Throw back Wednesday

I found this email as I was cleaning my inbox of  OVER 5,000! Sheesh. I don't think I believed in deleting or putting things into folders in my early days of gmail. Now that's the first thing I teach my kids!

Anyway. This email was to all of Kevin's female cousins' wives, his grandma Janice, and Lyndi. So basically anyone from that side of the family that didn't live close. It was sent 02/06/07. I was pregnant with Tennyson.I'm also going to include the responses to the email.

 The pictures below were also attached. Enjoy!

Hi everyone,
     Since we don't see each other that often, I'm taking a page from Katie's book and sharing our news through email. I hope we can see each other soon!
We have two big announcements this month. On Jan. 25th we found out we are having a little boy! Karaia was a bit disappointed about not getting a sister. This pregnancy just isn't working out for her. No twins and no sister. But, she has thrown her sorrow into naming her new brother. The current frontrunner for her is Marvin..............which is really a step up since her first choice was Dinosaur Web. Beckham has refined his name choice to 
Buzzlightyear The Robot Daly. Kevin and I currently have no favorites. Or even a list for that matter. And on Jan 13th we bought a van. WeLOVE the extra room and that we can transport more than just our little family now. We bought a new 2006 Toyota Sienna.
   In Jan. we also took a trip to Bear Lake (in our new van with the extra room) and we went snowmobiling (no Emilie did not go) and extreme sledding. Karaia loved both and Beckham's pretty sure making a child participate in those kinds of activities can be categorized as abuse. The "hill" was about 1/4 mile long and VERY steep and fast. Karaia could not get enough of it. "I just like to scream on the way down", she told us. Beckham wouldn't even SIT on the sled...... even while it wasn't moving. Emilie finally put him on the sled kicking and screaming and just pulled him around awhile. He did eventually warm up to snowmobiling. And when we asked him later what his favorite part of the day was he said, "The snowman building ride".
    Speaking of funny things our kids say. Karaia was asking about baptism and she wanted to know if you got baptised with your clothes on because you go in the water. We told her yes, and explained how they are white because they symbolize being clean. Then Emilie said that when you come up out of the water all of your sins and mistakes are washed away. Karaia asked, "Do they go to the bottom?". To which Emilie explained, "No, you can't see them. It's kind of like a metaphor." There was a long pause from Karaia after which she finally announced, "Mom, I think you're speaking Spanish."
     Beckham's been learning what letters words start with and had quite the amusing if not confusing conversation with Kevin.
Beckham : "B is for me!"
Kevin: "I thought M was for me."
Beckham: "No, M is for mommy. D is for you!"
Kevin: "I thought Y was for you."
Beckham: "No! B is for me!"
 Aw the mind of a 2 year old :)

Love, Em

-------------------------------------------------

Katie Longhurst	2/6/07

love it!  keep them coming. 

kade and i laughed so hard at beckham and kevins conversation, classic!

--------------------------------------------------

Teresa Longhurst

Hi Emilie--I laughed out loud at your email.  Thanks for sending it to me.  We just bought a van too.  I keep telling myself over and over, "I can still be cool and drive a van!"

Hope to see you soon,

Teresa

---------------------------------------------------

Janice Holmgre

Thank you.  I love getting these letters and pictures.  I copied the family one for the frig.  Love Grandma Janice

--------------------------------------------------

Sanders, Sonja, and Glasses

Sanders has been friends with Sonja from nearly the second he was born. They are only two weeks apart. She being the older one.

Last year, whenever anyone asked Sanders or Sonja if they were going to get married, they both would basically say, "Duh! Obviously." Sonja even gave Sanders a darling framed picture of the two of them for his birthday...all her own idea. He keeps it on his night stand and makes sure it never tips over for very long.

This year, well, they are in first grade. First grade is different than kindergarten in a lot of ways. The biggest social way is that they are starting to care a little more about what everyone thinks. It's a shame really, to see their innocent personalities become contained into acceptable boxes. But it also provides for some humorous insight.

Sanders hasn't hung out with Sonja for awhile for a number of reasons. Curious Beckham asked him at breakfast the other day, "Sanders, do you still like Sonja?"

He stopped mid-bite, turn his head so he was fully facing Beckham, and stated in all seriousness, "If you want to keep your love a secret, you don't play with each other," and then continued with his cereal.

I can't wait to hear what comes out of that kid's mouth sometimes!

Sanders earned some plastic glasses for good behavior at school. He since getting them, he worn them all day at school and home for nearly two weeks straight. Sometimes he even sleeps in them! I asked if they were really comfortable to which he told me, "No, not really. They kind of hurt my ears." HAHAHAHA! What a great kid!

He has big plans to spray paint them black and be Harry Potter for Halloween.

Inside the mind of the 5

More reading adventures today. 

Looking at the picture You would think the sounds of the top row would belong to the letters "C, G , & Q". Instead the kindergartner quickly told me the sounds of each word belonged to "B, N, & F". "B" for black cat, "n" because he's a Naked gorilla, and "f" for the picture of the two friends. Clearly.

Sanders =1 boring answers=0

In a magazine? It's ok. You're second!

Sanders and I are quite the team these days. Everyone else is in full time school and while he'll lament, "I am behind everyone!", he gets a lot of perks for being the only one vying for my attention that I really don't feel too bad for him. 

But, after today, maybe I need to step up my game. 

We were walking into Joann's to see if we could find the magazine that had an article about me in it (I KNOW!!! More on that in a second). I told him I needed to hold his hand in the parking lot, but he was welcome to let go when we got to the side walk.

"Plus," I added, "I know you like me a little bit."

 (side note: I was being totally sarcastic because normally he won't let anyone BUT me do things with him. A serious mama's boy...or so I thought)

"Okay. You are my second favorite adult."

"Second? Who's your first?"

"Dad! It goes in a pattern Dad, you, Dad, you. "

---------------------------

When Kevin got home from work today, armed with the knowledge of the above story, he asked,

"Hey, Sanders, who's your favorite adult?"

"You!"

"Who's your second favorite?"

"Mom!" Looks over at me as if he's just given me the greatest gift EVER.

"Who's your third favorite?"

"Sonja's mom! Well, actually my third favorite is Sonja's dad. *sigh* I've never seen Sonja's dad."

"Okay then...what about the grandmas?"

"OH! Actually, Nana is my fir...," looks at Kevin as if he's torn, "Okay, see there is a boy first and a girl first. Dad is the first boy and Nana is the first girl."

"Hey!" I shouted. " I don't even make it as your first favorite girl adult?!?!?"

"Mooom," he said soothingly, like someone trying to sell some really bad news by pretending it's awesome,  "you are riiiiight next to Nana! You're second!!!!"

Man. 

Good thing the magazine thing has me on a high today.

 

That's me! In an actual magazine you can buy at a store. A store other people go to and might buy it and bring it into their homes. SO weird and cool! I bought mine at Barnes and Noble, but, as I mentioned, I headed on over to Joann's to see if the magazine was available in a more main stream quilting location. 

It totally was!

The Quilter Magazine published an article about my journey and Modern Yardage in their Feb/Mar 2014 issue. It ended up being THREE pages. 

Hold on a sec while I pick my jaw up off the floor.

It also features some projects I have sewn as well as some sewn by my Sister-in-law Danica. 

 (My projects are the skirt --worn by Karaia in this picture--- and the faux cathedral window pillow. Danica sewed the tea towels and the table runner)

  

  

It's true you can't win them all, but I am sure grateful for the balance in the universe today!

Sucked back in

Sanders called me from the bed he was supposed to be sleeping in, "Mom, I have to tell you something so hurry up and say, 'What?'".

Sigh 

"What?"

"You're cute, Mom."

How do they do that? Just when you are ready to put them up for sell, they suck you right back in with their cuteness.

Dang, cute, kids.

Also, isn't Ferb the best?!?

Beckhamism

"Daniel is SUCH a friend. He helps me through all my pains."

~ Beckham, 3rd grade, Age 9...going on 60

I feel love with you

Today Sanders walked into the living room. I was in the kitchen. He stopped, looked at me, gasped, and then ran and put his little arms around me legs.

Looking up at my face he said, "I feel love with you! I want to marry you!"

"You do? What did I do to earn your love?"

"You snuggle with me."

Tonight he set the table and whispered to me, "I gave you the first fork because you snuggle with me."

Those two little interactions make everything worth it and then some.

The definition

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

I'm so grateful Tennyson and I had a wonderful day yesterday because today was exactly the reason Heavenly Father gives you good days so you have a little reserve to pull from. Tennyson is still learning to listen to his body and take the appropriate measures when it tells him to. (Yes, I know this is potentially embarrassing for him and I realize my blog is public AND I also print my blog into a book for my children to read. But guess what, this is my real life and it isn't always pretty and quite often things are embarrassing. I have no wish to scar my children, but I do wish to document what our life was really like. The good, the great, the awful, the embarrassing, the wonderful, the silly, the unhappy, the joyful, all of it. I want it all down where we can remember it and grow from it. )

Anyway, off my soap box now.

Tennyson is working on stuff and today seemed to be one of those days he decided not to work so hard on it. Sigh. He will be in first grade in a few months. It's a concern. Mostly because he really is SUCH a great kid. His giggle is amazing and infectious. He is so independent and gets things done when he sets his mind to it. He has an incredible mind for inventions. He is a wonderful friend. Even when we are super frustrated with each other and I don't like the choices he's made and he doesn't like the consequences he's earned, that I'm enforcing, he still will curl in my arms for a hug if I offer it. I try to offer it when I am most mad so I can remember he is still little and we are both still learning.

But nothing seems to be helping the learning in this area. Day after day, multiple times a day. Night has it's own set of things we deal with, but I'm not worried about that. Sometimes a body just needs to grow more to be able to handle the night. But the day? Yeah, that one should be handled. already.

I really have no idea what to do. It doesn't seem to matter what he is or isn't doing at the time his body tells him it is time to move! It's frustrating and I worry it will affect how he thinks about himself. I want him to focus on the good. Are you kidding? I want to focus on the good, but it's tremendously hard when his behaviors require multiple consequences for the SAME behavior during one day.

Sigh.

I've got to change the way I'm doing things. I'm just not sure what. 

Someday, Tennyson. You can do this!!!! Go Mr. T!

To completely change subjects, my dear friend, Jo'ell, had some complications shortly after delivering a baby yesterday. It was pretty scary stuff most of the day today and I asked the kids to include her in all of their prayers. Later in the day the kids asked me how she was doing.

"Well, she was bleeding a lot and they couldn't get it to stop so they had to do surgery to stop it."

Rolling his eyes and shaking his head, Sanders piped up in the background, "No, no, no. They should have just used a band aid!"

Ah kids. I would never trade this job for anything! No matter what.

T time and a dress

Mr. T doesn't have school for the next few days because of kindergarten testing. Everyone else has a regular schedule which means I get some one on one time with the middle child-sh. It doesn't happen nearly as much as I'd like.

I took him to the gym with me today. They have a little room for the kiddos to play in. It has a big window that the kids can see what we are doing and we can check on them. We were doing back squats today and were supposed to go as heavy as safely possible. The first set I did (we were supposed to do 4 in a set on the back squats because they were supposed to be very heavy, then jump into 12 front squats ahap with the barbell and then 25 squat box jumps. That would complete a set and we had to do 3 sets) I had 65 lbs on my back. But there was this other bar all set up that I could see out of the corner of my eye. It looked heavy. WAY too heavy for me. But I thought for my second set, why not. I'll just try and if I have to bail, I'll bail.

I stepped up to the rack, got under the bar, lifted it off it's rest with my back just below my shoulders, went down into my squat---below parallel---and found myself on my way back to standing. I did it! Then I finished the other 3!!!

When I grabbed Tennyson after I had finished I said, "Guess how much weight I just did a back squat with?!? 115 lbs!!!"

With HUGE eyes he said, " Wow.......was the bar all bendy on the ends? Because in cartoons, when it's really heavy, it's bendy on the ends."

Love that kid.

Then we went shopping for some new flip flops for him. Turns out we hit a good sale and ended up getting a bunch for everyone. He LOVED helping me chose just the right ones for each kid.

It was so much fun to be with him. We have our not so great moments together and it was just so nice to refill our cups with positive interaction.

My mom bought some of my fabric and made herself a dress. She made up the pattern and it is awesome!

 Didn't she do a great job?! She even added pockets! And there is piping all over the place. Such great little details to have.

She ran right over as soon as she was finished. Such a fun memory to have together. She wants me to take more pictures when she has her hair done and make-up on. I will, but I think she looks pretty cute as is.

Thank you, Mom, you did an incredible job!

The breaks

Today I had plans.

Plans to get a lot done on my designs so I can be more present in my life. AND because my feature month starts June 1st! I've got to get this line done.

But right from the get go, someone else had other plans.

I stayed up late last night to get a job start on my usual Monday duties. And by late I mean early. And by early I mean 3:00am.  Which also meant that I did not get up with the kids. However, we have this great chart, or so I thought, and my nagging is no longer necessary.

Turns out the kids completely forgot that the chart is law even if mom is not there to remind them of this little fact.  By the time I was woken up, albeit to kids playing silly with each other, at 8:05am they were FAR from being where they should have been having been up for over an hour. Some of them had still not eaten breakfast. WHAT?!?!?!?!

Sigh.
 
Sanders slept in until about 8:20. That was wonderful. Although it did put him quite a bit behind and by the time he finished all of his stuff, playgroup had been going for almost 45 mins and he really just wanted to stay home.

So, I let him. I thought, I'll just turn on a show and I know I've lost 45 mins of design time, but spending that time with Sanders was important and he will be perfectly happy to sit and watch his show.

And that's true, he did. But then PYP stuff went up in smoke and I ran around putting fires out during the time he was absorbed in his stuff.

Soon it was time for Tennyson to come home. Wonderful! I thought I'll feed them lunch and then Sanders can finish his show with Tennyson and then they can play together while I get some design stuff done.

However, Tennyson's homework today, while usually something he can do on his own, felt extra challenging to him today and he needed his mom. Which I was happy to do. THEN the garage door man came because our garage wouldn't shut this morning. Although when he asked what was the problem and I told him and then pushed the button it went down just fine. Of course! Still, the garage door was hanging crooked so he fixed it for us. The best news is the whole thing only cost $80! Best news of the day!

Meanwhile, Sanders and Tennyson were having battle of the siblings, while Tennyson was still trying to finish homework and then get to eating his lunch.

After all of that, I had time for one file before PYP stuff needed attention again. Then more moments with the boys. They were good, they were just unplanned. Which is great, but it means less time for the things I thought I was supposed to be doing today.

By the time that was all over, Karaia and Beckham came home. We talked school stuff and Beckham talked about being nervous for his baseball game tonight. They were playing the most challenging team in the league.

My friend Nicki's computer was throwing a fit and she asked if she could come use mine for a bit. I LOVE that! So nice to have friends that feel comfortable in your home. It was nice to chat with her for a while.

While all of this was going on, I learned that the printer at Modern Yardage was also throwing a fit today and not a whole lot of anything was happening down there either.

That's when I paused.

What was I supposed to be learning/doing today instead of what I had planned? Clearly, the Lord was throwing every possible road block in my path to get me to stop or slow down. Or was this a trial to see how I would chose to take the day or because really good things will happen when this get done and someone doesn't like when good things happen? Either way, someone was trying to put on the breaks and slow things down. It felt a lot more like gentle reminders than thwarting.

Thankfully, I felt stressed, but calm most of the day. If that makes any sense? I knew I had stuff that needed to get done, but even if my end was done the warehouse wouldn't have been able to do anything with it today anyway. So there was no point in really stressing over it. I just did my best.

Beckham lost his baseball game. He even struck out twice and was the last out twice. He was doing a pretty good job handling it. I wasn't able to go and he said,

 "I'm glad you didn't come. The PAIN! The HORROR! I'm glad you didn't see that."

I made sure he knew I can't possibly love him less because he strikes out...ever.

On the way home Kevin and Beckham saw a rainbow that looked like it ended right at the top of our street. Kevin said, "Look! That rainbow ends at the top of the road. Let's go find the pot of gold."

"Ok! Yes, let's go find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!!!"

"There isn't really a pot of gold at the end."

"Way to crush my dreams, Dad."

That kid is so funny!

Here it is almost 10pm and I have still only completed about 6 out of 50 files that need to be done. I feel, though, that everything is happening in the time frame it needs to. I have faith that while I don't think there is enough time to get things done Someone else can see more of the picture than me.

So I will pay heed to the breaks and enjoy the slower pace

Lunch and Burps

Meghan and I took my mom out to lunch for her 55th birthday which was on Monday.

We ended up talking a lot about babies. Which is an ironic lunch topic for a 55 year old's birthday.

Mom is very, VERY good at helping me out in a jam. She loves to help in any way she can and I always find I am short on the right words to tell her just how much it makes a big difference in my life. I know she would love to just hang out and talk with me, and that time is quickly approaching, but more often I need her to watch children so I can streamline my life.

The kids always feel like they have hit the jack pot when I tell them Nana is coming. They usually ask me to leave.

Thank you Mom! I hope you felt as loved as you are on your birthday.

Changing topics all together, I've been fighting a bug for the last few days. It finally caught up with me about 4 o'clock. I put Karaia in charge, texted Kevin that I was clocking out, and then crawled into bed.

Kevin had a few outside chores he needed to get done when he got home. He took the kids out with him until it was bed time and then he brought in the youngest two. Sanders was distraught because everyone else got to mow the lawn a little, but Kevin, wisely, reminded him that he is only 4. We worked out a solution for Sanders to mow, with MUCH assistance and for a very short time.

When Kevin brought him in again, Sanders took of his shoe and shook the bottom of it in my face saying, "Look! They aren't green! I didn't mow for a long enough time!"

Bawahahahahahha!

I helped him get his jammas on, read him a book, tucked him in and then crawled back in bed. 5 minutes later he came to the side of my bed and said, "I'm sick too. I keep burping (proceeding to make himself burp) and that means I'm sick."

"You're not sick. Get back to bed."

"I am sick. (burp) See?!"

"Well, then the best thing to do is to get to bed."

"GUYS! (yelling to his siblings in the other room) Nobody can get near me because I am sick."

"Mom, tomorrow you need to give me toast. We always get toast when we are sick. "

"Sanders, burping doesn't mean your sick.

" But when I drink it gets stuck in my throat and makes me burp. That means I'm sick. "

"Go to bed."

"Don't forget the toast tomorrow."

"Bed."

"(burp. Burp. Burp) I need toast because I am sick. I'm going to be sick forever. So that means I need toast."

"TO. BED."

"Toast"

Thankfully, Kevin came in at this point. 4 year olds who belong to stubborn moms are just so....stubborn ;)

Gracie Grayson

Yesterday was one comedy routine after another. I continually found myself being grateful I had the presence of mind to appreciate all that happened in it's full, humorous, context.

Tennyson has been a bit constipated since being so sick. It's a natural thing. Sunday I thought I might die sitting next to him. He kept tooting ( yes, that is the word we use in our home...even Kevin). They were the silent but deadly type. We took him to the restroom multiple times, but we should have just started passing out gas masks.

Hillarious!

We think perhaps he just needed space to think. He started a book that  he says he is going to work on every Sunday called, " The Princess and the Angry Mustard Bottle". One can only imagine our suspense for each week's addition.

Sanders told Kevin, " I want to write letters that aren't numbers OR ABCs". Maybe Tennyson will use the new alphabet for his book.

A little boy escaped his mom. I snagged him and decided to entertain him. The mom was at church without her husband and I have always been so grateful for everyone who has helped me with my little ones. I was beyond thrilled to pay it forward.

Sanders was insistent about find out his name so he walked back and asked his mom. She whispered it to him. He informed us it was Gracie. I suggested that perhaps he had misheard as Gracie is usually a girls name. "You go ask her. You'll see it's Gracie."

Instead he went and asked again. Turns out it was Grayson. Sanders thought it was hilarious that he had misheard it the first time.

Striped Face

While playing play dough with Sanders he looked at me and very matter of fact stated,

 "Oh. You have stripes on your face. You're going to die soon,"

and then went back to playing as if he never had announced my impending demise.

"Excuse me? What stripes?"

"Those ones. On your forehead."

"Oh! You mean wrinkles. Wait...wrinkles do NOT mean I am going to die soon thankyouverymuch!"

I'm a little concerned that HE was not more concerned at the thought of his mother's departure.

Also, what is he going to say when he learns that gray hairs are also a sign of aging?

Only learning

Before Tennyson went on his field trip yesterday I texted his teacher to see if he would be needing his backpack. I let Tennyson know that she texted me back and said he wouldn't need it. His immediate response was to throw his fists in the air, arch his back and yell,

"WAHOO! No work, only learning!"

Tennyson's plan

Tennyson's first field trip is tomorrow. He can barely contain his soul in his body for how excited he is.

He said," Here's my plan. I'm going to sleep in until my alarm goes off (...Umm...I'll believe that when I see it) then I'm going to get dressed. Then I'm going to eat breakfast. Then I'm going to do my hair. Then I'll have time to play. THEN I'm going to get my snow pants on and my boots and my gloves and my coat and my hat. And then I'm going to go on a field  trip! "

I realized this fieldtrip meant everything to him when I picked him up from school and he told me, "Mom, all the moms who are coming were on a list and you weren't on there."

My heart broke a little. I would have been there in a heart beat if I had known his dream included me there.

His teacher smoothed it over telling him not all the moms could come so maybe next time.

You better believe I'm not going to miss next time!

Email

Karaia got a player for Christmas that also does videos, camera, and internet. We have strict rules about where and when she gets to use this fun toy. To get everything set up we had to create an email account for her. She remembered that yesterday and has been sending me random emails. While I was at the conference I got this one

"Hey mom this is Karaia guess what while I was making mac and cheese for lunch I burned my self and it hurts soooooooo bad!"

"Oh, I'm so sorry! How did you burn yourself?"

 "While I was pouring the noodles in to the strainer and put my arm flat on the pot I pulled my arm away from the pot and found out that it burned me. It HURTS!"

"Oh sad :-( is it a big burn?"

"yep its pretty big :-("

 It makes me pretty excited for when she can text. Random insights into her world.

I've also gotten ones like these complete with pictures. Yup, she's learned to talk a selfie, upload and attach it. She is always in a silly mood when she is taking her picture. Her main goal of the picture is to make me laugh...well, you'll see.

"you did a great job on your talk i'm glad I listend to it. I made my heart feel happy"

 I have also gotten an email with the subject of "Advice" it read, "9 was a good age"

And then this one

"Love you too!"

She cracks me up!

Reminder

Almost forgot to blog tonight. 

My nephew was over and Tennyson was trying to talk to me. I was texting or checking my calendar or something like that on my phone, responding with uhuhs and mmmms with my back to Tennyson,  when Evan said, "Emilie, Tennyson is trying to talk to you."

This is amazing for a number of reasons. Evan was recently diagnosed with Autism. He usually only speaks to me in a whisper and has only very, very recently spoken to me on his own accord without any prompting from me. And he NEVER has used my name to address me before. The fact that he recognized I was being socially inappropriate and called me on it, is, quite frankly, a miracle in my eyes on so many levels. I was very grateful to recognize it for what it was. As well as to hear the reminder, from a child, that it's important to BE there for my children. Everything else can wait.

Evan also kept me laughing. He ran into the kitchen, skidded to a stop and said, "Uh oh! I need a snack!"

Kids are the best!

Cupid's arrow and other painful matters

Sanders does NOT like wearing church clothes. To be fair, who really does? Well, I do, but only because I like wearing dresses, but that's beside the point.

Anyway.

Sanders doesn't. He acts like you are chopping off a limb just when you talk about it. When he found out that his preschool was having a Tea Party today for Valentine's Day AND you were supposed to wear your best clothes because it helps you use your best manners he formed a plan. He started his campaign on Monday.

In a this is law and shall be obeyed kind of way he announced, "Mom, I am NOT going to wear church clothes on Thursday."

"Mrs. Karen asked you to."

"Not going to do it."

"We'll figure something out."

And similar variations for the rest of the week. I noticed his campaign seeping into all his other conversations.

"Beckham, I'm going to have a mustache and lips party for my birthday!....but NOT with church clothes!" 

In the end he settled for a nice sweater as long as he got to wear a plain t-shirt, NOT a church shirt, underneath it. I also talked him into his church shoes. Extra bonus!

At the Tea Party today I got to help with some games. We were playing Bingo. Sanders pointed to a bow and arrow and asked who it was again that welded that weapon."

"Cupid. He shoots those arrows to make people fall in love."

"Oh right. Cupid. Nobody loved Cupid so he shot them with his arrows...and killed them."


Something like that, Buddy, something like that.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Green Clause

If you come to our home, and want to see the inside of Sanders' room, there is a new qualification you must pass.

 I was barley made aware of this new standard. He put the tape on the wall and then came and handed me a pen and told me what to write.

 Luckily, Tennyson says he likes green, "a little bit."

Front row

The two little boys got to the chapel first. They LOVE change and are always trying to get us to sit at a different bench. You have to understand that sitting in a different bench in church would just mess people up. Everyone sits in the same bench, every week, for years and years. It's just what happens. 

Well, today the stars aligned in Tennyson and Sanders' favor. They got to the chapel first and half of the ward was gone and, AND, they asked their dad before they asked me. 

Do you know what bench they chose? The front one, thankfully off to the side. At first I reacted like this, "Oh, I do not think so. That is so not going to work. No way!" Then Kevin and the two boys pulled puppy dogs eyes on and I caved. 

Sigh. 

But they were so go, comparatively. I mean, my boys will always be boys that don't sit quietly compared to girls, but for them, they were excellent. 

Karaia, on the other hand, had to be convinced by more than just me (read other members of our ward) that she needed to move and sit with her family in the front. When we finally got my oldest, my only girl, my 10 year old up to the front bench, she sat there and cried and pouted and then pulled her head into her coat like a turtl. And then she just got mad. 

Kevin and I were laughing so hard because we'd look over and she was just mumbling under her breath about things not being fair and how she will NEVER sit on the front again. all the while fervently writing in her little note book. So Kevin smiled at her. Which caused a  chain reaction of notes back and forth between the two of them. Karaia handed Kevin the paper she had been attacking in her semi-silent fury. It looked something like this:

"never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never..."

You get the picture. 

Kevin wrote, " We are going to sit on the front row every week until you are happy." He was stifling a laugh the whole time. 

Karaia's rebuttal was,"Then I will always be grumpy."

Ha!

Technically she has 3 more years until she is a teenager. As if! 
( Hair flip and mouth left open) This is going to be hilarious!