life in alaska

All right. So lately it's all about Emmie. You're right, Anita, I've said the most about her but it's for the simple reason that pretty much, life is all about Emmie lately! She has been the sickest, hurt most often, neediest, craziest, and funniest.

Within 24 hours she hurt herself significantly twice, with other minor escapades. Last night she fell and smashed herself in the mouth, resulting in gums that were at least two to three times the normal size and was up crying in the night. Tonight (was my fault) she popped her elbow out (again) on a piggy-back ride. Once we came home from someone helping pop it back in I rocked her, put ice on it for a bit, then put her to bed. As I leaned in to kiss her goodnight she smiled up at me and said "you're the sweetest mom!" What more could I ask for?

Now, about "the others" (anyone watch Lost?)

Riley continues to amaze me. She is the sunshine of our home. She's got the most buoyant little personality - you cannot keep her down. I recently made a "job chart" and she lives to check stuff off. She is a great kid.

Logan continues to enjoy his soccer team, but has only one game left. He scored again on Saturday (you have to know that he hasn't wanted to touch the ball much this year, so it's always really exciting if he even tries to kick it, let alone score.)

I have to say I was really proud of all three this last week when I went to court about my little speeding ticket issue. Ask me and I'll tell you the story but it's getting late and I don't think I can write it all out. Suffice it to say, I begged (if you're good I'll reward you), nearly threatened (if you're bad the judge will order us out of the courtroom), plead with them to be good (please please please be good) in the courtroom - yes, I took them - and they were absolutely still, absolutely silent. I didn't know my children had it in them. I have seen children do this, but never mine.

When we came out I asked what they thought of the courtroom and Riley said "It was awesome! And I really liked all the stories." (She meant the little traffic violation trials.)

By the way, I received mercy - as long as I don't get a ticket for six months anyway. I was very grateful for that, and the four of us thanked the Lord on the way home.

Emmie - I'm having the weirdest day.
Me - Huh? Why?
Emmie - I just am.

I just prayed (briefly) over the kids breakfast, and it went something like "Dear God, thank you for providing food for my children to eat, amen." Emmie pipes up "Not like that! It doesn't go like that! It goes, 'Dear God, thank you for the food, in Jesus name amen.'"

I'm a lucky girl. But I'm not a really lucky girl, I'm just betendin.' (Emmie-kid)

Emmie's eating cereal and just said "I don't wanna eat like a dog, I wanna eat like a human!" Okay, so sometimes I tell her to eat like a human...she's still funny.

Yesterday while we were watchin football she said "I don't like football. It's too tacky-ish." Did she mean tackle-ish? Or that the uniforms are tacky?

She's so great.

Now she's running to me yelling "Logan's attacking me! Don't you wanna go and spank him?"

"Mom, did ya know that a-b-c's belong to everybody?" That's what Emmie just came up to me and said. We're doing school, and she keeps getting shushed by Riley, and I think she's feeling a bit needy!

Emmie just said to me "Mom! I've got a nose-burger!" (booger)

Yesterday I picked her up from her crib after her nap and held her for a minute and said to her "Oh, Emmie, you're a blessing! You are a gift from God to me!" and she thought for a minute and said "Band-aids are a gift. Like plain ones, and Dora ones." I'm not really sure about the connection.