Molly -

It's hard to believe we're only one month into 2009. You had enough fun in January to fill three months! Let's recap:

- You had 2.75 sleepovers... Ellie slept at our house... you slept at Abby's house... then you almost slept at Ellie's house...twice. Almost. Maybe "third time's a charm" on that.

- On the same day that Ellie spent the night, we had Home Depot day (and built football bookends) AND went to Build-A-Bear. You girls played in the play area at the mall and had lunch at the food court. Seriously, could that day have been any better?

- Celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day... you actually learned who he is!

- Celebrated the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States.

- Went to see Mo Willems and his reading of Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed.

- Snow day spent at Jake's house

- SNOW!!!

And behind the scenes, Mommy signed you up for Cinderella Ballet Camp for this summer, tee-ball for the spring, planned an Amtrak trip to Chicago for next month (complete with lunch at American Girl), and Daddy and I registered you for Kindergarten on Friday. (More on that later.)

Wow - I think we got our money's worth out of January! Can't wait to see what February (and the rest of the year) has in store for us.

Love you, peanut.
Mommy

Happy Barack Obama Day!

My dearest Molly,

It's almost like you knew how historical today was. You picked out a red, white, and blue outfit yesterday to wear special today... you told me that you and your class were going to sing the National Anthem today... and you asked to watch the news so you could see what happened today.

Daddy and I are saving newspapers and magazines for you of the day's events... and I'm sure all the footage will be online for all posterity... but the energy of today was palpable. I could feel it at work. You could sense it in others. People were celebrating today. I can't say that I've seen this much excitement or interest in government in my entire life.

It's morning again in America. There's much work to be done and it won't be easy... but there's a smart man to lead us. And that gives us hope. And that makes me proud.

God bless the Obama family. I love you, Peanut.

Love, Mommy

"Tomorrow is special too..."

Scene: Molly taking a bath

"Mommy, do you know that tomorrow is special too?"

"Why - what's tomorrow?"

"Not only is it Barack Obama becomes President day... it's American Idol, too. So, there's a lot to celebrate in our house."

Yes there is, Peanut... yes there is...

"Today was special..."

Scene: in the van on the way home from school

"Mommy, do you know what today is?"

"No, Molly - can you tell me?"

"It’s a special day because a lot of people got to stay home because it was a black man’s birthday. He looks like Barack Obama but he’s not Barack Obama."

"Do you mean Martin Luther King, Jr.?"

“Yeah. He got killed a very long time ago before a lot of people were born. He was fighting for his people and that’s why a man shot him. When he was little, he had a friend and couldn’t play with him. Then he laid down and had a dream about playing with his friend. And he decided the brown people should play with the white people and the white people should play with the brown people. And he gave a speech – he was up on a stage with a lot of people listening to him talk about his dream."

You're right, Molly - today was special. Dr. King was very special. I hope your Daddy and I can always help fuel your interest in important people and places. You're a sponge - and we have to fill you up with the good stuff.

Thoughts from a Dad...

Molly -

Here is a beautiful letter written by a very caring father to his two little girls. (Thank you, Parade magazine.) Your daddy and I love you this much. If only we were this articulate...

I hope some day when you're older, I can tell you how electrifying and exciting the Presidental Campaign of 2008 was... it was the first time in my life that I was genuinely, thoroughly interested in politics and felt deeply vested in the outcome of the election. Maybe it was because this was the first time there was a candidate I believed in, felt passionate about... maybe it was because this was my second election as your mommy (but the first time you'd only been around a few months). I only imagine that people felt about John F. Kennedy back in his time the way people feel about Barack Obama now.

Things will not be easy for President Obama. To say that the end of 2008 was a giant financial catastrophe for the world seems to be a bit of an understatement. So our thoughts and prayers are with him... and his beautiful family. Because my hope for you, Molly Paige, is that we, the people of the United States, finally have a President we deserve -- a smart, caring, honest man who will inspire all of us to do our best.

Love,

Mommy

'What I Want for You — and Every Child in America'
By President-elect Barack Obama
Publication Date: 01/14/2009

Next Tuesday, Barack Obama will be sworn in as our 44th President. On this historic occasion, PARADE asked the President-elect, who is also a devoted family man, to get personal and tell us what he wants for his children. Here, he shares his letter to them.

Dear Malia and Sasha,

I know that you've both had a lot of fun these last two years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have let you have. But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you and Mom, and that as excited as you both are about that new puppy, it doesn't make up for all the time we've been apart. I know how much I've missed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey.

When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me-about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn't seem so important anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that's why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation.

I want all our children to go to schools worthy of their potential-schools that challenge them, inspire them, and instill in them a sense of wonder about the world around them. I want them to have the chance to go to college-even if their parents aren't rich. And I want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefits like health care, jobs that let them spend time with their own kids and retire with dignity.

I want us to push the boundaries of discovery so that you'll live to see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives and make our planet cleaner and safer. And I want us to push our own human boundaries to reach beyond the divides of race and region, gender and religion that keep us from seeing the best in each other.

Sometimes we have to send our young men and women into war and other dangerous situations to protect our country-but when we do, I want to make sure that it is only for a very good reason, that we try our best to settle our differences with others peacefully, and that we do everything possible to keep our servicemen and women safe. And I want every child to understand that the blessings these brave Americans fight for are not free-that with the great privilege of being a citizen of this nation comes great responsibility.

That was the lesson your grandmother tried to teach me when I was your age, reading me the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence and telling me about the men and women who marched for equality because they believed those words put to paper two centuries ago should mean something.

She helped me understand that America is great not because it is perfect but because it can always be made better-and that the unfinished work of perfecting our union falls to each of us. It's a charge we pass on to our children, coming closer with each new generation to what we know America should be.

I hope both of you will take up that work, righting the wrongs that you see and working to give others the chances you've had. Not just because you have an obligation to give something back to this country that has given our family so much-although you do have that obligation. But because you have an obligation to yourself. Because it is only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential.

These are the things I want for you-to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach, and to grow into compassionate, committed women who will help build that world. And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and thrive that you girls have. That's why I've taken our family on this great adventure.

I am so proud of both of you. I love you more than you can ever know. And I am grateful every day for your patience, poise, grace, and humor as we prepare to start our new life together in the White House.

Love, Dad