When I was putting her to bed tonight, Hope said to me, "Mommy, I love you too much to bite you.  Sometimes I feel like bitting you, but I love you too much."

For awhile now, maybe the last year or so, when I put Hope to bed, we have a great time with a little massage session.  I rub her back and tummy, and she often wants to also give me a neck and back massage, sometimes arms too.  She is actually really amazing at it for a four year old.  She often has her little special methods she uses, like a quick move with her hands, then slow ones.  So funny!  She can be so amazing and precious, and often so sweet and generous too!

Graffiti Hopie

I wasn't there when this happened today, but I guess the story was that during your non-nap time today, you decided to get out of bed (not an uncommon occurrence) and then proceeded to snatch the pens from my bucket on the upper shelf and graffiti all over yourself and then Jeremiah.  It supposedly looked like a sleeve tattoo on your arm and then make-up on your eyelids and cheeks, and a similar look for Jeremiah.

The stories never end with you child!

Talking Hope

In the car ride home from Big Bear yesterday Hope was mothering Jeremiah and started telling him how she wasn't going to talk to him because he had ripped a book and was in trouble.  Then for the next 20 minutes she proceeded to tell him how she wasn't going to talk to him...but never actually stopped talking!  Classic Hope!

3 1/2 years old

characteristics that describe you presently:
independent
sensitive
stubborn
emotional
difficult
sweet intermingled with random spurts of meanness
incredibly creative & unique
different than any other person I've ever met

favorite activities:
running around in circles
mothering Jeremiah (intermingled with knocking him over)
coloring
"reading"
spontaneous singing & praying