Bon

Jem came up to me this morning as I was getting his breakfast ready.
Jem: Mom, you should speak more French to me.
Me: Bon!
Jem: WHAT?! (starts tearing up) You're just like my teacher, blah blah in French and I don't  
         understand anything!

The Menfolk.

These kids are lucky. I am lucky. The Captain of My Heart is everything a father should be. Even if he refuses to get a cell phone so that I can call him about important things, or says things like "yeah, I saw you emailed me today, but I didn't check it". Hey, Jesse?

He's a great father because he has a great father. Father of the Captain of My Heart, Stephen.

Hey, Jem really knows how to pout! But he'll be a great dad one day too because of these excellent role-models. Happy Happy Father's Day!

Violet: It's going to be Mother's Day soon!
Jem: Yeah, we have to get something for you.
Me: Don't get me anything. You know what I would love? A day without bickering...and lots of hugs and kisses. Could you do that for me?
They look at me, trying to see if I'm serious about this.

Two minutes later, they are bickering in the hallway. Violet is bugging Jem as he tries to get his boots on for school. Jem is trying to swing his backpack to hit her.

Me: Violet, let Jem get his boots on! Jem, put the backpack down!
Violet : It's not Mother's Day yet, Mom.

My Lord

Jem: Do you know why Darth Vader has a cape?
Me: No, why?
Jem: Because he is a Lord. When a little Lord is born, they, like, just give them capes I guess.

Secret Cinema

Violet likes to make videos on my phone when I'm not looking.

March Break

Miami Beach! We played in the ocean, fed the seagulls and ate ice cream every day.

Imagine that.

Violet was lying in our bed a few mornings ago, having a sleep-in as the rest of us puttered around the house. She was holding one of our wedding pictures up and gazing at it with such a wistful expression that I had to ask "what are you thinking?". She hesitated for maybe 2 seconds, and answered "that you're dead".