Isaac TURNS 13!!

Isaac Turns 13!!

This is a big birthday!  Thir TEEEEN!!!   He's done it.  He's gone and grown up!  I see it on the edges of his personality and interactions; I see it in his changing preferences, ideas, and cracking voice!  He's growing up.

This year Isaac has moved from Italy to America, spent the summer with his Grandparents and was reported to have been rather helpful.  We moved to Ohio where he was on his first Lego Robotics Team and learned computer programming.  He played three seasons of soccer and reported that his Fall/Spring team was his most favorite team he has ever played on (which bodes well for his future prospects in moving in 7th grade...Friends can be made quickly!) He participated on a swim team for a bit, is self-motivated in playing the guitar and fell in love with Minecraft.  He received a mountain bike for Christmas and rides his bike nearly every fair weather day.  He particularly enjoys actual mountain biking on trails.  We're lucky to have a pretty good trail system really close to our house.

During this homeschooling year, I have tried to pay attention to what each of the kids enjoys learning, what they pay attention to and what they choose to do with their free educational time.  I had pinned Isaac in the "math/sciences/engineer" category previous to this year.   And while I don't necessarily rule him out of that yet (as I am a less than inspiring teacher in those categories) I have been surprised to see his heart more in History, stories, art, and reading.  When previously it had been like pulling teeth to get Isaac to read, this second half of the year it's been like pulling teeth to get him to do anything else.  First thing in the morning, nose in a book, late at night way past his bed time, nose in a book.  Every week they have free choice education time on Khan Academy.  Isaac chooses history every time.  He shares stories of Benjamin Franklin or the Byzantine Empire at dinner.

Isaac loves comedy.  He loves to laugh, to be funny, to watch funny, to read funny...  On the one hand, he's a pretty intense little guy.  I've wondered if he gravitates to comedy because it lightens things up in his mind.  It's a break from all those intense emotions and feelings that hang over him a lot of the time.  I'm really grateful to have him bring that into our home.

If Isaac never had to eat a meal that would be fine with him.  Sitting down for food is an inconvenience.  He'd rather eat snacks a little, here and there, scattered throughout the day, chips and salsa every time if he had his druthers.  And he prefers store bought salsa, Herdez brand or from Costco.  His second favorite thing is Mangoes and if he'ss forced to eat a meal he'll take chili...or steak (which I never make).  For the most part, he doesn't like the stuff I cook.  After an initial very annoying bit of complaining upon being told what is for dinner, he does his best to keep his mouth shut about it at the table.  I watched him muscle down a savory french toast with creamed chard and poached eggs on top with a miserable-trying-to-hide-it-grimace on his face just a few nights ago.  But he kept his mouth shut and ate it.

For his birthday we went to a Japanese Hibachi steak house.  He'd been with his friend, Rilo, pictured above, for his birthday a few weeks ago and loved it.  That night Isaac and I both lay down with him and reminisced about the past 13 years.  I *think* he enjoyed that (I know I sure did)!  Isaac still likes to postpone bedtime by coming down to talk with me while I'm doing dishes or doing work on the computer.  Possibly a few weeks too late I realize that I should let him stay as late as he's willing because who knows how much longer he'll want to chat with little old me.  But then again there's bed time and Dad waiting upstairs with the guitar, appropriate sleep habits and all the rational stuff..I struggle finding that balance.

 He didn't care for a big party with presents this year so the following night we invited all of his neighborhood friends over for board games, nachos, and cake.  I'll hopefully get some cool pictures of that happening tonight.  Happy Birthday, Dude!  You Are Loved!

Georgie Turns 11

It's birthday season again here at the Merback house.  And tomorrow comes round two of five in the span of 4 months.  Round 2 belongs to Georgie.  Tomorrow she turns 11.

A lot has happened in Georgie's 11th year.  She moved from Italy to Dayton, OH, spent a year being homeschooled and made new friends named Charlotte, Autumn, Katie and Anna.  She continued her love of theater and by the time the 11th birthday rolled around has a new obsession with Hamilton (now spread to the rest of the family).   She took three six-week theater classes and started voice lessons with an amazing teacher that has transformed her singing voice.  She played on her first volleyball team for 2 seasons with her Dad as the coach and has done really, really well.

Less than a month after this birthday she will move to her most permanent childhood home in Oregon.  Of all the kids, Georgie appears to be the most excited.  Almost every day she uses the words "I can't wait..."   Her only "requirement" for our new house was that she have her own room.  To her relief, she will.

Georgie is definitely living in a preteen state.  She LOVES her friends, gets annoyed with her little sister (and the rest of her family) and spends a bit more time in her room than last year.  She makes her bed every day, is very responsible about getting her homework done and can't wait for real school to start.  She gets a lot of identity from her desire to be an "actress" and day dreams of that broadway roll that will surely be offered to her one day.  Her sense of humor has developed quite a bit, she fixes her hair without being nagged *most* of the time and still doesn't care for shopping or girlie things.  T-shirts, jean shorts, and converse are her go-to uniform.

Georgie also likes a routine of getting up early every day.  She sets her alarm for 7:30, comes downstairs dressed and ready and prepares her own breakfast almost every morning.  She's our most independent child in more than just that way.  She doesn't have any interest in boys, she thinks kissing is disgusting and shies away from emotion in general.  Don't get too mushy with Georgie and certainly don't ask her to share any deep thoughts!  Those are personal and come only in particular moments.   But she still loves a nightly kiss and snuggle and can be known to really open up in the dark, on her bed with a Mom (or a grandma) beside her!  I cherish those moments.  With her friends, she scooters around the neighborhood, rides bikes to the commissary on base or plays Minecraft.  If she could have a sleepover every weekend she would.  They also jump on the trampoline for hours. Another really cool thing about Georgie is that if there is a 9-12 year old girl within ear shot Georgie will be friends with her in about 5 minutes.  This girl makes friends so quickly!  She saves most of her money, along with Isaac and Juliet, for a dog they plan to purchase sometime in the near future.

Georgie has developed into quite a little chef.  She makes buttermilk scrambled eggs nearly every morning and puts soft cheeses on everything she possibly can.  She also loves onions in all their forms.  Just yesterday she at a sandwich spread with goat cheese and filled with raw onion and lettuce for lunch.  😲

There's a whirlwind wrap up of our *nearly*11-year-oldd Georgie.   The other day I expressed some desire to get more emotion from her and she's responded with a really great hug every few days or so.  I hope she knows how much I appreciate the effort and have noticed that surprising thoughtful tenderness on my behalf.

Happy Birthday Georgie girl!  You, me dear, dear, girl, are loved!!

Christmas 2016

Christmas 2016

Las Vegas

The kids and I took advantage of the homeschooling schedule and flew out to Las Vegas for 2 whole weeks to be with Mimi and PopPop.  We weren't there an hour before Mimi had organized an opportunity for us to bring gifts and food to a family in her ward.  I'm so glad we have her great example!  It was a memorable and heart touching experience.  

The next night we spent a little time on the strip, touring the Luxor and the Shark Aquarium.

Two days after we arrived Jake and his family came back from Las Vegas.  We kicked off the cousin mania just right with a rip roaring game of laser tag and 3D mini golf.

Mimi also organized a few families for us to bring Christmas gifts to.  We enjoyed shopping for them and were really excited to be able to deliver them in person on Christmas Eve.  The family had lost a baby a year before and it had really set them all back in work and financially.  I think all the kids enjoyed seeing the kids faces light up when they saw all those gifts waiting at the door for them.    Thanks again Mimi for always finding ways to enlarge our hearts!

Christmas Eve was spent on Fremont St.  

Half dressed women, drunk people and all.  Merry Christmas!

We finished the "eve" at a Las Vegas buffet and then hustled home to prepare for Santa Claus.

Christmas Morning faces:

On Christmas Day the kids put on the Nativity play for us.  

My favorite part of Christmas was when the cousins gave their gifts to each other.  They had drawn names and everyone was more excited to give than to receive.

Isaac bought Kate a stuffed puppy and painted her a picture.  

Juliet bought Cooper a Harry Potter wand and Luke bought her coloring supply central!

Georgie made Jade an adorable apron and bought her a tea set.

Cooper bought Georgie some awesome Harry Potter socks and a very cool coloring book. 

These kids headed right upstairs to play with their loot!

We spent a most delightful night in Mimis' room being entertained by Kate.  She was hilarious and had every one of us laughing and adoring her.   It was one of those nights we want to remember.

The day after Christmas we headed up the mountain for...THE SWIMMING POOL!

Look at that posse of cute cousin faces!

The "J" club!  

(This trip cemented a Juliet obsession with Aunt Jennie.  They both have names that start with J and are both born in the month of July so, of course, they started "the J club!")

Juliet lost her two front teeth after Christmas.  

She was really proud of how cute we all thought she was.  

Aunt Jennie and Uncle Jake played some really fun pool games with the kids.  

Here Cooper and Ty are rescuing Juliet with great bravery!

Here we are, hitting the slopes of Brian Head!  It was so much fun skiing with our cousins.  We skied, basically, the same run for three days straight.  And everyone loved every minute of it.

Juliet was the only one who was my constant buddy the whole time so I have only pictures of her.  Georgie and Isaac were off with their cousins, with an Uncle or all by themselves most of the time. 

Goof Balls:

We were able to take Pop Pops 4 wheelers and the Razor (oh the razor!) out on the dry lake bed and we had such a good time!

I pulled a real Ashley move and drove Joey and I right through a fairly deep puddle.  The water washed OVER OUR HEADS!  And I being at the front, was absolutely drenched.  And cold.  Did I mention that it was cold?  

The man that made it happen:   

This guy (Pop Pop) is by fare the wildest, craziest driver in the family.   Riding with him feels like he just might be trying to kill you.  

A few out takes from the trip:

Merry 2016!  

xoxo 

Ash