Seeking Advice

In a recent church magazine, I read an article about keeping your children reverent while in the sacrament meeting.

It recommended using a church related smart phone app.

Do you think it is appropriate for children (or adults) to play on their phones at church?

Ruthiegirl@aol.com

When they get it

"Mom, as soon as we get home, I am going to bed."

[It's 6:00pm.]

Ok, are your allergies killing you?

"No, I just want to wake up with a happy face."

Breakfast

What do you want for breakfast, sweetheart?

Umm... It's looks like throw up. And it's gray.

Oatmeal?!

Yes!

Ethan's parent teacher conference

I was so worried about my first parent teacher conference for Ethan. Was he ready for school?

The teacher told me how they tested all of the students for the school district standards. The kids were asked to point to all of the four-sided shapes, like squares, rectangles, and even a rhombus. However, Ethan also pointed to the arc. "I am sorry Ethan that is wrong," said the testing administrator. The teacher said Ethan put up a fight until he was able to explain himself, "but it has four sides and four vertexes!"

The teacher said Ethan is her "out of the box thinking kid."

Just tonight he also said:

"Mom, do you know this little grape can grow up to be much bigger?"
"Not anymore, you picked it off the tree."
"MOM, they grow on VINES!"

Talking about his flu spray I said, "Did they spray it in both nose holes?"
"MOM, they are called nostrils!"

I think he is doing just fine.

I love you more than...

In our house we commonly end the night in a loving competition of I love you more than.

Last night, Ethan said, "I love you more than the solar system." Just impressed that he knew the phrase solar system, I said, "I love you more than Pluto."

To which he responsed, "Mom! Pluto isn't even a planet. It is just a star."

"Yes, Ethan, I heard that."

"Do you know what happened?! It got hit by a huge meteor, and now it is just a tiny little blue star."


After a doing a small google search, I can verify that pluto is a blue-gray star, but I haven't found a credible source regarding Pluto being hit by a meteor. Where does he get his information?

Larissa, Fashion, & Snow

I just bought tickets to the polar express. It sold out early last year, and this year my kids ages will be perfect!

Mom: Larissa, we are going to go see Santa right before Christmas on a train in the snow.

Larissa: (Jumping up and down) YES!

PAUSE

Larissa: I am going to need a new jacket. And I am not going to wear those black things [snow bibs].

Say What- Christian Version

I love my kids' preschool. They memorize a scripture each month, and if I have something to do, they can go to the extended lunch group. However, being a Christian/Baptist school brings a whole new set of say-whats.

Jesus is real... just like Santa.
Someone put Jesus in your heart.
You have a black heart if you don't believe in Jesus.
Did you know there is a big book about Jesus?

And my favorite... Larissa asking to sing the prayer.

dot-com

The weather is getting nice, so let the outside play resume! Unfortunately, I can't keep shoes on Ethan. Ethan came inside crying about his splinter.



"Mom, do something... go to splinter-take-it-out-dot-com, and find out how to take it out!"

Wisdom Beyond His Years

"Mom, you have a lot of love in your tears."
-Ethan, age 4

Grow Up

MOM: Raea, what do you want to be when you grow up?
RAEA: A fashion designer, for dresses.

MOM: Ethan?
ETHAN: A mommy's helper

A Warm Feeling In Your Bossom

I never know how much my kids actually listen during church, however, last Sunday while in the Sacrament Meeting, Ethan stopped and said, "Mom, he said Holy Ghost! What's that?"

It helps you make good choices.

"Oh, like your heart?"

It Was Too Quiet Here

Where is your sister?
In my closet.
IN YOUR CLOSET?!
Um, not exactly.
NOT EXACTLY!?!

Larissa was in the closet! She was safely playing with the door closed and closet light on. I have a thought who shut the door.

Last Attempt

Yesterday, I asked Grant one more time if we could name the baby Warren. As a part of my argument I asked, "So what are we going to nickname Herston?"

"Ruth, you don't plan nicknames. They just come. You can't plan everything."

Then Raea said, "Dad, Mom can do whatever she wants." I only smiled to Grant indicating that I wanted Warren.

Then she said, "Too bad his name is already Herston."

A Good Dad

This past week or so, Ethan has been calling Grant, "da-da." It really bothers me because this is new, and he is a good talker.

Today, Ethan said, "I call my daddy, da-da."
"I know Ethan, why?"
"Because he is a good father."

One From Everyone

Larissa was protesting going into her crib. She started to sing, "no". She used many different tones and pitches. When no one would come get her, she followed the path of her older sister and spelled it out, "N-O". What a genius!

Ethan had a ant bite or other small red dot on his skin. "Oh, no, Mom! I have chicken-pops!" Raea responded, "It's not chicken-pops; it's chicken-dots."

This morning Raea saw a bag in the kitchen and asked to see what was inside. After I said no, she protested. Finally I said it was stuff for Easter, so I couldn't show her. Then she said, "You can tell me. I am really good at forgetting." (Ten minutes later she corrected herself when Man in the Mirror was on the radio. "OK, mom. I am really good at forgetting stuff except songs.")

Grant always tells the kids they can stay up as long as they are scratching his back. Ethan gave the best excuse ever, and Grant turned straight for me and said, "Don't blog that!"

A Typewriter

Raea found one of my cowboy hats that had a cheetah band. She assumed that my Mom got it for me when I was young. Then Raea said, "Wow, your Mom was cool. She got you whatever you wanted. What did you want for Christmas?"

"A typewriter."

SIDE NOTE: I did ask and get a typewriter when I was in second grade, about 1986, because I wanted to be a writer. For some reason I gave up that passion, so that I could be a math star.

"What's a typewriter?"

And that is when it hit me. I am old.

Tough Love

Today Raea insisted on wearing her "pretty shoes" today even after our long discussion. They are open-toed silver shoes, and it's freezing outside.

As we walked to school, I could see my breath. My babies were wearing long-sleeve onesies under their blanket sleepers then wrapped in their blankets.

Raea said her cheeks were cold, and knowing what I was going to say next she stated, "but my toes are fine!"

Life Is Good

On the drive home, a homeless man watched Grant and I tried to get the kids out of the car, with shoes on, and then make them go potty.

He came up to Grant and said, "Watching you makes my life look good. Now I don't feel so bad."

New Name

"Mom."
"Yeah, Raea."
'We should change Ethan's middle name."
"Really?"
"Yeah, it should be Handsome. You know because he is always so handsome."

Where's C?

Within seconds of arriving in Raea's room, Raea's cousin stops, looks around, and says, "Where is C?"

1. How smart.
2. How observant.
3. Good question!