Rory's Fashion Sense

No, it wasn't dress up day. This was Rory's get up for school on just a normal day. Beanie, fingerless gloves, polo, loose tie, dog tags, vest. Oh dear.

We recently received a note that Rory needed to take off his hat, gloves, coat in school, so we have scaled back the "coolness" factor. He's 7 for pete's sake.

And being cool is more about your attitude and kindness.

Rory's Creation

Rory was challenged to build a building for school using recycled materials.

Here is his finished project:

Rory's Hospital for Heros

Paige's Achievement

At the kids' school, every year there is a accelerated reader program. One year, each stop (usually every 4 points) was an Oregon school, another year Olympic sports, and this year is National Parks. Every year, Paige sets a goal to get all the way around. At the end, they receive a medal and certificate for their achievement. Paige has struggled to do this, so this year, her 4th grade year, we are just going to do it!!

It's been a struggle, and we have looked for many things to keep her on track and engaged in the process. Auntie Amber had put feathers in her hair, and offered to get Paige some. Dad and I thought about it a LOT and talked about it a ton. Finally we decided that if she got to 15 points by the end of January, she could get some. Before Christmas break, she was at 8 points. She read a bit over vacation, but then her teacher gave her some Serendipity books (ones I'd forgotten about) and Paige was ON FIRE!! She was moving right along. Grandma Marlene was coming, and if she was at her goal by that time, Grandma would be able to go with her. Boy did that girl read, sometimes 2 books a night. She read all day Friday when Grandma got there, and Saturday morning, and wracked out those tests!! She was at 14.8 points....OH NO!! She didn't hit the goal!!

Well, Mom and Dad talked and decided that since she had worked so hard, without us pushing, we'd let her get the feathers. We ran down to the Indoor Market, found the lady, and picked out feathers. Paige picked 2 turquoise (her favorite color), 2 orange, and 1 yellow feather and had them put in her hair. They last about 3 months if you are careful, and it was super easy to put in.

Isn't she so styling? They work just like hair: you can wash, dry, comb, curl, anything you usually do!

She was so super excited! Then she convinced Mom to get some. Mom did a bit more tame, ones that blend with her hair, as she has some meetings in Seattle soon. It was a fun time, and Paige gets to look in the mirror and remember her accomplishment everyday!!

Nice work Paige!

Next goal is to be at 21 points by the end of January, and 28 points by the end of February! At 28 points she will receive her medal!! Come on girlie-girl, you can do it!

Randomness at the Eck Household

Happenings lately:
Rory holding a can of tomato paste: "I'm a midget, so I eat tiny things."

Me: Rory, what recycled item would you like to use for grass on your project? Rory: "I'm thinking I'll be really classy and use dead grass from outside."

Chad turned on the light to wake the kids. I went in to see if they were getting up. They are dead asleep. I shake Paige, and she looks right at me, except she's wearing her eye mask....

Paige: "Mom, we got a new staff member today." Me: "Well, that's an exciting day!" Rory: "Yeah, she's Asian." Me: "Oh" Paige: "No, I think she's from Salem" (About a 3 hour drive from here). Rory: "Well she's black, so I just figured." Me: "Um Asian?" Rory: "No maybe she's from Africa?" Paige: "I'm telling you, she's from Salem." Shaking head.....

Rory being quiet because he didn't want to read. It was a bit, so I call, "Rory, what are you doing?" Rory answered, "Trying on new underwear."

While shooting Rory says, "Man this is like bullet heaven!"

Paige explaining Glee Karaoke: "You can duet, solo or co-po." She meant co-op!!

Rory: "I'm thinking I might become a detective, or maybe a drawler (Drawer or artist)"

Us at Sharp's Burger Ranch in Clarkston. "We'll have 2 Whackers with special sauce, and 2 saddle bags." When we got our whackers...they don't come with fries OR a shake (drink)!! LOL They couldn't have asked or something?? And who can't ever get enough whackers with special sauce?? (Yes, there actually is a hamburger meal called that. I have NO idea why.)

Skinny Jeans and Allowance

Oh my heavens....those 80's fashions. Boy I loved them in the 80's, and remember my mom saying "WHY DO YOU WANT TO WEAR THAT?" and I remember her letting me. Within reason, cause I never did get a pair of hammer pants. Rude!

Well, my darling Paige is getting to the age of fashion. It's been quite fun until for her birthday she got a gift certificate to Old Navy. (Thanks Auntie Colleen. :) ) We went down to spend her new money.

Queue ray of light and angels singing, because in the clearance area was a pair of BRAND NEW SKINNY jeans...just her size, and just in her price range!! Oh goody, oh goody!! (Can you hear the squeals and jumping up and down right now? Well, you should have been there!)

It was fate, because those skinny jeans fit!!

She then decided to ONLY wear those jeans. Every day. So rules were put in place. Yes, you can wear them 2x times without washing. You may not just wash 1 pair of jeans as a load. Then, no, you can only wear those (insert rude noises) things 2 times per week. Then it became; "if you are only wearing skinny jeans now, you probably should go buy more with your allowance, as this is getting ridiculous.

Well, it's the end of the year. She got leg warmers--sparkly ones. Yes, I said leg warmers! She didn't get any arm warmers though. Pout.... She got jeggings for her birthday. For those NOT in the know, those are leggings that appear to be jeans, but are not. She got new leggings for Christmas. She likes leggings! So super cute with a skirt and Uggs...I mean, totally! :)

Chad took her to Old Navy to find a pair of skinny jeans. No luck. And a cranky kid. LOL Poor thing!!

The next day, mom needed a break, so went to Kohl's after grocery shopping. Goodness, but the clearance racks were FULL of skinny jeans, AND I had a 20% coupon off ALL prices. So the following day I took her over. (BTW, Chad's theory on the clearance is that, please they are going out of style??? Please? LOL) We found 5-6 pair and she tries them on. 1 wasn't too bad as far as skinny jeans are, and one wasn't quite skinny jeans, BUT they did come with markers so you could color your jeans after washing them. Remember that??? I didn't get to do that either.......again.....RUDE.

So Paige used her hard earned allowance on jeans. I'm hoping this will cut down on some of the early morning, "I don't have a THING to wear issue" since we have all these rules, AND more acceptable (to a 10 year old) jeans to choose from. Plus she's learning that if she wants the latest and greatest style, she might have to pay for them herself. And when you don't make that much, and pay tithing and savings first, it's hard to save up for cool things! Good life lessons there.

So now, I'm thinking, what was the "style" after those 80's and can I live through it?? I'm thinking perms and big bangs are coming soon!! Hide my pictures Grandma's, cause we don't want to show her my pictures of my rocking perm and bangs....I looked Goooood!!

Side note, it's been so fun to watch her become her own self and determine who she is, and what she likes. I just have to remember to let her, and enjoy!! And be thankful for allowance!

Umm...fractions anyone?

I needed some new ground turkey. I buy it at Food 4 Less, where you can get 20 lbs of frozen ground turkey for about $1.10/lb. Great deal, and great turkey. Since it's frozen, you can ask the butcher to slice it for you. Each tube is 10 lbs. I asked for 6 equal peices in each tube.

Um...this is what I got. 5 UNEQUAL cuts of meat. I think those 2 large pieces on the right are about 3 lbs each...I showed Chad. All he could do is laugh. Then he noticed that there weren't even 6 cuts per tube!! LOL.....sigh. I have ground turkey though!! Thank heavens I got a slicer for Christmas....it's just not here right now! Dang!

Slight Embarrassment and learning opportunity

Rory has had some "medical" problems. (We'll leave the nature out for his privacy! LOL) If you don't know, he is a SUPER modest boy, always has been. So therefore, I knew things were getting rough when he asked both Dad AND Mom in the restroom for some help.
We weren't sure what to do or what is wrong, so I asked if he would like to go to the Doctor. He said, "Yes, call right now please." It was evening, so I couldn't, but promised I would first thing in the morning. I told him the Doctor may need to look at his "privates" and would that be okay? He said he would prefer not to, so we discussed how Dad can't fix helicopters over the phone, telling the pilots what to do, he has to actually look and see what's wrong. He decided he would let the Doctor look.
The next day, he reminded me to call the Doctor so I figured this was more serious than I though, so we got an appointment, and off we went. We finally get in, do the standard, give urine samples, but he had just gone, so he didn't have much...boy, you would think peeing in a cup would be easy for boys.....

The Doctor comes in, and he's telling him what's going on, and the Doctor asks to look. He changed his mind and said, "No, I'd rather you not." LOL I finally get him to do it, and he's telling the Doctor how he's starting to get sweaty!! ROFL!! The Doctor said, "I bet!"
We get done, and he asks for another urine sample, and while Rory is getting ready, he says, "I'm really regretting my decision to come here." I'm like...um, why? He says, "Well, he just looked at my penis!" That made me giggle....he said "regretting"! Cute kid!

The Doctor prescribed a pill for him, and we pick it up. Now we have to teach him to swallow pills. I give it the college try. Not working. I'm getting frusterated, Paige is upset that Rory's upset, so I call Chad in. Chad starts trying, not working.....sigh. Rory starts crying, and the pill is disingrating, it's not going well. Chad's saying, "it's not that hard!" Rory says, "okay, but I've never done it before, this is all new to me!!" Score one for the logical kid.
At that point, he figures out how to swallow the pill, but now his mouth is all gross from the pill, but we have success. I thought I'd share his sadness and triumph, so that when he's an adult, he'll have this to reflect on!!