Kiss and Tell

Weston is the kissiest kid.  He puckers up and smooches my face (or neck, leg, hand, or whatever is near his lips) about two hundred times a day.  He informs me that it is a huggy and kissy day, unless he is mad at me, then he takes it away.  The privilege is not revoked for long though--he can't help himself--his lips were made for kissing.

Tonight, while we were reading scriptures, he was snuggled up next to me.  We both had our books open and had red marking pencils in our hands.  Soon, I noticed he was holding the tip of his pencil right next to the tip of my pencil.  He touched his tip to my tip and made a kissing sound.  I stifled a giggle.  Tips or lips, it doesn't matter...this kid has kissing on the brain.  

When Life Gives You Lemons...

Keaton stayed home sick from school on Monday and Tuesday. Well, he was sick on Monday, but needed to be on antibiotic for 24 hours before he could go back to school, so he sort of had a day off on Tuesday.

I had laundry and lots of catching up to do around the house, so I kept busy as a laundress and the boys settled in with Mario on the Wii and sometimes switched over to Nick Jr. on the computer. Soon enough, the fighting started over who had a longer turn. The moment I heard fighting, I gave them a warning that if they couldn't work it out, they would both be kicked off. Sure enough, I kept hearing things like, "BUT he's taking MY turn!" So that was it...they were done...turn it off! Keaton ran upstairs crying. I knew for certain that it was time for imaginative play. As soon as he came downstairs, somewhat recovered from his small meltdown, I explained to him that he was welcome to play with any game or toy, so long as it could not be plugged in. Better yet, he was welcome to go outside and play in the backyard. He sulked a bit, but as soon as Weston handed him a scribbler popsicle and said, "let's go outside, buddy" , Keaton was all smiles.

I was about halfway through sparkling up my kitchen, when Keaton poked his head in through the glass door, with a giant lemon in his hands. "Mom, is it okay if we pick lemons?"

"Sure." I responded. I heard a giggle.

"Mom, will you make us some lemonade with the lemons?"

"Sure." I said, thinking to myself that I really did not want to make lemonade, but I know it is one of those things that I dread the thought of doing, but once I am actually smack in the middle of squeezing lemons, it is pretty fun.

Soon enough, the boys brought me six large, ripe and juicy lemons. We took turns squishing the lemons right over the pitcher. We added sugar and ice water, then stirred it all up until it was good and cold. The three of us drank our lemonade from tiny plastic cups and chatted about how good our lemonade was.

After we drank until we were full, Weston declared,"When I grow up I am going to be a police officer, a firefighter, and a lemonade maker." Making lemonade, was after all, the perfect way to "unplug."

The Best Games in Life...

I'm curious to know who didn't turn their BigWheel or trike upside down and pretend it was an ice cream maker? Who didn't play cops and robbers, cowboys and indians, Hardy Boys, etc. (and for the girls... whatever it was that you all did). I loved playing. I loved playing sports, baseball, hockey - I have nothing but fond memories and good friends (... and bad knees).

As much as I liked the organized sports, I liked the games we made up in the backyard the best. It seemed like our backyard growing up was where we all just met. Kick the can, No more bears, you name it, we played it.

My brother Jerry and I made up some of the greats. That Kicking Game and Tick were two of the classics. Maybe some day I'll write out the rules and regulations for Tick, but suffice it to say that all that is needed is a baseball, gloves, and a low-hanging power line.

No league, no fees, no practices, no coaches, just pure unadulterated sport.

After I was married my brothers-in-law were introduced to Tick and it's merits. One summer Stephen and I were in Santa Barbara with a softball, gloves, and a couple lengths of garden hose - looked like Tick was out of the question. The hoses where used to make a couple of circles and a game evolved - Smash the Schmigs (I'm pretty sure was the name).

I did fairly well in hockey, was ok in baseball, but what I enjoyed the most were the games in the backyard.

Thanks Jer. Thanks Stephen.

We're creating a Monster

All the other kids are in their beds. We have put Weston to bed at least five times. Good chance he has sat for a spell outside, too, for a time out because he won't stay in his bed. But, I think he must wait until Brian and I are good and comfy and tired. We hear a sweet voice say, "Can I tell you one thing?" A little Weston face peeks around the corner. He holds up his thumb with a microscopic cut on it,"I have an ow-ee." We kiss him and remind him where he is supposed to be--fast asleep in HIS bed. He holds up his thumb and pointer finger, forming a circle (to show how big tiny is), and pleads, "I can sleep down here for just a little, tiny bit?" All I can say is we are SOFT!

Tag! You're it!

Tagged!
Here are the rules:
1. Link to the person that tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
4. Tag at least three people at the end of your post and link to their blogs.
5. Let each person know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
6. Let the fun begin!

Six random facts about me...

1. I used to pray for magical powers, like Samantha on Bewitched.  I would practice my "magic" by trying to move the soap dish, in the downstairs bathroom, with a two fingered wave--but it never budged an inch!

2. I was an "extra" on Dynasty.  I was a hostess in a restaurant and Joan Collins complained that I was walking too slow.

3. I love to pop my gum in my back teeth.  I know it can be annoying, so when I am alone and chewing, I go to town.

4. I hate frosting.

5. I cry just about every time I watch Mulan, when at the end, her father says, "The greatest gift and honor is having you for a daughter."

6. I design shoes in my head that I want to buy, and then go out looking for them.  I usually don't find what's in my head, but sometimes I get close.

This is random facts this time...not quirks...so, how about Tina, Joanna, and Maureen.

This Makes Me Happy...

...four bottles of homemade strawberry freezer jam.  Most things in my life are not homemade.  I love our modern conveniences, but there is something in me that has a nostalgia about a time that I never lived in.  When I make jam or banana bread or baking powder biscuits I feel a connection to the homemakers of days gone by.  I even bought a cute apron from anthropologie to tie around my waist when I am feeling especially June Cleaver-ish.  Unfortunately, the apron doesn't always work...pasta still comes from a box and the cream soups still come from a can.  BUT, Shelby will have fabulous jam to go with her peanut butter sandwiches made from my own two hands.  Go June!

The way all nights should be...

About five years ago we bought Katie her first bike.  She was so excited, she love everything about it from the bell to the training wheels.  She donned her helmet and off she went.  After that first day she rode just occasionally.  I don't blame her, I can't imagine that riding a bike with training wheels would be all that exciting. 

After a while I asked if she wanted me to take the training wheels off.  Surprisingly she said yes.  There I was running alongside the bike to steady her.  She was doing great so I let go.  She rode for about 10 feet before she realized I wasn't there - then she crashed.

I knew that crashing was all part and parcel of learning to ride, I guess I didn't prep her very well on that.  Just like that she hated everything about that bike from the stupid bell to the dumb training wheels that weren't even there.  The dislike for the bike lasted for a few years.

Shelby soon got a bike, unfortunately the results were strikingly similar to Katie's.

Keaton got a bike.  He likes it ok, but I have never taken the training wheels off.  I guess I'm a little gun-shy.

Tonight when I came home Shelby had her bike and was trying to ride it on the grass in the back yard.  She was doing really pretty well.  Grass is pretty easy to fall on.  Keaton then wanted his bike.  I went to the garage, grabbed his bike and a wrench.  I thought we might as well give it a shot without the training wheels.

Both Shelby and Keaton were making it almost the entire width of the back lawn without much help from me.  Right before dinner, Katie wanders outside to see what all the ruckus is.  She watches for a minute then says, "I want to try."  Ok.  Sweet.  Her choice - and I know she knows that falling will be involved.

After dinner we went out to the front to try on the cement.  I was telling the girls that to start out on your own that first pedal has to be hard.  So here I am running along side Shelby, with just my hand on her back, when I look up I see Katie Jane riding off down the road.  She did it.  Before we went in Shelby also did it.  Keaton will have it down in a day or two.

It is an interesting feeling when you are running next to your kid steadying them with every step, then only steadying them every once in a while, then just running along side them, then slowing down, then finally stopping and watching them ride away from you on their own. 

Man am I proud of them.  It did this dad's heart good.  But I must say it gave me a pang of sadness as I watched that Katie ride away, knowing that there would be more times in our lives that I would have to quit running beside her, eventually stop and watch her ride away. 

Bedtime Stories

Weston cuddled up to me on the couch and asked me to tell him a story. I entertained him with a story about a tired little boy, who protested, "I'm not tired." but in the end, fell fast asleep. I was hoping to send a sleepy vibe to Weston through the story, but instead he wanted more. I asked him to tell me a story instead, and this is what he came up with...

"Once upon a time a little boy and his dad went camping. They had a campfire, s'mores, and tinfoil dinners. They went to sleep in their tent. Then there was a big Mario Monster who came and smashed their tent and their campfire. Then the Mario Monster said,'I'm sorry' [in a growling voice] and then fixed everything. The End."

I loved to hear the workings of his four year old mind...he told me another one that included a key, a treasure chest, and locked inside was a "big, big, nice, nice EVIL!" He is such a boy! Gone are the days of magical dresses or beautiful princess stories. But I don't mind because with his sweet face close to mine as he is snuggled in tight, any story is a great story!

A Charmed Life

I have recently been adopted into a book club. Tina (yes, the same Tina who is the "quirky tagger", tall birthday cake and mini maple syrup bringer) assured me that I was welcome and not intruding on their long time book club.

I was unsure about being a host, so Tina and I are doing it together this week. She picked both "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" books (btw...laugh out loud must reads!) for the girls to enjoy this month. She is planning on making a yummy dessert and I thought it would be a great idea to have some kind of a cheese fondue or something to honor the "cheese touch" in the book...(see, if you have not read the books you do not know what I am talking about and everyone needs to know about the cheese touch!)

Now, the sad but true fact is that I am a little more preoccupied with the presentation of the cheese than I am the way it tastes...I should be scouring around for recipes, but instead I have been thinking about getting these obscure little wire sign holders from this fun, little downtown shop, to place in front of the cheese dip. My sister-in-law bought the one and only holder they had in the store months ago, so it was a long shot that they would even have it. I have debated in my mind, back and forth whether or not to even go looking for them, because I knew I would be disappointed if I made the trip down there and came home empty handed.

As fate would have it, Tina and I were downtown today, just minutes away from the possibility of these little sign holders. We decided to chance it and as we walked in the store two sign holders practically smacked me in the face. There were several different sizes and colors...I loved them all! I felt a new quirk coming on...collecting sign holders! I limited myself to just buying two of them and as I walked out of the store I related to Tina how my mom always told me that I lead a charmed life...and in that moment, feeling buttery Arizona sunshine, holding my dreamy sign holder purchase, I believed my mom was right!

Ballard on Blogging

I really like that Sara blogs.  I really like seeing our friends and families blogs.  In my opinion - cool stuff.

I remember hearing a discussion about something that Elder Ballard about blogging.  I was curious, so I searched for it and found it.  Below are some excerpts from his address to the graduating class BYU-Hawaii in December 2007: 

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Yours is the world of cyberspace, cell phones that capture video, video downloads and iTunes, social networks like Facebook, text messaging and blogs.

This is your world, the world of the future, with inventions undreamed of that will come in your lifetime as they have in mine. How will you use these marvelous inventions? More to the point, how will you use them to further the work of the Lord?

Words create conversations, and conversations create understanding. There is truth in the old adage that “the pen is mightier than the sword.”  In many cases, it is with words that you will accomplish the great things that you will now set out to do.

Today we have a modern equivalent of the printing press in the Internet and all that it means. The Internet allows everyone to be a publisher, to have their voice heard, and it is revolutionizing society.

Now some of these tools – like any tool in an unpracticed or undisciplined hand – can be dangerous. The Internet can be used to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and can just as easily be used to market the filth and sleaze of pornography.

Now may I ask that you join the conversation by participating on the Internet, particularly the New Media, to share the gospel and to explain in simple, clear terms the message of the Restoration.  Most of you already know that if you have access to the Internet you can start a blog in minutes and begin sharing what you know to be true. 

We are living in a world saturated with all kinds of voices. Perhaps now, more than ever, we have a major responsibility as Latter-day Saints to define ourselves, instead of letting others define us.  Far too many people have a poor understanding of the Church because most of the information they hear about us is from news media reports that are often driven by controversies. Too much attention to controversy has a negative impact on peoples’ perceptions of what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints really is.

Use stories and words that they will understand. Talk honestly and sincerely about the impact the gospel has had in your life, how has it helped you overcome weaknesses or challenges, and helped define your values. The audiences for these and other New Media tools may often be small, but the cumulative effect of thousands of such stories can be great.  The combined effort is certainly worth the outcome if but a few are influenced by your words of faith and love of God and His son Jesus Christ.

The Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ has no doubt had a powerful impact on your life. It has, in part, shaped who you are and what your future will be. Do not be afraid to share with others your story, your experiences as a follower of the Lord, Jesus Christ. We all have interesting stories that have influenced our identity.  Sharing those stories is a non-threatening way to talk to others. Telling those stories can help demystify the Church. We’ve recently been made aware that the reason many people believe we are secretive is because they think our worship services held in 18,000 plus chapels that we have around the world are closed on Sunday’s to nonmembers. Most think they can only attend if someone invites them. They’ve gained some of that perception from stories in the media about the requirements for entering one of our 126 dedicated temples.  They confuse our temple worship with our Sunday worship. You could help overcome this and other misconceptions through your own sphere of influence, which ought to include the Internet.

There is no need to argue or contend with others regarding our beliefs. There is no need to become defensive or belligerent. Our position is solid; the Church is true. We simply need to have a conversation, as friends in the same room would have.

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Thanks for sharing your conversations.