The Loves of my Life

A couple of months ago I found myself blog hopping and reading about all the amazing things that others are doing. This isn't a bad thing. I like reading what's going on with everyone else. However, I found myself belittling the job that I have as a mom. I would go to bed frustrated that I wasn't doing these amazing things: seeing spectacular sites, traveling the world, doing vast amounts of humanitarian work. Then one day it hit me how spectacular my job really is. Don't get me wrong. I love being a mom. It's all I have ever wanted to do! But for some reason I felt as though society was telling me that it wasn't enough. Well today I formally say to society, I don't care!!! I love my boys!!! I love being at home with them and that is enough for me! One day I hope to be able to do those amazing things that people are doing, but as for this season in my life, I am thoroughly enjoying my boys!

Ethan:

How I love this little guy! I never knew that so much energy and personality could be packed into such a small little guy! Ethan is definitely his father's child. There are so many things about Ethan that remind me about his father from his little double cowlick down to his fidgety feet when he is tired. Ethan is 100% pure boy. He loves to rough house and tumble with his big brother. He loves anything with wheels including, but not limited to, cars, motorcycles, trucks, tractors, trains, big rigs, etc. We sometimes joke that Ethan has tractor Tourettes. He will be talking and out of no where he will say tractor or combine! This kid busts me up!

You never know what will come out of his mouth. Ethan never lacks for something to say. He is a little motor mouth. I firmly believe that Ethan came to earth with a strong understanding of the English language. I kid you not. This kid understands what you are saying. He can usually talk back with you about your topic of conversation too, whatever it might be. It amazes me how easily learning comes to Ethan. Once he has learned a concept it is locked tightly in his brain, stored away waiting for further use.

Ethan loves his older brother. These two boys love playing together. Whenever Connor is gone to school Ethan will always ask where he is. He wants to be doing whatever it is that Connor is doing. He looks up to his older brother so much.

Connor:

How I would love to spend a day in this kid's brain! Connor thinks about things in a different way than I would. He completely fascinates me. Connor has always been a high-energy kid. He loves to run and play really hard. He loves roughhousing and wrestling. He has now learned that there is a right time and place for doing these things. Example: running away from mom in the grocery store and having to have her chase you down while your brother sits in the cart at the service desk cheering you on for your brilliant escape is a big no-no and will result in a time out when you get home from said store. Running around in the back yard is a mom-approved activity. We love Connor's energy. It is just part of what makes him Connor.

Connor goes to school every day. He gets to attend speech classes and an integrated preschool class. On the days that he has preschool he gets to ride the bus. He generally likes riding the bus, but sometimes it is a little loud for him. (Connor is really sensitive to loud noises.) He loves his speech teacher, Miss Chris, and looks forward to the days that he has speech. With these classes his vocabulary has improved immensely! He has corrected me a few times in things that I say and it always catches me off guard. Example:
Me: Connor, do you want some water? (pronounced wah-dur like a true Utahn)
Connor: No mama. It's wah-tur! You say it!
Me: Wah-tur!
Connor: Good job!
I'm glad that these classes are of benefit to all!

Connor loves to read. He chooses really interesting books too. He loves going to the library, and if he could I think he would go every day (a child after my own heart!) Connor loves all sorts of books from silly books about a sister who eats everything except peas, to nonfiction books about animals. I love how well read he is at 4! I'm always learning something. For example, do you know what a monotreme is? It is a mammal that lays eggs. Two such examples are the duck-billed platypus and the echidna. I'm so glad this kid has a wide genre and we are not just reading Hop on Pop over and over again (although that is a classic.)

Connor is a great big brother. He looks after Ethan like a little duckling. He includes Ethan in his activities. I'm not saying these two are perfect all the time to each other, because we all know that's not true. They are really exceptional boys though (at least in their mother's eyes.)

I love my boys! I am so grateful I get to be their mom! I am so grateful for this season in my life!

The Gift of Time . . .

This is what I want this Christmas season . . . the gift of time. So little time, so much going on. I wish it was a lack of things to post about that keeps me from being a good little blogger. Sadly, it is not the lack of entertaining things spewing from Connor & Ethan's mouths, but rather the lack of time that these two leave me in a day. One day this blog will be updated . . . hopefully one day soon . . .

7 Years Ago Today . . .

Seven years ago today my husband and I first layed eyes on each other. Some of you have heard the story, but probably not the TRUE story of how we met. (I don't tell it very often because it makes me feel like a man-hunter and a woman on the prowl . . . ) So today, for all of posterity and for the general entertainment of others, here it is.

Growing up I loved the theater. It's where I finally felt like I knew who I was . . . which is ironic because in the theater you are always pretending to be someone else . . . go figure. My friend Nancy had an uncle (Uncle Marc) who was heavily involved in community theater in Preston. Nancy was the one who got me involved in the community theater in Preston and I will forever be grateful to her for that. I have so many awesome memories of doing plays, melodramas, and shoot outs up there.

After being involved in countless performances up there I had become quite familiar with most of the directors and theater board members. I had been called a few times (generally about 24 hours before) to perform in a last minute shoot out (a little performance that the theater guild did in the street in front of the theater). Every year the script was a little bit different, a little bit better, and a little bit more fun. The summer of 2002 was no different. I'd gotten a call again about doing this performance, this time with a week's notice. They'd written a silly little shoot out throwing in a bunch of wild west characters from different plays. They wanted me to play the part of Calamity Jane (rough and tough cowgirl who ends up getting all gussied up at the end). Super fun performance. I even got a cap gun to shoot off . . . hee hee! Anyway, they had also recruited this guy named Casey to do the shoot out. Casey was a new comer to the theater. We had done Bye Bye Birdie together earlier that spring and came to be pretty good friends.

One night before one of these performances, Casey came and found me and asked what I was doing after our show. I told him I was just planning on watching the parade from the theater balcony and then going home. He told me that he and a buddy were planning on going to the rodeo after the parade and asked me if I wanted to go with them. Sure, I thought. I'm always up for hanging out with a couple of cute guys. (I have been possessed of serious boy craziness my whole life . . . good thing I had little boys!) Casey had told me that his friend, Brian, was supposed to get a date, but hadn't, and so we would just all be going as a group of friends. (I have to clarify this so you all don't think I am a total troll. I was not on the manhunt while on a date with another guy. Give me some scrupples . . . )

Right before the performance I saw Casey talking to this dark-haired, good looking, hunky guy. Later on during our performance I would look out into the crowd and see this same guy watching me. I was entranced. After the performance I met up with Casey who then introduced me to his friend Brian. Throughout the evening I made sure to place myself in the middle of these two good-looking guys. We watched the parade on the balcony of the theater together, walked around the fairway together, and watched the rodeo together. This was my first rodeo. I had never been to one before. The whole time Brian and Casey were explaining everything to me about the rodeo and all the events. Amidst the explaining of the rodeo I was getting to know these two guys better, having a marvelous time. This next part proves what a total cheese I was, but I remember being at the rodeo, sitting between these two handsome hunks and thinking to myself I wonder what would happen if I kind of shiver. So, like the true romantic moron that I am I gave a visible shiver. Brian turned to me and said, gee, I wish I had a jacket that I could loan you. It is kind of cold out.

And then I was sunk.

Here was the man of my dreams, interesting, a return missionary, respectful, loyal, friendly, and ready to do his good turn daily like a good boy scout. Not to mention I thought he was a complete hunk!!! (What am I talking about, I still think he is!)

The next evening I found Casey before our performance. I was on a mission. I told him what a good time I had last night and started casually asking about Brian, my handsome hunk from the night before. Casey, being the quick study that he is, asked if I wanted him to give Brian my phone number. Mission accomplished.

The next night I got a phone call. And who was it you ask? My handsome hunk from the night before . . . Brian. I think he should earn extra points for calling me so quickly.

And here we are now . . . 7 years later. I'm so grateful my husband didn't run screaming for the hills after having met me. He is wonderful. He is the about as close to perfect for me as I think you could come. He listens to my rants. He scratches my back every night. He supports me in all my crazy endeavors. He encourages me to do the things that make me happy. He works so hard for our family and hasn't yet given up. He loves our boys with all his heart. He doesn't let me sulk when I'm upset and he gives me time to think things through when I need it.

So here it is, my gushy love post to my husband. Happy 7 years, Hon! Hopefully the next 700 are as wonderful!

Connor's Talk

Connor gave his first talk in Primary today. He marched right up to the podium like a pro. It went a little something like this.

Me (holding a picture of Jesus): Connor, say this is Jesus.
Connor: Jesus.
Me: Jesus helps strengthen our family.
Connor: Family.
Me: He's an important member of our family.
Connor: Family.
Me: Jesus wants our families to be strong.
Connor: Jesus.
Me: When we have family home evening he promises to strengthen our families.
Connor: Family evening.
Me: I know that when we have family home evening, Jesus blesses our family.
Connor: Jesus.

So as you can see, he at least hit all the important topics. Jesus, Family, and Family Home Evening. I'm sure if nothing else, someone could piece together precisely what he said . . . right???

Santa Claus shops at K-mart

Just as a disclaimer, I am a freak. I started Christmas shopping in June this year. Usually I can hold off until at least August. Not so this year, and here is why. K-mart, this week, has all their clearance-priced toys 50% off. I'm not just talking 10 or 15 toys here. There are LOTS! And not only that, but the fun brands that kids seem to love . . . Thomas toys, Diego, Bratz, My Little Pony, Fisher Price, Cars, Barbie, Little Einstein, Handy Manny, to name a few . . . all clearanced to the Reesa-affordable range. Which, in my book, usually means insanely cheap. As another disclaimer, I have always felt that shopping as early as I do saves me boatloads of money. I'm not shopping the pre-Holiday sales as much, buying what they claim is a sale. Last year having Christmas all bought for the boys months in advance was a HUGE blessing, with Brian not having a job. If anyone else would like to join me in my freakishly early Christmas shopping, feel free.

Trip to Montana

The boys and I were lucky enough to escort my dad up to Montana. We had a blast while we were there. We took my brother Ben with us. He was a TON of help! Thanks Benny! Here's some fun pics of everything we did!


Ethan at the gas station. He's getting his treats!

The boys always get spoiled to pieces whenever we go up there. This year was no exception. To borrow an expression, "what's that I smell? Something seems to smell rotten . . . SPOILED ROTTEN!" The boys were surprised with new bikes. I don't know if we have said this enough but, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!


Not only did they get bikes, but helmets to go with them. This pic was too cute not to share.


Playing with the cousins with bubbles. They seemed to think it was fun to pop them with their mouthes. It's a good thing they are nontoxic. Connor doesn't seem any worse for the wear.


All loaded up in Auntie Sue's Envoy. My Aunt Sue is amazing. She love, love, LOVES children and spoils them to pieces. On Tuesday she loaded all the kids into her SUV for an adventure. She is one brave woman.


The first stop was Happy Meals at McDonalds and visiting Grandma Mary. Grandma Mary is my grandmother's friend from her days at school. They get together every Tuesday and Thursday for coffee. Coffee is code for lunch and shopping. Occasionally I think there is actual coffee involved.


After enjoying a delicious lunch of Happy Meals we went to the park to feed the ducks. In some ways I feel like my life has come full circle. I remember going to feed the ducks at this very park when I was younger. It was so great taking my boys to do this activity that I loved doing as a kid! There are literally swarms of ducks. Connor loved chasing them. He is one brave little kid. He fed one of the ducks right out of his hand! Ethan loved quacking at them.



After feeding the ducks we jaunted over to the playground for some good times.


After the playground we went to, by far, the coolest place I have ever seen in Montana. We drove out to this quarter horse ranch, quite the ritzy place. There, in the pasture, with a couple of horses are 2 zebras and a camel. Yes, you heard me right. Two zebras and a camel, in a pasture with horses, in the middle of Northern Montana!!! Crazy! Connor LOVED this.


The camel was on the other side of the pasture by himself. My cousin, Dawson, and I hiked over to get some pictures of him. He was still kind of far away, so this picture is the best that me and my little Kodak could get with its blessed zoom feature.


This was only our Tuesday adventure. We were there for a fun-filled week. I will try and post soon about our other days of fun!

Butt-a-saurus and belching, what more could a girl ask for!

Connor has dinosaur underwear that he dearly loves. He also has a ritual involving him turning his back side to us, pointing his derrière at us and asking, "what's that?" One evening after bathing we had this conversation:
Connor: What's that?
Me: I don't know, what is it?
Connor: It's a butt-a-saurus!
Me: (Trying not to laugh) A what?!
Connor: A butt-a-saurus! It's REALLY big!
Me: OH!!!! A BRONTosaurus.
Connor: Yeah! A butt-a-saurus!

Ethan is improving his belching ratio. He is about 60% now. Meaning, 60% are real and only 40% are fake. Dinner this evening was absolutely symphonic!