{Note to Olivia's future husband: Here's the secret to winning her over.}

Olivia's favorite song right now is "ALL OF ME" by John Legend. We listen to it in the car over and over and she knows each and every word. We've talked about how amazing the lyrics are and I said to her one day, "Olivia, make sure you marry someone who feels this way about you." My favorite line is "[I love] your perfect imperfections."

Yesterday, after dropping Will off at soccer, and listened the song yet again, Olivia said to me. "Mommy, you know how I said I would DIE if my husband sang me this song one day? Well, will you please tell my husband to sing it to me on my birthday?" It was adorable and hilarious and wonderful. To think that her husband would, in 20+ years, sing her this song. I love it.  I asked, "What if he sang you this song when he proposed?" At that, she "fainted". And then made me PROMISE that I wouldn't forget to tell him. So I'm recording my promise here. It will be cheesy and sappy and over-the-top, but the boy who will sing this song to my girl, and mean each and every word, will have a place in my heart and our family forever.


"All Of Me" John Legend

[Verse 1:]

What would I do without your smart mouth?

Drawing me in, and you kicking me out

You've got my head spinning, no kidding, I can't pin you down

What's going on in that beautiful mind

I'm on your magical mystery ride

And I'm so dizzy, don't know what hit me, but I'll be alright

[Pre-Chorus:]

My head's under water

But I'm breathing fine

You're crazy and I'm out of my mind

[Chorus:]

'Cause all of me

Loves all of you

Love your curves and all your edges

All your perfect imperfections

Give your all to me

I'll give my all to you

You're my end and my beginning

Even when I lose I'm winning

'Cause I give you all of me

And you give me all of you, oh

[Verse 2:]

How many times do I have to tell you

Even when you're crying you're beautiful too

The world is beating you down, I'm around through every mood

You're my downfall, you're my muse

My worst distraction, my rhythm and blues

I can't stop singing, it's ringing, in my head for you

[Pre-Chorus:]

My head's under water

But I'm breathing fine

You're crazy and I'm out of my mind

[Chorus:]

'Cause all of me

Loves all of you

Love your curves and all your edges

All your perfect imperfections

Give your all to me

I'll give my all to you

You're my end and my beginning

Even when I lose I'm winning

'Cause I give you all of me

And you give me all of you, oh

[Bridge:]

Give me all of you

Cards on the table, we're both showing hearts

Risking it all, though it's hard

[Chorus:]

'Cause all of me

Loves all of you

Love your curves and all your edges

All your perfect imperfections

Give your all to me

I'll give my all to you

You're my end and my beginning

Even when I lose I'm winning

'Cause I give you all of me

And you give me all of you

I give you all of me

And you give me all of you, oh

{the talented Mrs. Marsh}

Tonight we celebrated Will's birthday with dinner at Amici's "fancy pizza". We scored a table next to the guys who make the pizzas and Olivia spent the majority of the. Light watching them work.

At one point a guy was tossing pizza dough over his head with ease and I commented, "Man, I am jealous of that talent!"

Olivia replied, "You have a better talent anyway mom."

"Being awesome?" I asked.

She rolled her eyes and answered, "I was going to say mom. But pretty close anyways."

I hope she always and forever thinks that about me.

{Surviving Taxes}

While watching Survivor this afternoon with Will, he told me that if we were playing together (as family members are this season) and he needed to vote me out to have a better chance of winning, he would still share the winnings with me. Then he did the math and realized that would only mean 250,000 each because taxes would take half. I said, yep, and he replied, "seriously? We have to pay taxes even on awards you win?" "Uh huh". He paused for a second and said, "Greedy suckers!" The ultimate greedy suckers. 

{Personal History}

On Saturday Phil stopped by CVS to get some "scar away" cream and asked Will if he would like to use it on the scars he has collected over the years. Will pondered this for a moment and replied, "No. I don't want you to use it on my scars. My scars tell stories of the past. They are like little time capsules on my body."

{Survivor}

Will and I love watching Survivor together. Today after he finished homework, we sat down to watch the finale together.

During an interview with "Eddie", Eddie mentioned that he really wanted to win because he would open a Doggy Daycare/Bar where basically you go to a bar and bring your dog.  Will started laughing so hard, "That's seriously what you would do with your money?!"

"If I was to win the million dollars, I would invest $50,000 in Apple, build a pool in our back yard and then buy a really nice house."

"For us?"

"Well....I would buy a really nice, big house that we could all live in."

"Hmmmm.....well, you know that taxes will take half, and I don't think you could buy a really big, nice house here for $500,000."

Doing the calculations in his head, he decided, "But if I moved to Alaska!!"

{Lost & Found}

A few minutes after sending Will to get ready for soccer, he called downstairs to me that he couldn't find his clothes and wanted me to help him. I tried giving him suggestions where he should look, but they each proved unsuccessful.

After several back and forths he called down, "Mom, do you love me?"
Knowing what he was trying to do, I replied, "Yes, I love you. And because I love you I want you to be able to fly on your own and find your own clothes without my help."
"Mom! Do you love me?"
"Yes"
"Would you fight a bear for me?"
"Yes, but I will not help you find your clothes."
{Laughing} "What a rip off!"

And with that I caved.

{Mother Bear}

At bedtime, as Will gave me his ritual hugs and kisses, he informed me that he "loved me google plex times the distance it takes to travel our entire universe." He continued with several {equally scientific} declarations of his love. Smiling, I asked, "Why? Why do you love me?" "Because! You are my mom and you do everything for me!" I looked into his blue eyes and told him seriously, "You know I would do anything for you, right? I would fight a bear for you." He giggled and said, "Yeah, but you would lose." I gave him one more hug and kiss and sent him on his way, with the reminder, "you never know...".  Just before the door closed, he called out, "I love you to bits & pieces mommy!" And if you can imagine, Will, I love you even more.