One potato, two potatoes

I took the kids down to visit with Cici yesterday. She has declined a lot in the past 10 days. Although there were still glimpses of the twinkle in her eye as she played peek-a-boo with Rebecca and looked at Ben's train book, she just wasn't herself. Her lunch came and for some weird reason they had given her both a baked potato and mashed potato. I asked her why they would do that and she replied, "One potato, two potatoes, three potatoes, four..." Throughout our visit she whispered that phrase to herself a few more times. I wondered where she had gone, what she was thinking. Was she a child herself playing that game with her friends or was she watching Sheila play the game with her friends?
I love her. She has been independent and all full of spitfire and vinegar as long as I have known her. Her family is the most important thing to her and she has never missed an opportunity to tell us so.
I am praying for you, Cici. For your continued strength, for comfort, and to find a place that keeps you smiling and your eyes twinkling. I love you!

My composer

The whole song went something like this.... Uh, uh train track I love you............uh, uh mommy, I love YOU! Daddy, Ray-Ray I love you....Uh, uh Becca I love YOU!
He is so precious!

My littlest princess is two!

Rebecca quietly turned two last weekend. She is just so amazing. Here's a picture of Rebecca today:
She loves her new princess dress-up shoes and wears them everywhere. Her favorite food is chicken with brownies a close second. She can repeat just about anything and is understood almost 100% of the time. Her funny expressions include a gasp followed by "What's that!!", "This way" and "Where are you??". She spent the weekend at Grammy and Grampa's house singing Twinkle, Twinkle and I love you a bushel and a peck, closing with a bow and a 'Tink you' when we clapped.
She follows Ben around like he is the pied piper and can basically do anything he can. She is LOUD and always willing to try something new. She loves the water and is already tall enough to stand in the hot tub. When she smiles her nose crinkles and her eyes squint and her smile lights up the whole room. What a blessing she is. My littlest princess

March 4, 2010

Today is a big day in our house.........we are taking the crib down. My baby is moving into a bed. It is really bittersweet. I am looking forward to all the things I can do with them all as they get older, but the last of the "baby" things is on its way out. So fast. So cute. So smart.
Ben and Rebecca had a good jump-fest in the crib for about 10 minutes as part of the going away party. Too funny. Goodbye crib, goodbye monitor. Have fun joining the ranks of the unemployed with the jumperoo, bumbo seat and the baby swing. I'll try to find a good family for you.
Drumroll, please, as we enter this next phase of our lives. Yippee!!

Madame President

A random conversation in the car on the way to art class winds down with Rachel saying thoughtfully...."maybe someday I should be President so [I can fix things up]"
I glance over and say, "That sounds great! Can I come and visit you a lot in the White House?" To which she replies, "Sure! You can come over and watch my kids while I go to work!"

Gotta love them Grammys and Grampys! <3

Exasperation

So my husband is in a "tizzy". He works best under pressure and knows how to make mountains out of molehills (in my opinion) about the weirdest things-- like Rachel writing "wash me" on his truck. (lol)
As he is frantically searching the barn for a brush so that he can have her wash it off in 34 degree weather, I pull her aside and say, "you know, your dad is a really great guy........but when you get married try to find a great guy that is a bit more laid back, OK?"
She looks at me with these beautiful brown eyes and says, deadpan, "You can divorce him, you know."
I blink. "I can?"
"Yes", she says. "People do it all the time."
"You wouldn't mind?" I ask.
"Depends on who I get to live with." she says.
I chuckled (She loves me mooooore, she loves me moooooore!) and gave her a quick head-hug and went to help find the brush.

Added 15 minutes later--the hose is frozen but Chad and all 3 kids are out front trying to thaw it out. Points for persistance!