It's Great To Be Eight

Eight random things I love about this 8-year old:


I love his hands. There is something adorable about his hands; the way they move, the way he expresses himself with them.

I love that he still holds my hand...in public. His principal was agog when he caught Chase not only holding my hand...in the cafeteria, but also sending me off with a kiss and an "I love you"...in front of his friends. The principal told me to cherish that. I do.

I love that he his named after his Grandpa Glenn. I really, REALLY love that.

I love that this boy watched nearly all of the Harry Potter movies, scary parts and all, without even flinching. The only time he covered his face with a blanket? The kissing parts. LOVE that!

I love how you catch him making a crooked "yikes" face when reading family scriptures and he has to say a "bad" word.

I love how he is a perfectly, down-the-middle, fifty-fifty, Even-Steven split between his dad and I. So far, that makes him a shy, Lego-loving, tool-toting, snoring, football-loving carnivore, perfectly blended with the crafty, goofy, outgoing, dramatic, holiday tradition observing extraordinaire, with a pretty great sense of humor. Sounds pretty fabulous...right?

I love to hear him pray. If you have ever heard him pray, you know what I mean.

I love it when he giggles. It seems especially cute when it is done at a most inappropriate time. Darn it.

I love that he is a rule follower. He takes doing what is right pretty seriously...most of the time. Let's be honest. He is a kid. And a boy. 'Nuff said.

I love that there are so many things to love about this boy that I can't stop at eight. There is just too much to love about him. But, most especially, I love that he is MY boy.

I SERIOUSLY love that.

Accomplishments

Before I attempt to catch up on an entire summer and fall in picture and word, let me attempt to tell you of another accomplishment.


I have managed to pull off every woman's nightmare. I've seen it done in Hollywood, but nothing in Hollywood is real. No one actually does such embarrassing stuff in real life. I know stuff like this happens, just not to me.

Until yesterday.

I was in a hurry to get to church yesterday. Procrastination from the night before had me all a-flutter to get to the church on time. I paraded in front of my husband, and the mirror, gave myself a semi-passing grade, then flew out the door.

As I barrelled into the parking lot, a quick survey of the scene found only a good friend helping his family out of the van, and a rather shy church member heading for the front door. I rushed to the door, in too much of a hurry to say hello to my friend. I arrived at the door the same time the shy man did. He being the gentleman that he is, opened the door for me. I gushed a thank you in a dramatic flurry toward the chapel. I rushed up to the front, breathing a heavy hello to the handful of choir members already seated in the stand, pretty proud of the fact that I was "on time", which is translated to say that I was late, just not as late as everyone else.

As I gathered my overly dramatic wits about me while setting up at my post at the piano, I chatted with another friend who was already seated in the choir seats. Seeing that I had a few seconds to spare, I headed back down the stairs to put my bag on "our" bench to save it for my family who would come later. Upon turning around, my friend gasped.


The back of my skirt was tucked up in my panty hose.


Crap.


I began doing what most of us do when faced with absolute mortification. I acted all nonchelant as a I reconned my rogue piece of clothing, then mentally retraced my steps from my van to the church to take mental note of the poor souls that had been unfairly mooned on their way to church.

I was instantly horrified to remember some poor choices that I had made that morning. You know thekind. The kind of choices that you feel silly about making, but choices that shouldn't have any consequences, nonetheless. Like when you choose not too shave your legs above the knee,or to wear pantyhose shredded beyond recognition, not really caring 'cause who is going to see up your skirt anyway?

Yeah.

Those choices.

I then thought of my poor friend unloading his family in the parking lot. And the poor unsuspecting do-gooder just trying to be nice, not realizing that volunteering to open my door meant standing behind my bare behind.

I am pretty sure I wasn't imagining things when neither of those men made eye contact with me that morning. Apparently one shot of your bare derriere does an uncomfortable moment make.

Sigh.

When I finally got to go sit down with my family, my husband got a little reproach for not being a better detail checker. He sympathetically snorted and chuckled as I told him my terrible tale. My son just looked at me in horrible disbelief.

"Oh, Mom. I am soooo sorry", was all he could muster.

His was the only genuine sentiment I would receive for the rest of the day.

I have been blessed with such sympathetic friends.

A Little Less Gross

Wow. If I didn't post for any other reason, it would be having a picture better to stare at than a big hair ball on the floor.

Sorry, folks.

For the last day of school, I got to bring homemade (I know...GASP!) treats to school to share with Chase's class. I found these ADORABLE cookies on familyfun.com.

Uh, CUH-YOOT!! Of course, they were slightly more adorable on line. But, only SLIGHTLY.



Oysters with raisin pearls. Not my favorite, just cute-ish, I guess.

These? Oh, yeah. THESE were my favorite! With every pair of flip-fl0ps, I cooed and gushed. They just kept getting cuter and cuter.

The "beach towel" and brown sugar sand finished out the look.

They were a big hit...to say the least.

A Little Gross

I was organizing my 2011 pictures and came across this one. Eweeeuuu.

When I got my haircut in January, I cut off 14 inches. No, I was not able to donate it. I still had an old perm in it...which puts a big "don't" on my do.




Just felt like sharin'.

Spring Break

For spring break this year, we stole one of Chase's good buddies and headed to Salt Lake to the Gateway Children's museum. We chose to go on what could arguably be the busiest day of the year for the museum, and the worst day for driving conditions. All that aside, we had a great time. If you have ever been there, you know all of the fun things that they have for kiddles to do;



play newscasters




do the weather in front of a green screen (this was actually quite funny. I about wet my pants at how funny these two (and some random child) were being)





this, whatever this is called

build structures on an "earthquake" plate

fly a rescue helicopter.

Whatever it is we did, it tuckered them out. They slept on the way home...which was kind of a blessing for me as it was white-knuckle driving with the pouring, driving rain.

All in all, we had a great little break from school and work. Chase and I nearly shed tears when we said our good-byes at the school on Monday. Always so dramatic!

All I can say is...

Summer Vacation...here we come!!

Fun Changes

This probably won't matter a hill of beans to anyone. Just thought I'd record it anyway for posterity sake...and for the slight chance that anyone might think it's as cool as I do.

Being a piano player, and being an LDS (Latter Day Saint) piano player at that, means that I will play the piano in church until my dying day. I have had very few opportunities to do much else by way of service (callings) for our church. I have had the opportunity to play the organ, lead the choir, play the piano, lead the singing, direct the children's music, play the children's music, play the piano for the choir...off and on since I was 16. I don't mind it. I enjoy music. And I enjoy serving.

Sometimes, I would like to do more. I have had a few callings here and there that have not involved music...and I have LOVED them.

So, a few months ago, a full-time missionary for our church who was visiting our home put the bug into my ear about serving as ward missionary...which means serving a mission here in our own ward, or neighborhood. I started to get really excited, I mean pants-on-fire-excited about the prospect of being able to do this. On Easter, I got my wish and was called to serve as a ward missionary.

Can I tell you how much I am loving this? My missionary companion, Amy Gray, and I are having the time of our lives. There is SO much to do. We have a mission leader in our ward who has caught fire with the missionary work available in our ward...our bishop (ward leader) has caught the fire...the other leaders of the other groups in our ward have caught the fire. I feel like we get to eat, drink and breath missionary work, without leaving the country for 2 years. What could be more fun than that!

I still have my other assignments as ward organist and choir pianist, but am SO thrilled to be a part of something that I am becoming so passionate about. My parents are both amazing missionaries. They have been for most of their lives. They lead their lives with love, example, and a desire to share the gospel that they love with all they come in contact with.

Uh, can I be like them when I grow up?

This opportunity is a least helping me get my foot in the door to at least try!

Anyway, fun stuff ahead. Just thought I'd share!

Stubborn Streak

Chase and I have been taking some jaunts down Memory Lane. We have been having a lot of fun watching videos of Chase as an adorable little boy. I don't know what my favorite part has been; watching these super cute videos, or Chase's reaction when he says, "Oh my gosh! I was so adorable!"

This video of my then two and a half year old melts my heart. I have played it over and over, and over. It is so funny how it shows that great stubborn streak in my boy.

Finally, after my 101st replay of this video, I finally figured out from where he gets his stubborn streak.

I guess I'm a little slow...and a little stubborn.