This Full House Archive

Category: Who’s Parenting Who?

Times When Butt Jokes ARE More Than Appropriate

It's no secret, raising teens is NOT easy. Blogging about them, regardless of the fact that it may be under extremely difficult situations and then focusing all of your energies in the most positive way, is even harder.

All of the sudden, in a blink of an eye, our lives have become less about poopie diapers and laundry and whether the Doodle Bops are evil (although, I do happen to agree with Lindsay on that one) or, if fart noises and butt jokes are appropriate at the dinner table.

Because, I'm here to tell you that, YES, not only has what was once deemed bad behavior (in our house, anyway) become status quo (join 'em, if you can't beat 'em, I say) it keeps us from killing each other — sometimes, I even let my teens curse, a little.

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August 28, 2009
19 Years of Marriage and She’s STILL Got Nothin’

"While any couple that reaches their 16th, 17th, 18th, or 19th wedding anniversary certainly has an occasion worth celebrating, there are no traditional gifts associated with those anniversary years…About.com"

I used to think my MIL was nuts (sorry mom, but wait, it gets better) especially, around holiday time, or whenever a member of the Thompson Clan reaches some sort of milestone, that typically requires some form of congratulatory gift-giving.

"Would you mind buying your father a card, for me."

What?

"I didn't have time to run out and buy a gift."

Seriously? After 50-something years (I forget) not even a simple little card? How weird, right?

So, I thought.

"What's this for?"

My parents were over the other day (because, they went to Costco, again, and have been keeping us in breakfast cereal, laundry detergent and diet soda, for years, now) and handed me an envelope, along with a half-a-dozen sponges, because you can NEVER have enough sponges, right?

"Happy Anniversary!"

[blank stare]

"It's this Tuesday."

I knew that, sort of.

"How many years is it, now?"

I really can't blame my poor husband, Garth [not his real name] for questioning my ability to remember.

"19, so there!"

Never mind the fact it helps to have been married on an even year and the start of a new decade (I am not stupid, much) makes the math SO MUCH easier!

"Yeah, but she didn't remember why I sent flowers, last month."

Right. Not at first. I mean, seriously…ladies in the house…wouldn't you be like, "Whoa?" when it's clearly not your birthday, anniversary and you're not pregnant [knocking on wood until knuckles bleed] but, this guy is…like…standing at your door with a big bunch of flowers?!?

"Someone loves you, very much!"

Yeah, I tipped the flower dude, but who's sending me flowers?

"19 years ago, love began in earnest…"

Okay, it was signed Garth [not his real name] but, we got married on August 25th (I remember, because we got pictures to prove it and everything) and, well, I was pretty sure I wasn't pregnant.

[Edited to add: Darn sure, since I have my period, right now, you're welcome, Mom!]

"OUR FIRST DATE!!!"

I'm sure I made my husband a little deaf, screaming into the phone, as if I were answering the bonus round of [enter your favorite game show, here] or, something.

"Did she mention, she nearly bit my head off, yesterday?"

When did I turn into everyone's whipping child? I think it was around our 15th anniversary, or something.

"Yes, but she admitted that she was wrong."

I love my mother. Really, I do. Yet, she insists on saying and doing stuff — like, buying my kids food, clothes and investing in Hallmark greeting cards — just to make me cry.

"Yeah, it was wr…wr…[deep breath]…totally not right of me."

Seriously, 16, 17, 18…it really doesn't matter…after a while, the years start to blend, anyway.

4 kids, 2 cats and 1 sock-eating doofus-dog later, my life has become this mosaic of undefinable moments of comfort, knowing that there are those times, when I feel lucky just to be able to get out of bed.

"Aaaand, I made him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich!"

Or, be able to make a simple peace offering, like a hot cup of coffee, or peanut butter and jelly sandwich, which, in turn, is met with equal (albeit, unspoken) gratitude.

"So, Happy Anniversary!"

It's the gift that keeps on giving.

[heavy sigh]

As for tomorrow, I got nothin'!

[blank stare]

Please, don't judge me (forgive me, mom) it's a comfort to me now, knowing that at least my MIL will understand.

"Yeah, at this point, it would be too expensive to replace her!"

Besides, Garth [not his real name] makes me feel like I know stuff — like, how I make a pretty mean peanut butter and jelly sandwich!

If that's not love, I don't know what is…Happy [enter corresponding year, here] Anniversary to us!

© 2009 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

August 24, 2009
PBN Blog Blast: Love Means Never Having to Pay Full Price

The Parent Bloggers Network has teamed up with the folks at Capital One to
get the word out about how parents (like me) are talking to kids about budgeting and finances.

Or, not.

Capital One and national consumer advocacy
group Consumer Action sponsor the
Moneywi$e eLearning tool, which includes a section all about talking to kids about money.

[cringe]

Or, not — because, my parents never "talked" to me about financial responsibility and I turned out okay, sort of.

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August 21, 2009
Nearly Wordless Wednesday: More Than a Feeling

I canNOT believe that summer is almost over. Can you? I mean, I haven’t even unloaded their backpacks from June, yet. Still, the kids and I can’t help but feel a little sorry to say goodbye to the Summer of 2009.

So, I put together this little movie — you know, for those who will, no doubt, by December, insist they were absolutely B.O.R.E.D the entire summer — so, hopefully, it will help them ALL remember the really good times, too.

This Full House Summer 2009 from Liz Thompson on Vimeo.

[bites lower lip]

Okay, me too.

Check out the Official Wordless Wednesday HQ
Tag, you’re it: Wordless Wednesday

© 2009 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

August 19, 2009
I Think My Kids Are Getting a Little Tired of Summer, or Just Turning Amish, I Really Think So!

Looks sort of like a lineup, to get into the Breakfast Club, right? RIP, John Hughs!

My husband's Aunt Ann passed away last week (cancer sucks, btw) and, although the Leavitts aren't really related to the Thompsons — I'd venture to guess it's why my husbands family got along so well with their family — Ann and Pres were at our wedding, they both got a chance to meet 2 out of 4 of our kids (in person) and we've been exchanging Christmas cards…GULP…for almost 20 years, now.

It's been Aunt Ann and Uncle Pres, ever since.

So, we decided to attend her memorial service last weekend, as she was perhaps the kindest, funniest and most bravest woman I know (battling cancer for 10 years, sucks wet poodle!) and, well, nothing says, "Hey kids, it's time for another fun-filled family vacation," like a death in the family, right?

Riiiight.

Aaaaand, where did we take them?

To see LOTS OF DEAD PEOPLE, of course!

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August 6, 2009
BlogHer IRL: Part Deux and Why I Should NOT Do This Sort of Thing for a Living

Morning yoga in Millenium Park, Chicago.

So, you're probably getting really, really tired reading about BlogHer 2009, right? Unless, you happen to be one of my IRL friends (who just recently have been "friend-ing me" on Facebook, like crazy, all of a sudden and are all like, "SO THIS IS WHERE YOU'VE BEEN HIDING," here, all the time) then, all this talk about blogging conferences, swag hags and stuff is going to sound really, really weird.

First, check out BlogHer IRL – Part One
(if, you'd like) because, I posted some really pretty pictures of my
time in Chicago. Also, it will bring my IRL friends up to speed on why I go to
these type of things and, well, to be real honest with you, my hair
looks really, really good, too.

[stretch]

Then, go over and read some thoughts on BlogHer'09 from one of the founders, because she is way smarter than me.

My take?

Blogging, like yoga, is an exercise in patience and self-awareness — it helps to keep an open mind and listen to your body; especially, when it starts hollering stuff like:

"This so does NOT feel good, right now!"

So, there's this thing about the PR Blackout Challenge and Blog With Integrity (pretty badge on left) but, go figure, it took a work-at-home dad to reaffirm the fact that I also Blog for Peace not Swag (even prettier badge on right) still, everyone seems to be getting all sorts of mad and confused.

"STOPIT!"

Yeah, I don't get this whole mom bloggers…marketing executives…and pr people…OH MY…they ARE the devil…sort of thing, either.

No one has ever, never, twisted my arm to write about anything I did NOT want to, seriously and, as long as I have access to a "delete" or "edit" button, I'm good.

Frankly, I don't want my IRL friends to get the wrong idea. This, right here, is not what I do for a living. This is where I go (oh, and here too) for the last 6 years, to write. For me. So, hopefully, one day, my kids realize that, you know, mommy had her own set of issues to deal with, too.

Then, I lost about 2 years worth of writing — because, I'm talented like that — moving from here, to here, to here (see, broken links, no content, gone, fuhcotta) and then, I parked my butt right back here and became a dot com.

Weird, right?

Anyway, I started getting to know all sorts of really cool people online (old school blogging at it's very best) and then the kids started growing up and, you know, still needed me to teach them stuff (parenting doesn't stop after full-day kindergarten, btw) and I found myself turning to my internet friends, more and more, since I was pretty much guaranteed at least a hundred different opinions, on everything from parenting while under the influence of children and just where in the heck DO all those missing socks go, anyways?

Um, okay, sorry, I lose track sometimes…um…okay, so then I started another blog to help families (like mine) figure out stuff, like just what in the heck all those cryptic game rating symbols really mean and my kids love to tell their friends stuff, like:

"My mom is a blogger, we were in a commercial and SHE got to meet Jack Sparrow!"

That's where things get a little weirder — okay, I did NOT actually get to meet Johnny Depp, just his stunt double — people seemed to actually really want hear what I had to say about stuff, like blogging about the type of socks we buy, much to the amazement of my family and IRL friends…me, too.

Why?

Well, if you saw a dinosaur, say walking down 5th Avenue in NYC, wouldn't you want to know what it was doing there, let alone, how in the heck it managed to survive, this long, in the first place!?!?

Okay, so that pretty much explains why I don't do this for a living, right?

Still, there are folks out there (something like 6 bazillion, at last count, I think) who believe that there MUST BE other reasons, more sinister and a lot more annoying (if you could imagine) than being a mom (like me) blogging about stuff, other than rainbows, glitter glue and poopie diapers.

I mean, FTC forbid someone (like me) would actually have something to say, with nothing up my sleeve, other than good intentions, no matter how much free stuff people seem to keep wanting to throw at me, or how long it takes, you know, for me to keep saying it.

[wrapping it up, now]

Hopefully, this is nothing that my friends and readers don't already know. I live to write (not host giveaways) however, giving back to the community, online and IRL…well, it's how we roll:

"This Full House you just raised $5,000 for the Ronald McDonald House, what are you going to do now?"

Waiting to see how long it takes for folks like the Wall Street Journal to pick up on the fact that there are moms who are actually trying to do some really good things with their blogs.

Not going to hold my breath, for too long, though.

My biggest regret?

Not hugging Mir (Woulda Coulda Shoulda) IRL, when I had the chance, DAMMIT!

Edited to Add: Received an email from a reader (thank you for taking the time, June!) and I hope that you did not misunderstand my rant for anything other than asking traditional media to consider that there are plenty of reasons why (other than getting stuff) that people (especially, moms like me) blog and, yes, I really do think that kindness is very much underrated these days.

© 2009 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

July 31, 2009
Parenting tip #6,299,999: Kids May Be Closer Than They Seem

Yeah, for sure, so it makes my eyes hurt (a little) but, isn't it awesome?!? My middle girl (she's 13) made it for me. Yesterday, I think. Although, I forget what day it is. These last few weeks are beginning to meld, together.

"What time is it, Momma?"

In fact, this week sort of reminds me of when my brother and I would spend summers with my grandmother, sitting on her plastic-covered couch…a little sticky and, if you move to fast, you could really hurt yourself.

"Why, you have some place to go, or something?"

Actually, besides staying with my folks (while, I'm away at BlogHer) my two oldest girls with their respective babysitting gigs and a long-overdue-visit with my friend Kate [waves] our calendar is absolutely open for the entire month of August.

"No, but can So-and-So come over and swim?"

Which, of course, could be a good thing, if you're like me and trying really hard to simplify your life, because, I swear, it does NOT get any easier, I don't care how old your kids are.

"NO! It's MY turn to have someone over!!!"

Then again, there's a reason why my husband, Garth [not his real name] calls me, before turning into our driveway, to see if we: a) need milk; b) should order an extra pizza or c) have enough Midol in the house, before coming home from work.

FYI: We have three people who are menstruating at the moment (you're welcome!) so, THERE IS NEVER ENOUGH MIDOL IN THE HOUSE!

"Actually, it's your brother's turn!"

No, my son is NOT menstruating (thank haven for small favors) but, the poor kid has three sisters (two who are popping Midol, I mean) so, perhaps you'll understand why I can't help but be sensitive to the fact that the poor little dude often times feels like the odd man out.

Aaaand he's ten, so he knows what the word menstruating means, anyway…no thanks to Garth [not his real name] damnit.

"OH, FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS HOLY, FLUSH THE DAMNED TOILET, ALREADY!"

Okay, so I sometimes forget other stuff, so what?

"Can JD sleep over?"

Sure, what's one more, right? So, this morning, I was making with the pancakes, bacon and stuff, when I realized something.

[the sound of music playing]

Where the hell were the girls? They're old enough to do stuff like this. I mean, both of them have cooked breakfast, before. Besides, I really had some work to catch up on and stuff. So, I hung up my apron (no, I'm kidding, just one more thing to wash, in my opinion) I peeked into the living room.

"What are you guys doing?"

Picture this: My two oldest, sitting in the middle of my favorite chair, surrounded by the three other kids.

Why?

Because, well, they didn't have their makeup on and I wasn't allowed to take a real one, picture, I mean…DUH!

"We're watching previews of the new Harry Potter movie!"

Uh-oh.

"Um…well…I've got a lot of work to do and stuff…and…"

[cut off in mid-ummm]

"Don't worry, we'll take them outside for you, Momma…we can always go to the movies, later."

[color me dumbfounded, again]

I don't know what I did (or, didn't do) but, I just had to share it with you guys (especially, my friends with little, little ones) because, I'm going down into the crawl space, to check for pods and, well, you just never really know, right?

"HEY…wait for me, you guys…Mommy's eyes are hurting, anyway!"

Besides, it is summertime and weird stuff like this happens, all the time, around here, in Jersey, you know?

© 2009 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

July 17, 2009
Yeah, but it just wouldn’t be as much fun…without them!
June, 2004
Greetings from Seaside Heights, NJ

Yesterday, my mom and I carried on the tradition of celebrating the first days of summer vacation and took the kids to the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, NJ…alone (my husband was at work and my dad wasn't feeling so great) and, yeah, it was a beautiful day, still. I can't help but feel as if the kids and I were, you know, missing something.

Besides, my dad and Garth [not his real name] I mean.

Oh, we got there in plenty of time to sink a couple of battleships, since Wristband Day ($15.00 per person gets you on rides until 6 p.m.) didn't start until noon and we had, surprisingly enough, very little traffic getting there.

Aaaand, since my mother already saved up a wad of dollar bills the size of a small infant, we spent a leisurely hour hanging out in the air-conditioned arcade.

Look it her. The woman's gone through a double-knee surgery, twice. Still. My mother was able to show the girls, you know, just who's the boss in skee ball, anyway!

Holly gave up trying to beat her grandmother (Heather, however, who is "supposedly" as stubborn as her mother, stayed behind for a second beating) while, Hopey came "THIS CLOSE" to winning an extra 250 tickets, "DAWN-IT!"

Then, it soon hit me (no, not the Wheel of Fortune, STOPIT!) around the time when I took this picture of Hopey, standing in front of one of those funky little fun-house-type mirrors they've got scattered all around the arcade, that I felt as if I were, you know, taking a glimpse into the future.

"I look weird!"

Spring 1999
Mommy and Glen at Pt. Pleasant, NJ

The kids are growing up SO FAST and, well, it just doesn't feel like 1999, or 2004, anymore, you know what I mean?

Yeah, going to the beach IS a whole lot easier (sans stroller and diapers) and hanging out on the boardwalk is a lot funner (yes, it's a word!) especially, when you have parents (like I do) who insist on, "Showing you kids a good time," time and time, again.

I can't help but feel as if things are going just a little too fast, even my poor mom and I had trouble keeping up with the kids, this time (stupid bum knees) I wish we ALL could have taken just a little more time, getting here, you know?

"So, what are you guys going to do on your summer vacation?"

Yep, after 3 years of staycations, we're going away to Cape Cod, this weekend.

Why?

Well, my husband and I honeymooned on the Cape (because, tropical islands were "highly over-rated") and it has been over 5 years since our last visit with the kids. In fact, my parents were with us that time, too. My youngest girl and the boy don't even remember it, much. Still. We love it and, since they're all old enough, I asked each of them to write down the things "they would like to do" and combined them into one big master list of things to do.

[Note: Word-for-word list via kids, links via me for those of you who've never been to Cape Cod]

Things to Do on Cape Cod Vacation
- Beach and swimming
- Little shops and stuff
- Walking
- Mini-golf @ giant ship place
- Sundae School
- The candy store (forget the name)
- Marshside
- Hearth & Kettle
- Crabbing
- Fishing
- Shell picking
- No arguing
- Hike
- Boat ride (?)
- Game night (all 6 of us)
- Relaxation!
- Aquarium
- Blue skies & no rain
- Fireworks
- Arts & crafts
- Play sports
- Have fun
- Boogie boarding
- Museums
- Family movie night
Honestly, even though it may sound like a lot to pack into 1 week, I was surprised by the number of things on their list(s) that don't require tickets (or, reservations) and I think my mom secretly wishes that she could come, this time, too.

"You could always leave the kids with us, you know."

Yeah, but it just wouldn't be as much fun…without them!

© 2009 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.
June 30, 2009
A Kinder, Gentler and Colorful Kind of Immigrant

My 10 year-old son's class celebrated Heritage Day, last week.

"This is my Mama and Papa and they escaped Hungary in 1956 and they're gonna talk to you about immigration."

I asked my parents if they would be interested in speaking to the children about their experiences. My father did something similar for my middle daughter's girl scout troop on International Day a few years ago. Still. This time, he'd be speaking to a much larger group of kids (2 of the 4th grade classes, combined) so, my mother agreed to tag along, for moral support.

"What was the most scariest thing that happened to you?"

My father has a colorful way of manipulating the English language and is very rarely known to be at a loss for words.

"Vell…you zee…vhut you keeds don't know iz…I mean…eeet iz harrrd forrr me…forrr us…"

My father's eyes began to glaze over, as he tried to speak, but I could see that he was getting all choked up and having trouble finding "the right words" and a few of the children giggled as he visibly began to shake.

"What Mr. K. means is, staying alive was scary."

I nearly dropped my camera and I almost didn't recognize my mother's voice. You see, she is the ying to my father's yang and, after nearly 46 years of marriage, Anyu is very comfortable with quietly observing from the back. Not this day, however.

"I was only 14 and can still remember the sound of the tanks rolling into town, late that night."

The rest of the parents and teachers seemed to be very engrossed in what my parents had to say, but the kids…well…you know…it's almost summer and, well, they're kids.

Though, I tried to take my son's picture and he turned his head to shush someone right before I clicked.

"How many of you have ever gone hiking?"

A couple of kids jumped — I guess they didn't see me quietly standing way in the back — and then many of them quickly raised their hands.

"How many of you go hiking in a forest?"

Less hands.

"At night?"

A couple of hands go up.

"Without a flashlight."

Seriously?

"Okay, how many of you guys have gone hiking, in a forest, at night, without a flashlight, a coat, or shoes, in December?"

This time, even Survivor Man's son had to put his hand down and, now that I had their attention, I quickly told the kids the stories about the shoes.

"Did you have a machine gun?"

And then I started to think that perhaps this wasn't such a great idea, after all.

"No, I didn't, but the Freedom Fighters did and all we wanted to do was get to the Austrian border where it was safe."

My mother needed a moment, so I passed around my father's immigration papers issued in Salzburg (many mentions of the Sound of Music made, here) which gained him admittance into the U.S.

"Why did you pick America?"

For my father, it was because he loved going to the theater and watching American movies, in particular, old westerns, about cowboys and how they roamed the wide open ranges, free and without any borders, or papers. Also, the Andrew Sisters always looked so, you know, happy.

For my mom?

"Because, it was far away from Russia."

Then, she went on about how the authorities separated my mother and her sister (who was only 4 years-old, at the time) from her mother, because my grandmother failed the physical examinations.

"I was only 14 years-old at the time and so scared that we wouldn't see our mother, again!"

Then, the bell rang.

"Would your parents mind moving over to our classroom and staying a little longer?"

Glen's teacher canceled the rest of her lesson plans for the day and I was surprised to see that the other 4th grade teacher did the same.

"Pssst…we have to go to gym, now…"

An hour later, my parents were exhausted, but in a therapeutic sort of way (if that makes any sense?) even if the kids didn't get most of what was being said.

The rest of us grown ups?

"We've had Heritage Day for the last 8 years and this, by far, is the best one, yet!"

Well, there wasn't a dry eye in the classroom.

"Liz…all those years of baseball …who knew your life was so colorful?"

And the kids?

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Katkics,

Thank you for coming and telling us how hard immigration was because I thought it was easy to go through. I liked the pictures you showed us because they were old, nice and interesting.

I have a whole pile of Thank You notes, just like that one, to give to my parents, when they visit for Hopey's birthday tomorrow, including this one:

Thank you for coming and explaining how difficult your journey was when you came here. I hope the rest of your lives aren't difficult like the old days. Stay out of trouble.

Yeah, I think they got it.

Me?

I'm still pretty much hoping for the same thing, too.

© 2009 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

June 19, 2009
Hope Has Another Birthday

Happy 8th Birthday, Hopey [formerly known as Mini-me] 'cause nobody RAWKS a Band-Aid like you do, baby girl!

You grazed your elbow, bumping into the kitchen wall and skinned the side of your foot running out of your shoes, proving to your grandparents, once more, that you, my littlest one, are growing up to be more like your mother, every day.

"Please, be careful."

You always get SO excited about your birthday. So do your sisters and brother. Remember last year? When you grew tired of waiting for mommy and took upon yourself to send out your own birthday party invitations.

"Hi, I'm calling to RSVP for Hopey's brithday party tomorrow!"

[sound of crickets chirping]

Good thing you remembered to include our phone number, right?

My, how you've grown since your last birthday!

Remember how fun your "real" party was, though — your sisters and brother worked really hard to include all of your favorite party games, like a pillow case relay and an eating contest using your favorite donuts (powdered sugar) and Holly's face painting skillz are totally wicked, right?

This year?

Well, mama and papa haven't been feeling so great. So, we've been spending a lot of our weekends visiting with them. There just doesn't seem to be enough time to do, well, everything else. You are my youngest and old enough to know that sometimes things just don't work out quite like we would like them to, no matter how hard we try to plan them.

"It's okay, Mommy, I can always have my friends come over on summer vacation, or something."

It's always something, isn't it?

"Did you get Hopey a birthday present, yet?"

[sound of crickets chirping]

Late last night, I took your oldest sisters out, alone, to shop for bathing suits.

"Just…pick…one…already!"

You know how hard it is to shop with them, right?

"The store is closing in 15 minutes!"

Aaaand, I still had to get you a present.

"What do you mean, you don't have any more Camp Rock!?!?"

Actually, they didn't have any dolls left and I know how much you LOVE Joe Jonas — even though he didn't answer any of your fan letters — but, mommy waited until the last minute (AGAIN!) and, well, sometimes stuff like this just doesn't seem fair, does it?

"SPECTACULAR!"

Did you ever notice how loud some teenagers can get — especially, in Target — annoying, right?

"No, look, Hopey loves Nikko!"

Who?

"Nevermind, just trust me, okay Mom?!?"

I mean, you ALL do share the same bedroom and your sisters seem to know you way better…than I do!

"Good night, Mommy."

We didn't get home until almost 10:00 o'clock and, well, I know, you should have been in bed (and asleep) as most almost 8-year-olds would be, probably, already.

"It's okay, if you're too tired to do my birthday clues."

I hid them right before daddy and I went to bed [yes, I make my kids hunt for their birthday presents] only because you have this way of making mommy forget what hurts and I think maybe you learned that from watching your sisters and brother.

Sorry, I should have vlogged your reaction for Holly to see, when she gets home from school later, but mommy didn't have her coffee yet and wasn't quite quick enough!

I mean, judging by this, "SPECATUCULAR!?!?" look on your face, they really do seem to know what they' are doing, right?

I mean, Heather got you this super cool, Super Girl cape on her 7th grade class trip to Great Adventure, last week. Awesome, right?

Aaaand, Glen did give you Tech Decks thinking that you'd probably enjoy having a set of your own, instead of, you know, playing with his….ALL THE TIME!

Still, the best part is when I took this picture of you hugging your dad, since we don't seem to have many of those, I'm not quite sure why, but daddy didn't even yell at me for taking his picture…oh, wait…yeah, now I remember.

You know how we ALL get so busy and sometimes forget to show it — wow, look how you've grown since last year — but, I hope you realize how very much we love you, right?

Nobody RAWKS a pink satin super suit like you do, baby girl!

Because, there is only one Hope and life just wouldn't be the same without you — have a super Happy Birthday, sweetie — we love you, Hopey!!!

© 2009 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

June 16, 2009