Josephs 13th Birthday

Since this year is a "Family Outing" year vs. a "Birthday Party" year...we took off on a journey to celebrate Joseph turning THIRTEEN!!! (I still can't wrap my mind around it).

He has really been wanting to try "Ski Rixen"...and cable-pulled ski experience in Deerfield Beach. He's been wanting to do it for a few years, but you have to be at least 12 years old...so now was the PERFECT time try it. Best of all...Joseph got to go with his Dad...while the kids and I watched and picnicked from the dock...

Joseph started on a kneeboard, while Dad rode a wakeboard.

Okay, bud...here you go...HOLD ON!!!

And he's OFF!! Without a hitch!! What a natural!!

Of course, there were a few wipe-outs...Joseph had a hard time negotiating the first turn. It'll take some practice...I think Jason had to ride the cable 4 or 5 times before he mastered that first turn...but once he did, the other turns were conquered much more quickly and now he takes the whole course 3 or 4 times.

It won't be long until Joseph is right up there with him...he had such a good time that I'm sure we'll be back several times this summer as he works on mastering this new-found love!!

After skiing a couple hours, we had a great picnic lunch and then opened presents...

Joseph got several new books (he really needs something new to read...he has been just TEARING through books), and a new cell phone!! Hurray!!!

At the end of the day, we headed over to one of Jasons managers house to have dinner with their family, and the kids got a chance to go swimming again. They have 5 kids, and WE have 5 kids...so it was a rambunctious, busy, and very LOUD evening!! (Just the way we like 'em!!)

With a couple beautiful ice cream cakes and pretty sparkler candles, the day and evening was made complete!!

Here's wishing for a great 13th year for my wonderful, beautiful, fun-loving, and geek-y (in a loving, adorable way) son...

I love you!!! Happy Birthday!!!

Caught Between A Boy and A Man...

Joseph has had a really rough school year this year.

REALLY ROUGH.

I think I spent more time in conferences and on the phone with teachers and principals than all the other years combined. He's struggled at home, too...with bursts of irrational anger and long periods of self-inflicted isolation.

In other words...he's caused us a lot of stress and anxiety and been the focus of many prayers.

We've tried all kinds of things to get him to do better in school and control his emotions at home...threatened, bribed, pleaded, begged, cried,and researched. Nothing seems to make a dent in the seemingly impenetrable bubble Joseph surrounds himself with. Nothing interests or excites or inspires him...so we have no leverage to work with.

There is one thing that Joseph likes to do ...and that is to play cello. He's not a master at it...in fact, I believe he is last chair. And he is still getting an atrocious grade in the class because he always "forgets" to bring his cello home to practice (probably a main reason why he is last chair). But...it's something he enjoys doing, and doesn't feel stressed about. So, in my mind...it's a really good thing for him to do. And that is why, although we have taken away practically all other privileges in response to his failing grades, we haven't taken away cello...because he needs SOMETHING that he feels confidant about doing.

Joseph did advance to Advanced Orchestra this year as a second-year cello student...and he got a little trophy at the Awards Banquet.

He looks really excited, right? Despite his "smile-without-smiling" expression, he was very happy to get an award.

Even little plastic trophies make you feel good...especially for a kid like Joseph who has had a rough year without any successes to speak of...someone who hasn't gotten praised or awarded or received any kinds of accolades whatsoever...this makes you feel important, and not forgotten, and not worthless.

We tell him how wonderful he is all the time, but we also ride him hard about his schoolwork, and his attitude...and I know his teachers do, too...so I wonder what he really thinks of himself.

We also had the pleasure of attending Josephs End Of The Year Concert and watching him play. I really love watching him play because he seems to really have fun doing it.

The middle school orchestra shares the night with the high school orchestra...which is also very small but is VERY good, and churns out top musicians every year that get accepted to top music programs all over the country. Joseph really likes listening to the high school orchestra and cannot wait to be in high school so he can play in it, too.

He promised me that next year, in eighth grade, he'll try harder. I offered to get him private lessons on the cello...hoping to inspire him to really delve into something that he likes, but he just shrugged and said: "I already know how to play. I don't need to learn anything else. I just want to play."

*sigh* The concept seems to be escaping him...

Anyway...although Joseph has had a trying year...I really am proud of him...I love him and see this young man struggling to break out of a little boy who doesn't want to STOP being a kid. I wish there was a way to make these transitional years easier on him...but Joseph seems to have picked a lonely path that he has no desire to deter from.

So I'll be here...waiting...hoping...if he needs me...

Being a mom is so hard...a pendulum swinging between unbridled joy and immeasurable heartbreak...

EVIL STARE!!!

On April 28th, it was Take Your Child To Work Day.

My kids LOVE going to work with Jason...they love getting the back of the house tour...they love getting to taste sauces and simple syrup (Brigham even tried to order a whole glass of it to drink!! YECH!!), and they love wearing ties all day...just like Daddy.

See? There's Daddy in the background, opening the restaurant for the day...

 This year, Nicolette couldn't go, because the school wouldn't recognize an absence for this activity for anyone under the age of 8...and she was VERY sad. But then she learned that Dr. Sponer, her kindergarten teacher, would have a special visitor at school that day...her own daughter, who just HAPPENS to be named "Nicolette" (I think the name is why OUR Nicolette was placed in Dr. Sponer's class in the first place...she is apparantly the FIRST Nicolette Dr. Sponer has ever had. We LOVE Dr. Sponer...and couldn't be happier with the coincidence). So, Nicolette was very excited to meet Nicolette...if that makes any sense.

And the kids told her they'd bring her back a treat.

Which is really all she wanted anyway.

After the tour and office work, I came to pick them up, and we all got to sit down for some of the Grand Lux's signature desserts...

Savannah chose the Cupcake Collision...which is A LOT of cake and ice cream...

She thought she could handle it...

Brigham ALSO got a Cupcake Collision, and still managed to still eat one of my chocolate-covered bananas from my Banana Wafer Pudding. Joseph indulged in a Creme Brulee Duo, and Kate blissfully enjoyed her White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cheesecake (plus managed to polish off Josephs leftovers).

Needless to say, everyone was sugared out.

Ya know...I have to say something about Kate here..and how proud I am of her. She is currently studying for 6 AP tests, her second round of SAT's, her first round of ACT's, and staying after school until 6pm everyday to rehearse for her upcoming COTA performance, in which she has several bit parts and sings 2 solos...one as the Nightingale from the Emperors Nightingale, and "Time to Say Good-bye" by Sarah Brightman...in ITALIAN, no less.

All that on top of normal seminary, school work, church activities, and starting her own non-profit organization to sew absorbent pads for the bottom of cages at animal shelters.

She's pretty cool...

And I totally thought this day would be a nice break for her. But Jason told me that rather than take the tour AGAIN (because she's done this for many years, now)...she commandeered a booth and crammed for her AP Art History Exam . No rest for the soon-to-be-Senior, I guess...

But Kaitlyn isn't the only amazingly talented member of my family...

Brigham has been working very hard, too...

...he has been perfecting his new signature look...

The EVIL STARE!!!!

The Free World Beware...Global Domination has a new face...

...and it's WEIRD...

Creativity?...or Insanity?

What you are seeing is a creature...a creature created by my oldest son, Joseph.

I stumbled upon this creature and his fellows when I went on my weekly hunt for "What Is That Smell?" in my house.

That hunt always ends up in my boys room.

And it is never a pleasant discovery.

However...upon this trip...I found this room occupied by creatures of clay fashioned from my sons imagination. They were all actively engaged in scaling a tower he had built from his Marble Mania set...


This one had a tail.

And an eye.

And very sharp hands.

So that's where my toothpicks disappeared to...



My favorite was THIS creature...although I was less thrilled to see that he was sporting one of my frosting tips as a hand...because that clay is NEVER coming out...

I knew Joseph had some strange, demented story going on...and I had no idea what it was...but I was impressed by his use of a ball of clay and random household items (never mind that they were MINE...and they were pilfered...and in some cases, as in the broken clothespin and frosting tip...now un-useable)...

He's quite a creative little dude...if not a bit strange.

The next day he came down with the whole huge ball of clay, mushing it thoughtfully over and over again in his hands.

"How's your story going up there?" I asked.

He looked up rather startled...I had evidently interrupted some very deep thoughts.

"Oh," he answered, rather distracted, "They couldn't defeat the OverLord, so they had to merge into one giant ball and combine forces."

And then he just walked away, mushing his clay and humming softly to himself.

Uhhh...okay.

Until next time and a new episode of "Creativity?...or Insanity?"

o_O

O Christmas Tree!!!

There is something I love about a Christmas tree before it is weighed down with all the trimmings and trappings of the season. It's so simple. So elegant.

A blank canvas symbolizing all a child's hopes for Christmas morning.

One of my FAVORITE parts of my Christmas tree is my Christmas tree skirt. I bought it back in Chicago when I was working for Crate & Barrel (BEST job, BEST company EVER). It's sad, really...that it gets covered up so completely and you don't get to enjoy it all season. Maybe this year, I'll avoid actually putting gifts UNDER the tree and instead put them AROUND the tree.

This year for our annual Christmas Tree decorating FHE, Joseph played Santa. It's a big job...but I think he was just the right man for the job...

Jason's ornament was an ESPN Santa. It says about 5 super funny things...my favorite of which is: "That's it!! Show's over!! Mrs. Claus...Big Daddys' comin' home!!" It makes me laugh because "Big Daddy" is actually Jason's nickname every place he has worked, thanks to having such a large family. So every time there was some kind of team competition between stores, Jason's team shirt always had his number and "Big Daddy" screen-printed across the back.

Here's a close-up. You can't see it...but Santa is actually wearing shiny green exercise shorts under the desk!!

My ornament is so indicative of my life as a mom. It is an adorable washing machine that spins and lights up. I guess symbolic of the biggest chore I do around here...

Next year, Jason said he'll buy me the matching dryer!!

Rock On, Kaitlyn...Rock On. Especially with that super cute electric guitar that sings "Jingle Bell Rock"!

I love the jingle bell detail on this guitar!!!

Joseph got the next set in his "Snow Buddies" series. I was afraid that he was too big for it this year...and i asked him if he was ready to get some more...grown-up...ornaments. But he said: "No way!!!"

I love my boy.

And this year his Snow Buddy is friendly with an Artic Seal pup!!! How cute!!!

Savannah got the next ornament in her "Snowball and Tuxedo" series. She loves how furry and glittery her ornaments are, and she and Joseph have a running disagreement about whose series is the cutest.

Personally, I think it is kind of a tie...

Brighams love of trains continues unabated this year, and his ornament is a flashy number that lights up, moves, AND makes train noises!! Whoo-Whoo!!!!

What a fun ornament to have this year!!

Nicolette also continues with her fairy series this year, getting this playful "Marigold Fairy" to add to her collection.

If you ask Nicolette why her series is fairies, she'll tell you that it's because she has "Pixie Ears"!!! (and she really does!!)

This year, thanks to being a week out of surgery, the kids decorated the tree. Kaitlyn had actually done all the lights by herself several days before...and as you can see in the very first picture in this post, she did a fabulous job. My friend Tina Fabiano came over and made my bow and ribbons for me, and got up on the ladder to hang them, too. So now, with a little direction and caution from the armchair where I rested, my kids decorated the Christmas tree BY THEMSELVES!

They did a FABULOUS job...my tree looks GREAT!!! And I am so grateful to have such wonderful, magical kids!!

Merry Christmas, everyone!!

A Good Start in Scouting...

We went to the Last Pack Meeting we'll ever attend with Palm Springs Ward on the last Wednesday in September. Joseph had earned two merit badges over the summer, and I wanted him to receive them with his old troop.

So Joseph was awarded his Scout badge and his merit badge for Rifle Shooting (which he earned with Papa over the summer), and Pottery merit badge.

Now it's on to earning his Tenderfoot rank, and to an Orienteering Merit Badge Clinic.

It's a good start to a new year as an official Boy Scout!!

International Coastal Clean-Up Day 2009

Part of being a Scout is being a Good Citizen...and part of being a Good Citizen is helping keep your planet clean. On Saturday, we had the opportunity to help in International Coastal Clean-Up Day. It's a day where people all over the world get together to collect trash off the beaches and record what was collected to help educate the public on the dangers of littering. WE were helping at two separate sites on Key Biscayne...Bill Baggs State Park and Crandon Park and Nature Center.

I was able to take not only Girl Scouts, but a couple Boy Scouts as well. In fact, it was a family event, so I took my whole family!! Even little Nicolette was there to help!! And I wasn't the only one...Karen (my co-leader) brought her kids, the Tylers had their whole family, as did the Rosales'! It was GREAT!!

I was really excited to go...not just to help out, but also to try some new tricks with my camera. Kaliayah was ready to go, too.

"C'mon, guys!! Let's GO!!!!"



Savannah was ready to work, too...giggly even early on this stormy morning. There was lightening...so we had to wait for the storm to stop before we went out on the beach.




Abi and Savannah played games with the kids while waited for the lightening to stop...Red Rover, Tightrope Challenge, and I Spy.



Michelle and Jessica were really just happy to sit and chat.



Once we got started, though...my Girl Scouts really went to town. They were dedicated and committed to "Making the World a Better Place" Here is Oriana hauling a bag of trash off the beach.


Of course...some weren't as helpful...mainly the teenagers that need the service hours to graduate. Karen was supervising...but as you can see...Karen was REALLY in need of some Cafe con Leche...so while my girls toil away in the background, Kaitlyn, Emily Tyler, and Alex Perez hang out and chat a bit.

While Karen and Heidis' group toiled away at Crandon Park, the rest of us were gettin' crackin' at Bill Baggs.

Girl Scouts ROCK!!!!

While cleaning up at Bill Baggs, I was able to play with the macro feature on my camera. I took this picture of a giant banana spider. This guy was about as big across as the tip of my middle finger to the base of my palm. I wanted to put my hand next to it so you'd have a comparison, but although I'm told these giant spiders are "gentle" and hardly ever bite...I was too chicken to get that close. A couple of my Girl Scouts offered to do it, but I refused. Can you imagine me explaining that to someones mom?!?!?!?

This is no ordinary pile of sand...it is a sea turtle nest. And as you can see...it's occupants had just hatched the night before. We saw these nests every few feet up and down the beach...all with shredded leathery turtle eggs and tracks leading out to sea...

Again...I used my macro to take some close-ups of the eggs. The kids were amazed to pick up the shells and feel that they were soft...sort-of like a deflated balloon...

Serving others and your community is really it's own reward...but having another incentive isn't bad, either...and our incentive was free passes to the Miami Seaquarium for all International Coastal Clean-Up volunteers!! It was SO HOT and humid that we headed straight for the Dolphin and Killer Whale show in hopes of getting splashed!!

At the show, I got to try out the Sports feature of my camera...where it takes several shots ion a few seconds...so I got some great ones of the killer whale and her trainer showing their stuff!!

Here's another one...

After the show (and a good soaking), we wandered around the park and looked at the various aquariums and exhibits. One highlight was the manatees. Abi was VERY happy to see them..as "Manatee" is her camp name (she earned it for being so sweet and gentle).

All in all...yucky weather included...it was a great day helping our community and environment. I'm so proud of my Scouts and my family and the families of those that participated for being so socially conscious and setting a good example of service!! Together, we can "Make the world a Better Place!!"