Daily

Max has been home sick with croup since Wednesday. He sounds like a San Francisco Bay harbor seal crossed with a wheezy broken accordion. He's happily resting in my bed with his iPad. I'm constantly amazed at how big he's growing. At 76 pounds and 54" tall, I can no longer pick him up.

A most precious glimpse into his developing maturity, kind nature, and sharp mind is listening to him teach and coach his sister on her reading and spelling. A few days ago, he was quizzing her on sight words by writing them on the magnetic erase board, then he'd have her read it. He taught her that if the word ended in "e" the "'e' reaches over and tickles the vowel to say its own name."

May had her kindergarten music program last night. She was excited to wear her pretty dress and performed her songs like a pro. She takes her school work very seriously and wants to do well in everything...mainly because she loves praise and likes the feeling of success. She is very conscious of what her peers think (of her and the world) in a way that Max has never been. She is more susceptible to peer pressure than her brother. Max says, "she's a diva." Hahahaha!

The Original Secret Service

They'll always be my little babies, even with size 4 feet...whiskers one day...boyfriends...all those big things. I'm their Secret Service. To get to them, you have to go through me. No hesitation. I will shoot first, f*&kers. I am the job: I am Mom.