tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51022645800265590212024-02-20T06:24:17.788-06:00Magic MirrorsOur Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08780484413505163997noreply@blogger.comBlogger226125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102264580026559021.post-52199560480210961592020-10-01T18:49:00.001-05:002020-10-02T13:09:32.282-05:00Project 19 to 19: Day 16<b><u>Staying Active</u></b><br><Br>
About the time the Boy started high school, his opportunities to stay active started to dry up. He was only required to have 1 year of PE in school, he aged out of the local rec sports soccer league, and he was never very keen to join us in the garage for a workout.<br><br>
One summer, however, we talked him in to coming to an Olympic lifting class with us and we soon discovered he had a real knack for it!<br><br>
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These days, his fitness options have all but evaporated. I know he had hoped to join some intramural club once on campus, but of course, that is just one more thing that is not currently on the table.<br><br>
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Playing VR games is NOT a fitness activity, but at least he has a fun way to unwind regardless of the weather!<br><br>Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08780484413505163997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102264580026559021.post-43202084171953401372020-09-30T19:42:00.001-05:002020-10-01T20:06:19.865-05:00Project 19 to 19: Day 15<b><u>I Love You More</b></u><br><br>
Almost as soon as the Boy learned to say "I love you" he jumped into the game of "No, I love YOU!" vs "No, *I* love you MORE!<br><br>
It's definitely one of my all time favorite games and even if I lose, I win!<br><br>
This snap was taken in 2015, on Valentine's Day. Wonder Boy and his dad surprised me with this plaque and another similar one. I'll admit I was a bit overwhelmed and my reaction <i>(bursting into tears)</i> definitely surprised him.<br><br>
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I can't tell you how happy it makes me that this little game lives on today! Every night at tuck in, everytime someone leaves the house, and these days, often when the Boy notices one of us is having a rough day, he will launch another round and remind us that we have a live-in cheering section.<br><br>
<center><img src="https://media.fotki.com/2v2HhBHQ2xuqthW.jpg" width=450 border=10></img></center><br>Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08780484413505163997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102264580026559021.post-13587205167180768612020-09-29T18:10:00.002-05:002020-10-01T18:43:49.901-05:00Project 19 to 19: Day 14<b><u>Easier Than Breathing</b></u><br><br>
From the earliest of days, Wonder Boy has been comfortable with numbers. Long before he could write full sentences, he could add, subtract, anddeal with fractions. He has always taken to math like a duck to water, or as I explained to the review board for the gifted and talented program at his middle school, math comes to him like breathing to you or I.<br><br>
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The Boy's prowess with numbers truly became obvious as he entered middle school. He tested out of 7th grade math and jumped ahead a year, finishing his first year of high school Algebra by the end of 8th grade. He spent a summer at Mathematical Problem Solving camp. And again, in high school tested out of pre-Calculus so he could get two years of calculus under his belt before leaving high school<br><Br>
His academic success in the mathematical arena has been fun to watch, but honestly, it is the countless hours of independent study he has put in over the years that always boggles my mind.<br><br>
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His favorite summer activity was watching math videos on YouTube and working his way through his favorite proofs and theorems. He filled his whiteboards with his favorite proofs and problems. And he couldn't wait to explain the things he learned to those he loved the most.<br><br>
These days, his whole world is about independent learning. The years he spent researching subjects he enjoyed and pushing himself to understand all that he could, is paying major dividends these days. His transition to virtual learning has been much easier than many of his classmates because of this.<br><br>
Even now that he is in college and already in his second semester of calculus, he happily works through this more advanced text book he requested as a gift last Christmas. He has set himself up for success all while enjoying one of hif absolute favorite topics. That sounds like a formula for a lifetime of happiness to me!<br><br>Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08780484413505163997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102264580026559021.post-17748386821048983242020-09-28T17:57:00.001-05:002020-10-01T18:04:59.114-05:00Project 19 to 19: Day 13<b><u>Bubba's Boy</b></u><br><br>
I have featured photos of these two every year for a reason - theirs is a very special bond and it makes me happy to share it!<br><br>
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Wonder Boy begins and ends each and every day with Wonder Mutt. They romp and play throughout the day. And it doesn't seem to matter how deeply asleep the Mutt may be, when the Boy comes downstairs between classes during the day, the Mutt is always ready for some serious attention from his favorite human ever.<br><br>
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The Mutt and the Puppy Princess have both seen a number of benefits of pandemic living, but by far the highlight for both of them, is having the Boy home all day, every day!Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08780484413505163997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102264580026559021.post-29035996484903498412020-09-27T19:43:00.001-05:002020-10-01T14:26:34.856-05:00Project 19 to 19: Day 12<b><u>A Natural Reaction</b></u><br><br>
One of the greatest joys for me in being a parent has been sharing a love of exploration with the Boy. He, like most kids, was always curious about how the world works and he loved hands on learning to dive home a lesson.<br><br>
Unlike me, Wonder Boy always had a penchant for physical sciences. In contrast, I was always drawn to the biological sciences but those never sparked the Boy's imagination like physics and chemistry.<br><br>
To foster that love of learning and investigation, we often did little experiments in the kitchen. We grew crystals (sugary, grape-flavored ones you could eat!). We mixed baking soda and acids to watch them foam and bubble, once we even used the gasses released to inflate a baloon. We made lava lamps and water gloves. We even made milk planets and soap monsters along with a dozen other things to fill a rainy day or to serve as a fun project during summer vacation or spring break.<br><br>
But one of my favorite experiments is featured here:<br><br>
<center><img src="https://media.fotki.com/2v2Hhf5njxuqthW.jpg" width=750 border=10></img></center><br>
For as far back as I can recall, Wonder Boy always had a school holiday for Good Friday. So we generally set aside that day to prepare our Easter creations. For this particular year, we <a href="https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/incredible-egg-geode/" target="_blank">made egg geodes</a> to go along with our regular dyed eggs. The coolest part of this experiment is that the Boy <b><u>STILL</b></u> has the results of this experiment. It was fun for us all and gave us a keepsake that has lasted for many, many years!<br><br>
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Wonder Boy kept his love of all things physics and chemistry as he made his way through high school and beyond (really, both of them are just applied math, so it's a double love for the Boy). But being stuck in a virtual classroom, there isn't much hands on experimentation going on. These days, he watches labs performed over video, records the data, and writes up his chemistry labs from there. I truly hope that he will get a bit of hands on experience when he starts his physics lab next spring!<br><br>
Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08780484413505163997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102264580026559021.post-9891904429685527842020-09-26T20:31:00.000-05:002020-09-30T21:12:04.134-05:00Project 19 to 19: Day 11<b><u>Genetic Predisposition</b></u><br>
From an incredibly early age, Wonder Boy has been drawn to situations in which he has the opportunity to teach others. When he was very small, he would <i>teach</i> one of us the things he learned at day care or that he taught himself. As he got older and we started to enjoy performing science experiments together, he would consent to me recording him so that he could send a recroded lesson to his grandparents or cousins.<br><br>
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In this series of photos, the Boy was giving a lesson on how to mix the perfect glass of chocolate milk. This was a lesson with a lot of staying power - we still follow his method today!<br><br>
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Wonder Boy comes from a long line of teachers. His Great Great Grandmother was a teacher in a one-room school house. Her only daughter, the Boy's Great Grandmother, followed in her footsteps to the school house door and taught for over 40 years. Again, her only daughter, Wonder Boy's Great Aunt, made her career teaching and passed on the teacher gene to one of her daughters and one of her granddaughters as well. That's quite a lineage of teaching, don't you think?!<br><br>
Wonder Boy spent his high school years heavily involved in the Computer Science team. He loved the challenge and problem solving aspect, but another big draw to being part of the team was his mentoring role for younger or less experienced teammates.<br><br>
We were not sure if he would be able to find any kind of mentoring opportunities in this day of the virtual classroom, but I am so pleased to say that, well, life finds a way! The Boy has a friend from high school in his programming class and she is a novice programmer. So the Boy has dedicated a bit of his time each week to going over the assignments with her and making sure she has all the skills needed to succeed in this class! He also stays on the Zoom session after he has completed the assignments to act as a virtual help desk for anyone else who might need a hand.<br><br>
The Boy claims that he wants to program for a living some day after graduation, but I hope that, no matter what path he decides to follow, I hope that he can continue to find opportunities to teach. It is in his blood and seeing the natural high he rides after a tutoring session is reason enough for me to hope he sticks with it in some form or fashion!<Br><br>Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08780484413505163997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102264580026559021.post-77990048873583163122020-09-25T20:06:00.001-05:002020-09-30T20:27:01.600-05:00Project 19 to 19: Day 10<b><u>the Guys</u></b><br><Br>
This photo from 2010 is one of my all time favorites. I have it in the rotation of photos in my digital photo frame on my desk at work and every time it pops up, I stop and smile for a minute, no matter how hectic my day may be.<br><br>
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I have always loved seeing them together, but there is something simple and honest about this photo for me. This shot was snagged while the guys were both in the middle of a martial arts class. Wonder Boy had started muay thai lessons and Dad was doing a cardio kick boxing class at the same location. Here they had a break in the action at the same time and took a minute to chat and crack a joke. And their simple interaction warms my heart to its deepest core.<br><br>
For today, I couldn't find a time when they were both free and willing to step in front of the camera at the same time, but I did see this awesome shoe rack/bench Wonder Dad just finished making for the boy.<br><br>
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This bench is another simple and honest expression of their relationship. Wonder Dad knows his boy well. And there is no greater articulation of his dedication to his boy than a project like this bench. I have caught both of them stopping to take in the bench when they enter his room. Wonder Dad is proud of his finished project and the Boy is glad to have this special addition to his room. I love that this is one more thing that they get to share together.<br><br>Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08780484413505163997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102264580026559021.post-8078894903242811472020-09-24T19:45:00.002-05:002020-09-30T20:01:03.315-05:00Project 19 to 19: Day 9<b><u>Color Shift</u></b><br>
I've shared before that Wonder Boy has long had a signature color of blue. He loves all hues, especially the darker part of the spectrum. Since the first days where we encouraged the Boy to select his own clothes, he has just naturally gravitated to blue.<br><br>
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If I close my eyes and picture my Boy, I have always imagined him covered in blue. <br><br>
But in recent months, there has been a noticable shift in color. Gone are the blue hues while maroon no dominates his wardrobe!<br><br>
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I admit it - I love it! He still looks awesome in blue, but he is rockin' the maroon as well! And since I know that this is an outward expression of his excitement over starting classes at TAMU, I'm even more pumped to see him covered in maroon!<br><br>Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08780484413505163997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102264580026559021.post-81792339583019253192020-09-23T20:08:00.001-05:002020-09-24T21:02:37.553-05:00Project 19 to 19: Day 8<b><u>Bubba's Best Girl</u></b><br><br>
We have had dogs in our home since before the Boy was born, so he has never known life without a canine companion. Our dogs, Ruby and Chucho took a while to warm up to the Boy after we introduced him to our little pack. They grew to accept him and even love him, but it was not the same as having a dog of your own. <br><br>
The Puppy Princess was born to a local breeder in November. We took the Boy with us to make our pick of the litter and all 3 of us agreed she was the one for us! At the tail end <i>(yes, pun intended)</i> of 2008, just before New Years, we were finally able to bring her home!<br><br>
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The Boy fell for his Princes right away, but she was a Mama's girl from day one. He spent years chasing after her, but it really wasn't until the Mutt came into the house that she decided Wonder Boy was worth her time.<br><br>
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I am glad that she found her way to him, especially since he has given so much of himself to her over the years. Our old girl is really getting up there in age to the point where we are not sure how mcuh longer she will be with us. I have struggled to find the silver linings to this Pandemic, but having extra time with the Boy and him having extra time with the Princess is definitely one of those cases.<br><br>Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08780484413505163997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102264580026559021.post-51428573731480738062020-09-22T12:02:00.006-05:002020-09-22T12:03:52.209-05:00Project 19 to 19: Day 7<b><u>Who is that Masked Man?!?</u></b><br><br>
Today marks a week into this project and I am so glad that we still have another 12 days to go!<BR><BR>
This flash back photo from 2007, brings an INSTANT smile to my face! This was taken the Friday before his first day of Kindergarten. He was taking "Little Dragons" martial arts lessons at a local karate dojo and they held a big blowout to celebrate the end of summer and the start of the new school year. The theme was "Super Hero Training Camp."<br><br>
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As you can see, Wonder Boy was well prepared for the event! He's in his Incredibles outfit and mask. He's donned his Batman cape. And he has his trusty Jedi light saber at his side!<br><Br>
Like every other kid in attendance, he flew around that dojo like never before that evening! He showed off his high flying skills, leaping tall towers (of training mits) in a single bound. His dexterity was on display as he climbed mighty cliffs (played by the instructors). And he gave us all a demonstration of his strength as he knocked out pushups, sit ups, and punched every heavy bag in the building!<br><br>
A great time was had by all, especially by those of us watching our little Supers run wild.<br><br>
Believe it or not, every time the Boy leaves home these days, he is also sporting a mask.<br><br>
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While this mask is a fun one to look at, wearing one right now is not a laughing matter.<br><br>
This is, of course, yet another reminder of life in the time of the Corona virus. On the rare occasion that we leave home, we wear a mask and usually disposable gloves as well. We remain at least 6 feet away from others. All packages/supplies coming into the house go into a 3 day quarantine. And we generally do not have in person visits with anyone.<br><br>
We have lived like this since mid-March and there doesn't seem to be any indication that things will change in the next few months. This is why Wonder Boy is doing his first full semester of college from the relative safety of our home. All of his classes are on-line.<br><br>
It wasn't an easy decision to keep him home this fall. But with the number of students on campus contracting the virus, we are all certain it was the right call to make. We are still very hopeful that before long the Boy will be able to attend classes on campus. And our biggest wish right now is that he will be able to live on campus by next fall!<br><br>
Today's masks may not evoke the same smile or hit that tender spot in my heart, but they go a long way towards protecting us. So I guess in that same way, the Boy is still my favorite Super!<br><Br>Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08780484413505163997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102264580026559021.post-48924332604175603152020-09-21T20:10:00.004-05:002020-09-21T20:11:16.804-05:00Project 19 to 19: Day #6<b><u>Favorite Foods</b></u><br><br>
If you have known Wonder Boy for any length of time, then you know that food does not hold a high priority in his life. His list of favorite foods has never been very long. We tease him and say he has a "selective palate." <br><br>
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We see our sweet boy here enjoying a bowl of cheerios, watching TV (most like watching "Go, Diego, Go!"), and breaking in the Batman cape and cowl made for him by his grandma. I was so thankful that breakfast was a pretty easy meal since both lunch and dinner were bound to be a struggle.<BR><BR>
I am thankful that these days, it really isn't a struggle to keep him fed. It's true that he prefers simple foods, with a fondness for steak, chicken, and pork leading his list. And at the very tip top of that list, is bacon! According to the Boy, Bacon is heaven sent and should be enjoyed as often as possible. <br><br>
In days past, bacon was reserved for the weekend, but since the pandemic has us all at home, all day, every day, it is not unusual for it to find its way onto the menu for breakfast and/or lunch.<br><br>
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Our dear boy has only one request for his birthday this year - bacon at every meal.Looks like I have some meal planning to do!<br><br>Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08780484413505163997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102264580026559021.post-10658460231317874602020-09-20T20:52:00.001-05:002020-09-20T20:52:17.681-05:00Project 19 to 19: Day #5<b><u>Focus, Discipline, Work Ethic</b></u><br><br>
Focus, discipline, and a strong work ethic. If you had asked me back in the days before we transitioned from a couple to a family, what lessons I would hope to impart to any future family members, I likely would have included these 3 in the list.<br><br>
There are days when I think we must have breathed that into the Boy from before he took his first breath because they are the first three characteristics that come to mind when I stop to ponder the man our Wonder Boy is rapidly becoming.<br><br>
It started with focus. The Boy has always had an uncanny ability to target his mind on the task at hand. When he was small, we would see this when he sat down to draw, paint, build, or play. It was like the rest of the world was just background music and his activity was all that mattered. <br><br>
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Discipline is supposed to be a learned trait, but it has come as naturally to the boy as breathing. And I have always been amazed to see it when it comes to his school work. Most of us can remain diligent when working on something we enjoy, but have trouble maintaining that when it is a task we despise. However, that is NOT the way the Boy is wired. He will often knock off first the thing he hates the most. I have long admired that as I am wired the exact opposite way.<br><br>
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Today is Sunday, typically a day of rest. But after a full week of working hard each day, the Boy started off his day today with a chemistry pre-lab write up. He followed that up with hours of research toward putting together a degree plan for the next 3 semesters so he will be ready for a meeting with his advisor on Friday. He schedules his work himself. We know next to nothing of his assignments, test schedules, or degree requirements. We could find it out, of course, but our young man does not need our assistance. He has earned our trust in his organizational skills and we know he has things well in hand.<br><br>
I hope he knows how proud he makes us!<br><br>Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08780484413505163997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102264580026559021.post-29372552641619295802020-09-19T18:46:00.001-05:002020-09-20T20:10:05.625-05:00Project 19 to 19: Day #4<b><u>Video Game Master</u></b><br><br>
Like so many of his generation, Wonder Boy has been completely enamored with video games from a very early age. Back when this photo was taken in 2004, we severely limited his time "on the box" and only got him games with an educational spin.<br><br>
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The game shown here was his favorite for a long time - a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse game that focused on the alphabet and colors. It was bright and colorful and had a bubbly sound track to accompany it. <br><br>
Since those early days, the Boy has delved into all things video game related. He spent time building levels on games he purchased. He has programmed his own games. He has sketched out all his favorite characters. And he's learned to bang out some of the tunes featured in his favorite games on his piano or guitar.<br><br>
In short, there is very little aspect about video games which the Boy has not explored.<br><br>
As of late, he has been all but obsessed with the musical aspect of his favorite games. He wakes up in the morning humming those tunes. Once class is over, he likes to pluck a tune on his guitar or dabble around on the piano. Sometimes he will send us the link to a video on YouTube. And any time we take a car ride togehter, his favorite topic is discussion the types of music in his favorite games, especially those he enjoyed when he was young.<br><br>
All of that talk must be seeping into my subconscious because I find myself being drawn to game music too. The Boy and I had recently been talking about one of his first truly favorite games - Little Big Planet. And just by a strange twist of fate, one of its most iconic songs ended up in my YouTube play list the very next day!<br><br>
<center><img src="https://media.fotki.com/2v2HVH3nNxuqthW.jpg" border=10 width=700px></img></center><br>
Wonder Boy and his dad must have played that game for a good solid year, only moving on when the Little Big Planet 2 was released. I do not have a flair for game play, but LPB was so pretty and the music so captivating that I couldn't help but spend hours watching them play.<br><br>
The screenshot above was from my favorite level, called "the Wedding Reception" and the video below is the song that plays throughout the level. Thanks to my boy, it now has a permanent home on my playlist!<br><br>
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</center><br><br>Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08780484413505163997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102264580026559021.post-41305724163056493992020-09-18T18:21:00.001-05:002020-09-20T18:45:35.177-05:00Project 19 to 19: Day #3<b><u>Style By Mom</b></u><br><br>
I have never been confused with a fasion plate. When it comes to personal grooming, I like to keep it simple. So I never intended to take on the task of taming WonderBoy's hair. But in his early years, he was overly wary of letting a barber or stylist get near him with scissors or clippers, so a few simple cuts at home seemed to be the best option.<br><br>
About a week before this photo was taken, I strapped the Boy into his high chair, gave him some snacks to busy his hands, put on his favorite cartoon of the day and grabbed my scissors to clean up his side burns and get the hair out of his eyes. I had hardly gotten started when he very suddenly decided to turn his head and show me how many cheerios he could fit into one hand. As you can guess, this did not end well. In fact, I missed his hair all together and lopped off the top of his left ear instead.<br><br>
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I was devistated! Wonder Dad was a 20 minute drive away at work and couldn't get home to us, but a neighbor came to the rescue and whisked us off to the doctor's office. Thankfully the Boy didn't need any stitches, but Momma's heart was permanently scarred, so this would be the last time I got near him with scissors.<br><br>
However, Daddy came to the rescue with a set of hair clippers. Neither of us had much in the way of skill with them though, so the end result was the buzz cut you see above. The Boy didn't mind. It was a super hot summer, and we told him the cut made him more aerodynamic and therefore faster on the soccer pitch. He was small enough to buy into it, so all was well.<br><br>
These days, the boy has a good relationship with the family stylist - she's been cutting Wonder Dad's hair since long before Wonder Boy came along and these days she keeps all of us looking our best. However, pandemic living has ended our visits to the salon. So once again we are relying on the clippers Wonder Dad brought home all those years ago. Thankfully, we are much more skilled with the clippers these days and do not have to resort to a full on buzz cut. <br><br>
<center><img src="https://media.fotki.com/2v2HVH3iExuqthW.jpg" width=400px border=10></img></center><br>
All things considered, I think Wonder Boy looks rather handsome! I know he will be glad to get back to the Salon, but until then, at least we can keep his sideburns under control and keep the hair out of his eyes. I guess some things never change!<br><br>
Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08780484413505163997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102264580026559021.post-66045508052026044082020-09-17T19:53:00.001-05:002020-09-17T19:56:41.526-05:00Project 19 to 19: Day #2<b><u>Virtual Campus</u></b><br><br>
School is a hot topic these days. You cannot turn on the TV or the radio or browse your favorite social media without hearing/seeing SOMETHING about school or teachers or school kids or ... well ... we'll get back to that.<br><br>
All of that talk brought back the memory of Wonder Boy's earliest school days - and in this case, or course, I mean his start to preschool/day care. <br><br>
The first full year, maybe even year and a half, Wonder Boy was not a huge fan of "school" and he would fuss all the way there and then do his best to convince us that we should not leave him there to fend for himself. It was hard on all of us. I want to point out that, as soon as we would leave, he would be fine and would be happy and content when we came to pick him up. We often would stay long enough to watch through the blinds to see how quickly he would settle down and sometimes we would show up unannounced to make sure all was well and every single time, he was good to go.<br><br>
<center><img src="https://media.fotki.com/2v2HSyCijxuqthW.jpg" border=10></img></center><br>
I am happy to say that the separation anxiety of his early years faded fast and school became a comfortable arena for him.<br><br>
This summer, the Boy graduated from high schol <i>(with honors!)</i> and took his first college course, earning his first college "A" and coming into his first full semester this fall with a 4.0 GPA!<br><br>
We had hoped beyond hope that he would be moving into the Engineering Honors dorm at TAMU this fall, <i>but the pandemic had other plans</i>, so instead we worked to transform his video game playing area upstairs into a workable virtual classroom.<br><br>
<center><img src="https://media.fotki.com/2v2HSySt2xuqthW.jpg" width=500px border=10></img></center><br>
I am oh so proud to report that the Boy is handling the string of disappointments surrounding his launch into independent living better than anyone in the family. True to his analytical nature, he has taken each situation in stride until a work-around is figured out and then he doesn't look back. He doesn't spend his time worrying about what could have been.<br><br>
He has spent years learning the things he wanted to learn on-line and through books, so the transition to the kind of independent learning that is needed for distance education has not phased him too much to this point. I hope and pray that these skills will serve him well this fall and beyond!<br><br>Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08780484413505163997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102264580026559021.post-77963929216296686052020-09-16T19:01:00.003-05:002020-09-17T19:53:13.298-05:00Project 19 to 19: Day #1<b><u>Hamming It Up</b></u><br><br>
I'll be honest, I really didn't expect to be able to continue this project after last year. But if I can find any silver lining in the pandemic lifestyle to which we are all adjusting in 2020, it is having extra time with my dear Wonder Boy <i>(Wonder Guy?, he IS about to turn 19 after all)</i>.<br><br>
As I sat down to find a photo to kick start things for this year, I thought "why not start off with the Boy's very first photo?!". Truth be told, this is NOT his very first photo, it's his second, taken in my 22nd week of pregnancy. Our first ultrasound was taken at the 9 week mark, but at that point, we did not know whether the little bean on the screen was a boy or a girl, so I count this one as his first photo!<br><br>
<center><img src="https://media.fotki.com/2v2HSyCkrxuqthW.jpg" border =10px></img></center><br>
We got 3 different little prints on this momentous day, but this one was my favorite because it looked a bit like he was waving at us. I knew even then that my Wonder Boy would be a ham for the camera (though I didn't know how quickly he would grow tired of my mom-tographer ways).<br><br>
So here we are on Day #1 in our countdown to the Boy's 19th birthday and, as you can see, he is STILL hamming it up for me and my camera!<br><br>
<center><img src="https://media.fotki.com/2v2HSySkMxuqthW.jpg" width=500px border = 10px></img></center><br>
He acutally does this grandiose emergence from his bedroom several times a day. We left the tinsel curtain hanging after his graduation and first day of college celebrations. He really seems to love passing through it as he comes and goes.<br><br>
In truth, only Wonder Mutt seems to be put out by it and he refuses to walk through unless one of us parts the way for him. But the rest of us get a kick out of it so I think it will stay!<br><br>
This year has been .... unusual ... trying ... and just so different from every other build up to the Boy's birthday. Reasons to celebrate have been few and far between and the ability to hold even the smallest of festive gatherings has been all but impossible, I think that makes this project and the annual countdown even more important than ever. And I hope the Boy will appreciate it as much as I do!<br><br>
Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08780484413505163997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102264580026559021.post-48430919176536803232019-10-04T07:30:00.000-05:002019-10-04T10:37:07.493-05:00Project 18 to 18: Day 18<b><u>Menor Mentality</u></b><br><br>
Once again I find myself facing another "last" moment as I wrap up this project for the year. I've decided not to think about this possibly being the last year to do this project. Maybe I'll convince the Boy to help me continue it next year? So ... <br><br>
As I think about all of the things I <i>STILL</i> haven't gotten around to sharing, one in particular comes to the forefront of my mind ... the Boy is a natural mentor or teacher. We first started noticing it as he worked his way through the ranks in his judo class. He didn't care to go to competitions and while he liked earning new belts, what he enjoyed the most was teaching techniques to new students. His instructor made a habit of pairing experienced students with new ones and this gave the Boy his first taste of teaching.<br><br>
Since then he has put himself in a position to tutor his friends at school and he loves to try and teach his Dad and I whatever new concept he is researching.<br><br>
But by far, his biggest role as a mentor has been with the UIL Computer Science Team. He lucked out and was introduced to the team by a couple of really influential student mentors that encouraged him to take an active role in mentoring as they both graduated and went on to new challenges. He took up their charge with complete abandon! He spends his summers developing training materials that he uses for weekly lessons and then tweaks those materials or develops new stuff depending on the need of his students. <br><br>
<center><img src="https://media.fotki.com/2v2ENsWPMxuqthW.jpg" width=850></img></center><br>
His hard work has had an immediate effect as well! Last year, even with the Boy being the only returning upper class-man on the team, he led them to a 3rd place finish in district competition and qualified for region! They only narrowly missed a bid for the state level competition. He has spent his summer again preparing materials and done even more recruiting in the hopes of taking the team to state for his senior year!<br><br>
As we look ahead to things to come, I could very easily see him gravitating to a field in which he can continue to develop his mentor mentality. There are so many variations in which that could come to pass that I do not want to speculate on anything specific, but I am certain, in one way or another, the Boy will find a way to continue helping others to develop shared passions.<br><br>
Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08780484413505163997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102264580026559021.post-63647021231500103042019-10-03T07:00:00.000-05:002019-10-03T16:00:22.355-05:00Project 18 to 18: Day 17<b><u>A Creative Spirit</u></b><br><br>
<center><b><i>“Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while.” – Steve Jobs</i></b></center><br><br>
From an early age I have marveled at the Boy's creativity. And as he does with most things, he tends to jump into the deep end of the pool with little regard for the steps that most folks take when picking up something new.<br><br>
After months of watching YouTube videos on Spray Paint Art, the spring break pictured below was spent trying his hand at this art form. He didn't start small, he picked up his paints, set up a table on the back porch, donned his mask and gloves and got to work! It was a fun experiment! I was impressed with even his earliest of attempts, but ever the perfectionist, the Boy would never claim any skill with a spray can. <br><br>
<center><img src="https://media.fotki.com/2v2ENcKF3xuqthW.jpg" width=850px></img></center><br>
I simply cannot explain how much it pleases me when the Boy gets creative at the piano! You just haven't lived until you've heard his ragtime rendition of Ronda a la Turca!<br><br>
Whether is it altering a piece from one key to another or, like in the previous example, changing up the rhythms in sometimes not so subtle ways to mimic another style all together than what was conceived by the original composer, the Boy has always had a knack for improvising at the keys!<br><br>
I suspect he would never claim this as a creative expression but rather some form of problem solving or at least just changing the landscape of a particular puzzle. However, I can see it for what it is - his creative juices spilling out into everything he touches!<br><br>Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08780484413505163997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102264580026559021.post-18701143288919823332019-10-02T07:00:00.000-05:002019-10-03T13:07:42.062-05:00Project 18 to 18: Day 16<b><u>Mr. Thrifty & Nifty</u></b><br><br>
It's Day 16 and today I want to mention something I don't believe I have ever mentioned before... our Wonder Boy is innately thrifty!<br><br>
He was never the type of kiddo to ask for everything under the sun as we strolled the isles of the Toy Store at Christmas or reach for a special treat at the grocery check out. In fact, we have to cajole and coerce just to get him to give us ideas for Christmas and birthday gifts! It is seriously rare when he asks for something specific at the grocery store or wants to go out to eat. He just doesn't put a lot of thought into those kinds of things.<br><br>
We have had to be very careful to not let him know how much something costs - if he perceives it as being excessive, then he will start making excuses for why the funds should not be spent. Summer camps come to mind. We were blessed to be able to send him to a couple of really great camps over the years. He especially enjoyed STEM camp and Mathematical Problem Solving camp. But we were very careful for him to not know the full cost of attendance because, regardless of the educational value, he would have been most uncomfortable with the price tag. And since we wanted him to focus on the educational side of things, we never disclosed the financial side.<br><br>
The end result of this behavior is that when he DOES make some kind of request, we almost never answer in the negative. Case in point today - this little gadget has a hefty price tag by most standards, but the Boy had a need for class and researched the most reliable version of this thing and then you could see him physically tense up as he made the request. It is a LITTLE hard to justify this particular model, but .... it DOES have an educational value and, again, he so rarely requests anything that it is just hard to say 'no', so we didn't!<br><br>
<center><img src="https://media.fotki.com/2v2ENcKnoxuqthW.jpg" width=850></img></center><br>
In our look back to 2016, we get to see a fun side of the Boy! This was just a particularly good day, a little family time tossing around a frisbee in the hours just before sunset. Wonder Boy was keeping Wonder Dad and I in stitches with his antics as he would chase down the frisbee. He caught it between his legs and behind his back. He acted like a punch-drunk clown when he missed or when his return toss went sailing over Wonder Dad's head. I carry the ring of our laughter to carry me through my darkest days. It was THAT good. Not some big event or major milestone. Just the perfect way to pass the time with my two favorite people on the planet!<br><br>Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08780484413505163997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102264580026559021.post-30421807089497184502019-10-01T07:30:00.000-05:002019-10-01T14:44:57.244-05:00Project 18 to 18: Day 15<b><u>Transitions</u></b><br><br>
This current season in which we find ourselves seems to be all about the transitions, just like those firsts and lasts I mentioned on Day 1 of this little project. As I have been digging through the countless albums of old photos, I have discovered that this is just one more in a long line of transitional periods in our lives together.<br><br>
Of course, life was almost a constant state of transitions when Wonder Boy was small; every day seemed to highlight some new milestone. But as the Boy completed elementary school and then intermediate school, those moments seemed to be a bit fewer and farther between. However, I noticed in the waning days of the Boy's 7th grade year and the summer to follow, he experienced another one of those quiet transitions.<br><br>
No longer does he look like a little boy. I mean, he didn't really before, but it became such a stark contrast to the "little kid" phase of the earlier years. That summer marked his first extended period away from home when he spent more than half of his summer break at various camps including a three week stay out of town. And when I look at our flashback photo from 2015, I see a "big kid" - the kind who was ready to start the next phase of his life, the one in which he would start to prepare for a life away from home.<br><br>
<center><img src="https://media.fotki.com/2v2ENJCrLxuqthW.jpg" width=850></img></center><br>
Looking at today's photo, I see we have reached another threshold. Maybe it's the addition of the glasses, I'm not sure. But whatever it is, you can see it shining in his eyes, he is done with the preparations <i>(or at least, he THINKS he is done)</i> and he is ready to move on to independent living.<br><br>
As his parents, we are scrambling to make sure that we have covered all of the bases with him that he will truly need before he flies the coop. We've done what we can and we will continue that endeavor right up until he sets out on his own and beyond. Our most sincere hope, though, is that he knows we will never close that door. We are here to help as much as is possible and we are never beyond showing him the ropes as best as we know them.<br><br>
Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08780484413505163997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102264580026559021.post-10548269392862117392019-09-30T07:00:00.000-05:002019-09-30T11:09:19.454-05:00Project 18 to 18: Day 14<b><u>Two Boys and a Blanket</u></b><br><br>
We've always had dogs in our home. Many years before the Boy came along, we had pups in the house. So the Boy has never known home without the influence of some mutt or another by his side.<br><br>
But even with that said, I don't think the Boy knew what having a dog was truly like until Wonder Mutt joined our family! Wonder Mutt is Wonder Boy's dog through and through. He will allow behavior from the Boy <i>(mostly in the form of the Boy picking up the Mutt and carting him to wherever the Boy feels is appropriate)</i> that he would never tolerate from the rest of us.<br><br>
When the Boy is home, they are together. That is just a given and it has been that way from Day One.<br><br>
<center><img src="https://media.fotki.com/2v2ENoJe9xuqthW.jpg" width=850px></img></center><br>
The other element of the equation is the blanket! These two just LOVE to snuggle up under a soft blanket. There doesn't have to be a chill in the air like our flashback photo. We're experiencing way above average temperatures this summer/fall-so-far and still, you will find these two wrapped up like burritos each and every morning!<br><br>
Their favorite is the grey blankie you will see in today's snap, but any blanket will do in a pinch!<br><br>
Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08780484413505163997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102264580026559021.post-88081458937069143072019-09-29T15:00:00.000-05:002019-09-30T10:58:02.799-05:00Project 18 to 18: Day 13<b><u>Voilà!</u></b><br><br>
OK. It's VIOLA, not voilà, but the Boy likes to play around with his pronunciation when he talks about his instruments and his viola is no different - so we have come to accept that any word that starts with a V and likely ends in an A probably translates to viola.<br><br>
This is the instrument that really started it all for the Boy. We had tried to tempt him with an electric key board several years prior to his start in the 5th Grade orchestra, but nothing truly took hold until he got his hands on his first viola. I will always remember how after getting in his viola practice minutes one afternoon, he came downstairs and pronounced that he thought he could play his viola music on his keyboard if he knew which notes were which on the piano.<br><br>
So the viola was the stepping stone to learning the piano. In addition, his time at the piano eventually led him to the guitar. And who knows if the guitar will be just one more link in a chain of musical studies the Boy entertains?<br><br>
But it STARTED with the viola and I am truly thankful that it did as our house has been full of music ever since and I treasure it beyond measure!<br><br>
<center><img src="https://media.fotki.com/2v2ENoJaUxuqthW.jpg" width=850px></img></center><br>
Our picture for today is the Boy's bright and shiny viola. For many years we rented a viola each school year for him. I didn't realize this when he joined the orchestra, but string instruments vary in size based on YOUR size - it's like finding a pair of shoes that fits. And the instruments grow along with the child, up to a point, of course. And that is why for many years it made more sense to rent rather than to buy. <br><br>
But as the boy started to reach his adult size and remained committed to orchestra and his viola studies, we knew it was time for him to have an instrument that was truly his own. So one Christmas he opened a very small box left under the tree with a coupon for a trip to a string shop near Houston before he was to return to school for the spring semester.<br><br>
He was very excited and the whole family packed up and made the drive to check out <a href="https://violins.com/">Lisle String Shop</a>. When we left home, Wonder Dad and I were every bit as excited as the Boy. But as we neared the shop, Wonder Boy grew progressively quieter. And by the time we stepped through the doors of the shop, he had retreated completely into some self-conscious shell.<br><br>
The shop attendant brought out several instruments for the Boy to sample and get a feel for which he liked best, but the more we tried to get him to play, the quieter he became and the more frustrated Wonder Dad and I became. A drive like this is not something we do on a whim. We have to arrange care for the dogs. We have to fight traffic and in this case, had to struggle with directions to an unfamiliar place in a construction area to boot. *sigh*<br><br>
Tensions rose higher and higher until at last we were able to cajole the Boy to play enough to make an informed decision on which instrument would accompany him home.<br><br>
The drive home was almost as strained as the time we had spent in the shop, but eventually, everyone relaxed and the concert that we enjoyed in the days remaining in the Christmas holidays almost made the struggle worth it all. <br><br>
Seriously though, this instrument has a truly wonderful sound at the hands of our favorite musician. It is smooth and warm and inviting and once we were all able to put bruised feelings aside, we have all agreed that we are glad the Boy was able to upgrade his instrument!<br><br>
Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08780484413505163997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102264580026559021.post-27552682043596331462019-09-28T08:00:00.000-05:002019-09-30T10:58:12.809-05:00Project 18 to 18: Day 12<u><b>Bubba's Best Girl</b></u><br><br>
It's been a stressful Saturday here in Wonderlandia. Wonder Boy came home with assignments from six of his seven classes. Granted, some assignments have a distant deadline, but the Boy is not one to procrastinate. So instead of enjoying some decompression time on Friday as is his habit, he put his head down and made a dent in the work. And then, as soon as his guitar lesson was over this morning, he went right back to knocking out some more before Sunday's commitments sneak up on him.<br><br>
This evening once he felt he was ready for a break, I found him snuggled on the loveseat with his Puppy Princess. In her advancing age, she doesn't tolerate a lot of the play time like the Boy enjoys with Wonder Mutt, but she is almost always ready for a snuggle session and I love to see them finding comfort in one another.<br><br>
<center><img src="https://media.fotki.com/2v2ENoJHvxuqthW.jpg" width=850></img></center><br>
In our look back to 2012, we see the two of them together before the days of Wonder Mutt wiggling his way in between them. Back then, she was the one with the excess energy that rarely stood still long enough for more than a quick hug. She's been a constant in his life for more than half of his days on this planet though. And I have always enjoyed watching them together!<br><br>Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08780484413505163997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102264580026559021.post-230143662578400352019-09-27T08:00:00.000-05:002019-09-27T10:25:58.067-05:00Project 18 to 18: Day 11<b><u>Chasing Perfection</u></b><br><br>
<i><b>“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence” - Vince Lombardi Jr.</b></i><br><br>
Wonder Boy has been chasing perfection since a very early age. I can still vividly recall how frustrated and upset he would get with himself when he struggled to complete something to his very exacting standards. This goes for simple motor skills like learning to use scissors to the very high standard he sets for himself when it comes to his academic pursuits.<br><br>
But as the quote above states, while perfection is never truly attainable, as long as you endeavor to chase that dream, the shortfall still leaves excellence within your reach.<br><br>
In our look back to 2011 we see the Boy with the principal of his elementary school moments after the end of the annual spelling bee. You will note that there is not some huge smile on his face that should go with the medal slung around his neck. He was disappointed to not be in the top handful of students. He had worked hard and expected so much from himself so despite being one of the top students in his elementary school, he was still chasing something higher.<br><br>
<center><img src="https://media.fotki.com/2v2E5hZwjxuqthW.jpg" width=850></img></center><br>
Wonder Boy has not slowed down on his relentless chase of perfection in the years since that first photo. In fact, I would say he has redoubled his efforts each and every year of his academic career to date! <br><br>
I often marvel at his work ethic and I cannot state this strongly enough. While other students were laying pool side this summer, the Boy completed six college applications as well as a number of scholarship and university honors programs applications. Now that school is back in session, he loaded himself up with honors and AP classes while some friends decided to enjoy a respite for their senior year. With that stacked load of classes, he comes home every single day with hours of homework, projects, and research topics. And he made the decision to push himself in this manner all on his own. We do not have to remind him to complete his assignments. We do not have to drag him from bed in the mornings. We do not have to organize his materials or routinely check the parent portal to make certain that he is not only completing his assignments, but also performing to his best ability. He does all of this ON. HIS. OWN.!<br><br>
It's a life lesson we could only have prayed that he would pick up before leaving home for college. He is well versed in setting priorities and giving himself a schedule so that he can complete extended assignments on time, even on subjects and assignments in which he does not excel and has little innate motivation to jump into. He just gets it done!<br><br>
In our photo-of-the-day, we see our sweet Boy enjoying the rewards for some of his hard work. He was just named a National Hispanic Scholar by the College Board and one of the universities to which he has applied sent him a box of swag as their way of congratulations for his hard work. His smile is small because, truth be told, he was hoping to do even better. But he has once again caught excellence while furthering his chase of perfection.<br><br>
I do hope that as he dives into the deeper waters of university life that he will continue his charge on perfection, but also that he will take at least a breath here and there to enjoy the successes his achieves while on his chase. Hard work pays off - Wonder Boy is starting to see some of the fruits of his labors and I hope that it will continue to bloom throughout this season!<br><br>Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08780484413505163997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102264580026559021.post-39728455306466816402019-09-26T21:06:00.000-05:002019-09-26T21:07:31.676-05:00Project 18 to 18: Day 10<b><u>Movie Madness: the numbers game</u></b><br><br>
I had a different idea for today's photo theme, but it didn't come to pass. BUT ... as luck would have it, when waiting for Wonder Dad to get off of work yesterday, the Boy and I struck up a round of what is currently his favorite "game" to play. We call it "The Numbers Game."<br><br>
Over the past couple of years, the Boy has become a big fan of Anime. He keeps a numbered list of all of the titles he has seen. So, at random, I will give him a number and he will pull FROM MEMORY all of the details about that particular series or movie. He tells me the plot line and gives a brief critique of the animation, story line, musical score, and anything else that has stood out to him.<br><br>
There are literally hundreds of titles on his list so far and he still manages to keep a mental account of them all!<br><br>
<center><img src="https://media.fotki.com/2v2E5D7hyxuqthW.jpg" width=850></img></center><br>
Looking back, we see our Wonder Boy adorned with 3-D specs. This was so he could enjoy his favorite movie of the day: Spy Kids 3 (3-D).<br><br>
I always enjoyed watching him watch the movie. I'm not a fan of 3D productions in general, but Wonder Boy was enthralled with the whole Spy Kids franchise and his favorite was Spy Kids 3. I suspect that this was due at least in part to the fact that the subject matter was concerned with a video game - an evil game, but a game none the less.<br><br>
While the Boy's taste in entertainment has evolved over the years, I am thankful that he doesn't mind sharing it with his family!<br><br>Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08780484413505163997noreply@blogger.com0