cracked us all up, when we heard that story.

His Language Arts teacher likes that he puts his personality into his work. Not every kid feels free to do that.

His Healthcare Academy teacher is all over the place, but it's only because she likes to fit in as much as she can, within reason. She gave Mica a book about Polio, that he has to do a book report on. My Mom had that, so it's interesting. In the middle of talking to her the phone rang. She's like, "Mica can you get that? It's blind people that need to be escorted down here." He got the phone, but his ditzy Mica self said, "Ok come on down to room blah blah blah." It was like the blind was leading the blind. Ha! His teacher said, "No Mica you have to get them. They can't see!"

At the end of conferences I complimented Mica's last teacher. I said, "You know what? I know you don't feel well (she had a cold), but you should be proud. I haven't met a single bad teacher, since Mica started school here three years ago. You're all good." Then I walked away.

I do wish all the students at his school knew the capacity of the teachers, and how wonderful they are! Many don't seem to be as into things as Mica is.

Mica got all A's and one B.

Just like he tries different accents on the morning announcements. He tries different faces when we go out to eat.

Isaak's school had less walking, for conferences. All the teachers had their own little table in the gym and cafeteria. One would think that would be great. It annoyed Travis. He felt it was less personable. Voices echoed badly. There were only 3 chairs at any given table, so if anyone had an extra kid they had to stand.

There's only two teachers of his that I find great! The rest are just ok. I thought I'd think otherwise, considering that Isaak goes to an art magnet school.

Travis and I wanted feedback on how Isaak works in the classroom. His life seems to be school and homework. We don't want his whole life to be like that. I was looking for teacher tips on being more productive. Like, "Rule out all the answers you know are wrong, to pick the right answer.", "Do the easy homework first, and follow up with the harder things., "Talk less." and so on. Not one really gave us any tips. I've learned more from watching YouTube videos on anxiety in kids than I could get out of his teachers. One actually told me that boys just work slower than girls. Right away I thought, bullshit! Mica hardly has homework. He's a guy. That's an old way of thinking.

One teacher asked me who he has for Math. When Isaak said, she said, "Oh..." insert awkward silence here.

Isaak's teachers weren't mean. They just weren't out of the box thinkers, like I thought they'd be. 

Top teachers for him were Piano and Language Arts. He stops Piano now, and takes Drama. They have a rotating wheel of different arts they take. Yay Drama, but pout no more Piano. They seemed to understand creative kids the most.

Isaak got a two or three A's the rest B's.

I am happy both boys are doing great in school, but worried about Isaak's work load. How can I make the boy go faster? I'm not trying to change him. I just don't want his school life to always be homework. With ACT's and SAT's time is a factor. Life doesn't stop for people that go slow.