I just needed an excuse, really...

... to post these new pictures of my kids.

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My son's step-aunt (his step-mom's sister) took them for us, second year in a row now, for free. She took over 50 photos of our family, and they all turned out great. She is a GEM, just like my son's step-mom. They're such wonderful people.

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I adore my kids at these ages (9 & 13). Can't I just freeze them like this forever? They're so darned lovable.

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She makes us proud.

So, this morning on the way to school, my 9-year-old daughter Erin & I are listening to the radio. There's a line in one particular song that says, "... he flipped me the bird, and then he was gone."

Erin pipes up: That part about 'flipping the bird' reminds me of last night!

Me: *blink blink*

Me: What on earth do you mean, honey?

Erin: Well, you know, Daddy was tucking me in last night, and he was telling me how smart I am, and pretty, and what a good girl I am, and how proud he is of me..."

Me: *blink blink* (still not correlating the two at all)

Me: How does that have to do anything with someone 'flipping the bird'?

Erin: Because I'm so smart! Not many kids my age would understand what that meant!

Somehow, I don't think that's quite where Joe was going with that compliment...