This is Isaak writing on Mom's blog. You've probably heard from my mom that Scout Camp was fun, but hard. We had to sleep in platform tents and go to merit badge classes. Out of the 4 classes I had, I'd say First Aid was the worst, because it doesn't have any flare, besides the "unconscious" dummies. We learned about what to do when someone is unconscious, which lead to CPR, which was at first taught to my Swimming class. Swimming was tough; the water was a bit too cold at 10 A.M. but warmer later. Cooking was fun, but it wasn't meant to be, because we didn't really pass off most of our requirements, but played games like Mafia and Lava Monster instead. (Sooner or later I have this feeling that someone may sue those merit badge counselors!) Environmental Science was my favorite, and that turned out to be the only merit badge I got at camp. That was because, unlike First Aid, there wasn't much spice in it. We got to observe nature and sketch drawings. It was said to be the hardest merit badge earned at camp, but it was the easiest for me! The food at camp was usually great; I tried enchiladas and breakfast cake, but when there's something at camp that I don't even attempt to try, I just have a bowl of cereal or I make the meal a peanut butter jelly time! (Too bad there weren't any dancing bananas, or even regular bananas at all! But there was a skit that included the Peanut Butter Jelly Time song.) I loved the skits there. There were some remade classics and some new ones. I think this camp will never be forgotten.
Kiwanis Camp was different than Scout camp, and the previous Kiwanis Camp years. We went rafting and went to the Mt. Hood Skibowl! It was absolutely fun! But there were drawbacks. I almost got hypothermia during canoeing, because it was about to not just rain, but there was an upcoming thunderstorm! What's worse, when I headed to my tent, a bee landed on my nose, and stung me! The stinger was fat, and it hurt. I needed meat tenderizer on my nose and Benidryl (did I spell it right?) before I go to bed. It doesn't hurt anymore, and my nose probably stopped swelling, but it left a mark, and I think of a different condition, I have a bad cold and skipped Sacrament Meeting today. But the past two weeks have been quite an adventure, pushing me out of my comfort zone in the summer and I got to do greater things. Hopefully the next years will be even better!
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Sunday, August 2, 2009
August 2, 2009
Isaak made it home safe and sound from his first overnight Scout camp. I think he had some inflexible moments, but nothing major, and he said he had a great time. Today, I take him to Kiwanis Camp, overnight camp for kids with disabilities, for a week. This year, he's old enough to do a "Tent and Travel" camp where they are camping and doing daily excursions like River Rafting and rope courses. I didn't mean to sign up for one camp after another, but that's just the way it happened.
Maggie gets to spend the week up north with family and friends. She's excited. And I'm excited to have a week home alone! Dave's still on Army duty for another week, so it'll just be me and my work. I plan on getting the first draft of my book complete (fingers crossed) although I do have some clients I have to see. But, I'm really going to shoot for it.
I took the kids to La Push last week with my sister and her kids. It was fun! It's her family annual tradition that we plan to keep crashing. The kids love it.
My good camera battery ran out, so here are some cell phone pics. I got a disposable camera after I took these, but I haven't gotten them developed yet. What a pain film camera's are! :) Those are mostly of when we went into Forks and took silly tourist pictures. It was so fun.
Maggie's crazy hair. She's trying to grow it out. At least I'm encouraging her to. :) She looks better without bangs.
Heh heh
La Push beach. It was overcast and "eery." We kept a watch-out for werewolves.
Maggie gets to spend the week up north with family and friends. She's excited. And I'm excited to have a week home alone! Dave's still on Army duty for another week, so it'll just be me and my work. I plan on getting the first draft of my book complete (fingers crossed) although I do have some clients I have to see. But, I'm really going to shoot for it.
I took the kids to La Push last week with my sister and her kids. It was fun! It's her family annual tradition that we plan to keep crashing. The kids love it.
My good camera battery ran out, so here are some cell phone pics. I got a disposable camera after I took these, but I haven't gotten them developed yet. What a pain film camera's are! :) Those are mostly of when we went into Forks and took silly tourist pictures. It was so fun.
Maggie's crazy hair. She's trying to grow it out. At least I'm encouraging her to. :) She looks better without bangs.
Heh heh
La Push beach. It was overcast and "eery." We kept a watch-out for werewolves.
So, who's seen Harry Potter and who wants to discuss it with me!?!
Saturday, July 18, 2009
July 18, 2009
Came out to Sequim to see my family and the Lavendar Festival--huge herb party. Crazy hippie and old people who come to sing songs about purple flowers or something. Quite a sight to behold.
Little Audra with Lemon Lavendar ice cream. Her hair never looks better than this, by the way. I don't know what it is.
Nice looking kid. :)
It really is beautiful when it's all in bloom. However, this is where...
...this happened. That is the stinger of a bee that got me on my foot. I haven't been stung since I was a little kid. I don't know if I'm semi-allergic or what, but it hurt like no one's business! Not at the time, so much, but as the day went on. It was excrutiating! I could barely walk. And, the worse part was I had to "hide" it from Maggie because she already has an irrational fear of bees (thanks to her dad), and seeing my pain certainly wouldn't help on that front!
My sissy!
Little Audra with Lemon Lavendar ice cream. Her hair never looks better than this, by the way. I don't know what it is.
Nice looking kid. :)
It really is beautiful when it's all in bloom. However, this is where...
...this happened. That is the stinger of a bee that got me on my foot. I haven't been stung since I was a little kid. I don't know if I'm semi-allergic or what, but it hurt like no one's business! Not at the time, so much, but as the day went on. It was excrutiating! I could barely walk. And, the worse part was I had to "hide" it from Maggie because she already has an irrational fear of bees (thanks to her dad), and seeing my pain certainly wouldn't help on that front!
My sissy!
The cousins.
Took the kids to Harry Potter (second time for me). Liked it about the same. Enjoyed it, yes, but definitely have some complaints about what they changed and left out and what they chose to focus on. But, it's all good fun!
Heading off to the other fam next, for Anna Marie's baby blessing. Looking forward to it!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
July 12, 2009
Finally cropped some fotos from our California trip. So, I took our friends Carla and Kyndall (who Maggie is attached to at the hip most days) with us. Carla used to live down there (San Jose area), so she got to visit old friends and family. She was kind enough to watch Maggie (and Kyndall) while I was working most of the days. The girls had a ball. I think it's a memory we'll have for years to come.
I love this picture of Kyndall.
This is a good one of Maggie. I love the colors.
I love railroad tracks.
The girls spent about 4 hours in the pool every day.
I didn't get any pictures of us at Great American, but we had a blast. I even got Maggie to ride a real roller coaster with me. She was reluctant at first, but then she wanted to get right back on afterwards. I went alone on a couple other, bigger ones, and truly thought I was going to die on one. It was so dang freaky! The day was perfect. Weather was nice, no crowds, we hardly ever had to wait in line, great company. It couldn't have been any better. Highlight of the trip.
This is the mentor group I was with during the week at Michelle Garcia Winner's clinic. She's there hiding in the back. It was an amazing week. I learned so much. I also got to "hobnob" with her and her staff at her house when she held a speaker's conference that weekend. That was pretty fun. Now, I gotta get this book done so she keeps thinking "good" thoughts about me! My goal is by the end of summer, so I gotta keep working. Meanwhile, my business is busting at the seams. Which is good... and bad. I just wish I had more time to do all I want to do.
Ah, the complications of life!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
IEP, Choir, and stuff
Had Isaak's annual IEP. He's done SO well this year, we really have to nit-pick to find good goals for a year. But, they're there. Some organization goals, some to help him understand instructions, and to help him deal with when he makes a mistake or misunderstands something and how to deal with it appropriately. He's made tremendous progress, and he knows it, so he got a little "down" having to listen to what he still needs work on. But, even though he got a little emotional, he said he was fine, and didn't completely lose it like he used to. He's learning to control so much better.
In addition, the 7th grader will be going to AP Calculus and pre-AP Chemistry at the high school. It hurts my head to think about it.
Went to his choir concert. Wow! Can't believe how "developed" some middle schoolers are. I mean physically, but also in voice. They seem so grown up! He's a shrimp. It was pretty cool, but he got all emotional at the end when they were singing good-bye to the 8th graders. Boy, he does wear his emotions on his sleeve. I don't want him to stifle that, but I also don't want him to be seen as a weirdo. Hard balance to find.
We joined a gym near the house. Took the kids yesterday. We all trotted on the eliptical for a half hour. Pretty fun! Little Audra's heart rate got up to 190. Is that OK? I don't know. My was around 155 and Isaak's around 180. It'll be good for us.
We slept in this morning, and Isaak's missing Math, but who cares! It's been a stressful week!
In addition, the 7th grader will be going to AP Calculus and pre-AP Chemistry at the high school. It hurts my head to think about it.
Went to his choir concert. Wow! Can't believe how "developed" some middle schoolers are. I mean physically, but also in voice. They seem so grown up! He's a shrimp. It was pretty cool, but he got all emotional at the end when they were singing good-bye to the 8th graders. Boy, he does wear his emotions on his sleeve. I don't want him to stifle that, but I also don't want him to be seen as a weirdo. Hard balance to find.
We joined a gym near the house. Took the kids yesterday. We all trotted on the eliptical for a half hour. Pretty fun! Little Audra's heart rate got up to 190. Is that OK? I don't know. My was around 155 and Isaak's around 180. It'll be good for us.
We slept in this morning, and Isaak's missing Math, but who cares! It's been a stressful week!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Isaak's poetry
For his English assignment, they had to write 10 poems using other poetry as a template. Here are his:
A sneaky, secret chameleon,
I mark a little connection to what mastery one should work toward.
It vanishes and becomes the Cheshire Cat; you could see its smile.
Its mouth opens quicker than a heartbeat and catches a fly in the woods.
Its tongue launched straight ahead… straight ahead… with powerful precision.
Its smile returns, wider and larger, but it can’t leave a contented burp.
A perfect, hypothetical human,
Full-grown, well-educated, all-around, and smiling, he is ready to take on anything.
Anyone in need of being taken care of can be taken care of in his presence.
Anything obstacle covering the path he seeks can be removed with wits and courage.
His reputation deeply swells… deeply swells… in powerful precision.
His smile returns, wider and larger, with the similarities of the chameleon’s fill.
I’ve seen children
That spent time playing
I’ve seen children
That tripped and cried
I’ve see children that act as an example like
Being the tallest tree in the forest.
I’ve seen children
I’ve seen children act important
and bossy and hateful.
I’ve seen children that react and cower
As they get picked like
Giants shoving trees out of sight.
I’ve seen children
I’ve seen children stay inside and play video games
To get their brains wired
I’ve seen children
That loved
Their mothers, fathers, siblings, and friends.
Oh yes, I’ve seen children…
Whenever thunder cracks the hills,
Whenever walruses wail,
Whenever sprinkler overdrive
Pours on mills,
From the depths arises a yellow tail.
It, struck before,
Attracts a shock.
How does it survive such a nasty mock?
The creature rises, resembling a seal.
It heads towards the eye of the storm,
When lightning and thunder
Come down for their meal,
By at the tail makes a dorm,
By at the tail makes a dorm,
And then,
By the shock it flushes again.
There was an old man with two eyes.
They can pop quite far with surprise.
His wife thought her aid
Malfunctions again
Until she saw the old man’s popped eyes!
I have known
Pretty young girls
And handsome young boys;
Their matches.
Date after date
And location after location
They kiss, and cry
And wave goodbye
Sometimes they part
And join up again.
Today
I hug the tree.
With their
hooting,
guffawing cries,
hyenas spread
creature
comedy.
How doth the
smelly little rat
Improve his
garbage reek,
And invade
dumpsters all around
In every house
he squeaks!
How vulnerable
he seems to be!
How predictable nearby;
The cat
pounces and
eats the rat—
HAAAACK!
How can’t she die?
A jittery stranger in the deep
Ambles
Underneath,
While way up high its many dangers
Pass by above
His sheath.
The burgundy signal
And he gets
Swept away
By the playful puffs of gray
Tickling in
Every way.
He settles in a dung heap
But never
Launches stench,
Rather takes care of the leafy gods
In the
Open trench.
He digs in through rich chocolate
And creates
Helpful humus,
For Mother Earth suffocates
And he must save her
And us!
He is shunned by its thick lard,
Size, shape,
And being,
Care can only be so helpful
As if it
Must sing!
Flap! Flap! Woof!
Flap! Flap! Woof!
A flying dog is in my house;
His existence is enough.
He flew in through the window
And broke my mom’s Greek vase.
Stephanie asks, “Can we keep him?”
But he’s a great disgrace.
He flew and smashed nine dishes,
He flew and startled the cat,
His paws left marks in Play-Doh—
Hey! Give back Sebastian’s hat!
Flap! Flap! Woof!
Flap! Flap! Woof!
A flying dog is in my house;
His existence is enough!
He played tug-o-war with my suits on hangers,
His barks are louder than shrill yells,
He wrestled Stephanie’s stuffed “Betsy”,
And Cupid shot him when he saw silver bells.
Every minute he influences thrice
That includes twice of my concern,
If only he would fly a—
No! Stop pooping in my fern!
Will he ever learn?!
Flap! Flap! Woof!
Flap! Flap! Woof!
A flying dog is in my house;
His existence is ENOUGH!
I
liv
four
skul
cant
wat
four
skul
I
wac
up
just
too
goh
too
skul
I
studie
their
to
luk
ahed
Id
sta
untill
I
goh
too
bed
Sins
wen
Im
thru
Im
fre
too
rom,
mature
as
evir
frum
skin
to
bohne
Sucses
is
strait
ahed
in
vyo;
Im
ready
four
soh
much
too
doo!
K, I'm completely flabbergasted. I actually didn't believe he wrote these and had to go back and see the original works to see if he really did just use them for ideas and write these poems on his own. I'm utterly in shock. Really amazing poetry here. I'm going to have to go study them, now.
A sneaky, secret chameleon,
I mark a little connection to what mastery one should work toward.
It vanishes and becomes the Cheshire Cat; you could see its smile.
Its mouth opens quicker than a heartbeat and catches a fly in the woods.
Its tongue launched straight ahead… straight ahead… with powerful precision.
Its smile returns, wider and larger, but it can’t leave a contented burp.
A perfect, hypothetical human,
Full-grown, well-educated, all-around, and smiling, he is ready to take on anything.
Anyone in need of being taken care of can be taken care of in his presence.
Anything obstacle covering the path he seeks can be removed with wits and courage.
His reputation deeply swells… deeply swells… in powerful precision.
His smile returns, wider and larger, with the similarities of the chameleon’s fill.
I’ve seen children
That spent time playing
I’ve seen children
That tripped and cried
I’ve see children that act as an example like
Being the tallest tree in the forest.
I’ve seen children
I’ve seen children act important
and bossy and hateful.
I’ve seen children that react and cower
As they get picked like
Giants shoving trees out of sight.
I’ve seen children
I’ve seen children stay inside and play video games
To get their brains wired
I’ve seen children
That loved
Their mothers, fathers, siblings, and friends.
Oh yes, I’ve seen children…
Whenever thunder cracks the hills,
Whenever walruses wail,
Whenever sprinkler overdrive
Pours on mills,
From the depths arises a yellow tail.
It, struck before,
Attracts a shock.
How does it survive such a nasty mock?
The creature rises, resembling a seal.
It heads towards the eye of the storm,
When lightning and thunder
Come down for their meal,
By at the tail makes a dorm,
By at the tail makes a dorm,
And then,
By the shock it flushes again.
There was an old man with two eyes.
They can pop quite far with surprise.
His wife thought her aid
Malfunctions again
Until she saw the old man’s popped eyes!
I have known
Pretty young girls
And handsome young boys;
Their matches.
Date after date
And location after location
They kiss, and cry
And wave goodbye
Sometimes they part
And join up again.
Today
I hug the tree.
With their
hooting,
guffawing cries,
hyenas spread
creature
comedy.
How doth the
smelly little rat
Improve his
garbage reek,
And invade
dumpsters all around
In every house
he squeaks!
How vulnerable
he seems to be!
How predictable nearby;
The cat
pounces and
eats the rat—
HAAAACK!
How can’t she die?
A jittery stranger in the deep
Ambles
Underneath,
While way up high its many dangers
Pass by above
His sheath.
The burgundy signal
And he gets
Swept away
By the playful puffs of gray
Tickling in
Every way.
He settles in a dung heap
But never
Launches stench,
Rather takes care of the leafy gods
In the
Open trench.
He digs in through rich chocolate
And creates
Helpful humus,
For Mother Earth suffocates
And he must save her
And us!
He is shunned by its thick lard,
Size, shape,
And being,
Care can only be so helpful
As if it
Must sing!
Flap! Flap! Woof!
Flap! Flap! Woof!
A flying dog is in my house;
His existence is enough.
He flew in through the window
And broke my mom’s Greek vase.
Stephanie asks, “Can we keep him?”
But he’s a great disgrace.
He flew and smashed nine dishes,
He flew and startled the cat,
His paws left marks in Play-Doh—
Hey! Give back Sebastian’s hat!
Flap! Flap! Woof!
Flap! Flap! Woof!
A flying dog is in my house;
His existence is enough!
He played tug-o-war with my suits on hangers,
His barks are louder than shrill yells,
He wrestled Stephanie’s stuffed “Betsy”,
And Cupid shot him when he saw silver bells.
Every minute he influences thrice
That includes twice of my concern,
If only he would fly a—
No! Stop pooping in my fern!
Will he ever learn?!
Flap! Flap! Woof!
Flap! Flap! Woof!
A flying dog is in my house;
His existence is ENOUGH!
I
liv
four
skul
cant
wat
four
skul
I
wac
up
just
too
goh
too
skul
I
studie
their
to
luk
ahed
Id
sta
untill
I
goh
too
bed
Sins
wen
Im
thru
Im
fre
too
rom,
mature
as
evir
frum
skin
to
bohne
Sucses
is
strait
ahed
in
vyo;
Im
ready
four
soh
much
too
doo!
K, I'm completely flabbergasted. I actually didn't believe he wrote these and had to go back and see the original works to see if he really did just use them for ideas and write these poems on his own. I'm utterly in shock. Really amazing poetry here. I'm going to have to go study them, now.
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