emma (while holding nate): hi nathan.  i'm emma.  i'm your favorite sister.

emma: mom, i need something to tie around my waist because my hips are being crazy.

i don't even know what that means.

emma: max, look!  i'm a princess!
max: i'm a ballerina princess!

you sure about that, buddy?

emma: mom, who made the ants?
me: heavenly father
emma: why is heavenly father being so crazy making ants?

good question.

max: i have a baby in my tummy! (he thinks because mom has a baby in her tummy, everyone has babies in their tummies).
emma: no you don't, max.  only moms can have babies in their tummies.
max: yeah! me too!
emma: no, max.  when i'm a mom i'll have a baby in my tummy but you're going to be a dad, so you can't have a baby in your tummy.
max: no, i'm going to be a mom and have a baby in my tummy.
emma: MAX! YOU CAN'T BE A MOM BECAUSE YOU'RE A BOY! YOU CAN'T HAVE A BABY IN YOUR TUMMY! MOM, TELL HIM HE CAN'T HAVE A BABY IN HIS TUMMY!
me: it's ok, emma.  max can pretend.
emma: oh, ok.  max, you can have a pretend baby in your tummy but NOT a real one.

-this argument lasted at least ten minutes longer as emma tried to convince max he could only have a pretend baby.  she's very correct about everything, so in her mind, max has to be correct too.

we went to a restaurant a couple nights ago as a family to celebrate mark's birthday.  the waitress told us they had lemonade, iced tea, and pepsi products, and then asked us what we would like to drink.

mark: i'll just have water please
me: same for me
emma: and i'll have lemonade!
max: i want pizza!

we couldn't help but start laughing.  we didn't know our kids were brave enough to speak to the waitress let alone order for themselves.

on mother's day, emma crawled onto my lap, gave me a big hug and stated, "mom, i love daddy!"  "hey! what about me?" i asked.  she smiled and said, "i love you a little bit."  happy mother's day to me.

kelli: max, you're just so cute!  i'm going to miss you so much!  can you come live with me?
emma: um, actually he stays here.
kelli: oh.  well, can you come stay with me, emma?
emma: sure!
kelli: awesome!  can you live in my cupboard?
emma: no.
kelli: why not?
emma: because i'm not a dish!

emma was looking up at the stars a few nights ago and pointed one out to mark:

emma: look daddy! a really bright star!

mark: that is a bright star

emma: that means a new baby is being born just like baby jesus!

we went to Park City to celebrate mark's dad's 60th birthday. we rented out a couple condos there because we were staying overnight. when we walked into the condo we were staying in emma asked, "is this kansas?" she thought we were moving into our new house. i wish the move were that easy!

emma: mom, i'm almost big enough to go to school!
me: yep. when you're five, you get to go to kindergarten
emma: yeah! and then i get to drive!
me: um, not until you're 16
emma: i'm almost 16.

whoa, slow down, little girl.