graywings, Thank you for the kind words, I wish you would leave a review on the book website, the contest is based partly on reviews and ratings. The books here are free, I think that paypal thing is for donations, not sure? For me, it's all about hearing what others think of my stories, there are more of mine there along with my 1st. novel.

Thanks for all your hard work Karen! Can't wait to read it in its entirety. Jodi-

The girls stayed in the delivery room when Layla was born. While I was pregnant they asked tons of questions so we educated them on pregnancy and how the baby developes inside the womb. They are the only five year olds I have heard tell people "Mommy has a baby in her womb" instead of saying tummy. LOL. We watched birth videos on you tube and the works. I think they could of DELIVERED Layla if it came down to it. The were very interested in every thing including how the baby got there in the first place (we just played dumb and changed the subject on that one:) So anyway, now it's go time and I'm in labor and delivery and we gave the girls the option to stay and watch or leave with my dad. Wild horses couldn't of drug those kids away I tell you. When Layla came out the girls let out a prefectly in unison "AWWWWWWWW". When the placenta came out there was an equally perfectly in unison "EWWWWWWW". HAHAHA. The fact that cartoons were blasting while I was pushing out a kid was also hillarious. It is an experience I will never forget. I can't tell you how pleased I am they share their experience with everyone....right down to the fact that I pooped myself while pushing. HAHAHAHAHAHA. Good times.

Lucky you, callaloo, to have the stairs to aid in your decorating. I find the ladder work a little treacherous on our 9 1/2 foot tree, but it looks really nice in our vaulted space. We bought it out of necessity a few years ago after we limped through the final Christmas with our 20+ year old 6 footer... DH called me when I was out shopping and said don't ask any questions but stop at a hardware store before I come home and bring him a sandbag. Huh? I did so, and found the sad remains of our old tree when I got home. Each year it seemed that tree looked more sparce so we fluffed more branches in front and left the bare patch against the wall. Apparently that thing was so bare on the back that it should've been hanging on the wall! Turns out DH and our 2 youngest children had been putting on ornaments when it just toppled over, burying the kids underneath. Hubby thought they had been knocked out because there was utter silence, but it turned out they were so terrified they didn't even know how to react. I lost a few of my favorite ornaments that year, and yes, we hid the sandbag under the treeskirt and DH tied the upper part of the tree to a hook in a wall stud. AH, Christmas memories! Did I mention I really like our new tree? :)