you just said happy birthday in duck

For some reason whenever Ike prays lately he always says, "and please bless the sick and afflicted ones."

We have a lot of sick and afflicted ones in our family, but he blesses them all separately, so I'm not sure who he's talking about. Maybe he's trying to do a catch-all for everyone he doesn't know.

Willa had to go to bed at seven tonight because she is a hateful monster. There was a lot of screaming, but there was going to be even more, by more people, if she stayed up any longer. When confronted with bratty behavior I first assume sleep deprivation, and if that isn't it I assume they need to have a bowel movement. Gross, but surprisingly accurate.

you're already the voice inside my head

John and I went to San Francisco for a few days last week. We asked Emily and Matthew to help watch Willa and Ike, but unbeknownst to us Matthew had to be in China last week. So Emily got two extra kids and no help! We are awesome family. We bought her some nice chocolates, but I don't think it worked. Willa and Ava are sometimes not really great at being friends, and I think Emily was a tad overwhelmed. Hopefully we can repay her soon.

Willa says that Emily taught her to say please and to not suck her fingers.

We bought Willa a Chinese dress, Ike a panda hat, and Grant and Emmett t-shirts. Emmett's has a cool scary tiger, and Grant's has a cool scary dragon. Emmett likes his shirt and Grant hates his. What can you do? I told them on the phone that their presents weren't cool, but evidently Grant thought I was sandbagging. I wasn't.

Next week is fall break, and we're trying to think of somewhere fun and cheap to take the kids. They want to camp out in John's parents' back yard. I think that's a bad idea.