Here I have a very recent, hot off the presses, picture of our son, Max and his grandma and Pa-Pa. We were very proud of him at his birthday party on Sunday, as he opened and READ his birthday cards - he was gracious enough to thank his family all on his own. We were especially proud that he READ - we had truly worried when school first started that we would have another child struggle tremendously with reading. It has been amazing how far he has come since the beginning of 1st Grade - he truly has a wonderful teacher and a well run reading program and for that we are thankful. Anyway - back to opening the presents -- for some reason, in Aunt Tami's family - Bradley was thanked the most! I find it interesting how our children tend to gravitate to certain family members. I find it entirely interesting that we are almost a "house divided".

Let me explain - Max has always had a preference for his daddy - now it appears he also has a preference for his dad's side of the family. Grandma Claudia and Grandpa Stan are almost certainly "chosen" over Grandma Mary and Pa-Pa Dan. He also tends to play and want to have over cousin Bradley the most (from daddy's side). Now Logan on the other hand, he has a strong preference for me and then it goes to my side - Grandma Mary and Pa-Pa Dan and his cousin Nikki are Logan's "chosen" favorites. Just weird how that happens.

The other day we had a pretty deep conversation about Pa-Pa Dan - he is my step-dad - but of course to our children - he is Pa-Pa - no "step" needed. My father passed away long before any of my children were born - my parents had been married 25 years - so although I love Dan - he is my step-dad and I tried to explain the whole my father raised me and I love them both - but one is my dad and the other my step-dad. But to my children - he is their Pa-Pa - as it should be. I often find it amazing how open and willing children accept things for how they are - no "strings attached" to anyone or anything. It would be so wonderful to have the rest of the world share in their thinking. :)