Lots of random stuff....

My finger is healing nicely. There is still a bunch of fluid/swelling so I have to manually bend my finger. They have told me that I can't hurt anything, so I need to just push through any uncomfortable pain - although it is not too bad.

B got his top two front brackets off his teeth. They are waiting another 3 months in hopes of some adult teeth coming in and then I am told a full set of braces is in our future. We will see how things look.

JB started pre-school on Thursday. He was so excited. He has a new teacher this year. He also gets to ride the bus to and from school this year. I was told the bus would drop him off at 3:45. However, on the first day he still was not home by 4:30. I knew sometimes buses run late on the first couple of days. I called the bus barn and sure enough, they had had problems running the route. Hopefully going forward they will re-work things in a more efficient manner.

Jbird and B were both signed up for another season of soccer academy. Turns out that the coach did not have enough players for a fall league. Instead of contacting parents to try to rally more kids, he shredded our checks and cancelled 5 days prior to start date. Fortunately, I have been able to get Jbird in his 'old' league. Still waiting on word if there are enough kids in B's age group to form another team. Either way, it starts this Sunday!

I recently saw at the library a huge 4 panel display of photographs from our National Guard. It is a moving display and shows pictures from the field, training, real life stuff. The younger two boys saw it and were amazed. I noticed that they had some kind of program associated with the display. It is a 3 hour photography class for grades 3-6. The first hour they teach kids all about the camera and how to use them. The second hour the kids take pictures. The third hour they learn how to edit them on the computer. The class provides all the cameras and computers. Then the next week they get to present/show off their photos. I of course jumped at the opportunity for B. It is next week, on the 11th. So excited to finally get him formally involved in one of his desires. I also asked the librarian about cooking classes. She suggested I check into 4H. I did just that and shocked at that program. I knew nothing of that growing up, but the programs that are offered (although they might not be all available in our area - still checking that out) are cooking, photography, robotics, wood working, aerospace, electricity, shooting sports, wind energy, wildlife, vet scients, cowboy poetry, theatre arts, bicycle, entomology, forestry, outdoor adventures....almost overwhelming looking at the options.

One of the things they are working with JB on in speech is his fluidity. His words are often pretty choppy. One way they accomplish this is through song. His favorite song to sing these days....."I see London, I see France, I see ______ under pants." He just gets the biggest kick out of it and we all crack up laughing. He runs around the house looking for opportunity to sing the song. He also loves to talk to himself. When he is in his 'self-talk' mode and you try to interject, he will quickly tell you that he is simply talking to himself.

Recently one of the boys had run outside after being told not to on several occasions. I decided to lock the door and see what happens as it starts to get dark. Probably 10 minutes passed when all of a sudden he is standing at the front door, banging and wailing. I open the door and he is hysterical. He holds his hand up, palm towards me and runs into the house screaming. I can't figure out what is wrong but I know he is hurting because I have never heard him carry on like that. I follow him into the bathroom. He shows me his palm again and on the tip of his middle finger is a big black round spot. Not sure what it is, I start asking questions. Between sobs he mentions something about the round things in the car and he does not know what they do but he touched it. Having my suspicions, I ask him to show me what he is talking about. We walk out to the car but he can't find the 'thing' and is too scared to look for it because he does not want to touch it again. I can smell the burning in the car but can't find it. I assume it was the cigarette lighter! That kid had gotten bored running around outside and was playing in the van. I can guarantee you that he will never, ever touch one again. Even an hour later, he was still wailing about how much it hurt and how he will never do it again.

We have lived in our house for 7 years. In the back yard we have had what I always considered to be several trees and a bush. Much to our surprise when that bush turned into a plum tree. We recently were in the back yard and shocked to see about 40 plums! Guess we need to get them picked before the frost sets in.

I am loving being close enough to walk to school. I think on the typical weeks I will drive less than 60 miles a week.