Ferrara's in Florida

Ruby Simone almost 6 years ago A sweet, sweet, yummy baby! Ruby Simone today! A sweet, funny, non-stop little girl J-Fish Napping with Daddy and the Incredible Hulk 11 Years Ago: January 2004!

Visiting The Rock Church in Asheville-- both New Orleanians That's Pastor Suzanne's twin sister Pastor Kirk grew up in River Ridge Touring the Biltmore Gardens Horseback riding on the Biltmore property with JR and Diane me and Champ view of the Biltmore from Philip's horse English lesson with Mad Libs -- hilarious!

Sable is reading Addy, the American Girl , a book about a black girl during the civil rights movement. Teaching children about black and white makes for lots of laughter, among lots of confusion, because the concept of human segregation by color is absolutely ludicrous (not to mention any of the injustice surrounding race, which hasn't even popped into their thoughts this early.) Discussed over breakfast-- Sable: Mommy, bus drivers could be really mean.  I love black people. Me: (Okay, I'm thinking, "so she is now understanding that culture says black and white...") Sable: I mean, Daddy's black friend Mr. Sherman, he's so funny. I love him. Now who else is black that we know?  I'm pretty sure I love them, too. Me: Uncle Tim.  You love him, too. Sable: Mommy!  I mean black people. Uncle Tim is brown.

The dental hygienist came to give me a report of Sable's appointment today. She said everything looked good in her mouth and that Sable requested teeth whitening. (Ha!) Sable's English assignment last week was to write sentences with her spelling words, including unanimous, founder, and fascinating. Her sentences: "My daddy is a founder." (Of a business) "The kids made a unanimous vote for a dog." "My mommy is fascinating."

Sometimes we call Joel "Joel Fish" just for fun. / We've been studying Joseph's life in the Bible this week in school, and clearly Joel has been listening as he builds his Legos on the floor nearby. We found out he can't pronounce Joseph's name yet as he says throughout the day, "I want to hear about Joel-Fish".  Apparently he thinks he's been nicknamed after the prince of Egypt...or that he and Joseph have the same pet name of "Joel-Fish". --------------- Dreams like Prince Joseph? Joel started sharing his dreams with us about a year ago.  The conversations sound like this: "Good morning, how'd you sleep? Did you have any dreams?" "No, Daddy and Mommy, I didn't have dreams.  But guess what I saw in my eyes!!" So we deduced "seeing in my eyes" = "last night's dreams" And this boy dreams BOY DREAMS--about planes, tranes, police man, firefighters, his Pops (not his Mimi or Na...

Seen and heard at Queen of Peace Catholic Church during a neighbor's wedding vow renewal... Sable and Ruby during communion-- S&R: Mommy, What are they eating and drinking?  Can we get in line? Me:  No, you must be Catholic to go up there. S&R: Oh, what does that mean? Me:  Shhh, we're in church. S&R:  Ewww, Mommy!  They're drinking out of the same exact cup!! Shortly after walking out of mass into the vestibule, I said hello to the bride and groom while their children wandered off with Sable, Ruby and Joel.  No more than 20 seconds later, I hear-- Joel (in an excited-like-Christmas-morning voice):  Mommy, feel my hair!  Feel my hair, Mom!  Feels like I been workin' out Mom! Feels like sweat! Me (in a loud whisper):  Joel, what did you do?!  Girls, why is his head dripping wet?!?!?! Joel: Mom, I dunked my head in the water over 'der. Sable;  Mommy, our friend showed us how to dip our hands! Then I sa...

Christmas morning: Woody-Batman all in one  Christmas Gift: New Dress  Breaking in new animal print boots from Aunt Ging  Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue! Took my phone & took a selfie Green Lantern to the rescue  outside of the abortion clinic Our Little Gymnasts at UF's in-house meet chock full of national champions, including Olympians Little Servers in Demand: Serving early morning coffee & hot chocolate bar during December at church (me: chaperone of the popular drink servers) Enjoying our semi-formal, bow tie Christmas party Donning dress-up and a new Christmas necklace from Nana's Christmas calendar 'Dis my pirate face, Mom said Joel after watching Peter Pan live on TV Visiting with friends who are on Christmas break from school Sleeping during church with Spider Man Legos on his lap Joel playing with Brantley Shey Joel with his buddy, Sterling (born 4 weeks apart) When asked what...