Finishing a Project Started 20 Years Ago

My Grandma Wheeler is in a care center right now and in order to help pay for her care, her house needs to be sold.  So my Aunts, Uncles, cousins and various others have been helping to clean her house out.  This has been a huge, very long project.  Grandma bought and stored a lot of things and Grandpa knew that everything could be made into something else, so he kept everything too.  My Grandpa died 15 years ago, and when he did he left a lot of woodworking projects behind.  One of the ways he made money was to make wooden items and sell them.  He was very creative and talented, he owned his own sawmill and found wood everywhere he went.  Giving someone something he made was his way of saying I love you, although, he actually said the words too.  He must have discovered that wooden clocks were a good seller because there were hundreds of clocks in his shop and basement.

When Spencer was working on his Eagle Scout project for Primary Children's Medical Center, I discovered that one of their desired items for donation was wooden shapes for the patients to paint.  So, knowing that my grandpa had some wooden shapes, I asked my Aunt Kaye for some boxes to donate.  She brought me five boxes and the hospital was so happy!

Weeks later, when I went to help clean out the house, we discovered many, many, many more wooden items and especially clocks.  Not just any clock, but clocks in the shape of farm yard animals.  I do not know why he chose animals, but he did.  Boy did he!  While trying to think of what to do with hundreds of clocks and shapes, it dawned on me, that not only could I take the unfinished ones for the Primary Children patients to paint, but I could finish some of the clocks and donate them to the Festival of Tree to sell to benefit Primary Children's Hospital.  I was looking for a project to do for the Festival anyway, so it just all seemed to fall into place.  So for some of September and all of October, I worked, with my Mom and Dad helping, on clocks, clocks and more clocks.  We cleaned, sanded, painted and assembled and in the end, donated 100 wooden items to the Festival of Trees and around 20 boxes of wooden shapes to Primary Children's Hospital.

I am so happy that my Grandpa's handiwork can be used to help children who need to take their mind off of being in the hospital.  Although his work didn't end up being used for what it was intended, I think he would have been happy with where they ended up.

He made a lot of corner clocks, which is kind of an inventive way to use space.  He didn't paint the clocks, but had a lady paint them and return them for him to assemble.

Yes, this is a bull clock and yes, it has swinging balls.  Because he had a sense of humor.

Washing the clocks was probably the most laborious task.  Since the clocks had been sitting for years, there was a good amount of dust, spider webs and other gunk to wipe away.

I ended up buying some clock works to finish some of these clocks that I just couldn't not finish, because I couldn't let all his work go to waste!

Aside from the hundreds of cow clocks (really, hundreds) there were a lot of Christmas themed items.

Some smaller corner clocks.  The wood ones are my favorite.  I've always loved wood.  Probably because my Grandpa and Dad love wood.

I put this sign on all of the items I finished and donated to the Festival of Trees:

My grandfather's talented and capable hands made this unique item.  He is no longer with us but he left a number of his creations behind, which I, his granddaughter, have finished.  As a girl who was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes at age 11, I am happy, and I'm sure he is as well, to help other children who come to Primary Children's Hospital with any health concern.  May their struggles make them as strong and able as my Grandfather's hands!

It was a long project, but one that I think is well worth my time.  Even if the items don't raise much money at the Festival of Trees, the process of working on those clocks was helpful and healing for me.

Drumroll. . . . . .

 BRACELESS!!!!

One of the last times he'll have to be in the orthodontist office. YAY!!!!

Halloweenies of 2015

Halloween dress up lasts about three weeks at our house because piano teachers seem to think Halloween is a good time for fun recitals and they require dress up.  Luckily I have plenty of options.

Spencer and James's teacher likes to do a duet recital for Halloween, so she assigned the James Bond theme to these two super spies. 

Spencer was so super-sly that he even caught a falling music stand and he approached the piano.

This is D.J. the Happy Viking who prefers t-shirts and shorts.  He loves dressing up for Halloween. Yes, the beard is mine and so is the viking hat.  He performed Allegreto.

We have watched the Star Wars trailer many, many times.  Well, the boys have watched it many, many times, I can only take so much of the same 3 minutes.  So when James came up with a costume (the night before he needed to) he wanted to be Wicket.  We found all the brown costuming and make up we could and put it all together to end up with a fairly convincing, albeit hairless Ewok.

Pumpkin carving is a favorite at our house while being bare-belly buccaneers, a term we came up with when they looked like this:

And now they look like this: 

Mark took a departure from his annual University of Utah pumpkin and make a polka dot pumpkin with his drill.  Pretty spiffy.

In decending order: The Eye of Sauron (Lisa), Polka dot pumpkin (Mark), Shako the Demon Jester and Lego Head (James), Spencer's that was supposed to be a character called Thresh, but turned out to be "Guess what my pumpkin is," and Fiery Skull (D.J.).

While D.J. and Mark went to the Utah football game, James went with a friend to trick or treat and Spencer and I manned the trick or treat bowl.  Spencer loves to scare the poor little trick or treat children by holding the bowl and staying completely still until they reach for a treat.  He got some pretty good screams this year.  And one group of trick or treaters (Abby Barton) tricked us by putting a dressed up little dummy holding out a pillowcase on the porch. Trick's on us!

The Making of a Uni-bomber. . . or Tri-bomber.

OK, maybe that's a little extreme.  I don't think my children will grow up to be uni-bombers, though it is maybe more plausible that they all three work together and become the tri-bombers.  I wonder if I'm at fault for this.  Mark and I are crazy about weapons in our house.  We even held off on Nerf guns for a while.  Maybe that's why the boys have turned to making their own weapons, because we won't buy them.  When DJ first inquired, "Hey Mom, can I look something up on the internet?" I asked him what, and he said, "how to make a paper knife," I thought, meh, what's the harm in a paper knife.  Five reams of paper and two bags of hot glue sticks later, we have a paper, wood and duct tape arsenal that would make Genghis Khan jealous.

These are the kind of projects that a mother tries to find the silver lining in.  Like a mother who finds out her kid just broke a window to steal a TV and while trying to communicate disappointment, yet love says, "I really wish you hadn't resorted to thievery, but I do admire the strength it took to throw that brick through the window, good aim!"  Because I really do admire the hours they put into these projects and their persistence and quite frankly the products are impressive.  I hope they realize that they are demonstrating they are capable of the focus and persistence needed for homework and piano.  I'm really hoping that all of the creative projects lead them to be architects, engineers or anything not associated with explosives.

So, without further ado, here are a few of the impressive creations:

As far as I can tell there are nun-chucks (that hurt if you get hit by them, personal experience), a ninja star, three short blades, a rapier, and two short, but sturdy swords.  They really are impressively heavy and sturdy.  The boys roll up and fold layers of paper to produce the weapons and their effects.

D.J. made what looks like a lamp post, but is actually a weapon from the computer game League of Legends, and he is holding it with origami Wolverine claws with some other weapon of destruction in his left hand.  Spencer made a gargantuan shield from a box, PVC pipe and duct tape, a specialty sword that he's not going to believe I can't remember the name for, and a tomahawk thingy. 

You know when babies/toddlers get a present that is noisy and flashy and fun, but they only want to play with the box?  Spencer has not really grown out of that.  Any time there is any sort of box in the house and he discovers it, he says: "Can I have that box?"  I have taken to hiding the boxes and taking them out to the recycle when he goes to school.  You can imagine what his room is full of.  He decided to take one of his beloved Frosted Flakes boxes and make a large articulated hand.

This is the mess from tonight, when Dad joined in with power tools.  At any given time such a mess, multiplied by 2 or 3 times is crowding the table or counter(s).

Dad helped James make switch blade.  Because it's much safer when Dad helps.  They made a great one the first time, but it broke, so they are working on a second.

James patterned his switch blade after Spencer's, which is actually spring loaded, or elastic loaded (?) and made of craft sticks.  The one of the right is triggered by a lever on the side.  The one of the left can be strapped to your hand and trigger by a lever to extend.  Spencer also made a very convincing butterfly knife out of hot glue, craft sticks and toothpicks.

"They are just a creative bunch of boys!" Says the mother to the police, who responds as they are hauled away: "Ma'am, why couldn't you let them just play first person shooter video games like other people."

Spencer Earns His Black Belt - Hallelujah!!

Four years ago, we gave in to Spencer's continual pleading that he be allowed to try Tae Kwon Do.  He wasn't enjoying basketball, he was tired of soccer and we won't permit football, so Tae Kwon Do was the best option.  We found that it fulfilled many of Spencer's needs: the need to be in character, the need to dress as a character and the need to play act through learning defensive moves.  Later, we found out it filled some of our needs and desires for Spencer: how to respect others, how to respect himself, how to work hard at something, how to set goals, how not give up, how to live by tenets in work and life and much more.  These lessons did not come easy, especially because during the four years, he took breaks for vacations, wrestling and other activities, and it was hard to start Tae Kwon Do again after breaks.  It was also not easy because we required Spencer to pay for 20% of monthly and testing fees.  But he did it!  By mowing lawns, birthday money, selling jam, Christmas gifts and other items, he was able to pay his portion.  That alone should make him very proud. We are very proud of him.

There was one particular instance where he had an "a-ha" experience.  Spencer and I had been arguing about whether or not he should finish Tae Kwon Do.  Because he took breaks for other activities, the kids he started with advanced much faster than he did, which means, by the end he was taking classes with younger/shorter people, which was frustrating.  He also didn't want to keep paying for classes and take time from school and play twice a week.  I have always felt that he should at least get his black belt, for no particular reason, I just felt strongly about that.  Every other month TKD students test for the next belt.  After months of disagreeing about TKD, Spencer acquiesced to testing for the next belt.  During the testing session Master Kim sometimes asks the students one of the eleven codes of conduct:

1. Loyalty to your country
2. Respect your parents
3. Faithfulness to your spouse
4. Loyalty to your friends
5. Respect your brothers and sisters
6. Respect your elders
7. Respect your teachers
8. Never take life unjustly
9. Indomitable spirit
10. Loyalty to your school
11. Finish what you begin

It just so happened that Master Kim asked Spencer what the last code was and Spencer stated:
"Finish what you started, Sir, perseverance, Sir!"

And that was the light bulb moment.  He knew he needed to finish.  After a Christmas gift of six months of paid Tae Kwon Do, Spencer finished what he started four years ago.

On October 9, 2015, Spencer received his Black Belt.

Black belt testing began with a show of strength.  He had to see how many push-ups he could do in a minute,

how many sit-ups he could do in a minute, 

how many leg lifts he could do in a minute,

how many kicks he could do in a minute, and more.

For each testing, Spencer had to recall and perform "forms" that will help him with defense.  For black belt testing he had to recall forms from all belts and perform the ones chosen by the testers.

We then had to watch (me through squinty eyes and cringing) my son hitting other people and other people hitting my son.  In the photo below I was cringing for Spencer's opponent.

Spencer is on the left, dishing it out.

Last, but not least, he was required to break boards, as he has with all of his testing.

Finally he was approved and he received his certificate for Black Belt.

I cried.  For him and for me.  I am so happy that he completed this journey and learned all that he did.  I cried for me because as hard as it was for Spencer, it wasn't easy for me either.  It was a big pay off for both of us.

I think Master Kim understood this because he has the students bow to their parents.  What was also touching was when Master Kim told me that Spencer is a good, hard-working person who didn't complain about the tasks given him and helped those around him.

I am glad for Master Kim's influence, as well and the young Master Kim and Master Williams and others who helped Spencer learn and advance.  It really does take a village to raise a child and I'm glad we've got good people in our village who make things like this their life's work.

3 x 5 = 15 Happy Birthday Spencer!

How appropriate is it that the new 15 year old is wearing a shirt that says "Revolt?"

While Spencer has his moments of teenage revolt, he is a happy, helpful, social, determined man-child.  We enjoy his humor, his laughter, his creativity and listening to his view of the world around him, which he doesn't hesitate to share.  It is nice to hear from other adults that he is communicative, kind, funny and caring.  For these reasons and more, we granted him his heart's desire for his
15th birthday.

There are at least fifteen fingers there.

And one gigantic muscle, proudly shown.

Below is the progression of the opening of his heart's desire. 

OK. I'll open my first present.

It's a box.

A black box.

This black box says Dell on it.  Is this one of your tricks?

Are you kidding me?  Are you kidding me?

I didn't think you guys would do it!  You told me you would rather get me an airsoft gun than a laptop!

No way!!!!!

No words. Just dancing. Happy dancing.

Gently put it down on the table.

Gently open the precious. 

And now the accessories.

Configuring with the entourage. 

Happy surprised Spencer!

Mark made Spencer a map to find his birthday present like we used to when he was a kids.  We laughed about how the location of the treasure was on the map always there, but they followed the directions anyway.

One of the reasons Spencer wanted a laptop was to help him with homework.  But the biggest reason was so he could play League of Legends.  He didn't really request a cake this year, so I chose to make a League of Legends cake for him with the character Darius.  Spencer liked it. . . 

. . . but Roxy liked it more.  Grrrrr.

Happy birthday Spencer!!