thanks for saying hi!  sounds like your kids are doing great, challenging the in-laws and all.  can you believe we have (or i will in another week) FIVE year olds? happy birthday to your flower!  i was just showing maya her new sneaks i got on sale, telling her we'd save them for kindergarten, and i almost lost it.  seems like she's been here forever, but the idea of her going to school?  waaaah.  she is a hoot... i can barely get her to greet her preschool teacher in the morning, but when she met faith ringgold and now barack obama, she was all smiles and totally confident.  

and yes... i've been off board for awhile.  having 4 has forced me to focus my computer time very narrowly.  and then when i visit, i lurk since i can't reply to enough posts.  as a SAHM now, i am trying hard to find sites that stretch my brain, cause it is s.h.r.i.n.k.i.n.g.!