10. At dinner one evening Weston put Parmesan cheese on his spaghetti for the first time. After tasting it he said disgusted, "I don't like garbage-on cheese."
9. Abby was talking to her friend, Brooke, about her good friend, Lucy, when she said, "I got to go to Lucy's funeral." Brooke looked confused until Abby immediately corrected herself saying, "I mean baptism."
8. Weston, arguing why he should be allowed to do something, said, "Do you know why I want to do this? Because I WANT TO."
7. Hayden was perusing an RC Willey add when he exclaimed, "Whoa! I never realized how much money things cost. I mean, everything is SO MUCH MONEY!"
6. I explained to Bastian that cheese gets old and hard when you leave it out and he questioned, "Would it get wrinkles in it too?"
5. Wanting to change our family vehicle (minivan) Weston said, "Next time let's get rid of our car and get a garbage truck that takes garbage."
4. Bastian was trying to find someone to play with one day. He called one friend and that friend couldn't play. He sat looking at the ward list ready to pick another friend to call when he announced his next candidate, "I'm going to call the bishop." I said, "You can't call the bishop." He said, "But I LIKE the bishop."
3. After our family returned home from a fun evening at the Woods' house Weston said, "Let's go again to the ....uh, I don't remember......the Bricks' house?"
2. We used to have two chocolate Labrador Retrievers, Toby and Turk. We found them new homes due to their chewing, digging, destroying, and pooping. The kids HATED the chore of poop collecting. One day while driving down the road Weston saw a dog and got a brilliant idea, "Let's get a Turk that doesn't poop, " he said. "They don't make those," I said smiling at his adorable idea. Later I realized my answer was wrong. They DO make those. They're called Webkinz.
1. After dinner one night Hayden said, "I predicted the future today." I asked him what he had predicted. He said there is a boy at school who is bad at thinking up insults. The two things he calls people are "poo" or "bum." Hayden said that today during lunch the boy wanted to make a trade for something in Hayden's lunch. When Hayden refused to trade, the boy went to call him a name. Hayden said to the boy, "Wait, wait, you're going to call me a poo." The boy said, "No, I was going to call you a.....fire poo." Hayden said, "Then Jacob (Hayden's friend) pointed out that he STILL called me a poo." The boy didn't like that Hayden and Jacob were right. Then Hayden said of himself, "I am good at thinking of insults. Jacob says I'm even better at annoying people, and I'm proud of that."
Since I didn't get very many wit-filled nuggets from Abby this month, I thought I would add a couple from the past.
September 2005 Abby at age 4 saw a beautiful dress at the store. She exclaimed, "That is so pretty I can't even move."
Later that same year she said about her two year old brother, Bastian, "That naughty boy keeps wrecking my life."
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Modern Day Miracle
We needed money and the sell of this item below would give us just that. Rob put it on KSL.com and literally seconds after he posted it he got his first call. The man wanted it and was coming that night with the money. He was going to pay $200 less than our asking price. We felt pretty good about that. A half hour later another man called who also wanted the bike. He planned on coming a half hour before the first guy. The second caller came that evening and paid $50 more than the asking price. How was that for a quick answer to prayer? We feel so blessed.
Lemon-Filled Weekend Getaway
Our plan was to go to St. George during the three day weekend in March and attend a concert at Tuacahn, but two weeks before when I tried to book a hotel, they were all taken. Apparently that weekend there was a softball tournament that took the hotel room that we were supposed to stay in. I've heard that, "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade." So we decided to drive to Lehi and stay in the Marriott by Thanksgiving Point. It had an indoor pool and we could rent a movie in the room and make popcorn. 
When we got to the pool and saw how microscopic it was, we were a little disappointed but we swam anyway...or waded..with all the other families in the hotel that decided to splash in the chlorinated puddle. We headed upstairs and got all showered and ready for bed. I popped popcorn and we sat down to see what movies were available. There were no movies available. Could this be a mistake? No mistake. There was a movie theatre nearby and so as to not compete with them, this Marriott didn't have movies available in the rooms. What? We ate the popcorn in our pjs while looking at what was on TV. Hayden realized that Star Wars the Clone Wars was on. It was one of the final episodes. We turned it to the channel only to find that the channel was temporarily unavailable. We tucked ourselves in bed early and called it a night. The breakfast in the morning was great and we left there in good spirits because we're just that awesome and we don't let disappointment dictate our attitudes.
That lemonade that I made with all those lemons became tiresome to my taste buds. A small part of me thinks the next time life hands me lemons, I'm going to throw those lemons at life's head and yell, "I DON'T WANT YOUR STINKING LEMONS." The other more mature part of me thinks that next time I'll try making delicious lemon bars dusted lightly with confectioners sugar. Who would tire from a delectable creation such as this? Not me.
When we got to the pool and saw how microscopic it was, we were a little disappointed but we swam anyway...or waded..with all the other families in the hotel that decided to splash in the chlorinated puddle. We headed upstairs and got all showered and ready for bed. I popped popcorn and we sat down to see what movies were available. There were no movies available. Could this be a mistake? No mistake. There was a movie theatre nearby and so as to not compete with them, this Marriott didn't have movies available in the rooms. What? We ate the popcorn in our pjs while looking at what was on TV. Hayden realized that Star Wars the Clone Wars was on. It was one of the final episodes. We turned it to the channel only to find that the channel was temporarily unavailable. We tucked ourselves in bed early and called it a night. The breakfast in the morning was great and we left there in good spirits because we're just that awesome and we don't let disappointment dictate our attitudes.
That lemonade that I made with all those lemons became tiresome to my taste buds. A small part of me thinks the next time life hands me lemons, I'm going to throw those lemons at life's head and yell, "I DON'T WANT YOUR STINKING LEMONS." The other more mature part of me thinks that next time I'll try making delicious lemon bars dusted lightly with confectioners sugar. Who would tire from a delectable creation such as this? Not me.
Chess Winner
Hayden won first place in the 5th grade chess club at Spanish Oaks Elementary and came home with this awesome trophy! Hayden has a natural apptitude for the game of chess. He's always thinking several moves ahead. He is a very smart boy.
Scold the Cold
It was Scold the Cold day at school and only one of my three school-aged children wanted to dress up for the occasion. Even though it was still cold and a bit snowy outside the kids were encouraged to dress in Hawaiian type clothing. Here is my one participating child. Isn't she a doll? She is wearing a dress that my mother made me when I was 3 or 4 years old. She wore it as a shirt and she looks smashing in it. 
Exhasted from her dramatic photo shoot, she rests on the hardwood floor.
Exhasted from her dramatic photo shoot, she rests on the hardwood floor. Hayden's Choice: Pizza or Hot Dogs
Hayden wanted Dominos pizza for dinner one night and I told him that we could get pizza IF he would call in the order. I thought it was just the right time to introduce something new, exciting and a little terrifying into Hayden's life. He sat with the phone in hand making every excuse as to why he just COULDN'T do it. "I don't know the person I'm talking to," or "I might make a mistake," or "I'm so scared," or "I'm not old enough." I soothed his anxiety the best I could and gave him rational answers to his concerns like, "It's easier to talk to someone you don't know, because they don't know you either," or "if you make a mistake, I'm right here," or "don't think about being scared, think about the delicious pizza," or "you're old enough and you're strong enough to do hard things. YOU CAN DO IT." I added that if he preferred we could have hot dogs. I knew this choice was a no brainer because Hayden isn't in love with hot dogs. To my surprise he almost conceded until he found out that when I said we could have hot dogs, I meant just hot dogs....we were all out of buns.
Hayden got a devious look on his face realizing the power he would have as the Pizza Orderer (important titles MUST be capitalized) and said, "I could order 20 pizzas!" I said that he could do that, but that I would be paying for ONE of those pizzas and he could pay for the rest. Hayden got up the gumption and made the call. He did a great job and I am so proud of him for not giving in to fear!
Hayden got a devious look on his face realizing the power he would have as the Pizza Orderer (important titles MUST be capitalized) and said, "I could order 20 pizzas!" I said that he could do that, but that I would be paying for ONE of those pizzas and he could pay for the rest. Hayden got up the gumption and made the call. He did a great job and I am so proud of him for not giving in to fear!
Counterfeit Cash?
I sent Hayden to pay Bastian the money I owed him from finishing his reading chart and the money I owed him from his sticker chore chart. When Hayden went upstairs to give Bastian the money, Bastian, knowing Hayden's personality, thought that Hayden was trying to pay him with counterfeit money. Bastian refused the money and said he didn't want it. Excited, Hayden said, "Can I have it?" Bastian agreed to that and Hayden came downstairs to report the incident to me, laughing all the way. I sent him back up to try again. Bastian refused the money again and Hayden made Bastian promise him that he could have the money "no matter what." By this time Hayden's laughter was uncontainable.
Bastian came downstairs to find out what was so funny about giving away fake money when I told him that it was indeed very REAL money. He started sobbing on the spot and thought that he had squandered his fortune in his promise to let Hayden have the money "no matter what." Bastian is such a good boy. He knows that when you make a promise, you can't take it back. Of course, Hayden is a softy and wouldn't have REALLY taken Bastian's hard earned money from him....and if he wasn't a softy, I outrank Hayden and was there to set things right.
If you look close enough you can see the teary eyes. Bastian read 100 books for $20. He was very diligent in his task and filled up his homemade, computer generated Scooby Do reading chart quicker than I thought. As for the rest of the money, he earned that through weeks of chores. He kept filling his $5 chart and I kept forgetting to pay him. Bastian is a hard working boy with oodles of patience.
Bastian came downstairs to find out what was so funny about giving away fake money when I told him that it was indeed very REAL money. He started sobbing on the spot and thought that he had squandered his fortune in his promise to let Hayden have the money "no matter what." Bastian is such a good boy. He knows that when you make a promise, you can't take it back. Of course, Hayden is a softy and wouldn't have REALLY taken Bastian's hard earned money from him....and if he wasn't a softy, I outrank Hayden and was there to set things right.
If you look close enough you can see the teary eyes. Bastian read 100 books for $20. He was very diligent in his task and filled up his homemade, computer generated Scooby Do reading chart quicker than I thought. As for the rest of the money, he earned that through weeks of chores. He kept filling his $5 chart and I kept forgetting to pay him. Bastian is a hard working boy with oodles of patience.
W is for Worm
At preschool we learned about the letter W. I got out a worm for the kids to climb through. We also did a lot of "wiggling." Isaac and Ben are looking at the Elmo puppet book that taught us how to do a wiggly dance. The kids had a great time frolicking in our rainbow worm.
Family Home Evening IMPROVED!
Fun, Happy, and Effective Family Home Evening is what I hope to accomplish with my new FHE board. I actually put "Fun, Happy, and Effective" at the top of the board to remind ME of that goal. Afterall, if FHE isn't filled with those things, it is certainly NOT very memorable.
For months I was trying to think of a way to establish a habit of more effective family home evenings. Ideas would come to me and when they came I wrote them down. This is the current system I have come up with. Our FHEs coordinate with the monthly Primary theme in order to strengthen what is being taught at church. The first week is a scripture story that correlates with the theme. The second week is a conference talk that correlates with the theme. The third week is centered around a scripture mastery scripture, and the fourth week we talk about the gospel vocabulary and go over the Article of Faith for the month. There is a memorization chart on the side. Every person in the family is able to memorize the song they are learning in Primary, the scripture mastery scripture, or the Article of Faith of the month for one sticker each. When we reach 50 our family gets to spend a fun-filled night in a hotel. There is a bonus 10 at the bottom that when reached we get to go out to dinner as a family in a sit down restaurant.
I want my children to know, to REALLY KNOW that they are a child of God. When you know that, and continue to remember that, you want to do the things that He would want you to do (ie: be kind to others, show love freely, help others when they are in need of help, etc.). I love my children deeply and hope that these lessons will continue to be with them through all the years of their lives. I know it is my responsibility as a parent to teach these important things.
The kids have really enjoyed trying to memorize and pass off things. With our FHE organized like this, there has been a lot of laughter and excitement on Monday nights! Here we come Marriott!
For months I was trying to think of a way to establish a habit of more effective family home evenings. Ideas would come to me and when they came I wrote them down. This is the current system I have come up with. Our FHEs coordinate with the monthly Primary theme in order to strengthen what is being taught at church. The first week is a scripture story that correlates with the theme. The second week is a conference talk that correlates with the theme. The third week is centered around a scripture mastery scripture, and the fourth week we talk about the gospel vocabulary and go over the Article of Faith for the month. There is a memorization chart on the side. Every person in the family is able to memorize the song they are learning in Primary, the scripture mastery scripture, or the Article of Faith of the month for one sticker each. When we reach 50 our family gets to spend a fun-filled night in a hotel. There is a bonus 10 at the bottom that when reached we get to go out to dinner as a family in a sit down restaurant.
I want my children to know, to REALLY KNOW that they are a child of God. When you know that, and continue to remember that, you want to do the things that He would want you to do (ie: be kind to others, show love freely, help others when they are in need of help, etc.). I love my children deeply and hope that these lessons will continue to be with them through all the years of their lives. I know it is my responsibility as a parent to teach these important things.
The kids have really enjoyed trying to memorize and pass off things. With our FHE organized like this, there has been a lot of laughter and excitement on Monday nights! Here we come Marriott!
Rob's Hearty Birthday
For Rob's birthday we each wrote things that we love about Rob or things that we did that day because we knew it would make him happy. We glued them to red and blue hearts and stuck them to the wall. Below are the messages on the hearts:
I took a bath (Bastian), I love to hear Dad sing (Rachel), I love Dad because he plays games with me on the Wii (Weston), We love it when Dad plays and lays on the trampoline with us (the whole family), I love it when Dad scratches my back (Rachel), I cleaned the mudroom. I love you!!! (Abby), I love Dad because he honors the priesthood (Rachel), I love Dad because he spends time with us (Hayden), I helped with the laundry (Weston), I love Dad because he is generous and kind (Rachel), I love Dad because he tries to do everything he can to have a good life and home (Abby), I love it when Dad makes roast, potatoes, and gravy for Sunday dinner (the whole family), I had a backbone today when I called the Tobi Steamer company. Love you!! (Rachel), I played outside (Hayden), I love Dad because he plays with me (Bastian), I like Dad cause he works things out fairly (Abby), I love Dad because he is spontaneous (Rachel), I love Dad because he makes us laugh (Abby), I love Dad because he helps me clean up (Rachel), I love Dad because he takes care of us (Rachel), I love Dad because he's funny (Hayden), I love it in the summer when he plays trip with us (All the kids: Trip is a game Rob invented that is played on the trampoline), I love Dad because I like it when he tickles me (Abby), I love Dad because he is a hard worker (Rachel), I love Dad because he takes me camping (Hayden), I love Dad and I love it when he comes on vacations with me (Rachel).
Hayden and Abby also made signs to cover ALL the clocks on the main floor that said, "Don't waste your time, come downstairs and play Warhawk!"
This was the sign that Hayden made for the front of the door that leads to the basement. It reads, "Dear Dad, I'm sure it's been a long day at work. Come downstairs to have a great time! Hayden."
Happy 34th birthday to my sweetheart! We all love you VERY MUCH.
I took a bath (Bastian), I love to hear Dad sing (Rachel), I love Dad because he plays games with me on the Wii (Weston), We love it when Dad plays and lays on the trampoline with us (the whole family), I love it when Dad scratches my back (Rachel), I cleaned the mudroom. I love you!!! (Abby), I love Dad because he honors the priesthood (Rachel), I love Dad because he spends time with us (Hayden), I helped with the laundry (Weston), I love Dad because he is generous and kind (Rachel), I love Dad because he tries to do everything he can to have a good life and home (Abby), I love it when Dad makes roast, potatoes, and gravy for Sunday dinner (the whole family), I had a backbone today when I called the Tobi Steamer company. Love you!! (Rachel), I played outside (Hayden), I love Dad because he plays with me (Bastian), I like Dad cause he works things out fairly (Abby), I love Dad because he is spontaneous (Rachel), I love Dad because he makes us laugh (Abby), I love Dad because he helps me clean up (Rachel), I love Dad because he takes care of us (Rachel), I love Dad because he's funny (Hayden), I love it in the summer when he plays trip with us (All the kids: Trip is a game Rob invented that is played on the trampoline), I love Dad because I like it when he tickles me (Abby), I love Dad because he is a hard worker (Rachel), I love Dad because he takes me camping (Hayden), I love Dad and I love it when he comes on vacations with me (Rachel).
Hayden and Abby also made signs to cover ALL the clocks on the main floor that said, "Don't waste your time, come downstairs and play Warhawk!"
This was the sign that Hayden made for the front of the door that leads to the basement. It reads, "Dear Dad, I'm sure it's been a long day at work. Come downstairs to have a great time! Hayden."
Happy 34th birthday to my sweetheart! We all love you VERY MUCH.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
January 2009 Top Ten
10. While eating peaches Hayden said, "I love soooo many fruits. They are lush and juicy."
9. Sitting at the counter for lunch Bastian asked, "Can I have some Crystal Light?" I said, "No." Somehow hoping that "no" really meant "yes" Bastian asked, "Is it opposite day?"
8. Weston was putting his shirt on inside out when I said, "Weston, do you want me to help you?" He said, "No. I put it on, then I take it off, then I put it back on again." He had it all figured out. I said, "Weston, you are so smart!" He beamed with self-confidence. I wondered when he had figured that out. I didn't teach him. Did he learn it while I was busy doing something else? It reminded me of times when I have gained confidence in my abilities by figuring things out without someone coming in and rescuing me.
7. Rob told the kids that he tricked me into marrying him. One of his tricks was that he wore a skinny suit when we were dating (meaning that he was thin) and then questioned, "Where is that suit, I wonder?"
6. Abby was trying hard to make a realistic sounding wookie noise--the sound that Chewbacca makes, with her seven year old, high pitched vocal chords. After one excruciating sound she said, "That's the sound of a mad wookie, a VERY mad wookie that is crying at the same time."
5. One morning Rob left for the airport for a very short one day trip to Phoenix. Unbeknownst to me his flight had been so delayed that he decided not to go to Phoenix after all. Later that evening I came down the stairs to get dinner ready, and after I came around the corner he jumped out from the mudroom yelling, "BOO!" For that one split second before recognition set in, my terrified brain registered a large, strange man in my kitchen...only for it to register a split second later that it was indeed MY large, strange man. My heart barely made it through the experience.
4. During dinner some chicken fell out of Weston's burrito and he said, "Whoa. I didn't see that coming."
3. Weston was playing outside in our backyard in the snow and Bastian and I were in the kitchen when we heard a loud noise coming from the outside. I said to Bastian, "What is Weston doing out there?" Guessing, Bastian said, "Having a snowball fight with the house?" Bastian is full of wit AND sweetness.
2. Part One: Logan Hansbrow, a sweet two year old, was over at our house playing one day when he came to me smiling saying, "I want chocolate." I looked in the the pantry to check and said, "We don't have any chocolate. It's all gone." I turned to see him run to the couch, bury his head in his adorably pudgy arms, and start sobbing. Lesson one: Chocolate equals happiness.
Part Two: Hayden, the considerate 10 year old that he is, consoled Logan and offered to let him play with his Nerf gun. Feeling interested, Logan stopped crying and took the Nerf gun. While looking at the gun, it misfired and hit him on the forehead just above his eyebrow at VERY close range to which Logan again started to cry. Lesson two: Just when things get bad, they often take a turn for the worse.
1. I was crying about something that had touched me and Weston seeing the tears streaming down my face said, "Get those back in your eyes, cause then you'll stop crying."
Two quotes from family members worth mentioning that made me laugh:
Rob's sister, Jessica, and I were talking about taking good pictures when she said, "A picture says 1000 better words than I can write."
My mom likes to do sealings in the temple even though my father passed away 6 years ago. On one of her temple visits to do sealings she entered the room by herself to see three married couples there ready to do sealings. Thinking that her husband was not far behind her the sealer asked, "Where is your partner?" My mom replied, "On the other side of the veil."
9. Sitting at the counter for lunch Bastian asked, "Can I have some Crystal Light?" I said, "No." Somehow hoping that "no" really meant "yes" Bastian asked, "Is it opposite day?"
8. Weston was putting his shirt on inside out when I said, "Weston, do you want me to help you?" He said, "No. I put it on, then I take it off, then I put it back on again." He had it all figured out. I said, "Weston, you are so smart!" He beamed with self-confidence. I wondered when he had figured that out. I didn't teach him. Did he learn it while I was busy doing something else? It reminded me of times when I have gained confidence in my abilities by figuring things out without someone coming in and rescuing me.
7. Rob told the kids that he tricked me into marrying him. One of his tricks was that he wore a skinny suit when we were dating (meaning that he was thin) and then questioned, "Where is that suit, I wonder?"
6. Abby was trying hard to make a realistic sounding wookie noise--the sound that Chewbacca makes, with her seven year old, high pitched vocal chords. After one excruciating sound she said, "That's the sound of a mad wookie, a VERY mad wookie that is crying at the same time."
5. One morning Rob left for the airport for a very short one day trip to Phoenix. Unbeknownst to me his flight had been so delayed that he decided not to go to Phoenix after all. Later that evening I came down the stairs to get dinner ready, and after I came around the corner he jumped out from the mudroom yelling, "BOO!" For that one split second before recognition set in, my terrified brain registered a large, strange man in my kitchen...only for it to register a split second later that it was indeed MY large, strange man. My heart barely made it through the experience.
4. During dinner some chicken fell out of Weston's burrito and he said, "Whoa. I didn't see that coming."
3. Weston was playing outside in our backyard in the snow and Bastian and I were in the kitchen when we heard a loud noise coming from the outside. I said to Bastian, "What is Weston doing out there?" Guessing, Bastian said, "Having a snowball fight with the house?" Bastian is full of wit AND sweetness.
2. Part One: Logan Hansbrow, a sweet two year old, was over at our house playing one day when he came to me smiling saying, "I want chocolate." I looked in the the pantry to check and said, "We don't have any chocolate. It's all gone." I turned to see him run to the couch, bury his head in his adorably pudgy arms, and start sobbing. Lesson one: Chocolate equals happiness.
Part Two: Hayden, the considerate 10 year old that he is, consoled Logan and offered to let him play with his Nerf gun. Feeling interested, Logan stopped crying and took the Nerf gun. While looking at the gun, it misfired and hit him on the forehead just above his eyebrow at VERY close range to which Logan again started to cry. Lesson two: Just when things get bad, they often take a turn for the worse.
1. I was crying about something that had touched me and Weston seeing the tears streaming down my face said, "Get those back in your eyes, cause then you'll stop crying."
Two quotes from family members worth mentioning that made me laugh:
Rob's sister, Jessica, and I were talking about taking good pictures when she said, "A picture says 1000 better words than I can write."
My mom likes to do sealings in the temple even though my father passed away 6 years ago. On one of her temple visits to do sealings she entered the room by herself to see three married couples there ready to do sealings. Thinking that her husband was not far behind her the sealer asked, "Where is your partner?" My mom replied, "On the other side of the veil."
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Look At the Birds!
I looked out the window one morning and saw the birds flying in formation, landing, then flying again, landing somewhere else and so on. It was captivating to watch and I decided that we needed to get closer to the action. The kids and I got in the van and got a close up view to which our lucky neighbors already had because they could watch it from their family room windows. At one point the birds flew so close to our van we feared we would become either the next landing target or the next excretive target. We became neither!
Celebrate with a Chocolate Fountain
Jessica had the most brilliant idea to bring over her chocolate fountian and a bunch of delicious things for dipping in celebration for Rob's birthday. Is she FABULOUS or what? We had so much fun watching the kids make their chocolate covered concoctions! It was a chocolate extravaganza at its best! I know they will never forget it and neither will I. Thank you so much, Jess, for your generosity!
100 Days of School
I thought that when Bastian brought 100 things on the 100th day of school, he would share them with the class. Instead, Bastian brought them home and did this with his 100 things. Then he shared them with Weston and me, but not until he had a sufficient amount of dye on his eye. M&M's new slogan for today, "Melts in your mouth AND on your eye."
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