October 2023

October was a busy month of the usual fall routines and extracurricular activities. All of the kids are doing great in school. Amelia and Jack are adjusting nicely to the next level of school. Amelia's isn't too drastic only being in sixth grade, but she is enjoying a little more freedom. One of her friend's gramma works at the school so she and her friends get special permission to eat lunch in her room a couple times a week. Jack is doing well in high school. There is a bigger transition there, but he is handling it. This trimester is almost over so it will be his first time dealing with "finals" but I am sure he will do well. He is growing socially and academically. 

Amelia had two band concerts this month. The first one was zero-hour jazz band, and the other was regular sixth grade band. She says she enjoys the jazz band more because there is more concentration and teamwork within the band. The sixth-grade band still has a bunch of knuckleheads that goof off. The band teacher has assured the band that some of them will not be continuing.

Amelia's FCCLA club had there Fall Conference. Amelia had to dress professionally, her first experience, in black dress pants, a nice blouse and nice dress shoes. She added her "Amelia flare" with two-inch hoop earrings. The club sat through some seminars on what FCCLA is, the different projects it does, and what benefits it could have for the members. Amelia said the best part of the day was missing school and eating pizza. FCCLA also ran a fall social (a dance) to raise money. She said she really enjoyed it. She said her job was to bring supplies to different games/stations. She said she took her job seriously and was running all around. Her group within FCCLA is in the planning stage of creating a family game night; still don't have a lot of details but she is creating a PowerPoint. 

Amelia had a cat-sitting job for about 5 days. A neighbor was worried her kitten (6 months old) would get lonely while she and her husband were away on vacation. She paid Amelia to go hangout with the cat for an hour or so a day. The cat was real nice. Amelia enjoyed the job; it was very easy. Jack was super jealous. 

The boys went hunting with Uppa. This year they went to the Leavenworth area. They always have the best time hunting and spending time with Uppa. This year Jacob got a large doe mule deer. Jack's tag was for a spike but they didn't even see anything, so no deer for him this year. The weather was decent expect for a day or so of rain. It was a lot of driving this year so that was a new experience for them.  

Later in the month Jacob and Uppa went elk hunting up in the Naches area. Jack didn't go because he wasn't feeling well. Anyway, Jacob and Uppa stayed at Mike's house, so the lodging arrangements were very nice. Especially since in the mornings it was down to 18 degrees. Jacob had no luck getting an elk; didn't even shot at one. This hunting trip was a lot of hiking. Uppa sent some beautiful pictures of the fall vistas. 

For Halloween Amelia volunteered at my school's Trunk or Treat with Moana on the 30th. We had a space themed trunk. This was her first year not trick or treating. She was super whiney about it. It doesn't help that all her friends still go but I don't care, trick or treating is for elementary school kids. She still got plenty of candy.

Jack volunteered the Presbyterian's Trunk or Treat on the 31st. He helped serve hot dogs and hot chocolate with the other Scouts. Jacob was just coming from elk hunting so he didn't help. He did somehow convince me to take him and Jack to a haunted house with a group of friends. They went through some scary haunted house and then to McDonalds for French fries. Hanging out with friends is an important part of their lives right now so I try to support positive constructive experiences. 

September 2023

 At the beginning of September, the boys the month off by volunteering at the Tumbleweed Festival here in town. The Tumbleweed Festival is an acoustic music festival that has music like folk, blues, bluegrass, etc. The boys helped in the kitchen. Jack was appalled at the cleanliness of the kitchen. Along with the handling of the food. lol His food handler permit has opened his eyes on how to properly handle food. 

The second week in September Jack signed up for a tennis tournament. It was a new experience for him so were so super proud that he was willing to put himself out there. He won his first match but lost the second. He felt good about his performance and was happy he participated in the tournament. I am so proud that he was also showed great sportsmanship during the entire thing.

This month at Court of Honor Jack ranked up to First Class and got lots of merit badges. He is doing well in High School. He is amazed that students are allowed so much freedom in High School. He has commented several times on how he just walks around with no adult asking him what he is doing. lol I reassure him that is because in High School students are trusted to do what they are supposed to do. 

Amelia and Dad had their special weekend of just the two of them to be together. They camped at the same place as last year but this year they went to the amusement park Silverwood. Amelia overcame her fear of roller coasters and went on all of them.

Amelia has started several new activities at school. The first is she has joined Zero-Hour jazz band. She goes early to school to participate. The other is Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, or FCCLA. That is an after-school group that meets once or twice a week. The mission of the group is to promote personal growth, professional preparation opportunities, and leadership skills. The group does community services and project centered presentations. Amelia is joining with another two girls to create a presentation on family togetherness. Not 100% sure what that entails but I am sure she will do great!

Jacob ranked up to Star Scout this Court of Honor. He let Dad take his car on the Scouting campout weekend to Oregon this month. Unfortunately, the alternator went out on the car just outside of Arrlington Oregon near mile marker 143 on the way home. That is about an hour and half away from Pasco. One good thing is all the Scouts were able to make it home, no problem. However, Dad and Monica, a Boy Scout Council member, stayed with the car. I drove down to pick them up. Moncia used one of her free AAA car tows to get it back to our house. So, it all worked out fine it just took a lot of time to get it done. Jacob has since replaced the alternator in his car, so it is running great now. He also replaced another part that affected the climate control feature of the car. Jacob loves to be able to fix the car himself. He is doing a good job of it too!

We are having his car serviced on Tuesday. When we started driving it longer distances we noticed it needed an alignment. His car will eventually need new brakes but he and Dad plan on doing those themselves. So far we have paid for the repairs. He totally expects to cover the cost but is very appreciative of the financial help we are providing him.

Now that September is over, we are all in the groove of a fall/school schedule. All the kids are doing wonderful in school. The boys enjoy going to the Friday night football game. Amelia has many friends she talks with or hangs out with regularly. We can't wait to see what adventures October will bring!

August 6

 

August

 

Above is the first day of school pictures for the kids. Jacob as a sophomore, Amelia as a 6th grader, and Jack as a freshman. 

In August I believe the kids' favorite time of the month is when I am gone working in my classroom or at the school because that means ALL day long, they play screens. They can be total screen zombies without any interruptions. That is the last two and half weeks of the month.

In the beginning of the month Burton came over for a week. We always love Burton coming over. We all went bowling one day, to the trampoline park, swimming and general hangout time at the house. On a Saturday we drove out to Dayton to watch a meteor shower. Jack had the idea of calling his hunting buddy, Kelly, to ask if we could park on his property to watch it. It was an excellent idea because it was so dark. As soon as we turned the car light's off the Milky Way just came popping out of the sky with such brilliance. The meteor shower was pretty consistent until about 2:00 am so it was about that time we packed up to go home. 

One thing the kids did in August was be a part of the Richland Police Department's active shooter training. They went to our church to run through two different scenarios as bystanders. Our friend is a Lieutenant Detective for the RPD, he said the training was successful and important to the department. He also said it if very helpful to have bystanders as a part of the training. Jacob, Jack and Amelia said they would do it again. They got a breakfast burrito and doughnut as a thank you for helping. The kids also said they liked hearing how officers planned to stop an active shooter and the debrief that happened after each scenario. 

Jacob was slotted to participate in the Order of the Arrow weekend in Scouts in August. Order of the Arrow is a fraternity within Boy Scouts. The weekend includes service projects, a vow of silence for 24 hours, a night alone in the woods and a ceremony of inductions. Jacob made it through the night alone but that was it. He became very nausea and dizzy sometime in the early morning. I was called the next morning to come get him. Now, if you back up three days, on Wednesday, Jacob went swimming with his friend. During that time, he had dove in the water too deep and fast and ruptured his right ear drum. On Saturday it was becoming infected. By the time we got home he was starting to have a mild fever. I immediately took him to Urgent Care for ear drops. Jacob was in bed from Saturday to Wednesday with vertigo. He is feeling better now but still needs to keep his ear dry and no air Pod in his ear for a while.  Jacob will have to redo the Order of the Arrow weekend in the future. Jack has let him know he could go with him. ;) 

Jacob's First Car

Victoria BC - August

For a little family vacation this year we went to Victoria BC for a couple of days. It was the kids' first time going to Canada and Dan's first time in Victoria. We had a wonderful time doing all things Victoria! We went to Miniature World, the museum, went whale watching, ate delicious food and strolled the shops. The weather was absolutely perfect at a sunny 75 degrees with a light breeze coming off the harbor. Everyone agreed the food was the best part of the trip. We ate everything from fresh fish and chips on the docks to brunch on homemade biscuits to high tea foods like crustless sandwiches and mini macrons. It was a fun fast three days of Fisk Family Fun!

 

July

So, I have lost my habit of writing in the blog during the month and created one of writing all of the past month's adventures in one swoop. Instead of always feeling bad about this I decided to embrace what is working for me right now and write an end of the month summary of what we have been doing. This will fit my timeframe and help with Gramma's letters. So here is the summary for July and August, since I missed both of those months, since they are always super busy.

Amelia was busy hanging out with friends the month of July. She regularly had a gal pal over for the day or was over at someone's house. I am glad she is able to have so many nice friends. Really, she is constantly on the phone with one of them now. Usually over Facetime, which is a very cool invention for the preteen girl! She did volunteer at two different Vacation Bible Schools. The first one was a weekend sleepover for Hillspring Church. She was excited to be in a leadership role for the weekend, and especially since she was going alone to do it. She came home exhausted with many stories to tell about the good and sassy kids. The other VBS she volunteered at was at the Presbyterian Church. It was the same theme, so she knew all the games and Bible stories being told. That VBS was in the evenings during the week. Much to her surprise the one sassy girl from the Hillspring VBS was at the Presbyterian's VBS AND in her group! She learned a great lesson in patience those couple of days. 

For July Jack was super busy with Scouts and tennis. The boys went to Boy Scout camp in Idaho this summer. Jack had a great time at camp. He was part of the best/funniest camp skit. It had to do with birds and eggs, not really sure the details but Jack wore his pigeon mask and another boy had on a blowup chicken costume. I am assured, even by the adults, that the whole camp was rolling with laughter. Jack also participated in tennis for two weeks in July. His group this year in tennis not only included a lot of tennis but 30 minutes of athletic training. He did well and took the opportunity to improve his court movement and serving skills. He too helped at the Vacation Bible School at the Presbyterian church. He had fun because several of the Scouts helped so he had friends to hang out with at the same time as volunteering.

Jacob started July off with a fly-fishing trip to Montana with Uppa. Uppa's friend has a house and boat that his friend invited him to. Jacob was lucky enough to be invited too. Jacob caught the most fish but Uppa caught the biggest. Jacob said he really enjoyed himself and of course now needs a fly-fishing pole. Scout camp this year was not Jacob's favorite. He still had an ok time, but it just wasn't as fun as last year's, he said. I told him at least he didn't get pinkeye like last year. Jacob helped with the VBS at the Presbyterian church also. Really, he is the reason they all volunteered in the first place because Jacob needed 6 hours of service hours to rank up to First Class in Scout. He got his hours and is now First Class. He has to be First Class for four months before he can rank up again, which he will do as soon as the four months are up. When Jacob first started Scouts he wasn't really interested in ranking up or Eagle Scout. Now he is two ranks and three years away from finishing Scouts, so he says he might as well get Eagle since it is so doable. It is doable but the casual way he says this is ironic to me because ranking up to Eagle takes a lot of time, hard work and dedication. Jacob just naturally has all of those characteristics; he just doesn't see those as being anything unusual or something someone may have to create a habit around. 

One major milestone for Jacob this last month, which is directly related to Jacob's characteristics of hard work and dedication, was the purchase of his first car! Jacob set his sights on buying a car two years ago at the age of 13. He has spent the last two years umpiring, doing odd jobs and saving like crazy for his first car. He diligently looked on Facebook marketplace and Truck and Auto Auction for different cars he could purchase. He ended up deciding to bid on a 2008 Honda Accord from the Auto Auction. He bought it at the very top of his bidding limit, but he got it. The night he purchased the car he was in the throes of buyer's remorse, wondering if it was the right decision. :) And of course, it was a good decision! It is a very nice car for his first car. Now to clarify, we had said we would match the amount of money Jacob put up, so it was a 50-50 purchase. We could not be prouder of how hard Jacob worked and his financial savvy it takes to save up for this kind of purchase.