42

• Today, I turned 42.   I've been really sick the last few days with a cough and cold, so haven't taken any photos.  You know things are bad when I don't even have enough energy to snap some photos.  Taking photos has become second nature to me.  I don't have to really think about it.  My camera is always handy and I've been able to work it pretty seamlessly into our days.  
• Lila, you gave me the Christmas present you made at school.  It's a wreath made of puzzle pieces with your photo in the middle.  The most fabulous thing about it is that Katie made the exact same thing for me when she was in kindergarten.  So cute!!!
• Lila, you wore two huge gold bows in your pigtails today.  You looked very festive.
• Jane, you read stories to Georgie after school.  It was very sweet.  I love to see you love your little siblings.  I love the way they melt their bodies into yours.  They obviously trust you and love you so much.
• Katie, you stayed after school to help wrap all of the toy donations your school had collected.  I love your willingness to help in any way needed.  You're a sweet gal.  I was wowed by the amount of donations.  The atmosphere at your school is generous and helpful.  What a great environment to be in day after day.
• For dinner we went to Pho 99.  We were going to go to a different restaurant, but I changed my mind at the last minute.  I felt sick and it was cold outside, and pho just seemed like the right choice.  George, you were really excited to be going on a pho date with mommy.  I think you're always jealous when daddy takes me on our pho dates.
• George, I don't know how you keep finding those little Beatles onesies, but you just love them and want to wear them all the time.  You looked at yourself in the mirror and proclaimed that you looked pretty "coow" (cool) and then mentioned that you looked especially good when you sat down.  
• Part of my birthday present from everyone was a walk around Lafarge lake to look at the lights.  The catch was that nobody could complain, and everyone had to enthusiastically participate in any photo I wanted to take.  We hit a little hitch because George suddenly had some gastrointestinal issues and daddy spend 90% of his time there running back and forth to the bathrooms.  Poor little dude wasn't feeling so good.  It put a bit of a damper on the evening.  
• The highlight of Lafarge lake was the giant Lite-Brite.  It was pretty cool.  There was a huge wooden box with water bottles filled with colored water.  
• Lila, you suddenly remembered that you hadn't bought my birthday present.  You wanted to get me wine, so we stopped in at the liquor store.  I thought you would want to get a bottle, but you were 100% convinced I needed two boxes.  Haha.  Silly girl.  Daddy convinced you that one box was enough, so you happily bought me that box of wine.
• My birthday cake was a thing of beauty.  Jalepeno and cheddar Doritos.  There could not be a more perfect cake for me.