I really love my children! And I’m not just saying that because they’ve started school - well, I might be, but I still mean it. Starting with Carson - I know that I’m always writing about what a crack-up he is, but that kid makes me laugh like no one can. Unfortunately, he has my brother Douglas and my sense of humor. I hope he finds a wife who thinks he’s as funny as I do. Yesterday, we headed to the orthodontist #2. We went after school, and we had to drive 40 minutes because the ortho was on our insurance. The whole way there, Carson’s teasing me about torturing him. He seems to truly believe that my goal in life is to torture him. I told him about a new contraption that I bought to extract the three blackheads that have permanently imbedded themselves into his nose. Of course, he was thrilled beyond words! He started calling the tool my “torture toy.” We laughed and laughed. Then, we get to the orthodontist, and he laughs about getting used to being “abducted by the x-ray lady.” It’s kind of true. At both orthodontists, I sit down to fill out the paperwork, and x-ray lady swoops in and takes him to a room where a “flying saucer” flies all the way around his head taking pictures. Then, they bring him back to me. Once we saw the orthodontist, we both knew right away that he was not the one for us. As Carson put it, he looked at the x-rays and said, “We’ll pull two teeth on top and two on bottom, then stick him in braces in two weeks.” Not a lot of thought going into his decision. He also blamed Amy for having to go to the orthodontist because I told him that she said if the dentist said he needed to go, he should go. He was thrilled with her and ragged on her for the next few minutes! The whole time, my head was killing me, and I still couldn’t stop laughing! He’s just got this really cool, dry sense of humor - just like Douglas! I love it!

Next is William…..what a lovebug that kid is! He’d just about rather cuddle up with me than anything else. He comes and finds me and gives me hugs numerous times a day for no reason whatsoever. He’s so sensitive and defends me when the other kids are not minding and giving me a hard time. Of course, what he says is not the best. He says, “Stop it. You’re going to make mom upset.” He’s my little protector. And he is really smart. He loves to read and give me little-known facts. He’s also great at following direction. Rowland put lists on each of the children’s doors. These lists are basically their “work” for the morning or night. William gets his work done! He just goes right down the list and takes care of his stuff. He’s also great on house cleaning days because he takes his assignments and gets them done. He doesn’t whine about it because that would take too much time. Just give that boy a job, and you know it’ll get taken care of! You know his wife is going to love making her “honey do” lists!

Then comes Kitty….the fashionista! The girl has style coming out her pores. She dresses with style, she walks with style, she talks with style (or is that a little sass?)….. She LOVES to shop just like her momma! I remember a couple of years ago, she was sleeping with us, and she woke up crying from a bad dream. I asked her what was wrong, and she said that she needed to go to Kohls for Evergirl Fashions! I guess her biggest nightmare is that I won’t let her be fashionable! She loves to sing and dance and would like to put on a different outfit for every song. She’s also a drama queen. Everything she says and everything she does is SOOOOOO dramatic. I think that’s why she makes a lot of friends. She’s very friendly and outgoing. Last year in California, she knew almost every kid at the school by the time the year was over. She had friends in every grade, and they’d all holler when she’d walk by with me, “Hi, Kitty! Hi, Kitty!” And she was all about the hugs, too! She’s got to be the huggingest little girl around! And I love those hugs!!!!

Last but definitely not least is Jia!! That little Chinese angel has my heart wrapped all around her. I couldn’t love her more. She LOVES her momma, too! She has to touch me ALL the time. She is constantly rubbing my leg or pulling on my shirt or lying in my arms or asking to be held. The child cannot get enough of me. She loves to play a game where I ask her, “Am I Carson’s mommy?” She says, “No” and laughs. “Am I William’s mommy?” “No.” “Am I KeKe’s mommy?” “No.” “Am I Jia’s mommy?” “YES!!!!!” Then, lots of giggles!!! She and I went to the mall yesterday, and she took her stroller with her little Chinese babydoll in it. She pushed that baby all over the mall. The baby’s name is Xiao Li, and Jia loves being her mommy. She also loves to dance, and she call tell you the artist for any song she hears in a store or restaurant. Don’t ask me how she knows them all, but she does. She knows most of the words, too! Maybe she and KeKe can be the singers for William and Carson’s rock band, and we’ll all be famous someday!

Some days are so hard, and I wonder if I can make it through another day. Other days, like today, my heart is so full of love and thankfulness that I’m totally overwhelmed! Thank you, Jesus, for loaning me these four precious babies!! I couldn’t ask for anything more!

The Kids at Gilroy Gardens in California