Friends

We enjoyed a Saturday with our friends, the Ulicznys.

My favorite picture of the day-- Eliza with her clown sundae:

Mistaken Identity

Check out this site--

Look at the video of Matt Lauer with Chuck Lofton, a weatherman in Indianapolis. Watch the whole thing. It's very good.

Mike and I started the book today. It's emotional, engaging and answers so many questions.

Our Little Ladybug

My mom just took this adorable picture:

Books

I subscribe to a magazine called Cookie that I actually don't like. It's very "New York" and is filled with over-the-top children's clothing, furniture, toys, etc. There was a recent article, though, that I enjoyed entitled "The Unheralded Classics: The 33 Best Children's Books You're Probably Not Reading. Yet."

I get tired of the same books so I thought I would pass along their suggestions to you. Maybe you can take this list to the library on your next visit:

Ages 2-4
Ask Mr. Bear by Marjorie Flack (1932)
Little Pea by Amy Krouse (2005)
Round is a Mooncake by Roseanne Thong (2000)
Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh (1989)
Little 1 by Ann and Paul Rand (1962)
The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton (1942)
Jenny's Birthday Book by Esther Averill (1954)
The Backward Day by Ruth Krauss (1950)

Ages 4-6
Crictor by Tomi Ungerer (1958)
Amos and Boris by William Steig (1971)
The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord (1972)
The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson (1999)
Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard Waber (1972)
Nimby by Jasper Tomkins (1982)
Mole Music by David McPhail (1999)
The Scrambled States of America by Laurie Keller (1998)
That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown by Cressida Cowell adn Neal Layton (2007)
Miss Esta Maude's Secret by W. T. Cummings (1961)
How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long (2003)

Ages 6-8
The Raft by Jim LaMarche (2000)
Animus by Seonna Hong (2005)
The Wonderful Flight of the Mushroom Planet by Elenor Cameron (1954)
No Flying in thh House by Betty Brock (1970)

Core Problems

What do the Wal-Mart cashier, the bus driver, the Schwan's Man, and the admissions secretary all have in common?

I'll give you one guess....

****

They've all thought I was pregnant.

I was on the treadmill a few nights ago. I was in a groove. I was running eight minute miles. I was feeling great.

The admissions secretary touches my stomach and says, "What's this?"

"Leftovers," I admit.

"Oh, that isn't leftover. You're daughter is almost two, isn't she? Isn't it about time for another baby?"

I'm training for this 13 mile race. I'm feeling great. My training is going well. And they still have to ask if I'm pregnant?

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Tyson and Leslie

I know a lot of my friends are aware, but for those family members that read Troy's blog last week about his roommate, Tyson, please check out their blog for an update on Leslie's surgery... and then pray, pray, pray.

Pudding

It was her first pudding treat--

and it was so good!

Today

A brief conversation this morning:

Jonah: Mom, can I play the computer or watch TV?

Me: No.

Jonah: But Mom, I need computer skills and TV-watching skills.

*****

Oh, gee.