Well the dreaded day finally came and ended in celebration! Tom got his board scores and he passed!!! He couldn’t help but be nervous because the test was so hard but he did just fine on it! We rejoiced by going out to Red Robin, yummy!!!

Prior to going to Red Robin we had a fantastic time cleaning our basement yesterday. What a joyous occasion it was… we have the biggest pile of trash I have ever seen and another large pile going to the Salvation Army… why were we keeping all the stuff in the first place? Our basement is one of those nice dark, unfinished spidery wet ones… it’s a lot of fun but we’re grateful to at least have somewhere to put stuff.

Kenn and Barb thanks for sending the binoculars and the cute outfit for “baby sister.” It was such a fun package to get. Buffy your shopping trip sounded like quite the adventure! I can’t believe she does that alone with her kids! Dave and Adina, congrats on getting the house! It is so cute and in such a great spot. It’s amazing how everything just seems to be working out so well for you! Hopefully we can come see it sometime before a year from this Christmas. We’re starting to look at options for traveling over spring break or something because we miss everyone so much already! Staying here for the next year seems really long!

Marnie, good luck with the transition into the non-school world. You're right that they should do something to help prepare everyone more! It really can be a hard transition, especially when you think about the fact that you have been a student since you were 5! I remember really missing the social aspects as well and feeling really lonely a lot. Getting a job back at Sport Chalet sounds like it might help. Around here you are supposed to stay active in the Institute program until you are 30, regardless of whether or not you're a student, or married or whatever. Are you still taking a class there or going to activities and such? That might help to with the transition too. Hopefully it will get better soon.

Hayden is as funny as ever. His new thing is to sing “Where is Thumbkin?” but to change the words to “Where is Hayden?” and to close his eyes until he says “Here I am!” What a funny kid. He was watching the Backyardigans while he was eating his lunch today and when they would start singing he couldn’t resist standing up in his high chair and singing and dancing, even turning circles while balancing in his high chair. Oh, how I wish I had the video camera running! He has become hugely afraid of monsters under his bed. Tomorrow we are going to go buy him a night light to see if it helps. He wakes up crying and running into our room several times a night until we convince him there are no monsters. I suppose that is just one of the side effects of a vivid imagination!

Hayden is also the king of excuses. For example, Friday we went to Geauga Lake to the water park. We were floating around the lazy river and Tom handed him to me to hold in my tube. He immediately wanted to go back to Tom and when I said no he said “But mom, I’m getting you all wet!” Very clever… After church today he wanted to watch a movie and I said no because it was time for lunch. He kept arguing with me and I told him his tummy was hungry and was saying “I want lunch.”. So he said “My tummy says ‘I want to watch a movie.” He has an excuse or a reason for everything! We were out shopping this week and I was making him sit in the stroller. He asked to get out and I said no and said “Hayden, what do you think would happen if I let you out?” and he quickly responded with “I would run away.” Needless to say, he stayed in the stroller.

Well I better go, he really wants my attention. Today he started calling me “mama” for some reason and he thinks it’s hilarious. He keeps trying to think of things to say that have mama in it just so he can laugh. I hope you’re all having a great weekend. Talk to you again soon!

Tracey