Davey Crocket?

This hat has been in the family

for a long spell.

At least 3 boys have

proudly displayed this

well put together remains

of a coon.

It originally came from

the land of Dixie.

Solomon has an unusual sense of style.

I have learned to just let some things go.

This is what he looked like today

 throughout our trip to Holland

including his Lego Engineering class

at Hope College.

If you could see his shoe selection,

the outfit would come together in your mind.

Indian mocassins.

Ankle height, zip up the back,

with tassels.

He claims the comfort level

is unsurpassed.

(This is Solomon's friend Solomon. Double the wisdom.)

 The atmosphere in the Chemistry lab

is non judgemental and invites

each child to be creative;

with Lego's and well, clothes.

(The necklace balances out the athletic shirts and pants
don't you think?)

Home education offers freedom from rules of dress

that you might find at some institutions.

How cool to be in a class at a college,

at age 9,

wearing what you will

and not ravaged by the fear

of your peer.

The "other Solomon"

has a brother in the class

who approached Solomon with large eyes

and whispered

"Did you kill that beaver"?!





Busy Week for the Checkbook

After many discussions with our pediatrician,

we decided to consult an allergist to 

determine what exactly Solomon is allergic to,

and what we could do to alleviate at least some of his misery.

The testing was nothing like the torture I remember

as a young child.

He did amazingly well,

in fact both the Dr. and nurse pronounced him

the best pediatric patient they have had during testing.

(EYE PENCIL FOR MARKING SHOT AREAS)

Now we visit twice a week for 3 shots in each arm.
Actually, Solomon refers to them as pinches
as the super cool nurse Lisa explained that
because she pinches a large amount of skin,
he doesn't feel the shot AT ALL.
She told him right from the start,
if he wanted her to pinch harder, she would.

A different nurse greeted us this week.

She was personable and quick

but apparently does not subscribe to the Big Pinch theory,

as recorded above.

Perhaps a different nursing school?

Perhaps moral/ethical reasons?

Or she may just be afraid of getting kicked,

 as some fearful kids have done.

*********

Adrianna was finally given orders to see an orthodontist.

This week she went in for x-rays, pictures and impressions of her teeth.

I don't blame her for prohibiting The Canon in the office.

The pink substance that is put into the mold

appears to be a combination of Silly Putty and homemade Play Dough.

She did very well considering her gag reflex is quite touchy.
She goes back in December for the metal
and is already pondering color combinations.
*********

Oh, I picked up my new glasses as well.
Word of advice:
Don't wait 4 years to get your eyes checked
when in your 40's.
Vision changes quickly during this decade.

Bad pic taken from webcam

Remember your 1st Car?

Nathan has been working for Doug

for years now during the summer

and as his schedule allows.

He is a very hard, focused employee

and as such has done some things

that some grown men would hire out.

He is quite frugal with his money

and has a nice stash of savings.

With both drivers ed sessions behind him

as well as the road test

it was time to look for a Jeep.

We all LOVED this baby.

I mean, can't you see the girls and I pull

up to the fairgrounds with the horses

hooked up behind?

Unfortunately, it was not in his budget.

AND

"everything doesn't have to be about horses"

                 ~ quote by Solomon James          

We test drove this the day it was listed

which was good because these Jeep's sell fast!

Many had slipped through our hands

before he grabbed on to this one and say yes!



It has a few minor issues

that made it affordable for him.

Thus begins

the countdown

to B-DAY!

(Side note: I have been told

I can borrow it whenever I need

to pull the horse trailer)

******

Nathan recently went to an all night

airsoft war.

I could forecast what his conditon would be

upon arrival back home

and was ready to record it for him.

He was too wiped out

to resist.

There are those times

when undressing

seems unnessary

for sleep to ensue.



Go for a walk

 Last week I walked outside with to shoot a few pics.

Solomon asked me to take a walk

and check out the fort area.

I was a little creeped out

crossing this bride.

Guess it is time to rebuild.

Even the London Bridge was reconstructed.

Kicked Out?

My sister has told me that at some point in your child's teen years,

our pediatric dentist gracefully gives them the boot-

sending them prematurely into adulthood

by denying them the familiar, safe environment they have come to associate with

The Dentist.

 To relax while watching the train

coming and going, only to appear again

while your teeth being cleaned

with your choice of Cotton Candy, Chocolate or Bubble Gum flavoring,

getting a baggie filled with a new Jr. toothbrush, toothpast and floss

PLUS your choice from the toy chest

is almost a Right of The Child, who cannot vote until they turn 18

so WHY deny them this childhood ritual of sorts?

I really thought last week would be The Day for Nathan.

I do not know the criteria used to determine when the child is ready for

The Boot,

but apparantly shoe size and ability to still fit in the largest chair are not on the list.



 

The Things Ya Do for Love

Doug and the girls

recently built a hay feeder for the horses.

He can build anything that has been built

and if it hasn't, he will make a design for one.

When finished, the feeder will feature a lid of sorts

with 3x4" squares to reduce the amount of hay

thrown on the ground and wasted.

It will sit atop the hay and will drop as the hay is eaten.

This should also slow their rate of consumption.

Pretty clever.

River of course was extremely fearful

of the new addition to the pasture,

until she realized it was not a predator

and that it was actually quite beneficial

to her favorite activity.

The feeder has since been shingled in a muted red.

The top is still in production

and we are debating paint color.



Decisions, Decisions

 I lost my favorite ever Armani glasses

toward the end of the summer.

I searched everywhere.

In the grass where the bee stung me,

turned the truck that we took camping inside out,

called Panerra where we ate,

called the campground where we stayed,

in the tent that I slept in.

I REFUSED

to give up.

Until my eyes couldn't take

another day of burning

and my head tired of pounding.

I brought a few home last week

to get feedback from a few people.

Solomon felt he needed  to actually

wear them awhile before deciding

what looked best on me.

"I Saw the Light"....

Ok. It is a wierd and dated title

but I am sitting in a coffee house loading these pics 
and the guitarist is singing gospel tonight.

The song reminded me of last week
when I was dusting in the library,

I had one those "light bulb" moments.

There, on the shelf

sat a small glimpse of a boy,

a profile view, that appears to be staged,

revealing the side of him that carries over into much of his life.   

I did not move a thing before taking these two pics.

  

The military custom of everything having it's own place
has always suited Nathan-
for him, it is not a learned thing.

This flashcard was flipped up, as is.

                                      

*******

 

Nathan was recently named Honor Cadet

of his Squadron.

As such, he is also the Guideon Bearer

for the next 3 months.

(I do not know if Guide On is one word. It means flag.)

Tonight was PT (Physical Training)

         



Nathan does a pretty good mile.
(Unfortunately, as they were coming back in
I grabbed the Canon and found her to be an unwilling partner
in documenting the evening news.
I  frantically changed only 2 of the batteries
and fumbling with settings.
The results are obvious.



Nathan prefers to start  with or behind the fastest runner
and let that person lead

<> <>

He really enjoys the thrill
and challenge
of coming in from behind.

Tonight he ran a 6:08