Letters to Heaven

Allison was with me when I was getting a condolence card for our neighbor, whose mother passed away.

Allison: Who's the card for?
Me: Well, Griffin's grandmother died, so I wanted to send a card.
Allison, after a pause: Well if she died, how's she going to get it?

Without a Drought

The kids were brushing their teeth tonight, and afterwards Allison filled a small cup with water. She had a couple of sips, and just as David asked me for a cup of water, she dumped out the rest of hers.

Me: Allison, don't dump that out! You're wasting water, and there's not enough water right now so we don't want to waste it. Do you remember? It's called a drought when there isn't enough rain.
Allison: Oh yeah.
Me: So you shouldn't dump that; David could have drunk it.
Allison: OK.
Me: Have you gone potty yet?
Allison: No, ma'am.
Me: Well why don't you try before bed?
Allison: But won't that make it even more droughtful?

Good Fortune

We had Chinese food for dinner last night and they gave us double fortune cookies. Everyone chose one and read their fortune out loud. Charlie was utterly chagrined to read, "Now is the time to get in touch with your feminine side." After everyone else read theirs, David wanted to read his by himself. So he held it up in front of his face and "read" in his best reading voice, "You can come to my birthday party, and I can come to your birthday party." But when we laughed about it and repeated it, he said, "I was just trickin'!"

Then tonight for dessert the children got to pick one more fortune cookie. Charlie's fortune advised frugality -- another dud. But David had a very exciting one. He told us it said, "You can come to my birthday party. Love, Baby Bop and Barney."

Welcome 2008!

Amazingly, all the children managed to stay awake until midnight! So we had a big party with sparklers and sparkling cider to celebrate. Each child got to make a toast. This was Allison's: "To the stars, and the shooting stars, and God, and everyone!" Hear, hear.

New Year's House Party

When we weren't out hiking, we were having karaoke contests, jumping in the indoor bouncy castle, herding lobsters for a pre-dinner race, sitting on the porch by the outdoor fireplace, playing ping pong, or dancing to the music.

Maddie and Sarah face off -- they're probably singing KT Tunstall's "Black Horse and a Cherry Tree." Charlie controls the playback.

Maddie was the only child brave enough to handle the live lobsters. She wanted everyone to pick one to root for in the races. David didn't like them. He continued to talk about the "monsters" we raced in the kitchen and would hear none of it when I repeatedly told him, "Not monsters; lobsters!"
Sarah, Maddie, and Sarah B. shared a room. Girl party!Hanging out at the kids' dinner

Photo by Charlie. He not only snapped the picture but told us how to sit and where to have Allison. He's got the shutterbug gene!

On the porch, snuggling in front of the outdoor fireplace with a little girl and a big book. Bliss!

David climbs back in for more of a beating

There were three in the bed and the little one said, "Good night!"

New Year's Weekend Getaway

We had a great getaway in the mountains of NC to usher in 2008 with the Hughes and Barnett families! There are lots of pretty hiking trails in the area. The weather didn't fully cooperate, but we got out there a bit.

Hudson, Sarah B, Charlie, Maddie, Sarah M, Allison, Abby, David at Bridal Veil Falls during the Dads and Kids hiking excursion

Mackey children at Glen Falls (near Highlands, NC)

White Water Falls, NC, New Year's Day. At 411 feet, it's the tallest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains (according to the Eagle Scout pictured below)

Myrtle Beach Christmas

We were so lucky to sneak in a little visit to Myrtle Beach to spend some holiday time with Gran-Gran and Granddaddy Lane, and the Mudges of Oregon: Aunt Dargan, Uncle Matt, and Cousin Rowan. We had two great days of extended Christmas, and it was so much fun. We even ran down to see the beach at Garden City. It was a pretty, sunny day, about 60 degrees, and the kids were disappointed they couldn't go swimming. This summer we sure will!

Rowan and David looking through the kitty door. Even the bravest kitties bolt at the sight of these two!

This one's for you, Aunt Susan and Uncle Ben!