When I was a kid we used to say a little prayer every night before bed. It went like this, "God bless Mommy and Daddy, 2 Grandmas and Grandpas, Uncle Mike, Aunt Chris and Uncle Bob, Jeff, Mike, and Jen, Tussy [our dog] and then it varied according to our pets and whatever we were feeling I guess. We must have had our own names in there, too. My brother being the ever loving PIA that he was, used to throw a fit (mainly for the sake of throwing a fit) if we didn't say things correctly or whatever his issue of the day was.

Before we put our own kids to bed we always give hugs and kisses. Slowly we added on...first a kiss, then a hug, then a bump, then a bump with an explosion, then a bump with a click of the tongue and point your finger up for a shock. Unless it's Kaela, then you could either be in for a quiet explosion and shock or a loud one--you never know until you get yelled at for doing the wrong thing. Sometimes we have a song or two, and almost always we have a Walton's style "I love you!" and "you're my best friend!" or from Kaela "you're THE best friend!" and "I love you!" and "sweet dreams!" and "you're the best friend, Cammie!" and "you're the best friend, Daddy!" and they all have to be repeated back. Sometimes we are at this for a few minutes and have to put an end to it, but I really do love it and wouldn't change our routine for anything.

Mom (and everyone else) make this immediately.


My Henckels and I got into a fight...needless to say I did not win. I am only a finger chunk lighter and expect a full recovery in days. Don't worry, we made up.


We now own a fish named Panda Bear. Don't even try to talk him out of it.


Cameron: ...yeah, like sound waves traveling through the air [makes wavey motion with hands] into my ears. That is how we hear sounds.
Me: [mouth wide open]
Kyle: Sid the Science Kid is awesome


Cameron: [new favorite saying] Did you know that, Mom?


Kaela: You're the best friend, Mommay!

I wonder what kind of hits I'm going to get with a title like that...I guess it could be worse. I could title it "pooper hooper".

A couple weeks ago I went to a conference for work. Because my group is heavily involved in the planning and facilitating of the conference, activities such as the "gaming through the ages" social event was mandatory.

OK, so hoola hooping wasn't mandatory, but it was just lying there taunting me. That hoop knows that even though I have the hips for it, I have never mastered the hoola.