Rule # 1

The 1st rule in parenting, and I should know this...if you haven't heard a peep from them in while...check on them...

**Happy Leap Year Day!!

S.P.E.L.L.I.N.G.

The other day his dad said "honey, you want me to run to the m.o.v.i.e store and get us something to watch later?" and Amy-Lee piped right up and said "I want to get a movie too!" Damn that Montessori for teaching our son to spell...

SIX

An ode to my husband, the one who chose me, on this day 6 years ago to be his lawfully wedded wife…the one who annoys me to no end when the kids and I are waiting for him, again, in the car, the one with the aversion to closing dresser drawers or pulling the plug from the bathtub. You know the one who chooses to go running at the most inopportune times, the same husband who points out, after the fact, that I talked too much at dinner with friends. He’s also the same husband who works several jobs so that I am able to stay home with our children, the one who strongly encourages me to explore my new found passion for photography. The husband who gets up every night to bring our crying 2 year old into our bed, the one who will take the children early in the morning so that I can catch an extra 30 minutes of sleep. This is the man that cancels trips to stay with his family, sends sweet and loving e.mails to his grumpy, annoyed wife, and deliberately loves her, his children and his crazy in-laws. He is the one that patiently teaches his children t-ball, their shapes and colors, and lessons in kindness, generosity and love. This man never forgets a birthday, anniversary or valentine, it never fails he’s always there with a thoughtful card, even when his wife isn't. A master with words he writes lullabies for his unborn son, ditties for his daughter and contrite love songs with the greatest of ease. This is the same husband who doesn’t get recognized, thanked or loved enough yet keeps doing all this and even more! Thanks for choosing me and making me truly the luckiest person on earth!

Love, your wife

Baby Alert!

I've got exciting baby news!!!

Miss Nina Frances was born on Wednesday, Febuary 20, 2008 weighing in at a whopping 9lbs 3 oz's and 20 inches long!

Nina Frances, mother, father and big Brother Jack are all doing well! They should be home on Saturday!

Welcome Nina Frances!

Pretty Girl

This a.m. her daddy said to me "get a picture of that pretty girl..."

and this is what we got...

when this is what we wanted...

Advice

We had friends over yesterday and I had to walk away for awhile and this is what I came back to...the two of them, Jim & Lou, sitting there having a conversation...about what I don't know...maybe he was asking her advice on raising a girl since he's having one TOMORROW!! How exciting! We can't wait to welcome our new friend & neighbor!!

Hand-Me-Downs

Thank goodness for hand-me-downs, even if they are from your older brother!

goodwill

We spent a good part of the day, although we could go on for days, cleaning out our house & getting rid of stuff, these bags were on their way to Goodwill...obviously the kids did not see what was in bag #1...

sensible shoes

My little girl loves these shoes, she'd wear them every day if I let her! She runs in them, jumps in them and clip clops all throughout the house - there's nothing she can't do in them...obviously she doesn't have her mother's love for sensible shoes...

Love Thursday

Yes, this is before breakfast and yes, that is chocolate around her mouth...but it is Valentine's Day...lots of love to you!

Annie

What a great evening! We took the kids to see Annie last night and they had a blast! Lou's eyes were glued to the stage the whole evening! During intermission she told the usher "whatta good movie!"

Duck, Duck, Lou...

This weekend Amy-Lee spent the weekend with his Granna...I wish you could have seen how giddy he was while we were driving to meet her 1/2 way! He loves, loves his Granna and she feels the same! And while we still had one child at home, it felt like we were footloose & fancy free again! It's amazing how easy one child is once you've had two...or more in some cases (NOT OURS!)

Amy-Lee's absence gave us the opportunity to do some fun stuff with just Lou - like feed the ducks! Crazy, long, skinny necked ducks that bite your finger when you are not looking!

Yes We Can!

If there were any questions...

Super Tuesday!

Didcha get your vote on?

All the cool kids did!

Budding Photographer

Amy-Lee took this picture of Lou & me today - what a beautiful day it was too!

On a side note...My dad leaves for Iraq tomorrow - hope he has a safe trip!

Choices

Those of you who know me know that I've been known to have a few opinions in my life. . . and that I share them freely. . . sometimes too freely. . . this post isn't about opinions just something I saw in my neighborhood that took me by surprise. . . see I don't live in what you would call a "liberal" town and not many folks share our political ideologies so when we run into someone who does lean to the same side we do, we embrace them! This sign was placed on a tree by an elderly gentleman who lives on the corner, funny, it's the one's you'd never expect that surprise you, huh?

** Can you guess who I'm voting for on Super Tuesday...? Come on try. . . leave me a comment, see how well you know me!
**and while you're at it...tell me who you favor on Tuesday...