Heard...

In the car last night...
Emma: "Mom, I've been thinking about Aunt Betsy's Christmas gift. I held it up to her picture and it really doesn't look like her at all!"
Mom: "When I say it looks like her I mean that is looks like something she would like."
Emma: "Oh"

Yesterday before going shopping...
Dad: "Emma, what is Santa going to get you for Christmas?"
Emma: "A ds (Nintendo DS)"
Dad: "How do you know?"
Emma: "Cuz I've been praying to God for Santa to bring me a DS, so he will!"

Seen yesterday morning...
Emma lying on the floor, quietly watching cartoons with the remote by her head. Matthew picks up the remote, turns the channel. Emma says "HEY!" Matthew giggles and takes off as fast as his little legs can carry him. He only gets a few feet.

Madie has her little friends from across the street over to play yesterday. When it was about time to go home and the basement was a disaster zone, we tell them to go pick up and then it is time to go home.
Little Cate thinks for 10 secs, heads for the door and says: "I think I'll just go home now!"
I say, "No, you need to go help clean up too"
Cate: "Oh man!" She smirks and heads to the basement.

There never seems to be a dull moment around here!

My Friend...

My friend, Colene, has been on my mind a lot this week. Some of you that live in the state may have heard about a trial going on in Humboldt County involving a 29 year old man who shot his estranged wife and her male friend. Colene is her grandmother. I listen to the news and my heart breaks for her and her family. I simply cannot imagine the pain they are going through sitting in a courtroom, listening to eye witness testimony of how she died. I ask for your prayers for Colene and her family, including her great-grandson who was left behind. She is a wonderful lady who befriended me at my first school 5 years ago. We still keep in touch and I have to stop and see her every year at the State Fair where she helps out every year. It makes me wonder why he did what he did...

Happy Birthday!

The last week and a half has been a little busy. Here is a quick, picture-less synopsis!

• Happy Birthday to Brandon! We didn't get time to celebrate during the week since it was parent-teacher conferences at school and I had to work. We were able to go out to eat Friday night at Texas Roadhouse. Gluttony was the word of the day! But was it good!
• A big thank you to Grandma and Grandpa R. They took the kids for us for the weekend. Since it was a 3-day weekend it worked out great! This gave Brandon and I some time to celebrate his birthday and get some Christmas shopping done. We thoroughly enjoyed our QUIET time together!
• Kudos to both girls! Both had great reports from their teachers. Keep up the good work!
• Matthew continues to get bigger. He is not really showing an interest in talking quite yet but can get his message across with pointing. Whatever works

Pictures soon! (if I get them taken!)

Old Friends...

Emma and her friend, Celeste

Emma and Madie had their friend, Celeste, over to play this afternoon. They went to daycare with Celeste from the time Emma was 2 and Madie was a baby. Emma and Celeste are what you would call BFF's.

My hope for them is a lasting, meaningful friendship.
I hope they remember to find the time to call each other when they are grown and have their own families. And it can't always be the same person calling, reciprocate.
I hope they remember that distance is going to happen but keeping in touch is important.
I hope they endure the new friends that come into their lives...

I know I have found lasting friends that I wouldn't have guessed would be the ones who would stand the test of time. I have also had friends who I thought we always be there disappear...

We shall see in 20 years...