Irish Grandpa

Irish Grandpa is Will's Dad. He said to me the first time I went to Will's house for dinner, "you are the only girl Willy has ever brought home that did the dishes." I think I earned my place with him that day. I love this man. He spent much of his life giving to others. He was an Iron Worker in his day and they didn't come tougher, or more kind. He worked tirelessly on many projects on the east coast. He helped put up the Newport Bridge, and was the one to put The Independent Man up in Providence. He was not afraid of heights. He worked as a volunteer for Saint Aloysious Home, running programs for the children. He formed a boxing program and a children's circus. He loved walking the high wire. He had one up in his backyard and walked it daily until well past his 76th birthday. He lived about three hours away from us, but we visited each other as often as possible. All the girls have such fondness for Irish Grandpa. He always would play freeze dance with them by humming the Irish Jig. La da deedle e dee de de de deddle e dee da daaaaaa. They would dance and he would sing and laughter would ring out. He brought so much joy to everyone, as well as a healthy dose of joking, made up stories, magic tricks as well as a bit of stubbornness. He always had a joke but didn't always tell it right, and sometimes was the only one who laughed, but he always had one. He always had a hello for anyone who passed. He was a funny, loving, wonderful man. We lost him tonight after a very short battle with Cancer. We had been there all weekend and came home last night. Will went back down tonight and made it just in time to hold his hand and to talk him all the way out. He will be missed by so many of us. I can't really wrap my mind around it quite yet, but I will miss hearing, "hey buddy! how you doin'?" and hearing the smile I knew he had on his face. I am so thankful I got to have such a wonderful man as a part of my family and that the girls got to know him. I miss him already.

Snow Dogs

They look like they are going to kill each other, but they didn't. We have about 2 feet of snow on the ground, and the dogs are having a blast! Too cold for the kiddos, but not the dogs in their fur coats.

Sully

We have had our foster dog, Sully for almost a week. She has settled right in as you can see from the picture of her on the couch. We love her. She has to be one of the sweetest dogs I have ever met. And cute. So cute. I don't know who would have ever gotten rid of her. She loves the girls, and is super smart. I taught her to sit, lie down and stay in about half an hour. She is totally house trained, and doesn't appear to shed. Seriously, she is pretty close to the perfect dog. Luke, our dog tolerates her. I thought he would be so happy to have a friend, but he doesn't seem to be overjoyed about her arrival. Will said to me, "think about it, how would you feel if I brought home another woman and said...here honey, I brought her home to help you around the house, aren't you happy?" I laughed and then thought about that. I guess Luke may feel like this is his home and she is competition, but do dogs feel that way? They have started playing more the past two days, so maybe he will end up liking her. If no one wants to adopt her, and Luke ends up liking her, I would love to keep her. I thought this might happen.

While Making Christmas Cards

Maya exclaims: "Mama! I make a decoray-shit"
Mommy: "What do you have, Maya?"
Maya: "A decoray-shit, a made a decoray-shit"
Mommy:" It is beautiful, good work."

ETA* She had made a decoration, not anything actually having to do with, well...poop.

The Other Jingle Bells Lyric

I had forgotten about how Allie used to sing Jingle Bells until she was singing it the right way yesterday. Last year it went, "Jingle Bells, jingle bells jingle all the way, oh what fun it is to ride in a no fun horsin' sleigh Hey!" I kind of like it that way.

The First Lost Tooth

Lilly finally lost her first tooth. It has been loose for six months...I think. She refused to wiggle it, or even really touch it. It was actually loose for so long that the new tooth grew in behind it before it could fall out. I really wanted to wiggle it, but Lilly was adamant that she wanted it left alone. So we left it, figuring it would fall out eventually. Last night as she was wrestling with Will, she took a face plant into the bed, and out it came! She was so happy that it was out, and finally realized that losing a tooth was painless. I hope the next one comes out a lot faster, I think she does too. She has that wonderful toothless smile, and looks so sweet.

Where do yo go to see a movie?

If you ask Allie, she will tell you to go to the movie thee-ay-ter. I don't know why.

It Freaks Me Out Every Time

100 Things

Here is a list of (almost...a few seem to be missing) 100 things that is going around. The ones in bold I have done. How many have you done?
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb (no, but a newborn foal)
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated Blood
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chicken pox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Overheard

I am upstairs for five minutes. This is what I just heard.
"We are not operating on the cat!"
I should probably go down there.

At the Christmas Tree Farm

We went to cut our own Christmas tree this weekend. Actually, we tried to find our tree. I guess I am a little picky when it comes to the tree. I just like what I like but apparently everyone else doesn't really care as long as it is green and tree shaped. So we ended up not cutting our own down, but just getting a pre cut one, which is not as big or full as I would have liked, but it is a lovely, slightly raggedy tree. It is decorated and looks beautiful, and with the little bit of snow we got today, it is starting to feel like the holidays. We didn't get our tree at the cut your own tree place, but got some pretty good pictures.

A little trick photography courtesy of Will...

Allie thought this would be the perfect tree...(for 45.00)

This is the closest we came to everyone being themselves.

A Tongue Injury

Lilly bit her tongue pretty hard tonight. It bled and bled as tongues do, and she cried and cried as she does. After a long while when she could finally joke around again, she looked at me so seriously and said, "It really really hurt when I bit my tongue because the tongue is the meatiest." I had to agree, the tongue is the meatiest.

My Sweet Girl

Allie:"Mommy, you're in my heart"

I think it just melted.

The "F" Word

We have been through the discovery of swears with Lilly and Allie, and now, Maya has found out all about them. She came up to me and said, "Mommy, Ryleigh said, Fuck" I sort of did a double take and told her that it wasn't a nice word to say and that Ryleigh shouldn't say it and neither should she. She ran back to Ryleigh and said, "Ryleigh, Mommy said don't say Fuck."
So I called her back to me and told her that when she says Fuck to tell me someone else says it, she is saying it too. So I told her to say "F word" instead of Fuck. She likes to say "f word" I think she assumes it has power. She likes to tell me people say "the f word" all the time. Once she told me the dog said it. We have a rule in our house that Will came up with so swears aren't taboo. The girls are allowed to swear in their own beds at bedtime. That way they know there is a time and place for those words but that time is when no one else is around to hear them. Allie had a problem using all kinds of words totally inappropriate for a three year old, until the bedtime rule was instated. Since then it has never been an issue. I thought he was crazy and that they should not be using those words, but he made a good point that if they weren't forbidden they wouldn't be a big deal, and I admit, he was absolutely correct. So, back to Maya and the "F word". Maya has been told about the bedtime rule and has never been non-compliant about it. Until Today. Yes, I know she is only two and can't be expected to follow such guidelines, but she does follow them unless she is intentionally violating the rule. She was mad today at something, so she went into the playroom and started yelling, "F WORD F WORD FWORD! F WORD! F WORD F WORD!!!"
She was not yelling fuck, she was yelling f word. I don't remember when I ever laughed so hard (from the other room where she couldn't see me). Then I promptly corrected her language. Those words are only for use at bedtime.

A Daily Lesson

Maya is struggling to remember the concept of a kind voice when she is not getting her way. "NO!" and "Oo-KAY!!" and other various rumblings and growls escape her lips on a fairly frequent basis. She is basically a very kind, helpful, empathetic little person, however if she feels she is being slighted, look out. She is loud. I am finding myself modeling and remodeling appropriate words and tone of voice multiple times a day. We are working on apologies. When she apologizes, instead of saying "SHOD-ddeE!" trying to get her to say, "I'm sorry I _____ ." Sometimes I have to repeat myself three or four times to achieve acceptable results. She is getting there, but I have to try really hard not to laugh out loud when she asserts herself and tries different ways of making her messages clear. She is finally starting to use her nice voice more often. We aren't there all the time, but it is getting better.

Sweetness

Maya: "Mommy! You love me and I love you!"

Mommy: "That's right!"

Maya: "I love you Mama"

Mommy: "I love you, too sweetness."

Maya: "I not sweetness, my Maya."

Mommy: "I love you too, Maya"

Thanksgiving Madness

We had a wonderful time at Auntie Paula and Uncle Jon's house. The food was great, the company fantastic, and the sounds that came from the joyful children were the best part. Irish Grandpa brought all the kids Santa hats, so of course we had to get a picture of all seven of them...

I don't exactly know why Allie makes the crazy face for most pictures now, but it is really getting old. She will do it even when you try to get a nice photo. I think she thinks it's funny, and it was the first fifty or so times, but come on! It is really hard to get eight people to look good all at the same time. This would have been close, but Allie and her insane face...Oh, and the best part? Even better than Allie's face...look at how closely Maya's lower legs resemble turkey drumsticks! Appropriate for Thanksgiving, No?

I think this was the best of all of them...and it is not even really passable, but it is a true representation of time with seven children from age ten to two. It was Jack's birthday, too and so we celebrated that as well as Thanksgiving. Happy Birthday Jack! We had a blast, Collin (all the way to the left, holding Allie, who is for some reason holding the crotch of her tights...not sure what's going on there) took a whipped cream pie to the face, which was probably the funniest part of the day. Actually I laughed harder at Paula who had gone to make a cup of coffee from the best coffee maker in the world..the Keurig. It makes one cup of coffee when you push the magical one cup button...and had forgotten to actually put a cup underneath to catch the delicious coffee...and went about her kitchen business and I proceeded to watch and laugh so hard that I could only point to the source of my joy. I didn't get a video, but wish I could have. We had a wonderful time and are really going to miss having them close by when they move to Japan in February. Maybe we will get to visit someday.

This is What I am Thankful for

Our Foster Dog (who will probably end up ours)

Our foster dog arrives on December 13th. We are all very excited. I really like the idea of fostering to see if she works out, but barring any serious issues, I think she will be ours forever. Who am I kidding. The girls wanted to pick out a leash and collar for her, so we went to browse at Target today. Lilly picked out an orange leash and matching collar. It has polka dots and is really cute. We didn't purchase it, but it is their number one choice so far. So, the dog's name is Sully, she is three years old, mostly black with a white chest and chin, and extremely cute. We are not loving her name (I think it sounds too much like sullen) so we are in search of a new one. I sort of think something holidayish would be fun, but it is not a requirement... Lilly likes Lola, but we already have a lot of L sounding parts of names. I am the worst at picking names, so I am really no help. Allie wants to name her Naysa, and Maya wants to name her Robin Hood... I like names that are sort of quirky, a little different, and sort of funny for pets so we'll see what we end up with. Maybe Robin Hood isn't so bad. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. (oh, and she doesn't know her name, they just assign her one to identify her at the rescue)

Raisin Patrol

Upon exiting the tub this afternoon, Lilly took one look at her fingers and toes, saw the wrinkliness, lined them all up together and proclaimed, "It's the raisin patrol!"
The raisin patrol it was.

Chocolate Cream Pie

My Mom brought us a chocolate cream pie today. As soon as Maya saw it she said, "I have pie now?" I told her that it was for after dinner. She (surprisingly) agreed to eat dinner first. After dinner, all three of the girls were ready for pie. Will and I decided that we would do something different. We told the girls to get five spoons. Lilly quickly retrieved them and got ready to eat. We told them that they could go ahead and eat it. Allie said, "what about the plates?" We told them they could eat the pie whole. They were so excited and immediately began skimming all the whipped cream off the top. They actually probably ate less pie than they would have if they had just had a regular piece. It was so funny to see their eyes grow huge at the thought of eating an entire pie. I am sure they will remember that for a long time. I am just hoping they don't expect a repeat invitation at Thanksgiving!

Sticker Face

Upon returning home, this is what I found:
She has the best Nana ever!

The Animal Shelter

One of the girl's favorite places to go is the animal shelter. This shelter is not a sad place. It is a no kill shelter where the volunteers actually sit inside the dog's kennels and read to them. Seriously. It is a really nice place to visit. We usually go and buy a few cans of cat food or some dog food or something to donate. The kids ask to go there almost every day. We usually go at least twice a week. We are actually thinking of adopting another dog, which is what led us there originally, but I think we are going to foster first to make sure the dog will be a good fit with our family. We found a rescue group that goes down south and gets dogs from high kill shelters, moves them up here, and has foster families lined up to take care of the dogs until they find homes. I have always wanted to do that, so now we are going to. It is nice to be able to do something I have always been interested in. We have a wonderful dog and a cat already and they love the kids so much. It is so good for the girls to be around animals, I think it teaches them to be gentle and compassionate. The trick is going to be letting the foster dogs go when it is time.

Overheard in the playroom

Maya: "... we can work togedder, okay Ryleigh?..."
Ryleigh: "Ok, My my" (My my is what we call Maya as a nick name)
Maya: "I need my balloony"
Ryleigh: "ok, here ya go. I need balloon too"
Maya: "Oh... we can shaaare Ryleigh"
Ryleigh: "Alright"

Sharing, quite a concept.

Freeeezing

When we woke up this morning it was 28 degrees outside. Twenty. Eight. Degrees. Seriously. It's not winter yet, it is fall. I am not looking forward to the cold coming. On a positive note, gas is at 1.95 down the street from us! I never thought I'd see that again. $20.00 got me 3/4 of a tank in the mini van!

She Sleeps With Gloves On

Allie has a slight obsession with gloves. Winter gloves to be exact. She wears them all the time. We insist she take them off to eat and to go to the bathroom (although one day she actually asked me to accompany her so I could wipe for her so she didn't have to remove the gloves. I declined.). She wears them to school, to play outside, and to bed. Yes, she wears fleece gloves with grippy palms to bed. I don't get it. She doesn't have any tactile issues, she just really likes gloves. Specifically a blue flowery pair from L.L. Bean. I suppose I should buy her another set. At least it is getting cold now so she won't look so strange...outside.

Does it get any sweeter?

I was putting Maya to bed and after all of the snuggling and reading I leaned in for my final hug of the night and Maya threw her little arms around me and said,
"Mommy, you my best frien."

I love that little girl.

Playing Boats

When I was little, my friend Chelsea and I used to play on the columns in my parents dining room. We used to pretend they were boats and we were sailing on the ocean. I don't know where we came up with this game or why they were boats, but we spent hours playing boats. Now, we have them in our dining room too and the girls play up there all the time. Maya hung out up there for twenty minutes. I love seeing them play the same games I played as a kid.

I Love Trickery

The girls have been given the task of cleaning their play room. They do this every day, but some days they resist and some days they do it with not much effort. Today is a day filled with resistance. They are arguing about the amount of things they are each putting away, they are yelling about one side of the room being dirtier than the other, they are hollering because Maya is not helping. I just called them in here and used a bit of Mommy trickery, some people would call it a bribe, but some days it has to be whatever works. So I told them that there was a contest and the winner gets a dollar. The contest is whoever cleans up the most items wins. They think it is a race with a prize, and I get a clean playroom with no loudness. Everyone wins and it only costs me one dollar.

They Really are Great Friends

This is how the girls arranged themselves to watch their show before bed. They stayed like that through the whole show. We are so lucky to have them and I think they realize how lucky they are to have each other. Now if it will only last...

Star Light Star Bright...NO NO ALLIE STOP IT RIGHT NOW!!!!

Allie was sitting on my bed reciting Star Light Star Bright and I heard this:

Allie: Star light, star bright, first star I see...

Lilly: NO NO ALLIE! STOP STOP STOP!!

Allie: tonight, I wish I may I

Lilly: STOP IT ALLIE, STOP SAYING THAT

Allie: wish I might, have this wish

Lilly: ALLIE IF YOU SAY THAT WHOLE WISHING SONG, NONE OF YOUR WISHES WILL EVER EVER COME TRUE, YOU HAVE TO BE LOOKING AT A THE FIRST STAR TO MAKE IT REALLY COME TRUE!

Allie: Oh, I didn't know that, thanks for telling me that.

Lilly: You're welcome.

She was really trying to save Allie from a lifetime of inability to wish on that first star. That's what sisters are for.

One of my Favorites

Although it's not the best picture from a photography standpoint, this is one of my favorite shots of Maya and Lilly. This was totally spontaneous, and they both look so true to how they are with each other. I am almost tempted to try and photo shop out the busy background...

Hula Hooping Around the House

The girls have discovered a new improved use for the hula hoop. It involves one hula hoop and three (or more depending on how many kids are around) kids. They all get inside the hula hoop and run circles around the coffee table. Things get really funny when one kid decides to go in a new direction without announcing her intent. One goes one way while the others continue in another direction. Mayhem ensues followed by giggling and collapsing. It is their favorite after dinner activity. You know, a nice relaxing choice before bed.

Disney World

Some nights when Will is putting the girls to bed and they are having trouble settling down, he takes them on a trip to Disney World. They lie there in the dark and he describes all the sights and sounds of the park. He tells them about the roller coasters, and then they get on and go for a ride. He points out Minnie and Mickey and all of the princesses and their friends. He talks about the sun shining and the warmth of the day. He lets them actually see the place. If I walk by the room, they say, Mommy, we're going to Disney World...TONIGHT!" I can't wait for the day we can go there and they can see it for themselves, but if you ask them, they've already been.

Time for Bed

Will usually puts Lilly and Allie to bed while I am putting Maya to bed. We all snuggle and watch a show together before bed and then we say our good nights. I usually go say goodnight again to the big girls after I get Maya settled in. Tonight they asked for me early, but by the time I got in there Allie was asleep and Lilly was almost there. I kissed Lilly on the cheek and whispered that I love her, then she looked up at me and it went like this;

Lilly: "Mommy, will you lie with me?"

Mommy: "Daddy already snuggled with you and it is waaaaaay past your bedtime so you need to go right to sleep."

Lilly: "but momma, I need you."

Mommy:"okay, but just for one minute."

I lie down, wrap my arms around her and she rests her face in my neck. Her eyelashes flutter on my skin for moments, and then she is asleep. I am not usually a softy, but when they are so sweet and say, "Momma. I need you" in that totally loving, sleepy, non whiny way, I simply cannot resist.

It's So Much Easier Now

I keep remarking on how much easier life in general is now that the girls are older. It is amazing how different things feel lately. I can tell them to get their shoes and coats on and they do it. We can leave the house spur of the moment without much thought, and now that Maya is no longer napping we can make a day of being out and about. I am needing a baby fix lately, though. I just miss the snuggy baby lump that sleeps peacefully on my chest, and that baby smell. I kept thinking I wanted another baby, that someone was missing from our family, but I realized almost a year ago that I was just used to having a baby around. I loved every moment of each of the girl's infancy, they were some of my favorite times (three times). Now, I really feel like we can focus on doing more. We have family game night, and now we can all play together. We can go on car trips without timing feedings, Best of all though...no more diapers! We have been diaper free around here for almost a year now and I definitely don't miss diapers. I also find it really entertaining when they assert themselves and test the limits of what they can do. It is funny to me when Maya tries to tell us that she is not going to do something we tell her she needs to do. She doesn't do it too often, but when a situation arises that we haven't dealt with yet and she feels like her way is better and tries to convince us that her way is the way to go, I think it is really interesting to watch her work that out. I love watching them work things out with their friends too. Lilly has made some really good friends at school, and is realizing that friendship doesn't always mean that you get your way. She has learned quickly that it is a give and take and that you have to do both sometimes. I have also finally figured out a more effective use for space in our house, that allows me to keep the place clean with much less effort and stress. I feel like everything is working so well now and I am definitely enjoying it.

A Basket of Kids

They all sat here for half an hour while eating a snack and watching a show...and nobody got hurt.

So Thankful

I am feeling extremely optimistic today about the change coming to our country. I believe that people have been inspired to believe because they feel like there is hope now. I am beyond happy about the results of the election and was moved to tears by Obama's speech. McCain's speech was amazing as well, and I think if he had showed that side of him more during the campaign (and picked a decent VP) he would have had more of a shot. I am glad that he has taken the high road and chosen to support Obama and to work with him to make this country better. It is amazing to see the impact this election has had on the rest of the world. It looks like we are going to start heading in the right direction very soon, and for that I am thankful.

Go Vote!

We voted at around 7:30 this morning. Everyone went together. The lines weren't too bad, the A-K line was about three times longer than the L-Z line. I told Will I was glad I married down in the alphabet. When it was our turn, Lilly went in with Will, and I took Allie and Maya with me. Will lifted Lilly up so she could read the ballot along with him. (Note the dangling feet!)

Allie and Maya watched as I filled out my choice, and seemed pretty unimpressed. I, however felt really proud to be a part of such an historic election.

After we voted there was a petition to support gay marriage which we gladly signed. The petition worker seemed amazed and overwhelmed that so many people were showing support. He kept exclaiming, "we're out of pens! I can't believe all of our pens are being used at once! This is so exciting." And it was.

As we were walking out, Allie turned to me and said, "Mommy, where is Barack Obama? I thought we were going to see him." I explained that he was probably out voting in his neighborhood just like we were. She kept saying how she really wanted to see him. I have to be honest, I would have loved to see him too and to tell him I am proud to have someone like him on my side and to thank him for restoring my faith in the hope for our country, and to wish him luck.

After we left our polling place. we headed to McDonald's...clearly the favorite location of the morning. The girls were so proud to show off their 'I voted today' stickers. It was quite a morning. I can't wait to watch the returns come in tonight. We have enough food and drink to make it well into the wee morning hours. I am hopeful we will have the outcome we need.

Painting

Yesterday we had a painting project to do. All of the girls chose a wooden decoration to paint, and we finished a family hand print project. I am super happy with the way the family project turned out, and now we have a huge canvas with all of our hands all over it. All five of us are in there, and all of the grandparents too. I really like how it looks and like what it represents even more. We are making a smaller one for Irish Grandpa for Christmas, one of all the grand kids. He liked the family one so much, we thought it would make a great gift. Maya had the best time painting and got slightly out of control.

Gearing Up for Tuesday

I am getting really excited for Tuesday. I have decided to take all of the kids to vote with me. I am aware that we will probably be in line forever, and will go well equipped with entertainment and snacks. I am feeling hopeful, like we may have a good change coming, but can't allow myself to think to far ahead for fear of jinxing something. I keep explaining election day to the girls and telling them why it is so important for everyone to vote. I am also telling them about how historic this election will be no matter which side comes out on top. I know who I think will provide my children with a better, more safe, stable future and they know too. I know for sure that I am proud that this voter turn out is likely going to be the biggest in history. I am proud that so many young people have gotten involved. I am proud that my girls want to go to the polls with me to see what it is all about. I am proud that Maya recognizes and yells out, "Barack Obama!" whenever she sees him in pictures or on television. I am making shirts for all of us to wear Tuesday with this quote on the back;

“…But in the unlikely story that is
America
There has never been anything false about
Hope.
For when we have faced down impossible odds,
When we've been told that
We’re not ready, or that
We shouldn't try, or
That we can’t,
Generations of Americans
Have responded
With a simple creed
That sums up the spirit of a people.
Yes we can.”
-Barack Obama

Halloween

Snow White, Cinderella and Super Girl all went trick or treating down the same streets I did as a child. It was amazing. The sights, sounds and smells of Halloween from many years ago, back before us. It was like being little again, but better because I had my favorite people with me. It was magical on a whole different level. Everything looked the same, only smaller...

Making 'Soup'

One of Allie's favorite things to do is to make 'soup'. Not actual, edible soup, but a concoction of any number of things that can be stirred with a spoon. Sometimes she stands at the sink with a big pot of water and a spoon and I give her some spices, sprinkles, glitter, assorted things that look like they could be in soup, and she will stand there forever mixing and adding until her 'soup' is just right. The soup Du jour is a mixture of beads and string cut into teeny pieces. She has been sitting there for over an hour cutting bits of string and choosing just the right beads to add to the soup. It looks pretty, and definitely keeps her happily occupied. Oh, and the hat...I have no idea.

Crazy Skeleton and Chicken Feet

This is Maya making a crazy face in her day before Halloween shirt.

And then... Allie came into the living room and said, "look Mommy I have chicken feet!" She came up with that all on her own.

Maya's Version of Chess

Clearly she has her own strategy...

I Never Thought I'd See This

Not that I never thought it was possible, just that it wasn't even on my radar screen. Our friends Ryleigh (2) and Brandon (6) spent the night on Saturday. Sunday morning as I was making waffles and whipped cream and the kids were (I thought) watching cartoons in the next room. I went in to announce that the feast was about to begin when I came across this;

Will taught Lilly to play chess about a year ago, and they have been playing quite a bit lately, and she wanted someone to play with, so she taught Brandon to play. They played all morning instead of cartoons, toys or general kid craziness they played chess. I love unexpected things like chess over cartoons.

Allie's New Pet

Allie has a new pet, her name is Cinderella. She goes everywhere with Allie. She is a welcome addition to the family. We love her, she is very low maintenance.

Little Thing Big Thing

Today was one of those days when I really saw Lilly change. She is clearly becoming more comfortable and familiar with her new routine of going to school, being at school, and trusting that that will stay fairly constant. Every morning when she gets on the bus, I stand on the sidewalk and wave to her. She usually walks to her seat, sits down and watches and waves until the bus is all the way down the street where we can no longer see each other. I wave back the entire time, and a little longer than I probably have to, just in case she can still see me. We have done this every day since school started. Today she walked on to the bus, found her seat, then she peered out the window at me, flashed the sign for 'I love you', and turned to talk to her friends. She never looked back. My sweet Lilly girl is growing up.

Allie and Irish Grandpa Being Silly

Hair Bows

I was inspired by Kaycee at http://lifeasamomat21.blogspot.com/ to make my girls hair bows. I never thought they would wear them, but they are currently begging me to make them some more, as well as some to give their friends. Go figure.