Caroline Gets Flipped

Josiah has been giving us more and more details about his retreat as the week has gone on.  One evening he told me that everyone (all the 6th/7th/8th graders) was in one of the big rooms getting a snack.  The leaders had some time to kill, so they announced a Hidden Talent Show.  Josiah said two kids from his cabin went up and sang the theme to Sofia the First (a little kid princess show).  They were followed by two 8th grade boys who sang Let It Go from Frozen.  And then Josiah said he got in line to perform.  When he got on stage he asked the crowd if they would rather he draw or sing.  The majority yelled out, Sing! Sing!  He answered, "So you want me to draw?"  Then he sang I Want to Hold Your Hand by The Beatles.  I asked him if he remembered all the words and he answered by singing the song for me.  He said he got lots of cheers.  The bravery of this kid is astounding.  Then, instead of going back to his seat, he got back in line.  On his second trip to the stage, he drew for them. 

Josiah also said that during the van ride to the camp, the riders were allowed to pick out a song to listen to while they drove.  Todd asked Josiah if he picked Thunderstruck to which Josiah replied, " No.  AC/DC wasn't allowed.  It couldn't have explicit lyrics." 

Benson had a match up with the squirrels again this week.  Unfortunately for the squirrels, they lost this round.  Apparently a squirrel fell from the tree or the fence into our yard and he didn't run away quickly enough.  Benson got ahold of it and shook.  Violently.  I was alerted to it when I heard the kids screaming and freaking out.  Henry got Benson back inside.  Benson had blood all over his nose, but it was squirrel blood.   We watched to see what the squirrel would do because we knew it was still alive.  It walked over to our shed, tried to climb our half fence thing, but couldn't do it.  It sat there for a bit and then walked under our shed for safety.  It was getting dark so we never saw it reemerge.  Caroline said that there were 3-4 squirrel witnesses on the fence and in the trees during the altercation, so she's hopeful they went to its rescue.  

Benson almost got a frog this week as well.  Caroline thought she saw a clump of mud on our floor, but then saw the 'mud' move.  She examined it closer and it was the tiniest frog we've ever seen.  I tried to put a quarter next to it to show its size.  We did rescue this creature and let it back outside.  Frogs are all over the yards here.  Benson usually has a lot of fun chasing them around, though he doesn't usually put them in his mouth.  

And in more animal news, Josiah's last science paper had to be on mammals.  He wanted to do cows solely because he liked Gary Larson's cow drawings.  However, when it came time to draw the actual cow, he couldn't find a picture he liked enough to copy.  So, he went back in time to Chick-fil-a's cow comics from 2012 and drew his favorite cow from that series.  Both of us are going to miss these weekly reports because next up is the science fair.  For the next five weeks they have to work on coming up with a science experiment, write up a research question, a long research plan, as well as all the steps they'll take in intimate detail.  I think these next several weeks are the bane of every mother with a Challenge A student.  The Science Fair is early February.  So depending on what he chooses, we'll be working on it for quite a while.  There was a website he was given that listed many ideas.  Josiah's number one pick so far was to make a bristlebot - a robot out of a toothbrush head.  The head moves around like a bug.  It's neat, but it cannot be just a robotics demonstration, he has to do an experiment.  I already nixed making a volcano (demonstration) and his director nixed anyone growing plants in the light vs. the dark.  

At CC, Henry was able to read his paper in Essentials.  This year there are 14 students in Essentials which is double his class last year (2 tutors last year vs. 1 this year).  Last year, the kids were able to read their papers every week if they wanted to. (Henry wanted to.)  This year, they do not have time for all 14 kids to read each week, so they rotate who can read their full paper.  Henry happily read his paper about the cacao bean, which is used to make chocolate, and how the Mayans used chocolate as money.  His last line was, "Money really does grow on trees."  

We also observed and slightly dissected crawfish in science.  The 'slightly dissected' came from the students who poked a little too hard on the exoskeleton or pulled off legs, or antennae, or eyes....  

Caroline has felt that she was strapped for cash lately.  She lost four teeth in the past couple of weeks to replenish her storehouses.  Right now she has her four front teeth up top with two spaces on either side after those four.  

Caroline also earned her new jiu-jitsu belt.  She was the highest ranking white belt before she moved up to grey-white.  Whenever they earn a new belt, they get flipped by their instructor.  Caroline went flying.  

The kids get to go out to eat when they earn a new belt.  Caroline chose the Olive Garden.  None of the kids have ever been to the Olive Garden, which seems unbelievable, but they were adamant they'd never been.  So we went this weekend.  When we pulled up, Josiah was in awe and commented on how fancy it looked.  Caroline got chicken and spaghetti - no sauce, Josiah got alfredo with a giant meatball, and Henry got the shrimp alfredo adult meal.  They thoroughly enjoyed their food and were quick to say they wanted to go back.  We had a really good waiter, too, which made it all the better.  

Josiah spent his weekend at a hotel with friends.  His favorite friend in all the world turned 13.  He had a birthday party at a hotel in Houston with fifteen kids!  They played video games, had pillow fights, made Rubik's cubes, ate cake, and more video games.  I asked Josiah if he slept.  He said the last time he looked at the clock it was 2:42 a.m.  This friend had very brave parents to take on fifteen 12-13 year old boys.  At one point the mom asked if anyone wanted to toast the birthday boy.  Josiah volunteered to say a few words about his friend.  No fear this kid!

For Halloween this year, the kids went a few doors down to their neighbor friend.  They had a Halloween party and they were over there for hours.  There were games and prizes and a piñata. Josiah carved a pumpkin, but the other two didn't want to participate in that.  Josiah said he started off carving Luigi, but his nose fell in, so he turned it around and carved a Picasso pumpkin.  That allowed for a lot freedom in the carving.

Luigi (L) & Picasso (R) & Josiah dressed as Mario from Super Mario Bros.

Later in the evening, we did our traditional thing where Todd and I go to different rooms and the kids knock on the doors and we pretend to be different people.  They liked it.  Neither Henry nor Caroline wanted to go trick-or-treating in the neighborhood.  Caroline said she doesn't like walking around in the dark.  Josiah only wanted to go to two houses, but we ended up watching a movie and it got too late once that finished.  

And that was our week.  

Junior High Retreat

At the beginning of the week, when I was still staying isolated, Josiah was outside creating a fort with sticks and sheets.  Then he walked around the backyard with a brick hanging on the top of a stick, looking a bit like Thor.  Todd told him that he better not get injured because I had covid and couldn't take him to the ER.  Todd and I have a deal going.  I do all the kids' ER visits.  He does all the dog ER visits.  

Because we had to quarantine for so long, we missed CC again this week.  It was actually an off-week for Josiah, but his class still met to have a pizza and ice cream party and play games all day.  Josiah was pretty sad to miss it, so I let him pick out lunch (as long as it was a drive-thru).  He picked the favorite restaurant of all American children.  The Golden Arches.  

He also spent time decorating his walls with new Super Mario Bros decals.  

On Friday, we tested Josiah for covid.  His results came back negative, which wasn't too surprising.  We had to verify his status because he was scheduled to go on a junior high retreat with our church this weekend.  Todd dropped him off Friday evening.  They drove in vans to the camp.  We had an itinerary of what he was doing each day - there were many late nights and early mornings.  The theme was to grow in their relationship with God.  They also had fun and games planned.  Saturday night they were scheduled to eat Smores at 10:00 p.m.!  Then they were up at 7:30 each morning.  

On Sunday, when Josiah came home from the retreat, we listened to his retelling of his days.  He spoke the most about what they ate.  After hearing about "syrup on every table" for breakfast, I asked him if he had brushed his teeth while he was there.  

Josiah, with a bit of teenage attitude - What??!!  I haven't unpacked yet.  

Me - Did you brush your teeth at all?  

J - I said I didn't unpack yet.  

M - So, that would be a 'no.'  Did you shower?  

J - I showered five times.  

In 2 days?  

He showered upon waking, before going to bed at night, and, apparently, once more mid-day.  Yet he didn't quite get the toothbrush out of his bag.  After the retreat picture:

While Josiah was gone, Todd took Henry and Caroline to a sushi restaurant.  It was the one that had the conveyer belt of sushi rotating around.  When you saw what you wanted, you had to open the door to get it off the belt.  Caroline had never been and she was really excited to be there.  Each plate was about $3, which didn't seem too bad.  The three of them ate 17 plates.  It was worth it though, because after they polished off their 15th plate, they got a prize - a free keychain.  Henry thought they should trick the plate counter into thinking they ate more than they did so they could collect all the keychains.  Thankfully, Todd schooled him about the fallacy of that logic.  Henry did try octopus this visit.  When asked how it tasted he said, "Chewy."  

Octopus

$50 keychain

We had family game nights this weekend.  We played Sorry on Friday and Pictionary on Saturday.  Henry and Caroline played hair salon with my hair.  

Henry slept on Caroline's floor while Josiah was at his retreat.  Benson kept guard.

This week the kids have taught Benson all sorts of bad habits.  The boys were letting him jump on their beds.  They've let him jump up on a trunk in our playroom so he can look out the window.  I think they regretted that one, because he's not supposed to be in the playroom.  For a few days, Benson kept venturing back in the playroom.  We could hear the door squeak open.  He'd be in there for a minute and then run downstairs.  The running let us know that he had found something to chew on.  

They also got Benson to go under Caroline's bed.  She's been vehemently opposed to having him in her room, so we'll see how this plays out if he thinks her room is free game now.  He'd crawl under the bed, but he didn't like to be there alone.  He'd bark until Caroline or Henry would crawl under with him.  

We finally have a normal week coming up.  Henry tested negative for covid, too, so we can resume all our regularly scheduled programming.  I need to test Caroline to have an official result, but we keep forgetting to do it.  It is hard to believe we are already at the end of October.  

Lastly, a meme that makes me laugh every time I read it.

Caught the Rona

 Last week started off as normal.  We had a fun day on Tuesday at Dewberry Farm.  We had not been there in years because of Covid.  It was a beautiful day.  It was warm, but the clouds always kept the sun at bay.  It was really breezy, which felt great.  The kids started off riding the pedal cars.  One in particular had to be reminded they were not bumper cars...more than once.  

Not this one.

Not this one, either.

Our bumper car man.

From there we did the Slide Mountain countless times.  Henry and Caroline were able to time it so they could race each other.  Those are Henry's friends cheering him on, but alas, the girl got him.

And then we headed to the corn maze.  There was a big group of us and we decided to let the kids have an adventure and sent them all in with the one rule, "Stay Together!"  I had gone in a few years ago and it really is a maze - there are no arrows or anything indicating which direction is the correct way to go.  After 20 minutes or so, Caroline walked out the front.  Alone.  Why didn't you guys stay together!??!  She wasn't upset or anything.  They just decided to take separate ways.  Before I knew it, she was turning around to go find them again.  Another ten minutes elapsed and Josiah walked out a side exit.  Again, alone.  He said he told them he found an exit, but no one wanted to exit.  He went back in search of the crew.  Finally more time passed, and the whole lot of them came out of a very far exit near the back.  And that was it for the corn maze.

Our entrance photo, so we knew how many went in:

Caroline walking out the first time.

We took a train ride.

The Ferris wheel was not operating.  We went on a school day, so they limit what's available.  On the weekends you have to pay tickets to do all the things.  So, we got a great deal by being able to do all the available things as many times as we wanted.  On the train ride, Caroline saw their Christmas tree farm.

Jumped on the pillow balloons.

Fed the goats.  (Just Henry.)  

And jumped with the hay ropes.  It was a great time with friends.  By the end we were tired and ready to go home.

We took care of Benson as soon as we got home by giving him some outside time.  Benson often likes company with him, so I sat out there for a while.  He is a crazy good jumper, but I had never been able to capture his full abilities.  This afternoon, however, the squirrels were messing with him and he was jumping!  

That evening, the kids were getting ready for jiu-jitsu.  As they were leaving the house, Benson squeezed out the front door.  The kids screamed bloody murder.  I passed off a bone to Henry and got my car keys since I wasn't sure if he was going to be a runner.  He made it to the side yard and then just darted back and forth a lot.  Since there were four on the ground trying to get him and me in the car, we were able to keep him somewhat contained.  After what felt like a lot longer than it actually was, Todd was able to get Benson to sit-down-stay.  He gave him the bone in exchange for his collar.  He was back in the house and they weren't even late to jiu-jitsu.  It was good because Josiah earned his fourth stripe that night.  It's been a long time coming for him, so he was happy to earn it.  In the chaos of Benson getting out, though, Caroline stepped in a fire ant pile and got a bunch of bites on her feet.  She was wearing flip-flops, so that didn't help!

The next day, Josiah wanted to do his Wednesday night KSM at church.  He had told me days prior that lots of kids get things out of the vending machines and he would love to get a honey bun.  I told him where I kept some ones and said he could get one to buy himself a honey bun.  It didn't really come up again until I picked him up that night.  He walked down the hallway carrying a bag of cookies which he handed off to Henry and Caroline to share.  Then he handed me a Kit Kat.  

Me -Where did you get these?

Josiah- From the vending machine.

How much money did you take?

J - $2 I think.  

Did you get a honey bun?

J - Yes.

That's more than $2.  The he went into his vending machine tale.  He did get himself a honey bun.  He also bought his friend a soda.  Then he said he was standing in front of the vending machine trying to decide what to buy Henry and Caroline when a lady passed him.  They had a short conversation and at the end, she gave him another dollar.  I think he admitted to bringing $4.  I told him, though very kind, stick to just the honey bun (and maybe a soda for your friend).  

And then that night everything went downhill.  I was not feeling well and decided to go to bed at 8:30.  Sign number one that this was not going to be a good night.  I woke up at 11:30 p.m. with a fever of 103.7° and the most massive headache I have ever experienced.  My whole head felt swollen.  It hurt.  Really bad.  I texted our CC people that we would not be there in the morning.   Thursday, I laid in bed all day.  (Josiah, thankfully, was able to Zoom into his class.)  Todd went out that afternoon to get a home covid test.  I read all the directions very carefully and took the test.  Though they said to read the results only between 15 and 30 minutes after testing, my "positive" line showed up very dark after only five.  Not good.  Then it became a texting marathon - I just tested positive for covid and we were near each other within the past 5-7 days.  Very quickly our bedroom became my isolation room and only Todd was able to come in with a mask (and provisions!).  Fortunately, my CC director is a RN and was able to answer all of our questions.  Todd tested himself after 4 days and he's negative (and no symptoms - he's asthmatic, so he'd likely show symptoms).  The kids are all showing zero symptoms.  We'll test them on Day 11 just to make sure.  I have absolutely no idea how none of them have gotten sick since we all were breathing the same air before I took the test.  But we're happy for it.  It was a rough virus.  Much tougher to go through than I expected even though I had what would be classified as mild symptoms.  And I have recovered very quickly, thank God.  Right now I'm still hanging out in the isolation room for the most part.  If I have to come downstairs I'll wear a double mask and I do not touch anyone and I keep my distance.  In the morning, Caroline likes to come upstairs and ask me, "Can you put on gloves and cut my bagel?"  

We're doing almost all of our school.  At first the kids would take pictures of their math pages and I would draw red or green over their problems and text the corrections back to them.  It wasn't ideal, but it worked.  Now I just put gloves on and mark their pages.  

So here we sit in a waiting game to see when we're free to go about our business again.  

And another picture of Benson.  

Ironman Aunt

After our travels, the kids were still tired Monday evening.  They did not want to do jiu-jitsu even though they had had a week off.  We made them go because there were few opportunities for other days this week.  Two out of three fussed and complained.  The little lady was the only willing participant.  Towards the beginning of class, they had a sprawl battle.  A sprawl is when they fall down on their belly (hips) and jump right back up again.  They are so fast, they make it look easy.  Henry competed and beat the other kids within his heat.  After all the heats had gone, they had a battle with the winners and he ended up winning that as well.  It was about this time that his surliness disappeared.  Then, at the end of class, he unexpectedly earned a stripe.  It was a good evening to go after all.  

The next day we headed into downtown to see the Houston Ballet.  This performance was put on by a group of students who want to be professional dancers.  They were ages 15-19 and they were phenomenal.  They dance eight hours a day, six days a week.  Caroline watched the dancers with a lot of interest.  She commented on them throughout the performance.  She was amazed that they could keep their arms up for so long.  At one point a ballerina gracefully ran, jumped, and turned 180° to land in the arms of a young man.  Caroline said, a little loudly, "Daddy couldn't pick you up like that!"  That would be true.

Whenever we drive in to see the ballet, we walk by a park a few blocks from the theater and take our photo on this bench. 

The following day, Josiah made it to the orthodontist.  He has been in braces for a year now, so he has his eyes set on 2022.  This time he chose white and silver rubber bands to go with his grey jiu-jitsu gi which has Silver Fox written on it.  The orthodontist also put a new wire on the top teeth.  He bent and twisted it all around so that it has tension loops that will pull his four front teeth back.  Josiah felt the tension almost as soon as the wire was in place.  His teeth hurt for a few days.  

The orthodontist office also has video games in their waiting room.  They had been turned off because of covid, but they are back on now.  As Josiah was playing Donkey Kong, he asked me if he could jump the barrels.  Uh, yes.  He said, "That's a game changer."  I imagine so. 

We finally made a cake for Todd.  Or at least we attempted.  It was a recipe a friend had made a few months back called, "Best Apple Cake Ever."  That's the official google title.  The Bundt pan I had seemed a little thin and it wasn't metal so I was hesitant to bake it directly on the oven rack.  I put it on a cookie sheet and it was in the oven for over an hour.  We took it out and it was clearly not baked.  We put it back in the oven, this time directly on the oven rack, but we didn't have a ton of time before we had to leave that afternoon.  So, later, when we sliced into it, it was definitely not cooked.  But did we eat it?  Yes, we did.  Every last bite.  Over the course of the week, the kids kept saying how good it was.  I kept saying, it is raw!  We'll try a redo this week.    

Josiah reported on toucans this week and illustrated his report with his favorite Toucan Sam.  He has a few more weeks of reports left before they start their science fair project.  I have been told from those who have done this before, this is not the favorite unit for the parents.  Here's hoping Josiah picks something interesting.

This weekend was pretty special.  We got to see Aunt Meghan compete in an Ironman Race.  While the kids were eating breakfast Saturday morning, they asked me if the race had started.  At that point she had already done an hour swim and was working her way through the bike course.  She biked for 5.5 hours!  It was almost hard to comprehend how much energy the athletes were expending throughout the day.  We caught up with Will and made sure to be there for the running portion.  Josiah made signs for us to hold up.  He's our family cheerleader.  Every family needs a Josiah.  

We were able to see Meghan at the 8 mile marker:  

We waved to her across the water a mile or two later:  

For the run, they had to do three loops, so we were able to see her at the 16 mile marker:  

And again at the 24 miles:  

Then we made our way to the finish line.  It was amazing.  She did so well.  She said the wind made the bike portion very difficult, the heat and humidity were tough with the run.  We were just in awe of her at the end.  She was spent and exhausted and happy to finish.    

At the very end of the race as we were about to leave, Josiah got stung by a bee on his neck.  As we were walking back to the car, he kept saying his neck was swelling up.  He said it was his first bee sting.  I kept telling him, let me know if you cannot breathe.  If that happens, we'll get help.  If not, we'll get ice.  The ice helped him a lot so thankfully he's not allergic to bees!

The next day, we were able to see Will and Meghan again and Josiah made another shirt to commemorate Meghan's accomplishment.  She got third place among the women in her age group and got invited to the World Championships.  She is awesome!