Well, I should have known better than to talk about Wm's schedule on the first day! I don't think a term has gone by without changes. After his first day of testing, he is now taking:
Algebra II
Physics
World History
Wellness
European Literature
Russian
The first few are all the same, but the last couple are new. He said they also got rid of the sports examples in Physics, so it's just Physics. Not calc-based, obvs!
Wm had a GREAT first day of classes and is beyond thrilled that he has a bunch of friends in most of his classes. He's always the only kid in his grade in his math class, so that's a bit lonely. And, now, he has to go over to the high school for Algebra II. He said there are 8th graders in there, so he's not the only middle school kid! I pleaded with him last night to switch to Spanish and out of Russian. Not only because that may actually be useful, but so he doesn't have to learn a whole new alphabet. I don't think he considered that before signing up. Fingers crossed he comes to his senses today and gets that changed! If not, maybe he can be a spy or something.
Tuesday, August 28, 2018
Monday, August 27, 2018
Schedule
Wm got his schedule! AND, he got his first choice advisor! So, things are looking up. Hopefully, he likes all of his classes today. He is taking:
The Physics of Sport
The Art of Language
World History to 1400CE
Algebra II
Wellness (a new gym/health hybrid that replaced WHAM!)
Apparently, at Metro, Geometry comes after Algebra II. If all goes according to plan, he should be able to knock both those out this year. Then, he would start Trig in 8th grade! However, I do NOT want him to push it, so we'll see how it goes. It's not a race! There's no need for that little nerd-o to take pre-Calc in middle school. He's very small. Only so much information can fit into his tiny body.
Wm has also started packing his own lunch...FINALLY. So far, so good! He even puts baby carrots in there. However, there's no way to know if he's actually eating them...
The Physics of Sport
The Art of Language
World History to 1400CE
Algebra II
Wellness (a new gym/health hybrid that replaced WHAM!)
Apparently, at Metro, Geometry comes after Algebra II. If all goes according to plan, he should be able to knock both those out this year. Then, he would start Trig in 8th grade! However, I do NOT want him to push it, so we'll see how it goes. It's not a race! There's no need for that little nerd-o to take pre-Calc in middle school. He's very small. Only so much information can fit into his tiny body.
Wm has also started packing his own lunch...FINALLY. So far, so good! He even puts baby carrots in there. However, there's no way to know if he's actually eating them...
Thursday, August 23, 2018
7th Grade!
Yesterday was Wm's first day of 7th grade. It didn't go as well as he hoped! He thought he was going in knowing exactly what to expect. But, when he got there, they had changed A LOT of stuff! It totally threw him off and he was super upset. The school sent out an email last night, outlining the changes. They are all positive. So, it likely would have been helpful if they did that BEFORE school started so I could have prepped Wm. He doesn't like change and most of his crabbiness was due to the fact that this was unknown.
But, no prep would have helped with his saddest thing. His advisor, whom he LOVED, moved and left the school. Wm is heartbroken. The kids have input in who their new advisor will be, so they are handling it well. But, Wm says he will never, ever have an advisor as awesome as Mr. Murphy.
Once we talked through the other new stuff, he seems more willing to see the bright side! The kids have an extra period in the day (and shorter classes) to add time for an elective. Wm didn't know what an elective is, so when I explained it's something fun that he CHOOSES to take, he was much more pleased! (Examples they gave were Robotics and foreign language.) They also did some building renovations that he didn't understand, but it was to create a "Zen Zone" for kids to go hang out in if they are feeling overwhelmed. Again, Wm liked this idea! So, mostly, it will just take him a bit of time to adjust and figure things out. But, even though he hates change, he does adjust very quickly! I'm guessing in less than a week, he will be happy as a clam!
And he was suuuuuper happy to see all his friends again! He is hoping some of them are in his new advisory! One of his friends told him that his mom is now a teacher there, but, not to pick her for his new advisor because she isn't nice. HA!
Wm is past the age when I can get him to pose nicely going into school. He's also past the age when I'm even allowed to get out of the car when I drop him off. So, here are the pictures I could get of him walking in (unbeknownst to him!):
But, no prep would have helped with his saddest thing. His advisor, whom he LOVED, moved and left the school. Wm is heartbroken. The kids have input in who their new advisor will be, so they are handling it well. But, Wm says he will never, ever have an advisor as awesome as Mr. Murphy.
Once we talked through the other new stuff, he seems more willing to see the bright side! The kids have an extra period in the day (and shorter classes) to add time for an elective. Wm didn't know what an elective is, so when I explained it's something fun that he CHOOSES to take, he was much more pleased! (Examples they gave were Robotics and foreign language.) They also did some building renovations that he didn't understand, but it was to create a "Zen Zone" for kids to go hang out in if they are feeling overwhelmed. Again, Wm liked this idea! So, mostly, it will just take him a bit of time to adjust and figure things out. But, even though he hates change, he does adjust very quickly! I'm guessing in less than a week, he will be happy as a clam!
And he was suuuuuper happy to see all his friends again! He is hoping some of them are in his new advisory! One of his friends told him that his mom is now a teacher there, but, not to pick her for his new advisor because she isn't nice. HA!
Wm is past the age when I can get him to pose nicely going into school. He's also past the age when I'm even allowed to get out of the car when I drop him off. So, here are the pictures I could get of him walking in (unbeknownst to him!):
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| Big Time 7th Grader with Rolly Backpack |
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| Purposeful Stride |
Saturday, August 18, 2018
Birthday Celebrations
We celebrated Flip's birthday today. First, he was allowed in the hammock. I think he liked it:
Then, we wanted to take him to WagFest. Wm was at a friend's house all morning and refused to return, so we were later getting there than we planned, so it was very crowded and very hot. But, Wm was appeased with an ice cream cone and Flip was, basically, just frantic with pure excitement the whole time!
After WagFest, Flip got to go to PetSmart. His dog sitter gave him a gift card (and birthday card, too!), so we hit them up. And Flip LOST HIS MIND. He got a new toy, which he went bananas for, a meat-flavored chew, and a new, padded Buckeye collar.
If you are ever thinking of bothering me, I will turn loose this murderer on you:
My favorite part of that picture is that Steve is sitting there, so nonchalant in the background, while it looks like Flip is going to tear someone to shreds (he is not - that is just an amazingly well-timed picture of him coming to nibble my fingertips as I twiddled them in his face to get a good shot).
Next up on the agenda is a fancy dinner out for Steve and I. Wm says he doesn't want to come, which is A-OK with us! He's had a big day, anyway, after being at his friend's for hours and then coming to WagFest. He's just getting over an ear infection, so it's good to let him chill. I was glad we got that sorted before school started. And, Wm is a major weirdo who thinks liquid antibiotics are "hella delicious." He feels fine, but I knew something was up when his post-cold plugged up ear kept getting worse instead of better (though, he never had any pain). This is only his second ear infection, ever! Hopefully, this means he will be healthy for the start of school!!
And, There's nothing better than a kid old enough to stay home and eat mac n cheese while we go out for a date night!
I'll close with my new most favorite thing. I love it because it is both awesome AND annoys The Boys. I got a small plaster gazelle head for my bathroom wall. I love it. I love it more because it is not centered over the towel rack, which KILLS both Steve and Wm. It has golden horns. This, too, causes much dismay among The Boring Boy Contingent. I smile every time I look at him. I have named him Gazpacho.
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| All smiles! |
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| WagFest Bark Beach |
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| Puppies I wanted to adopt, but no one would let me |
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| New collar |
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| New Toy Joy |
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| Birthday Boy |
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| Mad dog!! |
Next up on the agenda is a fancy dinner out for Steve and I. Wm says he doesn't want to come, which is A-OK with us! He's had a big day, anyway, after being at his friend's for hours and then coming to WagFest. He's just getting over an ear infection, so it's good to let him chill. I was glad we got that sorted before school started. And, Wm is a major weirdo who thinks liquid antibiotics are "hella delicious." He feels fine, but I knew something was up when his post-cold plugged up ear kept getting worse instead of better (though, he never had any pain). This is only his second ear infection, ever! Hopefully, this means he will be healthy for the start of school!!
And, There's nothing better than a kid old enough to stay home and eat mac n cheese while we go out for a date night!
I'll close with my new most favorite thing. I love it because it is both awesome AND annoys The Boys. I got a small plaster gazelle head for my bathroom wall. I love it. I love it more because it is not centered over the towel rack, which KILLS both Steve and Wm. It has golden horns. This, too, causes much dismay among The Boring Boy Contingent. I smile every time I look at him. I have named him Gazpacho.
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| Gazpacho in the evening |
Thursday, August 16, 2018
2 Years Old!
Wm is all ready for school to start! Tested, laptoped, pictured, and summer reading assignment complete. Now he's just killing time for another week. We got a sharp look from a new admin at school when he was there on Monday. She asked how to pronounce our last name and Wm and I said 2 different things at the exact same time. So I had to explain that when Wm learned to read, he had decided our last name was not logical and created his own, more logical, pronunciation. That seemed to appease her and there do not seem to be plans to call the authorities on me for kidnapping.
Today is Flip's second birthday! We will celebrate by buying him something expensive to destroy this weekend. Wm texted me this picture of Flip spending his day on the porch yesterday. He has taken a liking to it!
Today is Flip's second birthday! We will celebrate by buying him something expensive to destroy this weekend. Wm texted me this picture of Flip spending his day on the porch yesterday. He has taken a liking to it!
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| Porch dog |
Monday, August 13, 2018
Porch Complete!
Wm is, as I type, at school taking his state-mandated MAPS test. His school also uses that for class placement. While I have been left with the usual mountain of forms to fill out. He is going to text me when he's done and I'll go over for school pictures and laptop picking up. He was all cute this morning and dressed in his school clothes (which wasn't required). I think he's feeling jazzed to go back!! One of his favorite teachers checked us in and Wm was adorably shy and nervous. But, he also felt like a big deal because when we walked in, a parent volunteer goes, "new or returning student?" and Wm goes, "RETURNING." After his big test (3 hours!), I'm going to take him out to lunch. And, one week from Wednesday, he returns to school. Flip is going to be VERY sad!
Speaking of Flip, we discovered he is willing to overcome is major phobia to save us. Flip is terrified of the basement. Mostly because he's terrified of Schroeder and that is Schroeder's territory. I took Wm down there yesterday to get his hair cut (for pictures!) and Flip stood at the top of the stairs and cried and cried. Wm then wondered what he'd do if one of us was being attacked in the basement, where he refuses to go. So, of course, Wm attacked me. Flip paced, all agitated, for a second and then flew down the stairs. Flip to the rescue!! When I told him I was OK, he was VERY happy to return to the ground floor. And continue his sad crying.
We also FINALLY finished the screened in porch this weekend!! Mimi and Guy came over for a cookout yesterday to break it in. And a friend of Wm's joined us, as well, so it was a party! The finishing touch will be a nice piece of outdoor art for the wall. We spent A LOT of time out there lounging this weekend! (And, when Steve locked me out on Friday evening, I broke into the backyard and waiting for him to come home while snoozing in the hammock.) It looks really cool at night with the overhead twinkle lights on!
Besides putting the finishing touches on the porch, heading to a pool party (getting locked out!), and napping during a rain shower, we also went hiking at a new place this weekend and saw bison grazing! It was pretty neat!!
Speaking of Flip, we discovered he is willing to overcome is major phobia to save us. Flip is terrified of the basement. Mostly because he's terrified of Schroeder and that is Schroeder's territory. I took Wm down there yesterday to get his hair cut (for pictures!) and Flip stood at the top of the stairs and cried and cried. Wm then wondered what he'd do if one of us was being attacked in the basement, where he refuses to go. So, of course, Wm attacked me. Flip paced, all agitated, for a second and then flew down the stairs. Flip to the rescue!! When I told him I was OK, he was VERY happy to return to the ground floor. And continue his sad crying.
We also FINALLY finished the screened in porch this weekend!! Mimi and Guy came over for a cookout yesterday to break it in. And a friend of Wm's joined us, as well, so it was a party! The finishing touch will be a nice piece of outdoor art for the wall. We spent A LOT of time out there lounging this weekend! (And, when Steve locked me out on Friday evening, I broke into the backyard and waiting for him to come home while snoozing in the hammock.) It looks really cool at night with the overhead twinkle lights on!
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| Steve enjoying the conversation area of the porch |
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| Flip, ready for conversing |
Besides putting the finishing touches on the porch, heading to a pool party (getting locked out!), and napping during a rain shower, we also went hiking at a new place this weekend and saw bison grazing! It was pretty neat!!
Friday, August 10, 2018
Relaxin'
It's now been a couple months since Flip has been crated and he hasn't destroyed one pillow! He's been good as gold! He loves his new tent and the freedom to roam around and bark at people walking by and sleep under our bed (his favorite spot!)
Wm is closing in on the end of summer break. We need to go school supply shopping!! He goes back to school the week after next. And, on Monday, he goes in for testing and pictures and laptop. He's almost completed his big Malala project and is chomping at the bit to get back to school! We were taking a walk yesterday afternoon and Wm sighed and goes, "I love our new neighborhood. It's so quiet. And the houses look like manors." Ha! For a kid who was dead set against moving less than a year ago, he sure has settled in nicely! We are going to a neighborhood party at the pool this Saturday, weather permitting. So that should be fun!!
Now that the inside of the house is pretty much how we wanted it, I've moved on to making the screened in porch my outdoor oasis. Step 1: Hammock.
We plan some seating, a table, plants lining the windows, overhead twinkle lights, and an outdoor area rug. We should be able to eat out there, snooze out there, sit out there and chat, you name it!! I have a feeling this may become our favorite room in the house! I just have to clean up the all the splinters Flip has left from dragging sticks in there and gnawing them. The rug, table, and chair cushions arrive today. Then I just have to hang the twinkle lights, get some plans, and get rid of all the boxes!
Unbeknownst to Steve, but my winter project ideas include turning the spare bedroom into my yoga/meditation room. That should keep him busy....
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| Happy camper |
Wm is closing in on the end of summer break. We need to go school supply shopping!! He goes back to school the week after next. And, on Monday, he goes in for testing and pictures and laptop. He's almost completed his big Malala project and is chomping at the bit to get back to school! We were taking a walk yesterday afternoon and Wm sighed and goes, "I love our new neighborhood. It's so quiet. And the houses look like manors." Ha! For a kid who was dead set against moving less than a year ago, he sure has settled in nicely! We are going to a neighborhood party at the pool this Saturday, weather permitting. So that should be fun!!
Now that the inside of the house is pretty much how we wanted it, I've moved on to making the screened in porch my outdoor oasis. Step 1: Hammock.
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| Future Relaxing Here |
We plan some seating, a table, plants lining the windows, overhead twinkle lights, and an outdoor area rug. We should be able to eat out there, snooze out there, sit out there and chat, you name it!! I have a feeling this may become our favorite room in the house! I just have to clean up the all the splinters Flip has left from dragging sticks in there and gnawing them. The rug, table, and chair cushions arrive today. Then I just have to hang the twinkle lights, get some plans, and get rid of all the boxes!
Unbeknownst to Steve, but my winter project ideas include turning the spare bedroom into my yoga/meditation room. That should keep him busy....
Monday, August 6, 2018
Animal Whisperer
Wm is super cute with all his animal friends. On Friday night, we watched Jaws. Wm grew bored with the parts that did not include shark attacks. So, he and Schroeder hung out cutely.
I asked Wm if he was scared to go swimming now and he goes, "that movie was so fake, I can't believe it would scare anyone!" I guess movies from the 70's don't always hold up!!
On Saturday, Steve and I went to see The Spy Who Dumped Me. I enjoyed it. Steve did not. We also bought tickets to take Wm to see Jim Gaffigan in November! Wm is EXCITED!!
Wm had an overnight at a friend's house this weekend. He is TIRED. Poor dude was also starved to death - they fed him nothing!! He had had nothing to eat or drink from the time we dropped him off until the time we picked him up. It may be the last overnight at that particular friend's house! It's about 45 minutes to get there, one way, anyway!! We brought along a certain doggo who missed his brother. The joy of being reunited:
Wm mostly loafed around on Sunday, due to his exhaustion. Steve and I managed to get a ton of chores done and headed out to Polaris for a bit of light shopping. It is HOT again, so we are kind of trapped indoors. But, Wm and I did take Flip to Antrim to swim. And Wm got his first DQ Blizzard. Which he declared "not as good as a cone." We did make the glorious discovery that the DQ near our new place is super nice and has fried cheese curds. FRIED. CHEESE. CURDS. We will be back!! But, Steve can't have any because his cholesterol is now so high, they are threatening statins. I can have some because I just had my physical and was declared an "ideal patient." BRING ON THE FRIED CHEESE CURDS!!!
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| Love the little smile! |
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| Snuggles |
I asked Wm if he was scared to go swimming now and he goes, "that movie was so fake, I can't believe it would scare anyone!" I guess movies from the 70's don't always hold up!!
On Saturday, Steve and I went to see The Spy Who Dumped Me. I enjoyed it. Steve did not. We also bought tickets to take Wm to see Jim Gaffigan in November! Wm is EXCITED!!
Wm had an overnight at a friend's house this weekend. He is TIRED. Poor dude was also starved to death - they fed him nothing!! He had had nothing to eat or drink from the time we dropped him off until the time we picked him up. It may be the last overnight at that particular friend's house! It's about 45 minutes to get there, one way, anyway!! We brought along a certain doggo who missed his brother. The joy of being reunited:
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| Sitting on top of Wm, all smiles. |
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| Everyone is very sleepy, must sleep ON TOP of Wm |
Wm mostly loafed around on Sunday, due to his exhaustion. Steve and I managed to get a ton of chores done and headed out to Polaris for a bit of light shopping. It is HOT again, so we are kind of trapped indoors. But, Wm and I did take Flip to Antrim to swim. And Wm got his first DQ Blizzard. Which he declared "not as good as a cone." We did make the glorious discovery that the DQ near our new place is super nice and has fried cheese curds. FRIED. CHEESE. CURDS. We will be back!! But, Steve can't have any because his cholesterol is now so high, they are threatening statins. I can have some because I just had my physical and was declared an "ideal patient." BRING ON THE FRIED CHEESE CURDS!!!
Thursday, August 2, 2018
Russian Accent
Wm has been working on his Russian accent. This is my favorite video. Mostly because I asked him to keep it PG and he couldn't resist throwing in a "shit" at the very end - and then an evil, but very pleased with himself, smile. Apparently "shit" is very fun to say with a Russian accent. Wait for the smirk.
Wm has been working hard on his Malala scrap book all week. And tomorrow he heads over to his friend's house for an overnight. His friend lives sooooo far away, so it feels like we're taking a roadie to get there. This is the one downside of a magnet school.
Wm also just texted me that he is working on fostering a friendship between Flip and Schroeder today. So far, he has worked up to Schroeder sniffing Flip and just walking away. That is huge progress!! Maybe Wm will finally broker a peace treaty.
Wm has been working hard on his Malala scrap book all week. And tomorrow he heads over to his friend's house for an overnight. His friend lives sooooo far away, so it feels like we're taking a roadie to get there. This is the one downside of a magnet school.
Wm also just texted me that he is working on fostering a friendship between Flip and Schroeder today. So far, he has worked up to Schroeder sniffing Flip and just walking away. That is huge progress!! Maybe Wm will finally broker a peace treaty.
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