Do you know what today is?

Well, if you don't, I'll fill you in. Had you spent the day at my house, you would know for sure. It is Leah's 1/2 birthday of course! She's officially 4 1/2 and she couldn't be happier. To clarify, we haven't typically celebrated half-birthdays, but they do at school - primarily for the summer birthday children. In any event, Leah's birthday, being October 11, leads to today's half birthday celebration. She was so excited and has been looking forward to the day for some time now. She'd ask me, "Mom, when is my half birthday?" So this morning, I told her the news and she was pretty much glowing all day. She had told Grandma Sally about it coming up, and Grandma Sally sure pulled through - she called Leah & left a message singing "Happy half birthday to you..." Leah just glowed. It was as if it was her actual birthday. She asked about going to the store to buy something, but when I told her it wasn't really a present receiving kind of day, she was just fine with that and kept on smiling. She wanted to pick dinner for today, and surprisingly, she didn't pick chili, but she did choose breakfast (a definite popular birthday choice at our house). She told everyone she saw today about it and I just had to enjoy the pure joy she found in this celebration of her. Tonight, Patrick actually met up with us at baseball practice and got off work "early" around 7:30pm. He surprised her with some jelly beans. And there she went again, with the biggest smile about her special day.

You know, maybe she actually has all this figured out - to always find a reason to celebrate. I'm so appreciative of each gift of life in our family and so it did give me a chance to enjoy the spirit of my 4 AND 1/2 year old and all she brings to our lives. And, she really does seem to be growing and changing a lot...she's grown taller and some days, I have a hard time thinking that she's only in 3 year old preschool! Sure love her!

So I'm not a huge Calipari fan, but I have to give him a few points for this. I found the article after looking into his post-game press conference comment about wanting to just move forward and that he was tired & wanted to head back to the hotel to move on, "go to Mass in the morning..."

Rock Chalk Mass: Omaha priest shares KU allegiance with his church, congregation

http://www2.kusports.com/news/2012/mar/18/rock-chalk-mass-omaha-priest-shares-ku-allegiance-/

Catherine sneak peak - 3 months!

I simply cannot believe my baby girl is 3 months old already! The time flies for sure. She'll roll from her belly to her back now. She has almost rolled from back to belly if it weren't for that crazy elbow in the way - she can't quite get over it. More pics to come, but just wanted to post one.

Fun with the Lees

Sure is always fun to see our friends!

"Can I sing my goodnight song?"

Leah likes to sing a song each night before she goes to bed. She calls it her "Goodnight Song." It goes like this:
Good night, oh good night, oh goodnight everyone.
Good night Anne, Good night Catherine, Good night Jacob and Leyton and Nathaniel.
Good night Mom and Dad.
Good night everyone in the whole world, except bad guys. Good night, oh good night.

I love the melody and I really love the part "except bad guys." She's a hoot.

Tonight, after we had our family prayer time, she also wanted to spend a little time "reading" her princess book. She has such an imagination. She had her princess book and was reading "the gospel of Aurora" (Aurora is a princess). She didn't want me to look at the book, but she was saying, "The gospel of Aurora is that...[I only wish I could have recorded her]...and the mouse was being mean and Aurora said don't be mean, but you must love one another....and that is the gospel of Aurora." There was more, but I just wish I could have captured all of it. Sure love her.

Aspirations

Last night when I was at work, I had a lot of emotion going through me and was really contemplating a lot. I have decided to cut back my hours at work and I am feeling much peace about doing this. I enjoy my job, but I really enjoy being home, too. So I was visiting with one of my fellow pharmacists who was talking about his wife finishing her second pharmacy residency and interviewing for a job. I was also talking with another pharmacist who will be interviewing for a different position within the department. In all of this, I was filled with thoughts about career aspirations and wondering what these individuals had in mind for their careers all along...whether this was their plan, whether it was different, how high that ranked on their life goal list, etc. Thoughts of basically what did they want to be when they grew up. And as these thoughts went through my mind, I then became focused on thoughts of my family and how much I love them. Thoughts of although I do enjoy my work, that I really love them so much. And truthfully, the thought that really stuck out to me was about Leah...so often we carry on such great conversations when her imagination is full of hope and her eyes are as wide open as can be as she tells me about "her kids" and how she spends her days. She just tells me that when she grows up, she wants to be a mom. So different from this work conversation, yet so special and sweet. I think she has huge aspirations about her future. I just love that being a mom is what she always says. Maybe it's a girl thing, but I sure love it. Being a mom is such a wonderful gift. Being a pharmacist is great, don't get me wrong, but I sure thank God every day that he has given me the privilege of being a mom.