Lissa:  You have your hands full!

She is adorable!  I can tell from just one picture, her many, many colors. 

Parenting very bright children is a test like no other.  It will teach us more about ourselves than anything else in life...  Then they'll become parents and it will be their turn... 

Being a parent has been the most difficult, yet the most rewarding thing I've ever done.  How about you?

Hal:  Every woman deserves to be loved like that, yet most women never experience that. 

Your wife is a very lucky woman indeed, and you a very smart man indeed!

Robert:  See, I knew that about you already!  Naughty and Nice is the best combination!

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Just between the two of us, let me see if I have this right:  your son goes in the line to the right and your daughter goes in the one on the left, no?   Just to make it even more confusing, every once in a while they switch places... 

(see above picture)

Vanessa:  I'm just glad it's not my day to watch you!  (As in taking care of you).   Lord have mercy, the two of you look like you could be a whole lot of naughty; I mean, trouble... 

Female Power...  I know that both of you understand it full well...  You know, the one that makes all the men's heads turn when you walk into a room.  

I think Santa will always be good to you.  (What the picture doesn't reveal is the third line, the one that goes from the left of two stages toward the Christmas tree.  You first go see the Naughty Santa, then you earn the NIce label...)

Janice:  I know I am, but if I don't tell him, who will? 

My baby boy is now a 6'4" Marine officer.  I used to kiss his boo-boos and magically make them better; we used to sing songs about farting and other gross things.  When he got older, we used to fly kites together and visit museums and zoos.  Later on, we used to travel together and discuss history and politics.  Now I've been relegated to...  the bare minimums.  I miss my boy!

Shawn:  In my book you are a success!  Being able to have a GOOD, long term relationship says a lot about a person.  It denotes that a person:

adapts easily

knows how to navigate the rough seas of life

is not too self absorbed

can compromise for a common goal

knows the art of being grateful

You deserve the diamond necklace!  The message of the necklace is the marking of a man who knows all that...

Shawn:  I forgot about the cat...

Sorry!

We all need something to balance things out...  She's that something... :)

Carol:  Please enter Gus in our Cutest Pet contest!  Oh, what a face!  I want to see more!  He just looks like he's up to no good in that picture.  What a character he is!  Thank you for putting a smile on my face!

Congratulations on your son!  What a wonderful gift for Christmas!  I tell you what:  there is no bigger joy in life than watching your kids succeed!  Being that he is your oldest, he is setting the right example for the rest of your children and he will have paved the way for their success as well... 

Mary:  That is why I advocate gifts of the heart, the ones we create...  I steer clear of the malls around this time of year. 

...So, did you serve him breakfast in bed this morning, as a "Sorry, I was a B Naughty last night!" gesture? 

Carol:  This cutest pet contest:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/845498/Cutest-Pet-Contest

Wow!  An overachieving younger sibling; how impressive!  I need to go back to my books on the order of children and the common traits. 

Congratulations mom!  You've done something right...  Plus, remember: the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree...

Carol:  While you're there, please also enter Gus in the Cutest Dog Contest:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/845455/Cutest-Dog-Contest

Pitching that blog is the very least that I could do, since that was the original post that inspired mine.

Mary:  You got a BIG chuckle out of me with that one! 

Ummmmmm. No Mirela, I didn't do that -but , I did let him live!

Precious!

Thank you!

Merry Christmas to you and your family, Mary!

Carol:  Maybe this is not the right vehicle for what I'm about to say, but here it goes:

In reading biographies and history, it became apparent to me that people create generational karma.  Thus, when people are good, they enjoy their children, who become joyous and successful adults and live long, fulfilling lives.  When people do evil or bad things, they create generational karma, bad luck that impacts their children, grand children and great grand children...  History is ripe with great examples of this theory...

Carol: Enjoy the fruits of living the good life!

Carol:  About the 120 pound "Rottie":

Cute has no weight limit!

Jason and Barbara-Jo:  Thank you!

Carol:  We all were... 

Nancy:  Thank you for the reminder!  Having experienced that saying first hand, I know that it's true.  Thank God for my daughter!

I miss my 6'4" baby boy, though!  He is such a wonderful person and I am so proud of him!  I really don't know of a better man on the face of this planet.  My son is awesome! 

We used to be the best of friends ALWAYS.  I miss him, but I'm happy he's happy (at least I hope he is...).