The boys were quite pleased to welcome John home and wasted no time getting cozy together.

John didn't have much time for couch cuddles though as he had three major work events in five days starting the weekend after his return. All were successful and he was glad to have them behind him so he could focus all his nervous energy on his upcoming overseas trip.

In the meantime, he finally persuaded Edward to let him liberate a tooth so loose that Edward was pushing it through his lips for an impressive pre-Halloween fang. (Oh, so gross! I totally did not know that I was squeamish about loose teeth, but I am.) Although the first front tooth is already starting to come in, he does have that adorable first-grade gap grin for the time being.

With the tooth gone, the only thing in danger of destruction at his weekly soccer games is his glasses. Twice this fall we've had to visit the optical center on a Monday to have them straightened out. He doesn't play quite with quite the same aggression as Daniel, but I guess any time you have eight six-year-olds in a scrum, things are bound to happen. He has been very happy to attend practices and Saturday morning games, so even though his attention to the finer points of the game (kick toward the goal, not toward the white chalk field boundary!) might be a bit lacking, at least he's out there being active with his friends.

In other news this month, I got a new phone, which brings me up to at least 2010 technological standards. It's not a iPhone, actually not even a smart phone (though it could be if I were willing to pay the monthly fee) but it does take better pictures, and more importantly (according to SOME people) allow for quicker writing/sending of text messages. Now, if I could only figure out how to get the photos to download to the computer, I'd have a few more to post here! Baby steps.