It's not really that much to ask...

One of my favorite homework chores to do with my kids is to pore over stuff they have written or drawn. I get to oohhh and ahhhh and make gushy mommy over everything that they have put pencil, crayon or keyboard to.

Today, Mandy came home with a stack of stories from school. Oh goodie gumdrops!! I settled all in on the couch (wrapped in a blanket, cause as you might remember it is cold here. And I? Am not so good with the Duraflame). Mandy plopped down on my lap to join me in savoring all of her penned Mandy goodness.

One was singing the praises of pizza. She's 8, people. Pizza makes her happy. Therefore, it is worthy of as much poetic prose professing the virtues of pepperoni that she can come up with. Oh, and popcorn too. Come on, who doesn't love popcorn? And because popcorn and pizza go as well together as a great Pinot Grigio and broiled lobster. Plus, is good for alliteration practice.

The next was all about the cat.

Mandy is all "I love my cat."

I'm all, "WUTEVA!"

The cat is not one of my favorite animals, mainly because he is easily confused. This could be due in part that the cat is named Autumn, which would be fine for a little girly kitty. However, Autumn is a boy. Yea. Whoops. My bad. Alannah named him when she was about 6 and thought since he was orange and that was the color of fall leaves that Autumn would be a great name, gender be darned. So, I guess the blame is on us. We set him up to be confused.

FYI, Autumn? If you are reading this? Pile of dirty clothes in closet most assuredly does NOT equal a litter box. I will be happy to prepare a color brochure or perhaps a PowerPoint if you feel either of those would help clarify this finer point of kitty pottying habits for you. It is the least I can do, I suppose, given the whole identity crisis that I allowed Alannah to force on you when you were but a mere kitten.

Then there was one other one. I had already laughed out loud at the pizza one and scoffed at how awesome she believes the stupid cat is.

I didn't look closely enough at this cover art to brace myself.



So, I give you My 3 Wishes, written and Illustrated by Mandy Willis

If I had 3 wishes, I would be so excited! First I would wish for a cell phone, so I can call my best friends. Also, I can play games on a cell phone like Brickbreaker. Then I would wish for a laptop so I can go to www.pixiehollow.com. It's a website to make a pixie. Also, I can make an email address so I can get and send an email. Last and best, I would wish that cancer and nf was not a sickness anymore. So kids can do cheerleading, dance and gymnastics. Also kids can go to school Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Also kids can go to every special like dance and computer lab. These are three things I would wish for and why. What would you wish for and why would you wish for them?

It's not that much to ask.

Well, OK, the laptop and the cell phone are a lot to ask.

But the rest? She just wants to be a kid. She wants to get perfect attendance. She wants to go to dance. She wants to be a cheerleader.

And that?

Just isn't that much to ask.

It breaks my heart that I can't give that to her.