Gross!

In fifth and six grades, the boy and girls have a special assembly. I am sure each of us remembers this "special assembly" ....the girls and boys maturation program. Conner is growing up to be a fine young man. He brought his note home and showed it to Niel and I. It was topic of conversation at dinner. Niel said he would be willing to attend. Garrett had a funny look on his face as we discussed a few things about the topic.

Conner said, "At least I am not a girl. And I am glad I don't have to go to the girl's part"

"That's gross!" Garrett said with a disgusted look on his face. Niel and I just looked at each. I am sure we were thinking the same thing, "What does Garrett know of the maturation program? He is only 6 years old?"

With much wonderment I asked Garrett, "Gar. What do you know about the girl's maturation program?"

"The girl's part is gross!! They talk about how to put on bra's!! Yuck!"

haha... I couldn't help but laugh!!

Birthday Party Crash

Our cousin Brynlee was celebrating her 6th birthday and invited the entire family to come along. The big event was being held a Boondock, a local mini golf, slick track, indoor video game, laser tag with pizza place. It happens to be one of the boys most favorite places. Because of the cold weather the party was held inside. The arcade kept all the kids entertained while the parents were in the pizza parlor enjoy small talk.
It was time for cake! All the kids were gathering up.... coming from the arcade into the pizza parlor. Now, the pizza and cake area were separated by a nice, shiny clean window wall that was very think. The thick glass wall was a perfect way to quiet the pizza room down, allowing the arcade area to be extra loud..... but it also gave everyone a view from either side.
I was standing inside the pizza parlor with my back turned away from the glass wall. Zander had just finished playing a really awesome game and wanted to tell me all about it. He started to walk through all the many rows of arcades, making his way to the pizza parlor for cake but also with much enthusiasm to tell me all about his game experience. Once he was past the games, but still quit far away from the pizza parlor, he saw me through the window. Immediately he took off in a quick run. "Mom! Mom!" He was all smiles and running as quickly as his small little feet would carry him. His small little eyes didn't see the think, see-threw glass wall.

**SMACK!!! **BANG!***

He hit the think glass wall head first. The hard hit threw his little body about 4 feet into the air and onto the floor. The sound of the hit was extremely loud. It drew everyone's attention. People on both sides of the glass turned their attention to see what the loud bang was. I turned myself around to find Zander, laying on the floor, with a dazed look in his eyes. I don't even think he knew what happened. His amazed looked soon turned to pained look as his head started to protrude ever so slightly with a nice little goose bump. Tears of shock and pain welled in his eyes and his arms stretched out for someone to help him. Good thing Niel was close by to comfort him. I ran over to see if he was all right.

"Mom, I just wanted to tell you I won the race!" I laughed just a little and then examined his head. He seemed all right. Zander has had many head bumps in his life, this one wasn't too bad.... just really loud. Together we went over to the think glass wall to see if he left a mark, just a slight smudge....laugh!

After a little cake, birthday songs, and presents..... Zander was as good as new and ready to challenge me to an arcade game race!

Snowboarding

It was a beautiful, wintery Saturday. Stockton and Garrett had been practicing their snowboarding skills on a nearby hill in a park close to our house. The three of us thought it would be a great idea to see how well their snowboarding skills had become. We headed up to Sundance with very happy faces.
We received several smiles and fingers pointing at Garrett, as he was the smallest little snowboarder on the mountain. I thought it was very cute and I was proud of both of them for taking on the big challenge of snowboarding. I also was prepared for the patience that would be required for the day, but I was looking forward to the challenge.

Our first lesson was learning to get off the lift. I remembered how scary getting off the lift was for me my first time down. I was not sure what the boys were expecting, but I gave them a few pointers. Then, we climbed up the hill a little ways and we pretended we were all getting off the lift together. The boys seemed all right with the instruction and anxious to get on the mountain.

We got in the long line and each of us waited with anticipation. When it came our turn we all shuffled our way out in place. Stockton's shuffling was a little to slow for the fast lift. I tried to grab him, but I didn't help him at all. The lift came and knocked him right over.... then, it ran over him. The lift operators stopped the lift immediately. They had to swing the lift up and pick Stockton up off the icy ground. Stockton was all smiles! He told them thanks and just laughed!! That is Stockton for you.... everything is funny! I don't think I have ever heard him cry in pain, unless he is trying to get one of his brother's in trouble.

Once we were all safely on the lift, we laughed, talked, and watched all the other snowboarders. The boys were super cute and I loved to being up there with them. Getting off the lift was simple. Garrett was a little scared, but he made it off well. We buckled on our boards and started going down the mountain. Garrett took off with no problems. Stockton got off pretty good too. They both fell a lot, but they got back up a lot too. They were doing pretty good! Well, as long as they were on a hill.

The next part was fairly flat. It meant they couldn't fall because falling would slow them WAY down and make it hard to get moving. It only took one fall for Garrett, he completely lost it. He started crying. Stockton fell too, but he kept getting up and doing his best to keep his board moving. It wasn't long before Garrett got so frustrated he was beyond reasoning. As I watched and tried to help Garrett, Stockton kept at it. He got up time and time again..... and every time he did it with much excitement. He went all the way down the mountain and by the time he was done, he was pretty good. He had learned the basics by falling and getting back up. Stockton absolutely loved it!

Garrett made it down the hill too but we decided to spend a little more time practicing. He is pretty young to tackle the big mountain just yet. I learned a valuable lesson from Stockton watching him getting up when it was hard, maintaining a positive attitude in a difficult situation, and making it fun! When we got into the car Stockton said, "Mom, now I am so bored! I am going to be bored until I get to go snowboarding again! That was the most exhilarating day of my life!!"

Not only can Stockton make himself happy, but he knows how to make me smile too!

Phone Conversation with Zander

Zander was away for the holidays, spending time with his dad in Montana. It is always a pleasure to speak with him on the phone. His little mind thinks of the craziest things.

"Zander, guess what Santa Claus brought us for Christmas?" I said!

"What?"

"He brought us Rockband 2! Isn't that great! It even has the song 'Eye of the Tiger'!" I mention Eye of the Tiger because that happens to be one of his favorite songs.

"Oh! That is my favorite song! Does it have David Archuleta too?" Zander is a big David Archuleta fan. He sounded so excited!!

"Nope. It doesn't come with that song."

"Mom. Can you stop talking. I want to talk to Nielie now." I guess Zander didn't like my answer.

"Hi Niel!! Does Rockband have David Archuleta?" Zander asks with much excitement.

"No Zander. It doesn't. How are you doing?" Came Niel's response.

The two of them talk for a little while and every time I chime him to add a comment or something, Zander reminds me he is talking to Niel and I need to stop talking. haha!!! Of course when it comes time to say good bye Zander says....

"Niel, I love you! Now you need to say you love me too!"

"I love you too Zander." Niel says

Zander says, "Ok Mom. You can talk now! I love you!!!"

"I love you too Zander. Good bye!"

I sure do miss him and all the boys when they are gone!!!

Hiding

It was a normal busy morning. All the kids were up and getting ready for school. Niel and I had just finished up our morning prayers. It was freezing in our room, so we jumped on the bed to warm ourselves in the covers. We were snuggled up close to each other, trying to get warm.... and prolonging getting off to work.

We were enjoying warming up when we heard two little feet walk into our room. We heard the little feet come in, but we didn't raise our heads to see who it was. The little feet sounded like Zander. The little feet walked into our room and then stopped for a second. Then, the little feet walked around to our bathroom. They walked into the bathroom, paused, and then walked about again. It was obvious by the the pauses in steps that the little person was looking for us.

"Hello? Who is there?" Niel said loudly, to let the little person know we were in the room and to find out who it was.

"Who was that?" came the little voice. We recognized the little voice, with the little curious foot steps, belonging to Zander.

"Hello!" came Niel's voice again.

"Who is there?" Zander said, waiting for a response.

At this point is was pretty clear Zander couldn't see us in the bed, under the covers. He could hear Niel's voice, but he couldn't figure out where we were. Zander's little foot steps walked past the bed, across the bedroom, and over to the closet. His foot steps stopped. He looked into the closet and was perplexed when he couldn't see anyone there.

"Hello!" Niel said again.

"Where are you?" said Zander. This time, his voice had a slight hint of irritation. His little feet carried him across the bedroom and back over to the bathroom. Once again he couldn't find anyone in the bathroom. He just couldn't figure it out.

"I can hear you! WHERE ARE YOU?" By this time Zander was frustrated. He dashed out of the bedroom and into the hallway.

This time, Niel and I sat up and said, "Zander! Come back into our room. We are right here!"

Zander's little feet brought him back into the bedroom. He came in with an angry face.

"Stop teasing me! I can't find you!!"

Ah.... Zander cracks me up on a regular basis. He definitely started our morning with a good laugh!

Scared!

It was my day to pick up Gar and James from football practice. It was late, dark and cold. As I pulled up into the parking lot, I noticed there weren't many cars around at all. I was slightly perplexed and wondered where everyone was. Practice had been changed to a new school. I had dropped the boys off 2 hours earlier but they were late because I wasn't sure where I was going. The boys had told me they were at the right school and anxiously climbed out of the car.... they do not like to be late.

Now, it was two hours later.... and very dark outside. I got out of the car and walked around to the side of the school. I didn't see anyone. No one in the parking lot, no little football player. All I could hear was the sound of my car running. My first thought was practice must have gotten over early because it was so cold out. I figured the boys must have gotten a ride home from another parent in our neighborhood and I had just missed them. I climbed back into the car and started driving off slowly. I looked back one more time for any signs of the kids.... and still nothing. So, I headed home. A 10 minute drive.

When I walked in the door I was greeted by Stockton and Conner.... but no Garrett. I ran down to his bedroom... still nothing. He was not home. I then realized he must still be at the school park.... or worse, he was lost! My heart started racing. Poor little Garrett. He is only 6 years old! It was very dark and super cold outside. My mind started thinking terrible thoughts. I had to tell myself to calm down. No need to freak out yet. Just get back into the car and drive back to the school.... and start searching for the boys.

I drove as fast as my car could go. As I drove up.... there stood little Garrett, eyes red with tears. And poor James... his eyes red from crying too. It was a happy, sad moment. I was so happy to see them but I felt so bad for leaving them in the dark and not looking harder for them.

I ran over to Garrett. He was so upset. "Mom, why did you leave us?" He could barely talk. His little body was shivering from the cold weather and his fear. "Oh Garrett! I am so sorry! I came to pick you up and didn't see you. I thought someone else had given you a ride." With tears in his eyes he said, "We saw you drive away. We even said two sprayer that we would be safe. We were so cold!"

The boys had been sitting out in the cold, dark night for about 20 minutes... all alone! They thought I had left them there. They were far away from the house. I can't even imagine what their little minds thought. I was grateful they had thought to pray and I am so very grateful they had stayed still and not tried to start walking home or something. I felt very blessed they were both all right and safe.

As I tucked Garrett into bed that night he told me he was still upset with me. I asked him if he would ever forgive me. He said, "Maybe tomorrow! I am still cold!"

Numbers

The family woke up bright and early! It was the day of our BIG fun run! This was a local event in Provo canyon in which the entire family could participate. Niel and I enjoy running 5K's! It is a great way to stay in shape. Plus, it is really fun.
Niel, Conner and I signed up for the 5K. Stockton and Garrett signed up for 1/2 mile and Zander signed up for the 1/4 mile. Everyone was super excited as we woke up extra early.... everyone except for Stockton. He was dragging his feet, moving slower then usual, and had his head hang low. This is fairly unusual for Stocks. Most of the time he is the anxious one to get out and try something new. Although waking up early for exercise isn't his most favorite way to spend sleeping hours. I asked him, "What is wrong Stocks?"

"My least favorite number is 5 and I don't like the letter K!"

What a goof. He was still a good sport about it. Once he found out he got a medal and a prize for participating, he gave it his full Stockton effort! I was proud of him for crossing the finish line.