All my life I wanted a daughter. Since I was a little girl I practiced and rocked and cuddled my babies and dreamt of a baby girl of my own one day.
On August 20th 1999 you came into my life. I was SO happy and excited to finally have my baby girl. “Pink things-Ruffly things” were one of the first things that were mentioned at the moment you were born.

You have been my girly girl. You love pink and all the girly frilly things that the world has to offer. You have done tap and ballet and wore the most adorable tutu in the universe.. You have been shy and sweet and you have also been a brave girl. No fear. You LOVE anything fast and wild. You spent most of the day at Bay Beach on the swings that would throw you high in the air and make my stomach ache as you squealed with glee.

Make no bones about it. Your tuff. You rarely let your big brother push you around. You do however know when to bring on the tears when he wont give in to your demands.
You have your oldest brother wrapped around your little finger. He melts when you call him “travie” and will do anything for you.

You have discovered swimming over the past two years and LOVE it. You are an awesome swimmer and spend hours in the pool. You also did Dance and Cheer team this year and loved that as well. You picked up the dance quickly and were often seen going through it at any given moment of the day.

I watch you grow and I am loving every minute of it. You are a lot like me and that terrifies me. People even call you mini Dawn due to the fact that you look at lot like me. We even share the love of anything to do with kitties. (some things you just never grow out of)

Happy 7th Birthday my dear Carly. I have waited a long time for you. I love you. You are the most beautiful and wonderful little girl a mother could ever pray for.

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.
- Dr. Seuss

Welcome Ollie to the family.
Cutest damn puppy I have ever seen.

Left work at lunch time yesterday and went to pick up the kids.
Brian: “Is it 5:20 already?”
Me: “Nope-I am here early”
Brian: “Did you quit your job? Were you fired?”
Me: “Nope-just thought I would take a half day”
Carly: “Hi Mommy.”
As we are walking to the car.
Me: “Hey- would you two like to go to the ZOO today”
WIDE EYED In unison:
Brian & Carly: “REALLY?”
Me: “Yep- Let’s GO”

We drove the 30 minutes to an area zoo. Small - but neat and clean. Good exhibits. Lot’s of animals for a smaller zoo. We just enjoyed the animals. I didn’t push the “educational” issue. I am a cool mom like that.
We made the circuit and even got to feed the giraffes and goats by hand.
Spent 20 minutes in the gift shop and Carly picked out a ring and bracelet. Brian picked out a stuffed snake. My wallet suddenly got 16.00 lighter.
On the way home we stopped and had supper.

All in all, a wonderful afternoon. The best part was the photos of the two of them acting like monkeys at the zoo.

It is great to be a MAN because:

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Your ass is never a factor in a job interview.
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Your orgasms are real … always.
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Your last name stays put.
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The garage is all yours.
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Wedding plans take care of themselves.
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You never feel compelled to stop a friend getting laid.
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Car mechanics tell you the truth.
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You don’t give a rat’s ass whether or not someone notices your new haircut.
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Hot wax never comes near your pubic area.
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Wrinkles add character.
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A few well placed one night stands gain credibility, not leave you tarnished.
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People never glance over your chest when you are talking to them.
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The occasional well-rendered belch is practically expected
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New shoes don’t cut, blister or mangle your feet.
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Not liking a person does not preclude having great sex with them.
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Your pals can be trusted never to trap you with “So, notice anything different?”
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One mood, ALL the damn time.
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A five day holiday requires only one suitcase.
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You can open all your own jars.
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Dry cleaners and hairdressers don’t rob you blind.
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You can go to a public toilet without a support group.
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You can leave a hotel bed unmade.
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You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
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If someone forgets to invite you to something, he or she can still be your friend.
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If you are 34 and single, nobody notices.
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Everything on your face stays its original color.
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You can enjoy a quiet car ride with a passenger.
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Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.
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You can sit in silence watching a football match with your mate for hours, without thinking “He must be mad at me”.
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You can drop by to see a friend without having to bring little gift.
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If another guy shows up at a party wearing the same outfit you might become lifelong friends.
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You are not expected to know the names of more than five colors.
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You don’t have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
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You are unable to see wrinkles on your clothes.
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The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
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You don’t have to shave below your neck.
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Your belly usually hides your big hips.
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One wallet and one pair shoes, one color, all seasons.
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You can “do” your nails with a pocket knife.
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You have freedom of choice concerning growing a moustache.
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Christmas shopping can be accomplished for 25 relatives, on December 24, in 45 minutes.
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Same job more pay. The world is your urinal