the neighbors down the street/things you wouldn't say

Hel-lo Handsome! This is Reed Manhart- our godson and future heart breaker of the world. He will put Brad Pitt to shame. George Clooney will have to retire his "Most Beautiful Man in the World" title and concede to Reed.

We've been playing over at the Manhart's just as much as we possibly can since they moved to town. I actually told Emilie she would have to let me know if we were there too often. (And, in true form, she said, "Are you kidding? This is why we moved to Hampden.")

Lately, one day a week when Sandi works, the girls and I go over and play over there. The kids play, share dinner, share a bath, and then Reed goes to bed and the girls (note the matching jammies) eat decadent desserts (bunny lollipops this night) and watch a video while the adults eat a QUIET dinner. It is so lovely.

The girls hard at work (and, again, accidentally and curiously, matching) in the Manhart's sunny new dining room.

Still handsome...

Part II- things you never thought you'd hear yourself say

Last night Ella was in the bath. I was cleaning up the kitchen and talking with her to make sure she was okay playing in the water. She stays in there playing for 30 minutes sometimes.

"Momma, look at my fingers!" she yells.

"Why?" I ask- and I swear I actually said this- "Are some of them missing?"

Where does this stuff come from??

As a side not, Mindy and Charissa have a blog now and it is really worth checking out, especially (sorry Charissa) for a hysterical video clip of Charissa singing. The address is http://www.merrillmaguire.blogspot.com/.