He's a Major, Not a Minor

My firstborn in the wilderness turned 18 today.  WHAT?????  As he joked last week, with this birthday he graduates from being a minor and will now be a major.  Hahaha.  I'm going to miss his sense of humor when he leaves in the fall.

He hasn't left us yet, though, so I'm gonna focus on the present!  After working from 8-4 today, he came home and relaxed for a bit, then after eating his requested birthday meal of pulled pork sandwiches (which I gladly picked up from the requested restaurant, thus saving me the trouble of cooking), we ended the evening with cake and singing, and -- embarrassingly -- that's kind of all we did for his big day.  Womp womp.  I've been asking him for weeks what he wanted to do for his birthday or what present he wanted or even just for any kind of expectations at all concerning his birthday, and he's given me nada.  Not a thing.  So really, the lack of celebration is all on him.  Hahaha.  J/K, j/k.  Kind of.  Haha.  He is genuinely pretty low maintenance these days and doesn't really need anything or want anything in particular, so I guess this year's birthday present is going to be super lame once again and consist of cash money to go towards his mission fund.  

Unfortunately, this "cake" was a comedy of errors from start to finish.  (He -- and all of us -- are sick of real cake, so he agreed to a cookie cake instead.)  Problem #1 was that I had already started making the batter before I realized we were all out of vanilla extract and had to send Grace to the store to pick some up and she had no idea where to find it.  (Sophie had inconveniently used the last of it a couple of nights ago when she made a batch of cocoa chaos frosting.)  Problem #2 was that Ethan didn't even recognize what this cake design was supposed to be!  (It's a doge coin logo.  Apparently the kids all said I should have put a dog on it and then they would have recognized it.)

Problem #3 was that I told Alexa to set a timer once it was in the oven only to find out I don't know how many minutes later that the kids had taken Alexa out to the backyard this afternoon to blast some High School Musical tunes while they were jumping on the trampoline with the water hose and therefore a timer had never been set.  

Problem #4 was that the candles wouldn't stay up straight and we came to find out that the cake was still hot enough that the wax had melted where we had stuck the candles in.  So that was unappetizing.  And our final problem was that we had major issues lighting the candles -- to the point that we just gave up with only a few left because all the rest were kind of just drooping and melting and we needed to get on with the show.  

While this feels like a pretty lame post (and 18th birthday, if we're being honest) I'm hoping Ethan will find it sufficient enough.  Hahaha.  And since he's the one who has been hounding for days now to update the blog AND it's his special day, I'm going to finish out this post with a walk down memory lane -- from his storied origins in the wilderness (ie Oregon) all the way up until the present...

2003

2004

I had jokingly titled his 1 year old picture as "Best Hair" a few years ago on the blog, and I thought it was apropos to include the caption here since he's still rocking that best hair, evidenced by a comment from a Walgreens customer a few weeks ago who told him (and I quote) -- "You have AMAZING hair."  Hahaha.

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

And there you have it --18 trips around the sun for son number 1!  Happy Birthday to Ethan!!!

Freebie Week is Over

Today we kicked off our official summer time schedule.  For family council yesterday, we hammered out all the details -- with minimal bloodshed and tears -- and we are ready to get this party started!  (Just kidding on the bloodshed and tears; this was actually a more collaborative effort than it usually is.)  Before we got to today, however, I gave them the rest of last week off.  Once school was over, they were given free rein to do whatever they wanted, so long as it didn't involve money or me having to drive them anywhere.  (Luckily for me, I have a more than willing chauffeur in Grace.  Hahaha.)  Freebie week for the boys consisted of screen time almost around the clock for the younger two, and Ethan working all week.  (I was surprised and entertained by Ethan's willingness to play Roblox with Isaac when he got home in the evenings.  Hahahaha.)  The girls' freebie week was spent continuing their vampiric lifestyles, staying up almost all night every night and then sleeping in for most of the day.  *sigh*

(When tweens swipe your phone.)

But Freebie Week is Over!  I, for one, always do better with a routine/schedule and I know the kids do, too.  As far as first days go, I'm gonna go ahead and declare today a pleasant surprise!  Hahahaha.  In all honesty, though, the day really did exceed expectations.  The schedule was followed far better than I thought it would be, and at the end of the day, the boys had less screen time, the girls were awake for more of the day, and everyone got their chores done.  Winning!  

The Schedule

(While she may have fallen right back asleep on the couch, I appreciated Grace's efforts to join the family for Scripture Time.  Not pictured are Sophie and Jane who similarly went right back to sleep once Scripture Time was over.)

(Alex was super proud of himself for making waffles all by himself for lunch today.)

(It's been so long since Jane has done any chores that I was legit surprised to see that she actually knows how to load the dishwasher.  Hahaha.)

(Meanwhile, Grace has created her own Bucket List for the summer:

* Renovate Apartment 13 (the downstairs hall closet that she has claimed)

* Ohio/Shameless road trip

* Buy one of those dank cameras

* A.C.T.-off at least thrice

* Watch at least three shows and three movies on the list

* Watch an anime and/or foreign film

* Watch sunrise on roof

* Get a pic with a celeb in L.A.

* Sleep in a tent in the backyard)

As far as summer plans go, my main excitement is this year's summer reading challenge and our west coast road trip next month.  My main project, however, is working on molding Isaac into a contributing member of society and an actual part of our family economy.  Hahahahaha.  With Ethan working 40 hours a week -- plus the fact that he'll be gone in the fall -- a spot has opened up in the chore chart and it now has Isaac's name on it.  Or initial, as the case may be.  As much as I've not wanted to baby my baby, it has happened.  He is fully entrenched in his uselessness.  Hahaha.  (But seriously, he refuses to do anything for himself, and it's driving me nuts.)   On the one hand, it's kind of hilarious to recognize how much of a last-born he is -- his self-confidence and self-regard is unmatched, he gets away with pretty much everything (he clearly senses my child-disciplining fatigue), his bedtime is whenever, and he sincerely believes that he is my favorite child.  {True story:  a couple of weeks ago, Alex told Isaac that he (Alex) was my favorite, and I have never seen Isaac look so traumatized and like his world was falling apart than he did when he came into my room afterwards with a quiver in his voice asking if that was true.  Hahahahaha.}  On the other hand, it's embarrassing to admit just how little has been expected of him up to this point.  But this summer we are turning over a new leaf!!  And I'm hoping that by blogging about it, it will force me to have more follow through.  That sounds like a solid plan, right? Hahaha.

(Caught red-handed last week sneaking some of Scott's hidden 100 Grand bars.)

(Not only did he "learn" how to do chores today -- cleaning the piano room and sweeping -- he also "learned" how to make his own bagel sandwich.  Let the record show that he was extremely disinterested in "learning" how to be self-sufficient.)

Meanwhile, I've been stoked to see that this summer's reading challenge has taken off with far better success than last year's!  While no one ever really read anything last summer, Grace has been a ringleader this summer for drumming up interest in the challenge.  It's primarily because she wants the cash money they'll receive if they read all 12 books, but I'll take it!  Haha.  As an added bonus, Grace being able to drive means that they've already gone to the library a couple of different times over the past month and have already gotten started on some of their reads.  {For those not in the know, our "12 Weeks of Summer Reading Challenge" incentivizes the kids to read a wide variety of things, as they choose a book to read from each of the twelve different categories I come up with each year.  This is accomplished more in theory than it ever has in actual practice -- eg Alex found a Captain Underpants book to fit almost every category a couple of summers ago -- but one can only hope that it will eventually result in well-read children.  Hahahahaha.} 

(This summer's categories:

* an old favorite

* new this last year

* favorite genre

* BIPOC author

* memoir or biography

* Caldecott winner

* poetry

* road trip research

* sci-fi/fantasy

* reader's choice

* prize winner

* mom's choice (with a bonus that will come from reading all three of my suggestions)

And finally, our road trip is only a month away!  This summer's West Coast Swing will take us to Seattle (by plane) where we'll rent a car and drive down the coast.  Initially I wanted to travel all the way from Seattle to San Diego, but I like to think I've learned a few lessons from the previous road trips we've done, and it's always best to leave us wanting more.  Our end point will be Los Angeles and we'll fly home from there.  In betwixt and between the start and the finish, we'll enjoy time in Seattle -- cramming in the typical touristy things one does there; Oregon -- hitting up Cannon Beach, Portland, and Eugene (the land of Ethan's birth); and California -- covering the Redwood Forests, San Francisco,  Sequoia National Park, and finishing with Universal Studios Hollywood for Harry Potter world.  (I consistently like to go big or go home.)  Planning our trips is one of my specialties and I enjoy it almost as much as the trip itself!  Hahaha.  I am a little worried that wildfire season has started extra early on the west coast, but I'm hoping it won't necessitate too many changes to our plans.

(Some of my research on fun stuff to do in Oregon.

"Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road." -- Jack Kerouac)

With lots of other exciting things on the horizon -- Sophie is getting her braces off tomorrow, Girls Camp is happening next week, and Ethan is turning 18 at the end of the month -- I'm going to do my best to actually document life's happenings more frequently this summer.  Stay tuned to see if I'll actually follow through with THAT! 

An Exit Interview or Two

Glory, glory, HALLELUJAH!!!  Summer vacation is upon us!  And I would argue that today's last day of (in-person) school was representative of the year as a whole, seeing as to how -- yet again -- we had a kid who couldn't quite make it out the door.  DOH!  Alex woke up this morning with a "sore throat" and a "headache" and his "leg was hurting," so the girls were the only ones who made it to school for their last day in person.  Technically, tomorrow is the official Last Day of School, but since the kids do virtual on Wed-Thurs-Fri, we have officially peaced out for the year.  Hahahahaha.

It was kind of a dreary day to mark the occasion -- it seems like it's been raining non-stop for weeks now -- but that didn't dampen the mood for Grace, who was still very excited about the prospect of driving Sophie to school this morning, especially since I agreed to let them get Einstein's Bagels beforehand for breakfast.  Meanwhile, Sophie and Jane were both very excited to be sporting some new-to-them clothing that they found at Goodwill last night, and I was very excited to know that I will never have to deal with virtual school ever again.  Hahahaha.  #fingerscrossed -- amiright??????

I cornered all of the kids this weekend to jot down everyone's answers to this year's official exit interview for 2020-2021, and I have meticulously recreated their responses down below.  I was a little less successful in procuring perfect pictures of everyone, but perfection is overrated and super boring, right?? Hahahaha.  Without further adieu, I present the following exit interviews...

ETHAN:

(Always so willing to humor me.)

What was your favorite class/subject this year? 

I don't remember. Probably calculus.

Did you prefer Zoom classes or in-person classes?

In-person

What was your biggest challenge this year in school?

ETHAN: The podcast.  

ME: Care to elaborate?  

ETHAN: AP Lit Podcast ca. October 2020 (The podcast was an assignment his group did after reading Wuthering Heights) 

ME: And why was it so challenging?  

ETHAN: Because I worked 25 hours in a 48 hour period.

Did you make any new friends?

I mean sure, but not really.

What was your least favorite class/subject?

I didn't really have a least favorite class.

What is the coolest thing you learned?

I don't know.

 {I'm pretty sure it was a Physics trick -- either the one he tried to demonstrate for us with a spinning wheel that changed direction (I think?) or something he showed us with a swinging item on a cabinet doorknob that changed it's trajectory when he opened the door (I think?}

What was the most useful thing you learned?

How to learn online.

What is your favorite memory from the year?

I don't know.  Probably Advisory.

If you could sum up the school year in one word, what would it be?

WASH

Do you have any final thoughts on 2020-2021?

I mean...ummm... (clears throat) ...it was a year...

GRACE:

{Get ready for Chatty Cathy.  It probably helped that she was so well-rested after sleeping in until 1 or 2 in the afternoon.  Insert eye roll emoji.}

(Grace graciously allowed me to take her picture after school.  I'm pretty sure she was only trying to butter me up so that I'll relent and allow her and Jane to go by themselves on a cross-country road trip this summer to Ohio and Chicago, but that's never gonna happen, so I guess she's out of luck!  Hahahaha.)

What was your favorite class/subject this year? 

Let me think of my classes...um...probably Block.  But not the APUSH part.  But I did like the people in my class, just not the content.

Did you prefer Zoom classes or in-person classes?

Depends on the class -- but in-person overall.  For some classes Zoom was just easier.

What was your biggest challenge this year in school?

Pre-Cal.  I hate that class.

{It would appear the class hates her right back -- she'll be lucky if she gets a C out of it.}

Did you make any new friends?

Yeah.  The kid that sits next to me in ceramics, my Block group...I mean, did you want me to name all of them?

What was your least favorite class/subject?

Pre-Cal

What is the coolest thing you learned?

I hate that question.  I don't know.  The coolest thing I learned?  The skeletal system was fun to learn about in anatomy.

What was the most useful thing you learned?

ME:  What was the most useful thing you learned?  Like something that you think you'll actually use in real life.

ISAAC: (stage whisper to Grace) You can say "nothing" if you want.

GRACE: (to Isaac) But that would be lame.

ME:  Okay, so...?

GRACE:  Probably that I suck at time management.  Because now maybe I'll be better at time management.  Maybe.

What is your favorite memory from the year?

GRACE:  Being quarantined -- all my grades were thriving during quarantine. 

ME:  LOL

GRACE:  It was also the beginning of the school year, so we hadn't really done anything, but...

If you could sum up the school year in one word, what would it be?

GRACE:  Probably just HORRIFIC

ME: Why?

GRACE:  Does it need an explanation?  The year was just horrific.

Do you have any final thoughts on 2020-2021?

GRACE:  Not really.  My English teacher had us write break-up letters to the school year.

ME:  Hahahahahahaha.  What did yours say??

GRACE: (also laughing) I don't want anyone to read it!

ME:  Why not?? It sounds hilarious.  What does that even mean to "write a break-up letter to the school year"?

GRACE:  Like "Dear Sophomore year, I'm breaking up with you.  It's not me, it's you."

ME:  Hahahahahaha.  So what did YOU write?

GRACE:  (still laughing) That's it.  That's what I wrote.

ME: (laughing even harder) Well, that's the perfect note to end on!

SOPHIE:

(Sophie refused to pose for a picture this morning before school, and then after school, she kept running away and all I caught was this blur.)

Prologue --

ME: (trying to waking Sophie up for the day) Sophie, do you want to do your questions right now?

SOPHIE:  NO! I don't want to do my questions right now!!!

(Literally) hours later --

What was your favorite class/subject this year? 

I don't know.  Home Ec.  Or, no -- science was really fun this year.

Did you prefer Zoom classes or in-person classes?

In-person -- I didn't have any Zooms.

What was your biggest challenge this year in school?

SOPHIE:  Um...

ME:  Waking up?

SOPHIE: No!  I mean yes.  Waking up.

Did you make any new friends?

(Said with disdain) No -- I didn't really get the chance. 

What was your least favorite class/subject?

Math (Geometry)

What is the coolest thing you learned?

I barely learned anything.  I didn't learn anything that I didn't already know.  Don't write that.  I learned a lot of cool things in science, but I don't remember.

What was the most useful thing you learned?

How to do laundry.  They taught me how to section out the clothes."  

{I'm assuming she means separate the darks from the lights -- something we rarely, if ever, do.}

What is your favorite memory from the year?

I don't know.  Nothing.

If you could sum up the school year in one word, what would it be?

I don't know...um...uh...BORING.

Do you have any final thoughts on 2020-2021?

No.

(After hounding her mercilessly, she finally relented and stayed still long enough for me to get a shot.)

JANE:

(She was so excited about this Louisiana Tech sweatshirt she found at Goodwill -- you know, since I'm from Louisiana and all.  Hahahaha.)

Another Prologue --

ME:  Are you sure you're fully awake to answer questions here?

JANE: (said testily) YES.

What was your favorite class/subject this year? 

Um...science.  Because it's fun.

Did you prefer Zoom classes or in-person classes?

In-person  

{Said with impatience and annoyance that I would even bother to ask.  The underlying emotion of the response was a very clear, 'that's such a dumb question, mom.'}

What was your biggest challenge this year in school?

JANE:  Virtual school

ME:  Anything in particular about it?

JANE:  Everything 

Did you make any new friends?

JANE:  Yes

ME:  Want to elaborate?

JANE: I said yes!  I'm not...  (she got distracted at this point, trailed off on her response, and left us all hanging.)

What was your least favorite class/subject?

JANE:  ELA

ME:  Why???

JANE:  BECAUSE I HATED IT!

What is the coolest thing you learned?

Um...uh...I don't know.

What was the most useful thing you learned?

Math

What is your favorite memory from the year?

I don't know.  Friends?

If you could sum up the school year in one word, what would it be?

FINE

{Said while sullenly staring off into space.}

Do you have any final thoughts on 2020-2021?

Virtual school is horrible.

ALEX:

(I've had to shave his head again because he has resumed pulling his hair.  It started while Scott and I were gone for our trip a few weeks ago, and I think his anxiety just got the best of him.  Last time the bald spot was in the middle of his crown, this time it's right at his hairline.  Suggestions anyone?)

What was your favorite class/subject this year? 

Science

 {Wow!  Science really hit it out of the park this year for the majority of the kids!  Who would have thunk?}

Did you prefer Zoom classes or in-person classes?

In-person, because I hate Zooms.  

{Truer words have never been spoken.  I'm pretty sure he skipped out on all opportunities to join the class Zooms throughout the year.}

What was your biggest challenge this year in school?

I don't know.

Did you make any new friends?

Yeah -- Landon.

What was your least favorite class/subject?

Writing

What is the coolest thing you learned?

Um...a lot of things.  I don't really remember the names of them, but...

What was the most useful thing you learned?

Math

What is your favorite memory from the year?

Field Day 

{Totally classic and predictable Alex response.}

If you could sum up the school year in one word, what would it be?

ALEX:  Annoying Covid!

ME:  That's two words

ALEX:  I don't care

ALEX:  It's either that or "FINE"

Do you have any final thoughts on 2020-2021?

Not really.

ISAAC:

(I thought it would be fun to end on a truly crazy note with this psychotic looking picture I took of Isaac while he was eating dinner this evening.  Look out Kindergarten, here he comes!  Hahahaha.)

Last Prologue --

ME:  Ready for your questions?

ISAAC:  (with enthusiasm) Yes!

{He may have been the only enthusiastic one of the bunch.  Just as an FYI.}

What was your favorite class/subject this year? 

Um...recess?

{I love the question mark in his voice here.  I think for a second there he thought maybe I was looking for a specific "right answer" to the question.  Hahahaha.}

Did you prefer Zoom classes or in-person classes?

Zoom

What was your biggest challenge this year in school?

Journal -- it takes really long.

Did you make any new friends?

(Nodding his head excitedly) A bunch!  I made 7 friends this year!

What was your least favorite class/subject?

ISAAC:  Nap   (I knew he was going to say that.  It was easily the most complained about part of his day all year long.  Hahaha.)

ME:  Well, at least you could read during nap time, right?

ISAAC:  (said with side eye) Reading is boring.

What is the coolest thing you learned?

Nothing

What was the most useful thing you learned?

ISAAC:  Um...nothing

ME:  Should we say learning how to read?  That's pretty useful.

ISAAC:  No, it isn't.  {😂}

What is your favorite memory from the year?

Recess. (There was a big fat "duh" implied here.)  You do recess every day except for when it's rainy you go in the play room.

If you could sum up the school year in one word, what would it be?

Okay, that makes no sense, mom.  (Hahahahaha)

Do you have any final thoughts on 2020-2021?

Nope

And that's a wrap for real!!  We did -- we made it through the year in (mostly) one piece.  I think it's safe to say that no one will ever forget 2020-2021.  To finish out the post, I'm going to have to take a page straight out of Grace's book:  Dear 2020-2021,  It's over.  It's not me, it's you.  Hahahahahaha.  Summer here we come!