Love at first sight.

After we went to the aquarium, we took the kids out to dinner at Red Robin's. Kellan was so captivated with his "boon" (balloon) he refused to let it go once we got home.

....Sooooo he took it in the bath with him (and we allowed it). ....And he watched a movie on the projector while holding it. (Try getting a kid dressed in pajamas while not letting go of a balloon string!) I'm just happy the balloon was forgotten half way through the movie so we didn't have to fight with him when it came to bedtime.

Somethin's Fishy

What a trip to our local aquarium! It never seems to get old seeing an entirely different world through glass windows. It's been a while since I've put up some pictures, and I'm REALLY excited because I was actually daring enough to take my new camera out of the house!!! (Yes, I've had Canon the Camera for 3 months, and it's never even been in my yard! I'm too nervous about having something so nice.) It was no surprise when Brandon wanted to take my temperature to make sure I was feeling okay. :)

Enough boring you with words. Here's some pictures from our aquarium trip...

Kellan scouting out some trout to shoot?!

Makade driving a boat. Eek!

Who's in this aquarium?

Looking over the side of the dock

Watery reflection

Look hard. There really are jelly fish in this tank, I promise.

This octopus has loads of 'pusonality'! He loves to play with a Mr. Potato Head!

Corban found Nemo!

Makade spying another Clown Fish.

Last time Tarryn pet one of these rays, her arm and hand broke out in a rash.

This time, she's keeping her hands to herself.

Makade's under-the-sea love, SHARKS.

Tarryn showing Kellan the shark and sting-ray tank.

Finally, a tank that's Kellan's height!

Crawling through man-made land coral as an end to our aquarium trip.

Potty Talk

We've discussed the wonderful world of potty training before. Even now that we're pretty much finished (minus night time pull-ups), conversations centered around the toilet are frequent in this household. Take for instance, after Corban's finished and is flushing the toilet; it's quite common to hear from his little mouth, "Bye bye pee pee! See you later!" I personally don't want to see it later, but it's cute of him to send it off with a sweet bon voyage.

Using public restrooms are an entirely different encounter for new potty users and brings a whole new level of fun for moms. Last night in the restaurant's bathroom, Corban and I got to experience this.:

Corban: Before getting onto the toilet, Mom, how do you flush it?

Me: You don't Corban, it flushes by it's self.

Corban: What?! But where is the button?!

Me: There isn't a button. Let's go potty and then you'll see.

Corban: After finishing his business he's still looking for the button while still sitting down, I don't see the button!!!

Me: Jump down and the toilet will flush by it's self.

Corban: After jumping down and working on pulling up his pants the toilet flushes, "Whoa!"

Me: See Corban, the toilet knew you got off so it flushed!

Corban: Oh!!! looking at the toilet, Thank you Toilet!!! Speaking out of the side of his mouth in a voice not quite his own, he made the toilet's reply,
Toilet: Your Welcome.

The lessons we learn....

Makade had a special play date today with a friend he's had since preschool. Daisy has become a great friend to our entire family, although Corban had no recollection of who she was so I decided to introduce her to him while we were at the table eating lunch.

Me: Corban, do you know who this is?

Corban: Nope.

Me: This is Daisy.

Corban: addressing his new acquaintance.... Daisy....

Daisy: What Corban?

Corban: I love you.

Giggles all around the table along with a couple 'ahhhhs'.

It always amazes me to see how open hearted children can be towards everyone no matter color, size, height, ability, or disability. At what age is it that we start making judgements regarding? What age do we start deciding that we have the right to make preconceived ideas toward another human being? What makes us think we have the right to have opinions on others that we do know and are past preconceptions?

The very same day, earlier in the morning at the breakfast table, we had Tarryn's friend Morgan over. Morgan has been around many of time for Corban to have ideas of what type of person she is. And sometimes, quite frankly, she's not the nicest of friends; other times she's the best.

Corban: Morgan. getting louder as the addressed party continues to ignore him.... Morgan. Morgan. MORGAN!

Morgan: WHAT!

Corban: I love you.

Morgan: Softening her tone and a big smile emanating across her face... Thanks Corban!


Have you ever watched kids while at a park or play land? They are happy as can be when someone new comes to play. They welcome them and make up a new game to play with them. They don't even have to know each other's names and are okay that their new *friend* doesn't know theirs. They don't think about what that person's opinion of them is. Kids don't care if this is a lasting relationship and if they are waisting their time. They don't come to play with fears of getting hurt. They are there with one objective... to have fun with that person at that moment in time.

Lets take a lesson from them... Enjoy your time and spend it wisely with the people that move in and out of your world. Don't worry if they are here to stay, or if they are a grain of sand that will quickly slip through the funnel of an hour glass. Enjoy them, learn what you can from them, for everyone has good in them to learn from. Without these connections, we most assuredly would be alone and wouldn't be able to grow or feel self worth.

Next time I go to the store, you can bet I'll be talking to the person waiting in line at the check-out stand with me. I might not use the words, "I love you," like Corban did to his new acquaintance, but hopefully my actions will say, "I care."