I found a Home Depot gift card in my desk.  WOOO HOOO!

(Too bad it was supposed to be someone’s wedding present…..and I thought I had lost it)

I want to tell everyone THANKS! on Claire’s behalf for all the wonderful birthday presents and wishes sent her way!  I know she is going to have a wonderful time playing with all of her new toys and wearing her new clothes!

Some of the highlights for her have been

• The Imagination Box — courtesy of Cookie with a little help from DP!  It is a big box of things she can use to pretend with…dress up clothes, shoes, gloves, hats, any little thing you can imagine!
• Chicken Little & Cars — new DVD’s that we don’t know the words to…yet!
• The doll house dolls and furniture…including sleeping Judy!
• Her TRICYCLE!
• My Little Ponies and “Grabbyelle” her Snap & Style doll.
• All “my new clothles”

Oh, there will be worlds of fun at our house!

My Dearest Claire,

Three years ago today I was holding you in my arms for the very first time after a very long day and very long night. I looked into your big blue eyes and stroked your soft little cheek and was in a state of wonder that you were here and that you were our little one. Those nine long months I dreamed about what you would look like and who you would be, and when I saw you for the first time, at 3:50 am three years ago, I realized that all my dreams had become reality and that you were exactly perfect.

What was beyond my imagination is the lovely girl that you would become. Your Dad and I had high hopes that you would be an intelligent and polite child, curious and loving. You have exceeded every hope that we had for you. Your eyes light up in excitement over the smallest things and you are the most loving child that I have ever known. It melts my heart when you tell me that “I love you Mommy” and when you call me your best friend.

Your third year has been a big year for you. You became a big sister to Madeline and I love to see you two play together. You treat her with such love and gentleness, and don’t mind…too much…when she likes to play with your Kitty and Otto. You share with her, and I know she adores and looks up to her big sister.

In May you got your tonsils and adenoids out and had ear tubes put in your ears. The surgery was quick and fast and although the recovery was rough you were such a trooper and were such good girl!

This year you have learned so many things…how to use the potty all by yourself, how to write your name, how to draw pictures of people and “frogs” and you learned to count all the way to 35! Daddy and I are amazed everytime you show us that you know something new — we are so happy that you have a love of learning just as we both do. Even since you started preschool a few weeks ago we can see how your world is exploding in front of you. We love it when you play imaginary games with us and make up stories about lions and tigers and other special animals. You have learned to ride a tricycle, do a somersault and skip. You know how to put your shoes on and you can wash your hands all by yourself with the help of your Dora stool.

You still love to cuddle with Kitty and Otto and your new Pink Puppy. You love to read books and color and even watch Dora. You sing CONSTANTLY, songs we know and songs we don’t know. You remind us always when we forget to pray before meals and you’ve mastered the Sign of the Cross. Last night you said your own prayer before bed, instead of Angel of God, you did a very cute hybrid between Hail Mary and The PLedge of Allegiance.

Claire, you are our amazing little girl. And we are so blessed and lucky to have you in our lives. Daddy and I love you always and forever. Have a wonderful birthday.

– Mommy

PS Thanks for the idea Jen! Happy Birthday Ben!!!

What a week last week.  My Security Conference and Trade Show is finally over and I think went pretty well other than a few hiccups at the venue.

Claire is loving preschool.  She told me this morning that “Mommy, it’s time to go” like two seconds after I took her in her room.  Ok kiddo, I got the point.  Thanks. :)  The days she is there she comes home so happy.  I just love the environment there as well.  I have a feeling she’s going to be one of those children who just loves school like I did.

Claire told me the BEST thing yesterday…she hopped into my lap and said “Mommy, I love you.  You’re my best friend”.  Awwww is right.

Yesterday Claire and Madeline were kind of “wrestling” on the floor.  Claire sort of pulled down Madeline on top of her and gave her a big hug and said “We’re best friends!”.  However two seconds later, best friends gave way to “MADDIE GET OFF MY ARM!”.

The big news around our house is that Madeline really is officially walking.  She still crawls when she has to go somewhere fast, but she’s braver and braver on two feet with every passing day.  I forgot how completely adorable that tottering early walking stage is!  She takes these GIANT steps and looks like she’s constantly going to wipe out (which she does often, I might add).

Claire with her cousins Megan & Jane at the birthday party!

We had Claire’s birthday party this weekend in combination with her cousins Nora (4) and Kyle (9). It was a total BLAST. We did it at the local elementary school playground. Other than a confrontation with a somewhat snooooty Granger mom who called dibs on the pavillion even though we had a permit (MB kicked her out), it was a wonderful time. There were 2 playgrounds, basketball courts and a big field to play football. The kids played and played and played and the adults sat under the pavillion and socialized. It was such a great time!!

aaaah pictures…just a few. MB took these — I’ll put mine later.

Birthday loot for 3 kids

Claire’s Cake:

The birthday kids

Incidentally, thanks Em for the idea of the Snap & Style dolls . Claire LOVES the one she got as a present. She named her Gabrielle (although she prounounces it Grabbyelle) and told me that I needed to go get Gabrielle a friend to play with at the store. (Uncle Tom’s gift of a target gift card will go to that!)

Madeline however did not enjoy the day too much seeing as we discovered she has a double ear infection. She was SOOOOOO cranky all weekend and that is why…. poor baby! I hope it’s not a sign of things to come (a la Claire ear tubes).

Gee thanks Jenny & Em

I’ve been tagged…here’s (here ARE) the rules:

1. I have to post these rules before I give you the facts.
2. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
3. People who are tagged need to write a post on their own blog (about their eight things) and post these rules
4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

Eight Random Facts About Me:

1. Like my friend Jenny, I’m also getting sort of green in my old age. I haven’t yet convinced Jonathan to switch to Cloth Diapers, but I really want to. After all these China lead paint toy recall thing, I’m getting increasingly wary of mass market stuff. Plus every time I change Madeline there are those little gel crystals all over her butt. I have to wonder if that’s a really good idea exposing her to that…..however, the Man who does the laundry isn’t into cloth diapers….or poop for that matter.

2. When we moved into our house I was excited about having the laundry in the basement so it would be out of the way. Two years later I think it’s a total pain in the butt to have it downstairs and I would LOVE to move it upstairs if we could (but we can’t, so I guess I’ll have to just deal)

3. I have an inability to keep a cell phone for more than a year without killing it. My new Krzr lasted less than 2 weeks before I somehow fried it. (thankfully it was under warranty)

4. I love to watch tattoo shows (Miami Ink, LA ink) even though I don’t have a tattoo and never will get one.

5. I also love to knit. Knitting while watching a tattoo show in combination is really very strange. I’m kind of obsessed with knitting these days actually, so much so that my fingers are sore from the hat that I’ve been working on. (note to self, size 6 needles and bulky yarn are NOT a good combination)

6. I would much rather be friends with men than women. Maybe it’s the having 4 older brothers thing….

7. I love reading celebrity gossip sites like pink is the new blog mostly because the writing is snarky.

8. I actually don’t mind watching episode after episode of Dora. Diego drives me crazy.

I do not have 8 friends who are blogging either and since Jenny & Emily both tagged me, I suppose I have to tag them back. I’m going to tag Jonathan & Joseph’s blog, but I doubt they will participate because 8 random facts about them are not very highly intellectual. Ali is just starting her blog, so she’ll play and Kelly probably will too. Keith will probably never respond. That’s about it!

The words a mother hates to hear most.  You associate them with “not so fun” things in the middle of the night….messes….cleanup…and worst…smell.

 However, this morning, Claire said this to me while eating her nice bowl of cheerios, bananas and milk.  The conversation went like this:

Claire:  ”Mommy, my tummy hurts!”. 

Me:  Oh Claire, I’m sorry, why?

Claire:  Well, it gots lots of cereals in it?

Me:  Your tummy hurts because you ate your breakfast?

Claire:  There is LOTS of Cereals in it.

Me:  Are you finished?

Claire:  No, there’s still cereals in my bowl.

Me:  Ok.

Claire:  “munch munch munch”.  I can be done Mommy?

Me:  Drink your milk

Claire: “slurp (as she drinks the milk from the bowl)”.  Can I watch Sesame now?

Me: Sure.

Madeline: WHAAAAAAAAA, adua, mmmm (as she eats her cheerios).

I guess this goes to show that this phrase can’t be all bad.  Maybe a little funny even!

Today is the big combined birthday party between Claire, Nora & Kyle.  It should be a blast!  Pray for a great day and NO RAIN!

Another day, another round of news:

• “Toddler Study Proves Humans Outsmart Apes” - One would think that the simple desire to study such a thing proves that. On the other hand, the apes knew that already and declined to spend government money on a study. Wait..maybe they are smarter… -
• Continued - “As part of one of the social learning tasks, the researchers demonstrated how to pop open a plastic tube to retrieve the food or toy inside. The children watched and copied the researcher; the apes attempted to break the tube or pull it apart with their teeth.” - As opposed to us Southerners, I suppose.
• “WATER BOTTLE IS NO PLACE TO STORE TOXIC PRODUCTS” - A letter to “Dear Abby” - Do parents have to be told not to do this? Yet another case for parenting licenses…

Boring news day…

-Jonathan

Yesterday was Claire’s first day of preschool and she did very very well. The teacher wrote us a note that she enjoyed her first day and loved to explore all the new toys. And apparently she mastered the rope climbing wall.

I knew she was going to be fine when I dropped her off in the morning and after observing that a boy was crying and that she should go give him a hug, she was distracted by breakfast and told me “Mom, you can leave now.” Point taken. I dropped Otto and Kitty in the lovey basket and teared up as I walked to my car.

Anyway, check out our cutie on her first day of school.

Does anyone else think the country just has too many laws? I’m a lawyer, and I think it has too many laws.

-Jonathan

Morning Review - Let’s see, in the interesting news this morning:

• Luciano Pavarotti passed away last night.
• The WSJ notes that skirts are getting longer - “Hemlines are Plunging” (given it is the WSJ, I expected first a reference to stocks plunging, but no, truly, it’s about fashion).
• A trout re-stocking effort in Colorado has been failing because “some waterways have been restocked with the wrong fish.” You’d think someone would notice, particularly the biologists tasked with the effort. A new Ph.D. noticed the error. It’s been a 20-year effort…
• Former Senator Fred Thompson announced his presidential candidacy, and “Takes aim at Hilary.” Lookout, Hilary - it’s yet another Republican candidate. I think I’ll announce my own campaign, and take swipes at Hilary…it looks so easy.
• Apple has cut their iPhone prices $200+, and updated their iPod. Of course, with the prices so similar, why would anyone buy an iPod? Do you really need both?
• Doctors have warned that fumes from microwave popcorn might make you sick, as it contains the chemical diacetyl. Some individual (named Wayne Watson - no relation) who loved it so much he would sit and inhale the fumes coming out of the newly-opened, popped, bags. And got sick. Who does this sort of thing, really? Sniffing popcorn fumes from bags?

Fun fun!

–Jonathan

I couldn’t even bring myself to watch the replay of the game on Saturday.  When biggest cheers in the Stadium are when they announced that Michigan lost to ASU (WOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO), you  know things are bad.

However, it’s looking up.  An insider posted on ndnation.com this morning who the new starting QB is and it’s NOT Demetrius Jones.

Let’s just hope Happy Valley is a little more happy than ND stadium was this past weekend.

On the flip side…my Dad and I had great seats, and a pretty awful self portrait from the cell phone (that I’m not posting) to prove we were there.