I understand that as an adoptive mother I'm supposed to be easily offended by portrayals of adoption in the movies, but I just saw "Juno" and I loved it.

It was a hilarious, touching, and unique story. Sure, there were parts that were unbelievable or just plain poorly done, but when I leave the theater with quotes scribbled on my hand — and on a bag after running out of room on my hand! — you know it was something great.

Some choice favorites were "pork swords" and "they make his junk smell like pie." Two thumbs up — go see it.

Brava!! A great look into life and death in hamster world.

I would have gone postal over this — I salute your restraint. Snort.

"…and thought, we are lucky."

Beautiful.

I'm pretty sure that the days of being able to hide a Christmas present from my kids by throwing a sheet over it are fairly limited.

FYI: its a computer for the kitchen. They're going to explode with excitement ;)

Yesterday was food, but today's project was toys — significantly harder!

Before we left for Toys R Us I explained to the boys that we were going to go to a huge toy store, but we weren't going to buy anything for us.

I told them that some families didn't have enough money to buy their kids a Christmas present, so we were going to get some toys and bring them to police officers who would get them to the parents. I told them how this would help make sure that they felt a little bit of Santa in their hearts.

Mike and Robbie were both very sad that they wouldn't be getting anything at the store, Robbie cried and Mike pouted "Well, nobody ever helps us!" I explained that we really didn't need very much help, but Craig came up with the explanation that really resonated with them the most. He reminded them that superheroes don't get help. They are able to help, so that's what they do. Since my kids' lives currently revolve around superheroes, I think this got the point across pretty clearly.

I asked each boy to think about what kinds of toys we should get. Chip cracked me up when he shouted "Volleyballs!" because his metallic pink one is his current favorite toy.

When we got to city hall to drop off the bags, the boys were mesmerized by this huge room filled with toys. Chip looked in wonder at the amazing loot and after a long pause turned to me and asked, "These are for friends?" And I told him yes.

I love my kids.

This morning after getting the boys new haircuts we went to the grocery store to get food to put in some food donation barrels.

Mike and Robbie were great helpers, running across the aisles cans in hand helping me get the stuff from random corners of the store. We were able to hit the major food-types requested by the food bank in a reasonably organized fashion.

Pretty good, right? Cans are stacked up, a good assortment of items, we followed the list of food items that were requested on the side of the barrel. In short, we were good little instruction-followers.

But Chip, being 3, is a little more 'energetic' in his shopping style. He was securely strapped into the cart, but that minor detail didn't stop him from getting in on the action. He eagerly observed his brothers loading up my shopping cart, and every time Craig parked him at the edge of an aisle, he just started tipping food into the basket.

He's got an interesting selection technique: grab whatever's closest. So Craig just had to keep parking him in front of non-breakables. And sale items.

Chip can rest easily now, secure in the knowledge that he has singlehandedly resolved the great Tarted Pop Shortage of 2007. All hail the power of the mighty 3-year-old!!

Today Mike and I were alone in the car and he asked me if I believed in Santa Claus. I said "of course" and waited to see what he said next. He then listed a handful of kids in his kindergarten class who did not believe, and I commented on how sad that was. And he added "but all my friends believe in Santa."

I told him how Santa means love and kindness and sharing. I also told him that he was old enough to hear about kids who don't believe in Santa, but I hoped he wouldn't mention that to his younger brothers. I asked him to help me let them just hear stuff that was OK for little brothers to hear.

I know this is probably his last year really believing, and I am sad that some doubt has been sowed in his mind. I'm hoping to at least be able to enlist his help next year in keeping Santa alive for his younger brothers.

The magic of bringing Santa alive in your heart is what Santa is all about. Mike made a cookie at school today and saved part of it to bring home and share with his brothers. I think he's going to understand the next step of Santa-belief just fine.

Anyone have good, helpful stories about AML Leukemia? Please go share them with Jill Asher of the Silicon Valley Moms Blog. Her mother was just diagnosed and she needs some hope and help from you wonderful blog folks.

A very reasonable request. I love the idea of backup pants. Are they for going in reverse?

"Extended travel with very small children is challenging." (Better you than me, Karrie :)

Well. Since you asked so nicely.

This made me cry.

"…right on track…" I'm exhaling just a little bit. Fingers crossed (almost to the snapping point) for the next couple of weeks.

Ditto. I'm not a fan of celebrity-bashing. Just because they're in the public eye doesn't mean they aren't people.

There's a Santa backlash? Give me a break, people. What about the magic of childhood? Are we really willing to sacrifice that for our own vanity?

"…again…" Really? This is a story I need to hear!

Snort!

Oh man, I have no idea. What say you?

It's beautiful when we get to see that our kids have actually learned something from watching and listening to us.

"Perhaps it's just the fear of losing more."

Picking your battles is very important, but standing firm is the hard part.

That's what it's all about.