11-30-16

Milly had been a wee bit naughty last night and had ended up running up the stairs to her room sobbing, VERY angry with her mom.  A few moments later, as I was sitting on the couch I heard small feet come down the stairs and then hesitate on the last few. Without turning around I softly said "What is it, Camilla?"  She sniffily and somewhat angrily said "Well I just really need a hug right now and so I need you to give me one ... but I'm still mad at you ok"  I told her I understood, and she ran and cuddled up in my arms on the couch.  My little huggy monkey.  I wish we'd always end all our arguments this way, but I know all too soon that'll change.

11-23-16

CORA:

Nicknames:  Coco

How old are you?  9

What is your favorite color?  Blue

What is your favorite animal?  Cat

What is your favorite book?  Took

What is your favorite TV show?  Bunk'd

What is your favorite movie? Star Trek

What is your favorite song? Closer by the Chainsmokers with Halsey

What is your favorite food? Spaghetti

What is your favorite drink?  Diet Coke (??)

What is your favorite breakfast food? Bagles w/ cream cheese

What is your favorite snack? Candy

What is your favorite outfit?  Tshirt and shorts

What is your favorite game?  War (card game)

What is your favorite toy? Kitten stuffed animal

Who is your best friend?  Kalini or Regan

What is your favorite thing to do?  Go see kittens

What is your favorite thing to do outside?   Play volleyball or look at clouds

What is your favorite holiday? Christmas

What do you like to take to bed with you at night?   My pillow?

Where is your favorite place to go?  Animal Rescue League

What is your favorite restaurant?  Olive Garden

Where do you want to go on vacation?  Florida

What do you want to be when you grow up?  Animal shelter owner

What do you want to do on your birthday?  Get a cat

What do you like about Mommy? You make me happy

What do you like about Daddy?  He plays outside with me

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MILLY:

Nicknames:   Milly (Milly Moo, Silly Milly, Mills, General Mills, etc etc)

How old are you? 6

What is your favorite color?  Aqua 

What is your favorite animal? Kitten!

What is your favorite book?  Christmas books

What is your favorite TV show? Jessie

What is your favorite movie?  Star Trek 1

What is your favorite song?  Let me Love You by Justin Beiber

What is your favorite food?  Cheese quesadilla

What is your favorite drink? Root beer

What is your favorite breakfast food?  Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal

What is your favorite snack?  Treats/candy

What is your favorite outfit?  A dress and leggings

What is your favorite game?  Disney Infinity

What is your favorite toy? Barbies

Who is your best friend?  Amelia

What is your favorite thing to do?  Play with my family

What is your favorite thing to do outside?  Run around and play with Cora

What is your favorite holiday?  Christmas

What do you like to take to bed with you at night?   a stuffed animal kitten

Where is your favorite place to go? McDonalds 

What is your favorite restaurant? Perkins

Where do you want to go on vacation?  Paris

What do you want to be when you grow up?  A mom and a teacher

What do you want to do on your birthday?  I wanna go to the apple orchard.

What do you like about Mommy?  That she takes care of me.

What do you like about Daddy?  That he tells me funny jokes.

11-9-16

I don't get serious here often.  But this is a place where I share memorable conversations with my daughters. And this morning was certainly one.  After quietly sobbing for hours last night as horror became a reality, this morning I had to find some way to tell my girls that Donald Trump is now president of our country.  I don't need to list his lengthy egregious offenses here.  Either you already know them, or you choose not to see them. Either way - moot point.  But somehow I had to give my children comfort and hope.  So I woke them this morning and sat them down - and told them what had happened.  My six year old was worried that he was the president of "all of the states".  My nine-year old cried and wanted to know how the "bully" got to win?  I told them this:

Donald Trump won the election last night. That means that in January he will become our next president.  I think a lot of people are sad about this.  I am sad about this.  I think what happened is that a lot of folks voted from a place of fear instead of faith - voted for "loud" instead of love.  But like Michelle Obama said, "when they go low, we go high".  That means that we have to love even harder and have even more faith in coming years.  When you go to school today some kids may be saying bad things about Mr. Trump. I do not want you to be one of them.  We need to put as much love as we can out there, support all those people who don't feel loved right now, and have super strong faith that God will step in here.  We have to work from a place of faith and love - not fear and "loud".  Ok?

I don't think I'll ever understand how a man with no qualifications, who repeatedly lied blatantly, who often voiced hate and separatism, who admittedly sexually assaulted women, who is on trial for three various offenses in coming weeks, somehow became president over a woman with 30 years of service.  That is what scares me the most.  Not the man.  The fact that enough people believed in his point of view to carry him to the presidency.  I know I need to take myself by the shoulders, and follow my own advice. To lead with love - and with faith.  I'll try.  Today however I just need a day to mourn.  God help our country.