I love this.

Ellie FINALLY lost the snaggletooth that's been hanging on for the past couple of weeks.



Her note to the tooth fairy is a gem.

The porcupine came!

As the kids went to put their jackets on to go to school, they found chocolate gold coins in their lockers. Ellie rushed in to tell Ainsley, who was miraculously still in bed. Ainsley jumped right up, all excited and shouted "Oohhh! The porcupine came!" Someone said, "You mean the leprechaun?" but even as she was getting dressed she explained to me that she had to wear green so the porcupine wouldn't pinch her. Too funny.

Yesterday's daily photo is still coming...I'm doing a little research to go along with it.

2 1/2 years later

She's looking so much older. She's gotten so tall, and she's lost the curls and the chubby cheeks. But she's still got mischief in her eyes, and the energy to pull it off. She still calls me Mama sometimes instead of Mom. Lately she's been giving me lots of hugs and kisses, and telling me how much she loves me. This morning I had the fan in the bathroom on, and she turned it off, saying "I hate that noisy thing. I like peace and calm and quiet, awesome Mom. I almost said stupid Mom, but that wouldn't be very nice, so I said awesome Mom." Whatever you say, Chatterbox.

2009 facebook status updates

Michelle Riley Marsh

* has over 12,000 photos in iPhoto. It's too overwhelming to pick a few to post here.
January 8, 2009 at 9:46pm

* is seriously happy to have a new Nikon D90.
February 20, 2009 at 11:49am

* would do it all again. But this time I'd register at Best Buy, just to make Rob happy.
February 22, 2009 at 5:27pm

* hasn't seen a single non-animated movie that was nominated for an oscar this year.
February 23, 2009 at 1:39pm

* favorite quote today, from her five year-old: "No, I don't want to play that—Duck Duck Goose is for preschoolers."
February 27, 2009 at 2:39pm

* is done with winter.
March 2, 2009 at 11:15am

* will inherit a large sum of money. Gotta love the Peking Noodle Company.
March 7, 2009 at 8:49pm

* is so sick of homework. And I don't even have any.
March 25, 2009 at 9:57pm

* I just put 16 soccer games and 40 practices on my calendar and I'm feeling guilty because I'm dreading it. That's my native cheery optimism shining through.
March 26, 2009 at 5:21pm

* Michelle Riley Marsh 's husband is the best. The very best.
April 15, 2009 at 6:08pm

* I promised the girls a sleepover in Mom & Dad's room while Rob's out of town and they're so excited they've already got on their pajamas. It's 4:00 p.m.
April 20, 2009 at 4:03pm

* If the weather was this awesome all the time, would anyone really appreciate it?
April 21, 2009 at 6:34pm

* Absence does make the heart grow fonder, but it doesn't take two weeks. About thirty hours left...
April 30, 2009 at 6:34pm

* hates to be hated.
May 15, 2009 at 8:52am

* We had a great dinner at La Cleavage—I mean La Caille tonight. $50K well spent for sure.
May 20, 2009 at 10:26pm

* Joey just threw up in class. I guess I should have believed him when he said he wasn't feeling well this morning. :(
May 21, 2009 at 10:19am

* was so happy to turn the calendar page this morning!
June 1, 2009 at 9:12am

* My house is cleaned often, but never quite clean.
June 2, 2009 at 10:01pm

* My family needs to quit generating laundry for a few days so I can catch up.
July 6, 2009 at 9:53pm

* Deathly Hallows. For the fourth time.
July 16, 2009 at 9:21pm

* If I were re-writing the Inferno, one entire level would be filled with laundry.
July 16, 2009 at 9:22pm

* Today is Rob's favorite "holiday." Happy Birthday!
July 28, 2009 at 8:59am

* A two year-old throwing a tantrum is SO much cuter than a six year-old throwing a tantrum.
August 5, 2009 at 9:47am

* Four out of four kids liked dinner tonight. They had Cookie Crisp.
August 6, 2009 at 7:45pm

* Taking my kids to their most-anticipated summer event—a trip to the dentist. That's either a high compliment to Dr. Boyden, or a sad statement on everything else we've done.
August 10, 2009 at 1:34pm

* Rattle and Hum.
August 14, 2009 at 10:25pm

* Just had my back adjusted. It feels so much better!
August 26, 2009 at 12:32pm

* Is it too early for a nap?
September 1, 2009 at 8:39am

* I guess this cut could be considered short.
September 3, 2009 at 4:01pm

* Ainsley keeps saying "Mom, let's clean the whole house and surprise Dad when he gets home" and I keep thinking "That word LET'S, I do not think it means what you think it means."
September 5, 2009 at 10:57am

* Joey and I have been planning his 9th birthday party for a week. When he came up with a guest list of 20 kids and the location fell through, I offered him cash and a fun family activity in lieu of the party and was thrilled for a change to have such a mercenary kid. Mother. Of. The. Year.
September 17, 2009 at 5:04pm

* the office :)
September 17, 2009 at 6:57pm

* Conversation with Ainsley: "Mom, I love you the most." "No, I love YOU the most." "No, I could take your brain away." Well, she's got me there.
October 13, 2009 at 1:55pm

* I have been restored! Whew. I was missing that illusion that I had a life.
November 1, 2009 at 8:00pm

* I'm not a big Michael Jackson fan, but I loved "This Is It."
November 21, 2009 at 5:57pm

* I love watching penalty kicks. Especially when Rimando is on our side. Way to go RSL!
November 22, 2009 at 9:59pm

* Cyber Monday. So much better than Black Friday.
November 30, 2009 at 11:16am

* We won a complete set of Seinfeld DVDs at the company party...time to bring the Thursday night parties back.
December 3, 2009 at 11:07pm

* We LOVED the concert last night! I think there are still a few tickets left for tonight's show—you should go!
December 19, 2009 at 10:07am

* The kids can't wait to go to bed, which is a good thing, since we've got several hours of wrapping and assembly ahead of us. Merry Christmas everyone!
December 24, 2009 at 8:14pm

* Now that Christmas is over, can we just fast forward to summer?
December 28, 2009 at 10:51pm

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Welcome home buccaneer

Shiver me timbers! Today I got home from a fun youth conference to find this card waiting for me:



I have NO IDEA where the buccaneer theme is coming from, but Rob and I are relieved to know that Joey has a future career with Hallmark. More later about youth conference and Robbie's eleventh birthday. Until then, ahoy mateys!

A near perfect afternoon

Rob left for Prague and Budapest this morning, and will be gone for two weeks. :(  Luckily we had a busy and fun day planned. After kickboxing, we picked up some bagels and some friends and went to the tulip festival at Thanksgiving Point. It was beautiful, the weather couldn't have been better, and it was so fun to hang out with Julie & Liza. The only reason I added "near" in the title is because I forgot to put sunscreen on any of us, so we're all a little pink now. A small price to pay.

The best part? While I was rushing the girls to find sandals and get out the door, Ellie was really mad and threw out this statement in retaliation: "You are SUCH a BORING MOM!" Later tonight, the girls were still talking about what a great day it was, and Ellie said "Mom, I guess you're not such a boring mom after all." 

Fancy Nancys

This morning Ainsley said, "Mom, these pants are posh. That means fancy."

Call 1-800-NEW-HOUSE

Overheard today:

Milsie: "How did you get a new house on the inside?"

Ellie: "We just ordered it."

Quote of the day

Ellie to Ainsley: "No, I don't want to play that—Duck Duck Goose is for preschoolers."

The New, Revised (and Improved!) Dictionary

This morning our power was out until after 11:30 a.m. Since we have a tankless (electric) water heater, we put off baths and showers, hoping the power would be back on before church at 1:00. We lucked out, and I told the girls to hustle into the bath. Ellie informed Ainsley "Yeah, it's Fast Sunday...that means we have to hurry!" 

Still laughing

So, at the swim club there are bubble gum machines with little rubber animals in them, and much to photo scrooge's chagrin, the kids have spent a few quarters to buy some. Today, Joey, Ellie and Ainsley were bartering with them when I heard Ellie tell Ains "I have a no-return policy on the squirrel." I'm still laughing.