What's in a name?

We have had nicknames for all of the kids.

(Actually, not just the kids but that is another post.)

Some were simple mispronunciations

of their names by the (then babies.)

Some are more representative of their personalities, their likes, looks and even sounds.

That is where Moosebop came from for Adrianna.

You'll have to ask her...

My fondest nickname for her though is Turtle.

Oh yeah, we add Ann on to everything too, even animals,

sometimes even boys.

Not sure if it is after my mother, sister or the fact that

one syllable names go nicely in the middle.

So, Turtle Ann it has been.

She has always been the frogger, fisher, the turtle getting kid.

I remember her in a skirt and mud boots,

slowly wandering around the pond for hours with her net

catching and releasing the warmth induced, sleepy paints.

We have noticed that the older she gets,

her pace sometimes resembles, well the turtle.

Especially in the morning.

I found this print framed, for a fortune of course.

So I bought just the print and Doug created this frame,

leaving most of it natural, clear-coating the 4 corners.

One thing she wanted for her birthday

was a room makeover and the frame corners match the wall color.

We did celebrate her birthday twice as Nathan was sick on her actual birthday.

The kids take birthdays very seriously and if one person

is absent or unable to partake in the meal and cake,

the festivities are put on hold. They make that call too.
I think that is sweet.

Who's kidding who?

They all have a secret pact, ensuring the same treatment

should they ever be sick on a birthday.

So while Nathan suffered, Franchesca and Solomon

worked to make her day special.

The kids love trick wrapping gifts and sending each other

on wild goose hunts via rhyming (or not) hints.

AJ is more the straightforward, give me the gift type of girl

(like me)

but she plays along, albeit often confused and sometimes dazed,

honestly preferring the cake over anything wrapped.

So she got some stuff, ate some candy, went shopping with me, did Starbucks (with me)

had one wall painted and waited...for cake.

And boy did she wait.

Just like a tornado, moving ferociously from one town to the next,

leaving its victims unable to prepare, so did that illness.

It stole my voice for nearly a week

and my mind for nearly 3.

AJ was the only survivor, escaping unscathed.

So last weekend I had scheduled some time out for myself,

but before any other virus could appear,

the girls decided to attack the cake making themselves.

Adrianna wanted a raspberry cheesecake and a turtle cheesecake.

Avoiding the spring form pan, they used Keebler crusts.

I had bought carmel, dark chocolate, raspberries,

but never did order those pecans from Georgia.

If you've never had pecans shipped from the farmer, do not.

Local stores will not like you.

You will never buy Diamond brand again.

The missing pecans allowed Solomon to indulge in more

than the chocolate cake that was made with him in mind.

Happy Birthday Turtle Ann.

Without an E.