12th tooth

The evening of December 25, I was working on dinner.  They boys were relaxing in the living room.  I glanced up and Adam was gone.  Okay, I'm sure he is fine.  I continued to work on dinner.  I heard Mike talking to Adam, but I didn't really hear what he said.  After awhile I looked up again, Adam was on the couch with a bunch of something...(toilet paper, maybe?) in his mouth.  I said, "Oh my, what happened?"  As it turned out, he pulled a loose tooth.  Did I know he had a loose tooth?  Probably not. 

I made sure I had a dollar in my wallet.  The boys have known for a long time that the tooth fairy is not real.  They know that I am the tooth fairy.  However, it is something fun we do.  I asked where he put his tooth (because the tooth fairy does not like to go into a dark bedroom and not know where the tooth is-we don't put it under the pillow.  I always have feared that I would wake the boys reaching under their pillows.)  He told me he put it on his desk.  We went on with our evening.

I ended up going to bed before Adam that night, that happens sometimes on Christmas break (the boys enjoy the flexibility of staying up later and not having to get up early for school.  I enjoy the time I get for extra sleep.)  Honestly, I forgot about the tooth.  I woke up for some reason around 3am.  I laid in bed and thought, "I was making sure I had a dollar earlier this evening....why was that?"  I laid there and thought about it until I remembered the tooth.  I got up grabbed the dollar and went into Adam's room to do my tooth fairy duties.

Adam never mentions anything one way or another about the dollar, but I feel sure that if I had forgotten he would have been disappointed.   Losing a tooth is a great milestone for a child.  I'm glad I woke up and realized what I had forgotten earlier that evening.

Adam

I have had a list of things I wanted to post about for a few weeks, but haven't gotten to it.  So, I decided to throw them all together and make a post.

The 6th graders at the boys school were fortunate to go to a wonderful hand bells Christmas concert, shortly before Christmas break.  They told the kids to wear something nice, they didn't have to wear a suit, but something nice. I helped lay out some clothes the night before.  I nice button down shirt and a pair of jeans.  He decided that he needed to hear his dress shoes, and a tie!  Not a clip on like in his closet, but one of Mike's ties.  Luckily, Mike had one that matched and he was home to tie it for Adam.  I had to take a picture.  It's not often that my boy goes to school looking so dressed up.

One of the advantages of working at my boys school is that I get to hear little tidbits about their day that I might not otherwise hear.

One day I was eating lunch, one of Adam's teachers happened to come into the room I was eating in.  She said, "I have to tell you about your son."  I could tell from her face that it was a good story.  Apparently, she had a activity for the kids to do where they were to follow a template.  If they followed it correctly they should have ended up with a snowflake.  She had the templates on the board, but not an example of the snowflake.  Adam took it upon himself to do a sample of each snowflake and put it on the board with the template.  His teacher laughed and said, "He keeps me straight."  That does sound just like something Adam would do.

The first evening we were on Christmas break, I was able to get out a puzzle.  Adam helped me with that.  It was the first time he really showed interest in puzzles.  It was something fun for us to do together.  He took the perfect picture of the puzzle to show what it looked like.  Those are his sweet toes in the picture.  I have since started another puzzle, maybe he will help me with that one too.

School Pictures

When Austin started Kindergarten, school picture time came around and I ordered a pack of pictures.  I thought that is hat good parents did.  He brought his pictures home, they were the worst pictures I had EVER seen!  The photographer had not had him take his coat off.  The coat was falling off his shoulders.  He looked very disheveled. He looked like a deer in the headlights, and he was not smiling.  AWFUL!  It took me a few years to figure it out, but I finally thought, "I can take better pictures than they can (and they are cheaper!)"

I started to do just that!  I take my boys pictures instead of ordering them.  This year I thought I would get them done in a certain time frame, but that just did not happen.  Then it was going to get cold.  I didn't want coats in the pictures!  (flashback to Austin's Kindergarten picture!)  One Sunday afternoon, I said, "Boys, today is the day!"  It was a bit chilly, but we made it work.

 Adam did wear a coat in his picture, but his is not falling off his shoulder, and he is smiling. 

Austin decided he would be fine as is, but he was a little on the cold side.

The are the pictures we have on our walls.  I am pleased with them, and the fine young men in the pictures too. ;)

History Project

Adam has been learning about the different Indian tribes that were in the U.S. long ago.  They had a project to do for class.  They were to create a diorama depicting one the tribes.  

Adam and his good friend, Jonathan, created the Lakota tribe.

If you ask me, I think they did a great job, it looks so much like the Great Plains, and the Lakota tribe.

Adam looks proud of his project and I was one proud Mom.  Good job, Adam!

Cass

Several years ago, Carol suggested that I take my boys to Cass WV to ride the train. Some how time slipped away and we never got there.  Now that Lana has little ones, we decided to take a family trip there and enjoy the train ride together.

The first thing I noticed was...

 I could not miss a photo opportunity with a boy and sign that has his name!

Found an old caboose and got a picture of the boys.  (That made this mom happy!)

It was a little chillier there than it was here.  So we bundled up as much as we could and got on the train.  Glen was my snuggle heater for the ride. 

Mike and my guys were there too.  Austin doesn't look overly happy, but I think he enjoyed the ride.

Adam decided to come over to me and snuggle as well.  I love that he still feels free to do that.

 This is the front of the train we were on.

 I tried to get as much of the train as possible.

On the way home we stopped at an overlook on the top of the mountain.  I was able  to get a beautiful picture of the mountains.

 A rare shot of Mike and me.

Then me and the boys (it was a little windy that day!  Check out my hair!)

We may not have gone when the boys were in their train phase, but we all still have a wonderful day.  So glad we finally made it to Cass.

11th Tooth

Awhile ago, Adam came to me and said, "Mom, I have a loose tooth."  I checked and sure enough his tooth was loose, but certainly not going to fall out that night. 

A few nights later I checked the tooth again.  It was looser, but still nothing to worry about.  As I watched Adam, I could tell he was worried about something.  He finally told me, he was worried about his tooth falling out at night as he slept. 

Somehow, I don't think that thought ever crossed my mind when I was a child.  It amazes me how my boys think of things that have really never entered my mind!

The evening of September 10, Adam was really working on his tooth!  As we were doing our nightly read aloud (each night the boys do silent reading and we read a book together and discuss it)  Adam suddenly appeared a bit calmer.  When I got to a good stopping place I looked, and sure enough, the tooth was out and he no longer had fears of losing it at night. 

New School Year and Summer Pictures

 On Tuesday the boys started a new school year.

Austin started 8th grade.  He is taking 2 classes that count for High School credit.  I think One of them seems a bit overwhelming right now, but once he is in the routine of it, he will be fine.

Adam started 6th grade.  His good friend from last year, Jonathan, has most of his classes with Adam.  Adam has another boy in most of his classes, this boy is hearing impaired.  Adam has decided that he wants to learn sign language in order to be a better friend to this boy.  He is working on it, and I am really proud of  him!

On the first day of school, the morning was a bit rushed and I did not get a picture.  However, I got a quick snapshot of the boys after dinner.  

First day of school, August 25, 2015.  Here's to a great school year!

Towards the end of summer, we took pictures of all the Kiser cousins.  I happened to be lucky enough to get a few good ones of my boys.  

 Just to show we can have a little fun, we took pictures of all the kids jumping.  Matt took the pictures and placed all the jumping kids together. Lana gave me one that was just of my boys jumping.  I love this!

Camp and Birthday

The summer is getting away from me.  I have been thinking about posting Adam's camp adventure for about a month now.  I'm just getting to it.  

The end of June Adam went to Highland.  He signed up with a friend from church.  They seemed to have a good week, of course, I don't hear every detail (like I would do to my mother on the ride home from camp--I'm not kidding I think I did a play by play of the whole week!) 

I did find it interesting, Friday when I went to get him, I was taking to Christians dad.  Adam came up to me and hung out by my side.  When the program started he decided he would sit with me.  I was surprised that he wanted to hang out with me.  He ended up saying, "I think I missed you."  It truly warmed my heart.

Adam had a different birthday this year.  July 25th was the day we headed to NYC for vacation.  I got a quick snapshot of him as we were headed toward our fun destination.

Adam, there so many things I love about you. 
*You are VERY scientifically minded.  You are always up for some sort of science experiment, or wanting to know how things work. (I think this must have been how your Papaw was as a boys about your age!)   You say that right now, you would like to work in science when you grow up.  I can really see you doing this.

*You love to cook and help me.  Often when I am cooking you will ask if you can help me.  I always say yes, sometimes the help does not last long.  You get bored and move on.  Other times, you see it through and are very proud of the outcome.  Yesterday I was cleaning a window.  You came to me and asked if you could do my windows.  I never turn down help!  Then I had made some mini cupcakes for a party and you said, for 2 cupcakes you would do _________ job.  I fell for this and the jobs got done.

*You are a sweet, loving, kind boy.  I am thrilled that I am your mother!  Happy 12th birthday!

New York

Several  years ago, I got the idea that I wanted to go to New York City.  There are so many historical landmarks there, we are so very close when we go to see Mike's parents, and yet, I had never gone.  I tried to make plans to go last year, but it never worked out.  So I started early this year, and made the plans to go.  

Some time around March I called Carol and asked if she and the boys would like to join us.  Their response was, without too much thought, YES!  So we started to make more definite plans, booked a room, and later ordered tickets.  

A few weeks before we left, Carol called to say that Eamon would not be going with us. So we then invited Lana and Matt, and they, too, were excited to join us.

Our family decided to extend our stay by a day on either side of the trip and stop to see Mike's parents.  

On Saturday, July 25th, Matt, Lana, Carol and Shannon were traveling.  We met them at the hotel when we thought they were getting close.  We wanted to get a step up on our site seeing so as soon as we could be boarded the bus and headed into the city.

The first thing we did was to go see the Intrepid (a sea, air and space museum on a retired air craft carrier.

Adam is taking a look at the compass,

and taking a turn at the wheel.

They also had some games to play.

And other picture opportunities.

When we left I saw this along the street....

We never see that in our town, so I had to get a picture.

The amount of buildings and signs was amazing.

As we were walking along I saw a bakery.  This bakery is known on a cable show (cake boss).  The more I thought about it, I decided that we HAD to get something from that bakery.  Not only knowing that I have seen the show, but it was Adam's birthday so we needed something to celebrate.  So, I went into Carlo's Bakery.

We got back to the hotel room and got a birthday picture, took a picture of the goodies, sang happy birthday and enjoyed our treats.

On Sunday morning we were headed to Ellis Island.

What a beautiful building!

The grand hall.  So many came through this room in order to enter our country!

Then we were on to the Statue of liberty.

Beautiful Lady!

A view of the city from the pedestal.

Then we went into the city again, First we went through the Metropolitan Museum of Art and then walked through Central Park.

We saw a man who was walking his turtle, Pumpkin. (You really do see it all in NYC!)

We found some good photo spots.

I never thought of this type of scene when I thought of NYC!

Monday was our last day to be in the city.  You know you have exhausted boys when they fall asleep going IN TO the city.

 We stopped by GMA, but we were a few minutes too late.

 Then we went to Rockefeller Center.  The paintings in the building were remarkable!!

 We went to the top of the building and looked out over the city. 

 So many tall buildings, so many cars, so many people!

 Then the boys found this fun room.

 So we played for a bit.  Everyone got a color.  I'm still not sure of the point of the game, but we had fun.

Of course, we had to stop by the Lego store.

 This is a picture of the Rockefeller Center building from the outside.  We were on the top of that!

 We went through Central park again.  Adam and Shannon found a rock to climb.

 We split up for lunch.  Carol and I took our young ones to have some pizza.

 After lunch we went to the Museum of Natural History, and ended our day at grand Central Station.

We packed A LOT of stuff into 2 1/2 days, it was a lot of walking.  But it was worth it!  I'm so glad the plans worked out.