Did anyone see where I left my sandblaster?

I have long contended that I can judge how good Sam's day has been by how dirty he is when he gets home. The more dirt, the better his day has been, with lots of running and playing and romping in the great outdoors. I'm thinking that today must have been a banner day in the History of Sam. At bath time, I got to deal with this:

and this:

and this:

And it looks like Ellen had a pretty good day, too:

Say it with me, now. . . Ewwww!

Happy Birthday Ellen

I love you.

The Magic and Mayhem of Mothering a Daughter

My daughter will turn 2 years old next week. She's not really a baby anymore, and toddlerhood will soon pass us by, as well. Sometimes I look at her and wonder how the time got away from me. I just blinked and suddenly she is two!

Two years ago it seemed impossible to me that I could love another creature as much as I loved Sam, that my house could get any messier, or that there was an episode of The Wiggles I hadn't seen. And then Ellen came along, and all of those things were proven false. Suddenly I loved another person more than I ever thought possible. The house got worse, The Wiggles taped some new episodes, and I realized that being a mom to a little girl is a whole lot different that being a mom to a little boy.

Sam was always kind of a mellow kid. . . there's NOTHING mellow about Ellen. She does everything with enthusiasm -- cries, eats, plays and laughs. She has the most wonderful, lusty, big laugh. Nothing held back with her. She's completely girly and tenderly mothers her babydolls like they were real children. She is a joy and a delight and I can't imagine life without her.

I just wish I could figure out how she got from this:

to this

to this!

Matthew 28:1- 6

Matthew - Chapter 28
1In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first [day] of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
2And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
3His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead [men].
5And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.


Happy Easter, everyone.