Don't Tread On Me

My parents were able to be here with us this weekend for General Conference.  It was fabulous.

Yay, for Conference.

Yay, yay, for Grandma and Grandpa getting to spend it with us.

While they were here, I learned a little idiosyncrasy that both Grandpa and Grandson possess;

If there is a path...they will block it.

Shoes, suitcases, toys, backpacks, jackets...whatever is in their hands, will be set down, under foot.

So funny.


Chase consistently commits the same offense. My little Lego-lover leaves Legos laying right for your instep to find.  Have you ever been surprised by a Lego in your instep?  Horrible surprise.  It smarts.

One night, a couple of years ago, I ventured into his dark room to kiss the forehead of my sleeping boy before retiring for the night.  On the floor, directly in my path, right for my Gigantor feet to find, was his Christmas present Lego set.  What took him two days and several hours to assemble, took me 1.5 seconds to annihilate. Oh, the tears.  Chase may have even shed a few as well.

So, you would think that he would learn. 

 

 

I know what all of you seasoned, veteran mothers and grandmothers are all saying;

 

 

"There will come a day when you will be sad when there AREN'T Legos to step over anymore."

 

 

So, for now, I guess, I will just tread lightly.  And, after a late night stumble into the kitchen for a drink of water, I will be glad that I have a documented  picture of this Lego set. 

 

He can use it to help him rebuild it.

Stuffy Nose

Chase came home from first grade with a gourd from his teacher. 

 

I told him to put it on the porch with the rest of the veggies.

 

 

Silly boy.

How Blessed We Are

I realize that living in Utah means that there is a temple around every corner.  Almost.

 

Okay.  Not really.

 

But, we really are so blessed to have so many temples so close to us.

 

Last July, we were among the throngs of people who were able to descend on Brigham City, Utah, to watch them hoist up and place the statue of Moroni on the top of the beautiful temple they were building there. 

 

We started out far away,

 

 

and ended up a lot closer.

 

It was neat to be able to feel of the saints excitement to have a temple even closer to them.

 

We are so spoiled.

 

In August, we joined the throngs again as we had the privilege of being able to go inside the temple and tour it during the open house.  Chase especially liked going inside this beautiful temple since he had been able to watch so many steps along the way at it was being built.

 

He has a great love for temples at his young age because of the significance they hold for him.  The Logan Utah temple especially.  He loves that temple dearly because of the opportunity to be sealed to his family there. He loves being part of a forever family and is genuinely (and sweetly) concerned when he finds out that one of his friends hasn't had the opportunity to be sealed yet. 

 

He is a great missionary.

 

Yesterday, we had the opportunity to attend the dedication of this temple.  There were some beautiful promises and blessings given.

 

 We have come full circle.  We realize how extremely lucky we are to have been able to participate in so many aspects of the coming of this temple.

 

Probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

 

Even here in Utah.

Speak Up, Sonny

I really think I have a hearing problem.

 

Seriously.

 

I find myself cocking my head to one side when I am really trying to hear something.  I have to turn the TV up to an obnoxious level to not miss a word.  But most sadly, I cannot hear my 8 year old.

 

Sigh.

 

His voice is at frequency level I just cannot pick up.  If there even is such a thing.  That child talks, and I hear

 

"whawha  wha whawhawha whawha"

 

So sad.

 

 

"Mom, can I have a cookie?"

 

I hear,  "Mom, please dance with the Wookie"

 

"I can't find my shoe"

 

I hear, " You're standing in goo"

 

You get the idea.

 

I finally had to explain to my favorite son, if you want me to hear you, you gotta come and talk right to my face. 

 

He suggested I go get my hearing checked.

 

That night, we were downstairs watching our weekend's worth of college football games when Jeff ran upstairs to refill his water cup.  I turned and hollered past Chase, asking Jeff since he was upstairs, would he grab me a drink, please.

 

Chase, dramatically rubbed his ear, and said, seriously,

 

"Well, at least you have no problem talking."

 

Thanks for your heart-felt concern, Bub. 

Brown Noser

Here is another journal entry, from May 2007

 

 

 

"Walking into a restaurant, on the way to being seated, Chase smashed his nose up against my bum and said,

 

'Mom! You've got something stuck to your bootie!'"

 

Funny, funny kid!

The Magic Windowsill

 

 

About five years ago, Chase was going through a major fruit loving phase.  So, I found myself in the grocery produce section perusing the fruit selection. Bananas, apples, strawberries...those were the obvious.  Pretty much tasty, no matter what. I admired, however, people that ventured out, feeling brave enough to eat fresh-from-the-store peaches and and pears.  Chase would wolf down Grandma's bottle peaches and pears.  But fresh?  They were always rock hard, and flavorless.

 

While wishfully staring at a selection of pears, I eaves dropped on an adorable elderly couple, happily choosing solid green ones that were hard enough to shatter a windshield.

 

Since I am apparently not shy, I unabashedly asked them how in the heck they ate such firm pears...and enjoyed it.

 

 They told me to put them in my windowsill.

 

I think I heard a chorus of angels singing softly over my shoulder.

 

From then on, everything and anything has found it's way to my windowsill.  There is nothing my windowsill can't ripen.  Including dry, mealy, flavorless tomatoes that we are forced to eat from grocery stores when our gardens are under snow.  I can ALMOST get them to taste off-the-vine.

 

Almost.

 

I am sure that I am slower than most.  I am betting that I was the last person that received the memo on how to ripen hard-as-a-rock produce.  If you already knew this trick, well, good for you.  If you didn't, well, there you go.

 

Enjoy.

 

Maybe for my next trick, I will tell you where the source of the smell comes from in your bathroom, if you are raising boys.

 

It's a good one.

 

Unless you already knew that one, too.

Come Sail With Me

Cute little journal entry from July 2007, at three and a half

 

 

"While boating with Uncle Kirk and Aunt Heather for the first time, he was getting more and more nervous as the boat was speeding up.  As the boat started bouncing on the swells, Chase finally announced,

 

'Uh, I just don't think this is a good place for me!'

 

 

I'm sorry.  I just think this kid is adorable.