so much cute, so little time

I got the new keyboard for my laptop today, and what a relief - all of the problems are fixed. Thank goodness.

I've been making mental lists of things I want to blog about, and I just haven't had the time and energy to yet, but this happened last night, and it was so adorable, I can't resist.

At the dinner table Brian and I were talking about our good friends who will have their first baby this summer. I told him that the baby's name was probably going to be J___. We went on to talk about other things.

About 45 minutes later as I was changing Ben's diaper and getting him ready for bed, Claire was walking around talking, but I couldn't figure out what exactly she was talking about. I asked her, and she said she was telling a story about a little boy (we've been big into making up stories lately). I asked her what the little boy's name was, and she said "uhhhh {long dramatic pause} J___!" Big smile, because she was pleased with herself. I asked if she wanted to meet a baby named J___ and she said yes, so I told her that in a few months she could because Uncle Mike and Aunt Jen were going to have a baby J___ this summer. So then she told me, "I will teach him how to play, and how to read books, and then I will take him downstairs and we will watch a Dora movie."

One of the things I love most about being a mom are these bright spots that are a part of every single one of my days.

mixed messages

Claire is cracking me up right now. She is up in her room for "rest time", and the dog must be laying just on the other side of her door. I can hear her talking to him on the monitor.

"Lucky, stay here. Good dog. Good dog, Lucky. What a nice doggie." (all said in the sweetest possible tone of voice)
"Go downstairs! Go see Mommy! Go. NOW! Go Mommy!" (nearly yelling, in a very stern tone)
"Good dog, Lucky. What a good dog. Stay here, Lucky." (again, all sweetness and light)

The poor dog.

Meet my daughter, Little Peggy Ann McKay

Do you remember that Shel Silverstein poem, Sick?

"I cannot go to school today,"
Said little Peggy Ann McKay,
"I have the measles and the mumps,
A gash, a rash, and purple bumps.

That was my daughter this morning. Today started too early, she was up at 6:30 again, which is 45 minutes to an hour earlier than normal. In the kitchen getting her milk I lightly tapped her on the head, and she started crying, "I need booboo guy!" Then climbing into her booster seat she was crying again because her foot hurt. She took one bite of her Nutrigrain bar, and told me that her tummy hurt because she ate too fast.

Poor child.

Do you think it had anything to do with this display at dinner on Sunday?




That girl really enjoyed her brownie sundae. (She also liked the rhubarb pie.)

Mother's Day is coming - the goose is getting fat

please put a penny in the old man's hat!

Oh wait, wrong holiday.

Anyway, for those *coughBriancough* who may be looking for something special for someone special for Mother's Day, look no further:


Cool Mom Picks has done most of the work for you, and put together some great things for all of the different types of moms in your life. And by posting this I get entered into a drawing for a really cool prize. Mission accomplished!


Or. What mom wouldn't love this. It is just gorgeous. And simple. And gorgeous. Did I mention gorgeous?

But really, I don't need anything fancy. What I really want is a card from my husband, and a card from my kids, and to not have to plan, cook, serve, or clean up dinner on Mother's Day. Wouldn't that be nice?

Of course Claire (thanks to Dora) has said that she wants to make a chocolate cake for Mother's Day. Brian told her he doesn't bake. We'll see what happens.