AnnieMightBlog

Xanderism: Sense of Smell

2011-08-26T21:28:00.000-07:00

In the grocery store parking lot:
M (sniffing his nose playfully like a puppy)
X: "What does my nose smell like?"
M: "Like you...PERFECTION!"
X: "I'm gonna sniff your nose."(starts sniffing)
M: "What does my nose smell like?"
X: (giggling) "Boogies!!"

Xanderism: What?

2011-06-07T20:45:00.000-07:00

Outside working in the garden. Xander by the tree swing. Just got back from seeing Megamind at the theater.

X: "Mom! Mom! I found Jesus' weakness!!"

M: "WHAT?!"

X: "I did it! I found Jesus' weakness!!"

M: "Oh, dear. What is it?"

Xander runs over and shows me a small, orange, pie-shaped piece of broken plastic in the palm of his hand.

M: "Wow, buddy. That's really cool, but I'm pretty sure Jesus doesn't have a weakness."

X: "Mom, EVERYONE has a weakness."

M: "Yes. Everyone, except Jesus."

Xander walks off, confused. I'm thinking we need to be more careful about our superhero movies :)

They're Playing our Song

2010-10-13T09:14:00.000-07:00

Shelby and I had the amazing opportunity to play Vernon and Sonia in Neil Simon's show, They're Playing our Song at the Terrace Plaza Playhouse. Dennis directed it, Emily choreographed it, Piannie did the musical direction, Jacci Florence did costumes, with Andrea Scanlon on wigs, and Tara Payne was the assistant to the director.
What a ride! I've never had a role which demanded more from me both physically and emotionally. Shelby and I were onstage for the WHOLE show! Once in a while, I'd leave so he could sing a song, or he would while I did a song, but backstage we were racing to make fast costume changes and grab props. It was unbelievable. Our characters pretty much ran the gamut of human emotion and I sang in a completely different style than I am used to. What a learning experience!
It was so much fun for us to do this show together, as well as with some of our very best friends; Ashley Davis, Andrea Scanlon, Emily Checketts, Jordanne Burgess, Dave Clegg, Brent Taft, and Quinn Kapetanov-a totally awesome and funny cast, who also happen to all be enormously talented!I will always have fond memories of drinking gatorade and eating vitamin sports beans to keep my energy up, and doing a show with some of my favorite people, but not really, because we never saw eachother during the show! I will cherish the memory of this show as the one that really stretched me the most.A huge thank you to my family and friends who supported us, especially Cydney who did most of our babysitting, Barbara, who made that possible, and our kids, who think that parents doing shows together is completely normal. We love you!!

Re-Cap attempts for 2010

2010-10-13T08:39:00.000-07:00

Hey Y'alls! SO, let's just say, 2010 has been a bit of a rollercoaster. Things have been stressful and wonderful and everything in between. Through considerable effort on both our parts, we have finally, gratefully, begun to slow down. We have new resolve to not over-commit ourselves; a resolve we're not sure will last forever, but we are so relieved to have a tiny bit of room to breathe, that it just might.
I'll make an effort to summarize events for the year as I simply did not have the time or energy to do it until now! So, if you see summer-looking or spring-looking pictures in the fall or wintertime, that's the reason why!

Ariaism: Strength of Genetics

2010-10-13T08:20:00.000-07:00

Driving on our way to see The Scarlet Pimpernel at Terrace Plaza Playhouse. Girls' Night with Aria. Radio on.

A, "...Mom?"

M, "Yeah, babe?"

A, "Are there any songs besides SHOW songs?"

M, (giggling quietly), "Yes, honey. There are other songs besides show songs. "

A, "Really?"

M, "Yup! Sometimes people will just write a song, either to listen to on the radio, or to sell, or because they're feeling something they want to express through music. Some people write songs JUST to write songs!"

A, "...Why?...WHY, when you could put it in a SHOW?!!"

M, (laughing) "I know, honey. I soo know. I feel EXACTLY the same way :)"

Xanderism: What's in a name?

2010-10-13T08:14:00.000-07:00

Aria, filling out a form for school:

A, "Aria Rose Ferrin."

X, "Nooo! It's Aria LILY Ferrin!"

D, "Well, Lily is a name Aria really likes, but ROSE is her middle name."

X, "I have a next name too!"

D, "Yes, you do! What's you're middle name?"

X, "My next name is BERRY. STRAWBERRY. Xander STRAWBERRY Ferrin."

Xanderism: Dreamin'

2010-10-10T19:26:00.000-07:00

Over breakfast:

X, "I had a dream last night that I didn't have Mommy anymore."

M, "Oh, honey! Wait, was it a bad dream or a good dream?"

X, "It was a good dream!" (Me, slightly hurt....)

D, "Xander, why did you not have Mommy anymore?"

X, "Hmmm...maybe it's because I was a jelly sandwich!"

Skylerism: Do your job

2010-10-10T19:15:00.000-07:00

After a bit of a stressful evening....

M,"Ok, kiddos, you have four minutes to get your pjs the rest of the way on, get your teeth brushed, go potty, and be in the boys' room for scripture and prayer."

S, Matter-of-factly, "Or what?!"

M, "Orrr...Daddy will eat you."

S, "No really. Or what?!"

D, "Or you go one day without electronics."

S, "That's the spirit!...The spirit of punishment!"

Skylerism : Social Saavy

2010-09-27T17:41:00.000-07:00

So last night after dinner we had a mini social skills lesson. We taught the kids about how we can show our friends that we care and are listening to them by using our body language and by asking questions about things their friends are talking about. We role-played different scenarios and then involved them in our role-playing so they could practice.
This morning, the cute third grade girl we carpool with was telling Skyler about the movie she went to see with her family.

"We went to see this really dumb movie called Twilight. We wanted to see Toy Story, but it had already started. I mean it was already like twenty minutes into it, so we had to see something else, so we saw Twilight. There was this ugly guy named Edward and he had weird hairs on his chest and it was just disgusting. And Bella was totally in love with him, which was gross, especially because there was this other guy who was really cute and his name was Jacob. He was seriously like way cuter and Edward was like, "Oh, I love you, Bella!" Anyway, it was just a really dumb movie."

M, "Skyler, are there any questions you might like to ask about her trip to the movie?"

S,"....Nope. I think I have all the information I need."

Show damage

2010-09-22T11:12:00.000-07:00

Soooo, did any of you see our most recent show, They're Playing our Song? Our daughter did. She knew the script well...too well.
Maybe we should stop doing shows for a while....

Fly-ie, day #2

2010-09-22T10:52:00.000-07:00

Fly-ie yet lives. He joined Xander and me in the kitchen today during snack time. I suppose I'm glad he's here. He kept X entertained for quite a while while I did dishes. "Fly-ie's on my hair!" and "Fly-ie's on my neck!" He giggled with delight each time Fly-ie changed locations. I actually panicked a little when Fly-ie almost escaped on a routine trip to take the garbage out. Whew! THAT was close.

Lord of the Flies

2010-09-21T21:07:00.000-07:00

Today the children became quickly enamored with a housefly that they spotted during dinnertime. We were having chicken noodle soup sans the chicken...which is a whole other story.... and they spotted the rather bumbly fly buzzing behind the blinds of the window directly overlooking our dinnertable. Xander claimed him as a pet and immediately named him "Fly-ie." Aria instantly decided that she wanted to name the fly "Beautiful Fly", which upset Xander to no end. I found myself explaining to Aria that Xander had dibs on naming the fly and that our new "pet's" name stood as Fly-ie. I also found myself wondering if I ought to be committed. I was then conned into cleaning up some spiderwebs on the blinds because the kids were so seriously and incredibly worried that a spider would eat Fly-ie that they couldn't focus on eating their dinner. They were literally standing on their chairs everytime Fly-ie bumbled remotely close to the web, hollering and holding their fingers to their lips in fear. Once or twice he snagged a wing on the web, which led to further freaking out and begging me to free him. He wrassled his way out upon which victories my children would cheer loudly. Skyler spotted the spider and suggested that I stab a sharp knife down the crevice to take care of Fly-ie's predator once and for all; a suggestion that made some sense, except that at this point, nothing made sense and I was not about to spider-yucky-up one of my good steak knives. I told Skyler that maybe if the fl- I mean, Fly-ie smartened up a bit and stopped paying the spiderweb visits, we could all just go back to our dinner and not worry about it. He looked at me, frustrated and upset, as if I were some heartless fool and explained as patiently as he could muster, "Mom. Flies only have a memory of about three seconds. He can't help it."
So...for now, Fly-ie lives, lucky thing. Mom:0, Kids:1

Lake Fear

2010-07-09T21:23:00.000-07:00

We are, for the first time ever, taking our kids swimming in something that does not contain chlorine. We have planned a trip to Bear Lake next weekend. The kids are beside themselves with excitement about going to "the beach." Though we have explained that it is in fact, Bear LAKE and not Bear OCEAN, they are as excited and bewildered with anticipation as they would be if we were actually going to the Pacific coast. When the reality of our vacation hit, however, they suddenly became very cautious.

S: "Are there SHARKS in Bear Lake?"

M: "No, honey, there are no sharks."

A: "Jellyfish? What about Jellyfish?!" (the fear shining behind her eyes)

M: "No, babe. No Jellyfish either. Don't worry! You guys are going to be fine."

S: "Piranhas? Are there any piranhas in the lake?!"

M: (laughing) "No! There are none of those things in Bear Lake. It's a LAKE!"

S: "....How about electric eels?"

Xanderism: Music

2010-07-09T16:19:00.000-07:00

X, plunking on our new piano: "Look, Daddy! There's music in that piano!!"

Skylerism: Tornado

2010-07-08T16:01:00.000-07:00

I'm making lunch and Skyler comes into the kitchen from doing his outside chores.

S: "Mom, do you think it's possible that there's ever been a tornado in the history of America?"

M: "Yes, Skyler, there have been tornadoes in America. I'm sure of it."

S: "Oh. Well, I know that you can't go around looking for your favorite things to save and take with you, you have to just go down under."

M: "True. Very true. I'm glad you know that."

S: "But if you have your favorite things already in your hands, then it's okay to just take them with you. You don't have to put them back first."

M: "Yes. You're right. You can take them with you."

S: "But be careful, because you'll be running so fast that you might drop them, and if you drop them, you can't stop to pick them up. You have to just keep going down under."

M: "Right. That's very smart."

S: "K. Thanks, Mom. I love you."

M: "Love you too, Bud."

Xanderism: step aside, Jane Fonda

2010-05-26T10:17:00.000-07:00

Driving home from making a D.I. donation:

X: "Mommy, do you want to see my new exercise?! It's really great! Do you want to see it?"

M: "Sure, babe."

X: "Are you looking?! Watch!"

M: "Ok, I'm watching!"

X: (curling his two pointer fingers up in front of his face) "Here it is! Watch!...."(SHOVES his fingers into his nostrils).

M: (dumbfounded) "THAT's your exercise?"

X: "Yeah!"

M: "Are you getting a good work-out?"

X: "Oh yeah, Momma!"

Xanderism: smart

2010-05-26T10:12:00.000-07:00

X: "Mom, I wrote my name. See?!"

M: "Oh honey! That's wonderful! Who's a smart boy?"

X: "Grandpa."

Ariaism: weighty matters

2010-05-17T08:52:00.000-07:00

M: "Aria! It says on this Mothers' Day form card you made me that you think I weigh thirty pounds!"

A: "I didn't know for sure how much you weigh so I just made my best guess. Am I close?!"

M: "Yes! You're VERY close!"

Xanderism: bread

2010-05-16T08:46:00.000-07:00

Riding home from Great Harvest Breads, eating our complimentary slices; mine with honey, his with butter.

X: "Mommy, yours has honey and mine has butter! I like honey:)!"

M: "I like honey too. I also like butter! But do you know why I like honey? It's because you're my honey!"

X: "Yeah, and Mommy?! You're my butter!"

Naughty Kitty

2010-02-22T08:07:00.000-08:00

Naughty kitties in our family get the same consequences as naughty children.

Happy Birthday, Xander!!

2010-01-16T15:30:00.000-08:00

Today, my baby turns three! Xander is SO funny and we love him, love him, love him-so much it drives us crazy! So even though I can no longer go to the library, or the store, or anywhere easily because of his "energy", I simply don't care! I LOVE that boy :) Happy birthday, sweet little bear. You light up my life!

Ariaism: bedside manner

2010-01-16T15:21:00.000-08:00

I'm getting my tonsils out on Monday. I am pretending to be very excited, hoping it will cure some of my sense of doom. My sweet, sweet Aria, sensing my nervousness, is trying very hard to soothe my anxiety. Her intentions are good, but her delivery needs work.

A: "Mom, don't worry, because when you get your tonsils PULLED OUT, at least people will bring you things like ice cream!"

or

A: "Mom, I know your scared about having your surgery, but when you get your tonsils CUT OUT, you can just think about us and how much we love you!"

Skylerism: caution

2010-01-16T15:11:00.000-08:00

X: (looking under his bed nervously, as our frisky cat, Toffee, guards the area) "My ball! I want my ball! But, I can't because Toffee will get me!"

M: "Be careful, bud."

S: "Yeah, because Toffee IS a carnivore!"

Ariaism: tell me what you really think

2010-01-09T19:28:00.000-08:00

Today, I finally got to watch the last half-hour of this week's episode of Biggest Loser. I like to work out while I do, so I turned it on and committed to a slew of bicycle crunches. Aria came down and layed down beside me. A 526-lb man stood on the scale.

A: "You like this show?"

M: (Still crunching) "Yeah, I really like it."

A: "Mom, YOU should be on this show."

I collapsed and laughed so hard that I cried.

Pretty sure my library days are over

2010-01-07T20:44:00.001-08:00

I haven't been going to the library for the last five months. Today, Xander reminded me why. That kid is a killer demon child at the library. I don't know if it's the building, the people, or maybe that book-y smell, but something about that place turns my sweet angel boy into his own doppelganger.

My friend invited me to go again, so, against my better judgement, I decided to give it another go. I loaded up thing 2 (Aria) and thing 3 (Xander), and we headed to the library. Aria was a perfect angel and Xander made me want to sell him...cheap. He wouldn't sit at all for storytime and instead busied himself by running around the displays. He then grew bored with the displays and began running around the people gathered for storytime, climbing up on the benches and jumping from one to another, sometimes landing on purses. Yes. I know. Horrifying. "Where were you, you bad mother?" you might say. " "I was freaking trying to catch him!!" I would reply to your unwelcome question. A two-yr old who doesn't want to be caught is VERY difficult to catch. They are not only HEAVY, but they are super-humanly fast! So fast, in fact, that the library quickly turned into the track of the Indy 500. I'm not kidding. He was literally zooming around the library doing enormous speedy laps around the studying people and large bookshelves, looking over his shoulder at me with a sneaky grin on his face. By the grace of God, I managed to trick him and caught him. I gave him a good talking to and placed him beside me in the kids' video section. I promised Aria she could pick one out. I looked at him, looked at the videos, and looked back. It was seriously like 2 seconds. He was gone. I had seen him hiding behind the curtain near the emergency exit before, so I checked there. Nope. I looked back at Aria. She was there, so I went to see if she'd seen him, when a row of videos spilled to the floor. Xander was behind the shelf and had knock the whole row part of the shelf off its hinges. So I had to reattach it and put the videos back AND catch him again. I finally did, slinging him unceremoniously over my shoulder, called for Aria and headed for the check-out line. It was unusually long, but I had to get the stuff for Aria because I promised her and it was part of her homework. So I stood in the long line while holding Xander on my shoulder, while he kicked his legs and yelled "HELP MEEEEEE! HELP MEEEEEEE! HELP MEEEEEEEEEE!" over and over (I was yelling the same thing, you just couldn't hear me). My friend offered to take him and he stopped yelling long enough to say to her, "I can't! I can't get down. My mom won't let me! I stuck!" Exasperated, I put him down and thought he'd go with her. Instead, he just lay on the floor, extremities extended, bare belly exposed, refusing to go anywhere. At least he was quiet. The only downside was that now he was blocking the line movement. People were nice enough, but they were looking at me like, "Should we stay behind him, or should we just step over him?" After checking out, he yelled for his coat. I grabbed his coat, but as I tried to put it on him, he screamed, "Noooo!! I don't WANT my COAT!!!" So I grabbed him, and hauled his butt outside, where he cried,"I cold! I want my coat! I want my coat on my belly!"I finally buckled his tushy in the car and took a big breath. I vowed, out loud, "I will NEVER do this again."

So, goodbye fair library. I have loved you. You have been a dear friend to me. But we cannot see each other any more. It's over between us. It's not you, it's me...or rather, it's my son. Maybe someday, when circumstances are different, we can rekindle the flame.

Like an epidemic

2010-01-06T20:15:00.000-08:00

Aria had another bathroom injury today. Seriously. This time, Shelby followed the screaming and crying and found her wedged between the toilet and the wall. Once she was freed and calmed, I asked her how she managed to even get into that space. She didn't even know. She said she was standing in front of the toilet and next thing she knew she had fallen between the toilet and the wall. This is getting to be absurd. She seems to have a talent for it. So, I suppose if theater and fashion design don't work out, she'll always have this as a back-up.

Xanderism: animal

2010-01-05T19:59:00.000-08:00

Our AMAZING friend Ashley made our kids these totally awesome quiet activity packets for church. Seriously, they are awesome and I'm sure it took at least several weeks or months to put them all together. Love you Ash!

Anyway, Xander and I were working on one where you match one animal with its pair for Noah's ark.

I held up a pig.
M: "What's this?"
X: "Issa pig!"

I held up a cat.
M: "Good, buddy, what's this?"
X: "Dat-sa cat."

I held up a cow.
M: "Great, Xander! What's this?"
X: "Dat-sa herbivore!

Looks like I've got another scientist on my hands.

Little-known fact

2010-01-03T19:06:00.000-08:00

Aria is the only person I know who can injure herself while going to the bathroom. Today, she sat down on the potty, not realizing the seat was up and fell right in, hurting her shoulder in the process...somehow. Honestly, I don't even see how that's possible, but apparently it totally is.

20 things in 2009

2009-12-31T19:53:00.000-08:00

Things I learned or accomplished in 2009:

1. Lost twenty-five pounds and went from a size twelve to a size six.

2. Discovered I like running

3. Discovered I have asthma...now I own an inhaler

4. Discovered I have tonsilitis...and that I'm officially a geek

5. Ran my first 5k

6. Ran an unofficial 10k

7. Participated in Trek-walked 38 miles in the middle of Wyoming and lived out of a five-gallon bucket

8. Learned about the role of food in my life and the lives of Americans, became aware of the impact our food choices make on our health and the environment

9. Bottled forty quarts of grape juice all by myself

10. Jarred a ton of apricot jam

11. Made home-made wheat dinner rolls

12. Played Hortense, a French maid in The Boy Friend

13. Played Belle in Beauty and the Beast opposite my Beastly husband

14. Really learned to appreciate others' differences and became less judgmental

15. Learned to appreciate more the value of good friends

16. Learned to be still while the world around me spins

17. Acquired my first personal computer

18. Acquired my first two kitties since moving out of my parents' house back in 1998

19. Crocheted twenty-four dishcloths in two weeks for family gifts...and they're symmetrical

20. Learned that I can do anything I set my mind to

Ariaism: where there's smoke....

2009-12-24T21:30:00.000-08:00

Today, a few minutes after Shelby preheated the oven to start dinner, I walked in to discover a bit of smoke billowing from behind the oven door. When we opened it, we discovered that a dish towel had fallen in and was totally on fire. Shelby bravely grabbed it and threw it into the sink, dousing the flames with our tap water. As we caught our breath, Aria came up the stairs and threw open the door.

A: "Are you guys makin' s'mores?!"

Skylerism: sick

2009-12-23T21:27:00.000-08:00

Skyler has had a yucky cough for about 5 days now.

S: *cough cough cough cough, cough cough cough cough* "I cough in two sets of four."

My discovery

2009-12-22T21:03:00.000-08:00

I've come to the conclusion that Aria cannot walk. She is entirely capable of running, jumping, hopping, leaping, and sliding from one location to the next, but, as I have not seen her walk in several years, I'm pretty sure it is no longer in her repertoire. I don't think they make special parking places for people like Aria, so there are no "perks"; but I assure you, it is a disability. She injures herself several times a day, and mundane tasks, such as bringing a plate from the table to the sink, are next to impossible. I can only hope that one day she finds a support group of others like her, to buoy her up through the hard times. In the mean time, we just give her all the love we can, and keep our insurance card handy.

Who needs weights?

2009-12-17T14:10:00.001-08:00

My two year old is heavy. Like, I'm always surprised when I change his pants that there aren't bricks glued to his thighs heavy. Like, baby elephant heavy. Like ,"Are you twins in one body?" heavy. Hauling that kid around is no small task. My favorite is when he refuses to walk and I have my hands full, so I'm forced to rearrange my parcels, grab him by the wrist and literally drag him to our next destination. Who knows? Maybe he's too heavy for his own little legs to carry and it's a coping mechanism. It's weird, because he's not even fat, he's just solid. I have no idea where he stores all his weight! Are his bones made of lead? Are his bum cheeks filled with water? Maybe he has iron lungs? Not a clue. One thing's for sure though, at least I don't have to worry about my own weight-gain...as long as he's doing it, I'm not gaining an ounce.

Ariaism: baby it's cold outside

2009-12-16T21:02:00.000-08:00

Tonight I was getting bundled up to go hayriding/caroling with the youth.

A: "Mom, can I come with you?"

M: "Nope, sorry babe."

A: "Why not?"

M: "It is freaking cold out there, love. Way too cold. I'm not even sure why I'm going! As it is, I'm going to freeze my butt off."

A: "Wait- You're coming home with no bum?"

M: "Possibly."

What we do to fulfill our callings....

Ariaism: law and order

2009-12-15T19:25:00.000-08:00

Aria was having a naughty spell. We were at the end of an extremely long day, full to the hilt with disobedience. She was in time out (again), when, exasperated, I asked her what she thought her punishment should be if she chose to disobey me one more time (I would like to note that what follows has not, nor ever will happen at my house. I have no idea where she got this). She looked up at me...

A: "I don't know...maybe sleep without blankets?"

M: "Sweetie, no. I'd never make you sleep without blankets. I was thinking maybe-"

A: "Sleep outside in the snow?"

M: "Oh my gosh."

Some things about me

2009-12-09T21:01:00.000-08:00

It takes me at least a half hour after I "wake up" to be actually awake. Before then, I shrink from the light like a strange hermit and frequently bump into walls, close my fingers in drawers,etc.

I believe that I would have been an amazing gymnast,horseback rider, figure skater, etc had I only had the training since youth.

My favorite color is yellow...even though it is the color of pee, it still makes me happy.

I love to bake. Not cook, bake. I like to cook only if it's like baking.

I hate to have chalk or clay on my hands. It seriously freaks me out and I can't do anything or even think until I get it off.

I will eat chocolate at anytime of day or night...and day and night.

I know you were all just dying to know these tidbits of info. Weren't you?! Weren't you?! Yeah! Yes, you were!! Yeah!!!

Hi friends!

2009-12-03T13:29:00.000-08:00

Hi friends! One of these days I will write a whole blog entry about what it was like to do Beauty and the Beast, but for now, I have decided just to return to writing about the everyday things that happen, thoughts and impressions I have, and, of course, the ridiculous things my kids say.

Today, I am writing about bread. I LOVE bread! Lately, I have found excuses to pop into Great Harvest to buy a loaf of indulgence, but also, in confession, for the immediate gratification of receiving a thick slice of free bread. I love to enter the store and pretend like I have no idea they are about to offer it to me, then feign delight at the gesture. "Who, me? Why, yes, thank you! What an unexpected surprise! I WOULD love a hearty slice of bread. How kind of you!" (I also quite deliberately push the thought that they must inflate the prices of the loaves to accommodate such an offer very deeply to the back of my brain).

I have been introduced to several new kinds of bread thanks to this little place. Today, I bought a loaf of tomato herb...scrumptious! It is like sitting down to a fine italian restaurant where they serve thick, crusty pieces of herb-y bread which you dip in oil and balsamic vinegar, except it is not at all so crusty and there is no dipping involved.

My free "bread" today was, in fact, not a bread at all. It was a pumpkin cream cake roll, which they, I think, are required to call a bread to fit the theme of the store. It was the yummy, flavorful pumpkin cake rolled together with that splendid cream cheese filling. Ahhhh! It was a beautiful escape. I closed my eyes and pretended I was snowed in at a luxurious ski resort. "No, Miss, the roads are impassible, I am afraid, but I can offer you this pumpkin cream cheese cake roll while you wait by our over-sized fireplace. Would you like hot cocoa with that?"

I especially love baking my own bread, but on days that I visit Great Harvest, I am often sent spinning into a bread coma and no longer have the drive to bake my own that day. Why? Bread begs you to slow down. It says to your soul, "You are going too fast, soul. Enjoy the peace while you can." So, I suppose maybe I should not go Great Harvest too often, lest I deny my own family that beautiful escape.

Xanderism: nativity

2009-12-02T07:39:00.000-08:00

X: "Mama, (pointing to our carved wooden nativity set), who are these friends?"

M: "That's our nativity set! It's all about when Jesus was born. Here's Mary and Joseph, Jesus's mommy and daddy; and these are shepherds and here are the wise men."

X: (holding up a sheep) "And here's a yak!"

M: "What?!"

X: "A yak! And dis is Mary's yak!"

Bet you didn't know.

Xanderism: sad day

2009-12-01T09:04:00.000-08:00

After taking Aria to afternoon kindergarten the other day, Xander and I stopped in to say hi to Daddy in his classroom, as we occasionally do. He has such a fun time saying hello to the students and playing with the toys. He was, however, particularly distraught over leaving and commenced a meltdown, complete with screaming and dragging all the way out of the school.

I finally buckled his tushy into the seat and we began driving home. I let him cry it out...yup, still going...still going...ok wait-...nope, still going. Finally he seemed to taper off a little, letting it drag out with those recognizable post-meltdown sniffs which come about every 4 seconds apart.

M:"Are you still crying, buddy?"

X: "(sniff sniff) ...No. (sniff) I not. (pauses in self-reflection, sniff sniff) I smelling."

M: "Smelling?"

X: "Yes. (sniff sniff) I smelling da flowers(sniff). See?! (snifffffffff)

Skylerism: Thanksgiving

2009-11-27T21:16:00.000-08:00

My family put on an amazing Thanksgiving dinner this year. Mom and Janna made mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, yams, squash, stuffing,rolls, and like nine amazing pies including an apple caramel pie(yum!); and my brother Tim made a completely awe-inspiring turducken! Seriously, the turducken was amazing-it had three different stuffings and it took him 2 whole days to make. It was SO delicious!! I made nothing at the request of family members who've had my cooking before. My brother Steve was also in town, as well as Janna's husband Shawn, whom we haven't seen in months as he's been traveling for work.
After filling ourselves senseless, we all sat around the table, satiated and unable to move. Skyler got up to put his dishes away, and pausing mid-way to the kitchen,tilted his head to the side and commented rather sentimentally:

S: "A better meal, I've never had. This is a Thanksgiving to remember. Thanksgiving two-thousand nine."

and continued on his way.

Ariaism: smart

2009-11-22T07:30:00.000-08:00

Aria's sounding out words in a book, I'm doing dishes.

M: "Wow, Aria! You're doing great at reading. You're so smart. I know you'll go to college one day and be able to learn even more!"

A: (beaming) "I'm as smart as a college-er?"

Xanderism: hiccups

2009-11-22T07:26:00.000-08:00

X: "Hc-up! Hc-up!

D: "Hey, Xander buddy! Are you okay?"

X: "Hc-up! Hc-up! Oh no, Daddy! I have the make-ups!"

Ariaism: shopping

2009-11-16T09:27:00.000-08:00

Aria, with her grandparents at KOHL's:

A: "I'm easy to shop for because I want everything."

Skylerism: kitty love

2009-11-10T14:03:00.000-08:00

The kids are eating a very healthy lunch of mac n' cheese, with a redeeming home-jarred grape juice beverage.

S: "Mom, I shouldn't kiss Jonny on the lips." (Jonny is our cat).

M: "That's true. Did Daddy tell you that?"

S: "No, I figured it out for myself."

M: "Really? How?"

S: "Well, there's germs on his lips...plus, he doesn't like grape juice."

Skylerism: Patronus

2009-11-08T19:26:00.000-08:00

S: "Mom, you can't cast a patronus. Dad can and so can I, but not you."

M: "What? Why not?"

S: "Well, in order to cast a patronus you need to not only focus on casting the patronus, but you also need to think of a really happy memory, like maybe the day you were born or something like that."

M: "I think I can do that. If both you and Daddy can do it, then why can't I?"

S: "Well, you know how--, well, you're always saying you can only do one thing at a time."

Ariaism: sore

2009-11-07T09:00:00.001-08:00

Aria, showing me the sore in her mouth :"Mom, look? See it? Oww!! It hurts, see? See my cranker?"

My ride home today.

2009-11-06T13:05:00.000-08:00

S: "I have great news! Something really great happened today. I made friends with my enemy!"
(His enemy is a cute little girl who's never done anything wrong to him as far as I know but he's talked about her the whole year-even writing a story about a monster who eats her).

M: "Really?! Skyler, that's fantastic! How did you do it? What happened?"

S: "Well, I was doing a cool science experiment during recess and she wanted to join me, so I let her."

M: "Cool, buddy! What kind of experiment was it?"

S: "Well, it's probably against school rules, but I gathered some leaves and I used my magnifying paper to try to start a small fire, but we couldn't. I got really close though, I think. They got really hot and I was hoping to burn holes through them. Don't worry though, I also put some small rocks around the leaves so the fire wouldn't spread. Anyway, she thought it was cool, so I let her watch. I also let her look at the prisms through the magnifying paper and she thought they were pretty."

M: "Wow, buddy! That was a pretty clever experiment and, though I'm generally not in favor of starting fires at school, I'm proud of you for being safe about it by surrounding the leaves with rocks and also for making friends with your enemy."

S: "Yeah, it's probably the first time in the history of the world that someone made friends with their enemy by participating with them in a simple activity."

M: "Huh. Well-. Well, maybe, Sky!"

S: "Anyway, all I can think about is food. I'm really hungry."

M: "You're hungry?"

S: "I'm starving! You know, I did make a new friend today and that takes A LOT of energy! You know, I can also feel my heart beating really fast."

A: "You know what? I think that means you fell in love with your enemy!"

S: "Huh, well...no. But maybe I have a crush. She is a little bit cute, I think."

A: "What's a crush?"

S: "It's a piece of fatuous love. You know, if you're infatuated with someone. But I don't want to be famous for knowing the word fatuous even though I'm so young."

A: "You're going to be famous?"

S: "Well, I could be if people know that I know what fatuous means. You know, I just don't want the stress of being famous; people always following you around in crowds taking pictures and wanting to know what your doing all the time."

A: "Yeah, you DON'T want to go around feeling famous."

S: "Harry Potter knows how I feel."

Xanderism: Candy

2009-11-06T08:22:00.000-08:00

Xander and I had a sweet moment the day after Halloween. We both sat snuggling on my bed with his bag of candy in between us, sampling a few different sugary snacks. Whoppers, Milky Ways.
Xander pulled out a box of DOTS.

X: "What's deese?"

M: "D-O-T-S. DOTS!"

X: (Chewing a red one). "Mmm, yum! Yummy! Dat's good!"

M: "Ooh, yeah. Those are good! What do they taste like?"

X: "...Dots."

Xanderism: crazy Sunday

2009-11-05T09:35:00.000-08:00

It was a crazy Sunday. Xander would not go to Nursery and would not hold still nor be quiet during sacrament meeting. After our final meeting, I chased him (reverently) through the chapel until, thanks to a trick move, I finally caught up with him. I grabbed him by the wrist, slung him, screaming and crying, up over my shoulder, and walked (in my high heels, with heavy church bag, stuffed with toys, snacks, and probably bricks) to our car which was parked quite a distance away. With a final heave, I slung/wrestled him into his car seat and against much resistance, managed to buckle his heiny in.

Suddenly, Xander stopped screaming, turned and looked at me.

X: "PHEW!!"

Skylerism:Mom, did you know?

2009-11-04T09:30:00.000-08:00

The other day I was putting a screw into the wall. Skyler, passing through, stopped, looked, then commented.

S: "Mom, did you know that a screw is a series of spiraling inclined planes that can hold materials together more securely than nails?"

M: "Well--------ummm, no. Not in those terms, no."

S: "Well, it's true."

Then off he went.

Ariaism: Jokes

2009-11-03T19:20:00.000-08:00

A: "Knock knock."

M: "Who's there?"

A: "Orange."

M: "Orange who?"

A:" Orange ate the American flag."

M: (silence).

A: "Mom, how come I can never get a grown-up to laugh?"

I might blog

2009-10-15T17:44:00.001-07:00

Hi! I've been thinking about blogging. I have a lot to say (as most of you know). My camera and I have both been on the fritz (whatever the heck THAT is), but soon, I shall return to my former blogging glory. Oh yes, I shall return!! Sigh.

Skylerism: Normal, everyday life

2009-09-07T19:55:00.000-07:00

Today I was doing dishes when Skyler came through the kitchen, sitting in his teal, plastic laundry bin and pulling himself across the floor with his arms.

S: "I'm not going very fast because friction slows down moving objects."

Little-known fact: Aria

2009-09-07T10:48:00.000-07:00

When Aria cleans her room, she blasts "Hard-Knock Life" from ANNIE on her CD player.

Skylerism: computer

2009-09-03T16:32:00.000-07:00

Skyler, coming up the stairs: "Daaa-ad! Daaa-ad!!"

M: "Hey, Buddy, what can I help you with? Dad's out working on the car."

S: "Um, you can't help me. You don't know how. I need Dad."

M: "Well, try me. What do you need help with?"

S, exasperated: "Ugh! Mom, you can't fix computer keys, can you? I need Dad."

M: "I don't know, MAYBE I can! We won't know unless you let me try, right?"

S: "Okay Mom, I'll give you ONE chance, but if you don't fix it on this chance, I'm going to get Dad. He can have as many chances as he needs."

M: "Well, thank you for your faith in me and for letting me have once chance."

I totally freaking fixed that computer key.

Skyler sitting happily at the computer as it loads up.

M, whispering in his ear: "Skyler. Skyler. Who totally fixed the computer key all by herself? Who did it? Who did it?"

S, a huge dimpled sheepish grin spreading across his face: "You did it, Mom (chuckles). You're the best Mom ever!"

Mmmmmm....

2009-09-02T21:34:00.000-07:00

You know that famous phrase, "Dance like no one is watching?" I eat chocolate like no one is watching...and pretty much whenever no one is watching.

You know your child is different when....

2009-09-02T13:04:00.000-07:00

This morning at about 4:00am I was awakened to the sound of my little 5-yr old Aria belting "Tomorrow" from ANNIE the musical. She was lying on the floor so her head could be closer to her CD player...which apparently was very important AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING!!! Well, what can I say? She's a Ferrin!

Happy Seventh Birthday, Skyler!!

2009-08-15T22:00:00.000-07:00

On Friday, my Skyler turned seven! Can you believe it?! He used to be teeny and now he's such a big boy. He makes me so happy, I can hardly stand it. Skyler is so smart and funny and kind-hearted. Thank you, Heavenly Father for sending me such an amazing boy. I love you, Skyler!

Skylerism: big word

2009-08-13T10:02:00.000-07:00

Listening to Beauty and the Beast cast album in the car, Skyler and Aria laughing at "Nobody spits like Gaston."

M: "Skip, do you know what 'expectorating' means?"

S: "No."

M: "Well, 'expectorating' is a big fancy word that means spitting!"

S: "Oh! Thank you, Mom! Thank you for teaching me that new big word! I love big words! Now, the big word-master is back in POWER!!!"

Ariaism: m&m

2009-08-11T09:14:00.000-07:00

Aria, randomly, yet frankly over dinner:

A: "The inside of an m&m counts as dairy."

Family: "Huh?!"

A: "Milk chocolate."

That's my girl.

Xanderism: ketchup

2009-08-10T09:12:00.000-07:00

X: "I want ketchup!"

D: "Xander, say 'please' about the ketchup."

X: "Please about the ketchup."

"What's...that....small pitter pat? One. Two! Two kitty cats."

2009-08-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

I totally have two kitty cats. Not one month ago, I had NO kitty cats. Not unless you count the one in my dreams.

When future scientists learn to ride bikes:

2009-07-31T08:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I began teaching Skyler and Aria how to ride their bikes without training wheels. I began by teaching them how to fall properly (what? It's what they do in skiiing!), then we worked on simply maintaining balance in a stationary position on the bike.

Aria caught on quickly (she exhibits a strong aptitude for physical challenges), holding herself completely still while I only occasionally spotted her if she began to tip. Skyler struggled a bit more (he exhibits a strong aptitude for academic challenges...not so much physical), requiring more or less constant support. I anticipated that it would be more difficult for him, just as I anticipate school being more of a challenge for Aria.

I was, however, really impressed with his attitude as he was genuinely trying to figure it out using his personal strengths. He must have recalled one of our previous conversations about his body's sense of balance:

M:"Skyler, I'm SO proud of you! You're really trying and doing great!"

S:"I don't know, Mom. I think there must be a problem with the fluid in my middle ear."

I turned 29 and lived (so far) to tell about it!

2009-07-30T00:37:00.000-07:00

I turned 29 today. I mostly feel the same. I'm only genuinely surprised that I don't look older than I do. I'm not saying I have skin like a seventeen year-old, I'm just saying that I thought that at twenty-nine, I'd look a lot uglier. But, I'm good, you know? I'm doin' pretty good! My skin's pretty good, my body's pretty good, my hair's pretty good (no greys!) and my mental health is pretty good. Plus, my life is way freaking better than just pretty good, so, you know...huge bonus there. So, yeah. Happy Birthday to me! I'm going to celebrate by eating whatever I want and, in the process, slightly damage my pretty good body. I only live once:)

Little known fact

2009-07-28T22:22:00.001-07:00

Aria sleeps on her back with her mouth wide open.

My favorite deal of the week

2009-07-27T13:59:00.000-07:00

Macey's has 2-pound containers of blueberries for $4.99! These get insanely expensive as the weather gets colder and we go through TONS of blueberries, so we'll be stocking up and freezing for muffins, pancakes, and yogurt-toppers. Blueberries are one of the healthiest berries out there, so shop away friends! This deal ends when the store closes Tuesday night.

Ariaism: sucks

2009-07-26T21:26:00.000-07:00

Aria, having just been tucked in after a long day.

A: "Mama, I know who sucks."

M: "What?!"

A: "I know who sucks."

M: "I know who what?!"

A: "Sucks! I know who sucks."

M: "Sweetie, that's not a very nice word to say. It's not the worst word ever, but it's not a very pleasant word, so if we can find a different word to use, then that would be better. It's okay. You're not in trouble. Now, I want to know what you were thinking so, go ahead. Tell me who sucks."

A: "Satan. Satan sucks."

M: "Yes, sweetie, you are absolutely right. Satan DOES suck."

Xanderism: Sacrament

2009-07-24T19:42:00.000-07:00

Shelby here.

Last Sunday I took the opportunity to teach Xander about why we partake of the Sacrament. I told him that it helps up remember how much Jesus loves us, and that when we take it, we are making a promise to Heavenly Father that we will do our best to be good boys.

Xander took his piece of bread, put it in his mouth, turned to me and said, "Needs butter."

My favorite deal of the week

2009-07-20T20:09:00.000-07:00

Back by popular demand:

My favorite deal of the week is at Macey's. They are having a killer sale on cereal right now. Kellogg's cereal is 4/$5 (less if you have a coupon) and right there near the cereal they have coupons for milk: Buy any 2 boxes of Kellogg's cereal and get $2.00 off a gallon of milk. Well, milk was 3/$5.00. So they basically paid me to get milk. I spent $4.32 for four boxes of cereal and two gallons of milk. I freakin' rock...and so can you!! The deal only lasts one more day though, so go to Macey's ASAP!! ;)

Skylerism: sensible

2009-07-19T15:52:00.000-07:00

M:"Skyler, do you know what I love about you? I love that you're so sensible"

S:"Yeah. Like my sense of taste. Sometimes if I see something far away that I want to taste, I can stay where I am, simply stick out my tongue like this and without damaging it or even getting it wet, I can taste it."

I shouldn't have been in the west wing

2009-07-01T13:39:00.000-07:00

I found out this week that I've been cast as Belle in Terrace Plaza Playhouse's production of Beauty and the Beast playing opposite my handsome husband Shelby as the Beast! I'm so excited! We start rehearsal in August and the Show opens in October. Now my life really is a fairytale!

Doing shows makes me happy

2009-06-26T08:31:00.000-07:00

I love to do shows. Maybe it's because I love the regular socializing. Maybe it's because I love to let go of reality a little and pretend that I'm someone and somewhere else. Maybe it's because I, as my mom warned Shelby before we were married, need, "a lot of reassurance." Yeah, that's probably it.

French Maid-not like THAT!!

2009-06-22T20:06:00.000-07:00

More good news! I've been cast in The Boy Friend playing in August this summer in Clearfield as Hortense, a French maid. I'm really excited!! Rehearsals start Tuesday:)

Hit the trail!

2009-06-21T20:01:00.000-07:00

I'm stoked to announce that I've been assigned to hike the trail with the youth on Trek in a few weeks! It was either that or help at the camp with food and tents(which actually would have been really fun too). I'm thrilled at my assignment, and am looking forward to the exercise and the spiritual experience, not to mention the chance to unabashedly wear a bonnet for 4 days straight-I look smokin' hot in a bonnet. See you on the trail!

Hi Blog :)

2009-06-20T19:48:00.000-07:00

Hi Blog :) I'm sorry to have been so neglectful lately. Things have just been really busy, but I want you to know I've been thinking of you, sweet blog. The way you are formatted, the way you keep everything I've written so safe and well-recorded, the way you keep me connected with people I love. I don't take you for granted blog. You've always been there for me these last 10 months. You are important to me and you'll always be so. I love you.

25x6 things for which I am grateful

2009-05-31T14:38:00.000-07:00

As part of my Trek preparation, I've been asked to write down 25 things for which I am grateful. I was supposed to do this once a month, starting in (gulp) January and going through June. Since, I have a teeny tiny bit of catching up to do, I've decided to do it all at once here and let you in on my list! So, in no particular order:

1.My family (especially my very good-looking and hard-working husband, Shelby) 2.The Gospel 3.The atonement 4.Mint Milanos 5.Oreos 6."Owning" my own house 7.Shelby's stable job 8.Knowing how to make my own bread 9. Helpful friends and neighbors 10.Indoor plumbing 11.A working furnace 12.The availability of different foods 13.Thrift stores 14.Being able to attend BYU 15.Close proximity of temples 16.Growing up in New England 17.On Demand movies on my new couch 18.Pumpkin cookies from the freezer 18.A quiet neighborhood 19.A safe place to run 20.A great school for my children 21.A free country 22.Our military 23.Community theater 24. A good city council working hard to improve my city 25.Lilacs 26.A great city library 27.Our family's good health 28.Still-functioning vehicles 29.A brother in the car business 30.Body pillows 31.Hot chocolate 32.Cold chocolate 33.REALLY generous parents and in-laws 34.Magic Erasers 35.Epidurals 36.Air conditioning 37.Coupons 38.Seat belts 39.Law enforcement 40.Volunteer and Paid Fire Fighters 41.Ben 42.Jerry 43.Blogs 44.Facebook 45.My drivers' license 46.Safe Airplanes 47.Organized athletics 48.The PTA 49.Teachers 50.Living in a country with good and sanitary medical care 51.City parks 52.Calculators 53.Naptime for my kids 54.Naptime for me 55.Lawn mowers 56.Real Southern BBQ 57.Biggest Loser 58.Grey's Anatomy 59.Flat irons 60.Concealor 61.Contact lenses 62.High heels on clearance 63.Democracy 64.Skyler's dimples 65.Aria's recent streak of really good behavior 66.Xander's sense of humor 67.Skyler's common sense 66.Aria's flare for life 67.Xander's smile 68.Bubble baths 69.Shelby's concientious romantic gestures 70.Shelby's smokin' new bod :) 71.Google 72.My 5 senses 73.Two working computers 74.A washer and dryer 75.A dishwasher 76. Pantyhose to mask my legs on days I didn't shave 77.Our tree swing 78.Our porch 79.Oprah 80.Operas 81.Good jokes 82.Recycling 83.Mirrors 84.Feminine Hygeine products 85.Ipods 86.Yogurt 87.Old Christmas specials 88.Occasionally finding money in old purses or pants I haven't worn for a long time 89.Clothes that fit me and are reasonably in style 90.Shelby's willingness to cook and his ability to do it well 91.Chances to serve 92.Family vacations 93.Eating out 94.Deodorant 95.Singing-my own and others' 96.Parents who are still married 97.Lots of family near-by 98.Knowing how to swim 99.Poetry 100.Mueseums 101.Beautiful Art 1o2.Warm Winter clothing 103.Cartoons 104.Great (and free!) babysitting 105.Conditioner 106.Lotion 107.Vermont maple syrup 108.Beautiful and clever music 109.Cell phones 110.Good bras 111.Dentists 112.Vitamins and supplements 113.Containers 114.Midol 115.People who do their callings well 116.Mindless chores 117.New recipes 118.Food Storage 119.My new carpeting 120.Hand sanitizer 121.Chalk holders 122.White boards 123.Toliet paper 124.My mom's spaghetti sauce 125.Shelby's patience 126.Shelby's talent 127.Aria's pretty hair 128.Skyler's intelligence 129.Xander's snuggles 130.My electric stove 131.Hair dryers 132.Flat irons 133.My toaster 134.DVRs 135.Disposable diapers and wipes 136.Spring 136.Fall 137.The Olympics 138.Parades 139.Layton High Theater program 140.People smarter than I am 141.Really good authors 142.People who love and are good at math 143.The Young Women's program 144.Relief Society 145.The Priesthood 146.Corn on the cob with butter and salt 147.Youtube 148.Itunes 149.Global awareness 150.Hot soup with whole wheat toast

Xanderism: spider

2009-05-28T20:06:00.000-07:00

8:00pm. Bedtime. While not actually asleep, the kids are in bed.

9:03pm.
X:"Ahhh! Spider! Spider! Ahhhh! SPIDER!!"

S:"Mooooooommm! A spider! Xander sees a SPIDER!! Hurry! Hurry! A SPIDER!!"

I run in and flip on the light.

X, standing up, looking down at the floor, where his recently-tossed binky lies:"Spider!!! (giggles) Binky Spider!"

Skylerism: choose the right

2009-05-25T06:56:00.000-07:00

There I was, just lying in bed reading, when an aggravated voice came echoing down the hall:

S: "Gah!! You have to 'choose the right' even when nobody's looking! Oh, no!"

One can only imagine what misdeed led to that realization.

One of my new favorite recipes

2009-05-22T08:41:00.000-07:00

Ok, I found the BEST banana bread recipe. I challenge any of you to rival it's yumminy goodness. And it's healthy (mostly) to boot!

Moist Whole Wheat Banana Bread Recipe and Instructions:

Be sure to use ultra ripe bananas for this. Their skins should be mottled black and they should feel soft to the touch. Using what you would normally consider to be ripe bananas will diminish the bread’s rich flavor.

½ cup (1 stick, 4 ounces) unsalted butter
½ cup (3 ¾ ounces) packed light or dark brown sugar
¾ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ cups (~ 12 ounces) mashed ripe banana (3-4 medium to large bananas)
¼ cup (3 ounces) honey
2 large eggs
2 cups (8 ounces) whole wheat flour, traditional or white whole wheat
½ cups (2 ounces) chopped walnuts (or chocolate chips, or whatever)!

Preheat oven to 325 F degrees. Lightly grease a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan.

Beat together the butter, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla in a medium bowl until smooth. Add the banana, honey and eggs, beating until smooth. Add the flour and nuts, stirring until smooth. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and let it rest at room temperature, uncovered for 10 minutes.

Bake the bread for 50 minutes. Lay a piece of foil gently across the top and bake until a cake tester (like a toothpick) inserted into the center comes out clean, 10 to 15 minutes more. Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool for 10 minutes before turning it out of the pan onto a rack to cool completely.

Lessons learned the hard way

2009-05-21T08:36:00.001-07:00

When selecting footwear for your toddler on grocery shopping days, NEVER choose the crocs. They can be easily kicked off, several times, in the middle of the inevitable tantrum, requiring 15 separate pick-ups on your way out the door-a hard feat to accomplish with said toddler slung luggage-like over your shoulder. Plan wisely and go for the lace-ups :)

Skylerism: nutrition

2009-05-18T13:20:00.000-07:00

Shelby was looking at an insert in the newspaper today, all about nutrition for kids. Skyler came over to look at it too. He got excited and said, "Look Dad, carbohydrates! You LOVE those!"

Ariaism: I'm sorry note

2009-05-12T13:34:00.000-07:00

M:"Aria, you need to go apologize to your brother for not letting him finish his video game level. That was a very not-nice thing to do."

A:"I'm sorry, Skyler."

S:"I'm so upset that I don't think 'I'm sorry' is going to work. I think I need an 'I'm sorry' note."

A: (whispering to me) "Mom, what's an 'I'm sorry' note? Is it like this? (singing) "I'm sahhhh-reeeee!"

M:"Something like that."

Ariaism: primary lesson

2009-05-04T13:16:00.001-07:00

A:"Hey, Mom, guess what?! Do you want to know what our primary lesson was about in church last week?"

M:"Wow, really? Yeah, that'd be great, honey! What was it about?"

A:"It was about listening!"

M:"Cool, honey! What did your teachers say about listening?"

A:"Uhm, I don't remember."

Ariaism: pets

2009-05-02T20:29:00.000-07:00

M: (driving) "Hey, Aria, check out that totally cute dog over there! How cute is he?!!"

A:"He's so cute and happy! Mom, I really wish we had a dog...and also a cat. A dog, AND a cat....AND a lobster."

Xanderism: credit union

2009-04-22T21:00:00.000-07:00

We made a trip to the credit union this week to make a deposit. We turned into the driveway and Xander, pointing, exclaimed excitedly from the back seat, "House! House!! Sucker House!!!"

It's in moments like this that I realize that my kids live in a completely different reality than I do.

I don't know why they call it a "green thumb"

2009-04-22T20:32:00.000-07:00

I don't know why they call it a "green thumb." I've been pulling dandelions out from the roots all over my yard for the last two days and my thumbs, and fingers for that matter, are totally un-green. They are most definitely dirt-brown...and I'm pretty sure it's permanent. I've scrubbed my hands several times and that pretty brown color is going nowhere fast. It's found a nice home in the cozy nooks of my finger wrinkles.

Ok also, when I close my eyes, I see the outlines of dandelion weeds EVERYWHERE and I want to just YANK them out!! I think this officially makes me crazy(as if any of you needed additional evidence).

Xanderism: What the heck was that?

2009-04-21T22:14:00.000-07:00

Xander had a rough time falling asleep tonight. His schedule's been a little nuts since he switched over to the big boy bed. Y'all know what I'm talkin' bout. His exhaustion actually makes it harder for him to fall and stay asleep. So, tonight Shelby,(heaven bless him) dutifully stayed by his bedside while he screamed and cried himself to sleep (45 min). Shelby then went to rehearsal.

An hour later, little X woke up again, screaming something that sounded like, "AaaaahhhhhIIIIIIiiii," over and over....and over....yes, and over again, the translation of which I'm still unsure of. For 45 minutes I tried asking him if he had owies, I sat him up because maybe he was still asleep even though his eyes were open, I held him, I kissed him, I sang all the wrong songs, I offered unwanted binkies and drinks, I even gave him a dose of Tylenol. I offered to leave. I offered to stay. Still, he screamed on.

Finally, I said, "Buddy!! Are you stinky?!" He then very suddenly stopped crying and screaming, looked me straight in the eye and said, "No.", then closed his eyes and fell asleep immediately. Like literally within a second. What. The. Heck. Was. That?

Skylerism: Easter Sunday

2009-04-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

Four different primary teachers from our ward have told me this Skylerism all on separate occasions:
Easter Sunday, the primary children had a chance during sharing time to pick a paper egg off the board and tell the group what they think of when they think of Easter. Several kids got up and said things like, "The Easter Bunny!", "Jesus," "Easter egg hunts!". When it was Skyler's turn, he walked up, pulled an egg off the board, turned around to face the group and with a slight tilt of the head and a far off look in his eyes, he said, "Many sweet memories." I totally love that kid.

Skylerism: where did that come from?

2009-04-15T20:42:00.000-07:00

I snuggled up to Skyler this afternoon. I miss that little guy while he's at school! So, I leaned in, kissed his cheek, and said, "I just was thinking about how much I love you and how you are one of my most favorite people in the whole wide world."

S:"Thank you, Mom! I was just thinking how much I love YOU and how you are one of MY most favorite people in the whole wide world too! Also, I'm happy to live in a free country, and proud."

Happy Birthday, Aria!!!

2009-04-15T13:22:00.000-07:00

Today my little Aria turns 5 yrs old! I know, so hard to believe! Hard to believe that she's really 5 and not 17!! I love this little princess more than words. She teaches me so much and makes me into a better person. Happy birthday, little sweetie pie :)

My official unofficial victory

2009-04-06T21:00:00.000-07:00

I totally ran a 10k by myself at the HS track this weekend! I did not die during it and I actually felt pretty dang good afterward. I think I completed it in like one hour and twenty minutes. In my mind, I like to imagine several hundred people finishing it behind me, agonizing over their loss. I celebrated today by eating two slices of extra cheesy homemade pizza, 3 Oreos (the enemy of dieters everywhere), and a Brownie Earthquake from Dairy Queen (thank you, Shelby). It had just been too long, and it was even better than I remembered. Going back to healthy eating tomorrow, with an eye toward an official 10k soon.

Ariaism: errands

2009-03-31T21:38:00.000-07:00

I told Aria that she couldn't play and had to come with me to run errands.

A: "Momma, you have ONE minute to change your attitude!"

I did it!!! For REAL this time!!!

2009-03-31T21:17:00.000-07:00

Guess what?!! I totally ran my first official 5k on Saturday!! The race was to help fund the Best Buddies organization, which supports individuals with intellectual disabilities. I finished in the top 20 (men and women) with my best time ever. 34 minutes!! Yay me!! I totally did it!

My mom and dad came and walked it in 1 hour. Way to go! They were awesome and it was really cool to have them there. Check us out!!! Aren't we cool?!

This is my dad and me right before the race started.

This is me being WICKED FAST!!! Can you see the sweat glistening?

This is us, post-race. We did it!! Also, we match. How cute is THAT?! Yay us! :)

Skylerism: THAT sick

2009-03-22T13:48:00.000-07:00

Skyler's had quite a high fever for the last few days. We just found him curled up on the floor of his room with a blanket and decided to move him to our bed for the afternoon.

D: "Come on, buddy, let's move you to Mom and Dad's room."

S: Groans. "Alright."

M: "Look, sweetie, I've got your pillow and Teddy. He can come with you."

S: "No thanks, I'd like some alone time."

Mini Vacation

2009-03-17T15:07:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, Shelby had a conference in Provo at the Marriott hotel. It was an overnight, and since his roommate would not be staying over, we decided to bring the fam down for a little free vacation time. Now, because Xander refused to sleep in his Graco and because they gave Shelby a room with only one bed because it was "only him," the five of us didn't get much R&R, but we did make some great little memories...including when we got Xander out of the pool and dressed, only to watch him jump right back in, fully clothed. Are you sensing a Xander theme here(see two posts ago)?

Kids on the over-taxed bed :)
Kids doing something they can't do at home. NOT! (Note the unused Graco in the background).
At the Bean Science Museum at BYU. We "bearly" made it!! Har har.
We randomly ran into one of our most favorite people on campus. We LOVE Nique! Totally a highlight ;)Taking our family pic in front of that cute family sculpture at BYU. I totally have always wanted to do this. See how patient Shelby is being? This was not a planned stop on our golf-cart tour :)We had a great time. My favorite memory is Shelby explaining to the kids that when they go to college they can go to study anything they want. Skyler was excited that he could major in just science or computers or engineering. Aria was excited to learn that she could major in doing Grandpa Shows. Xander was just happy for the pizza at the Cougareat. Good times :)

"Helper"

2009-03-16T15:24:00.000-07:00

We've been working on finishing the basement, and when I say "we" I mean Shelby, my dad, and Xander. Xander loves to work right beside the big boys, doing everything they do. Even when they're gone, he walks around the house with his drill and level saying, "helper!" Hey, every little bit of help helps :)

Bath time is NOT over!

2009-03-15T19:16:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago I got Xander out of the bath, toweled him off, lotioned him up, dressed him, and sent him on his way to play. I found him a second later right back where we started. I guess I was wrong. Turns out bath time was not over. Sooo not over. Sooo right back where we started.

Skylerism: sweet talker

2009-03-08T19:16:00.000-07:00

Over breakfast this morning:

S: "Momma, I love you so much, you could never love me as much as I love you."
M: "But I do! I love you so much that I carried you inside of me for 10 months. I love you so much that I made you a body to live in. So much that for almost a year all my food and energy went straight toward making you!"

S: "Whoa, you must have eaten like 9 meals a day!"

D: "She did, mostly Oreos and ice cream."

S: "Wow, Mom, you're like Jabba the Hut!"

Just what every woman wants to hear.

Deep thoughts

2009-03-01T18:14:00.000-08:00

So my kids were watching an old episode of Casper the Friendly Ghost this week. In the episode, Casper travels to Mother Goose Land where he encounters various nursery rhyme characters who all in turn are freaked out by the presence of the ghost.

Anyway, the point is that Casper comes across the old woman who lives in a shoe. It reminded me that as a child I had no idea what this lady's problem was. I remember thinking, "Man, get a grip! Don't you think you're over-reacting just a tad? They're kids for goodness sake!! And I'm sure it's by your own doing that they're there living in your little shoe-house. What do you mean you 'don't know what to do?' I mean, she 'gave them some broth without any bread, then spanked them all soundly and sent them to bed.' What kind of crap parenting is that?" I thought this lady was way off her rocker.

Now, watching this woman on the cartoon as an adult, I realize that I cannot judge her. Some of you may think that 3 children is a lot. Some of you may think that 3 is nothing compared to your 5. But I promise you that there are days when my 3 feel like 30 and I don't know what to do. So what do I do? I feed them the nothing-ist easiest filler food I can reach, punish their butts for some wrong-doing they either did or did not commit, then put them to bed early so I don't kill them. It's only now as an adult that I think that old woman living in the shoe was not only not off her rocker, but she had it allllllll figured out. I salute you, old woman. Your morals are timeless.

I did it!!

2009-03-01T17:57:00.001-08:00

On Friday, I mapped out, measured and ran my very own unofficial 5k. I'm not kidding! I did it! And while truthfully, I've been a tad slack-y on my healthful eating, I've never been better at running, so I think it at least evens out, right?

While I was running, I just kept saying to myself, even in the very early stages of my run, "I'm going to be SO excited when I finish! I'm totally going to finish! When I finish, I'm going to call Shelby right away!" I guess my positive thinking really payed off.

I've also been thinking about making myself one of those fancy 5k t-shirts I see people wearing on the weekends. I'm sure they're from official 5ks, but mine was unofficial, so I think I can justify wearing an unofficial 5k t-shirt. Whaddaya think? Maybe just a plain white t with black Sharpie? Yeah. Now I'm talkin' !