Legend of the Claw! ... and other household commentary

Wow, this year has been something else. The kids have really entered full-swing into that realm of, "Hey mom, bet you haven't heard this story...", which is usually followed by another rendition of that camp-fire favorite, The Claw. The old folded paper fortune teller is another one that Erin was convinced I had never heard of. Until I made one for her! Sometimes I find that it's better to feign memory lapse, so I can hear the best and latest version of whatever falls into the, "Mom, I bet you didn't know..." category.


This post is intended to generally re-cap of this year for all those busy relatives and traveling friends:

Darian has entered high school, with the enthusiasm of a sleeping bear. Transitions into new grade levels are very easy for the kids, since Trillium offers mixed grade classes and mentoring throughout the age groups. With so many changes at the school this year, Darian is still able to run most of the tech, and is still pretty angry about an eventual switch from Linux to Windows. Don't even get him started! 


This year, he's been involved with more of the Portland techie community, visiting events such as DorkBot "People doing strange things with electricity", and the Ubunto 11.10 Release Party. 


He's taller than the fridge (no he will not cut that hair), just turned 15, he's stronger than an ox, and I'd dare say quite a bit smarter than one too! 

Erin is regularly seen pilfering through my closet for clothes that didn't fit her before this summer. The girl has grown into my shirts, shoes, and socks. While this may seem a novel concept for some time, I'm certain many of my belongings will eventually become lost, or sewn onto other objects. Now that she's 13, I suppose she expected something magical to happen in her life, which would mark the event. Alas, it's quite a bit like being 12 or even 14. Hell, on some days, it's a lot like being 36. 

Erin is doing very well in school, and is continuing her interest in animals of all kids. She's also keen on weaponry, and is plotting against me to obtain a shuriken for Christmas.  Frankly, I'm going to look the other way. 


The girl is observant as ever, and takes time to detail the hormonal manifestations she sees in her friends. Logical to the bone, Erin just doesn't get why they're so grumpy, and why they can't get past it all. 


Eric's class is working hard on developing reading skills and presentation. He's got more pressure on him this year, as he's observed that he's the tallest kid in his 3-4-5 grade level. As an "upper classman" this year, I've encouraged him to lead others in the right direction, and he spends a lot of time encouraging other little mentors. Eric is still climbing the walls at 11 years old, and I hope he never stops! I sincerely think the child has a future in physical comedy, as witnessed by this video. It's dark, but watch for the end...





In short, this year has proven challenging on many fronts, but we're supported and cheered on by a vast community of friends and family who constantly remind us of our place in their lives. 

From Collages