Dear Children,

I cannot tell you this great news in person yet--mostly because I do not want the world to know and you guys are really terrible secret keepers. Don't worry, you'll get better at keeping secrets right now it just isn't a strength.

I am pregnant--again! I am having trouble keeping this secret from you. Wyatt, you just asked yesterday if we could have another baby after Adell turns two. Adell turns two in just a couple of months! I said, "Sure--some time after Adell turns two, we'll have another baby." You were not satisfied with this answer. I think you took it to mean "Sure, some day in a million-billion years, we'll have another baby."

I am very sick--as usual. Every morning I drag myself out of bed, eat a bowl of cereal and then spend the next 30 minutes hoping I do not barf up my breakfast. We make lunches and snack for the day, I holler at all of you to get your shoes on, brush your hair and teeth and get ready for school. You all ignore me. Lorien and Wyatt ride their bikes to school every morning and I give Clare a ride in the van. Every morning Adell says "Let's pass the kids!" hoping she will see Lorien and Wyatt on the van ride to school. As soon as we drop Clare off Adell cries "I miss Clare!" She knows she is in for a long, boring morning with me.

Every afternoon I take a nap. I think Lorien is suspecting I am pregnant because of all these naps. Sleep is the only time I don't feel like I am going to barf and I want to sleep all the time.

The house is a mess.

We aren't eating good dinners.

I am pregnant.

Hopefully my morning sickness will not last very long this time around.

I love you all so, so, so much and I look forward to sharing this secret with you. Maybe I will tell you next month for Lorien and Wyatt's birthday. That would be fun!

Love,

Your Momma

Dear Clare,

You are just about to start Kindergarten--in less than two weeks! You are so nervous and worried about Kindergarten. I think you would be more calm about the start of school if you were starting at Orion like Lorien and Wyatt did. You would have been to the school a thousand times by now and would know exactly what to expect. However, we moved this summer and every one is starting at a brand new school. Just about every day you tell me how excited and nervous you are about Kindergarten. We spend a lot of time talking about the nervous part.

I was very excited to start Kindergarten when it was my turn to do so. But I had a big sister who was starting Kindergarten with me. I had another big sister who helped me pick out my "first day of school" outfit--complete with leg warmers and a side pony-tail. I also went to school in "The Little Red School House" it was teeny-tiny compared to the school you will start at.

Today we had registration and you were a bundle of nerves! After we filled out all of the forms and we were heading back to the car you said "I wish school was starting today!". It was the first time you were only excited about school--not nervous.

Clare, you are a kind girl with super fun ideas. I know you will make friends easily. You are also smart and excited to learn new things. I know you will love Kindergarten!

Love,

Momma

Dear Lorien,

I am not sure if we are too alike or too different. Maybe it is just because we are both strong-willed. Anyway, some times we do not get along very well. I think we both drive each other up the wall. I also think I have control issues and you have freedom issues.

What am I going to to when you turn 16--or 10?

I want you to know that I pray just about every day to understand you and to know how to show you I love you. We get along just fine most of the time but some days and times are harder than others. But I do love you very much.

You are a treasure to me.

Love,

Your Momma