Xanderism: credit union

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"

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?

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

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?

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!!!

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

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

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!!!

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

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."