And So It Goes

Today was Malia’s now-yearly appointment with the allergist. This is the first time we did blood work for her, so I was hoping that it would reflect an allergy that is not as severe as Matthew’s. Unfortunately, it did not work out that way. Malia’s IgE for peanut is greater than 100, just like Matthew’s. We also did skin prick testing for a variety of other things. As of now she is not allergic to fish or shellfish or any other tree nuts. However, she has never eaten tree nuts other than almonds and coconut, so that is not a guarantee that she will not develop other allergies in the future. But looking on the bright side, for now it is just peanuts. And I’ll keep my fingers crossed where the other nuts are concerned. She is also allergic to both dogs and cats which is not a surprise considering her family history and her tendency to get red itchy eyes when exposed to animals. Good thing we are an only-fish-as-pets household already.

Is It Over Yet?

Last night we sat the kids down and told them that one of their cousins is having some very serious struggles. Matthew looked at me, his eyes older and more serious than any 10-yr-old’s eyes should be, and said, “It seems like it’s been a hard year.” I’ve been thinking the exact same thing for the past three days. We’re only two months in and we’re already in our second life changing emotional struggle. I certainly hope the remainder of the year has some good mixed in with the struggles.

The Very Last First Loose Tooth

Yesterday Malia lost her first tooth. (And yes, the permanent tooth is already coming in behind.)

And for dinner this evening we had “spaghetti” and not “bahsketti.”

My baby isn’t a baby anymore. It’s the end of an era. Sigh.

A Decade

Matthew’s birthday was this week. He is ten. Double digits. Wow, time flies. Anyway, like always, we had several celebrations. Last Sunday we celebrated with my family. Matthew has been neck deep in Harry Potter books lately so that was his chosen theme. We created a Harry Potter cake and although the cake itself was not quite done in the center (I was using a different recipe than I’ve used for layer cakes in the past and I wasn’t feeling well and made a bad judgement call where taking the cake out of the oven was concerned), I was pretty pleased with how it looked.

On the morning of his actual birthday, Matthew as in a great mood. He got ready for school in record time and as we were getting ready to walk out the door he said, “This is a good day for a birthday. It’s sunny, I have scouts, I feel older, it’s just awesome!” I totally laughed. I couldn’t help it. He did get to go to his very first Webelos meeting on his actual birthday and we had stove top lasagna (his favorite meal) for dinner.

This afternoon we had his friend party. Again, the theme was Harry Potter. Matthew really wanted to play quidditch and the forecast predicted rain so we had his party at the church. Matthew made wands for everyone and we played several Harry Potter themed games (pin the patronus on the dementor, levitating balloons with their wands, transforming into animals for charades, quidditch). Instead of making fancy cupcakes, we had the kids decorate their own cupcakes and called it potions class. The boys all loved the potion-like ingredient names: red frosting was dragon’s blood, green was pond slime, etc. That kind of gross is perfect for 10-year-old boys! I think they had a good time and we sent them home with an assortment of Harry Potter themed treats.

Matthew has actually grown quite a bit this year. He is still short, but he is currently not the shortest one in his class (he is the 3rd shortest). He is still a huge sports fan and all the 4th and 5th grade boys in our ward have formed teams and have been playing football all winter. He is an integral part of their group and I love that they show up at our door nearly every day to get him. Boston, Matthew’s best friend, has moved so even though he is still at the same school, he is not available to play every afternoon and Matthew was getting a bit lonely. So I’m grateful. Although he still knows how to push every single one of my frustration and irritation buttons, he is not choosing to push them all as frequently and that had made our home life much calmer. He is still trying to get a firm grasp on the idea of being responsible and getting the work done fast so he can play, but he’s making progress. And he is still a 10-year-old boy. He’s not supposed to have everything figured out yet. He has a highly contagious laugh and we are very glad he is in our family.

No Smoochies

Today I spent the entire morning at the elementary school helping in both Matthew's and Malia's classes for a variety of Valentine's Day related activities. I had been home just long enough to eat lunch when one of the school secretaries called. She started with, "I know you were just here, but..." Apparently Matthew had whacked his chin on the slide while he was out at recess and had sent a tooth clear through his lip. So I headed back to the school and ended up bringing Matthew home.

While the cut did indeed go in one side of his lip and out of the other side, it wasn't too long and wasn't gaping open so a phone consultation with our doctor and some ice was all the first aid it needed. It did take around three hours for it to completely stop bleeding, but once it did I could see that it was going to close up quite nicely.

I guess it's a good thing Matthew is too young to have a sweetheart he wants to kiss today. 😉

A Day of Play

Matthew and Malia have been asking to go skating at Classic Fun Center. Kevin tried to take them last weekend but the parking lot was so full that people were parking in the grass all around so they decided to try on another day. This morning they tried again and the entire place was closed for a private party. So they ended up at Boondocks instead. It ended up being a good thing for the kids as there is a larger assortment of activities at Boondocks and they all had a great time. Matthew loved driving the go carts and Nathan says that Malia screamed (the excited kind) the entire time she was riding in his go cart. they played mini golf and Malia was the only one to get a hole-in-one. Even Daniel had a good time and he didn’t even want to go. Now Kevin and the big boys are trying to find somewhere to drive the really fast go carts…and Malia is asking when they can go back to Boondocks.

Sports Comedy

One of Matthew’s experience gifts this year was the chance to see the Harlem Globetrotters. He’s my guest blogger today to tell you about it.

On Feb. 6,2017 Dad and I went to the Harlem Globetrotters at the vivent smart home arena.(the delta center)It was one of my experience gifts. Dad said that I laughed my head off all the time. I’m very glad I went because without it I wouldn’t had that laugh probably until next year. They had a free shot line, three point line, and the only featured there four point line. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the globetrotters let the all-stars a three point lead. Yet the famous Harlem Globetrotters still won against the World All-Stars. I had a time and it would be fun to go again.

A tidbit Matthew didn’t include: His favorite player was the one they called Too Tall. Too Tall was, ironically, extremely short, barely taller than I am. While everyone else lined up to get an autograph from the tallest trickster, Matthew was determined to meet Too Tall. Matthew has not only accepted his lack of stature, but he says he actually likes being short.😉

With Child-Like Understanding

Malia has become a confident enough reader that she takes her turn when we do family scripture study. She reads what she can and we help her with the words she doesn't know and can't sound out (because sometimes scripture language is hard-like Gadianton and Ammonihah). This evening one of her verses was 3 Nephi 11:19 and she read,  “And Nephi arose and went forth, and bowed himself before the Lord and did kiss his feet…{with a totally disgusted look on her face}…ew.”

I’m not sure anyone else heard her, but I snort laughed. Right in the middle of scriptures. Let’s face it. The girl has three older brothers. She is intimately familiar with the smell of teen boy’s sweat socks. And they are definitely “ew.”