Maggie: Dad, you know if you want to be a pirate when you grow up, you have to learn how to stay up all night.

Boyd: Why do I have to learn to stay up all night?

Maggie: Because you have to drive and drive and drive and drive until you find land.

I realized tonight that I've just gotta get over the fact that no matter what protein I cook, my kids are gonna call it chicken nuggets.

With snow & ice still on the ground, Maggie will not be swayed that it would be ok to wear a swimsuit as long as she put a sweater underneath it.

Maggie got her ears pierced with the last of her Christmas money. She is thrilled!


We went to the mall where they can do both ears at the same time, but they were too busy. She was a pro and never gave so much as a whimper.

Jessie's super hero alter ego is Naked Girl. She loves to hope out and scare you and scream, "I'm Naked Girl!!!"

I went running when I heard the terrified cries of my husband to come quick. It was quite difficult to keep a straight face when I found out the situation he needed me to handle was Maggie asking the name of part of her anatomy.

Maggie got a little talking bird toy with some of her Christmas money. We just heard her telling it in the back seat, "Pet bird, attack the city!"

So our sweet Nissi dog died last week after 14+ years with our family. Dalton has been emotional about it, but Maggie has been our realist and hasn't had that much of an emotional reaction. That is, until tonight when they showed Homeward Bound at Parent's Night Out. We picked up a ball of blubbers and they could not understand what was bothering our usually happy Maggie. They understood when we told them about our recent loss.


Every family could use a dachshund. She was the sweetest dog I've known in a very long time.

Jessie with her cousin Noah at his birthday party.

Maggie: Mom, will you help me fasten my pants.

Me: Yuck, don't put play dough in your belly button!

Maggie: Why?

Jessie just asked my sister if she ate the baby that is growing in her belly.

Maggie was so excited to tell us what she learned about the groundhog last night. She exclaimed, "He told us that there was gonna be 6 more months of Christmas!"