Catching Up. Getting Ready To Say Good Bye

It's been a long while. There has been much that has happened. Kindergarten graduation, losing teeth, learning to read, jumping roap (record 29 in a row), diving into the deep end and touching our tummies on the bottom, triple summersaults under water, beach trips with grammie, papa and Tony 2, Yosemite trips with mom and dad, turning SIX, liking Dane at school for the simple reason he liked us first, getting over princesses and deciding we are truly nature girls, getting the flu and missing emi and luke's carnival, long days of Popsicles and talks with mom about heavy subjects, water day at the park, parades, hikes, learning to skate in the sac, making bread with Grandma, doing a talent show with Grandpa, making up jokes, doing cheers, hosting circus and magic shows in our playroom and printing tickets for our parents to present at the door, new lullaby sung by Dad..."come see" by enya. Learning what it means to dress appropriately and to follow " Shirley Temple rules at nice restaurants. If they serve Shirley Temples then a different set of behavior is expected than say at McDonalds. Winter fell into Spring and Spring bloomed into summer.

Official moving orders for our Dad to go to Colorado Springs, Colorado. We move next week. We feel medium about it. We hear there are horses and snow in the winter but it's very far away from Grammie & Papa. As long as we can come to California 4 times each year and stay for 5 weeks each visit then we think it will be okay. We will just have to see. But if it's not enough, Grammie and Papa can move to our house and we'll just have a slumber party on our parents floor.

We'll let you know how it all turns out...

Love, Katie-Kate & Jessica Rose

Tooth Fairy Objects To Being Called A "fairy"

Jessica lost the most significant of teeth in her mouth last night. Her right upper front tooth. It's the one that was a little crooked from smashing into playground equipment when she was 3. It was her largest tooth. It had been wiggly for weeks and finally last night it came out. It always amazes me how excited she is when it comes out. This is my child who will cry hours after scraping her knee because she has looked down and noticed the scrape for the first time. This is the child who bawled about an arm injury until I wiped the arm with a wet paper towel and proved it was only ketchup! But a tooth and a bloody mouth? It's like Disneyland and she has to call Papa right NOW and yay! And Katie is so happy she gives everyone congratulatory hugs as if to say " whew...we made it through it"! But the weirdest phenomenon is Mike and his total joy in getting to be the tooth fairy except he doesn't like me to call him the tooth fairy. So I said " look, if you don't want to be called the tooth fairy, give me the cash and I'll do it.". He didn't even hesitate..."nope, I'm doing it. I'm much more stealthy than you. I just want to be called the tooth elf.".

Yeah, because that's a lot cooler.

Let's Clear Out The Cobwebs

Man it's been depressing up in here. If you need a good laugh and who doesn't...go to dooce.com today and read about Leta's lost tooth. Seriously if you have ever been a kid, parent, person or tooth fairy it's the best story in the world. I laughed out loud and read it to mike out loud and dropped my phone because I was laughing so hard. I need to get myself out of my funk.

Iron Woman

Today I received an iron infusion. An iron infusion is a highly concentrated bag of iron sucrose that goes into an IV in your arm. It is for people with severe anemia who are also iron deficient. I don't talk about it a lot. I have chronic anemia and have had it for several years. I have had some blood transfusions and three series of iron infusions. The last time was in May. Having iron deficient anemia causes the following symptoms. First, you have something called Pica. Pica is where you crave chalky or different types of things to eat. In my case, I will crunch on ice all day long. If I get a glass of ice water I will ignore the water and chomp on all the ice. I also crave peppermint lifesavers and those old fashioned peppermint puffs. Some people have pica so badly they want to eat chalk or dirt. Some people will eat cigarette butts or Rolaids by the handful. I crave sour patch kids as well. Another symptom of iron deficient anemia is weakness and fatigue. It starts out by just feeling more tired than normal. Like life is overwhelming. The idea of grocery shopping or clothes shopping or any kind of shopping is like the last thing on the earth you want to do. This is always a clue to me that my anemia is back because I love shopping. The fatigue continues to get worse until I am where I am at right now. A shell of my former self. A shut in. A person who cannot muster up energy to blow dry my hair or get the milk from the top shelf of the fridge. I sleep most of the day and night. I think I am up for about three or four hours per day in various intervals. My children are being raised and cared for by a babysitter that works in our home who I used to call her a "mommy helper" but now I call her our "house/life/sanity manager". She is wonderful and makes the shame I feel about my failings as a mother a little less painful. Mike does what he can which in this case translates to getting off work early and handling everything when he gets home from bed time, homework, dishes and mostly holding me while I cry and telling me I'm not a bad mother or wife. It must be very fun for him. What a party his life has turned into. If I do attempt to do anything like go someplace or make dinner I end up shaking like a leaf, dizzy and so emotional that I start crying until Mike gently takes over and sends me to my room where I curl into a ball and cry myself back to sleep. I try and bathe regularly but I don't have the energy to wash my hair. My bedroom is a disaster area of clothes, books, and clutter spread all over the place. The rest of the house looks fine because of our wonderful "house/life/sanity manager" jumps in and just does whatever needs to be done without me asking or giving her directions. It results in a different brand of cheese or bread but it also results in my family being fed. So who gives a crap about the brand of peanut butter?

I see an oncologist for this condition. He is awesome. We have the same birthday. The same year even. I love him. Today, he had me go to the cancer center and get a bag of iron put in my IV. The last time I had iron infusions, they were given in a 5 part series with each bag of iron being the size of a small kids juice box. This time I have having one infusion and it was the size of a gallon ziploc bag. Given my physical reaction to the little bags of iron in the past I am pretty scared about how this round will go.

If you need IV iron you go to the cancer center where people receive chemo and all sorts of cancer treatments administered by IV. Since most cancer patients are also anemic, it makes sense they send me there. You sit in a room that have light blue recliner type chairs. There were six chairs in the room I was in today. They were all filled. I don't know the stories of the other people that were there, but it was obvious that they were at different stages in their fight against cancer. It's a horrible place to be. My infusion takes three hours. Every time I go, I feel this immense guilt because they have cancer and the medication they are getting is going to make them feel worse. My medication is going to make me feel badly for a few days but then I'll be so great, full of energy and vigor. As this energy and life giving liquid drips into my veins I watch as poison drips into their veins. We all have the same hopeful look in our eyes. Because hope is universal. It is where we all go no matter how badly things seem. We can't help it. My heart breaks every time. I hate being there. Their strength of spirit is inspiring and the nurses are amazing and many of them will be cured. But I still feel this overwhelming need to run from the room. I can't help it. And I am ashamed because of how I feel.

For the first twelve hours I will feel actually a little bit better. My face will be rosy and I am so glad to be done with the infusion that I am giddy in some ways. I am happy always on the evening of my infusion. I chat away with the girls and Mike and make jokes and watch TV. Then, around midnight, I start to feel cramps in my stomach and the next three to four days are so bad that I won't write about them here. I don't want to remember them. They are dark and cold and painful. The details aren't important. Because of the amount given in today's infusion I am scared that my physical reaction will be worse. But how can it be worse than last time?, I think to myself. I guess we shall see.

I want to remember this process so that I don't take days that I feel good and strong and healthy for granted. I want to thank you for your prayers. I want you to know that someday, I will get this anemia under control so I get an infusion every once in awhile but not so willy-nilly. I, along with my doctor will manage it better so I don't have to ever get to the stage where I'd rather get a root canal with no Novocaine than blow dry my hair if it means I can just lay here and not move.

Your prayers would be cherished and so appreciated during this next few days. And if you could add in a prayer that this won't have long term effects on my sweet girls. They deserve the best Mom in the world. They deserve a Mom to go on bike rides with and who bakes cookies and who dances around the kitchen with them as we make a healthy and wonderful dinner together. They deserve more than what they have right now. I am so grateful for the stand in moms in their lives. My mom and dad, mike, our helper Jessica...I would be lost with out them.

What I am going through is so small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things. There are so many who have such larger challenges. For me, I am scared. I am so frightened that something could happen that would keep me from raising my babies. I am so scared that something will pop up that can't be fixed. I'm not done yet because I have so much more I want to see and do and give. So I talk to God and ask Him to please heal my body for Katie and Jessica. My sweetest, most wonderful Aunt Lori who I love like another mother sent me a scripture today that I printed out on a card and have on my nightstand so I can see it as soon as I open eyes. It says..."For I am the Lord your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says, do not fear. I will help you." Isaiah 41:13 I know this is true. I feel the love of the Lord and prayers and angels all around me. It is humbling because I don't feel deserving of any of it. But I'll take it. Because I need it.

Tonight I am sick. Tonight I am grateful. Tonight I am loved. Tonight I am sad. Tonight I am happy. Tonight I miss my babies. Tonight I miss my husband. Tonight I miss having a home I am proud of. Tonight I am scared of what people are saying about me and because I know some of it is unkind it makes me embarrassed. Tonight I am giving all of these feelings over to the Lord so that I can rest. I can't carry it tonight. I need to let it go.

I am imagining a helium balloon in the color of pink and inside it has all of these feelings of fear and anger and frustration and sadness attached to the ribbon and it is going up, up, up and now I can't see it any more. To me, that means God has it. I think now I can go to sleep.

Thank you. You know who you are. Thank you so very very much. You mean more than you will ever know.

It's Like Jessica Gave Katie Her Daughter's Kidney to Save Katie's Daughter But Really To Save Katie...

Jessica and Katie have lots of toys. But they each have one particular baby that goes everywhere with them and that they can not sleep without. Jessica's baby is a rabbit named Clarice. If you know our family you have met Clarice. Katie's baby used to be in the form of a bear/blanket but the bear lost it's head long ago and she didn't care one bit. This baby (now just a scrap of material) is named Sophie. If you've met our family, chances are you've met Sophie as well. It is a my worst of nightmares that somehow we will lose either Sophie or Clarice. They've been left on the lawn, in parking lots, thrown out the window onto busy streets, lost in laundry, playrooms, cars etc. But we've always found them. It's sometimes taken hours, but they've always turned up somewhere. Even the fridge. If I had a nickle for the minutes I've spent of my life looking for them (primarily Sophie) I'd be a rich rich woman. But that's not what this story is about.

As I said, Sophie lost her head awhile back. Since then, it's been a downhill road for the old girl. She's literally coming apart at the seams. Katie is rough with her and doesn't take very good care of her so it's not wonder she is torn and tattered. Katie has always comforted herself to sleep with Sophie in a very particular way. She sucks her left thumb and then flicks the silky tag attached to Sophie's border with her other hand's finger. She closes her eyes and sucks that thumb and flicks that tag and you can just see she is in utter bliss. Jessica on the other hand is much more gentler with Clarice. She's needed some repairing on her head lately and one of her bunny ears needed a patch job but other than that, for being six years old and going through what she's gone through...the bunny is aging well.

They went to Grammie and Papa's this past weekend. I got a call from Katie letting me know that Grammie had gotten out some needle and thread and was fixing Sophie and Clarice. I was glad because Sophie's tag was starting to unravel and I had no idea how to keep it from completely coming off. I knew it would not last another two weeks and I had no idea what we were going to do. Fortunately for all of us, Katie informed me that Jessica had given Sophie Clarice's tag and Grammie had taken it off of Clarice and sewed it onto Sophie.

You guys, I seriously cried. Mike cried too. Jessica was so excited to give Sophie Clarice's tag. I told her it was super nice of her and she said "aw Mom, that's what sisters are for!" Which of course made me cry harder. I love these girls. I love how much they love each other. I love that Jessica even thought to give Katie her baby's tag. They take such good care of each other.

Please God. Let me remember this day when they are 14 and Jessica wore Katie's best shirt and got it dirty and they are rolling around on the floor pulling each other's hair out. Please let me remember that Clarice donated a vital part of herself to Sophie and that someday it will be good again. And maybe if they could just skip pre-teen and teenage years all together and jump to having sense, being responsible and liking me that would be awesome. Amen.

Dearest Mike Meeker,

Dearest Mike Meeker Lover Of My Soul...

Thank you so much for coming home last night with a bag of assorted treats for me and your other two girlfriends. Did you ever think when you were teased in junior high about being Mike Meeker the Geeker Seeker that someday you'd have three beautiful, smart, successful girlfriends who worship the ground you walk on? It probably feels pretty good.

Anyhoo...last night, you melted my heart when you appeared at our humble abode carrying the things we need to make us feel special and cared for in exactly your perfect way you do. First, the diflucan for me was so needed. If I didn't get some relief soon, I might have considered voting my lady parts off the island. Then out of the same bag you surprised the girls with two clam shells of fresh strawberries from some south american farm which you called "magic strawberry land that gives us strawberries in the winter". They looked and smelled just perfectly red and strawberry-eee. We promptly cleaned them and divided them into two bowls for the girls. Then I got out the spray whip cream and did a whole routine of whip cream dancing and filling strawberry hulls that the girls found charming. They were so glad for the berries. You also saved dinner by delivering Carl's Junior to all of us. But because you are so cool, you let us eat our strawberries first. You and Jessica chowed on chicken strips and katie and I enjoyed a messy burger. It obviously wasn't the best choice for dinner, but these days are not what I'd call strong work in the kitchen so we were so grateful for the meal. You also put on sweats and climbed into bed with me and watched Surrvivior with me and totally engaged me a conversation about how much we LOVE Boston Rob. He's the best player ever. Then, you put the girls to bed with stories and prayers and left me to fall asleep in our room and rest.

You basically, swooped in and saved the day. Sort of like a super hero. And you had spent the day saving people too. When you think about it you are the closest thing to a super hero we have here in this cynical old world.

Thank you for loving me first and leaving room in your heart to fall madly in love with Jessica and Katie. We are all madly in love with you too. For different reasons. Katie loves your sensitivity, your animated way of speaking, that you watch her performances and compliment her on her hair and jewelry. Jessica loves that you do math together, snuggle on the couch together, play heroes game together, play computer together, play fort and that you are her soul mate. I love that you are the best dad in the world that you love me good and bad and that you get that I am doing my best. Even if my best is not very good.

Thanks for loving us and saving us and being there for us and working so hard and swooping in to make us feel special. We adore you.

A,K&J

We Don't Need No Stinkin' Super Nanny...

I like watching Super Nanny. Frankly, it makes me feel rad as a parent. That is reason number one. Also, I get good tips and I think Nanny Jo is a genius. That's reason number two. And lastly, I like to look into other people's homes and lives because I am nosy. There. We've established my reasons for watching. We have all had the flu lately and it has produced some time to lay in bed and watch useless junk on TV online. I found myself watching an episode of Super Nanny today when Jessica crawled up into bed to in her words "spend some time with me" which meant tickle my back and let me watch what you are watching on TV.

She asked what the show was about. I explained that this family wasn't being very nice to each other and this lady had to come to their house and teach them how to show love and be kind to one another. Her name is Jo and they call her a Super Nanny because she helps families know how to be nice and mind their mommies and daddies.

Jessica watched for a minute or two and saw these two girls hitting each other and the Dad yelling. She said "Mom, we don't need that lady to come to our house at ALL. We love each other and we treat each other that way." I was so happy and beaming with pride and had a very rare pat myself on the back moment. I asked her "So you don't think we act like that family?" and she very sweetly said "No Way Mom." And I asked her if she feels Daddy and I show her enough attention and show her we love each other and told her how many times in the day she and Katie show love to our family and it makes me so proud and happy. I was so excited about our conversation and feeling so much love my poor sick flu infected precious baby girl. I proceeded tickle her back and whisper sweet things to her. Then....silence.

Jessica: "well, actually Mom. You sometimes yell."
Me: "yes, sometimes I do. I try really hard not to and I try and say sorry if I yell.
Jessica: "and you sometimes don't listen to us like if we have finished a job you sometimes tell us it isn't good enough and we have to do it better"
Me: "yes, sometimes I do need you and Katie to go back and finish a job I've given you and do it completely. I do that so you can learn the right way to do a job."
Jessica: "and sometimes Dad yells. And sometimes Katie yells. And sometimes I argue a lot."
Me: (feeling worse by the second) "yep. I guess we have things we can work on in our family too."
Jessica: "I guess you better call that lady! Think we'll be on TV?" (soooo happy & excited)
Me: "I sure hope not sweetie."

Hawaii 5-0 vs. The Mentalist (or the reason Amber & Chuck are going to disown us)

Mike and I had a serious discussion last night. And I mean serious, people. I had been thinking earlier in the day how awesome Hawaii 5-0 is as a new show. And then I started thinking about how much Amber loves the Mentalist. She just loves that Patrick Jane and Cho and that pretty but big boned Grace. And I have loved the Mentalist right along with her. I've followed the Red John story with loyalty, trepidation and glee. I even have a print in my house of a bird that I named Red John. See, I'm a big Mentalist fan. But then friends, Hawaii 5-0 entered my life and things just haven't been the same for me and Agent Rigsby. And why can't I think of the dykey side kick who's in charge of their little band of agents? Irish, short, cute but sort of masculine. Come on Aim think....agent....Agent...Lisbon!!!! I knew it was sort of lesbian-ish. I'm not saying she is or isn't I'm just saying. It's possible. And he's not exactly the most masculine dude in the world. Anybody that gets a perm and highlights and curls his hair with a flat iron and wears those little suit vests isn't screaming kick ass murder ace. But I've always been okay with that. He was more of a thinking man's hero. And he had gone through major trauma when his wife and daughter got killed by Red John. So let's cut him some slack.

But now...Hawaii 5-0. There's a show. Mike and I did a point by point comparison that I know will not be interesting to anyone but maybe Amber and possibly Chuck but here you go anyway.

Main Characters: Steve McGarrity vs. Patrick Jane

McGarrity Background: Navy SEAL, Mother killed by unknown persons when he was a kid, father murdered by brother of Irish terrorist that he, as a Navy SEAL, killed. Comes to back home to Hawaii to work on a special task force for the Governor getting rid of high end crime on the island. Has a sister.
Jane Background: An enigma. Former talk show host, con-artist turned mentalist performer. Wife and daughter stabbed to death after he talks about serial killer Red John on TV. He is obsessed with hunting down and catching Red John. He now works for the CBI (California Bureau of Investigations) helping a team of agents solve various homicides in California all the while working the Red John case on the side.

Sidekicks: Dano vs. Lisbon

"Dano": "Book Em Dano" is one of the best cop lines from any show ever. Now that it has returned to television you'd think it was cheesy and sugary nostalgia. But McGarrity and Danny Williams make it seem fresh every time. Dano is a single Dad from New Jersey who transfers to Hawaii as a detective to be near his daughter Gracie. He becomes McGarrity's partner. He bumbles through the cases, knowing nothing about Hawaii and the back and forth between him and McGarrity is awesome.
Lisbon: Patricia Lisbon is the head of the CBI team that Patrick Jane consults for. A real hard nosed no nonsense cop type of girl, you'd expect her in NYC rather than Sacramento. She wears a leather jacket and black jeans in every episode and delivers her lines with a perfect blend of sarcasm and unemotional cop speak. You sense some attraction between her and Jane, but wisely, the writers are taking it nice and slow. They deeply care for each other but there's no love story as of yet.

Hot Asian Team Member
Chin: Same actor as played Jin on Lost. I think his name is still Chin/Jin. He's hot in an intellectual nice Korean guy way. He is the computer tech guy for the team and is a fallen cop who is given a second chance by McGarrity to prove he's an upstanding fella.
Cho: Cho is the hottest asian dude to ever be on TV. Chinese, buff and a man of little words and even fewer emotions. However, when he gets pissed off...LOOK OUT. He's unstoppable. And you know he actually feels a lot more than the rest of them just by his eyes. A great actor and a great character.

Hot Female Team Rookie Team Member
Kono: The actress Grace Park played Athena/Sharon Volarie on Battlestar Gallactica. For that reason alone she is super awesome, kick ass and hot. (I know I'm a girl but she's hot.) She is a Hawaii street kid and the cousin to Chin. She grew up tough and manages to convey toughness and sweetness at the same time. She's a rookie so we get a to see a lot of this through her eyes for the first time. She is not jaded but not naive. She rocks.
Grace: She had brown hair, then red hair that looked like Ariel the Little Mermaid. She is doe eyed and always seems scared and shocked. She has kicked some butt, however it is rare. She is also the tech person in the unit and does not pull off the tech speak or the cop speak very well. She always seems to be talking in a whisper too. And her shirts are too tight for her rib cage. She reminds me of a giraffe. Can you tell which girl I like better?

Extra Characters:
The Governor: Played by Designing Woman Jean Smart. First she's from the South. I love the good people of Hawaii but they'd never elect a southern houlie as Governor. She has some ties to McGarrity's father and plays sort of a pseudo mother figure to him. She tries to be tough and very politician like but she can't quite pull it off.
Agent Rigsby: The final agent on the CBI team. Smokin' hot with a great partnership with Cho. Rigsby is all thumbs and fingers to Cho's cool calm. He also had an affair with Grace and it was secret and stuff and that was okay for awhile but I'm glad they broke them up.

The state of Hawaii: how freakin cool can it be to film exclusively in Hawaii? It makes me feel like I'm there every week. The producers do an amazing job of showcasing the very best of Oahu and setting the action in real towns, real parts of the island, real streets etc. They also could be so much more risque in how many bikini and skin shots they show and they are tasteful both in that area and in the gore part of the violence. They celebrate the people of Hawaii in a great way.
Sacramento: my home town. Sacramento is beautiful and is overshadowed by other California cities like LA, San Diego and San Francisco. We are the capitol and have rivers, bridges and tons of natural beauty. The only city in the world that has more trees per square foot in Paris which is known as "The City of Trees". Paris is our sister city. The problem with the Mentalist is they do one or two shots of the characters in Sacramento and the rest of the hour is either shot indoors, on some film set or in other places than Sacramento. Also, they travel to fictional towns all over California like Sierra River, Pleasantdale, Ocean View, Sierra Lake etc. None of these towns exist. Why not film in Lake Tahoe, Nevada City, Fairfield, Sonoma, Napa? These towns are picture post cards and would add so much credibility to the show.

Our final estimation is that Hawaii 5-0 kicks Mentalist butt. Luckily, CBS owns both shows. Sorry Amber, your boy Jane has gone down. The way I see it, the score is 5-1 with Cho being the only win for the Mentalist. He's a strong reason to keep watching but just about everything in Hawaii 5-0 is better. Steve McGarrity rules!

A Wonderful List of Christmas Rememberies...

Post Edit - This isn't a wonderful list at all the way the title says it is. It's actually pretty negative. My official resolution as of right now is to be more positive in the New Year. I think I'm just tired and stressed because it was a nice Christmas. Not the best Christmas ever in the entire world, but still fun and full of warm memories of my kids and their excitement. Any Christmas Mikey is home and not deployed is wonderful as well. We might not be as lucky next Christmas and if not next than for sure the Christmas after that. So I will try and remember to appreciate the positives in my life. On that note, here's my summary of the holidays.

Just doing a list this year. It hurts my brain too hard to put it into a narrative.

• girls are 5-the best age so far for Christmas. They loved everything...food, caroling, Santa, cookies, lights, trees, hot chocolate, marshamallows, night gowns, staying up late, candy canes, christmas chains, decorating for Dad's birthday, wrapping their own presents and giving their presents to each other that they picked out.
• Our last Christmas living in California
• Marilyn's broken foot
• Steve & Vanessa just married
• My broken rib
• Hosted Christmas Eve for second time
• So many appetizers! shrimp cocktail, arrancini, steak wrapped in bacon, meat and cheese tray, veggie tray, pickles, olives, crackers, big fat wedge of brie, seriously amazing mocktails
• Decorating spiced sugar cookies with Grandma Houlie.
• Both my Grandmas were there physically (90 and 85)- not sure about mentally
• Missed my family in Oregon and Washington - wishing we were together
• Spent Christmas Eve night at mom and dads-happy to all be together under the same roof
• Excitement not contained Christmas morning
• We went a little lighter this year on presents - good thing since....
• I bought Mike a cruise for his birthday/Christmas combo and he bought me...
• My first ever real grown up lady purse - Mr. Louis Vuitton is his name thank you very much Mikey. I sleep with him by my bed each night.
• Girls got array of stuff they had asked for from Santa - earrings, watches, American Girl stuff, horses, remote control cars, lots of art project
• We gave mom and dad gift cards because they are getting so skinny they need new clothes and a olive wood salt holder.
• Gave the grammies thermacare patches and sweaters
• Gave Mike's parents many gift cards to go out to dinner given Marilyn is in a wheel chair
• Had our normal William Sonoma croissants - not as good this year
• Dad made the best egg white omlette I have ever had. He is the omlette master.
• Had a boring dinner of honey baked ham selections with a really good spinach salad.
• Mike's birthday next day - cioppino seafood feast - everyone was so tired it was sort of boring. Poor dude, he gets so jipped having his bday Dec 26th. He turned 40. We are going on a cruise. He's glad about that though.
• Had to hire me a helper around here because of the broken rib. Her name is Jessica. We call her Jessica 2. We love her.
• Rang in the New Year with mom and dad, jessica and katie, mike, ryan seacrest and poor old Dick Clark. Mike pissed me off just before midnight (can't remember why exactly) and I didn't want to kiss him but then I did really quickly because I was afraid of bad luck.
• New Years is Katie's second favorite holiday because it has so much love and kissing and the sparky drink that tickles her nose and clinking glasses. She seriously loves it more than anyone. They banged pots and pans and yelled at the top of their lungs into the night.
• I think it will be a Happy New Year indeed.