IN to everything

No really, she is IN to everything. Somehow she got this drawer out of our pantry and had to be IN it.

The butt of all jokes

You know how potty humor is SO funny to kids. Well, Hayley came down from getting ready for bed one night in her jammies like this. Of course it caused Jeremy to break out in his favorite chorus of "I like big butts"

Mommy's letter to Santa

Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor, sold sixty-two cases of choc.bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground. I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes:

I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any colour, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze; but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.

I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.

If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with three kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.

I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your sister," because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season.

Would it be too much trouble to declare tomato sauce a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely.

It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my daughter saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think she wants her crayon back.

Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always,
A Mom
P.S. One more thing … you can cancel all my requests if you keep my children happy, healthy and always believing.

Addyson is ONE!

Addy had a great birthday. It's hard to believe she is one year old already. She is walking and babbling so much. Mostly dada and mama. But Nana bribed her to say "Nana." Nana told her she'd give her $50 each time she said "Nana!" Funny!!!
Here is my birthday girl!

Sweet sweet Addy

My baby is growing up! How is it possible that she will be ONE this month? I am feeling especially sad about it, probably because I know she is my last baby.

But then again- she is so much fun too. She is walking now. Those fun stumbly steps. But she is SO determined. When she falls, she picks herself up and tries again with as much enthusiasm as before.

And smiles- does she smile? The only time she doesn't smile is when one of her sisters starts bugging her too much. It's funny how they learn that "eeehhhhhhh!" noise pretty fast which means 'BACK OFF SISTER!"

This weekend she started signing "more" when she wants more to eat. And she has her own sign for "all done."

And the one thing I wish I could get a picture of without exposing myself... when she is nursing at night and getting REALLY tired, she puts one hand up to her eyes to play peek-a-boo. I think it starts out as her hand over her eyes to block the light then she remembers, "Hey- I know this fun game that makes mama smile." If I don't watch her she reaches her hand up to pull my chin down to watch- then she does it again until she gets the reaction she wants.

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I found her playing in the shoe basket this weekend. Nothing is more fun that big sisters' stinky shoes.

Fun with friends

The girls had their friends over to play on Friday night. The girls had fun playing dress-up and Blake and Addison were SO cute together!

Trick-or-Treat night 2007

It is HARD to get the girls to all cooperate for a picture. Addy was the least thrilled about the idea. She really didn't mind her costume, but she just did NOT want her picture taken.


Hayley had a hard time deciding what she wanted to be for Halloween this year. We bought this Unicorn costume, but evidently she thought people would make fun of her in it. (It's another phase.) So then she thought she'd just wear her Cinderella costume from last year. I finally convinced her to be Cinderella riding the Unicorn!