Seems like there is always something going down in Agritopia..... especially along Hobart Street. We have opened our door to "ding dong ditchers" more than once to find old pumpkins, our porch decorated for us goodwill style, or the good ol' standby TP.
Most of this chicanery happens during what we agritopians call the "night patrol" run. Something we do around here is go for evening bike rides, cruising around our neighborhood looking for anything out of place or unusual. But mostly we do it for social reasons. Its a great reason to stop by a friends house and ride together. So Matt throws on his biking jersey and off they go. Check out that head lamp... cool huh? This is our latest drop off. Festivus for the rest -of-us.
We know.. we know... this will not be the last we see of this tree....
Today was the day... rain or sunshine... it was time to take date night out.
We had yet to take her for a spin outside of our neighborhood since the remodel.
So with her new paint color we headed out for a lunch date.
It was raining... not hard.
This was the best I could do to give you a snap shot of us on board. Come on.. we are hilarious. I'm telling you.. people just smile.. and sometimes laugh at us going by. We don't take ourselves serious.. I promise. WE are laughing the entire time.
Sometimes it will take an extra "kick" to get her going. But let me tell you.. she runs Great!
We cozy right up to the window to enjoy our salads and great view. Check out that new seat compliments Mom and Dad J..... awesome.
This is our route there.. I pretend we are in Italy.. driving through the olive trees and vineyards..
I get to squeeze up close to James, I have not heard any complaints from him :)
Wind in our hair... we can't be stopped. Nothing better than a Vespa date, even on a rainy day.
So today we picked up Matt from school, and in his classroom while the other students are laughing, trading cards and being silly. Matthew is writing a list. Very serious. So James walked up to him and looked behind his shoulder to see what was so important. Well, Matthew told him it was his "to do list" for the day.
I am rubbing off on him :)
So play of course.. no brainer. Dinner, very important. The scratched off item of the day?
Something special....
A trip to Polar Ice to go ice skating. So, this was easily negotiated because of his 5 star day. Off to the ice we go.
Watch closely for the little boy that appears from the right upper corner of video. I ask you this... Is this skating? Or is this running?
Watch out Dan Jansen, and Apolo Ohno... there is a new speed skater in town.
We were able to participate in this great event called Hoops of Hope. Started by a student that goes to the school Matt goes to. All money goes to an orphanage in Zambia. It was a great time for the boys, and a great cause. Its similar to a walk-a-thon, but they shoot hoops. Matt wanted to "pin up his shirt on the wall" to remember. Man did they get sweaty.
Welcome to
The Coffelt Flying School. James purchased a new flight simulator game for "the kids". His idea was to open their minds and interest into flying. Its really challenging and pretty fun to watch. I can not operate the fake plane. My hands start sweating
immediately and once I loose control its all over with. The little boys would prefer the option to "bomb things" or be engaged in a battle. Even Grandpa Jensen is hooked.
I'm just hoping this schools pays off... we do have a neighbors window to repair now due to a soccer ball that was kicked by... not Matthew... not Gen... not Ginger....not
einstein...
So today Matt put the finishing touches on his Dad. I'm pretty sure James wishes it was dress up career day. Not the real thing.
Today is Career day for spirit week at Matt's school. So this morning we turned Matthew into a pilot. Wings, tie, hat and black suit case. He looked perfect. And he LOVED it. Very proud of his get up. He told me I should take some pictures of him for my "diary".
Done.
Could this be our future?
This is Ben and Matthew in their classroom. They are best of friends. Like brothers. It seems they are together more than apart. And what I love is that every day when they met up again.... its like the best day ever. They are so excited to see each other.
So..... sometimes Matt likes to have a day off of school. His tonsils are the size of golf balls all the time, so pulling off the "sore throat" to the school nurse is easy. And sometimes we just give him a free pass to come home. Well... looks like his buddy has something to say about that.
I noticed this book report of Ben's hanging on the wall in the classroom. Apparently Matt has another name... Mr. Fox.
Caught....
I think someone is watching his father. Look at this sweet note I received this morning. Left on the counter at exactly 6:35am today. ( that was an important fact for him) No adult helping him.
This morning Matt and I made Ebelskivers. At one point in Matt's life he could actually repeat the infomercial about these things. Fascinating. But being that I come from a Scandinavian background I have inherited my Grandmothers ebelskivers cast iron pan. I had no idea. They are pancakes.. shaped like a doughnut. You can put things in the center to mix it up. Matt kept putting raisins in them. They were a hit. And I like to believe that I'm getting my daily iron dose from that pan.
Thanks Grandma Rachel.
We have something called media bucks around this house. One must earn a media 15 min card before playing video games, computer games or TV. The system seems to work. Matt can earn them by reading, doing chores around the house, or doing something special. So, his goal was to earn two hours of solid play time. Thus began the room cleaning. For three hours Matt struggled with staying focused. He would come downstairs and report he was trying to clean his room, but he just kept getting distracted. It was painful. I would go upstairs point out the obvious and then leave him to work. Finally after an hour of this process I clued in. Focus... Focus... Focus. One task at a time. First the clothes. After he did that he would report to me and I would give another task. It was a process.. but it worked. At the end of the three hour tour we had a clean room, two hours of media bucks and an exhausted boy.
I realized that I need a focus director.
Something I love is
Skype. When James travels we always met up at the end of the day to review the happenings. It's great. We have dinner together miles apart. Matt loves playing games with the emoticons. I can't figure out why, but he giggles while sending a "wink" or his favorite the "punch". We usually get a tour of his hotel room and a glimpse of the view out his window. Its a fun thing to look forward to at the end of the day. Tonight we guessed what James ate for dinner while waiting for him to call. Matt's guess was completely dependent on how nice of a hotel Dad was in. He went with the chicken
sandwich. What does a 7 year old know about hotel food?
He guessed correctly.
This is why I'm so lucky. Not only does he clean the floors the hard way... unasked. But today when I opened my pantry door the three little words, "I love you" were posted to my flour & sugar jars.
One of the most valuable items in an 7 year old's life right now is Star wars trading cards. BUT, the" long card" holds the most value. Everyday after school is over all the kids in Matt's class whip out their binders and the bell rings for the trading session. Its hilarious to watch and listen to. Matt actually spends the time marking off the check list and putting the cards in proper order. Currently any chore, or any behavior issue can be traded for a pack of cards. I hope this last's a little longer..... I have a big chore list.
He did it! The Vespa is back in full working order. From WWII green to hipster white. All done in the garage by this handsome guy I married, James. I'm not sure who is better looking. I better get my scarf out.
At a very young age I was taught the art of list making. Most important, make a box so you can check off the completed task. It feels so good. And, always add something on the list you already have done, so you have an instant check mark. Tricking yourself, kind of like setting the clock 10 mins fast. I love lists. So here it goes...
My 2010 new years Resolutions
*Blog the things that make life so wonderful. The good the bad and the ugly.
*Get up earlier. I've tried and failed (that's not an instant check mark)
*Sew more, and re purpose anything I can.
*Don't get mad about keys Not hung on the key hook.
*Hug James and Matt everyday at least 10 times.
*Sing Matt the old hymns before he goes to bed, while he still likes songs.
*Be part of a precepts study year round.
*Eat more lentils
*Teach my dogs to walk on a leash properly.
*Travel to one new city with James.
*Play my violin
*Keep my current flowers/plants alive for 6 months.
I just realized that by posting this... there will be accountability. Seems like a good idea. Now.. what one is already completed?
