"Please no tomato"

Alayna's family prayer tonight...

"Dear Heavenly Father, we thank thee for this day, that it was a nice day. Thankful my Aunt Shanny & Toddy could go on a date, to eat dinner. That my Aunt Angela and Grady could go watch a movie about a horse and a secretary. We pray that they will be safe, and especially my daddy that he will be safe coming home to us, from working all day long at work. We pray that my cousins can have a sleepover and not just a late over, because I love them so much. And we pray their won't be an earthquake tonight or .......(really long pause).....a tomato....in the name...Amen."

After the prayer Kierra and I looked at each other and then asked Alayna "what a tomato" was and she said, "I can't remember what it's called...it's rain and wind in a long circle!" We then guessed a tornado...not a tomato....hilarious!

Let's just say that we all laughed hysterically! She is developing a love for prayer. I have come to appreciate children that truly ponder and think about things to ask for and to be grateful for. I just love this girl!

Favorite things.

Caleb. Simply said, he is a favorite. Then there is his vocabulary that is just taking off! I remember just reading this book with him and him just staring at the pictures. Now, it's an interactive reading time! I love it. He is talking non-stop...Mommy, Daddy, Pappi, Nanna (Banana), Ruff-Ruff, Doggy, Ssssock, Shoes, sissy, Ali (for Alayna), Baff (for bath), bye-bye, Gampa (Grandpa), Cheese, Bahbee (Baby), oh and how can I forget...Night-Night...his true love his blankie. Really, I think I could go on and on. I know I'm missing some, but I just had to snap a photo of this cute kid reading his favorite book!

Ok, Jacob's smile. He calls this one his "Mommy Smile" because I love to see it! My other favorite part about this kid is how messy his face gets! We are into drinking "green smoothies" and he LOVES them and so does his face!

And who can't love kids who dress themselves. Yes, these two have quite the sense of style...I mean seriously, who wouldn't want to wear so many different pairs of socks in one day? Oh, and should I remind you it's cold outside and Jake is wearing his swimming suit? Yeah, it's these long winter days that I love. The kids use anything to entertain them and have a great time playing! Really, that is what life is all about.

Just another one of those darling smiles. I think I tell this kid to stop growing up everyday, but he always tells me, "I can't mom, I'm growing up everyday to be like my daddy!" Well, at least you have picked the best guy in town to be like! Loving these smiles each day really makes me grateful for the simple things. Alayna of coarse is another favorite. But she is currently doing what she loves. And that is spending every waking moment with her cousins while she is off track. She wouldn't stop and pose for a picture...they are too busy making arts & crafts, playing school and anything else their little imaginative minds think of next! Have I mentioned before I love off-track time???