Day by Day

This year Keera received an elf on the shelf.  It sits wherever she puts it and then randomly is in a different spot when she goes to find it.  It is a sneaky little critter.  I guess the elf is watching for Christmas. She was so surprised when she found it in a different spot but now she is mad because it won't talk to her.  Oh boy....

Friday afternoon meant big hugs and kisses to all of our children.  How could you not want to rush home and hug and most precious beings in your life, in light of Friday's events?  We have no control over anything really, just the ability to try to deal with life happenings-the good and the bad.  How could anyone life without faith in a world that can be so harsh and cruel.  Faith that good exists, faith that people are good and trustworthy and faith that beyond what we have here is a world full of peace and kindness. 

Keera turned 8.  I said to Katie that 8 seems closer to 10 and 7 closer to 5, so to me, she is really growing up.  Today, one day after her birthday, she got up and made me breakfast and put out cereal for Connor.  She didn't react negatively to things in the way she has in the past.  If I didn't know better, I would think that her knowing she was 8 made her grow up.  Happy Birthday baby girl!

Connor turned 17 today....I remember the day he was born.  He was a big baby...9 lbs and back then, I don't think I weighed a whole lot more than that.  What a great baby he was....he didn't cry and he smiled all of the time.  I am so proud of who he is! Second milestone....Brendan had jury duty today....the worst situation too....they had him there until 4:45 and then said they didn't have time to finish interviews.  The times I have had it, I have been let go by 1 or so.  It's tough to grow up.

Chinese teachers and students were visiting Wallingford school systems and Connor was chosen as an ambassador to guide the students around. I love how the feds make it sound like other countries spend way more time in school, but according to Connor, they told him they go to school the same amount of time during the day as we do (but 8-12 and then 2-5), and they have two months off in the summer.  The teachers from China said they like the way there is more freedom in the classroom for our teachers.  I am really not into this "we are all behind in education" concept.  Maybe if we could get to the point where we dropped grades and taught kids to think and find solutions to problems, we would no longer be behind.  And what is so bad about not being number one in the world?  Most Americans graduate and go on to enjoy their lives.  If anything we should be tackling the poverty problem in our cities so that students could worry more about learning ...

Brendan and his friends (grew up with on 7th Ridge with) take an annual Christmas picture.  This is the rough draft.  The finished product is in a card.  Ian, Julie, Aaron, Pat, Eric, Brendan and Donny must be taking the picture at this point.  Cool to stay friends that long.

Cousins - minus Bren, who had to go back to work.