Funny things D says

This morning I was working in our office (spare bedroom) while B2 and D were watching SpongeBob. When I came out, D asked for more milk in his sippy. I went to pick up his sippy, and realized he needed more milk because he had spilled a large amount onto our carpet.

Me: "D, do you see this? What is this?"
D: "Milk."
Me: "Yes, it's milk. You made a mess. When you make a mess, you need to come tell Mommy."
I start scrubbing the carpet.

D: "Don't worry Mommy!"


Clearly, the messy carpet bothered me more than it bothered D.

Funny Things B2 Says

Last week B2 had a friend over and they were playing Candy Land. I overheard B2 say, "I just won, so I quit. C'mon N, let's just be quitting."

Funny Things B2 Says

We were visiting my parents a few weeks ago. B2 was talking to our family friend Brittany. B2 had her drink next to him, and she asked for it. B2's response was: "Do you want happiness [holding her drink] or unhappiness [holding his drink]?"

Tonight we were watching a movie, during which there are several kissing scenes. At one point, after the two were done kissing, B2 asked, "Hey Mommy, do you think that tastes gross or tastes good?" B1 and I started laughing and just couldn't find a good response to his question.

Happy Father's Day!

I've started this post several different times in several different ways. I mean, how can you really post everything about fathers in one lousy post? And how to make in meaningful without being cheesy? So, here's my best attempt.

I seriously have the best men in my family. Let's start at the top and work our way down. My Grandpa A is amazing. Among other things, he taught me at a young age that true love grows stronger with time, not weaker. As I've grown older, I've never seen anyone love their spouse the way my grandpa does. My grandma is currently suffering with dementia, and despite all the hardships this brings, I am touched at what it has done to what I always thought was the perfect marriage. My grandpa is so considerate of my grandma and her feelings and frustrations, and he is still so sweet with how he talks about her. I hope someday to have the marriage that my grandpa has modeled for me.

My Grandpa S was also an amazing man. As much as I used to joke about how I wished I was more from my mom's side than my dad's growing up, I proudly kept my maiden name for my middle name when I got married. My grandpa was a convert to the Church, and yet you'd never know it. He was so devoted to the gospel, even serving several missions with his wife in his later years (including to my beloved Nauvoo Temple). My grandpa taught me that life is not to be wasted, that money should be saved well and spent well, and that it's okay to love people but not like them sometimes. And, of course, Grandpa taught me that everyone can be the favorite (even though I'm sure that I'm REALLY the most favorite grandchild...).

Of course, awesome grandparents means awesome parents. Since this is a Father's Day post, I'm going to try to talk about my dad without getting too emotional. Or not. :) Let's start by not using my words:

"My daddy is my fav’rite pal,
And I help him ev’ry day.
It’s plain to see I want to be
Like him in ev’ry way.
He teaches me that honesty
Is best in all I do.
I’m very glad that he’s my dad,
And I know he loves me too."
(LDS Children's Songbook, "My Dad", song #211)

I wanted to be just like my daddy growing up, even though I was a girl. I wanted to go on scouting trips and mow the grass and clean the pool. I wanted to be able to wear swimsuits that were just shorts and have ratty tennis shoes for working in the yard and know how to fix everything from toilets to walls (with two older brothers, my dad patched a lot of walls...). I wanted to be magically good at painting walls and be able to sense when things where done properly. I wanted to know how to check my oil, change a flat tire, and when a mechanic was lying to me. I wanted to jump high on the trampoline, be over 6 feet tall so I could be good at basketball, and be the best softball player ever.

I may not have gotten everything I wanted (I'm sure my neighbors are thankful that I no longer want to wear swimsuits that are just shorts!), but my daddy was able to teach me many of the above. I know how to check my oil and change a flat tire, though I'm still relying on my mechanic to be honest. I know how to mow grass, unclog sink drains, build a fire, and set up a tent. I knew how to pick a good man to marry because I tried to find one that was like my dad. I've learned to have compassion based on watching my dad buy food for homeless people. I've learned that sometimes you have to watch your kids do dumb things because they're too stubborn to listen to their wiser parents, but that you love them all the same. My dad taught me that it's incredibly valuable to learn the scriptures on the deepest level you can, because there's so much more to every story than what's obvious in the first reading. I've learned that Seminary is the best part of high school, and it's well worth it to wake up super early in the morning to go. I've learned that some things are just common courtesy, like filling up the gas tank before you return a borrowed car. I've learned that husbands should love their wives, and children should obey, honor, and respect their mothers, because my daddy taught me this by his example and by busting my butt when I didn't treat my mom as well as I should have.

My daddy IS my favorite pal. I think he's the best dad a girl could ever have, and if you don't agree with me then we can just take this outside...

Finally, no post on Father's Day would be complete without paying homage to my wonderful hubby, the father of my children. I seriously lucked out on this one. Though I'm sure he'll modestly disagree, B1 is an awesome dad. He works so hard so I can be at home with our kids. He's B2's biggest fan at his t-ball games. He wrestles B2 and tickles him almost to the point where B2 can't handle it anymore. I absolutely love watching him play with the kids. B2 and D of course just adore their daddy. As a husband he is so supportive. He came and watch me run my half marathon (can you say BORING! I think the only sport less interesting to watch than running is probably rhythmic gymnastics). He went to all my work parties even through he didn't really know anyone there (except during the times my sister worked there), and never complained about being bored when we started talking shop. He doesn't complain (much) when I spend hours blogging or editing photos, and lets me spend lots of money on hobbies like cake decorating. He laughs, and only grimaces a little, when I told his coworker that the chocolate cake I brought for B1 was really feces, because I didn't want the coworker to sneak it (I'm such a lady, aren't I?). B1 is such a wonderful husband and father, and we are so blessed to have him.

I could continue on and talk about all the wonderful other fathers out there, like my brothers, brothers-in-law, father-in-law, grandparents-in-law, but emotionally I just don't have it in me. Sorry guys. But seriously, Happy Father's Day!!!!

Funny Things B2 Says

B2: "Mom, who's going to be my soccer coach?"
Me: "I don't know yet."
B2: "Is it going to be Coach Jeff?" (Coach Jeff is my assistant coach on B2's t-ball team)
Me: "No, I don't think so."
B2: "How about me?"
Me: "You? You don't know how to play soccer. How are going to teach other kids how to play soccer?"
B2: "Kick the ball to B, kick the ball to B, kick the ball to B, and I kick you in the face!"

No Doubt About It

Today I finished my 5th book of the year, and my 2nd nonfiction book--No Doubt About It by Sheri Dew. Wow! This was an amazing book. Over and over I kept thinking there was a reason this sat on my shelf for so long--I really needed to read it now. Over and over again, I kept thinking, "This is great! I really need to apply this." I wanted to blog quickly on some stuff she said in the last chapter:

"How often have all of us made judgments that are...unfair? Why can't we resist the urge to second-guess and evaluate each other? Why do we judge everything from the way we keep house to how many children we do or do not have? Sometimes I wonder if the final judgment will be a breeze compared with what we've put each other through here on earth!

"...When we fail to champion one another, we in essence betray each other.

"...What if we were to each decide that from this time forward we would make just one assumption about each other--that we are doing the best we can? And what if we were to try a little harder to help each other?" (pg 225-228, emphasis added)

This is a new challenge for me. I'm pretty good about not judging people in a lot of areas. If anything, I'm harsher on myself than I think I am on others, except when it comes to certain categories. I don't want to list them just because I don't want anyone to worry that I've been judging them. Clearly, it's my problem, not theirs. But, I'm posting about this because I want the help of my friends and family members. If you hear me saying things like, "Why is she doing...?" (in a judging way and not as a means of gathering more information) or "I can't believe someone in her shoes would actually..." then I want you to smack me. Meanwhile, I'll try to keep all negative thoughts out of my head, including all the ones that sound like, "I wish I had her hair" or "Why is her son better behaved than mine?" or "Why can't I make my house as cute as her house?" I'll also try to be a little nicer, a little more concerned about others, and a little less (rather, a lot less) envious of the wonderful people that surround me.

Funny Things B2 Says

Last night B2 was running a low-grade fever. B1 asked him how he was doing. B2's response?

"I hurt my swallower."