New things

So I've had a few new experiences lately:

* I tried to do my job one day with a laptop, and wanted to cut my own finger off to punish it for doing such a horrible job as a mouse. I may be the only laptop owner that will travel around with a mouse (if I ever get a laptop).
* I had my teeth cleaned my a male hygenist.
* I went to a baby dedication service where a single mom dedicated her child. You may think it is wierd that I mention it, but think about it....have you ever seen that? The fact that I noticed that I'd never seen that, made me sit and stew about why. Is is that the church is generally so condemning on why they have a child? Or are they just generally feel ashamed? In this case, it was an adoption - so no shame...but what about all the others? Shouldn't they be supported in their parenting role 3x as much as a married couple? Interesting.

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! We are enjoying some time in Oregon with my parents. All of my brothers will be here. We are surprising dad with a 60th birthday celebration while we are here. My boys have dress clothes and Beetles wigs all set for the lip sync performance of "She Loves You! (yeah, yeah, yeah)" Should be very cute.

Bill is still laid off. He is being scheduled to work at the course about one day a week, collecting unemployment, and finding a few odd jobs here and there to do for people.

I am now working completely from our house. We moved all the office equipment to the basement to set up a real office area. We connected the second computer to internet, so now Bill and I can spend our evenings surfing the net together. He can play Facebook Poker, while I play with web design, etc. That has been fun.

Clayton just finished his first set of finals, and did very well. He is growing steadily, plans on trying out for JV Basketball in January, still loves to read, and making some new friends at school. He has recently begin writing poetry as a hobby...chip off the ol' block. :D

Riley is trying his hand at basketball. He somehow got put on a 4th grade team, but is hanging in there. He also was asked to join the special chorus for 4th and 5th grade at his school (though he is in 3rd grade). He is loving that! His choir just took 1st place at district competition this week. He is also in the top reading group in his class and in Advanced Math. We are continually amazed at how much he is thriving in a school that understands creative, active kids. His Advanced Math teacher taught his small group at church this week and came in to our parent/teacher conference just to try to tell us how amazed he was at how well Riley was doing - but he was really pretty speechless. He just couldn't get it out - and we understood. Last month he participated with a special group of kids at school in performing at a Boys and Girls Club fundraiser, since he had passed the "globe test" at school.

Ian is the responsible student. He helps remind his class members of how they are to organize their desks. His is super-conscienscious of making sure his assignments are done and his work is in the right side of the folder. He is also in the top reading group. He brings home his green card every week for good conduct and we put it on the fridge. One week, he came home bursting into tears, because he had turned a yellow card. It hasn't happened again. He has also passed the globe test at school. Globe walking, by the way, is the ability to balance and walk around on a hard plastic ball (about 3 ft. in diameter). To pass the test, you must be able to go front, back, side to side, and stay on it for a certain amount of time. Now Ian is working on juggling while globe walking. He can do two balls.

Hayden likes to put on a show every night at dinner of what song he sang at school that day. He is EXTREMELY shy around those he doesn't know well. It is amazing how far he can bury his head into my leg. He does love to sing. He grows an extra freckle every day. This morning, he was singing "Where is Thumbkin" with himself, with full hand motions, while sitting on the toilet. Hayden just had his Grandparent Thanksgiving Feast at school, and took Lawanda and Wally (Michelle's parents) as adopted grandparents, since his others couldn't come. He really likes his school, where they have an awesome playground, a class-pet tarantula, and daily art projects. However, he would be more than happy to stay home with mom any day.

Warning! The following, may be offensive to those who don't understand boys
Recent conversations around our house:

On the way to a basketball game, with Riley changing in the van....
Clayton: Riley! Your feet smell like puke!
Riley: Well, maybe they will stink so bad, we'll pass the other team out and we'll win.
Clayton: You're going to pass your own team out first!

Ian: Riley, you stink! Your breath smells like a fart!

Clayton: Mom! I found fresh bear poop on the mountain!

Riley: Buddy has been stinkin' really bad lately.
Clayton: Yeah, he keeps finding deer guts to eat that the hunter's leave.
Bill: Yeah, I hate it when the guts just sit up there, they turn all white and cottage cheesey.

Lord, have mercy!