On a recent "pajamas and cocoa day" the kids were allowed to take a stuffed animal to school; Alex chose to bring in Big Bear. He always brings in Big Bear, and not because he is his favorite. Big Bear is his escort because he is the biggest bear in the bed. He proudly rides next to Big Bear on bus 55 and escorts him to class, collecting smiles along the way.
I believe that despite being streetwise, Alex takes pride in his youth, and is in no hurry to grow up; this display is his embrace of his youth. This seems to me to be wisdom well beyond the street. Of course, small, itsy, bitsy part of it may be, that he might have just wanted the attention. :)
RAP (12.26.2008)
Friday, December 26, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
They Still Hear the Bells
Jake is absolutely in love with "The Polar Express," so we took Michael and Alex up to Massillion to ride that fabled Christmas train. Legend has it the train will stop at your door Christmas Eve, but we took no such chance; Bill scalped us tickets (they are in high demand and you can only get them through a lottery).
The train was decorated as the season dictates and the chefs, elves, conductors (all volunteers) did a great job of entertaining the kids. They brought hot chocolate and cookies as we headed to the North Pole. Once we arrived, we saw Santa, the Grinch, Frosty and a variety of characters from our seats in Car 7. At that point Santa embarked on the train. Michael and Alex may have been a few years too old for some of the evening, but they most certainly were not too old for Santa. They lit up as they talked about Christmas, and he handed them each a sleigh bell, one that they were still able to hear. RAP (12.24.2008)
The train was decorated as the season dictates and the chefs, elves, conductors (all volunteers) did a great job of entertaining the kids. They brought hot chocolate and cookies as we headed to the North Pole. Once we arrived, we saw Santa, the Grinch, Frosty and a variety of characters from our seats in Car 7. At that point Santa embarked on the train. Michael and Alex may have been a few years too old for some of the evening, but they most certainly were not too old for Santa. They lit up as they talked about Christmas, and he handed them each a sleigh bell, one that they were still able to hear. RAP (12.24.2008)
Buy a 5 grandkids Photo Session, Get 1 Son Free
For obvious reasons, we couldn't send you postcard with this photo until now. Taking advantage of everyone being in town Thanksgiving weekend, we gathered the grandchildren for a portrait done on Black Friday.
Shortly after the session, we received a phone call indicating that calamity struck; the batch was lost by the studio. We had to gather the kids once more and do it again on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, before everyone dispersed. To make things more challenging, Ellie didn't want to leave father's arms. We used the missing pictures as leverage to get the classic deal of buy a 5 grandkids photo session, get one son free. We had all the children sit a top of Billy, and covered him in a black cloth. You can't see him in the final image, but he was there, and here is the proof that there is more than meets the eye. RAP (12.24.2008)
Shortly after the session, we received a phone call indicating that calamity struck; the batch was lost by the studio. We had to gather the kids once more and do it again on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, before everyone dispersed. To make things more challenging, Ellie didn't want to leave father's arms. We used the missing pictures as leverage to get the classic deal of buy a 5 grandkids photo session, get one son free. We had all the children sit a top of Billy, and covered him in a black cloth. You can't see him in the final image, but he was there, and here is the proof that there is more than meets the eye. RAP (12.24.2008)
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Competitive Fire
The boys' basketball games are on Saturday; to get them ready I have been taking them to the gym at the Rec Center Friday nights. We practice for an hour, and then go swimming. It is very popular, and their are big bodies all over the court, so we also do drills that don't involve shooting.
I want to encourage and help Michael to run like he is capable. He has always been fast, but he has not been running with good form, and not tapping into his 5th gear. So I corrected their form and had them run a gasser. Alex won, and I wasn't going to have that, so I had them run again and again until Michael won. He had downed a bottle of water and was breathing through his mouth, which I did correct, so he was hurting. More interestingly was that Alex was struggling too, but his fire wouldn't let Michael win just to get it over with. When Michael finally won, he earned it.
RAP (12.23.2008)
I want to encourage and help Michael to run like he is capable. He has always been fast, but he has not been running with good form, and not tapping into his 5th gear. So I corrected their form and had them run a gasser. Alex won, and I wasn't going to have that, so I had them run again and again until Michael won. He had downed a bottle of water and was breathing through his mouth, which I did correct, so he was hurting. More interestingly was that Alex was struggling too, but his fire wouldn't let Michael win just to get it over with. When Michael finally won, he earned it.
RAP (12.23.2008)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
It Isn't What You Have, But How You Use It
Alex's parent-teacher conference was today, and as usual his academics were stellar, with the exception of spelling (wonder where that comes from). Hearing that your child is bright and gifted is nice, but there are a lot of smart people with a myriad of talents.
Mrs. Johnson then told a story about a child who was noticeably suffering from anxiety about going to speech therapy for the first time. "Awex" has been going to it for years, and asked his teacher if he could assure the boy. Permission was granted; Alex walked over, put his hand on his back and told the kid that speech is a lot of fun because Miss Eickholt gives you candy and plays games with you. He also informed him that, "You are lucky. I love it." The boy's anxiety dissipated with those words. Alex doesn't even remember who the kid was, because this wasn't out of the ordinary for him. This is what he does, and who he is.
RAP(11.20.2008)
Mrs. Johnson then told a story about a child who was noticeably suffering from anxiety about going to speech therapy for the first time. "Awex" has been going to it for years, and asked his teacher if he could assure the boy. Permission was granted; Alex walked over, put his hand on his back and told the kid that speech is a lot of fun because Miss Eickholt gives you candy and plays games with you. He also informed him that, "You are lucky. I love it." The boy's anxiety dissipated with those words. Alex doesn't even remember who the kid was, because this wasn't out of the ordinary for him. This is what he does, and who he is.
RAP(11.20.2008)
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
My Creation
You never know what will capture a child's imagination, so it is important to expose them to a variety of things. Birthday and Christmas gifts from people less familiar with them are good for this, but what is even better is when the gift isn't even for them; such is the case with a present by the name of "Snap Circuits," Michael received for his 11th.
This simple science kit is designed to allow a child to safely play with electricity has captured Alex's imagination, so much so. that when we were watching TV as a family last week, he was getting frustrated that the commercials weren't long enough for his experiments. He riffled through 50 projects in the book, but has since started designing his own. I certainly did not know that this would so engage him like it did, but fortunately it found its way to him.
RAP (11.19.2008)
This simple science kit is designed to allow a child to safely play with electricity has captured Alex's imagination, so much so. that when we were watching TV as a family last week, he was getting frustrated that the commercials weren't long enough for his experiments. He riffled through 50 projects in the book, but has since started designing his own. I certainly did not know that this would so engage him like it did, but fortunately it found its way to him.
RAP (11.19.2008)
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Do You Have Time to Do Know... You Know What?
Saturday night we journeyed to see a sneak preview of the new Disney film, "Bolt," in 3D. We allowed each boy to choose one friend to accompany us. Alex chose Koh, and Michael selected Susanne. We think Michael is sweet on her without even realizing what that is yet, but it wasn't even a proto-date as evidenced by Michael's wardrobe.
Proto-date or not, he had a good time and was jumping up and down in elation as we dropped her off. He told her father that he "had a great time, and I hope she had a great time too." Her dad responded, "Yeah, I am sure she did." Michael's attention then turned back to Susanne, and he said with a sheepish enthusiasm, "Tonight.. do you have time to do know... you know what?" After the jaws were lifted off the ground, it was explained that he was talking about meeting on "Club Penguin."
RAP (11.18.2008)
Proto-date or not, he had a good time and was jumping up and down in elation as we dropped her off. He told her father that he "had a great time, and I hope she had a great time too." Her dad responded, "Yeah, I am sure she did." Michael's attention then turned back to Susanne, and he said with a sheepish enthusiasm, "Tonight.. do you have time to do know... you know what?" After the jaws were lifted off the ground, it was explained that he was talking about meeting on "Club Penguin."
RAP (11.18.2008)
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