Quote of the Day

I bought Anderson a Happy Meal on the way out of Walmart this afternoon. When we got home and were eating lunch, Anderson said to me, "I wish I were a french fry." He was dipping a french fry in ketchup as he said this. I immediately thought to myself how he fascinates me--I wonder what goes through his head all the time if this was just one moment in time. Of course I followed his question with, "Why do you wish you were a french fry?" His response: "I want to know what it feels like to be dipped in ketchup." Oh how I love the mind of my 4 year old. In other news, he held my shopping list for me while we were in Walmart and when we were in the produce section he pointed to one of my items and asked--does this say "tomato?" It did. Then I watched him point to the word and sound it out again. Ugg. I wish he would stop growing up.

Quote of the Day

This morning I spent a few precious minutes snuggled in bed with all three of my boys. Christian had just eaten and Carter, Anderson and I were enjoying his sweet coos and smiles. (The thought of this makes my heart warm and fuzzy as I write about it now because unfortunately the rest of the day hasn't been quite so sweet.) As we lay there, Carter pressed his nose against Christian's and said, We are so lucky to have you, sweet baby. I couldn't agree more, Carter. I couldn't agree more! And while I can't be sure because I couldn't see--I'm certain that Christian gave his big brother a big open mouthed grin.

Quote of the Day

We haven't had a quote of the day for quite sometime. Maybe it's because the boys have for the most part outgrown cute little sayings and traded them in for big boy talk which involves shooting, killing, taunting and other such nonsense, but it's more likely because I don't have much of a sense of humor lately. Unfortunately, this big boy talk is also accompanied by a fair amount of potty talk. We've been trying to get the boys to understand what potty talk is and that it is inappropriate and it's helping but the occasional discussion of poop or puke or parts (or farts for that matter) does come up. Today, while I was making dinner and the boys were playing legos on the stairs, I heard them talking about boogers. Ah, ah, ah, guys. That's potty talk. I said. Anderson responds: No, it's tissue talk. Who knew a 3 year old was capable of such logic?

I may not be in the mood to laugh lately, but I just can't help it when I see this picture. My poor boys have such big heads swim goggles are not terribly easy to put on.

Quote of the Day

Last year, when I was a diligent blogger, this silly boy's saying were never found in my Quote of the Day posts. That's because he couldn't talk, but after 9 months of speech therapy and a surgery to put tubes in his ears, he talks quite well. Today, I'm featuring my favorite thing he does right now: he emphasizes the past tense in his words. And because we're 5 days into potty training, here's the example I have on my mind:

I pee-ed in the potty.

Side note: I'm such a proud potty-training mom. He went poop last night for the first time on the toilet and I was literally glowing. I'm not going to jinx myself by announcing how things are going in this realm quite yet. Ask me in two weeks. I'll let you know then.

My Casanova and Other Things

This morning when I dropped Carter off at kindergarten, his little friend's mom approached me and told me that Carter had kissed her daughter at school on Friday. On the knee, on the elbow and on the lips. In school but while Mrs. Molina wasn't looking. And her daughter was pretty tickled because she has a little crush on him. Then, when I picked Carter and this same little friend up from kindergarten later, Mrs. Molina pulled me aside and told me that another teacher in the school told her about the kissing that happened on Friday so she had a little chat about appropriate friend behavior at school during snack time, and that these two are sweet little friends that are attached at the hip. Mrs. Molina didn't seem the least bit unhappy about it. Neither did the mom. In fact, they both find quite a bit of humor in this. And really, I want to feel the same. But I don't. I can't help but feel slightly alarmed. (I really thought Carter was oblivious to liking girls.)

. . .

A few weeks ago, Carter came home having gotten a yellow light at school. You might be familiar with the green, yellow, red light discipline system a lot of elementary school systems use. You stay at green unless you misbehave and then you slip into yellow and red lights depending on the severity of the behavior. Anyway, back to my story--before he became attached at the hip with the little girl, he was playing at recess with the boys and they were play punching each other. Mrs. Molina said it was definitely boy pretend play, but that it was a little too aggressive for school so he and the other boys got yellow lights. When I asked Carter about it, he said they were pretending to make a video about punching. Apparently, I have a lover and a fighter on my hands.

. . .

I'm planning a little birthday celebration for Anderson. He turns 3 next Monday. But the last two days I have wondered if turning 3 is really worth celebrating. For example, over the weekend he learned some new and especially upsetting sass. If he's upset with Marc or me, he'll frown, emphatically cross his arms, and with a pout on his face and in his voice say, I don't like you anymore. I hate you! Ugg. Yesterday was especially fun when after he spouted those words, he told me, I not snuggle you anymore. But he forgot what he said by the end of the day because while trying to avoid going to sleep, he came out of his room after being tucked into bed and called down the stairs, I need someone snuggle me. *Sigh* Bring on the 3s.

. . .

You know those weeks when you put a few too many things on your plate? I'm having one of those weeks. Except that I only really put two of the things on my plate by choice. The others, well, they are responsibilities that I did say yes to about a year ago but they aren't exactly voluntary right now. So here's what I have going on right now:

• We're celebrating Anderson's birthday on Saturday. I've been shopping for and gathering supplies the last two days. Because of Marc's football schedule, we couldn't do it next weekend but this weekend is a really bad weekend for it. Why? Read my next two bullets.
• The Primary is having a pizza party and practicing for our Sacrament Meeting program on Friday night. I just happen to be the Primary President and I don't typically advertise that sort of thing here because I certainly don't aspire to that sort of thing but there you have it, the source of a little bit more of my stress this week.
• The Primary Program is on Sunday.
• I have Sharing Time responsibilities on Sunday.
• I have to settle a situation regarding my Primary responsibilities.
• I'm volunteering in Carter's class tomorrow and I'm kind of afraid that with everything else going on, I'll forget that by the time tomorrow morning rolls around.

I know, for those of you with larger families than I, this might not seem like that much, but I don't have much help right now either. This is Marc's schedule this week:

• Tuesday: work 7-7. Give a Scout Master conference at night.
• Wednesday: work 7-7. Go miniature golfing with the deacons.
• Thursday: work 7-7. Attend an Eagle Court of Honor
• Friday: work 7-7. Then stay at work and discharge all old patients until about midnight.
• Saturday: try to help with Carter's soccer game, Anderson's party, and still attend the high school football game he's supposed to go to. (He works on the sidelines taping, stretching, etc.)

Yes, I'm whining. I'm sorry. I don't usually whine. I'm just a teeny bit overwhelmed right now. And instead of buckling down and getting things done like fold the rest of the laundry or vacuum the house which I've been meaning to do for 2 days now, I'm blogging. I get that way. So overwhelmed it's paralyzing. Anyway, all this to say that if you see me on Sunday and I'm a zombie, you'll know why.

Quote of the Day

Here's an Easter funny for you:

Before my parents left our house last night, they pulled out our new Gospel Art Book and began teaching Carter about the reason we celebrate Easter. When my mom flipped to the picture of Jesus washing the disciples' feet, she explained that the people back then wore sandals and walked on very dusty roads. She asked Carter if his feet got dirty and needed washing after wearing his sandals to play at the park. I think it was at this point that Carter actually noticed what Jesus was doing in the picture because he said, Hey, Mom and Dad do that. They use wipes.

Yes. Yes I do.

Quote of the Day

A few months back, when The Children's Place was having their $5 shirt sale, I stocked Carter up with his winter long sleeve tees. I picked them out, a blue one with grey stripes. A red one with blue sleeves. A brown waffle tee with orange stripes. He almost immediately decided he hated the brown one. On the other hand, it was my favorite of the three. The only way I could get him to wear it was if he saw (or was convinced because of an empty dresser drawer) that all of his other options were dirty. Even then, he'd be pretty upset about it. But when he ended up with the brown and orange shirt on I'd ALWAYS tell him how much I love that shirt and how handsome he looked. Yesterday, I asked him to get himself dressed while I got things ready for us to run errands. I walked in his room to get Anderson dressed and he had his jeans on and swung the brown and orange shirt around to show me that is what he picked (even though there were plenty of clean shirts in his drawer). I asked him why he picked that one. He said, "I like hearing you tell me that I'm wearing your favorite shirt." Then, on our first errand, when I asked him to stop running up and down the aisle of Walgreens and to stand by me, he immediately ran to me and hugged my leg. I really love my Carter.

Super Bowl Talk

We're in the thick of super hero mania over here. It's all about Batman, Spiderman and the Incredibles, but mostly about Spiderman and his foes. So tonight, while the big game was on, Carter asked us, "Which one is the good guys and which one is the bad guys." He didn't understand when Marc told him neither were good or bad (we're not big pro football people) so I stepped in: I told him you just choose your favorite color, red or yellow. Then he understood.

Quote of the Day

Here I am sitting at the computer checking blogs. Carter's in the bathroom a few feet away. All of a sudden I remember my dip that is in the oven--it's way past the time--like double the actual baking time--I was supposed to take it out so I whisper/yell (funny how you can whisper and yell at the same time!) Crap! as I run to the oven. Carter asks from the bathroom--What's the matter, did you pee your pants?

Luckily, the dip isn't actually burned. I'm hoping the taste isn't effected. I guess I'll find out tonight at the party we're going to.

**English teacher in me: I've edited this post like 3 times and can't figure out if my verb tenses are correct. I know I switch at least once in here. I'm sorry if it bugs you. It's certainly bugging me but I'll stop being a perfectionist now.

**click on the word dip in the third sentence and it will take you to the recipe--I posted it back in July.

Quote of the Day

John Zimmerman was my neighbor from the time I was four until we moved to a different house when I was nine. He was a year younger than me, a tow-head and could run really fast. During the spring, summer and fall we'd spend hours running around his huge un-fenced yard playing super heroes, climbing the big tree in the back, raking leaves in the fall. There are lots of good memories trampled into that lawn. I can almost hear his voice taunting my much slower paced sister and me, Nanny nanny boo boo! You can't catch me! Oh how true that was. He was super fast! I think of this only because someone, I don't know who, has taught my boys to taunt. It's so funny to hear my barely-talking two year old walk around the house saying, "heh heh boo boo" in a very correct sing song way. (Don't be fooled by his sweet sleeping face.)

Quote of the Day

Anderson has been in speech therapy for about 3 months. When he started he was hardly saying 20 words. Now he says 2 to 3 word phrases all the time. My favorites are:

Bop it now! (Stop it now!)

Momon, Mommy. (C'mon, Mommy-- said while tugging on my leg or arm or pushing my body in the direction he wants me to go.)

Quote of the Day

Anderson has been getting up in the middle of the night quite a bit lately. He'll show up at the side of our bed at oh let's say 3:30 and say, "juice, please." Last night, before bed, I asked Marc if I could have one undisturbed nights sleep. Translation: tonight's your night, babe! So at some early hour, I heard some little footsteps and the boys' bedroom door open and then I heard Carter yelling, "No! No! No!" Marc jumped out of bed and stayed with the boys until about 6 this morning when his phone went off in my ear and I had to get up and tell him he'd gotten a text from a co-worker about road conditions. I asked him what Carter was doing yelling last night. Apparently, Carter had heard Anderson getting up last night and went scrambling down the bunk bed ladder trying to tell him to go back to bed. I chuckle when the image comes to mind--Carter can be such a good big brother when he wants to be!

Side story: as I left the boys' room after getting Marc up at 6, I heard Carter laughing in his sleep. . .twice. :)

Quote of the Day

Carter calls Anderson's speech therapist a "speech asparagus." It is funny every time!

Quote of the Day

Marc and I usually watch our Thursday night shows via the fabulous site veoh.com on Friday or Saturday night for our date night. He was in Vail for a continuing ed course Friday night and Saturday and I simply couldn't wait. The Office was so funny this week I watched it twice by myself and then again with Marc when he got home. These gems had me rolling on the ground, literally!

"Buttlicker, our prices have never been lower!"

"You juked the stats, cupcake."

Quote of the Day

Carter wakes up grumpy, whether it's in the morning or after an occasional afternoon nap, about half the time. I can all but guarantee a happy Carter on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday mornings only because it's the only mornings Marc is home when he wakes up. Other than that, he's usually a grump grump grump. Today, I was showering when he woke up. I heard him run and I mean run into my room and scream, Mom, it SNOWED!!! Is it Christmas? He was thrilled with the cold, wet stuff on the ground. He wasn't even phased after I told him it wasn't Christmas for two more months. For some reason, he loves snow. Me, not so much, though my blue puffer coat makes the cold quite a bit more manageable.

Quote of the Day

I've never heard it put quite like this--two year olds: "Cute enough to melt your heart. Stubborn enough to make you steam."

Perfectly stated by my sister in law, Tracy!

Quote of the Day

Carter wanted pudding for dessert tonight but hadn't eaten enough dinner.

Marc: Take three more bites of your tortilla and then you can have some.
Carter: Uhhh, how about four?
Marc: Sounds good to me.

Carter will have to work on his negotiation skills before he's a teenager. We certainly are not going to help in that department and we'd appreciate it if no one else does either. Let's just let him figure it out!

Quote of the Day

Recently, Carter has been responding to my discipline statements (i.e. If you do this again, then this will happen) by telling me that he will run away from me so fast I won't be able to catch him. Sassy, I know. Just last week, while visiting with a friend, I told her how astonished I am that my four year old is already becoming that defiant. I've seen defiant little ones, but Carter has never been that way before. My friend then told me how her son (who is 4 years older than Carter) tells her he hates her, that she's a mean mom etc. etc. I knew the day would come when that would happen. I just didn't realize it would be just a few days after that conversation. On Monday, following a scolding, Carter told me he had a secret to whisper in my ear. I leaned down. This was his secret: I'm going to tell all my friends that you are mean to me. Since Monday, he has told me I'm a mean mom at least 10 times. I feel great.

Quote of the Day

I just tucked the boys in bed. Before leaving the room, Carter said, "Wait, mom. I need to give you a hug and a kiss." Of course I'm not going to pass on that! I walked to the side of his bed and leaned down to receive the greatest of all mom rewards--a four year old's hug and kiss. The light was off so the kiss landed somewhere between my nose and lips. Here's the rest of our sweet conversation.

C: I love you.
Me: You do?! Why?
C: Because you are cute.
Me: (Intrigued) Why do you think I'm cute?
C: (while tracing his own face with his two index fingers, one started at the forehead and went to his chin, the other from his chin to his forehead making a circle) Because your face is cute.

As I chatted with a friend today, I got emotional as we both reflected on the sensitive nature of our children. Most of the time, tonight included, I love that Carter is so sensitive and thoughtful. He loves to give hugs and snuggles and kisses. I treasure each of these gifts he gives me as I realize these days are fleeting. According to my MIL who has been a mom for 40 years, hearing your children say "I love you" never gets old no matter how old they are. I hope Carter still tells me he loves me in 36 years!

Quote of the Day

I know my posts have been primarily "quotes of the day," but I'm still out of batteries for my camera and I have nothing terribly exciting to post besides the fact that I am completely overwhelmed by having a house--keeping it clean, organized and continuing on with the home improvement has sent me over the top. So until I can get back into my routine here we go again--

I know everyone gushes over having a potty trained child, but to be honest, though more expensive, living in a diaper world has it's advantages for a girl like me who doesn't want to deal with accidents. That being said, I wasn't selfish enough to scar my child for life and keep him in diapers until he's 4--when he was ready at a little over 3, we did what we had to do so he has been trained for quite some time now. Most of the time, he waits and waits and waits and waits some more until he finally dances to the toilet and relieves himself. On occasion he doesn't quite make it and leaves a wet mess for me to clean up which is why when we're in public and he all of a sudden needs to go, we make a mad dash for the restroom and all the while I whisper to him "Don't pee, don't pee, don't pee." So far the mantra has worked. The other day, Carter ran into the bathroom from the backyard while I was getting a drink of water. When I'd filled my cup and I was no longer deafened by running water, I heard Carter whispering to himself in the bathroom while he was pulling down his shorts, "Don't poop, don't poop, don't poop." I chuckled to myself. It's amazing what I teach my children!


This past weekend was our stake conference and we had the honor of having Elder Jeffrey R. Holland present to call a new Stake Presidency. Typically, because we have two young children, we don't attend the adult session on Saturday night but because of our special guest, we got a babysitter and went. He was amazing for lack of a better word, incredibly inspirational. That night, his remarks centered on trials and towards the end of his talk, he very powerfully and very loudly stated a few times that when times get tough we shouldn't be stupid and jump out of the boat. Boy was I glad he didn't say that during his remarks on Sunday when Carter would have heard him and surely would have loudly stated back, "We don't say that word!" I'm not sure which would be worse, hearing S-U-C-K during Sacrament like we did a few weeks ago, or having him reprimand an Apostle of the Lord.