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We've been so busy trying to push our house over the finish line that we nearly ignored everything else, including Nick. At one point he said out loud, "When am I going to get some attention?" It's not that bad, but as an only child, it seems that way.
We had an emergency one evening where we left Nick with Grandpa, so they had an extended bonding experience. Out and about together, Grandpa needed a tissue, which he rarely is caught without a handkerchief. Nick's advice, "Blow your nose in your sock, that's what I do." I think that goes beyond even a generational gap. Regarding hygiene, Nick discovered the razor, and took it upon himself to shave. A lot. Places that were not meant to be shaved. Lessons to be learned.
He had a play date with a friend of Brandi's who has a 14-year old son, Aiden (everyone's kid is named Aiden). Who loves trains. You can imagine the ensuing excitement. The boys hit it off instantly, and Nick got ideas for what he (thinks he) is going to do in our basement for a train table. We'll set up something for him. He also voluntarily donated all of this small wooden trains, tracks and villages to Carrie's young boys, which I took it all to them for Christmas. Just turning two years old soon, they are coming into the train phase.
There was a trip to Atlanta for Brandi and Nick, with gifts exchanged, fireworks, and mostly the boys spending time separate from each other on their laptops. We had a small Christmas at home before they drove to Atlanta on Christmas Day, in which Nick got one of the expensive model trains he wanted badly (and then Aunt Megan spoiled him with a second one.) Brandi's cooking and new pajamas, a solid holiday. I went to Cincinnati for two days, which also was mostly eating, Jeff and I anchored at the end of Miranda's bar, watching the action around us. Robin relived her childhood memory with a new inflatable banana, which made for easy commentary the entire day. Finally I had my annual holiday dinner with Donny, but with neither of us in Florida this year, we surrendered the beachfront cocktails for dinner at a cool microbew in Saline called Salt Springs Brewery, built from an old Catholic church.
Nick and I also practiced more driving before the holiday, and he's nearly ready to go out on his own. He just needs to talk less and look at the road more. Nick's quote of the month, from the backseat of the car, "Oh God, it's Nickelback!"
Pictures here, including his school pic.
Jason
"Do you agree?" This is Nick's current verbal crutch, uses it in every conversation, drives me nuts, but it's not as bad as some of the stuff I got stuck on as a kid, which I need to remember. His writing is stronger than his verbals, very strong, in fact. He's been selected to write a presentation and stand-up in his class, and the content around war planes is well-written, and a good read.
School hasn't been too bad. Too much gym class, says Nick, and I agree. And the usual peddling of crap for Christmas, which I refuse to sell at work. Nick got his first detention after school, for being late to class too many times.
Our activities this month were a bummer, for the most part. We saw the English version of the opera, "The Magic Flute" at the Valentine Theatre, which we were unanimous in our conclusion, was painful to watch. Three hours of cackling was too long. On another weekend, we drove to Alma, MI to ride the Polar Express train to Owosso, MI. The ride was 2 hours each way on the train, 4 hours at the stop, too much time trapped on a train with no heat (just our car) and annoying passengers. The horrible day of wind and rain toppled a tree over the tracks on the ride back, which cost us another cold hour on the return trip.
Nick intended to skip Halloween this year, then changed his mind and went out in his karate gi at the last minute, realizing it was the best time ever. The guy who lives on Meadowbrook who grills burgers and hot dogs every year upped his game to ribs and bacon, which was outstanding Also slipped a photo from Halloween at Morpace in here, as the team dressed up from the move Mean Girls this year, very well done.
He's going to have a beard here soon, with the chin hairs pushing their way through. At least he's consistently wearing deodorant now.
I made a short trip to Cinci for Noah's homecoming, where I watched most of the game in the pouring rain, but the trip was well worth the moments: I helped him tie his necktie so he was ready for the presentation on the field, and saw him with five girls under his umbrella protecting them from the storm. So proud of the kid!
The picture here is Nick with Amber's youngest, Joey. More photos this month.
Jason
I try to ask Nick how it's going at school. I attempted a simple question, after asking about his routine, I regressed to, "How many times to you visit your locker in a day?" He stood there, long pause talking to himself, must have started counting over three times, waving his finger as he retraces his day, and after 2-3 minutes of waiting, he says, "Four." Ugh. He's clearly strong visually, which came through in explaining his first week of school. Once again, two years in a row, he failed to get off the bus, as his mother watched him pull away on the first day; this year, he says, "The bus stop changed and I was waiting for it to circle back." It moved four houses down.
We continue to try and play '50 Questions' with him, but when the answer is 'Loggerhead Shrike' there's just no point. He's becoming the king of random, with razor parades around the bathroom when no one is looking.
We visited the Michigan Renaissance Festival for the first time. It was unusually hot, wet and muddy, so we didn't last long, but it was good to see it once. The cosplay is really impressive. We did more damage with a new purse for Brandi and some Krispy Kremes on the way home through Troy. Brandi and Nick didn't have much more luck at the Indian Creek Zoo.
Photos here.
Jason
Nick and I did attended the Woodward Dream Cruise again this year, on the curb early (there's a photo from our spot), and out before noon. Getting a pizza at Bigalora and a stop at Mustang Alley is becoming our ritual. The Catholics tries to squeeze us off the curb out front of the church, but we were not moving! We also stopped at a local car show near home... if we pass one, it's worth a few minutes to see the cars.
Continued heat, lots of swimming, including at night, as it's still hot when I get home from work. And bike rides. I brought the Monte Carlo out for a couple of weekends, and new tires, so weekend evening cruises have been the norm. Bikes needed tires too... I guess I spent a lot of money on tires this summer. Posting here a few photos of Brandi and Nick visiting the 577 Foundation to see the gardens, when they picked up his sculptures from last month.
On the Last weekend of the month we helped Grandpa shape trees and plant some new ones. Nick was eager to dig before we started, but the heat slowed him quickly. He's more into the pool after the work is done.
Pics here from August, including one that shows Nick has now passed his Mama in height, so we'll call him 5' 2" for now. School starts next week, on to middle school.
Jason
Nick is driving regularly now, behind the wheel alone of the Chrysler (not on my lap, too big for that now!) We find parking lots, and he starts with brakes only and coasting, then accelerating and holding speeds, and he's getting the hang of parallel parking (a manly trait). There's been a cop hiding in our regular lot lately, so we've had to switch it up a little. Nick also achieved the rank of green belt this month, and hangs with his friend Ali when not in karate class.
He attended an Art Camp in downtown Toledo for a week, focused on sculpture. I was expecting to end up with ten ashtrays around the house, but his creations were very impressive, from plates to cups (I suppose ashtrays aren't acceptable anymore.) Most of the summer has been quiet and predictable: Nick shucking corn, washing the car, a good two week period of heat kept us in the pool. We don't get far away since we can't take our eyes off of the house construction, which has slowed to a pace that suggests we could be a full year to completion. And the Morpace merger, which fills in the rest of my free time; photo here of me on stage sharing news about the merger to the newly combined company.
We did a day trip in Cincinnati, to the beach at East Fork State Park, and the afternoon hanging with the family. Pictures are of Nick and Noah pressing quarters against the wall with their noses (anything to keep them quiet), and Miranda and Brandi in some kind of contest to balance Oreos on their head and into their mouths. It was fun evening of pizza and relaxing, made easier by my trip to Columbus for work the day before. The photo of me in the Shoe is because one of my coworkers is an OSU grad and we stopped on campus for lunch.
Pictures here from July.
Jason
