Merry Christmas, Russian Children.

When Pat and I decided to begin the journey to adopt, I had insisted that we needed to go to Russia.  Truthfully, yes, it was in part because of the messed up system of adoption here in the United States.  It was also in part because, since the fall of the Soviet Union, I had seen countless specials about the children left in orphanages who sat there glassy eyed and dazed without anyone to hold, hug and kiss on them.  I thought I could change the life of a child by being able to bring him or her home.

Boy was I wrong on that!!!  Okay, maybe we did change his life.  But, he has most definitely changed ours for the better!

But, before all of the change happened, we had to complete a mountain of paperwork; be checked out by our agency/the FBI/Child Protective Services/doctor upon doctor upon doctor upon doctor/the police/more doctors ad infinitem. . .and we had to wait.  We had to wait for all of the paperwork to come back so we coul sign it, have it notarized and apostilled, and send it off to the agency to be checked and then redo some of it and then send it back again and then off to Russia to be checked.  And in the meantime, we also had to wait because Russian adoptions were shut down due to all of the agencies needed to be re-accredited.  It. Was. Never. About. Money.

There have been countless times since those days, including while we were in country, that another shut down was threatened due to this or that--I am in no way minimizing the deaths of any child here.  But, as many others have also said, there are many thousand Russian children living here in the United States who are healthy, normal and living wonderfully normal lives without any kind of abuse what-so-ever. 

In most Regions, children are in a baby home from infancy to about 4 years old.  They then move up to a Secondary Home.  Where they typically remain for the rest of their growing up.  Unless they are adopted, of course.  So, at the age of 4, a child is then placed in a home with children up to 16 or 17 years old.  While many have not been overtly abused, aside from the leaving them in the crib all day or not changing the diaper all day or the setting them on the potty at twelve months and told to sit there until they go. . .my son was actually given tea with lemon and sugar every day as part of his snack.  At 16 months old!  Talk about a crazy caffeine withdrawal when we got custody of him. . .

Anyway, these little 4 years are then abused (beaten, harranged, etc.) by the older children.  Most of whom think this is normal behavior because it was done to them! 

So, basically, the Russian Government is now on the verge of condemning 600,000 or so children to neglect, abuse and a lifetime of misery because of politics.  Right.  That's how you push our buttons, Russia.

Meanwhile, my son, who is very loving and sensitive and loves his birth country as much as his adoptive country, gets upset to tears when he hears people here talking about how stupid (bad word, Mama!  You get a ticket!) Russia is acting!  And what am I supposed to tell him?  I agree with the comments, but I can't tell him that!  I love him too much to hurt his beautiful heart any more than it already has been!  I will likely never tell him he was actually rejected by a Russian family. . .that just breaks my heart to think about it.

And so we pray that all involved will have cooler heads and calmer hearts and think beyond the immediate issues and more about who stands to lose in this situation.  The 600,000 or so children will definitely lose. 

I can't even begin to imagine the anguish the 46 families are experiencing right now who are caught in the waiting period.  And I can't even begin to imagine what those 46 children might think of their country later when they find out that they were condemned by their government to a life of misery in a forgotten hole called an orphanage.

God help us all if we can't think of our children first.

Merry Christmas Eve!

Well, we certainly are being favored these days. . .first the Redskins are on such a roll that they are assured a playoffs spot. . .AND we are going to have a White Christmas!!!!!

Yesterday, the forecast for today was rain and sleet mix.  Nice.  Not a happy thought at all.  But, as today dawned, we began hearig reports of snow coming up from the southwest.  And, it arrived here just after lunch!!

Aidan finally got outside and started to play. . .and play. . .and play!!!  And the neighbors joined in, too. . .

And so, we are ready for Christmas now.  I'm hanging out by the fire and our beautiful tree and soon, they boys will come in and we'll have a nice dinner and quiet evening. . .Ahhh. . .love Christmas like this.

And, as you can see, we are ready for Santa. . .we even made some fresh baked cookies for him to put out on our special Santa plate!

Merry Christmas Eve!!!

Nightmares, Teeth and Santa Claus

I am sure I am not alone in wanting to continuously hug my baby these days.  In fact, on Friday, it was the hardest thing in the world to wait for Aidan to arrive at his after school care so I could see him on the camera.  If I could have reached through the computer screen. . .

Tragedies are all bad but senseless tragedies are the worst.  How do you talk to your child about it?  My response was to not have the TV on all weekend and we haven't watched the news at all while he has been up.  I wanted to shelter Aidan from the knowledge that someone could really do this horrible thing. 

On Monday morning, during breakfast, I quietly told Aidan that he might hear about some scary things that happened far away but that he is safe.  I then told him to ask us any questions he has when he got home that evening.

I didn't want to say anything at all to Aidan.  I knew I'd get choked up, which I did while saying the little bit that I said.  But, I knew there is always that one child who seems to know all the details of bad things and feels the need to share it.  So, I had to say something.  Amazingly, there has been no mention of it from him at all.  Thanks be to God.

If he thinks I've been over huggy and kissy, he hasn't seemed to mind it.  So, I'll just keep it up. 

Just to turn away from that nightmare for a bit:

Aidan has been complaining about his back teeth hurting for a couple of weeks.  First one side, which then subsided and now the other side.  Yesterday, he was really complaining so I felt around back there and felt some bumpy areas.  I was clueless.  Thinking I'd have to schedule a dentist appointment, I decided to google six year old teeth.  And guess what???  Children get another set of molars sometime between the ages of 5 and 7!!!  Really!!!  I had no idea. . .AND, when this happens, their front teeth begin to fall out. 

SO!  With that knowledge, I felt around in Aidan's mouth again last night and guess what???  There is a tooth coming through on one side!  At first Aidan didn't like the idea of getting MORE teeth, especially since he hasn't lost any yet!  But, when I explained that this likely means his front teeth will now start falling out, he was super excited!!! 

Goofy Mama!!  I just don't remember my teeth at six. . .

And finally, our visit to Santa Claus last week was really fun and delightful.  Aidan found out he is on the nice list and also that Pat and I are too!  : )  He had a great conversation with Santa and then took an awesome picture.  Have a great rest of the week!

26 and 5 and very special indeed!

Well, amazingly, here we are at December 13th again!  This is a big day in our house.  Lots of great things happen to us on this day. 

26 years ago, Pat and I stood before a wonderful priest at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Herndon, Virginia and said our vows before God, our family and our friends.  When I look in the mirror and see the evidence of time marching inexorably across my face (and my hair!!. . .and pretty much the rest of me, too) I can see that 26 years have passed.  But, without that mirror, my heart is still full of love and excitement  for and about our plans for the future.  I love my husband with my whole heart and soul and love the life we have created together.

We have had so many wonderful realized dreams:  we live in a beautiful town in a beautiful house (not that that is super important, but it does make life easier); we have great jobs that have been steady and secure;  we have good friends and loving and understanding families; We don't NEED anything.  And we have a beautiful, loving, caring, and smart son who delights us each and every day.  We are soooo blessed!!!

And speaking of that wonderful son, 5 years ago today, we got our petition to the courts to finalize our paperwork and to indicate what we wanted to change our sons name to.  This was the final piece to submit on our journey to making Aidan our son and completing our Forever Family.  To celebrate, we ordered dinner in that evening and painted our baby boys bedroom Russian Blue.  It was an Anniversary, our 21st!, I will never forget.

And to ceebrate our Anniversary this year, we have some fun plans!  Aidan will come home on the school bus and he and Pat will do what little bit of homework he has. . .he did some of it last night at my insistence!  He will then get dressed in his new Christmas outfit.  When I get home, we will all head down to Dulles Town Center to see Santa!!!  And then we will do a little Christmas shopping for Aidan's teachers and then head out to dinner.  But, shhhhhh!!!!  Aidan doesn't know about the Santa and shopping part!  : )  He thinks we are going to make him get dressed up to "just go have dinner with Mama and Daddy." 

I love that our Anniversary is at Christmas time.  I love that the whole world in in preparation to celebrate the Coming of Jesus.  Our Anniversary gets lost in all the excitement some years, but Pat and I never forget how joyous and special it is that we are together in this life: For better or for worse, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.  Amen.

I should end there, but I have to share this incredibly funny video of our son.  Aidan figured out how to do this thing that kind of looks like a clown riding a very small bicycle. Only, there is no bicycle.  I think Aidan is really showing his Russian roots here.  You be the judge:

Can't you just see him doing that Russian dance where the legs get kicked out in front of him?  So funny!!

Fun Christmas Traditions

Yesteray was St. Nicholas day.  So, it was entirely appropriate that we had a visit in the evening from the guy in the red suit. 

Each year, our fire department takes Santa Claus, Rudolph, and Frosty the Snowman around all the neighborhood of the town.  They used to be able to do this in one night--about 20 years ago when we first moved to Leesburg.  However, now it is about an eight night adventure.  And last night was our night. 

Pat and I knew it was going to happen--I had looked it on the fire departments website--so we planned and evening of activities in the family room so we could hear them coming.  Around 7:30, we started to hear the sirens. . .they kept getting closer, and closer until finally, just before 8:00, we got Aidan into his slippers, coat and hat and ran outside!!!  And just in time, too!!!

As with the last two years, Aidan was upset that he didn't get a candy cane. . .he keeps forgetting that that happens during the parade. . .which is this Saturday!!!  : )  I just love how excited he gets for these little town traditions.

Speaking of traditions, Steopa the elf arrived last Saturday.  He brought our usual Advent Calendar filled with goodies.  Aidan is allowed to open one pocket each evening after dinner--just in case it is a sweet treat that day.  Although, there have been other treats this year:  Day one was a brand new green mouth guard for hockey!!!  And I'm pretty sure I felt some hockey tape and even a new outside puck. . .Yesterdays was a new ornament of Black Beard.  Aidan was hanging it on the tree when we started to hear the sirens for Santa!!!

Steopa also brought another really cool Avent Calendar.  It may become a tradition now.  It is a Lego Advent Calendar.  Aidan opens one box each morning and puts a lttle something together.  Eventually, there will be a whole Christmas Village.  Pretty neat!

Finally, last Sunday, some friends came over to bake Christmas cookies.  I made the Martha Washington Candy--108 peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate!!  And my friend Kim made these interesting sugar cookie cups filled with nutella.  Very sweet, but very yummy.  We had a cookie exchange at work on Monday and I think it was a success.  Just a lot of cookies to make!  And the kids got into the act by making and decorating sugar cookies.  It was a lot of fun. . .if a bit messy!  : )

Next tradition to experience will be the parade.  We're looking forward to it!  We were in Williamsburg during last years parade so this one will be extra fun! 

Christmas Time Is Here. . .

Our Christmas cards should be arriving today.  I really like them.  Last year, I started doing a card design on Snapfish that includes several pictures.  I used pictures, primarily of Aidan, from throughout the year.  Loved it!  I found another one, but better for this year.  Can't wait to see it! 

I have gotten incredibly lazy when it comes to Christmas cards.  I used to buy them and then handwrite on each of them:  signature, addresses, and sometimes a short note.  Now, I have the signature done through the company I buy the cards, and my sentiments are also pre-done--I do come up with it myself, though.  I just hang onto the fact that the pictures tell the story of what we have been up to this past year. 

Normally, at Christmas time, I like to wait until our Anniversary (December 13th) to put up our tree and start lighting outside lights.  I might start after Thanksgiving--which is usually the first weekend of Advent--on some indoor decorating, but not be done with it until December 13th.  It's nice that way because we aren't tired of it before Christmas gets here.  This year, I was over ruled.  We did ALL of it the weekend after Thanksgiving--a full week before Advent began!  I'm just hoping it doesn't all come down the day after Christmas. . .I tend to get a little nuts if there is too much clutter. . .

It is pretty, though.

The boys put the tree together. . .

I got the lights on the way I like them. . .lots and lots of lights!!!

Put out the Father Frost on the Mantle with some greenery and a deer. . .

The train was set up. . .and played with. . .

And voila!  A picture worth a thousand words. . .

 

The thing that is really cool this year is that the tree lights are reflected in the floor!  I can just imagine Christmas Eve with the fire going and the tree lights on, it will be a warm and happy place. . .not that it isn't already, of course!!

I have our Christmas dinner menu pretty much set.  Now I just need to shop for the food for it. . .in a couple of weeks.  Most of the gifts have been purchased, too.  Tons of wrapping to do, though!  I do have a couple of gifts left to purchase, but I am not on a time cruch to do them.  I can wait a bit.  This week I am planning to get the cards done and mailed and do a lot of wrapping.  By next weekend, I should be in excellent shape to sit back and just enjoy the season.  Hmmm . . .that's pretty early, too!  That will be great.

Aidan and I will be baking some tasty cakes for the neighbors in a couple of weeks.  We do this each year and take some homemade Irish Cream to many of them, too.  It's fun for he and I to do this together.  Yesterday some friends came in the afternoon and we made 8 dozen each of cookies: hers were sugar cookies filled with Nutella, very sweet, but yummy and mine are Buckeyes--also known here in Virginia as Martha Washington Candy.  Why so many?  Well, today is a Cookie excange at our work.  We needed 6  1/2 dozen for the exchange, which left some for us at home, too.  After today, I will have tons of cookies!!  I may have more to bake:  chocolate chip and Christmas M & M cookies, but that will be about it!  Aidan will love helping with those.

Aidan's hockey team won yesterday.  Aidan seems to have slipped back into being intimidated again so he was not very productive.  Well, that's not really true.  He had three assists, which were awesome--some really good passing.  But, he wasn't engaging himself in going after the puck.  I think he'll settle down again.  It was likely being off for two weeks that threw him back. 

With this win, and another team's loss, our Grey Wolves are likely in the top six.  After half the season, which was yesterdays game, the 12 teams are split into two divisions:  Upper 6 and Lower 6.  We are pretty sure our boys just made the Upper 6 cut off.  Now we will play 12 more games 2 against each team.  And then there will be a championship tournament.  We will find out for sure in a day or so where we stand along with getting the new schedule etcetera. 

Well, back to work today.  That was one fast weekend!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

As usual, it's been a very busy week--or so.  This weekend is dedicated to just us three and doing things around the house. . .as much as possible--although a trip or two to the ice house may happen, too.

But, let's go back and review what we've been doing, shall we?

First, the week before last, I went in to work a little late so I could attend a class function in Aidan's class.  They were making butter and had invited the parents to join them.  I arrived a little early and had to wait with all the other parents outside the classroom until they were ready for us.  While there, I looked at the artwork--cute stuff--hanging on the wall and quickly found my Aidan's Christmas Duck that was hiding his Tom Turkey.  : )  Then, I spied this giant turkey that had writing on all of it's feathers. 

I had to chuckle because Aidan had written:  I am thankful for helpen my mom clen the hows.  : )  uh huh. . .we have a lady who comes to clean every Friday and it is like pulling teeth to get our Aidan to pick up his toys!!  Cute anyways, though.

Once inside the classroom, we went through the instructions of making butter with Ms. Jenkins and the rest of the class:  put some cream in a bottle or jar, add a little salt for flavor and then shake!  Shake it high, shake it low, don't let it go!!!  and Voila!!  Butter!!!  Who knew?  And it was really tasty, too.

Then we helped the children write the instructions down:  First this, then that, and last this. . .

Aidan made a cutie patootie Pilgrim!!

After Aidan's hockey game last Sunday, he needed an outlet for something to do while Pat changed the brake pads on the Tahoe.  So, Aidan and I decided to rake the front yard.  Truthfully, it did not seem like there were that many leaves. . .boy was I wrong!!!

That pile is huge.  Aidan was jumping into it for a while and then it was time to get ready to celebrate Grandma's birthday!!

We had an enjoyable dinner at Blue Ridge Grill--love that place!  And then came home for cake and presents at our house.

It was a very nice evening.

Sunday night, very late, my dad came to town.  His plane arrived about two hours after Aidan and I went to bed so Pat went to pick him up.  Pat was off Monday and Tuesday and then I was off Tuesday onward.  Aidan didn't get off school until Wednesday, but that gave us some time to hang out without having to entertain him!

Tuesday, Dad and I went to see Lincoln.  VERY GOOD!!  It was one of those movies that was 2 1/2 hours but was so good I wasn't ready for it to be over when it ended.  I wanted more.  The issues aren't the same as now, but the kind of dithering in Congress is.  Boy if they could just figure out how to work with eachother!!!!  Seriously, though.  I have always felt that Abraham Lincoln was one of our greatest Presidents.  The issues he had to contend with and the way that he went about doing so. . .He was truly a brilliant man.  My high regard for him has been reinvigorated by this movie.

Wednesday, Aidan, Dad and I walked into town and browsed a bit and then had lunch at the Chinese restaurant.  Then we did some prep work for Thanksgiving dinner and then met friends for dinner for our annual Night Before Thanksgiving gathering. . .

Thursday was crazy busy getting dinner on the table, but it did happen.  Dad and Aidan both helped before hand: Aidan made the pie!  And then Dad helped by taking Aidan for a walk to get some of his energy out. 

Everyone arrived, Pat got home from work, and we finally sat down to a magnificent meal of turkey with all the trimmings:

Pat was a huge help after dinner by helping to clear and then getting a lot of the dishes done. . .four loads of dishes later, we were finished!!

After dinner, we sat down to watch the Redskins v. Cowboys game. . .Go 'Skins!!!!  My friend Allison has given Aidan Cowboys shirts over the years.  Aidan knows we are Redskins fans so he likes to tease us by rooting for the Cowboys and wearing his shirts from Auntie Allison.  So he ran up to his room and put on the current Cowboys shirt. . .

And the Redskins scored!!!!

So, then, he ran up and put on his Redskins jersey, and the Redskins scored again!!!

I couldn't resist sending both pictures to Auntie Allison. . .we taunt eachother during these games every season. . .this time I am the winner!!!  : )

Friday came early and Dad was packed and ready to go on to his next destination:  Amy's house in Chicago.  But, first, one last picture of Aidan with his Grandpa Dave:

We made a quick visit to Grandma and Grandpa's house after dropping Dad off at the airport and then headed off to the theatre to see The Rising of the Guardians.  Another good movie and really fun for the kids!!

Today we are making some chili in the crockpot, doing a little Christmas decorating and then maybe going to the ice house for some free skate.  I think we'll probably do the same tomorrow. . .after making it to church for the first time in a while!!  (Aidan's hockey makes it impossible to go right now, but we go when we can.)

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't make note of a special anniversary.  Thursday, Thanksgiving, was exactly 5 years since we met and held Aidan for the first time.  It had been a Thanksgiving day that day, too.  Friday we saw him again for another two hour visit and then signed the forms indicating that yes, we wanted to adopt Aidan.  We did have a Thanksgiving meal of caviar, beef tongue, blini's and raw fish.  Very fun and very interesting and a Thankgsgiving meal I will never forget.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!

12 Hour Time Difference

I'll say more tomorrow, but I wanted to mark the moment. . .

5 Years ago, I was getting up from 2 hours sleep after being up for about 36 to 48 hours.  We were getting ready to go and meet our baby!!!  We were so excited. . .

Report Cards and Day Care Woes

Aidan brought home his report card yesterday.  As I was opening it, he said to me, in a worried voice, "Mama, will you be mad at me if I don't have good grades?"  NEVER!!  No way, jose, I said.  I told him that if he didn't have good grades, I would love and hug him like always and then we would sit down and figure out where he needed help and then get it for him.  All said with a big smile on my face.  My little freckle faced boy relaxed and said, "Okay."  And then went to work on his homework.

When I pulled out his report card, after the above dialog I was a little nervous, I found that he had done quite well.  He isn't exceeding on anything (with the exception of his PALS score--Phonological Awaremens Literacy Screening (normal is 39 and Aidan got a 59!)) but he is meeting requirements in every category.  His teacher says he has grown a lot in making good choices and following directions and that he is really an enjoyable student. 

Aidan's reading is really improving, noticable almost daily, and he is really doing extremely well in Math and Science (two of his favorite subjects).  I expect that Math and Science will be exceeding by the end of 2nd Quarter.

Areas we need to work on are his Capitalization and Punctuation.  Aidan likes to take his time and be neat with his handwriting.  However, if he is rushed, it is really really really bad.  So, we need to find a compromise:  show him how to be neat and write correctly with what are called Two Thumbs Up Sentences and not worry about the being rushed part! 

I am really proud of my Aidan and how well he is doing in school.  However, this homework thing is hard!  And we're only in First Grade, too!!

About the Day Care.  Well, since the beginning of the school year, I have noticed several of the older boys have been, shall we say, a bit more rambunctious than I would like.  I have noticed over time that the little boys (and girls, too) tend to hang around the teacher as close as they can and not venture out into the room too much.  However, last week was really bad.

The kids had been off school for two days and had been at Winwood.  Things seemed fine on those two days.  Then, on Wednesday, I arrived to pick up Aidan and found the room in total chaos.  Aidan and his friends were hanging back by one of the teachers and the older boys were running wild in the rest of the room.  It was like a scene out of Lord of the Flies!  The Director, Missy, was in there trying to gain control of the room and it was not really working very well.  I ushered Aidan out of there as quick as possible.

On the way home, I found out some of these boys are 11!!!  I thought the age cut off at Winwood was 10. . . hmmmmmmmm. . . .

The next day, I called Winwood to talk to Missy about it.  At first, one of the teachers said to me that the older boys haven't been at Winwood forever like Aidan and his friends, so haven't grown up in that kind of atmosphere.  Okay.  I guess.  But what does that have to do with keeping my child safe from these boys???  Missy did assure me that they were working on a new plan on how to contain these boys.  Okay.  I'll give it a chance.

Tuesday, I picked up Aidan and he told me he hadn't been able to do any of his homework because they had been going over new rules.  What?  Well, the boys were still at it and the teachers had to implement some new "Citizenship-type" rules.  Okay.. . .  Still not too happy here.

Then, I picked up Aidan yesterday and found that there was a sheet on the door to say whether or not Aidan would be at Winwood the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Monday after.  Well, no on the Wednesday before, but there is school on the Monday after. . .really?  the teacher asked.  Um. . .you will be picking my kid up as usual at his school, right????

I guess I'm calling Winwood again today. . .We are soooooo doing something different next year. . . .

Smarty Pants Hockey Player

Another busy week has passed us by. 

Aidan was off school Monday and Tuesday due to Quarter break and Election Day.  He spent the entire day,both days, at Winwood.  I like to avoid that, if possible--it is an additional $25.00 per day on top of what we already pay--but Pat had plans, so off to Winwood Aidan went.

On Wedesday, I picked Aidan up and took him out to dinner, just the two of us.  It wasn't planned that way, but it was kind of nice to be waited on and have that time to just talk with my son.  He's really got a great sense of humor.  In his backpack that day, there were two assessment reports--not the report card, which should be coming home this week.  The assessments were on First and Second Quarter sight words.  

On the first page, Aidan had written all 33 of the First Quarter sight words.  The teacher had read them off and the children had to write them down.  Aidan got all 33 correct!!

On the secnd page, Aidan had written all 35 of the Second Quarter sight words.  This was a pre-assessment.  The children hadn't acually been give the words yet.  They received them at the end of the day.  Again, the teacher had read them off and the children had to write them down.  Aidan got 25 out of the 35 correct!!!  Way to go Aidan!!!

The other homework that came home was a project on disguisng Tom Turkey and then writing a story about it as a family.  The suggestions were to disguise the turkey as a cheerleader, doctor, rock star or something like that.  Aidan decided to disguis his as a Christmas Duck.  He will be flying south for the winter and hiding out at verious ponds to avoid detection. . .I don't know where he gets this stuff. . .

In sports news, Aidan was given the goalie pads and stick last week because this week was his turn as goalie on the team.  We practiced every day for at least a half an hour.  I had him blocking lots of shots with his pads, stick and even catching it with his glove.  He was really getting good at following the puck.  At practice Friday night, he learned how to follow the puck when it went behind the net and to fall on it when he needed to.  He was ready for the game.  We practiced some more on Saturday, learning how to become the Beast and eat pucks, and then Sunday we were off to the rink to get him into his gear and to "watch" him play his game. 

Aidan made lots of saves: pad, stick and glove.  He was really doing well.  The goals scored were mostly by these two really really big guys--see them in the first and third pictures above???  I swear they were twice Aidan's size and probably turn nine on January 1st--thus making the cut off to stay in Mites by one day! 

Meanwhile, my little six year old stood firm and, with lots of help from his team, won the game!!!  Woo Hoo!!!  Go Wolves!!!  And this was the scene at the end of the game:

If you look closely, you can see the white goalie stick in the center.  That's Aidan.

(Author's disclaimer: I did not take these pictures nor did I se a lot of these things happen because my hands were over my face most of the time.  : )  )

I was very glad to pass the goalie pads and stick on to the next little boy and his family. . .

That's about it.  This week we are spending some time getting ready for Thanksiving, a special lady's birthday and going out and finally replacing Pat's almost unsuable Droid phone.

Have a great week!