-At a restaraunt while waiting for a very long time for some appetizers to arrive, Daniel, in a valley-girl kind of style, said “We are not enjoying ourselves here.”

-A few weeks ago I took the kids out to Fudduckers with Uncle Dan for lunch. While finding our seats, Daniel said, “I want to sit by myself with Uncle Dan.  (pointing to me and Lizzie) You and the Turd stay here in this booth. (It’s so great having an uncle teach my kids all kinds of thing)

-After painting a big wooden box, Daniel looked at his “masterpiece” and asked, “Do you think this painting will make me famous?”

“It’s very good, Daniel.  But I don’t think so.”

“Well…I sure hope it does.  Then I could support you and dad.”

-While helping Daniel into the car:  “Mom.  Everyone has issues….except me.”

-I got the Mama Mia Soundtrack and while listening to the “Money, Money, Money” track for the first time, Daniel got a quizzical look on his face and then exclaimed, “Hey!  This is Daddy’s theme song.”  (Lyrics begin “I work all night, I work all day to pay the bills I have to pay.  Aint it sad?  And still there never seems to be a single penny left for me, That’s too bad”)

-Daniel enjoys playing Chef when I give him my old, expired food from the fridge.  One day I asked him what he was making.  He responded matter-of-factly, “Apple bottom jean jeans boots with the fur.”

-Singing the song “Story of a Girl”:  ….And when she looks so fat in photographs, I absolutely love her when she smiles….

-And my personal favorite…while tucking Daniel into bed:  “Mom, if you die before me, I’m going to hang onto your coattails and fly up to heaven with you.”

Eppie and I LOVE Daniel’s drawings of people. It’s always just a head and then two legs.

So when Daniel came home from preschool with these drawings, I just had to put them up on the wall in the office - And when I get the time, I’m definitely going to get these framed.

Eppie and I both agree that Elizabeth’s drawing resembles her the best, don’t ya think?

Speaking of Preschool, Eppie and I decided that Daniel’s extreme mom-attachment needed to end, so we put him into a preschool where he’ll meet three times a week, instead of just one time a week like we had him in. He went last week with no complaints!!!! And he actually wants to go. So, it’s like a sigh of relief for me. I was so nervous about sending Daniel to Kindergarten every morning next year - thinking it would be a fight every day. But I think he’ll do well, considering how much he enjoys preschool.

And I’m enjoying all this too! I don’t know why I didn’t put Daniel into a “real” preschool before because it’s just nice having that time to do things without feeling guilty that I’m not entertaining him. You see, Daniel is the hard one at home because he constantly needs you to do things with him. Where Lizzie could spend the whole day by herself playing with her toys.

These pictures were taken three hours before Daniel was to be at preschool, but he was just so excited!!!! So excited, in fact, that he didn’t “have time” to take an individual picture, so Lizzie volunteered.

Just ten day ago, Daniel went to the ER for a broken foot and we were told that he would be on crutches for four to six weeks. 

Then about six days ago, I went back to the hospital where I had an orthopedic resident friend fix Daniel’s cast because the heel was breaking off.  My friend told me that he could now walk with a cast shoe.  So that was great news! 

Then this morning we went for his follow-up appointment.  I told the doctors that he’s been complaining that something was poking up on his heel, so they took off the cast (and it became very apparent to all there that Daniel spends a lot of time in the sandbox).

They leave to check his x-rays and come back to say that he doesn’t need a cast anymore!!  All he has to do is wear sneakers or dress shoes all the time (except sleeping and bathing) for the next four weeks. 

Needless to say,  we are very happy.