Cooperisms -- French class

This year we've added french to the curriculum at the Academy.  Cooper noticed within the first week of lessons that many words in French were similar to ones he already knew in English.  (bureau, chauffeur... ) Astute as he is, he commented that French is obviously the older of the two languages and therefore the English language stole the words instead of coming up with their own.   As the weeks passed he also noticed English words from Greek and Latin origins, (thanks to vocabulary curriculum).

He walked up to me after a french lesson one afternoon and announced,

"I'm going to learn as much French as I can and then.... I'm never speaking that thieving English language again!'

There is no convincing Cooper that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery in this instance.... no... it's just pure thievery.  Would you believe he accuses ...  the Queen of England.

Although he realizes it's not the current Queen.  She's not old enough. (I'm sure she'd be relieved to hear that!)  He hasn't quite determined which Queen yet, and it's possible he contends that it could have been .... a King!



 

Run, run, run, just as fast as you can....

Last year Miles had been working on his Physical Fitness Merit badge  and was running a mile each day. He discovered that he enjoyed running.  I told him it must have been my genetics because I ran cross country in my high school years.  As the end of his 12 weeks of running for the merit badge came to a close a neighbourhood (stake) wide fun run was announced at church.  He was so excited to participate.  He wanted to run the 5k with the older group but I suggested he work up to that but he should definitely run the 1 mile for fun.  I jested with him that it sure was a shame I had just had a c-section only weeks before and therefore couldn't run with him.

Open mouth... insert foot.

A year passed.  Miles had a concussion 2 weeks prior, so his hopes to run the 5k were dashed but he was feeling up to the 1 mile come race day so the race was on again.  I had even began walking in earnest EVERY day.  up to 2 miles of power walking for a little over 6 months.  That's like training.  Right?  So I agreed to run.  Only I agreed to run the 5k, thinking of course, Why not?  I'm in shape now, Shouldn't be too tough.

The morning of the race was cool and crisp.  I had stayed up until midnight the night before watching Anne of Green Gables and eating popcorn with Sarah and her friend.  They agreed to get up in the morning and run with me.  See, "sounds like fun," is contagious.

So with a breakfast of a banana and a glass of water we headed out at 6 am to learn some important lessons.

1. Walking on a treadmill for up to 2 miles, is not the same as running just over 3 miles.  
2. 25 years between races is either too long... or still not long enough!
3. Late nights and popcorn is probably not the best preparation before a run
4. Teenage girls aren't much help as running companions.  They actually vanished just after the first curve in the road and I didn't see them until much later when they finally crossed the finish line (They had decided that if they came in last place together, then no one else would have to say they came in last!... They walked and jogged the 5k)
5. I don't like really cold water at water stations... should have brought my own tepid fluids
6. My sunglasses don't stay on well when I run, and a 6 am run often has the sunrise in my eyes. (lovely sunrise as it was, and a gentle rain for a minute did produce a rainbow)
7. I understand why people have music when they run.  I desperately needed some motivating music or at least some type of distraction from my very self-defeating thoughts  (Like..just run home! and  What was I thinking?  You are definitely NOT the 16 year old lean running girl anymore!)
8. I am definitely a noisy mouth breather

In the end though; I finished.  I would say that 75% of the other racers had already finished when I crossed that finish line, but I finished.  I likely ran 90% of the time.  

The 1 mile run was after the 5k event.  I had some time to cool off a bit before it was time to cheer Miles on. By now though it had grown to Miles and Duncan running and each of their friends were also running.   Whittaker with his bandaged head of stitches also wanted to run but was content to run around the parking lot with Sarah and another friend.  

Miles ran well, beating his personal best time by 20 seconds and taking the gold medal!  Duncan came in steps behind Miles to earn the silver!  (Look out Miles!)

I think I can officially say that I've passed the running torch along and can live out my running days vicariously through my speedy boys!

(I spent the next 4 hours in bed with a migraine and the next 4 days massaging my sore muscles in my legs and my slightly less puffy ego.)

Cone of shame

Figaro still has her leg for now.  It was an on again, off again decision.  We had completely decided to go with the amputation until a surgeon who happened to be at the vet's office that morning said that it could heal nicely with a new splint option.  

So we splint... weekly... and unfortunately since Figaro HATES the splint and is a very determined and dexterous kitty and can manage to wriggle free of the cast in as little as 3 hours after having it put on she now has to wear....

The Cone of Shame!

It does indeed help to keep her from taking off the splint.  Although she has been tricky enough to manage to take it off once each day for a week until they tried another splint tying method.   I think she has finally resigned herself to the fact that the splint is here to stay for a while.  Each week it is re-splinted.  We are on splint number 11.  We should have 3 more to go if she doesn't wriggle free early.

The biggest hurdle is over (keeping the splint on).  Now we try to keep her content in her locked up in a kennel situation.  We have to take her out throughout the day to feed and water her and give her some attention.  We are rewarded with great purring and affection when we take her out and horrendous yowling whenever we aren't taking her out.  I am rewarded in all of this with weekly allergy attacks when I visit the vets office and anytime no one is home to administer medicine or take care of feeding times.  My itchy, watery eyes, and constant sneezing may never cease!

New Beginnings

A new school year approached and for the first time in 7 years we were involved in the mayhem of getting ready for school.  It really cut into the end of our summer.   But we made the best of it.  

Kenzie was beginning middle school this year and wanted to sport a new fashionable look.  We hit the stores and found a few good looks..

These were not school approved but they did help with the shopping monotony!

Sarah and Miles moaned the fact that they had a dress code and their school clothes shopping trip wasn't as exciting an experience.  But in an afternoon we were successfully completed. 

Next up was the grooming. 

Sarah had the full treatment with a great hair cut and an eyebrow waxing.

Mackenzie received the home spa treatment as we tried to figure out why her hair seemed so dry and damaged.  We experimented with multiple moisturizing treatments and were finally pleased with some simple natural conditioners.  We practiced a few do's and she was ready for her debut at the middle school.

Cooper, the boy with the fastest growing hair in the west, was simply due for a major hair cutting.  He certainly was the most expressive of the haircuts.  His school neither required a dress code nor did it have an official starting date.   For that matter, depending on the person it has a different name.  For some it is the Noble Academy, others k12, and lately, the  'Bureau of Noble Education' or B.O.N.E. for short.  

Caleb headed out in the real world and went job hunting.  His barber's took great pains to groom him well for his future position in the work force. 

It must have worked.  He landed a fun job at the deli counter at Macey's grocery store.  Best perk?!  He serves the ice cream.

First day of school arrived and they were ready.  Dress code, check.  Backpacks, check.  Looking good, check.  Carpool, check.  Lunch, check.  Off they went....  The house has been quieter... The adjustment has been going well.

Next up was preschool.  He even insisted on wearing his new backpack and packing a lunch like the big kids even though we would only be gone an hour.  We've been talking about preschool ever since summer began and the speech therapist recommended him for a special preschool in the fall.  However on the long awaited day we arrived for our assessment and the little stinker passed with flying colours, so he no longer qualified for the program.  It became his first, last and only day at preschool.  He wasn't completely aware what had happened.  Fortunately we had a backup plan of an online preschool which we are now thoroughly enjoying.  I'm a bit relieved not to have any more school driving and coordinating.  However I am a bit sad with it since I had picked up a few darling school outfits for him and now since he doesn't leave the house he refuses to wear anything but his favourite lounging suit.  He's a fickle one when it comes to his clothes this one!

Change is happening around here.  It seems to be going smoothly so far.  I have one working, one in high school, one in middle school, two that I teach 4th grade to at home with the help of an online charter program, an at home preschooler and the sweetest toddler pattering about the place.  

Heads Up!

 Learning valuable lessons about not jumping off of the sofa and into the bookshelf.

 Putting on the brave face while waiting for the numbing to work.

The nitty gritty... not for the faint hearted....

 Up close..

 Keeping the numbing gauze in place...

 Chillin' back and watching Toy Story 2... He saw it from beginning to end.  It was a bit of a wait.

 Fortunately the movie wasn't over before the suture team arrived.  He was such a trooper with the stitches.  He only took his eyes off the movie when the needle for the final numbing was used. He refers to that as the bad part.  He says the special band-aids were great! (the stitches)
I must remember to utilize the greatest pillow case restraint.  It was used to keep him from reaching his hands into the area where they were working.  I think it will come in handy when brushing teeth, administering medicines or eye drops, when clipping toenails... or possibly even haircuts!!  The uses seem endless!  It is such a simple restraint with just a pillow case.

The perks of being so brave... and being 4 years old in a hospital E.R. for stitches. 

Yes I realize it hasn't even been two weeks since Miles was in an E.R. for a concussion and cracked skull.  I'm searching for a good deal on some helmets.  I'm thinking that boxing helmets look promising....

I'm sure we can make one look fashionable for Sarah.  

This of course only protects the head... 

It does nothing for the phone that Caleb dropped in the lake,

nothing for the car that Sarah bumped and dented,

ok.. would have been helpful to Miles,

and Whittaker, 

wouldn't have helped Emerson with his intestinal repairs earlier this year... 

or Figaro's (the cat) broken leg,

or unfortunately Patrick's broken tooth,

 that leaves.....

Duncan!

He is being confined to his bed 

...and bubble wrapped.