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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.
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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
We were home in Detroit for only a brief time in December, with me traveling for work, then heading to Atlanta for the holiday. Nick manages the long drive well with videos to entertain himself and games on the iPhone; at one point though, he asks, "Will there ever be a time when I can unsweat my butt?" (referring to removing himself from hours in the uncomfortable kid's seat.)
We made a stop in Cincinnati for a short Christmas evening, then spent Christmas morning in Atlanta. Nick was upset Santa would miss him and that he's been bad. Not so much, as he made out pretty well with gifts (although he's probably cashing in more from the Tooth Fairy). He received an electronic/remote Lego train set, which he tore apart moments after I finished building it, and connected the electronic motor to his own train. Grandmama built a Gnome.
I chuckle at the difference in personality of the boys. I ask, "Are you being good"? Seth simply says, "Yes," and generally ignores me. Thatcher cries out yes and runs to me for a hug of forgiveness, likely having done nothing wrong. And then there's Nick who says, "I'm trying, at least."
Most of the time was spent with the boys playing Minecraft, either on the xBox or their tablet devices. This is apparently the rage with all kids this age, and ours are certainly no exception.
Pictures from Nick's birthday are here, as we celebrated a little early.
Pictures from December here.
- Jason
November was a big month for tooth loss, with one falling out of natural causes, one nearly eaten in a Gordita, and then choking and eventually swallowing one in his sleep. He cashed in from the Fairy, who has upped her game to serious Greenbacks, and backpay later for the missing tooth.
More pictures this month from flying R/C planes in Georgia. He was out a couple times with Fayling and the boys, and is getting into the construction side of it now, starting with building rockets from soda bottles. He's taking more stuff apart around the house, but credit where it's due, he was able to fix an electric train I thought for certain was permanently broken. Even if it was just luck, the confidence will carry him to another attempt.
We did get a Thanksgiving dinner at home this year, but nothing spectacular. The impressive meal was thanks to Robin and Bo, who prepared a dinner fit for Food Network, while the kids played all day. And the Lions won. It's a miracle. And I trekked out on my first Black Friday with Bo... now I know why I avoid it... never again. That was about the limit of Nick's social activity, as I downloaded a new App for him called Minecraft at the end of the month, and then we lost him... hours a day building things on the iPhone. My last words were something like, "I'm not paying $6 for this App if you're only going to play it for a day." And now, we have to limit his time with it. On some level, it seems like learning.
Pictures here from November.
- Jason
As summer winds down, we spent an afternoon in downtown Plymouth, enjoying ice cream at the Dairy-Go-Round, and looking at the Halloween scarecrow entries for the local competition. The trickor-treat adventure was in Georgia this year, which is just as well, since we had pouring rain and high winds in Michigan. The pumpkins never got carved, but the wildlife benefited, as we placed them in our woods, and the animals enjoyed the snack. The cold came so quick this fall that the pumpkins were frozen, not fresh. I got my leaves blown to the back of the property on the last reasonable day before the temperature plummeted. And we got a one ride in the Corvette before the freeze.
With a couple weeks spent in Atlanta, some pictures here are from the playground where Fayling and I took the boys to run. We just did the usual: chocolate fountain at the Golden Trough, outdoor playtime, and there was a visit to the aquarium mixed in. They're playing together more now, but Seth's interest, and skills, still outpace the other two. Nick's learning, though, eager to build something from any junk he can find.
- Jason
Nick decided he likes Hockey practice, which was more introduction to skating, and just keeping the kids upright. He charmed the grumpy assistant who couldn't twirl enough to please him, as he cheered her talent and begged for more. He did improve with each week, and no tumble slowed him down, although he never got faster than a shuffle across the ice (after just 6 lessons.) Falling to the ice was another opportunity to increase his use of exclamations this month: "Crud! Crap! Oh, man!" And his first complete meltdown venting frustration at a game, in front of his Grandpa.
He had his first sleep over one evening, when Jack stayed with us. We built a fort from the dining room table, and they intended to sleep under there. But it didn't last. They were both out of sorts for the first time around.
Nick and I spent a week at the office with his mama travelling; most of the time he was under my desk with video games and MandMs. He wanted to eat at Jaws Jumbo Burgers, the place nearby the office with a shark tank (he remembered it from a long time ago). He drew a shark picture for them, and they were so excited, the hung in on the wall for eternity and gave him a free meal (it's over his shoulder on the wall, to the right.)
And he made his first trip to Comerica Park to see the Detroit Tigers. Being his second ballgame, he knew the routine... lots of food. My coworkers loaded him up with pretzels, hot dogs, frozen lemonade and more. We had a horrible parking spot, lost the car briefly, and he had to hike 5 blocks to and from the garage. I hope it hasn't scared him off the next time... he talked more about the team after going.
- Jason
