Living Full on Life

“ME!”

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This experience is probably not funny to anyone who wasn’t there but I just need to record it as it was one of the funniest things that has happened to me in a long time…
A little background: For as long as I can remember when I am putting Sam and William to bed (they share a room) I will say, “Who wants to say the prayer?” and the first person who volunteers gets to say it. They both shout “ME!” but William is ALWAYS first. This is the boy who practices during the day and who also will come up to me and “call” saying the nighttime prayer hours in advance (which we disallow for the sake of fairness). I am thrilled with both boys’ willingness to pray, and both say such beautiful heartfelt prayers. Frequently, even though William is always faster than Sam at volunteering, I have to let Sam say it since he needs to have a turn too. Also sometimes I say, “Who wants to… (William says ‘ME’)…clean the toilets?” (insert, sweep the floors, do the dishes…)
Now tonight: We are on vacation at my dad’s house and last night we got home from Charleston very late. (11:30). Tonight I put William and Anna to bed at 7:30 as they were both exhausted, yet still in pretty good moods. They fell asleep almost instantly. Then the rest of us played games until around 10. Just now I put Sam to bed and said, “Please say your prayer.” To which he responded, “Oh please just ask, “Who wants to say the prayer?” (William was deeply asleep and no longer competition.  A contest Sam would surely win!) So I said, “Who wants to say the prayer?” Silence. “Anyone?” then William rolls over and sleepily exclaims “ME!” (I’m not kidding) and then slips back into dream land. Sam was awestruck, nearly speechless. And then we both laughed so hard we cried.

Should I Be Worried?

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A few days ago we were at Home Depot getting a few things for the garden. William said, “I just need a couple sticks of dynamite and a little string.” We were passing a man examining sprinkler parts who burst out laughing. I said to him, “That might be easier to find than the enriched uranium my other son wants!”

This week being the last week of school the children have been bringing home the work they did all year. Among Sam’s half-hearted attempts at fine art I found this little gem:

bomb

As much as I enjoy the boys, thank goodness for Lizzie’s perspective! The art she brought home brings me hope in a world in which both explosives and lovely sunsets exist!

lizziepainting

Mothers and Other Stuff

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The best part of this video is when it says, “Life doesn’t come with a manual, it comes with a mother.” Thanks to my mother who has shown me how to do life. Thanks to my children who are so patient with me while I figure out how to be a good mother and who forgive so readily when I mess up. What a joy and blessing it is to be a mother!
Now for some notable quotes from this week:
This morning my family let me sleep in while they made me a delicious breakfast. When we all sat down to eat Grant called on Anna to say the prayer. He reminded her to thank Heavenly Father for Mommy. Well, Anna said her prayer and spent the majority of the time thanking Heavenly Father for her Daddy. After a couple of minutes we were all having a hard time controlling our laughter, especially when she said she was thankful that her Daddy isn’t afraid of ants and ladybugs. Then at the very end she said, “We thank thee for Mommy” and then ended her prayer.
Also today Lizzie, thinking about how many books Grant has about Abraham Lincoln said, “Someday there are going to be just as many books about Daddy as there are about Lincoln!” Wouldn’t every father love to be their daughter’s hero?
On Monday during our morning scripture time we were talking about Sam getting the priesthood (In just four short months! Yikes!) Sam realized that by the time Anna was eight he would be old enough to baptize her so he asked, “Hey Anna! Can I baptize you when you turn eight?” Anna enthusiastically replied, “Sure!” Then Lizzie, wondering if Anna knew what Sam was talking about said, “Hey Anna! Can I baptize you when you are eight?” To which Anna replied just as enthusiastically, “Sure!” Are we raising a little feminist?
This week we were driving to school and Anna, seeing a police car on the side of the road with it’s light flashing, squealed, “Christmas Car!” I felt like sardonically mentioning how nice and expensive the “presents” are that the policeman in that Christmas Car gives. Ah for the blessed, innocent perspective of a child.
A few weeks ago on the way home from basketball Sam was complaining about grammar. I asked him what they were learning in school right now about grammar. He replied with a sigh of long suffering, “Stuff too horrible to speak of.” I had to laugh.
Awhile back I was driving William and two of his kindergarten buddies and heard the following conversation:
Tyler was complaining about his health lately and dramatically said, “I just keep throwing up EVERY NIGHT!!”  To which William practically replied, “Well you should just slap yourself!” (We all know that just slapping ourselves always helps right?) William calls Anna “Sister Love Muffin Snuggle-buns”William said to me, “I like to believe that the planet earth moves slowly.” (Don’t think deeply about this one. Think slowly.)Anna calls Lizzie her “Stister” and refuses to say “sister” correctly. She also says “mayme” for “maybe”.

 

Boys and Bikes

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Sam rode his bike to school this morning, a glorious, sunny spring morning and home this afternoon, a glorious, drizzly spring afternoon. It is a ten mile round trip. I was so proud of him. I was proud of me too for being ok with it! He braved the 4 lane/ 40 mph North County Parkway (thankfully with a decent bike lane) and was totally exhilarated by the challenge.
As if that wasn’t bike excitement enough…WILLIAM LEARNED TO RIDE A BIKE! He has been very hesitant to learn until today. Something just clicked and he was ready! He learned with only a little advice from me in under one hour! He rode around our yard for a little bit then asked if we could go to the church parking lot which we did (who needs to get the garden in anyway???). After a half hour he rode his bike home on the sidewalk and now William can ride like a champ! He was so proud. I love his sheepish, pleased smile. I love that when Grant and the kids got home everyone went outside to see him ride and then boisterously cheered his success. He kept saying, “I can’t believe how fun this is!” Tonight I am thankful for healthy boys, bikes they can ride (even if William’s is a pink and purple hand-me-down), Spring weather, a safe hometown, and room for them to recreate.

My Wonderful Time Living at Costco

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I spent last weekend with Alexandra in Chicago. It was four days of great conversation, sister bonding, yummy food, olive oil tasting, a little shopping, relaxation, and a lot of laughs. I felt filled and rejuvenated coming home. I got home at about 11pm and kissed all the children. Anna awoke enough to have the following conversation with me:

Anna: YOU’RE HOME???
Me: Yes, I am! And so happy to see you!
Anna: Were you living at Costco?
Me: No, I was visiting Aunt Ali in Chicago.
Anna: Were you far, far away?
Me: Yes, I was but I’m home now.
Anna (with relief): Oh, thank you mom!

My Delicious Bread

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I have been using this amazing recipe for bread lately that makes a wonderful spongy loaf with a chewy crust. I guess kids don’t really like chewy crusts. William has been asking me to cut the “bark” off all his sandwiches.

A Tradition I Love

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When Grant and I were first married we lived high up in one of those Soviet apartment buildings you see all over Moscow. Every morning as he left for work I would open our window and watch as he walked down the block. Before he turned the corner he would look back at me and we would wave to each other and blow kisses. Sometimes he would round the corner  out of my sight and then come back again for another wave and kiss. Who would of thought that that would be the beginning of a tradition that still happens every day!? Each morning as he leaves the children and I gather around the front window and we wave and blow kisses. Grant will back out of the driveway and then pause at the top, wave and blow kisses. The children are sticklers for observing this tradition! I remember doing this with baby Sammy, waving his arm for him before he was old enough to do it at our townhouse at Falls Reach Drive in Virginia. I remember gathering two toddlers at a window in the front of our tiny cape cod on Chestnut Avenue in Falls Church and waving so enthusiastically. And now for the past eight years we have gathered each morning, adding babies as they came and teaching first William, then Anna the joy of tradition.