Nick's Life: December 2014

We spent half the month in a hotel between Toledo and Cincinnati, and it was great being together.  Nick got to hearken back to his childhood... nearly all his requests were met back here, from breakfast at Al Smith's, to an afternoon playing with Jack from the old neighborhood.

We had Christmas morning in Temperance, with a wonderful home-cooked meal, and plenty of toys: a 3' Godzilla, a 3" Godzilla, some rubber characters that looked like Godzilla, a Godzilla mask. You get the idea. He assembled a Lego Technic plane for ages 12+ with relative ease.  Then onto Cincinnati, where he played well with the kids, as they ran free around the house for two days.  Many 'missions' were accomplished where they competed in whatever challenges the adults set for them, such as stealing socks or finding items.  We went to the archery range for an afternoon, and we both need practice in that arena.  I got to play euchre for the first time in years... and Rob taught me new way to express being 'in the barn' (can't wait to milk my next opponent.  Yes, ironic as I was raising an eyebrow last month about milkshakes in the yard.)

OK, this is an awful transition, but I don't have another.  :) At school, the first 'female interest' has surfaced.  Now, it's not simple (never is, may as well learn that lesson early before unrealistic expectations set in.)  There's a little girl that chases him, and wont leave him alone, be he avoids her (she tags him and runs, yelling to be chased in return... he doesn't get it.)  Then another girl that he likes, but he's still figuring it out.  Second grade society.

Pictures here.
Don't feel bad for Nick being the odd guy out in the photo without a bow... he shared with Mason, and had to wrestle a little to get back the bow he liked best.

- Jason

Nick's Life: November 2014

Oh, the things kids say.
He runs into the room and says, "I need a weapon!" (He needed a sword or something to fend off the other kids who had sticks).  And the obsession at this age with farts and burps extends to body parts, where he loves the words, 'ball crotch'.  "Did you know that we are mammal like reptiles?  Because we can control our body temperature."
"Do you have a spoon? I want to get all the nutricious ice out of my water cup."
His crutch this month is starting so many sentences with, 'Besides...'

We took a weekend trip to Stone Mountain in Georgia before Thanksgiving, a couple days away for activities like train rides, playgrounds, and fireworks (the last one sucked... like 4 minutes long?  Really?)  We shot his first game of billiards (not just messing around, a full game, no wager... because he's now into, "I'll bet/give you $X if you can..."  Don't take the bet... he can't pay up.)  And we played chess on a life-size board.

Nick's artistic skills are getting stronger, now more into clay than drawing or painting. So we have clay figures all over the place, from dinosaurs to birds to snakes.  Still nothing trumps the iPad, which like most other kids, he rarely lets out of sight.  Always in search of a new App, when he's not feeding Dinosaurs on his Jurassic Park app.  Anytime he gets a free buck, he's thinking about a new App (but when he gets a twenty-dollar-buck, he's more careful with it.)

School makes it harder to hide kids from pop culture, like when he comes home singing, "My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard..."  I had to Google it.  And no, he hasn't seen the video (I just watched it with one eye open.)  Can't we just shelter kids in traditional experiences, like his first time eating with chopsticks was exciting, right?

Pictures on Flcikr, link here.

- Jason

Halloween 2014

Nick was invited to a Halloween party this year, his friend James from school had six buddies over for the evening, while a few parents mingled in the background.  We had good food, and passed five hours along with trick-or-treat around their neighborhood.

The boys played on an inflatable playground early in the evening, then took it to a ghost pinata which Terry hung from the tree by tossing string tied to a baseball over a branch. (Six boys swinging an aluminum bat errantly at a heavy object always adds to the excitement.)  Nick wore out early from going house-to-house, as his Godzilla suit was a little restricting.  But it was a big hit with his friends.

We returned after collecting candy to watch Ghostbusters in a makeshift outside theater, huddled around a campfire (not that it was as cold in Atlanta as it was in Detroit where there was a threat of snow.)  Nick says this was, "the best Halloween ever."

Halloween photos here.

- Jason

Nick's Life: October 2014

Nick's school had a festival on a Friday night, which included an inflatable playground for the kids, lots of simple games, and some 'fair food'.  Nick and Thatcher got their arms painted, and ran with their friends for over two hours.  At one point Thatcher lost his shoes as another kid wandered off with the wrong pair, but we found them. (I was just happy we didn't lose Thatcher, but since the Nikes were brand new, it was imperative we recover them.) He nearly had a scuffle with some bigger kids over a place in line at one of the rides, but that worked itself out. He has settled into the new school with a circle of friends, and his teachers says he's doing great.

Nick's new verbal habit this month is describing things like this (can you figure out the name of his favorite ice cream place?): starts with 'The' and ends with 'Mix'.  And punctuating every question with, 'Get it?'

We carved pumpkins after picking them out at the local farm in Newnan. The boys still aren't really into the carving part... well, Nick carved his, but the other two were grossed out.  So the adults carved pumpkins this year.  My brother-in-law remains the master carver.

He's been roller skating a couple times now, and uses some contraption made of PVC to stay upright.  But he's getting better, and loves going to the rink.

Firsts this month: cavity (of course his mama got pictures at the dentist office), and first visit to a growler tavern (no he didn't drink, but he found some taps he liked!)

We took Nick to his first hockey game, an ECHL game, the Gwinnett Gladiators (same league as the Toledo Walleye.) We got seats down on the glass, probably the best hockey seats I've ever had. He still only pays periodic attention, like when bodies slammed into the glass in front of us. It was a good brand of professional hockey, and I'd do it again (you only see real fights anymore in the lower leagues!)

Pictures here from October.

- Jason

Family Pictures 2014

We finally had some family pictures taken this summer.  Here are a couple, including Nick's "Hollywood pose", his favorite.

Nick's Life: September 2014

Nick told an awesome joke this month: "What do you call a fish with ten eyes?  A fiiiiiiiiiish!"  Given he didn't hear it from us, it was pretty funny.  He's still full of quotes that we've never head before.  "I was right, it was a fart," which you know what happened just before.  And, "I'm going to pick up the post," which means he's going to the mailbox... don't know why he's talking like the British... I see less BBC in his future.

At the end of the month we went to Callaway Gardens, a beautiful park of golf courses, ziplines, greenhouses, lakes, and nature walks.  The rain stayed away for us, and we filled the first day with lots of walking, from the Butterfly house (the picture is Nick in the chair pretending to be a flower so a butterfly will land on him), to feeding fish (and hence feeding the heron), seeing a wildlife show about owls and falcons, and lots of impressive gardens.  The first day wore out our feet, and we rented a golf cart on the second day to see the rest of the park.  Our hotel looked like a Howard Johnson from the 1960's still awaiting renovation, but it worked for one night.  We also toured the vacation home of Franklin Roosevelt, which didn't interest Nick much, but it was very cool.  All this was just an hour from Newnan, GA.

The rest of the time Brandi keeps him busy, from swimming, to piano, to Spanish classes. And she's a part-time librarian at his school.  The teacher is still adjusting to Nick, as he pushed buttons often... she makes rules, he figures out how to get around them.  Give him cards to 'cash in' when he wants to ask questions, and he's going to use them all.  He has a great ear for piano.  And he's passed his first swimming class, now able to swim multiple strokes and dive.
And you'll see, he's learned how to photo-bomb.

Pics here from September.

- Jason

Nick's Life: August 2014

With the start of second grade, Brandi and Nick are settling into a schedule.  Time with his iPad has been cut, but he gets extra time with it on the weekend for eating some veggies... turns out he likes watercress! And a happy dance ensued!  Even if Brandi had to feed him like a dinosaur to get him to eat it.  Even with the passion for sharks, dinosaurs aren't totally extinct from our lives.  Nick says, "When I grow up, I can't get married to another woman, cause I'm gonna stay with Mama and we're gonna be paleontologists!" And when he creates dinosaurs from clay, those with moving parts are 'articulated dinos'.  Also on the food front, we went out for Thai and he ate spring rolls, pad thai, and beef jerky.  He also experienced Hibachi for the first time at the Kobi.

It was an overall adventurous month with the boys.  We went on a nature hike with Nick and Thatcher.  We also got to a new indoor pool at the South Cobb Aquatic Center, with a cool water slide.  Thatcher wasn't tall enough to ride it, but he snuck on anyway.  The boys loved the whirlpool, where Nick crashed his head into the wall and took the skin off his forehead, first facial scar for my boy.  Later in the month, we convinced Seth to join us, and we had all three for a day trip to SkyZone (where it's all about the slo-mo video), and then the Gwinnett outdoor pool with two waterslides.  And I didn't sunburn (thanks to Brandi's shellac, still not out of my pores.)'


At the end of my week in Atlanta, we went up to Knoxville together for the weekend.  Ended up downtown in a social district, where Nick played chess with a gentleman sitting in the park, and we had a great meal.  Nick was Shakespeare eating ice cream (which was better than the amateur Shakespeare in the park production, complete with southern dialects.)

Nick is excelling in school, mostly because Brandi has advanced him considerably from home schooling last year.  I love to hear him read, as he now mimics my inflections from years of reading him stories.  And we learn 'math facts' by racing against each other on the flash cards.

And he got posted on a social website for bold landsharking (also linked here)!

- Jason

Nick's Life: July 2014

We were all in the same place in July, with Brandi and Nick returning to Michigan for two weeks.  There were activities every day: Fireworks, Toledo Zoo, YMCA, Toledo Mud Hens, Toledo Speedway, Museum of Art, Imagination Station, parks and playdates, and some I've probably forgotten.  Being in the house with Grandpa every day, Nick became assimilated into the routine... wake-up early, wash cars, tie-up tomatoes, clean the pool, water the grass, etc.  It was a win for Nick, who got paid handsomely, and bought three Godzilla figures with his new money (sharks are still interesting, but Godzilla is big all of a sudden.)

He's an excellent swimmer, passing the test at the YMCA to swim in the adult pool.  He will do 5 or so laps alongside me, then head to the family pool with a water slide.  He's a better swimmer than golfer (what form? how about left-handed?), or ballplayer (still a bit afraid of catching but, man, can he throw long and straight!).  He's simply becoming an academic - everything he reads will stick, and he can recall it quicker than a GM ignition switch.  Listening and retaining, that's a different skill. Or remembering details (like his jacket on a chair, using the restroom when necessary, putting on socks.) 

I will remember this month for the line, "I need to tell you something," which is the preface to most of Nick's comments.

July photos here.

- Jason

Nick's Life: June 2014

Being in Georgia for a week, I spent alot of time with Brandi, Nick and Thatcher.  We take the boys to the YMCA often, sometimes Jason and Seth join us.  It's always an experience, with the boys yelling in the locker room (such as when Nick referred to the gentleman across from us as having origins from Africa... the guy didn't seem to find it humorous... too many history books taken literally.)  Nick whistles in the shower now, no matter where (and as long as he's not naming off his anatomy out loud, as if to be taking an inventory, I'm ok with whistling.)
We got all three boys to SkyZone, an indoor trampoline park on the north side of Atlanta.  Nick managed his space well (better than Thatcher, anyway) and didn't get run over by bigger kids.

Nick's push for independence is coming on strong... he insists on ordering his own food, and wants to order for everyone else. He will lead wherever possible.  We went to the Alanta Zoo, where the boys budgeted their spending money, and led us through the park with maps.
He has an eye for things that I just don't have, somewhat artistic, but generally different.  He sees things in Lego blocks I can't see... I build cars and buildings, but he can create animals and creatures, amazingly accurate.  Or maybe it's just an age thing.  Fayling walks over to a drawn picture on the counter, asks Nick what it is... he says, "It's a torpedo," referring to this rainbow colored, clearly fuzzy ball that Thatcher had drawn with crayon.  Then Thatcher comes in the room later, completely independent... "It's a torpedo!"  Adults just can't see it.  I'd swear it was a mouse. (Picture is here.  See what you think it is.)

Great quotes this month:
"I noticed I survived the poisonous iron in my blood."
"I'm not worried about the blood coming from them, I'm worried about True Blood coming from me," (when watching some questionably violent content on YouTube, I believe.)
"I'm going to marry a woman who doesn't have a man."  Good, simple advice.

- Jason

Nick's Life: May 2014

A couple more teeth out of Nick's head and under the pillow this month.  They're worth 'a twenty-dollar buck' still, although Nick suggested the last one had an increased value of $68 from the toothfairy.  Not quite.  Other proclamations this month from Nick:
"Did you know I'm a star child, made from stardust?"
"You're not gonna stop me, Daddy.  Nothing is gonna stop me from getting this ice cream treat. Even though these potatoes are nasty!" (Angrily, as I made him try something he didn't like, threatening to withhold his dessert.)
"I noticed that I've survived the the poisonous iron in my blood!"

We all went to see an Atlanta Braves game, against the Cubs, this month (a walkoff winner in the 10th inning).  It was the first ballgame for Thatcher, who danced in the aisle and enjoyed himself immensely. They ate everything on the ballpark menu, and we got as close to a major league foul ball as I ever have in my life... about 2 rows in front of us, high in the upper 3B deck. Then we closed with fireworks after the game.  It looked like a rainout early, but turned out to be a perfect evening. 

We stayed one evening at an expensive (but disappointing) hotel in Atlanta one evening near a client's office, where Nick and I used the swimming pool and concierge.  I got to Vegas at the end of the month for work, staying at Belagio for the first time. I was $200 ahead for the week, playing blackjack with my co-workers. And I got more cucumber margaritas (yum!) It was a good time for the pedometer on my wrist to be working... topped 15,000 steps one day. And my workout continued in the pool at Bellagio, which was so ridiculously huge, I nearly drowned from the length of a single lap (I'm up to a mile swim usually, but something about the length of the pool made it harder.)

He's extended his interest in ocean life to the small water, seeing the koi fish at Ms. Cindy's house, and at the local pet store.  He thinks he wants a koi pond.  For now, Seth's turtles will have to do.

Nick has expressed few fears in his young life, the short-lived fear of helicopters overhead was a rare situation. We've been more concerned he has no fears, really, especially the taste for a good scuffle.  But thunderstorms, lightning, and tornadoes seemed to have crept into his consciousness.

Pictures from May behind this link.

- Jason

Nick's Life: April 2014

This was our 'moving out' month as we packed up from our home on Racewood.  So with music playing often in the background while packing, we listed to the theme from Jaws, by request... a lot.  Nick created his own home movie of Jaws, complete with Lego characters and paper boats, and of course theme music.  He was really good about passing time as we packed.  Then, the song after Jaws accidentally comes on.  And now he loves Air Supply.  Ugh. But mostly it was about the theme from Indiana Jones this month, which he hummed to every action seen he created.  He's never scene it, but it's likely YouTube has planted it in his head.

Our big adventure was the ZipLine which justified its own post.  Otherwise, half the month was in Georgia, so there's a lot of pictures roaming around activities in the south.  Except for the snow, which was on our moving day... even pushing back to April 15 couldn't avoid the snow, as we got the last 3 inches of winter that morning.

Nick saw a giant dead black snake outside, which was a precuror to his first live venomous snake in the wild a couple weeks later. Good news he found it with his eyes, not his feet.  The other pictures this month are of Nick and the boys at the entertainment park in Atlanta, on the slides, mini-golf course, and his first time driving small go-karts and a little Model-T. (Funny he's already driven real cars, one of his favorite things.) Teaching my niece Haleigh to drive a stick shift is on my list, too... the kids will be driving me around soon enough.

Pictures here from April.

- Jason

Nick and Mason on the ZipLine

Robin, Brandi, Bo and I took the boys to Adventure Park, a new 'aerial forest park' here in metro Detroit, or essentially a ZipLine park. I wasn't sure either of them (ages 6 and 7) would get up high in the trees attached to a rope and hook, but they were fearless, and Bo and I had to talk them down from the higher wires. Nick's review was, "This is the greatest thing ever.  Except it pinches my balls (referring to the safety harness.)"  

Video of Nick in the trees.
Video of Nick on the ZipLine.
Video of Jason on the ZipLine.


Mason led the first round, and Nick led the second.  This is a great exercise in not just balance and dexterity, but attention to detail and routine.  The boys got the hang of it in a matter of minutes, and probably could go up on their own.  Now I know what a Tweezle is.

Photos here from our day in the trees.

- Jason

Nick's Life: March 2014

March wasn't necessarily a month of excessive activities, other than school.  So we'll look back on this one more for what Nick said than anything he actually did, except maybe for being the first month he's ever demanded privacy for any reason.

"Mama, I'm going to have a conversation with myself.  I really like my penis. My penis has alot of ideas, they bubble up to my brain, then down into my heart." [What does it usually think about Nick?] "Mostly sharks."
"It's hot out tonight, I'm going to sleep in the raw (which means just in his underwear.)"
"I wear the same pants everyday."
"Where's my drinking shark?" [Why do you need it now?] "Because I need a drink!" (This was referring to the plastic shark my coworker Cheri saved for him from a tropical drink.  He loves Miss Cheri, and the shark pictures all over her desk from his drawings proves it.)
And every sentence seems to end with, "You know why?" I haven't figured out why everything is a quiz, but that's his style at the moment.
One night when we sat down to dinner, he wiped his brow with a piece of bread.  Because it was so fresh.  Still not sure about that one.
All this, and an overuse of the word "freakin'" at the moment... either the influence of other kids, or I've heard it from videos he watches on YouTube.

We did visit the Fernbank Museum of Natural History at the start of the month, which there's pictures here with dinosaur bones, and inside of a whale's heart. There was a great IMAX movie about swimming in the ocean, but the best was the whale and shark exihibit... the timing of our visit was perfect.

And the last pictures are the baseball stadium we built from Lego blocks.  His pile of blocks is becoming a mountain.

Pics here.

- Jason

Nick's Life: January 2014

We were in Atlanta for "Snowmaggedon", experiencing the city's paralysis from indoors.  Fayling spent nine hours on his commute home that day, but the rest of us didn't go out.  If Chick-fil-A isn't open, what's the point?  On a better day, Nick and Brandi took another trip to the Georgia Aquarium, but this time it was educational, for school.  He came home with Sharkey, really the first stuffed animal I've seen him become attached to.  Home schooling is going very well.  From what I can tell, he's reading at a level I would expect, mastering his flashcards, and we're working on counting money.

Brandi and I took the three boys to Monkey Joe's (an inflatable jungle gym) one afternoon.  Sometimes they play together, sometimes they just stalk and annoy each other, and sometime Seth is busy talking other kids out of their arcade money, convincing them to buy him stuff.  Not sure if that's a skill we should surpress? Afterward we had pizza at Stevie B's, and the kids had their faces and arms painted by a clown.  They two older boys were skeptical, but once Thatcher got Angry Birds on his arm, then Nick wanted a Shark on his face.  Finally Seth gave in, and got TNT on his forearm.

Nick is the first one in the family to own a tablet device, getting a new iPad Mini for his 7th birthday.  From YouTube, to Netflix, to games, he could spend days on end staring at it if we don't separate him.  Minecraft is addicting.

Pictures from January here.

- Jason