Isaac's Birthday

Isaac turned eight years old in May. When he was a baby and we were sleep deprived and sometimes overwhelmed, I secretly rolled my eyes at the people who told me that time would fly by and that he would be all grown up before we knew it. Eight years later I understand since it does seem like a blink of the eye is all that has passed since he joined our lives. I remember our leaving the hospital with him and feeling like the world rested on our shoulders and that every car on the road was out to take out our car and injure the newborn baby within.  J

For his actual birthday he decided to celebrate with our good friends one last time before they moved to the Midwest. We had birthday cake and singing right after school and then headed to the bowling alley.  The kids all bowled and enjoyed pizza while we adults just talked (and also enjoyed pizza).

Giant b-day cookie at Tavern-n-Bowl

He loved opening presents (who doesn’t?) and is enjoying playing with all of them.  He went with a Star Wars theme this year having the Millennium Falcon as his cake and Darth Vader and storm trooper rings and light sabers on his cupcakes for his class treat. (Kudos to Paul for baking cupcakes and for decorating them at school before Isaac passed them out.)  At school he enjoyed being sung to in his classroom and at the Friday singing time and also got to be line leader. Caleb made Isaac a birthday crown from the preschool and gave it to Isaac after school. (I love seeing how much the boys care for each other…most days. ;-)

He also had his first birthday party with school friends this year. He invited the boys in his class for a party after school got out. They spent part of the time swimming and the other part of the time playing games and eating snacks—root beer floats and rice crispy bars. 

Looking back over this year, we see how much Isaac has grown and changed. He started first grade reading very simple things but now is reading chapter books confidently and passionately. His favorite books include The Magic Treehouse series and The A to Z Mysteries. He started doing Accelerated Reader and absolutely loved the challenge of getting enough points to earn a Slurpee or $ from Dad. In class he loved getting “Prize Box” for good penmanship and neat pictures. He had his first spelling tests and focused on getting the bonus words correct each week. He still loves math and “sprints.” Recess was a highlight, and he loved playing soccer, foursquare, and going on the swings. The field trips enjoyed were a horse ranch and the zoo. His teacher was Miss M. who encouraged Isaac to become a more independent and confident learner and who also introduced them to the world celebrating the Chinese New Year and Chinese culture with them (Isaac discovered he loves orange chicken!), and she taught them so many other things Isaac really enjoyed this year. He also wanted to be the first one to Miss M.’s class each morning by beating two other classmates who are also teachers’ kids. 

Where have these eight years gone?!? It has been a joy watching Isaac grow into the boy he is today. We are thankful that God blessed us with him and entrusted the care of his growing up to us. 

Lake: Day 2

Another fun-filled day of vacation was had by all. We started the day with brunch on the pontoon (an annual tradition that we all love):

We enjoyed some time in the water but spent more of the day inside since most of us were a little rosy after Day 1. Below are some pictures from yesterday's water time.

First time trying to waterski

The guys and Gina went fishing again tonight.

They came home with this:

The kids loved seeing the line-up and also were enthralled with the cleaning of the fish. They were curious to see what the fish had eaten...many empty stomachs, but we did find one leech in one walleye.  

Happy Independence Day!

Walleye!

One of the things looked forward to on vacation for Paul is his time fishing. Tonight Paul and Chad went out for the first time. As they pulled back into the dock, Chad yelled up, "You're gonna want to bring down the cameras."  And this is what Paul caught:

When we asked who caught it, Paul's first response was, "I actually caught it this year. Chad got to work the net for a change."  

Both walleyes caught by Paul--his hand is to give perspective of size

I even got the boys out of bed so they could see it before it was cleaned.

Mini-Olympics 2013

Isaac got to take part in the annual tradition at Calvin Christian called the Mini-Olympics.  It is a wonderful day where the eighth graders run different events in which the kindergarten through seventh graders participate.  

The seventh graders are the team captains who choose their athletes on draft day.  Isaac was super excited to be chosen by his seventh grade friend Josh.  His team country was team Russia, and his team color was maroon.

The afternoon is filled with various events including softball throwing, basketball shooting, jumping rope, hanging from the monkey bars (yep, that is all that they do for "Hang Ten"), running an obstacle course and a mini marathon, jumping both the long and broad jump, running the 50-meter dash, kicking a soccer ball, and throwing a softball for distance and accuracy.  The day is capped off with a gigantic relay race that has all teams and athletes participating as they run back and forth across the big field trying to be the first to finish the race.  We are pretty sure that Isaac's team finished the relay in second place.  After the relay all athletes get Big Sticks (a fantastically delicious Popsicle--ask Grandpa N about these).  The eighth graders will tally up all the points in math class this coming week, and then the overall winning team will be announced as the teams gather one final time for this year's Olympics.

No matter who wins, this day was fantastic!  It is always one of our favorite highlights of the school year!

Team Russia!

 Running the obstacle course

 Arm hang

Hey, look what we found!  (It was a gopher snake!)

Jump rope

Basketball shoot

 Beginning of the mini-marathon

This one has got to be my favorite!   Running long jump.  Check out the shadow!

 Softball throw for distance

 Isaac's biggest fan!

Caleb and his best friend watching the opening ceremonies

 Team Russia

 Kevin and Paul (and Caleb)

The Lapka boys enjoying their Big Stick popsicles after the final relay.  Danae was busy rounding up her eighth graders to start the clean-up process.

Just like his Mom!

For those of you who know Danae, this picture brings her great joy.  I admit, I love seeing him lost in his make believe book world!  Our little reader has taken off and just can't put down a good book!

This was our view of him as we went out to eat for Mother's Day.

Overheard, Part IX

We try to write down some of the things the boys say so someday when they are older we can look back and "hear" our little boys' voices and remember these days when they can be such a kick in the pants. We realize that some of these are funny while others are not; however, they are the conversations from our daily life that give us a good picture of who each of our boys is and what each one is doing or learning at the time.

April

Looney Dooney is a regular monthly feature in the preschool. This month’s visit from Looney Dooney was advertised as a “Big Surprise,” and Caleb was looking forward to it. He kept wondering what it was and made guesses as to what was so “big” about it. When he got home after school, I asked him what the big surprise was. In a disgusted tone, Caleb answered, “He was painted like the Cat in the Hat, and he just read books to us. He said he was going to read four books, but he ONLY read two.”  When asked if it was a good surprise, he let us know through his body language, his eye rolls and the tone of his voice that it was a great letdown. Poor kid!

When the boys found out I was hosting bunco this month, one of them excitedly did  a fist pump and said, “YES! We get to sit in the back room and watch movies!”  Obviously, we don’t make our boys stay in the back bedroom often enough since it is such a novelty!

Having dinner at Cenote Grill right after Paul and I tore apart two fused tortilla chips:

Caleb: It’s the breaking of Jesus!

The boys were having a conversation in the living room when Isaac said to Paul:

Isaac:  Dad, Caleb doesn’t know who Satan is!

Caleb: Yeah, I don’t know. Does he go to your school, Isaac?

March

Isaac: Do you like sandwiches?

Caleb:  Yes.

Isaac: Here, then have a knuckle sandwich [making a fist at him]

February

You know your child is tired when he sobs uncontrollably when you tell him he can’t listen to John Tesh as he falls asleep.

You know your children go to a Christian school when the names of their action heroes and Lego guys are “Noah,” “Abraham,” “Elijah” and “Elisha” during role playing games.

 After I rubbed his back before bed and as I left his room:

Caleb:  Mom, who taught you to rub backs?

The Big Winner!

Danae was the winner of this year's NCAA basketball tournament bracket challenge we hold in our house.  Yes, you did read that sentence correctly.  There is a first time for everything, right?  This is one, though, that I honestly didn't see coming.  

Danae and I always fill out a bracket to compete against each other.  I think in our 15 years of marriage the score is Paul 14, Danae 0.  It is usually a given that I win.  I am the sports person in our house.   Besides, who would pick Wichita State and Michigan in their Final Four with Michigan making it to the finals?  Victory should have been in the bag, right?

This year we decided to open the challenge up to Isaac and Caleb as well.  The boys were eager to get in on the action and sat down and very carefully picked their teams.  After a quick explanation of how it works, the boys couldn't wait to choose their winners.  We used ESPN to keep track of our progress, and if you thought I liked to check the scores on ESPN, I think Isaac and Caleb may have me beat!   Not fully understanding how it all works, we had to explain many times that we can't pick new teams when ours get beaten. (Isaac had chosen Gonzaga as his winning team.)

After all the games were played, the Cinderella storyline was completed in our home:  a new champion was crowned!  I am not sure Danae would want me to make a video montage to the theme song "One Shining Moment" or that she will be cutting down the nets, but for 2013 she sits on top as Champion!

As tradition holds, the winner gets to choose where we go out to eat.  Danae chose her favorite Mexican restaurant, Cenote Grill.  I really can't complain.  It is delicious!  Congratulations, Danae!