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.

Too Old!

Ever since I can remember, I have called the boys "sweetie". Most every day, I say "I love you" which is followed by a quick kiss. I have always enjoyed giving my boys these little signs of affection, and I always thought they appreciated it as well.

Conner has informed me, he is simply too old for these kinds of things....

I dropped Conner and his friends off for football practice the other day. As he was getting out of the car I said, "I love you sweetie! Have a great practice!" Conner just gave me this embarrassed look and rolled his eyes. Then, when I would have normally given him a quick kiss on the lips... he pushed his cheek towards me. HIS CHEEK! I figured it out pretty quickly, rather then embarrass him in front of his friends, I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and he jumped out of the car.

I sat there in the car for a little while in complete shock. Has Conner all ready become too old for his mother's sweet nothings? WOW! Where has the time gone? I guess he is 11 years old and I guess it "isn't cool" for a mom to still be calling her mature, football tough son "sweetie".

It has been an incredible journey to watch Conner grown from baby, to little boy, to big boy and then to a young man. But honestly, I have taken for granite those little kisses and sweet words back, "I love you too Mom!"

Later that night when I was tucking him into bed he said, "Mom, could you not kiss me or call me sweetie in front of my friends? Maybe you could just call me Bud or Kiddo, or something like that?" I hesitated for a second and then he said, "But I still love you Mom. I will always love you. I just don't want you to say it in front of my friends.... right before football!"

My little Conner is growing up!!! I am pleased with the man he is becoming, and I will forever miss the little boy he once was.

Boys Humor

Me, Garrett, Zander and a football friend, James, were all in the car and we were heading to football practice. James started laughing, "I just farted!" he said. Garrett, James, and Zander all began laughing loudly. Then Garrett let out a big burp! Again the boys continued laughing. Next, James started to burp over and over again. Garrett was in such amazement that James had such talent!! He asked James to teach him how to burp like that... over and over again. While James was giving Garrett his lesson on burping, Zander was laughing so hard. Zander nearly lost his breath because of his giggles.

Garrett wasn't able to master the lesson of burping.... thank goodness! But the entire 10 minute drive to football practice was non-stop humor for all the boys in the car. They were so amused with the burping fest. It is interesting what boys think is so funny.

"I need to go Potty!"

Megan, Zander and I were making a quick stop at Toys R Us. Zander was in heaven looking at all the toys. I noticed he was doing the potty dance so I asked him if he needed to go to the bathroom. He told me "No" and kept searching through the toys with much excitement. In about 5 minutes I noticed he was doing the potty dance again. Rather then ask him if he had to go, I said "Zander, let's go to the bathroom."

We started walking towards the bathroom. Zander was behind me so I wasn't really paying much attention to what he was doing. As I got to the restroom door I stopped and turned around. Zander was a few feet behind me with pants and underwear down to his ankles, leaving his bare bum exposed to the world. His little feet were scooting along in a quick shuffle with his hand on his pee-pee. "Hurry Mom! I need to go!!! I need to go real quick. It isn't waiting!!" I couldn't help but laugh. I pushed open the bathroom door and he scooted himself inside.

There wasn't anyone around.... good thing, because we didn't want to get in trouble for indecent exposure...haha!

Shocking sights at Borders

We were in Hawaii on our way back from jumping off cliffs at a remote little waterfall. Amy wanted to find a new book to read so her and Zander and I stopped at Borders. Amy went to look for the book she wanted, so I stood with Zander by the magazine rack. I was browsing through football preview magazines when a lady behind me started laughing uncontrollably. I turned around to look at her, and she pointed down to Zander. I realized he could be doing pretty much anything...so I moved my eyes to him, and there he was, pants pulled down, wiping sand off of his...uh...privates. He was serious as could be and intent on cleaning it off. When I asked him what he was doing, he said "Well Nielie, it hurts".

He never ceases to entertain us.

Telephone Moments

The boys are in Montana spending time with their Dad for 5 weeks this summer.  My joys have come from hearing their voices several times a week.  It is incredible how just hearing them say "hello" can brighten my day.  Below are a few of our conversations.....

Stockton: "Mom, you forgot to pack my toothbrush.  I haven't brushed my teeth for 3 weeks and my teeth feel gross."

Me:  "What?  I am sorry I didn't pack your toothbrush, but do you think you could ask someone to buy you a toothbrush?"

Stockton:  "There aren't any stores around here.  We can't just go out and get a tooth brush."

(Denise said she would pick one up when she went into town....laugh!)

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Conner:  "Mom, I got to hold a lizard today.  I know you will say "No," but do you think we could get a pet lizard?"

Me:  "No!"

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Garrett:  "Today I passed level 6 on World of Warcraft.  I got to go mom, I love you."

(Gar would play video games all day and forgo food if we could.  I don't know that I have been on the phone with him for more then 2 minutes.)

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Zander:  "Are you at the Rodeo yet?  Are you at work yet?  Are you going to come sleep over?"

(Zander asks a million questions all at once.  He is so cute to talk to!  He wants to talk to anyone who is with me.)

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I miss the boys so very much!  I can't wait to see them.  We pick them up one week from today.  Niel commented this morning, "Sunday morning are just so quiet around here.  I just doesn't seem like Sunday without them here."

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I asked each of the boys what they want to be when they grow up. I found the responses to be extremely interesting....

Conner: "When I grow up I think I want to be an Astronaut. But I guess there isn't a lot of people looking for an Astronaut, so maybe I will be a Pilot. Or maybe I could be a High School Teacher and teach Math because I am good at math and I like it."

Stockton: "Well, I really like McDonald's, so maybe I will work at McDonald's doing something. I want to be rich though, so I want to be whatever Jackson's dad does. They have all the money they want, so that is what I want to do. I want my wife to do something too. Then we can have lots of money."

Garrett: "When I grow up I want to be in the Military. My friend at school has a dad who is in the Military. He came to our school and it was really cool. He is protecting us and making us safe. I also want to be a runner. I want to run in the Olympics and win a medal."

Zander: "I want to watch a movie. Can we watch Spirit?" I asked Zander again what he wanted to be and suggested a few things. "Mom, I just want to watch a movie.... PLEASE!"