We went to see our friends, David and Sharon, at the Lotus Chinese Restaurant tonight. After returning home, Carmi and Eliana claimed their spots in the living room floor and started on some bead necklaces.

Eliana does really well at stringing the beads. She's so intense.

Nothing like a good ol' bowl of tomato soup on a chilly evening.

I'll be the very first one to admit that my memory stinks. But it's freakin' ridiculous when I can't even beat my 4-year-old daughter at a kid's matching game.

I really wouldn't have such a problem losing to a preschooler if the girl didn't gloat so much. She's quite the trash talker.

I'd love to tell you that I let her win but I don't. Never have. Probably never will. Quite the contrary, I try...hard.

That's all right. We'll even things up when I get her out on the basketball court. Let's go lace up those sneakers, girlfriend.

With a grand display of self-aggrandizement, let it be known that today is the 22nd anniversary of my 21st birthday.

The day was off to a good start when Eliana sang 'Happy Birthday' to me with no prompting from her mommy. Her serenade and accompanying smile made me forget all about the extra aches and pains I felt when we first rolled out of bed.