A few of my favorite things (in no particular order)

Tillamook anything. I love, love, love Tillamook cheese. It's a little more expensive, but completely worth it. Look for it in your local grocery store. Also check out your store for Tillamook yogurt and ice cream. You'll be glad you did (if you find it, if not then you'll be sad and I will feel sad for you).

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That I get to cuddle and kiss Tyler every night. I love him.

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Blue (Bleu?) Cheese. I have a small container of it in my fridge and I just want to take it out and eat the whole thing. Nope, not on a salad or a burger or a steak. Just the cheese itself. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I can't get enough. *and, really, which is it? Blue or Bleu? I've seen it both ways on different packaging. Bleu sounds much fancier.*

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Kelly has started to say her prayers (i.e. repeat the last few words in each sentence we whisper to her). She thinks that means she should do that for every prayer, even if the prayer giver doesn't know that she'll be repeating them. My favorite thing is that this has resulted in Max unintentionally "helping" Kelly with many prayers. It makes Max feel pretty big. He loves it and so do I.

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Max teaching Kelly new words. Especially when we're in the car. Max will say, "Mom, listen to this word. Kelly, say...." and she'll repeat as many words as he asks her to.

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We went to the mall on Monday night. We walked by several stores to get to Mrs. Fields for an overpriced chocolate chip cookie (seriously? $1.64 for one cookie?!). One of those stores was Victoria's Secret. Max looked and said, "Hey! Let's go in that pink store!" :) Not today or any day with your mother present, little man. I can just imagine the very loud, entertaining conversation I would have in that store with my curious son...I'll pass, brother.

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My baby maniac daughter. She's a baby doll lover (mauler?). I can't forget to throw one in the car when we're running errands or it can result in weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth (NOT my favorite). A baby often squishes in her high chair with her and is force-fed pancakes, waffles and the like. I love to listen to her conversations with them. Except the other day when she came and told me that her baby was "in trouble". That's what I tell Kelly when Max is throwing a fit on time-out and she's super worried about her sad brother, "He's okay, Kelly, he's just in trouble right now." But it's okay for her babies to be "in trouble" sometimes, right? Maybe I should use a different phrase.

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The other day Kelly got really upset about something (can't remember what?) and started to go a little crazy with the tears. Oh, the drama! She went away and hid herself in the curtains, still crying. She had been playing with Max and I on the floor. Max watched her walk away and then said, "I'll go talk to her." He went over and gently leaned down until they were eye level and in his sweetest of voices let her know everything was okay and there was nothing to be sad about. After just a minute of his sweet talkin' she happily followed him back to play. Oh, my sweet boy! He also takes her shoes off when we get home and puts them away in the closet. She loves that, as does this pregnant momma since it saves me from bending over. Kelly will come in the door, plop herself on the step where they sit to take shoes off, stick her foot out to Max, and say "Shoes!" with a big smile on her face. They are such good friends (almost) all the time.

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My phone-loving daughter. Everything is a phone and she's always calling either "Jack" (her cousin) or "Dad". She repeats over and over again, "Oh, I know. Yeah, I know." I need to listen to myself next time I'm on the phone; I must say that a lot?

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Fall. Yep, I got over my sad fall feelings and am in love with the season once again. Tomorrow we'll decorate for Halloween. The trip to the pumpkin patch is on the calendar. I'm going to be picking apples from our tree soon and making applesauce. Apple cider is sounding mighty good tonight. I love the nip in the air and how Kelly's voice sounds saying, "It's told (cold)!" every time we go outside.