Still here...

We are still here, just haven't had much time for the blogosphere lately.  Only two days away from feeling a huge weight off with all this semester's projects handed in.  Yeah!  This has been a really tough semester schoolwise, and we have all been feeling it.  Lots of crankiness and arguing, short tempers abound.  Oh well, this too shall pass.

We took part in a primary service project on Sunday.  The kids were asked to donate toys to give to kids in need.  It was interesting to see two polar opposites in my house.  Malcolm wanted so desperately to participate, but our boys toys get an awful lot of playtime so he couldn't find much worth giving.  Finally, he came to me with his two stuffed animals, a fish and a monkey.  I was surprised when he told me he wanted to donate them because he had nothing else.  Tearing up a little, I asked if he was sure.  He hesitated, then grabbed them back and told me he really didn't want to, but he wanted to give something.  After a bit more searching we settled on a rarely used Diego train set.  He took that thing to sharing time and washed it up and made a tag and put on a bow and loved every minute.  He still talks about someone getting that train for Christmas.

Shift to Clayton.  He looked through his stuff, but for the same reasons as Malcolm, did not find much.  This is my child that takes good care of his things, but keeps only what is important to him.  He is not a packrat.  When I asked if he had found anything he replied, "No, but if they're donating stuff I'll take some!"  Ever the optimist?  What a chucklehead.  I was pleasantly surprised and relieved to find him tying bows on toys and making Christmas cards on Sunday.

Madison tried out for a part in her Christmas presentation and got a speaking part with five or six lines.  She is thrilled.  We get to hear it so often it will be a treat to hear what it sound like within the context of the play, and with the other parts around it.  Clayton has his Christmas "w"rap down.  Can't believe concerts are in two weeks.  Wait, Malcolm's is next Wednesday!  Time marches on.

I am very lax on my regular features due to my high stress level, but hope to resume some creative thought after this week.  Thanks to everyone else who's blogs have made me laugh and think about something other than to-do's.  Love you all.