Matt turns 18

He started his day by opening the gift from Nana and Poppop. Breakfast of tastykakes and ramen ensued. He liked the gift certificate, pictures and food. He then opened Randy's gift to him which was a Darth Tator tshirt from the Boise airport. Kristen gave him a Ask the Ninja handbook(humorous book based on the videos on youtube)We gave him a card that plays the theme from Star wars, an ipod that only works with version 8 of itunes. Need to get IT people to upgrade my laptop tomorrow and an itunes gift card. We then proceeded to watch the two skits of Tina Fey doing Sarah Palin on SNL. Barely made it to church on time. Lunch was BBQ potato chips for him. Kristen made his cake and iced it. Randy and I dealt with van issues. It now has two new rear tires due to the screw I picked up somewhere. He says I am too hard on the brakes and gas. My new nickname for him is the brakemaster. Went out for dinner to Outback. Matt and Kristen consumed their weight in cheese fries as an appetizer. Matt had Teriyaki steak and now is so full, that the cake is waiting until tomorrow night. Matt claims not to feel any different. Randy just gave him the you are now an adult and are responsible for your actions as an adult lecture.

My cute little boy

Thanks for sending the picture to me Nana and Pop Pop

Kids conferences a week late

Because you asked...
Kristen
Band A
Health A
French B
English C
Algebra B
Biology A
World Geography B

Matt
Recreational Games A
Weight Training A
Stage Tech D
Mystery and Suspense C
Food Science B
Living on your own B
Orchestra B
Music Theory B

Now back to Matt...

He was such a cute toddler and preschooler. He loved Thomas the Tank Engine, Sesame street, Power rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles. One Halloween he dressed up as one of the 7 dorfs(dwarfs. It is hard to believe my tall grown up son used to like to sit in a laundry basket. Who could forget that vanilla scented pacifier that came home from the hospital with him? Also who could forget that train that Nana and Pop Pop gave him for his 1st birthday? Learning to ride a trike and then a bike, now learning to drive a car(get a job so you can finally get your license, kiddo!).Lots of enjoyable time spent on Nana's patio, watering and washing toys and cars. Talking on the phone to telemarketers telling them about an upcoming trip to Arby's. The arrival of his sister brought more challenges and changes to his life....

We interrupt the reminscing about Matt for updates...

Matt and I came to an agreement(truce) about what happens when he turns 18.
Kristen's paper is done
Doggie's diet of Cheerios has helped. She slept through the night. We shall see what the vet says today.

Matt year 1

As Matt's 18th birthday approaches, I have decided to blog about his life. He feels this is beyond embarrassing. Too bad. We looked at the scrapbook baby book I made a few years back and it will be too hard to take those photos out so I will just describe and reflect.
Picture1-Matt is 4 weeks through his 8 week hospital stay. He is wrapped in a blue hospital baby blanket with a feeding tube coming out of his nose.
I remember so many things about the hospital stay-the wonderful nurses, the 3 NICU doctors including the one who wore cowboy boots.I think he was my favorite. I remember lots of hours feeding, holding and rocking in that room. I remember the IV in his head and the feelings of joy, frustration, anxiety and fear as we went about the 1st weeks of his life. I may have reacted to events differently if this were not my first child. Nothing prepared me for what our lives turned into having a child in the hospital for 8 weeks. I remember the Burger King on the way home. Did not help the weight problem. I still have stirrings of negative feelings when driving past the exit for the hospital. Fortunately, I am not in a position to do it often.

Musical Trivialities

For something different, Matt, Kris and I went to Musical Trivialites at Borders. A friend told me it is a blast and they go every week. My friend was not there tonight, but we were. The theme tonight was Johnny Cash. A DJ plays songs based on the themes and sprinkles in trivia questions. You just walk up to him if you think you know the answer and if correct, you get to pick a prize from a bunch of CDs and posters that were not top sellers at Borders. Matt knew the answer to the 1st question and was just about run down by this large person. Matt backed off. It was entertaining for 2/3 of us. Kristen was ready to leave by the end of the 1st song. Things I learned tonight:
Ray Charles' nickname was the genius
#1 country song at weddings is High Friends in Low Places
Bruce Springsteen did a song that Johnny wrote
Johnny's singing at Folsom prison inspired Merle Haggard(an inmate) to become a singer
Matt and I are going next Friday when the theme will be smoke and water in honor of the release of Brisingr by Christopher Paolini.

Bandgeek needs to stretch

Who would have thought marching with a 5lb clarinet could be hazardous to your health? Bandgeek did not stretch on Tuesday night and now has a pulled/torn muscle. She is on strong anti-inflammatory medication that will probably make her sleepy and dizzy. Told her if that is the case, she will stay home from school tomorrow. She can't miss school, she cries, she has biology tomorrow. Translation=I can't miss class with my drop-dead gorgeous, makes my heart go pitter patter biology teacher. Plan was to cut the grass, Matt offered to do her portion(love it when this stuff happens. Mower made a screeching, squeaking sound. He turned if off and tried to restart it and NADA. It needs its owner, who happens to be camping.(do not love it when this stuff happens).

Photos added to Flickr

Bandgeek