Isaac: 12 years old

Somewhere I blinked, and now my oldest is 12. Which means I will officially have a teenager, in now less than a year. I doubt I will notice much of a difference, since they've ignored the age required to be allowed to act like a teenager. Feels like I am raising 5 already. 

For his birthday he went laser tagging with some friends, who then slept over. For the 6th year in a row, I made him an oreo ice cream cake. Gordon had to use a blow torch to light all 12 sparklers. We had pancakes in the morning, they hung out and played video games...and I think hide and seek... and then we had pizza before everyone went home. As long as I don't have to organize party games, I am happy. 

On his birthday, Gordon and him went our for lunch, and then went to practice shooting at Bullets and Broadheads. We had crepes for supper, carved pumpkins (perk or peril of a birthday 3 days before Halloween), and then played a board game when the little girls were in bed.

Birthday Interview

Favourite colour: blue and red

Favourite subject: gym

Favourite animal: budgie

Favourite movie: "I don't really have one" - he does like Iron Man and any other "adult movies" that pass our appropriateness test

Favourite TV: I don't have one because we don't have Netflix

Favourite book: Diary of a Wimpy Kid (3 or 4 of these books are lying around the kitchen or living room at any given time)

Favourite activity: Lego, video games

Favourite sport: baseball, judo

What do you want to be when you grow up: a dentist

What are you scared of: clowns

What would your super power be: run faster than the speed of light

Favourite memories from being 11: Hawaii and everything we did in the summer

Looking forward to most about being 12: finishing school and having a really good summer

Isaac is nearly as tall as me, wears the same shoe size as me, and almost weighs as much as me. I have no doubt that in a year or two, he will surpass me in all of these categories. He has acquired several new chores on this year of birth (my kids least favourite present is finding out which new chore they get to be responsible for), including cleaning his shower (because he's the only one who uses it), and doing all his own laundry (praises we sing for no longer having to empty granola bar wrappers out of every pocket). 

If I were to describe Isaac in 3 words they would be witty, charismatic, and tease.

Isaac always has a quip, jab, pun, or witty remark for pretty much any situation. They aren't always welcome, as his teachers will tell you, but most of the time they make me laugh.

He asked me what a virgin was one day. When I told him, his response was "Wow. Virginity rocks! I'm gonna get a tshirt that says that." 

Gordon was jokingly looking at female elkhound ads, so that we could have "elkhound puppies" (we have a male elkhound). Isaac looks over his shoulder at all the ads "It's like tinder for dogs."

Isaac can charm the pants off anyone, and he has a special affinity for the elderly. He has befriended two older gentlemen at church, and invited one of them and his wife to dinner recently. All we heard throughout dinner was Isaac's praises being sung by this gentleman, much to Mia's annoyance. He can convince people to bend to his wishes, even when they should know better. I don't know how he does it, but forget dentist, this kid should be a lawyer. He makes friends easily, and seems to get along with most people in his class. 

Isaac loves to tease. He loves to do the exact opposite of what he is asked, just for the reaction. I keep telling his sisters, the best way to get him to stop annoying them, is to not react at all. They find this exceedingly hard, so I think this will be the status quo for a while. To resist and challenge has been in innate instinct, I swear, since the day he was born. 

He is very fond of his pets, and is good about walking the dog, when Gordon is gone (the designated early morning dog walker). He loves to snuggle the kitties, who can lately be found sneaking down to his room and sleeping in his bed. 

Academically, Isaac does the best with memorization. He is a great test taker, because he can remember things quickly and accurately. Assignments where he has to write or elaborate definitely require more effort of him. He likes things quick and to the point. Lots of description and detail are unimportant to him, unless it comes to his Lego creations. Often if someone says something he will say "wow they could have just said [insert one sentence or a few words]". He doesn't get this from me.

He enjoys most physical activities, and is still participating in judo. He also really enjoys baseball, hiking, skiing, dirtbiking, and swimming. This year, he participated in the Edmonton International Judo Tournament again, and spent a few days backpacking/hiking with his grandparents this summer.

He definitely prefers an individual sport to a team sport. He hates to lose, especially at the "fault" of others. We've only recently really seen him want to join in our board games, because he hated to get involved in things that he wasn't sure he would win. 

He is usually up for exploration of a new place, and I think this curiosity will take him to many places around the globe. He has a deep curiosity for seeing the world, and was fortunate enough to go with his grandparents to Hawaii last February. He loved seeing all the sights most. 

Not as exciting, but he also went to his first Oilers game with his dad, uncle, and friend from Edmonton. He loved it.

Isaac likes to build things (forts, lego). He also does not bad in the kitchen, and is taking a foods option this year, which he seems to be enjoying. 

He also took a leap of faith and joined band this year, learning to play the tenor sax. I have very little to do with this, but between his sax, Mia's piano, and Scarlett's violin, we have quite the little band starting up.

Isaac likes to be the ring-leader, the "alpha", and the big boss baby. He has no problem making his opinions known, and is a confident public speaker and has given several talks in church, including our stake conference of several hundred people. 

He still says I love you, still snuggles with me during a movie, and still makes sure I get a hug before going to bed every night.

He is only 6 years away from adulthood, which is slightly terrifying, but I can see bits of the man he's becoming, and I feel like he's moving in the right direction. 

Isaac in mascot costume at the Halloween dance

SUMMER ROUNDUP

 Annual summer roundup so that one day we can reminisce about how nice of parents we actually were.

First 7 weeks amazing. Last two weeks before school, put me in a coma please.

Week 1/2

-Mia, Scarlett, B get to go to Cranbrook with Grandma and Grandpa

-Isaac and Lily stay with mum/dad

-Girls adventures in Cranbrook include:

• super hot weather (high 30s), lots of sprinkler under the trampoline
• bike rides
• going to the farm
• camping at Wasa
• hikes to waterfalls
• lake swims

-Isaac and Lily adventures include:

• Canada Day parade and taking Isaac to fireworks at Muskoseepi
• dinosaur museum
• petting zoo- first time doing our hot dog roast out there
• hiking Ambler mountain (sans Lily), our first bronze peak
• library
• outdoor pool
• dirtbiking with dad
• lots of ice cream

Week 3 (Cranbrook)

-Gordon, Isaac, Lily, and I head to Cranbrook to meet up with the rest of the kids (12 hours of traveling)

• Monday, the older kids Gordon and Uncle Michael went to the big inflatable park on Lake Koocanusa, we swam at Jim Smith Lake afterwards, and had an early birthday celebration for B
• Tuesday we drove down to Idaho and had our first of 3 days at Silverwood (SO stinking hot). The older kids went on every single crazy ride and we also got soaked on some water rides.
• Wednesday we went to the spray park at Silverwood and the kids had a blast riding the water slides and playing in the water. We ended the day with the train ride and more amusement park rides. I think we went to the magic show this day which was really really cool. The kids were in awe, and even Gordon and I couldn't figure out how some tricks were done.
• Thursday we started at the water park and then spent the rest of the day until closing time at the amusement park. We also got to be on the train for the "Great Train Robbery". Mia managed to not get lost the entire trip (we pretty much lost her every day at Disneyland). 
• Friday we went to play at Perry Creek and had frozen yogurt after
• Saturday we hiked to Moyie falls and played there, we explored some old mines, and Isaac cliff jumped.

Week 4

• We left Isaac with Grandma and Grandpa and headed back to GP
• The girls and I went to the library, art museum, pool, and dinosaur museum. Unfortunately the smoke and cooler temps didn't allow us to do quite as much as we had hoped.
• Isaac, Grandma, and Grandpa started their backpacking adventure in Banff. With the appearance of the huge wildfire in Jasper, we were concerned about them, but they had no reception. Thankfully it was the bugs that ended their trip prematurely, but because they had been planning on staying in Jasper for a few nights, they had to make a last minute change of plans.
• After staying at my parents in Calgary for a night, they headed back to GP early. We all went to explore Cutbank falls where B was in one of her famous moods, and tried to hike in flip flops. Thankfully I brought her runners with me and she switched halfway through. Mia did actually hike it in flip flops, because she somehow missed the instructions to wear proper shoes for walking. The water was pretty muddy looking, but Isaac and Mia both cliff jumped.

Week 5/6

• Mini golfing
• Petting zoo, round 2 with hot dog roast for lunch (with girls only)
• Isaac went off to his first YM camp at Wabamun
• I drove to Edmonton with the girls and stayed overnight at Devon's. We had a little bbq and got to hang out with baby Arthur.
• The next day I picked up Isaac from camp and we all drove down to Calgary to spend the week with my parents. 

Week 7 (Calgary)

• Monday we went to Calaway Park to celebrate my nephew Charlie's birthday. The kids had lots of fun on the rides, except Granny and I had to sacrifice our stomachs for the sake of the little kids riding some more thrilling rides. The log ride seemed way scarier as an adult...I was hanging on to the two babies for dear life. We went back to Paige's house after and had a birthday dinner for Charlie. 
• Tuesday we went to Chestermere Lake and had fun playing in the sand and swimming. Unfortunately Gordon called us that evening to tell us our kitten Luna had had an accident and had passed away.
• Wednesday, we met up with our friends the Manvilles to go swimming at Southland leisure center. They recently moved to Calgary from GP so we were excited to see them again. There was a lot of wave pool swimming and water slide riding. We had a mini belated birthday celebration for my dad and B since my parents were away for their actual birthday. It was another one of B's moody nights, so we just ended up singing to my dad.  Mia and I also went to my cousin's wife's high fitness class.
• Thursday, wasn't a super nice day so we decided to go to the trampoline park. Apparently showing a report card during the summer gets you an hour free jump time, so a normally pricier outing for us turned out free. Mia was very intent on wowing us with all her gymnastics routines on the trampoline. Grampy took Isaac to a Stampeders game and Mia and Granny walked through the city at night in their pjs to catch a glimpse of the global fest fireworks.
• Friday we spent many many hours at Amazone Playzone. I even did something I never do and bought the kids lunch there. Packing food for 5 kids for outings every day had me pooped haha. But they definitely shouldn't have spent 4 more hours there on top of the 4 we were already there, because they were not pooped enough when we got home.
• Saturday I survived the 7 hour drive home (barely) with all 5 kids. I look forward to the day when pee breaks don't take 30 minutes a pop.
• Also to be had throughout the week, lots of cousin time, krokinole tournaments, movie nights, and dad jokes. So many dad jokes.

Week 8

• This week had me going into survival mode. We had done pretty much all the things. We did go to the bike park and circle K to try and keep everyone from killing each other.
• We had our annual weekend down to Edmonton for kids checkups. Gordon was able to come this year and we had hoped to go to the Whitecourt tubing park on the way home, but the weather was not in our favour. On the Friday we stopped by this neat playground once we got into town, and then the kids had their appointments. Their pediatrician is so good about getting us all in, the kids love her. We took the kids out to BPs for dinner and then to their favourite playground in Sherwood Park before heading to friends in Beaumont for the night. 
• Isaac and I went to the temple Saturday morning to do baptisms and then we spent way too many hours walking around West Ed. No thanks, never again. Too many people, meltdowns, and money spent. We made a stop at bass pro shop before heading on the road back home. I refused to eat more fast food, so we stopped at a grocery store in the pouring rain and I bought croissants, cheese buns, and a giant pack of strawberries for supper.

Week 9

• Week before school. My gray hairs are multiplying like rabbits. I want to run away for several hours...or years.
• Gordon decided we needed to get one camping trip before summer was over, so he booked a campsite at Pipestone for the Fri night...even though I was working until 4 that day and Mia also had vision therapy. 100% do not recommend working on a day you are leaving for camping. Let's just say I had said everyone should bring slip on shoes and proper shoes, and when the squirrels or other animals stole Brooklyn's shoes (I kid you not), some people were wishing they would have listened to me. And I wish I would have been there to make sure everyone brought everything. We had fun though eating treats, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, playing at the park... Our kids even slept in until 730, although some of them wished they would have listened to my advice about dressing warmly for sleeping. With one kid shoeless, we did a shoe swap to make it bearable- Scarlett gave B her shoes, Mia gave Scarlett hers, and I gave Mia a pair of mine since I was smart and brought two. Isaac has bigger feet more or less than me now. But we decided we wouldn't be able to do any crazy walks or hikes so after a few more snacks and park playing we packed it in. One night camping = 4 loads of laundry, but a fun way to close out the summer.