The Music Studio

Now to move it all to the basement, and not in my living room!!!

ADDENDUM:  Post-move to basement!!

My Favorite Gift

From one Mr. Colby Aho

Translation, for those who can't read his writing:

PSST:
Dear People who raise me.
Hello, Parents!  Time for your secret Christmas card (oh!  spooky!).  Well in this card I"m here to congratullate (sic) youu on raising and dealing with me! (only 6 more years to go!)  Now i'm not a perfect child but I'm close!
From that one kid that you raised.

Oh, my heart!!

Quinn's GRIT award

The Schmoozer

Quinn knows how to schmooze.  He's turned it into an art form.

The boys had been irritable and mean to their sister one too many times on the car ride home from gymnastics tonight, and mama got mad.  "We're supposed to be KIND to each other.  We're TEAM AHO. And you guys are constantly jumping down her throat."

Reagan ended up in tears, and it wasn't a happy ride home.  Mama was irritated enough at this episode of crabbiness, that when she got home, she removed a present with each of the boys' name on it from under the tree.

"You may earn these back when you show KINDNESS to another HUMAN BEING."

Quinn, about 30 minutes later, came up to me.

"Mom, I have this dollar in my pocket.  Now, I'm not saying that I'm going to buy my present back.  I'm just saying... if I put this dollar on the table, and it disappears, and suddenly my present RE-appears, well... we're all happy.  And, after all, isn't me giving you a dollar KIND of me?"

Stinkin' kid.  He knows how to make me laugh. 

I'm a dollar richer, and there seems to be a present or two back under the tree. 

Pronunciations, part 2

While in Petoskey for robotics, Colby was in the front seat, reading Google maps on my phone as navigator.

C: "Mom, up here there's a restaurant called McDonald Doctor."
M: "WHAT?"
C: "Look for the restaurant called McDonald Doctor!"
M: "Are you sure we're looking for a restaurant and not a street?"
C: "Man, there's a lot of doctors in this town.  No wonder they're so rich here."
M: "How do you know there's a lot of doctors by looking at a map?"
C: "Because every street name is followed by dr!"

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.  That would be "drive", Colby man.  McDonald DRIVE.

Later, as we were driving around, he was looking at the churches we were passing, and said the following:

C: "ESPICAPALIAN???  What the heck is THAT?  And Presbydarian?  They sure have weird churches here!"

Oh, Colby.  Have you never seen the words Episcopalian and Presbyterian spelled out??? 

I'm a little worried.

The Close Encounter With the Treadmill

Quinn, in the midst of his parkour-like daily existence, got himself stuck between the wall and our new treadmill.  While it was running.  Which led to a pretty nasty friction burn on his left elbow!  YIKES.  We are in the process of trying to heal it without the benefit of official medical care.  We shall see if this plan works or not.  We shall see. 

Pronunciations

We were in the car, driving to robotics, when Reagan noticed that Shopko was having a flu-shot clinic.

Reagan: "WHO would go to Shopko for a SHOT?!?!?!"
Mom: "Anyone who wants to be immunized!"
Quinn: "Mom.  You said that wrong.  It's not immunized.  It's immuninized."  That's how he said it.  I-muhn-ni-nized.

HAHAHAHAHAHA.  That's probably the first time he's ever said or heard that word out loud, and it didn't quite sound like it did in his head!!

The Skunk in the road

When 13 year old boys are being goofy, and we see a skunk in the road while driving home from the lake, and they try to make the word "skunk" sound silly, and it comes out "skank", and then Mom and Dad try hard not to laugh, and Reagan keeps asking "why is everyone laughing at 'skank'?  What does 'skank' mean?", and Mom tries desperately to change the subject, but those boys just won't stop laughing......

Food Sources

Quinn: "Mom, I LOVE French fries.  The kind that are made out of potatoes."
Mom: "Uhhhh, Quinn... by definition, all French fries are made from potatoes."
Quinn: "No they're not.  McDonald's fries are made from juice."
Mom: "Pretty sure that's not true."
Quinn: "Yes, it is.  I saw a documentary.  They squirt them and then fry them."
Mom: "I think chicken nuggets may be from a blended animal byproduct, but French fries... are French fries.  From potatoes."
Quinn: "Well, whatever.  You need to make more French fries out of potatoes."

OK.  Duly noted.

Foreheads, revealed.

The boys FINALLY, after several years, let me REALLY cut their hair!  Both boys (Colby more than Quinn).  I see foreheads!  And eyes!  And ears!  They have facial expressions that are visible from all bystanders!  And handsome countenances, appropriately framed instead of hidden behind a curtain of hair.  YAY!  I was unduly excited about this, and couldn't believe they were letting me use the scissors and razors quite as much as they were.  New looks for a new year.  Onward, ho, handsome men!

Fashion Sense: Lack Thereof

Quinn dressed himself in his favorite outfit today:  Neon green shirt and neon yellow shorts.

Mom: "Quinn, that does not match.  At all."
Quinn: "Yes it does, Mom.  They're both neon green, my favorite color.  You must be blind."

After looking at that outfit.... yes.  I am blinded.

Thirteen year old Stats

At thirteen years, 1 month, and 1 week old,  Quinn weighs 93.6 pounds, and is 62.5 inches tall.  His BMI is 16.85 (which puts him in the 21st%).  Height in the 60th%, weight in the 33rd%.    Colby is 89 pounds, and 62 inches, with a BMI of 16.28.  He's in the 13th% for his age for BMI.  Height in the 53rd%, 24% for weight.  Still really loosey goosey joints, so weight training is in order.  As is postural education (making their PT mama look bad!).  But other than that, all is well!  Moving on towards teenager-dom!

Grammar

Quinn "Mom, I don't want you to hold all my mistakings against me".

OK.  I won't.  After I make fun of you for saying "mistakings".

Colbmation

An original piece of animation from Colbyman Studios

Soccer!

Soccer has begun, and is running simultaneously with the last few weeks of track.  That, in addition to daily gym class, means the boys are active.  A LOT.  Good.

I really enjoy watching these kids play!!  They've really improved over the years.

Memorial Day

This wet, rainy, cold Memorial Day was spent visiting the Aho great grandparents and great aunt's/uncles' graves.  We didn't last long outside the car, but were able to do a little care-taking, see the veteran's service and gun salute, and then share a meal with Mim and Pops, as well as cousin Jennie!  It is good to remember those who have gone before. 

Leg Length Discrepancy

Tonight in the car, Quinn told me that one of his legs was longer than another.

Mom: "How do you know that?"
Quinn: "I can see it.  And I know how it happened, too."
Mom: "You do?"
Quinn: "Yes.  It's from snowboarding.  Whenever I ride the lift, I undo the binding on my right foot but not the left.  So my left leg got pulled longer than my right."

Sure it did, Quinn. 

You broke your brother

It's official.  Quinn broke Colby.  UGH.

The rough-housing/handsy thing got a little out of hand at the track meet the other day, and Quinn pushed Colby to the ground.  Colby landed on his pinky finger.  It was black and blue and swollen, but his mother said "I'm sure it's just jammed.  You're fine."

Well, a week later, the finger still could not move, was still black and blue, and was still swollen.  Given that I do not have x-ray vision (contrary to popular belief), I brought him to the doctors.  Yup.  Broken.  Avulsion fracture at the first metacarpal phalangeal joint of the fifth ray (aka pinky knuckle is broken).    He'll be in a splint for the next four weeks.

Since the time they were in utero, they have NOT been able to keep their hands off of each other.  GOOD GRIEF CHILDREN.  Enough already!!

Talent

Can't tell who's more talented... Quinn playing the piano or Colby's mad dancing skills in the background.

The Things They Say

These boys have always made me laugh.  When they were little, they weren't necessarily trying to be funny... they just WERE.  Now that they're "tweens", they may be purposefully going for the joke, but I have to admit:  they're still funny. 

Tonight, on the way home from the band concert, the boys were complaining about their little sister, as they tend to do.

Mom: "You guys be nice to Reagan."
Quinn: "I think she tries to be annoying on purpose.  It's her purpose in life to bug us."
Mom: "You need to say kind things to her.  And please, stop bickering!"
Colby: "You and dad don't say kind things to each other."
Mom: "YES WE DO!"
Colby: "No you don't.  It's always 'you drive the kids!'  'No, YOU drive the kids!'  And then don't we feel loved when that happens."

hahahahahaha.

OK.  There may be the occasional (ahem) discussion about who gets to be the designated taxi driver to all these various activities the kids are involved in.  But that doesn't count as being unkind I don't think.  Does it???

Unpleasant Dinner Conversation Part Deux

The boys have a friend spending the night.  Tonight at dinner, this is what we got.

Spencer (to Rob and I):"I heard you guys met online?"
Dad and Mom: "SERIOUSLY?!?!  How do you know that?"
Q&C: "We told him."  [insert glaring looks from parents to boys here]
Spencer: "The sketchiness level in this household is just way high."
Mom: "You know boys that both your grandma and grandpas met on blind dates? And Aunt Kathy met Uncle Jack by writing him letters when he was in Vietnam?  That's basically the same thing."
Quinn: "Except yours is sketchier."
Spencer: "I heard it was even before there was Skype."  There's no denying it.  We're older than Skype.
Dad: "How did YOUR parents meet, Spencer?"
Spencer: "At Cal Poly, in college."
Mom and Dad: "OHHHHH.  The conventional way."
Spencer: "Yeah.  My family is really boring.  We're the least sketchy family you will ever meet.  Nothing like yours."
Dad: "Maybe we need to change the subject."
Spencer: "Yes.  Let's talk politics.  Donald Trump is horrible."
Quinn (jumping out of his seat and grabbing Spencer by the arm): "OKAAAAAAYYYYYYY.  And now, let's go downstairs!!  New subject!  New subject!"
Rob: "Stirring the pot eh?  You'll sleep outside in the treehouse tonight, Spencer." 

Teenagerhood

Quinn and Colby both have colds, with hoarse voices.  At dinner, the lower register really amused Quinn.  

Quinn: "Mom.  Don't bother me.  I'm pubescing right now."

hahahahahahaha. 

Pipe Organ Lessons Begin

Our church has offered to pay for pipe organ lessons for two young men, in an effort to preserve the dying art form.  They began today!

Quinn's Rock Collection

A trip to the mineral museum inspired Quinn to organize his extensive rock collection.  He did a great job!  Now we need to find another place for all his books.... hmmmm.....

Things the Big Boy Says

Sometimes it's the Daddy who says justtherightthing.  Silver tongue devil that he is.  As most of the readers of this blog know, I have been battling one illness after the other for the past ten weeks.  Surgery, complications, multiple infections, severe hypothyroidism, cancer, radiation.  It's been... rough... to say the least.  And you know what?  It shows.  EVERYWHERE.  I'm not looking my best these days. I have gained 15 pounds, my face is swollen and haggard, there are huge bags under my eyes, my skin is pasty white.  It's not good, and I am fully aware of that fact. 

 My husband just poked his head into the room and said "you know, after your PET scan and you're off isolation, I think we need to go out for a date, just the two of us and celebrate".  YES!  Of course!  That sounds awesome!
"But you're going to need to primp," he says.  Primp?  What does he mean by that??? 

"Rob, are you saying that I need to curl my hair and wear make up?"  I ask innocently.
"Yes.  That would be nice," he says.
"Do you realize that I did shower AND curl my hair today, and I am currently wearing make up right this second?" I say.

"WHAT?!?!?!?  YOU ARE?!?!?!" He asks in alarm. 

"This is it, my friend.  This is the painted pig.  Being sick has taken it's toll."

"Good Lord," says he, as he shuts my door and walks away, shaking his head.

That makes me feel warm and fuzzy all over.  Good thing I know how to laugh.  But yes.  I have aged ALOT over these past ten weeks, and am not looking my best at the moment.  Not that I was a beauty queen to begin with, but.... yes.  Taken it's toll.  Hopefully this look is reversible!

I'm thinking a trip to the beauty parlor is also in order.

Unpleasant Dinner Conversation

The boys, as they do everysinglenight complain about what I made them for dinner.  Chicken stir-fry and rice apparently has entirely too many vegetables for them. 

Q:"I just want to eat Ramen.  Didn't you eat Top Ramen every day in college?"
Mom: "Pretty much, yes.  And bagels. And Hamburger Helper.  It was not a healthy diet."
Dad: "But it sure kept you skinny!"
Mom: "And had absolutely no nutritional value whatsoever."
C: "I will eat ramen and bagels for every meal.  Give me that."
Q: "What did Dad eat during college?"
Mom: "He lived on the farm here in Chassell.  He ate well, I'm sure.  He cooked for himself every night."
Q: "WAIT.  Dad lived here in Chassell when he was in college?"
Dad: "Uhhhh.... yeah.  I went to Michigan Tech, remember?"
Q: "Really?"
Mom: "Seriously?  How can you not know that he went to Tech?"
Q: "I mean, I knew that, but I didn't know that.  Weird.  You went to college here, and then moved all the way out to Montana, and then moved right back here????  WHY would you do that?"
Mom: "Because he fell in love with a girl!"
C: "Who?  Jessica?"
Mom: "Yeah.  Someone named Jessica.  NO ME, goofball."
Q: "Oh that's right.  You guys met online."
Mom: "How do you know that?"
Q: "You told us."
Dad: "We did?  And you listened?"
C: "So how did that work?  Did you just google her up?"
Mom: "The internet was new back then.  I think it was before Google even, really."
Q: "So dad drove ALL THE WAY out to Montana, just to meet a complete stranger?!?!/!"
Mom: "Well, we'd been talking on the phone and emailing and stuff.  And writing letters back and forth for months before that.  We weren't complete strangers."
Q: "Dad, I can't believe you took the risk!"
Mom: "The risk??? What about me?"
C: "But Dad was the one who drove out there!"
Mom: "He flew.  He didn't drive.  And it was Washington, not Montana.  Montana was after we were married."
Q: "So he paid like $1000 dollars to fly out to meet a STRANGER????"
Mom: "No.  Grandpa gave him a frequent flyer ticket for free."
C: "Still - that was a complete risk, Dad.  How did you know she wasn't a freak?"
Mom: "Uhhh... hello!  He's a big, strong man.  I was the young, single female.  He wanted us to meet in the middle, but I wouldn't.  I would only meet him on my turf, or not at all."
Q: "Still.  I can't believe he'd take a risk like that.  You could've been a psycho, for all he knew."
Mom: "Thanks.  I knew he  wasn't a psycho, because you can't fake engineer talk."
C: "But you can totally fake being a PT.  He had no idea.  So risky."
Mom: "And you know the first thing we did?"
Q: "Made out?"
Mom: "NO!!  We had just met!  Of course not!  I took him to meet my parents!"
C: "Uh, hello stranger at the airport.  Come meet my Mom and Dad."
Mom: "And the first thing grandma asked him was 'is your name Ted Bundy?'  They were very nervous about us meeting online, understandably."
Q: "I guess!  Can you imagine?  I'm going to go online and go meet some girl from California now, and go marry her."
Mom: "No, you're not.  Your parents won't let you."
Q: "This is just so sketchy.  You guys' relationship is sooooooooooooooooooooo sketchy!"
Mom: "Well, we've been married almost 20 years now, so obviously we did something right.  And you should ben pretty glad, otherwise YOU wouldn't be here!"
Q&C: "Just sketchy."

(sigh).  They're right though.  If my boys did what their parents did... I would think it was sketchy, too.  And totally forbid it.  How did a conversation about stir fry veer so far in the wrong direction again??????

Grounding Update: The Make Mom Laugh edition

The instant the boys saw their "ungrounding lists", they were scheming for loopholes and ways to minimize the impact.  The negotiations and whining were fast and furious.  WHAT??? Only 50 points for composing a WHOLE SONG???? (which shouldn't be a punishment anyway... I just wanted to put some fun, productive things on there!).  They quickly looked at which things could double up - for example, playing outside for an hour could be combined with building a snowman and shoveling the front walk way.  Right.  I'm good with that.  Smart and efficient.  But I had to run an errand, which left the kids on their own for a bit.  I left at precisely 5:15, and was home by precisely 6:00 pm.  I know this because I checked my phone, and got to my destination exactly 1 minute early at 5:29 pm.  I also know this because I received a text requesting dinner from a hungry husband as soon as I pulled back into the garage at 6 pm (my response:  "Ask your kids.  They're making dinner tonight!")  So the length of time I was absent was well noted, and documented.  And YET... in that 45 minutes I was gone, my son Colby miraculously bent the rules of time and space and not only played outside for an HOUR, BUT ALSO READ FOR 30 MINUTES!  All while building a snowman and shoveling the front walk way!  Isn't he amazing?!?!?!  When I pointed out this lack of reality, he was having none of it.  He did!  He really did do an hour and a half of activities in the 45 minutes I was gone!  He set the timer and everything for both activities, so he KNOWS he did!  And nothing you say means anything Mom!  And he deserves more than 50 points for making a song because he worked on it ALL DAY (despite, you know, being at school until 4 pm, and reportedly spending an hour and half reading and playing outside, as well as eating dinner with his family).  This is probably what got us into the "missing the bus" issue in the first place.... absolutely no accurate concept of the passing of time.  8 hours on the computer is "I JUST GOT ON!"  Reading a chapter in a book is "I'VE BEEN READING ALL DAY!"  Five minutes until the bus comes is "FOREVER AWAY".  You get the drift.

ANYWAYS.... one of the items on their list is writing a kind letter to a sibling.  This kills my boys.  Kills them.  We are not a family that knows how to be kind or build each other up - only laugh at and point out each other's flaws and mistakes (obviously, as you can see from the paragraph above, I'm just as bad at this as the rest of them).  But it bothers me.  We should be "Team Aho".  We should have each other's back.  Our family, our home, should be the place we feel safest and most loved.  So, what better way than to force the children to express themselves ;).  This is what the boys wrote to each other (the letter could be to either sibling, but of course the boys wrote to each other).  Here's Quinn's:

In case you can't read his messy writing:  "To Colby.  This is a kind letter.  Expect clichés".  And then he labeled his drawing "rainbow, your art 3 second drawing", and "chubby bunny".

"Do not listen to this.  Mom made me.  Mom= Illuminati"

"Hey Colby.  I wanted to tell you how much I appreate (sic) you.  I know you can be a little out of hand some times, but if you didn't exist, I would be kind of lonely.  I know that must sound kind of chessy (sic) but I love you.  Quinn Aho.

And Colby decided to write his in total "meme" language, that only Quinn would supposedly understand, keeping it a secret from old-person eyes.    It begins "Freaking Friendly Letter.  YAAAAAAY!" 

"Hi Quinn.  Dope most lit home studly here and I am writing did from my Tomas the dank engine to tell you that without your nooby skills I couldn't practice my dope skills at game, so thx boi. Love, from Colby"

So, the kindest thing he could think of to tell his brother is that he's not as good at video games, and it makes Colby look good.  So thanks for that, boy. 

[Insert maternal eye roll here]

These boys. 

But I did find this in the yard when I came home:

He Opened His Big Mouth....

So, at 7:25 this morning, I calmly said to my children "The bus will be here in exactly 10 minutes.  If you are not ready and you miss the bus, you will be grounded for a month.  I will not nag you from this moment forward."  I said it.  Plain as day, and they all three heard it.  And yet still played the piano, walked around lackadaisically, took five of those minutes to put toothpaste on their toothbrush, and then scrambled looking for shoes that were not put away, or coats that were not hung up.  And... you guessed it... they missed the bus.  All of them.  So I HAD to follow through. 

Reagan, who is always the first one ready, and has never before missed the bus, was distraught.  She rode to school with her head in her lap. 

"Even ME, Mom?  But I wasn't messing around!"

"Yes, Reagan, even you.  Because after I woke you up, you laid on the couch for 10 minutes instead of getting ready for school."  (She whimpered and put her head back down in her lap).

"Don't be upset!" says I in a chipper voice.  "This is a learning opportunity!  You all are old enough to get yourselves ready without your mother's constant nagging.  You all know how to tell time.  You know what you need to do to get out the door on time.  This is a natural consequence to your own actions."

"But MOM!" Quinn cried.  "The homily at church yesterday was about mercy!  And forgiveness!  About no harsh punishments, but consequences that right the wrong!"

"I forgive you.  But in order to recompense me for the time it takes to drive you to school, and the money it takes in gas to bring you there, and to teach you a valuable lesson.... still grounded for a month."

All three kids thought this was unduly harsh, and said so with much wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Quinn:  "I will pay you the dollar in gas it takes to drive us to and from school.  And I will do chores for the one hour out of your day it takes to take us into town and back.  Then we'll be even, and the wrong will be righted."

Mom: "Ahhhh, but you won't have learned any other skills, and that won't be enough of a deterrent so that it doesn't happen again!  It won't teach you to manage your time wisely.  And what kind of parent would I be if I didn't follow through on what I said I was going to do?"

"Then how about this," Colby said.  "How about we're not grounded for a length of time, but we have a certain point goal.  If we earn like 500 points by doing chores, we can get UNgrounded!"

THAT, my friend.... is brilliant.  I love it.  And said so.  Of course, as soon as he realized what he'd said, he back pedaled considerably.  "OR go with Quinn paying you a dollar!  Do that one!  Do that one!"

"No, Colby.  I absolutely love your idea, and that's what we're going to do.  You will be grounded only as long as it takes you to earn 500 points a piece.  I will make your charts, and they'll be ready for you when you get home.  Then YOU are in control of your own destiny, and YOU can make amends without Mom having to monitor and nag.  Clear expectations, clear ending.  Plus, you're learning valuable skills, and you all are going to have to help out when I'm in isolation anyway.  So that's it!"

He regretted it as soon as he said it, but it was so smart, and such a great idea... we're going to go with it.  This is what I came up with, while the kids were at school:

Gushing, 12 year old boy style

Quinn: "Happy Valentine's Day, Mom.  I have a strong regard for you."
Mom: "I have fond affection for you as well, Quinn."

100th Day of School

Tomorrow is the 100th Day of School, which Reagan is very excited about. Her brothers... not so much.  As they were getting ready for school this morning,  this was our exchange:

Mom: "Quinn!  Look at you!  Your hair isn't combed, your sweatshirt is filthy, your pants are too short!  You can't go out in public looking like that!"

Quinn: "No one cares, Mom."

Mom: "I care!  You look like a homeless child!"

Quinn: "Mom, it's the 100th day of school.  It's just a long, down-hill slide to the end.  I'm letting myself go."

Nice.  What kind of mother does this kid have????

His Signature Look

So, Colby got THESE for Christmas from Grandma Betty and Grandpa Jim:

His logo that he designed for himself, for his future "animations", on three sweatshirts.  His avatar, I guess.  Or whatever.  In black, gray, and navy blue renditions.

Since Christmas, he has worn nothing but.  Except, apparently the black is his MOST "signature look", and so he really only wears the black one.  Under duress (so I could wash the other) he wore the navy blue one for a single day.  But for the past 11 days, he has worn literally nothing but this single sweatshirt.  Today, I noticed that he had on his coat from the second he got out of bed.

"Colby, you can't hide it.  I know you're wearing that sweatshirt again.  You need to put new clothes on every day."  So I sent him back upstairs to change.  Then he came down... once again in his coat. 

"Colby, show me your shirt."

He unzipped his coat, and I found a hoodie.  I unzipped the hoodie and found... yes... a black sweatshirt.  This time turned around backwards so that he could be sneaky, and flip it back around as soon as he got to school.

Grandma and grandpa.... he loves his Christmas gift. 

But it's getting a little out of hand. 

:

Middle School Mannequin Challenge

Getting that many 7th graders to sit still that long is quite the feat!!