Why, hello snow!

When Ben gets home for work and walks through the door, he is typically met with "daddy!!!" from both girls. Tonight, however, there was no "daddy!". Instead, Linkan took one look at him, put her fist up in the air, pulled it down and said "YES!" Haha

Then later, she runs to the window and says, "Why hello snow! So happy to see you again!"

The girl had us in stitches tonight!

Tomatoes

When Linkan was about 18 months, she started referring to tomatoes as "nemos". The name stuck an hardly anyone in the family (grandmas and grandpas included) refers to than as tomatoes anymore. They're nemos!

Palmer is now 18 months and like Linkan (and me!), one of her favorite food is tomatoes. Except that Palmer calls a tomato a "po mo". Another tradition has begun! ;)

Relay For Life

So, I have to brag on my husband a little bit. :) We drove to Alma this evening because the Wabaunsee County Relay For Life group asked him to speak to their group on his journey to cancer survival. They invited us girls too and we were happy to tag along (Link and Palmer especially loved the playground, cake and tiaras!)

I think that my sweet husband has missed his calling in life. If you enjoyed his blog entries while enduring chemo, you would love hearing him speak. He was engaging, funny, interesting, introspective and inspirational. He did such a good job of down-playing his suffering last year, that a lot of people don't realize just how amazing it is that he endured chemo, fought the cancer battle, and won. And he did it all with the emotional fortitude of an ox. He ALWAYS stayed positive. He endured the physical ad emotional attacks like a champ. I can remember several times through out staging and chemo where he was encouraging ME to keep my chin up. Just imagine how humbling it is to be encouraged by someone who is in pain, doubled-over in bed.

Yes, I realize its nauseating sometimes to read about people's "perfect life" and "perfect relationship" on blogs or Facebook. Please don't misunderstand. Our life isn't perfect (um, hello? Cancer) and our marriage isn't either. Just last week, we had the most ridiculous argument over where he wants me to put the clean lids to cups and where I want him to put the recycling. I mean, who raises their voice over recycling? Fail.

BUT (a big one), I adore this man. We deal with normal relational issues that we constantly have to work to keep in check. But don't think for one minute that our love for each other isn't deep and rich and extraordinary...because it's all that. It is absolutely all that.

He was asked to speak at some more Relay For Life groups and I couldn't be happier about that (he is too). He has an important message to tell about how to suffer well, live full, and love big. Love you, Benny P.

Palmer - 18 months

My baby doll is 18 months old today! How did that happen? This little girl is really starting to come into her own. Her personality is blossoming. She is quickly becoming daddy's biggest fan (there is still lots of competition for that title!). She is becoming more independent and confident and very rarely gets upset when I leave her with a sitter. (Quite the improvement!)

She says more words than I can remember in just this one setting. Every day, she is trying out new words. Although she doesn't dictate as well as Linkan did at the same age, doc says she's above normal with her speech. Always nice to hear those words of encouragement! She has also started putting two words together....most commonly, "more pear".
Some funny Palm'isms:
E-yan = Orange
Doe Doe = Dora
Nigh Night = Blankey
Pat pat = can I watch Little Einsteins?
Fih = Bathtub fizzies
Fee = Can I watch Sophia? (you would think I let this kid watch tv all day long)
Kie Kie = Sky sky (as in-play that song that goes "reach and touch the sky"
Side = Lets go play outside
Arrre youuuuuu = where arrrrrre youuuuu???
Blah blah = her doll named "blah blah"
Chi chi = her monchichi monkey baby (that was actually mine when I was little)

She runs nowadays and tries real hard to jump. It's hilarious. She loves to color with markers and I've never seen anything like it. She puts the cap back on each marker as soon as she is done with it. Her markers never dry out. Amazing! I'll take it!

Her daddy puts her to bed now and she cons (not much arm twisting going on) him into lying on the floor next to her crib. She sticks her little hand through the crib slats and holds her daddy's hand. She has an l.e.d. night light now (just like Linkan) and likes to read books at bedtime in her crib.

With every day that passes, I cherish her even more. I love her to pieces.

Mornings with Your Sister

We woke up late this morning (too many parties this weekend!). I heard the girls playing over the monitor. When I went into Palmer's room, I found that Linkan had crawled into PT's crib. They were playing and having fun! (Do you love Link's bed-head?) :-)

Shhhhhh

I was holding my finger up to my mouth and shhh'ing Palmer at nap time today. She did it right back to me and thought it was pretty hilarious.