Literacy conference

I have so much to write about. I haven't been doing a good job of keeping up on my blog. Here goes:

• Last weekend (actually, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday) I went to a Literacy For All conference in Providence, Rhode Island. I got the opportunity to go just a few days before the conference, and I decided to take it. We heard a couple authors speak and went to several workshops. All of the sessions I attended were good except one. We also just had a great time hanging out together as a staff. There were about 12 or 13 of us that went. (I rode down with my second grade teacher, along with 4 other teachers. How cool is that?) We also had some good food, like breadsticks from Sbarro's and cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory (the Godiva Chocolate cheesecake was heavenly!). I came back feeling renewed and energized.
• Nathan went to his first school-friend-birthday-party today. It felt a little weird because I didn't know anyone, but he had fun. The little girl, Katia, seemed glad that he came and he was thrilled with the goodie bag and the sand art that he got to make.
• Tonight, in Nathan's bedtime prayer, he asked Heavenlty Father to "bless our house that it can support lots of snow." He cracks me up.
• Nathan has been doing a great job with reading. He has a little repertoire of books that he can read. We keep it in a little yellow basket by his door. When I was in Rhode Island one of my friends bought these little wooden pointers that have a hand at the end. I gave it to Nathan when I got back. He loves to use it to point to the words as he reads.
• Megan and Nathan were in the Primary Presentation last week. They did a great job. The whole Primary did. I always love playing the piano for Primary because you can always feel the spirit so strong when the children are singing. I love it! I would stay in Primary forever if I could.
• Dan and I are almost done our Christmas shopping. I'm so excited for Christmas this year. I want to make an advent calendar during Thanksgiving break. I also want to get a couple of kissing balls for the front porch. Making gingerbread houses this year is also on my plan. I'm going to buy the premade gingerbread, though. It takes so much time to bake the gingerbread and cut it, etc. I want to just concentrate on the decorating.
• I called Delson's mom to see how he's doing the other day. He's doing really well. He's officially adopted now. His name now is Dylan Joseph Alan Binette. He's had his first haircut. He still smiles all the time, and his eyes still disappear when he smiles. He says, "Hi." He's going to Cancun for Christmas. His mom also told me that his birth mother is pregnant again, and is probably due this month or next. He/she will be number 11 for her.
• I've been feeling super "motherly" lately. I've been thinking about Delson and Isaiah a lot and just longing to have a little baby or even a little pet to take care of. A pet is out of the picture, though, and we have to wait until I'm done my master's before we do foster care again (unless we get one in the summer).