The Little Things

Emma is writing a letter to a solider. She wrote "Dear solider,..." then when it was time to sign the letter she thought and said "I will write love, because it goes better with Dear." Then she wanted to sign her name in cursive. I said that was okay. She was worried that the solider might not be able to read cursive. I told her I was pretty sure he or she would be able to read it.

Emma: I will write my name in English too.
Me: Cursive is English.
Emma: What?! Whoa. That is AWE-some.

Faker, Faker, Belly Acher

I am sitting next to Justin helping him with his homework. He was talking to me and leaned over a little. I brushed against his face and he seemed a little warm so I asked if he was feeling okay. Suddenly, he could barely speak and looked pathetic. He moaned "no." Is it bad that I burst out laughing? No sympathy for fakers!

Attack of the Taxes

You know how kids end up copying their parents? Well, that has happened again. Charlie's dad used to take bites of his food when he was a kid and say "dad tax." Charlie has been doing that to the kids for some time now. Then this last year Mia started running up and grabbing whatever we are eating and yelling "Mia ATTACK!!"
Yesterday Charlie woke up during the night with something scratching his eye. In the morning he went to urgent care while I took the kids to church. They had their primary program and did a great job saying their parts and singing the songs they had learned. After the program Sister Kitchen gave them all cupcakes. When church was over she gave them extra and told them to have as many as they wanted. (She doesn't have kids yet.) I caught Justin eating his FOURTH. Emma had grabbed a second and third. I told her she could eat one of them outside, but had to save the other for her poor dad. I went and got Mia from her class and walked out to the car. As I walked out the door I saw Emma. She looked slightly confused and guilty. I looked at her face and saw the frosting from dad's cupcake. I looked at her hand and saw half of a cupcake left. I asked what happened and she said it was an "Emma attack." I think she couldn't control herself and meant to take a little bite, which turned into a bigger bite and if I hadn't come out right when I did there wouldn't have been anything left.

Keeping It Real

Kids are great. They play a great role in life. I love going to school. People tell me I look young and am smart and I love it, but don't worry. I won't let it go to my head, or at least my kids won't let it go to my head. Today someone said he had thought I was 21. Ha Ha. I told Justin about it and he said "No, you look older. You look like you are in your 30s."

A couple of weeks ago I talked to Justin about the importance of getting A's. He said B's are okay too, and I said they are alright, but you should aim for A's. He kept saying B's were good, then asked about the last B I got. I told him that I cried. A few days later I had a quiz in one of my classes. At the next class meeting we were going to review the quiz. Justin told me that if I got a B then I really should try not to cry in class, I should wait until I got home... This way he could see me cry.

Many More

Charlie and I will celebrate our 12th anniversary this weekend. Crazy, I know. We had this conversation the other day that I think represents our future.

Charlie got a new electronic toy. It accesses media on our computers and plays them on the TV. An added bonus is that is has a radio function. It finds a genre of music you choose on the internet and plays music. Charlie loves this feature and it has been playing consistently good music. The other day it was playing "We didn't start the fire." Charlie went around the house singing "I didn't fart you liar; it was you who did it..." Very mature, I agree. Then he asks Justin and I if we know who is really good at changing song lyrics. Justin didn't know and Charlie and I said "Uncle Sam" simultaneously. Charlie looked surprised and asked how I knew that. (Sam is his best friend.) I said "How long have we known each other? Do you think during that time you might have mentioned this maybe a dozen times?" We both laughed and I wondered if this is what life will be like now? Do we know all of each other jokes and stories? I also find that we reminisce much more now. Sometimes it is like we are old grandparents. We say "do you remember when Justin/Emma/Mia used to do XYZ?" I love that we are reaching this stage. It is comfortable and safe to me. We still have a lot to talk about, but it reminds me of one of my favorite sayings. ~ A friend is someone who knows all about you and likes you anyway.

Well, I know most of what there is to know about Charlie and I like him anyway.

Living the Dream

I told Charlie that I am living the dream. Saying this helps me to stay focused and not stress out too much by everything going on. I have a husband that I love and loves me. I have three amazing, wonderful, healthy, good kids. I have God in my life. And now I get to do what it takes to reach my goals I've set for myself. (Getting an education.) See, I'm living the dream! Charlie asked why XY and Z were missing if I am living the dream. Because it is MY dream, not yours. ;)

Anything for an Edge

Justin: When can I get glasses?

Charlie: You don't need glasses. You should be grateful that you don't need them. Hopefully, you never will.

Kelly: Yes, but you probably will need them in a few years.

Justin: A few years?! Argh.

Charlie: Why do you say that?

Justin: Because you know how I have to run at school? Well, kids with glasses get to a head start.

Kelly: That is the worst reason for wanting glasses I have ever heard.