SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST

(One of) the best parts of my day, which comes at the end of the workday, is when I pick Catherine up from daycare. When she first spots me (or Kathleen), she, in what can only be described as a sprint, sprints over to us to be picked up in our arms. Cate has a determination in her eyes, which is astounding; we actually argue over who gets to be the one to go into the Toddler room to get her when we carpool because it is such a sight.

She is clearly someone who is not easily dissuaded from achieving the things to which she sets her mind and who is deeply intense... at age 13 months. And BTW, she is also super cool!

SPOKEN BY NICHOLAS TODAY

After placing a penny in a "wishing well": "I wish daddy (who was at a meeting) could be here right now!"

On the way home from Seattle: "I wish our house was closer to Seattle so we would not have to drive so long to visit the zoo."

When asked why he liked Seattle more than Portland: "My bed (i.e. the couch in the Residence Inn, where we have stayed multiple times) is very soft in Seattle."

ELECTION NIGHT

Tonight, Nicholas said to me, "Dad, why are you not downstairs watching Barack Obama on TV? It is election night, right?" Mind you, I have no idea how he knew it was election night, but my fervent following of last year's election clearly made an impact on him. Maybe someday he and I will grab our popcorn and sit in front of the tube on primary nights, Convention night, and election night. I can only HOPE so.