Unconditional Love.

Lately, part of my brain is missing. I've had trouble remembering things and whats worse, is I continue to do absent minded things. Texting a friend so she could have my number..... I sent her a text with solely my number in it. Attempting to place milk in the pantry. Backing up in the school parking lot and hitting a fellow parent's car. And today, I backed up from dropping off Tarryn's friend from school and hit their mailbox!

I immediately called Brandon who had just picked up Corban from school and was headed home. He has bluetooth in his car so the call goes through the speakers for all to hear....
Brandon: Hello.
Summer (crying): I should be grounded from driving.
Brandon: What's wrong? What happened?
Summer: I hit the Starr's mailbox when I was backing out of their driveway.
Brandon: Is everyone okay? Is the mailbox still standing?
Summer: Yes, we're all okay. The mailbox is crooked but still standing.
Brandon: As long as everyone is okay...... at least it was a mailbox and not a kid or something.
Summer: There's a big old scratch in our car though now.
Brandon: Good thing we haven't gotten the car fixed from your other accident then huh?
Summer: Yes.
Brandon: We'll talk when we get home.

As soon as they got home, Corban, who had heard our conversation and was very concerned said, "Mom, I still love you even if you hit other people's mailboxes."

.....And the world was set right again.....

Bursting Love

It has been quite a battle with our stubborn "roost-of-the-hen-house" Kellan when it comes to his ideas and our ideas on using the potty. When Kellan turned 4 I used it as the perfect time preparing him weeks in advance that "four year olds ALWAYS poop in the potty." The first few days of turning 4 went well. He was using the potty like a champ, but somewhere along the line he must've decided that he needed to test the waters and see what happens when a 4 year old "goes" in his pants. -I took away his right to be 4 telling him that he still had to be 3 if he was going to act like a 3 year old. Ever since, we've been having hit and misses with the potty but we're getting there. It's always Brandon or I that have to "catch" Kellan in the act and rush him to the toilet for the "messiest" part of potty training. It's very rare that he ever offers to go "number 2" on his own.

I only tell you this so you can imagine the elated feelings I had when Kellan announced he had to go potty and sat right on the toilet and did the "dirty" deed. I was so excited that I wrapped Kellan in my arms and squeezed with quite the enthusiasm. After letting him go in my warm and animated embrace Kellan said, "Mom! I thought you were going to pop me!"

Your Classic Upgrade

Sundays mornings can be quite a rush in trying to get ready for church. There have been times where we've thrown all 4 of the boys in the same shower or tub to be washed, or we've forgone the bathing process at all. All of this to hectically dart into church to be between 5-20 minutes late each week.

Part of the slowing down process (along with NOT preparing and ironing clothes in advance, hanging out too long on the main floor stating, "Well I guess it's time we should start getting ready", etc. ) is after we get the boys out of the largest tub in the house. What is it about boys loving being exhibitionists?! They think it's hilarious to jump on our bed in their birthday-suits or rub the towels on their heads repeatedly to get the funniest hair-do possible. Our bedroom becomes quite the streak show for the 3 youngest on Sunday mornings.

During this process (the after the bath one) on no particular Sunday, I was trying to wrestle in Corban to get him dressed. "Corban, please come get your underwear on." trial and error says yelling at the beginning of this process doesn't get you going any faster than starting with the kind words we're trying to teach the children to use. (Plus, it brings added contention that we don't need OR WANT.)
Shockingly, my 6 year old skipped right over while saying, "Okay mom. I'm ready for my upgrade."
"Upgrade?" I asked confused as to what he was talking about.
"Yes, I'm upgrading to underwear."
"Well why stop there?" I suggested. Feeling triumphant that this was going to be a day to write in the books that we got to church on time. "Why not get a double upgrade and get your pants on too?"
"Mo-om! You can't do that! You have to wait till next year for the better upgrade."
Triumphant feeling gone.

What does a laughing cow sound like?!

"What does a laughing cow sound like?!" That was the question Tarryn asked in regards to the bit of soft cheese with the funny name I was eating with crackers.
"Hmmm. Good question; I don't know what that would sound like." I responded.
Makade piped in with some sort of sound that I thought resembled a great impression of a dying cow. My favorite though, was Tarryn trying to answer her own question,"Well, maybe it would sound like Santa but instead of saying 'Ha ha ha', it would say 'Ma ma ma'."
"Santa doesn't say 'ha ha ha'." Makade piped in.
Amazed by Tarryn's lack of Christmas knowledge, I said, "He's right. Santa says 'Ho ho ho'."
"Oh. That's what I meant. Anyway, that means the laughing cow would say 'mo mo mo'." Tarryn suggested.
"Wouldn't a cow say 'moo moo moo'?" Makade asked.
"Whatever." Tarryn retorted.
"Tarryn needs to go back to preschool and take a refresher course on sounds commonly heard in a child's life." was my suggestion.
"Ha ha ha." Tarryn said.
Proud of my daughter for learning so quickly what a laughing human sounds like, "See! You're learning already!"

So many phrases.....

EDIT: I'm not certain why this post has never made it onto the blog. It was written cleeeeeeaaaar baaaaack in 2010.  I'm also not certain why I have stopped writing here when I enjoy it so much. ....I'll work on that. In the mean-time, while I'm working on an updated version of the phrases our family uses repeatedly throughout the day now, enjoy this little look into our average days of the little things that mean a lot......

2010
It's been a while since I last posted, and even then they've mostly been just pictures of the past. So I thought I'd give you an inside look into a "day in the life" using words and phrases that are often heard throughout the halls of our household. These are in no particular order, and please know that most of these are heard more than once throughout the day. Some of these are used by many family members, while others are related to a singular user.....

• I love you.
• Can I play the Wii?
• You're amazing! (usually whispered)
• You're not my cousin anymore!
• Dad, will you spin me?
• One. Moo! Two. Moo! Three. Moo!
• On your mark....get set......banana!
• Look at Javen, he's so cute!
• Do that again!
• Who loves Javen? (all in unison) ME!
• Let's get your Kumon done.
• I win!
• Use your smarticles.
• Is dat so 'xciting?!
• Mooo-om, he stuck his tongue out at me.
• Will you help me?
• Can I play angry birds?
• I didn't do it!
• His name is Kellan, my name is Kellan.
• Dear Henly Fadur.....please bless dad can come to my house.....
• Ooooh ooooh! I know!.....
• Who loves Makade? (all in unison) ME!
• Is that a good idea?
• What?!
• Focus kiddo.
• Is dat chocwate?!
• on your mark......get set........telephone!
• We have to go pick up da kids?!
• Mamamamamamom.
• Mooo-oom, He wants you.
• Oooh! Can I have chocolate?
• Who tooted?
• Who loves Corban? (all in unison) ME!
• 10....9.....8.....7....
• Is your Kumon done?......There's your answer.
• Oooop! The timer beeped. It's time to be done.
• I'm hungry. Can I have cereals?!
• That's not faiiiir!
• You're my buddy.
• I spy with my little eye......
• The Fuller bus leaves in ten minutes whether you're ready or not.
• It's hot! Can you blow on this?
• What was your favorite part of the day?
• I'm Mario! I'm Sonic! I'm Luigi!
• Who loves Tarryn? (all in unison) ME!
• Are you kiddin' me?
• Duh!!!
• Are you ready Freddy?
• ...I not Freddy. I Kellan!
• On your mark......get set..........hot dog!
• Dad, your the best!
• Wow! Did you SEE that?!
• ......so this boy at school...........
• Uh Oh! I hear Javen!
• 6.....5......4......uh oh!!!
• Can I take a bath?
• Did you brush your teeth?
• What? Are you kidding me?!
• Who loves Daddy? (all in unison) ME!
• Who clogged the toilet again?!
• How do you spell......?
• What da heck is going on?
• Boooya!
• Guess what I learned today.....
• Do you want to put your coat away or do you want me to take care of it for you?

• Mom, your the best.
• Can I open THIS present?
• On your mark.......get set.........go!
• What day is it again?
• Let's go Joe!
• ...I not Joe. I Kellan!
• Holy moly macaroni!
• Who loves Mommy? (all in unison) ME!
• Hey bud, let's get your medicine.
• Take a picture of me like this!
• Do I HAVE to eat that?
• ....but what if........
• You are wonderful!
• Can you roll this into a map?
• ♫ I like to toot it toot it. ♫ (Sung to the tune of I like to move it)
• Is Hayden coming today?
• 3........2.........Oh phew! I'm sooo glad you made it!
• Clean up your mess.
• Whyyyyyyyyyyy?????
• It wasn't me!
• Who loves Kellan? (all in unison) ME!
• Hands in!... 1-2-3 Family!!!!
• Hot dang!
• Dad, whatcha got there???
• Back breaker!!!
• See! That's why you're my favorite man!
• Don't look!
• Boooooom!!!
• I hear with my little ear.....
• Can I tell you a secret?.....I. Love. You.

Wordless Wednesday

...See that little blue dot on Baby Javen's forehead? .....See the marker in Happy Kellan's hands?

'Nough said.

Wordless Wednesday

I've been told (by my husband who can be quite technical about such things) that I it can't be called "Wordless Wednesday" because I use words as a caption at the bottom of the picture. So here is a a "Few Worded Wednesday" picture for you.

Corban: age 1 (a pirate for his second Halloween.)