{{Cass}} I wish I could help.

Oh lord, such cutie patooties. The buffista sprog are the best babies ever.

(I have size 10 feet. I always thought they were huge.)

There were probably other things to respond to, but I've forgotten them. Timelies. Kara decided that she had to have company when she got up at 3 to go potty and I haven't been able to go back to sleep yet. I hope that changes soon.

Cutie-pie Mal!

{{{Cass}}} I wish I knew what to tell you. I do think your strategy of taking your lumps from your brother if it means keeping open communication with your niece might be your best option.

Also, is there any way you can let her grandparents know that while you don't want to undermine parental authority, you also think your brother is doing active harm to her through his crappy parenting? Or would that only make things worse?

is ded from the cute.

seriously. ded.

(And Ahmed, a wee Grade 1 boy whom I was teaching an hour or two ago, agreed that Tickybox was gorgeous, seemed convinced that she had to be my child, and once he'd accepted that this lady was her mom and that gentleman was her dad, then switched his attention to Jilli (in top hat) and Pete. He announced, very wisely, that Jilli was one of the teachers in the school. I am still searching my memory to try to figure out who we have who looks remotely Jilli-an. Top hats are fairly thin on the ground here. Hmm.)

Oh! Buffista sprog pictures are the bestest way to start the day. (It also reminds me that I have been neglectful of picture taking lately. They may be oversized, but still cute)

Off to breakfast. Early child off the school already and that other one is still suspended so I am going out to breakfast since I don't have to drive him to school.

Em! Lilly! Mal! A triple shot of cute overload when I've only had about 3 oz of coffee? Deadly.

(And Ahmed, a wee Grade 1 boy whom I was teaching an hour or two ago, agreed that Tickybox was gorgeous, seemed convinced that she had to be my child, and once he'd accepted that this lady was her mom and that gentleman was her dad, then switched his attention to Jilli (in top hat) and Pete. He announced, very wisely, that Jilli was one of the teachers in the school. I am still searching my memory to try to figure out who we have who looks remotely Jilli-an. Top hats are fairly thin on the ground here. Hmm.)

This is adorable, Fay. I think he is just recognizing Jilli's innate authority.

{{{Cass}}} Sorry I wasn't around, love. Hope you're getting some good sleep right now. I'm around...

BABIES! BABIES EVERYWHERE! I am ded from the cute. It's not nice to do that so early in the morning.

I must decide what I'm going to do today. I have therapy at 3 and am going to Family Night with mom tonight. But, I should probably come up with some things to do in the meantime. I could clean, but that's no fun. I could quilt, but I'd have to clean to find the table to put the sewing machine on. Hmmmm...

Maybe I'll start by unpacking and go from there.

That is one stripey baby.

Aims, she's starting to look so much like you here. [link]

I gave away four pairs of really nice, virtually unworn shoes to my sister's friend who came down with her this weekend. And one to my sister. Score! They were just too nice to throw out, but either didn't fit perfectly or I was just never wearing.

Every time I see pictures of Buffista babies, I think they can't get any cuter ... and then they do.

I can see both of her parents in Em ... and I especially love that when you look at the picture of her going home from the hospital and a picture of her now, she still has the same smile. (and the picture of her going through MM's wallet - my, she's starting early!)

Cass, I'm sorry you and your niece are having to go through this. I think all you can do is try to keep the communication open and let her know that you love her and will do what you can (parents permitting) to support her. And family explosions usually do backfire, so I would join in advising you to hold off on that. Meanwhile, you can rant to your imaginary friends here and keep calm(er) with the family.

Cutie babies!

What everyone else said, Cass. I'm so sorry you and niecelet have to go through this, and I hope things will work out OK.

I made some matzo brei with whole wheat matzo. It kind of worked -- the texture is off, though.

I think it's a lovely idea--unless one of the candidates goes on a naked shooting spree in the Mall of the Americas

"Oh no, not again!"