Things that make me smile...

The newest biped, enjoying a sunny day with Mommy and Daddy

Can you guess what they're doing?

Getting ready for baby brother

And baby #4, 37 weeks and coming soon!

By the way, notice the wardrobe: it was a gorgeous day God blessed us with, in the middle of a COLD winter!! Never in my life have I so cherished the words "highs in the 50s this week," but today I headed out for a 2-mile walk (waddle?) on a path near our house and, for the first time, preferred being in Kansas to Southern California. The clearness of the air, the fresh smells, the peaceful repose of the country, all made my senses unusually alive.

PK discoveries

The other night our family went to a rehearsal dinner for a wedding the Ringmaster was performing. As we were getting ready, we explained to the kiddos that Daddy would be marrying Mr. Seth and Miss Jessica.

Miss B (confused and concerned expression on her face): So Daddy is going to marry them?

Trainer: Yep, that's right, sweetie.

Miss B (almost panicked): But if Daddy marries them, who will be our Daddy and who will be your husband?

Trainer: Oh no, sweetie, Daddy just tells them that they're married. That's what a pastor does, he doesn't actually get married TO them!

Miss B (greatly relieved): Oh, good. Otherwise that would be an abomination!

Ammo's surgery and doppelganger discovery

So Ammo had her first surgery today, and took the whole thing like a champ. Tubes in, she's rather sensitive to loud noises (a less-than-desirable situation when one has a 3-year-old brother) but other than that seems to be doing great!

As she was coming out from the anaesthesia, the nurses were all gathering round to remark at how much she looked like Shiloh Pitt. Now people have been telling us that for months, but never having seen a picture of that child (can't remember the last time I picked up a People-type magazine), and judging from the fact that our gene pool is obviously quite different from the Brad-Angelina mix, we never thought much of the comments. But seeing her become the marvel of the pediatric floor, we decided to google "Shiloh Pitt pictures" and this is what we found:

http://omg.yahoo.com/brangelina-clan-hits-up-kidville/photos/706/1

Very odd to see my daughter in the arms of another woman! Ammo pointed excitedly at "herself" while Miss B and Nay-Nay asked repeatedly who that woman was and why she was holding their sister. Born just days apart, these look-alikes will undoubtably live very different lives.

The questions kids ask...

Miss B: "Mommy, what does Satan do all day?"

Trainer: "He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour."

Miss B: "Where is he now?"

Mommy: "I don't know, sweetie. Prowling around somewhere."

Miss B: "I think he's in China."

Images of a child's Christmas

Remembering what it is we're celebrating

Trimming the tree...

Captivated by trains in KC

A whole week with the visiting cousins!

Making and eating way too many sweets

And, of course, the gifts!