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Oh I LOVE the lamp!  I still picture that bedroom totally bare with nothing even on  the windows.  You're so good.  I can't wait to start my next Tia-inspired project (the quilt) if only this little town had some fabric stores.  I am anxious to go see our new nephew and hit up Joann Fabrics while I'm there!

Well on to my recipe for the day.  Buffalo had a sleepover on Friday night.  I was in the mood to be that really cool mom that makes everything by scratch and has a "gourmet" meal all the time.   I got up right away on Saturday and found a recipe that I had pinned awhile back and got working.    Home-made PopTarts.  The recipe sounded super easy, so I thought WHY not.  Well... Quinnie Poo helped me out and as you can imagine one thing led to another and it didn't turn out quite as well as I had planned but it was edible. (I thought rather tasty).

Source: bakememore.com via Katie on Pinterest

Everyone got to pick out their own jam.  The kids all settled on Strawberry Rhubarb.  I found a blackberry preserve -- DELISH!!Somehow I was only able to get 6 bite size pieces where I'm pretty sure the original recipe says it makes way more... I don't know how I always screw things up.  Most of the time my screw-ups are still pretty tasty fortunately.  Lou told me that it had a "pinch to much flour".. he is a crack-up.  Buffalo said that next time instead of trying to make my own pie crust I should just get the stuff at the store.  Thanks Mr.  I told mom the next time I am around I need a lesson in pie crust making.  I think Little One would LOVE these.  You'll have to make them for her.  Here is a picture of mine.  Yep they look delicious, huh!

I'm totally going to make these again.  I feel like such a better mother when I bake something myself instead of just grabbing something from pantry.  I mean shoot.. maybe I should buy only organic.  OH no that's going to far, who would really do that.  HEEHEE.  OH Tia I love you!  Kiss Mr.I, I mean Little One for me HEEHEE... Love you guys.  OH did I mention that we are expecting a BLIZZARD on Saturday here in NE.  Yeah what the... it was 65 degrees Monday and then a blizzard.  Life is tough out here in no-man's land.



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Kiki, I seriously can't get over hearing about your life in K-town. I just think how fun it would be to have turkeys running in the street, and bats in your house, and ice skating on a pond, and driving 2 minutes and you are out of town. HAHA okay I don't know if I could do that! I always thought country living would be fun but hmmm I just don't know anymore. Maybe if a big city were less than an hour away, yes then I could. ;) Okay but that bat oh my goodness. C sent me a picture of it trapped in the fireplace eww! I definitely would not have been able to sleep with that thing flying around; props to you!
I am so sorry I have not written sooner. I promise I have a good excuse. Okay well not great, BUT I finally got my Kindle Fire and for the first month you can enjoy the prime membership which means free videos instantly to it. (yeah haven't even read a book yet). I have been watching LOST! Miss S got me into the series but she didn't have the last two seasons so I have been dying to see what happens. Wouldn't you know that they are on my Kindle! So I apologize for not writing last night, I decided I had to watch LOST instead. I know so lame and I feel bad, but at the same time I am dying to go up and watch it right now HA!
Alright before you think I am the worst sister ever, here is my DIY project.  We were given a set of lamps when we got married and I was into my modern, black and white phase. Well that phase has come and gone and I am all about hmm don't know the exact word for it, I guess farmhouse with a twist. Anyways I redid one of the lamps and I love it! I can't wait to do the other one too.

before. Sorry this is in garage don't mind the mess.

After, in the guest room under the embroidery hoops.

I spray painted the base white. I still need one more coat because I ran out but you get the picture. To the shade I peeled off the inner plastic-y part because it had cracked from the move. So now it is just fabric, not as shaped as before. I then took scrap fabric I had leftover from my first quilt and hand sewed it over the black. I sewed the edge on the shade first then folded the fabric over the metal frame and sewed that on the inside. The sewing was a little tedious but well worth it I think. Hope you like it :)
Missing your family! LOVE YOU

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I LOVE your squares.  I want some :) hint hint wink wink.  I can't wait to see the finished project.  I need you to teach me how to quilt (I know I have said that before, but I love them!!!)

I have had a ho-hum kind of week, I've been a little blah.  But it is suppose to snow tomorrow and that always puts me in a good mood ( I know I'm weird).  And it helps that tomorrow is Friday!!!!!  Pineapple Upside Down Cake here I come.

Nothing all that exciting has happened this week either so that has added to my mood.  Oh wait there is one thing... A BAT is living in our fireplace in our bedroom.  Yeah I know!!!! By now you probably think I make up most of these stories but really who would make up a story about a BAT living in their bedroom.  Seriously! I came home for lunch the other day and Quinnie met me at the door to tell me there was  mouse.  She said it keeps scratching.   So the whole day we tried to see if we could find anything.. nothing.  And then I was sitting in my chair watching TV and I look over to see a big brown thing in the fireplace squirming around, and upside down from what it looked like.  C came down and covered up the fireplace so I wouldn't have to look at it.  Oh thanks C.. you couldn't just "take care of it" really... whatever.  So anyways I kept hearing scratching and I look over to see BAT WINGS! Huge wings with claws on the ends and FANGS... (okay slight exaggeration but they were really big teeth) UGH!!!!!!!!!  Lou thinks it is the coolest thing ever, Buffalo is convinced it is just a fruit bat and Quinnie poo thinks it is her best friend.  YUCK.  This house is cursed!  (okay again slight exaggeration but OMG.)  I of course did not sleep a wink for fear of the thing landing in my hair, all thanks to Mom and her own bat stories.  The next night C dosed me up with some night time sleepy stuff, I slept so well that the boys were a tad late to school and I was even more late getting to work.    I still can't believe it.  A bat!  I so did not know what I was signing myself up for when I took my dream job.  I know I know hindsight is 20/20.

Okay... so this week no pictures.  Sorry.  By the time I was ready to take a picture of my totally awesome dip... someone, I won't name names, C, had eaten everything.  This is the easiest, yummiest dip ever.  C refused to try it when he saw everything I put in it but then once he realized Quin was eating it up he decided he would try a bite and well he ate it up too!  YUMMO.

Creamy Mexican Dip
1 C plain Fat Free yogurt, Greek (I didn't have Greek just regular yogurt and it tasted delicious)
1/2 C salsa, hot chipotle
3/4 C diced avocado
1/3 C chopped cilantro
1/4 C chopped red onion
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
Garnish: 1/4 C diced avocado, 1 tbsp. cilantro, 1 tbsp. red onion
In medium bowl stir together yogurt and salsa until blended.  Stir in remaining ingredients (except garnish).  Cover and refrigerate.  Top with garnish when ready to serve.

I put this on tacos, just ate with chips, and tonight I had C's specialty, a burger, cheese, turkey bacon, fried egg and I used this dip instead of mustard and ketchup YUM!!!!



Enjoy!  Oh yeah I started reading a new series of books.  Totally a young adult series but I am entertained.  I am already into the second book and I just got it last week at Library night.  We missed Library night tonight because C didn't have to work and well he doesn't realize how fun the library can be.  We have an AWESOME library here in K-town, totally pumped!

Source: amazon.com via Katie on Pinterest

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That drink sounds A-mazing! I will definitely have to try it. I just love reading your posts and imaging you down stairs having your "party"!

Monday it rained here ALL day! Which was so fun, but at the same time not at all. I was watching a baby, so the 3 of us were going stir crazy by the end of the day. Little One wanted to hug her and hold her, and that baby was not about it. Anytime Little One came close the baby freaked out screaming. SERIOUSLY! Today was better, we went on a walk this morning with cousin H and they had a blast at the park. Sonic was on the way home from the park so we couldn't not stop! I just love sonic! Sadly I only brought some cash and didn't have enough for my strawberry limeade :( I'll have to go back soon! During her nap I finished my blocks for the Valentine quilt! Applique is so not easy. I think the ladies are going to take one look at my block and laugh haha. Let's just say they aren't the straightest lines you've ever seen. I'm excited to get all the different ones back and put my quilt together. Alright, I will call you tomorrow. I hope you and the monsters had fun watching your movie tonight!

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You are so creative.  I love the canvas idea, so cute.  I think I need to come out to your house to see everything you have done since the last time I was there.  I try to picture where everything is but I think C needs to send me out there to really get the full effect.

I had a really fun weekend.  Party at the house, party at Old Chicago's, football watching from the couch all day after an AMAZING sermon at church, all in all I think it was a great weekend. It started off with a bang on Friday afternoon when C and I went to a certain store and found a recipe taped to the shelf.  OH MAN!  AMAZING.  This in a mommy only recipe, just so you know.  Quinnie always asks "is this a yucky drink" to which we respond yes or no depending on it's contents.  This is definitely "yucky" by Quinnie's standards but SOOOOO GOOOOD.  I may or may not have single handily finished off the bottle (okay slight exaggeration but I had quite a few drinks).  C put the kids to bed fairly early and then he made me up a drink, we rented a movie (I don't recall ever watching it) and  had a GOOD night just the two of us.  These little drinks had me sleeping like a baby around 10 or so (I could have sworn it was pert near 2am but I have been told I was out like a light much sooner than that).  Oh now don't start lecturing me about being a responsible drinker...blah blah blah... remember that while everyone was having fun in their early twenties I kept having babies (I know Dad I have no one to blame but myself, well and C but I digress).  So now is my time for some fun and why not.... okay you know me, this excessive partying was truly 3 drinks I'm no party animal.  All in good fun, in the privacy and protection of my little basement room :).  Every once in awhile you have to let your hair down!  So the next time you have a bunco party (without the pastor's wives :)) or a Vampire Diary viewing party, or a martini party (Mom you listening) you have to take this little number.


Pineapple Upside-Down Cake cocktail
1 part Cake Vodka
1 part Pineapple Juice
1 Maraschino Cherry
YUMMO

I will totally be keeping this little gem stocked from now on.  Well I have to go tuck the monsters in bed.  They all had a long weekend and tomorrow might be a rough morning.  I am thinking a "shot" of Mountain Dew might be needed to get these guys up and moving for school.  Lou just informed C that "he didn't like school".  I find this hard to believe since he talks non-stop about how much fun he has.  But he did tell Mom the other night that he had 7 days without school.  Not sure what that is all about, we will probably have an altercation tomorrow morning before he remembers how fun it is to leap out of a moving vehicle and run into the safety of the school.  He has such a good imagination.  Right this very minute he came and asked me for help to which he turned around and I had to pull a pillow out from under his shirt.  "What it's for protection"... oh Lou I love you.   Give Little One my love and Mr.I.  Miss you!!!!!!

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 Kiki, I am so proud of you! That looks awesome and for a first time I am totally impressed. I can't wait to make  something at the same time :) We'll have to think about that...Oh and my fingers hurt all the time too! You are not alone. 
Little One's party was a big success. The doughnuts were the biggest hit! It was hilarious because the girls couldn't quite get that you didn't need that much dough on the skewer so the doughnuts were HUGE! Oh and I got so many compliments on my cakes in a jar.(patting myself on the back right now) ;) Yesterday was her actual birthday and we went to get an ice cream treat before lunch, I know horrible, but she did eat her lunch so phew. We had a special dinner of chipped beef (yumm-o) and then ice cream cake for dessert. She was definitely spoiled. The Disney Store has little figurines from all the movies and they have one with princesses so we got those for her and man was she so excited for her princesses! She did not want to go to bed and it was the first thing she said this morning.
Other than that life has just been going as normal, and nothing much. I did make a fun canvas for Little One's bathroom. All I did was paint the canvas and use a permanent marker (I have paint pens but could not find them of course)  to write the verse on it. Super simple and super easy. 

Oh and I am so making that recipe. THANKS

Love you so much Kiki!

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I'm BACK!!!  Sorry that I was MIA for a little bit, just had a rough go with things but I am back.  And boy have I been busy.  I just have to ask one thing Tia, how do you do it?  I knitted for the first time yesterday all day... I mean literally all day and today my little fingers were bruised and hurt so bad!  I guess I need to toughen up my hands before I try and tackle another one... or figure out what I am doing wrong so that I don't lose fingers in the process of being crafty.  I tell you what. OUCH.

For my first knitting project I decided to do a cowl like you.  Mom had sent me one in a little care package and I got so many compliments when I wore it out and about that I wanted another in my closet.  I have to say mine is a touch smaller than Mom's and it doesn't look quite as good but I did pretty darn good for my first go... what do you think.  See how it kinda rolls up... oh well.  No one will notice right? (wink wink)  I have a little of the yarn left over so I am thinking that maybe I could knit a matching one for little Quinnie Poo.

I also have to tell you that I am back on the Weight Watchers band wagon.  I have spoiled myself with daily desserts and well it has started to add up.  I found this awesome recipe in one of my books and it was delicious!  I have been able to keep snacking and not feel to guilty about it.  You've got to try it.  Take 1 box of angel food cake mix, and 1 can of light blueberry pie filling (we couldn't find blueberry out here in nowhere land so we used light cherry) mix the two ingredients together (don't add anything else).  Spread into an ungreased 9X13 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 min.  YUMMO.  and SO EASY PEASY.
Well that's been my life in a nutshell for the past week.  Not to exciting.  Tomorrow is library night any book suggestions?

LOVED Little One's party.  You are such a fun mommy.  I can't wait to try cake in a jar.  AMAZING.  Can't wait to hear what you have been up to this weekend.  Love you!

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the colored batter ready to cook

Little One added the sprinkles

Umm pebble where are you?? Well, since you have decided not to tell me how your life is going, I'll tell you how mine is. This week has been crazy! Mom left Sunday(tear, tear, downpour of tears), Monday I tutored, yesterday and today I subbed, and tomorrow is Little One's big 2nd birthday party! Let's just say my house will not be perfect for this party, but it sure will be fun(fingers crossed). I have had a lot of fun thinking of ideas for it. We are making our famous fondue doughnuts with all the fixings, a yummy fruit dip from my Deceptively Delicious cookbook, and veggies. Oh and milk with sprinkles on the cup ;) I can't wait to send you all the pictures.  I am most excited for the favors we are giving all her friends: Cake in a Jar!!! I decided no cake at the party because of all the sugar from the doughnuts. I do not need 8 crazy kids under 3 running around my tiny house on a sugar high(this is why I am not too worried that my house is not beyond clean). Why not send them home to eat the sugar ;) I found the recipe here and it is beyond simple. I took pictures to document the progress. 
I think Buffalo would have a blast making these! You should try it out. I even found one for a red velvet and nutella cake. Yumm-o. I need to go to bed because I still need to vacuum and prepare the fruit and all that stuff in the am before they come at 10! AUGH LOVE YOU KIKI!

Ready for friends to take them home

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You know Kiki I really can't love a pebble in my shoe. JUST KIDDING! You are a fabulous crafter and don't think otherwise. You are the one that helps me with all my ideas :)
Oh it has been so much fun having mom here and man have we made a lot of crafts! I made decorations for Little One's birthday party, baby shower gifts for our bro, a cute bow for cousin Cs baby, and tons of food (okay I know not a craft but it is an art). We have been to Target 3 times of course, I bought an awesome piece of art for the guest room at pier1, and crafts at JoAnn for Little One's party. It has been nonstop and I am exhausted but I wouldn't trade it for the world. We so wish you were here ;(
Tonight we had a football dinner.... home made potato skins, mom's famous wings, and the pretzel bites from your board on pinterest. I know, no vegetables, nothing healthy, but man was it all good! I am stuffed, just roll me on up to bed!
While mom and I sit on the couch because we can't move to go upstairs, I will leave you with a picture of the garland I made for Little One. I used a jelly roll of fabric and just tied the pieces onto yarn I already had. I seriously am in love with it!

Love you pebble ;)

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I LOVE the fabric.  Absolutely LOVE it.  I can't wait to see the finished project.  Have I mentioned that you are amazing.  I mean seriously, quilting, sewing skirts, knitting, and the list goes on and on.  I wish we lived closer just so you could rub off on me.  Alas, I guess you'll keep having to inspire me through your letters and pictures!  I do TRY to be as crafty as you, sometimes I sit in a corner and think of all the ways to be as crafty as you, but holy cow I just can't keep up.  Oh well I guess for now I'll just pay you to do my crafts (did I say pay umm... well... we'll have to talk about that, I'm sure we can work something out wink wink).
For the time being I'll stick to what I do best, cooking.  Tonight the kids asked for mac-n-cheese, they had a little friend over and I think they thought this was a safe option.  However this request came with a stipulation, "not yours mommy, Grandma's".   Buffalo even suggested that I call her to get the recipe.  OH man.  I called, got the recipe and was pleasantly surprised because it was easy peasy!  My kind of recipe!!!  I thought I had finally done it.  The perfect re-creation.  "Yours is more cheesy than Grandma's.  Hers is better." UGH I give up.  I apparently need to go back to Grandma cooking school.  So far I have failed miserably at all of her easy peasy recipes.  Gingersnap strips, mac-n-cheese, burgundy bubbler (did I mention I couldn't even get that right.. I couldn't find the right jug of wine) I am a complete mess.
I can hear you now trying to convince me that no your not a mess... but seriously, I'm a MESS.  Did I mention I went and got fitted for some, well let's say, under-garments.  OMG.  This might have been the most embarrassing thing I have ever done.  For two reasons that I will point out to you.  1. I may have packed on some winter weight (and you have to practically be buck-naked, oh and the stretch marks they were out in all the glory!  2. I didn't shave and well she kept having me raise my arms... UGH.  Yep I am a MESS, totally and completely.  OH yeah I just remembered the conversation I had with my husband at lunch today.  He said I was as squishy as Little One, "oh you know I love squeezing her, she's so cute, its a compliment".... oh yeah right, nice recovery love muffin.  I am sure glad the day is over so I can crawl under my flannel sheets and sleep till I forget all about the events of the day.  Tomorrow I will wake up in my new snazzy ($62 ouch) undergarments as a new woman!  I will finish those crafts I started (or not started that are sitting on the floor next to my sewing machine).  Clean up my room, just because.  And who knows maybe I will even shave my legs!  Whoa don't get carried away Kiki.  I probably won't do any of that it sounds exhausting.
I know your thinking come one your day couldn't be all that bad. You're right I did manage to do one thing well today (just ask Nena).  I made banana bread courtesy of the way overripe bananas that were sitting on the counter staring at me.  I just couldn't bare to throw them away. So I pulled on my big girl panties and decided I could make bread!  So I can't seem to do mac-n-cheese I can totally do banana bread.  I picked up the church cookbook and found my recipe.

It was delicious!  I am excited to eat it again for breakfast.  So here it goes:

Banana Bread
1/2 C Oleo (aka margarine thanks mom for explaining that one to me)
1 C sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tbsp. milk
1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 C flour
3 bananas
1/2 C nuts (optional I didn't add any so that Buffalo could take it to school.. girl in class w/ peanut allergy ugh)
Cream oleo.  Add sugar, mix well.  Blend into the sugar mixture 2 eggs, one at a time.  Dissolve baking soda into milk; add to sugar mixture.  Mix baking powder into flour; add to sugar mixture.  Beat bananas.  Add to sugar mixture.  Add nuts; mix.  Put in a greased bread pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

So yummy!  Okay... well here's to a good night of sleep.  Hopefully tomorrow will be better for me (it is Friday so that is definitely a plus!).

Love you!!! Enjoy your time with mom.  Hugs and Kisses to all!!!!!

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Okay if you are a loser because after 7 years you stayed in on New Years then I am a total loser! We never do anything HA! This year we did have a wedding that we went to, so I guess I was a crazy one and actually went out and stayed up passed 1! Call me Mrs.Wild! I would have loved to be at your party. Mom was reminiscing how it was great when we would watch the ball drop on the East coast and think it was really 12 and go to sleep at 8 hahaha what a trickster she is.
I love having Christmas decorations up but man was I happy to take them all done this year. I was getting a little claustrophobic with so much stuff everywhere! So now that my house is nice and tidy with all my projects hung thanks to MR.I, what is there to do.... Start on my next quilt! I actually am going to have 2 quilts going on at once. Crazy I know. Mr.I got me the best present ever, a gift card to the fabric store by us, woohoo! I used it today to finish getting the fabric for the guest bedroom quilt and I am in a Valentine block exchange with my quilting buddy. What is that you ask, well there are 15 of us and we have to make 15 blocks that incorporate some kind of heart design. Then we exchange them and now have 15 different blocks to put together to make a Valentine's quilt. So fun right?! I am excited for you to see both finished quilts :) Here are the fabrics for the guest bedroom, use your imagination it will be a pinwheel quilt!

Love you sister!

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So, little sis have you ever thought to yourself,  "I wonder what losers do on New Year's".  Well I'll tell you.  They sneak booze while celebrating the New Year with their young children.  They then wonder why the heck they didn't change the clocks so that they could crawl into bed with the New York crowd (you know watch the ball drop "live" eastern time so you can crawl into bed at 10).  Yeah that was me this year.  The first time ever that C and I didn't go out on the town (K-town that is) with our good friends, it was terrible.  I tried to make a party out of it but C was working, the P's couldn't make it do to a post hunting accident... and the cool people were in the "big city".  What a bust of a year, I almost cried at the thought of ringing in the New Year with my kiddos that probably wouldn't make it past their normal bed time, but I pulled it together and decided to plan a party anyways.  As I was planning my "menu" Buff says, "Mom why are you making all this food if no one is coming".  Seriously... even my 7 year old knows I am a loser.  Bummer.  I re-grouped and totally made a killer menu.  Pizza bites, home-made veggie dip, easy peasy sugar cookies, and malted hot cocoa.  I may be a loser but I am a pretty good hostess when no one is around :).  C did end up getting off prior to midnight and came home, put on his "lounge wear" and created Lego creations with Buff and Lou.  We have totally become L*O*S*E*R*S... okay not losers but you know boring parents.  I didn't even kiss C until 1am when he basically had to tuck me into bed from pure exhaustion.  I can't believe I stayed awake that long.  Buff and Lou were wide awake still at that point, it is a little embarrassing to have your 7 and 5 year olds tucking you into bed.  WHEN DID I GET SO OLD.

Well although my New Year's didn't quite go as planned I did stumble upon a delicious hot cocoa recipe.  If your in the mood for a milk shake but are to cold to even consider getting one this is the recipe for you.  I guess in your case, if you are just wishing your were in the "frozen tundra" this might help you get in the mood.

Malted Hot Cocoa with Toasted Marshmallows
1 serving hot chocolate
3 marshmallows
3 tbsp. malted milk powder

Heat broiler.  Place marshmallows on baking sheet.  Broil till golden brown.  Prepare hot cocoa according to package directions.  Mix in malt powder.  Top w/ toasted marshmallows.  (makes 1 serving) ENJOY.




 The kids LOVED this hot "milkshake", we will definitely be having this again.

I loved the "adult version".  I added 2 shots (give me a break it was New Year's) of Irish Cream Liqueur.  YUMMO!!!!!!   Note to self.. .next time don't use identical mugs.  Although the kids didn't get confused I thought I was chugging Corinne's leftovers when I got a nice little surprise.  It certainly warmed me up from the inside...  I'll be sure to clearly distinguish my cup from theirs next time.  But nonetheless this was a delicious "signature drink" for our New Year's party.

I hope you rang in the New Year's with a bang!  I will tell you that we did make it to church this morning, a little late, but we made it.  As we drove home from church Lou says, "whelp, guess we missed worship"... he's so funny.  I told him next week we'll be sure to get there on time so he can worship.  I love that he loves church.
LOVE the pictures.  Tell Mr.I that I need him to come hang some things for me.  My hubby doesn't ever seem to help me out with that sort of thing. :) Just kidding C, you're the best!  Well before I put my foot in my mouth anymore I better go to bed.  Love you sister!  Give my favorite almost 2 year old a kiss from her Kiki.