Our daddy is currently yellow-orange. We hope he gets well soon.
Above: demonstrating the yellow-ness, which even reflects onto his daughter's face.
Below: posing as the grinch.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
The Bread
Since we are currently going through some of life's turbulence (blah), I am working on the "cheerfulness and patience" thing it talks about in Mosiah 24.
15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.
Since we are currently going through some of life's turbulence (blah), I am working on the "cheerfulness and patience" thing it talks about in Mosiah 24.
15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.
16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage.
I have found that I'm not always very good at the "cheerful" or "patient" thing during trials. I am pretty good at "panic" and "despair," however. Alas, this isn't part of the scripture in Mosiah.
So...focusing on submitting cheerfully...
This was made easier one day this week with the following discovery:
If you can't tell, there is a piece of bread in the manger where Jesus usually is. This left us to ponder on the meaning of it all. Was someone trying to remind us of the significance of the Savior being "the bread of life?" Or, was someone thinking that we needed to feed the animals?
The boy admitted to putting it there. "Why?" We asked, extremely curious. "Because I wanted to," was the reply. That was all he said. I didn't press the issue until later in the week. "Son, why did you really put the bread in the manger?" Realizing I needed more of an explanation, he spelled it out for me. "Well, I was in the front room, eating a plain piece of bread, and I decided to put some of it in the manger." That was it. I looked at him. "Well then," I replied, "why don't you go in there and take the bread out of the manger and put baby Jesus back in?" He did so.
This got me thinking about funny things little children do with nativity sets. I took my beautiful olive wood set to Primary one Sunday, and had each of the children bring up a piece as we read the story of Jesus' birth. Doing this reminded me of something else: I LOVE the way children put together the scene. All small children seem to do it the same way (with the exception of 2-year olds, who just take off with the baby Jesus to places unknown--we are still missing a baby Jesus from one of our sets).
Anyway, when small children put together the scene, you end up with EVERYBODY right around Jesus and the manger. I mean, the animals are there, up against the manger, breathing right on Him. The wise men and shepherds are not behind, or off to the sides of, Mary and Joseph, but right by the manger as well, as if He were their own child.
In fact, little children don't think about the fact that you are trying to make a display for people to look at, so they will form the pieces into a circle around baby Jesus. None of the pieces are holding back, they are all smashed together, trying to get in as close as possible to see this little baby.
By the time the children are finished, the onlooker can't even see the baby Jesus--just the backs of the figures looking at Him. Children don't put the faces of the figures outward so that people can see them--they know that the people involved wouldn't be looking out at an audience, they would be staring at the baby.
This arrangement forces the onlooker to have to come close, and look down into the circle, to see baby Jesus.
Contrast the little children's method with the way I put together a scene: the pieces are all spread out, so that onlookers can see and admire each piece in its beauty. I have the number of pieces "balanced" so that similar numbers are on each side of the little family. Not all of the pieces are focused completely on the little family. Some are "cheeked out" so that onlookers can see their faces. Putting the scene together this way, leaves the finished scene pleasing to the eye and looking "right."
Really, though. Which method really looks "right?" Any child will tell you (and any adult who thinks about it) that the children's method is right.
Wouldn't everyone be trying to get close to baby Jesus?
Little children think about it logically. If THEY had the opportunity to see baby Jesus in his manger, they would be right up there, trying to see and even touch the new baby and would realize how important this event was. Children would assume that EVERYONE (including the animals) would feel the exact same way, and want to get as close to Him as possible.
Are the pieces of the nativity, and where we place them in relation to the Savior symbolic of us?
Little children. They are the ones the Lord has told us to be like. They are the ones closest to Him. They keep their nativity pieces close to, around, and focused on the Savior.
Why, as we get older, do we move our pieces farther away, and focus more on the "beauty" of the "stuff" that the nativity is made of, rather than what it represents?
Why do we feel like we have to please the onlookers in our lives, rather than our Lord? I'm pretty sure He would have us come close to Him, rather than out posing for others to admire us.
The more I think about it, the more I like the little children's way best.
Isn't it interesting how once children have their pieces in place, you must come close to the nativity in order to see what all of the pieces are looking at?
You are compelled to look at what is most important--the baby Jesus.
And isn't it interesting how the 2-year-olds choose, out of all the pieces, to keep the baby Jesus with them as they go off on their adventures?
Seems to me like that might be a good game plan for all of us.
I have found that I'm not always very good at the "cheerful" or "patient" thing during trials. I am pretty good at "panic" and "despair," however. Alas, this isn't part of the scripture in Mosiah.
So...focusing on submitting cheerfully...
This was made easier one day this week with the following discovery:
If you can't tell, there is a piece of bread in the manger where Jesus usually is. This left us to ponder on the meaning of it all. Was someone trying to remind us of the significance of the Savior being "the bread of life?" Or, was someone thinking that we needed to feed the animals?The boy admitted to putting it there. "Why?" We asked, extremely curious. "Because I wanted to," was the reply. That was all he said. I didn't press the issue until later in the week. "Son, why did you really put the bread in the manger?" Realizing I needed more of an explanation, he spelled it out for me. "Well, I was in the front room, eating a plain piece of bread, and I decided to put some of it in the manger." That was it. I looked at him. "Well then," I replied, "why don't you go in there and take the bread out of the manger and put baby Jesus back in?" He did so.
This got me thinking about funny things little children do with nativity sets. I took my beautiful olive wood set to Primary one Sunday, and had each of the children bring up a piece as we read the story of Jesus' birth. Doing this reminded me of something else: I LOVE the way children put together the scene. All small children seem to do it the same way (with the exception of 2-year olds, who just take off with the baby Jesus to places unknown--we are still missing a baby Jesus from one of our sets).
Anyway, when small children put together the scene, you end up with EVERYBODY right around Jesus and the manger. I mean, the animals are there, up against the manger, breathing right on Him. The wise men and shepherds are not behind, or off to the sides of, Mary and Joseph, but right by the manger as well, as if He were their own child.
In fact, little children don't think about the fact that you are trying to make a display for people to look at, so they will form the pieces into a circle around baby Jesus. None of the pieces are holding back, they are all smashed together, trying to get in as close as possible to see this little baby.
By the time the children are finished, the onlooker can't even see the baby Jesus--just the backs of the figures looking at Him. Children don't put the faces of the figures outward so that people can see them--they know that the people involved wouldn't be looking out at an audience, they would be staring at the baby.
This arrangement forces the onlooker to have to come close, and look down into the circle, to see baby Jesus.
Contrast the little children's method with the way I put together a scene: the pieces are all spread out, so that onlookers can see and admire each piece in its beauty. I have the number of pieces "balanced" so that similar numbers are on each side of the little family. Not all of the pieces are focused completely on the little family. Some are "cheeked out" so that onlookers can see their faces. Putting the scene together this way, leaves the finished scene pleasing to the eye and looking "right."
Really, though. Which method really looks "right?" Any child will tell you (and any adult who thinks about it) that the children's method is right.
Wouldn't everyone be trying to get close to baby Jesus?
Little children think about it logically. If THEY had the opportunity to see baby Jesus in his manger, they would be right up there, trying to see and even touch the new baby and would realize how important this event was. Children would assume that EVERYONE (including the animals) would feel the exact same way, and want to get as close to Him as possible.
Are the pieces of the nativity, and where we place them in relation to the Savior symbolic of us?
Little children. They are the ones the Lord has told us to be like. They are the ones closest to Him. They keep their nativity pieces close to, around, and focused on the Savior.
Why, as we get older, do we move our pieces farther away, and focus more on the "beauty" of the "stuff" that the nativity is made of, rather than what it represents?
Why do we feel like we have to please the onlookers in our lives, rather than our Lord? I'm pretty sure He would have us come close to Him, rather than out posing for others to admire us.
The more I think about it, the more I like the little children's way best.
Isn't it interesting how once children have their pieces in place, you must come close to the nativity in order to see what all of the pieces are looking at?
You are compelled to look at what is most important--the baby Jesus.
And isn't it interesting how the 2-year-olds choose, out of all the pieces, to keep the baby Jesus with them as they go off on their adventures?
Seems to me like that might be a good game plan for all of us.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Friday, December 05, 2008
Caught in the Act!
The evidence:
The culprit (and more evidence):
"It wasn't me, I swear!
Look at my cute, innocent puppy face.
Does it look like I would kill a bird?"
The victim:
Thankfully (yet still extremely annoyingly), it wasn't a bird. It was one of my lovely feather trees.
Aside from a helpless, maimed bird and a dead bird, Chewy has yet to catch a real bird. Don't worry, we made him drop the maimed bird--luckily, he had just learned the "drop it" command at puppy school. In the case of the dead bird, I saw him rolling and rubbing his body all over something (dogs like to roll and rub themselves all over stinky things--it's like perfume for dogs). Sure enough, dead bird. I asked our good friend, "Leaf" to remove the bird with a shovel, and I gave Chewy a bath...when I had enough gumption to touch him.
The problem is, he really thinks he is a bird dog, and the scent of feathers is too much for him. This isn't the first feather tree he has attacked, although I usually catch him before he does so much damage.
The evidence:
The culprit (and more evidence):
"It wasn't me, I swear!Look at my cute, innocent puppy face.
Does it look like I would kill a bird?"
The victim:
Thankfully (yet still extremely annoyingly), it wasn't a bird. It was one of my lovely feather trees.Aside from a helpless, maimed bird and a dead bird, Chewy has yet to catch a real bird. Don't worry, we made him drop the maimed bird--luckily, he had just learned the "drop it" command at puppy school. In the case of the dead bird, I saw him rolling and rubbing his body all over something (dogs like to roll and rub themselves all over stinky things--it's like perfume for dogs). Sure enough, dead bird. I asked our good friend, "Leaf" to remove the bird with a shovel, and I gave Chewy a bath...when I had enough gumption to touch him.
The problem is, he really thinks he is a bird dog, and the scent of feathers is too much for him. This isn't the first feather tree he has attacked, although I usually catch him before he does so much damage.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Funny-ness
Help Mommy Out
Our fridge door is smooth so that we can write on it with white-board markers. I like to put the kids jobs, schedule, etc. on there. Rebekah took it upon herself to put an inspiring "weekly scripture" (Genesis 40:12) on it as well as the menu for the week. She also put some other "ideas" up for the kids. The best part is where it says:
"Help Mommy out--let's SWAT her dead."
If I didn't happen to know that SWAT around here means Service Without A Trace (doing a kind deed without the person knowing), I would have to assume that the kids have finally realized my pitiful situation, and assessed that the best way to help me would be to swat me dead.
The Big Screen
Today I had the opportunity to go to my son's 1st grade class and teach about Stan and Jan Berenstain and read some of the all time great books written about the Berenstain Bears.
I love first graders. They are hilarious and full of information not pertaining to what they are supposed to be focusing on at the time.
Case in point--after I had read the last book (and fought through all sorts of random comments), the teacher was trying to have the children tell me "thanks for coming, etc.", but there was this one little boy with his hand in the air so high and leaning toward me so far (about to fall off his chair), that I knew I'd better "call on him" and avert disaster:
Me: Did you have something you wanted to ask me?
Him: Yes. I saw you in a movie once, but you were wearing different clothes.
Me (taken aback): Really?
Him: yep.
Me (trying to discern whether I should be flattered or not): Which movie was it?
Him: I don't remember.
Me: Ahhh.
Teacher: O.K. everyone, let's tell Mrs. Cutler "thank you" one more time...
Help Mommy Out
Our fridge door is smooth so that we can write on it with white-board markers. I like to put the kids jobs, schedule, etc. on there. Rebekah took it upon herself to put an inspiring "weekly scripture" (Genesis 40:12) on it as well as the menu for the week. She also put some other "ideas" up for the kids. The best part is where it says:
"Help Mommy out--let's SWAT her dead."
If I didn't happen to know that SWAT around here means Service Without A Trace (doing a kind deed without the person knowing), I would have to assume that the kids have finally realized my pitiful situation, and assessed that the best way to help me would be to swat me dead.
The Big Screen
Today I had the opportunity to go to my son's 1st grade class and teach about Stan and Jan Berenstain and read some of the all time great books written about the Berenstain Bears.
I love first graders. They are hilarious and full of information not pertaining to what they are supposed to be focusing on at the time.
Case in point--after I had read the last book (and fought through all sorts of random comments), the teacher was trying to have the children tell me "thanks for coming, etc.", but there was this one little boy with his hand in the air so high and leaning toward me so far (about to fall off his chair), that I knew I'd better "call on him" and avert disaster:
Me: Did you have something you wanted to ask me?
Him: Yes. I saw you in a movie once, but you were wearing different clothes.
Me (taken aback): Really?
Him: yep.
Me (trying to discern whether I should be flattered or not): Which movie was it?
Him: I don't remember.
Me: Ahhh.
Teacher: O.K. everyone, let's tell Mrs. Cutler "thank you" one more time...
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Halloween 2008
For some unknown reason, over the years, Halloween (which was really never that big of a deal to me) has become a highly celebrated holiday around our house...meaning celebrated over many days.
Actually we know the reason: Brent.
Paul's friend started a yearly Halloween party seven years ago (costumes required). He sold his house two years (or so) in. The party migrated here. We now host the annual "Monster Mash" for all sorts of people--friends & people we don't know. People could be coming in off the street and we wouldn't know the difference. This year we had 40.
The Monster Mash's winning jack-o-lantern.
Sadly, we don't have photos of Paul or me in our costumes: McCain and Pallin. I had one person tell me I should do impersonations of Sarah Pallin. Not because I look like Sarah Pallin, mind you, but because, apparently, I "look like the girl who does the impersonations of Sarah Pallin." I found out that that would be Tina Fey. Hmmmm. Tina Fey.
Paul was made Elder's Quorum President three years ago. Now we have an annual "Monster Mash" for the Elder's Quorum the night before the real "Monster Mash." (Reason: as long as we are going to all the work for the "Monster Mash," why not go to MORE work?)
The kids think that if the adults are going to have all this fun on a holiday that is meant for kids, they should have a "Monster Mash" too. This year we had a kids "Monster Mash" at my parents' house. My sister and I tried out this cute treat. Note, don't try it with real caramel...we did. It doesn't work. Do try it with all sorts of candy chips.
Thanks for a great time, Mom and Dad!
Then the real Halloween rolls around and we have to celebrate that, right?
(I know, I know...many of the original C-family are saying, "no you don't--we did not allow our children to trick or treat, and look how great they turned out?" I say, yeah, they turned out great--except for the emotional scarring that they are now dealing with. How do I know they are dealing with emotional scarring? One of those former non-trick or treating children lived here in the complex with his wife and two kids. Believe me, I have heard about it and heard about it. Luckily, he married a pagan wife who said she intends to fix things so their children don't have the same problems.)
(I also live with one of the original C-fam who was not allowed to trick or treat. He snuck out once and trick-or-treated, and did not end up in prison, thank goodness. His emotional scarring is mainly centered around the severe guilt he feels when he allows his children to trick or treat.)
Anyway, we celebrate the real Halloween around here. We went to my sister's and made these very cute mummy hot dogs, that actually taste even better than hot dogs do when in a bun. We had a delicious dinner and then the fun Seattle Aunt and Uncle, along with the fun Kaysville Uncle, took the kids trick or treating. AAAAHHHH! The guilt, the guilt! No matter. This just adds to the scary-ness of Halloween for Paul.
The cast of characters:
Elpheba
Indian Princess and Bat
Rapunzel
Indiana Jones
No, no, silly Seattle Uncle, that isn't your costume...
"Yeah, Daddy! That is MY costume!"
"O.K. I'll put on my Karate suit."
"See? Look how much cuter I am than you in this costume? Even though I'm a little too long for it so it makes me mad when I try and stretch out."
We're still not sure what this get-up is.
Sweet Pea and Karate Mom
Nacho Libre. No, not Nacho Libre.
Who is that? Clues, anyone?
The hair is too poofy to fit.
Ohhhh. It is cute curly-haired Spiderman with the other Indiana Jones. Believe it or not, our two "Indy's" weren't the only ones out there. The neighborhood was full of them.
Speaking of scary, one of our children, the middle one, loves to decorate for each and every holiday. The more decorations the better. This year, she felt like I didn't have enough, and took it upon herself to "create" some.
O.K. This isn't a decoration...it is a dog, completely unaware of the gore around him.
In case you can't tell, the first photo is of an unsuspecting office vampire, whose head has been sawed off, blood everywhere. He has been there a long time. There is a spiderweb coming out of his mouth. The second photo is of a sleeping, mangled witch.
Here is a close up of the vampire.
A tad morbid, don't you think? If this child wasn't a cute, well-rounded, kind, caring individual, I'd be very worried. Imagine my surprise one day as I went into her room to put something away and I found various "body parts" all over. A head here, a torso and foot there. It was a little un-nerving. The parts did come together well, though, I guess.
Before we went to my sister's house for Halloween night, the cousins came here and played in our many leaves. There are few things better than a good leaf pile.
The Pile
The People
No. 1's take-off...
and landing!
No. 2!
No 3!
Nice entry...only a leg is left.
No. 4, trying something original
Ahhh!
No. 5 jumped so high, the camera missed her head.
No. 6!
No. 7--not going to jump. Doesn't even LIKE leaves.
Leaves, YAY leaves!!!!
love this one.
For some unknown reason, over the years, Halloween (which was really never that big of a deal to me) has become a highly celebrated holiday around our house...meaning celebrated over many days.
Actually we know the reason: Brent.
Paul's friend started a yearly Halloween party seven years ago (costumes required). He sold his house two years (or so) in. The party migrated here. We now host the annual "Monster Mash" for all sorts of people--friends & people we don't know. People could be coming in off the street and we wouldn't know the difference. This year we had 40.
The Monster Mash's winning jack-o-lantern.Sadly, we don't have photos of Paul or me in our costumes: McCain and Pallin. I had one person tell me I should do impersonations of Sarah Pallin. Not because I look like Sarah Pallin, mind you, but because, apparently, I "look like the girl who does the impersonations of Sarah Pallin." I found out that that would be Tina Fey. Hmmmm. Tina Fey.
Paul was made Elder's Quorum President three years ago. Now we have an annual "Monster Mash" for the Elder's Quorum the night before the real "Monster Mash." (Reason: as long as we are going to all the work for the "Monster Mash," why not go to MORE work?)
The kids think that if the adults are going to have all this fun on a holiday that is meant for kids, they should have a "Monster Mash" too. This year we had a kids "Monster Mash" at my parents' house. My sister and I tried out this cute treat. Note, don't try it with real caramel...we did. It doesn't work. Do try it with all sorts of candy chips.
Thanks for a great time, Mom and Dad!
Then the real Halloween rolls around and we have to celebrate that, right?
(I know, I know...many of the original C-family are saying, "no you don't--we did not allow our children to trick or treat, and look how great they turned out?" I say, yeah, they turned out great--except for the emotional scarring that they are now dealing with. How do I know they are dealing with emotional scarring? One of those former non-trick or treating children lived here in the complex with his wife and two kids. Believe me, I have heard about it and heard about it. Luckily, he married a pagan wife who said she intends to fix things so their children don't have the same problems.)
(I also live with one of the original C-fam who was not allowed to trick or treat. He snuck out once and trick-or-treated, and did not end up in prison, thank goodness. His emotional scarring is mainly centered around the severe guilt he feels when he allows his children to trick or treat.)
Anyway, we celebrate the real Halloween around here. We went to my sister's and made these very cute mummy hot dogs, that actually taste even better than hot dogs do when in a bun. We had a delicious dinner and then the fun Seattle Aunt and Uncle, along with the fun Kaysville Uncle, took the kids trick or treating. AAAAHHHH! The guilt, the guilt! No matter. This just adds to the scary-ness of Halloween for Paul.
The cast of characters:
Elpheba
Indian Princess and Bat
Rapunzel
Indiana Jones
No, no, silly Seattle Uncle, that isn't your costume...
"Yeah, Daddy! That is MY costume!"
"O.K. I'll put on my Karate suit."
"See? Look how much cuter I am than you in this costume? Even though I'm a little too long for it so it makes me mad when I try and stretch out."
We're still not sure what this get-up is.
Sweet Pea and Karate Mom
Nacho Libre. No, not Nacho Libre.Who is that? Clues, anyone?
The hair is too poofy to fit.
Ohhhh. It is cute curly-haired Spiderman with the other Indiana Jones. Believe it or not, our two "Indy's" weren't the only ones out there. The neighborhood was full of them.
O.K. This isn't a decoration...it is a dog, completely unaware of the gore around him.
In case you can't tell, the first photo is of an unsuspecting office vampire, whose head has been sawed off, blood everywhere. He has been there a long time. There is a spiderweb coming out of his mouth. The second photo is of a sleeping, mangled witch.
Here is a close up of the vampire.A tad morbid, don't you think? If this child wasn't a cute, well-rounded, kind, caring individual, I'd be very worried. Imagine my surprise one day as I went into her room to put something away and I found various "body parts" all over. A head here, a torso and foot there. It was a little un-nerving. The parts did come together well, though, I guess.
Before we went to my sister's house for Halloween night, the cousins came here and played in our many leaves. There are few things better than a good leaf pile.
The Pile
The People
No. 1's take-off...
and landing!
No. 2!
No 3!
Nice entry...only a leg is left.
No. 4, trying something original
Ahhh!
No. 5 jumped so high, the camera missed her head.
No. 6!
No. 7--not going to jump. Doesn't even LIKE leaves.
Leaves, YAY leaves!!!!
love this one.Friday, October 10, 2008
Blah, blah, blah Mo, Blah, blah, blah
This entry should actually go on this blog, but since I am not a contributor (although I do leave the occasional comment), I'm putting it here.
My daughter loves to babysit Princess and Mo and when she comes home she relays every cute or hilarious thing they say or do. This can sometimes take a long time, because as most of you know, Princess and Mo do and say many hilarious things.
This was my favorite from last night.
Mo wanted to wear flip flops outside, just like Princess (he worships her), so Babysitter told him he could if he would leave them on his feet and not take them off. He put them on and they all went outside. As soon as they got out there, Mo took off the flip flops and laughed. Babysitter put them back on, and Mo took them off again. The ensuing conversation went like this:
Babysitter: "Mo, you have to leave the flip flops on or we are going to have to put on different shoes."
Mo: (blank look)
Babysitter: "O.K. Mo? We will have to put on different shoes if you take them off again."
Mo: (smiles)
Princess, (who was probably watching with pity as this conversation went on), tries to help by offering this tidbit to Babysitter: "Oh--Mo doesn't understand words."
This is hilarious for more reasons than one. These two have a very funny relationship. Mo will do anything--anything for Princess, even take a beating from her without so much of a flinch, because he loves her so much. She tends to boss him around, and he follows her every whim. After hearing Princesses' telling comment, I started to wonder if she sees him as some sort of obedient pet.
I don't really think so, but it is always funny to see inside a 4-year old girl's mind as she relates to others in her life.
The other funny thing about this is the fact that Princess reminds us soooo much of Babysitter when she was that age. Very eloquent in speaking, also very profuse in speaking (still is, which is why it takes so long to hear about the adventures of Princess and Mo). Babysitter used to try boss me around when she was that age as well. Declaring things as they were--with no room for compromise: "Mommy, I am Anne of Green Gables and YOU are Yogurt (Gilbert), and you are going to rush in and save me, etc. etc. etc."
Hmmm...I wonder where Babysitter gets her profuseness in speaking? Can I post even a medium-sized entry, let alone short?
This entry should actually go on this blog, but since I am not a contributor (although I do leave the occasional comment), I'm putting it here.
My daughter loves to babysit Princess and Mo and when she comes home she relays every cute or hilarious thing they say or do. This can sometimes take a long time, because as most of you know, Princess and Mo do and say many hilarious things.
This was my favorite from last night.
Mo wanted to wear flip flops outside, just like Princess (he worships her), so Babysitter told him he could if he would leave them on his feet and not take them off. He put them on and they all went outside. As soon as they got out there, Mo took off the flip flops and laughed. Babysitter put them back on, and Mo took them off again. The ensuing conversation went like this:
Babysitter: "Mo, you have to leave the flip flops on or we are going to have to put on different shoes."
Mo: (blank look)
Babysitter: "O.K. Mo? We will have to put on different shoes if you take them off again."
Mo: (smiles)
Princess, (who was probably watching with pity as this conversation went on), tries to help by offering this tidbit to Babysitter: "Oh--Mo doesn't understand words."
This is hilarious for more reasons than one. These two have a very funny relationship. Mo will do anything--anything for Princess, even take a beating from her without so much of a flinch, because he loves her so much. She tends to boss him around, and he follows her every whim. After hearing Princesses' telling comment, I started to wonder if she sees him as some sort of obedient pet.
I don't really think so, but it is always funny to see inside a 4-year old girl's mind as she relates to others in her life.
The other funny thing about this is the fact that Princess reminds us soooo much of Babysitter when she was that age. Very eloquent in speaking, also very profuse in speaking (still is, which is why it takes so long to hear about the adventures of Princess and Mo). Babysitter used to try boss me around when she was that age as well. Declaring things as they were--with no room for compromise: "Mommy, I am Anne of Green Gables and YOU are Yogurt (Gilbert), and you are going to rush in and save me, etc. etc. etc."
Hmmm...I wonder where Babysitter gets her profuseness in speaking? Can I post even a medium-sized entry, let alone short?
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
To My Little Basketball Warrior
You were born with a love of sports--a love of all things "ball." You were born with a natural athleticism.
You were born with Cerebral Palsy. Your life has been a mix of highs and lows in the quest to get stubborn "lefty hand" and "lefty leg" to work properly. Surgeries and procedures, therapy, stretching and casting. After many hard-fought battles, much success has been had, but you are still left with difficulty.
A love of sports, athleticism. Cerebral Palsy. Things that seem to contradict each other.
But.
You were born with determination. Like I have never seen in a child before.
As I sat yesterday at your first instructional session for Jr. Jazz basketball, I watched as you ran over to your group--boys you didn't know. I watched as you listened to your coach. I watched as you went through the stretching exercises. Anticipation and excitement filled your eyes. If there was fear or apprehension, it did not show.
I watched as you began the drills the coach was teaching you. You didn't know it, but I knew that at some point, you would be asked to dribble from righty to lefty and back and I was afraid. Afraid that the coach wouldn't understand about lefty. Afraid that the boys would tease you. Afraid that lefty wouldn't work the way you wanted and that you would get frustrated and decide to give up. Afraid that you were afraid of the same things I was.
I pondered my options, as I did when you started soccer, when you started T-Ball, when you were struggling to ride a bike, when you were tiny and wanted to climb to the top of the jungle gym at the park, as I have so many times in your life:
Should I go in and explain to the coach that he should not ask you to try things with your left hand? Should I go in and warn you that you are going to have to do some things that will be hard for lefty? Should I go in and help you when it is your turn, so that I can protect you from any adverse reaction? Should I talk you into trying something besides basketball? Something that you don't need a left hand to do? Should I "rescue" you?
I decided, as I have also done so many times, to shove all of my motherly instincts into the toe of my shoe, and watch. And wait. I tried to look as nonchalant as possible, "reading" my book, occasionally looking up to see what was going on and smile my best brave, "you're doing great" smile at you. But I knew the hand-to-hand dribble was coming and my stomach didn't like it.
It was time. I watched the coach demonstrate how to dribble back and forth from one hand to the other, and instruct you to start the drill. I stood up, trying to look like I was just getting a better look at what was going on, and put on my "wow, isn't this interesting to watch these boys dribble from hand to hand" face. I watched each boy execute the drill, and anticipated what would happen when it was your turn. My stomach flip-flopped. I looked at your face. Your eyes still betrayed no fear, no nervousness, just the usual, excited boy "I can't wait for my turn" look.
Your turn came and I watched as a very adept righty started to dribble the basketball. I could see the concentration on your face as your brain tried to figure out a way to get lefty to reach out and dribble the ball. I could see lefty tighten into a fist, like it does when you are really trying. After three righty dribbles, lefty reached out awkwardly and hit the ball! Righty caught the skewed bounce from lefty and corrected it. Two or three more dribbles from righty, and then lefty struck again...righty a few, lefty one, righty a few.
It wasn't textbook. Lefty's fist didn't even open when it hit the ball. But to me, it was amazing! No. YOU were amazing. I stood there, feeling that now familiar mix of pride and pain that I hadn't felt in my life before I knew you, and watched you finish and run to your place in line.
You looked for me, with that huge "I did it" smile on your face and gave me a "thumbs up." I gave you a "thumbs up" back and mouthed, "are you having fun?" with my best "isn't this the funnest time we are having?" face. Your smile never faltered. "Yes," you mouthed back.
I sat back down, no longer afraid that you would get frustrated and give up. I have been pondering this since yesterday. I don't know why I always worry that you will get frustrated and give up. Because while I have seen you extremely frustrated, and rightfully so, my son...I have yet to see you give up. I have never, ever seen you give up.
Practice finished, and you motioned to me that it was time to go. You came up to me and asked me if you could have your Gatorade because you were thirsty.
I asked you if you had fun. You replied that you had. I casually asked how lefty did. "Good," you said.
Just like after every practice or every game of every sport you have ever played, you never mentioned how hard it was to get lefty arm or lefty leg to do this or that. You never mentioned how amazing it is that you were even out there, how unbelievable you are at figuring out a way to make it work.
To you it isn't amazing or unbelievable. To you, you are just being a boy, going to practices, playing sports, just like all of your friends. You are just doing what you do, being who you are.
To me, you are a warrior hero.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
The Boys' Trip to Moab!
"The Dad" booked an extreme river rafting trip for just "The Boys," and adventure became theirs for the taking!
The Way Down:
The Way Back:
"The Accountant" rented an Excursion that had only 8 miles on it. Arguments ensued about who was going to get to drive, so to appease everyone, they went out and bought tiny toy steering wheels. This seemed to keep people happy.
................................................................................................................
O.K. What really happened is the boys had set up a T.V. between the front seats and played the Wii the entire way down and the entire way back. "The Engineer" observed that "The Builder" (who is notorious for falling asleep the moment his hind pockets hit the seat of a car) can actually stay awake if there is a Wii in the car. Not sure which would be more dangerous if he were driving...having him drive and fall asleep, or having him drive and play the Wii.
Interestingly, it looks as if "The Doc" (top picture, right) does the opposite--Wii in the car? Asleep. It seems he can play the Wii while sleeping though, so maybe he wouldn't be as dangerous as "The Builder" would be if he were driving the actual car.
"The Accountant" (top picture in the sweet teal shirt), wore the sunglasses all the way down, despite the fact that it was the middle of the night. It's probably because his "future's so bright" and all.
The Middle Part
When the boys arrived in Moab in the middle of the night, they ended up at the wrong hotel. When they found the right hotel, one of their rooms had been canceled. Bedfellows and roll-aways anyone?
"The Graduate" next to "The Accountant" at 5:45 a.m.
(The Grad., The Dad, The Doc, The Accountant, The Builder)
All the boys but the one taking the picture...
(The Engineer)
...don't worry, he took one of himself too.
"The Graduate," dancing his way up to the arches.
"The Doc" in full scout gear.
A cool, balancing rock.
"The bunny, the bunny, oh we love the bunny..."
The bunny leaving because he doesn't like the bunny song.
"The Graduate," playing Hide and Seek, or something.
"The Accountant" smiling because he knows where "The Graduate" is hiding.
"The Doc" enjoying the view.
"The Engineer" gives up power of the camera and allows someone to take his picture.
"We found the arch!"
"The Graduate," aka. "Babes" with "The Builder."
A big thanks to "The Dad"! I great time was had by all. "The Engineer" loved it, and from talking to various others, so did the rest of the crew.
Note for next year's reunion shirts: "The Dad" wears yellow. :)
"The Dad" booked an extreme river rafting trip for just "The Boys," and adventure became theirs for the taking!
The Way Down:
The Way Back:
"The Accountant" rented an Excursion that had only 8 miles on it. Arguments ensued about who was going to get to drive, so to appease everyone, they went out and bought tiny toy steering wheels. This seemed to keep people happy.
................................................................................................................
O.K. What really happened is the boys had set up a T.V. between the front seats and played the Wii the entire way down and the entire way back. "The Engineer" observed that "The Builder" (who is notorious for falling asleep the moment his hind pockets hit the seat of a car) can actually stay awake if there is a Wii in the car. Not sure which would be more dangerous if he were driving...having him drive and fall asleep, or having him drive and play the Wii.
Interestingly, it looks as if "The Doc" (top picture, right) does the opposite--Wii in the car? Asleep. It seems he can play the Wii while sleeping though, so maybe he wouldn't be as dangerous as "The Builder" would be if he were driving the actual car.
"The Accountant" (top picture in the sweet teal shirt), wore the sunglasses all the way down, despite the fact that it was the middle of the night. It's probably because his "future's so bright" and all.
The Middle Part
When the boys arrived in Moab in the middle of the night, they ended up at the wrong hotel. When they found the right hotel, one of their rooms had been canceled. Bedfellows and roll-aways anyone?
"The Graduate" next to "The Accountant" at 5:45 a.m."The Dad" got everyone up early because they were supposed to be to the river by 7:00 a.m. When they got there...surprise, surprise (read: "not surprise, surprise" based on the hotel fiasco the previous night) the trip had been canceled, due to high water, many deaths (not really, Mom), etc. They were informed that they could go on the "wimpier" part of the river later in the day.
So...off to hike the arches!
(The Grad., The Dad, The Doc, The Accountant, The Builder)All the boys but the one taking the picture...
(The Engineer)...don't worry, he took one of himself too.
"The Graduate," dancing his way up to the arches.
"The Doc" in full scout gear.
A cool, balancing rock.
"The bunny, the bunny, oh we love the bunny..."
The bunny leaving because he doesn't like the bunny song.
"The Graduate," playing Hide and Seek, or something.
"The Accountant" smiling because he knows where "The Graduate" is hiding.
"The Doc" enjoying the view.
"The Engineer" gives up power of the camera and allows someone to take his picture.
"We found the arch!"
"The Graduate," aka. "Babes" with "The Builder."
A cool arch photo.
It's hard to keep "The Accountant" off of the edges of steep cliffs because he thinks the photo ops are better in more dangerous situations. Kind of like the photographer guy at a track meet who wandered into the way of an oncoming javelin. The javelin went through his knee, and he took a picture of it.
See?
He even convinced "The Doc" to sit on the edge of a cliff so he could take a photo.
It's hard to keep "The Accountant" off of the edges of steep cliffs because he thinks the photo ops are better in more dangerous situations. Kind of like the photographer guy at a track meet who wandered into the way of an oncoming javelin. The javelin went through his knee, and he took a picture of it.
See?
He even convinced "The Doc" to sit on the edge of a cliff so he could take a photo.Upon leaving the Arches, they finally made it to the river:
You can see that "The Graduate" is petrified of the humongous rapids (seen in the background).
"The Doc" with his Big Gulp and "The Dad."
Oh wait, I think that is a bucket to bail water out of the raft. Maybe there was a hole in the bottom of the raft, because I'm not seeing where water would get in any other way.
"The Builder," looking cool and it looks like "Babes" overcame his fear and is now having fun.
"Guys in Glasses."
You can see that "The Graduate" is petrified of the humongous rapids (seen in the background).
"The Doc" with his Big Gulp and "The Dad."Oh wait, I think that is a bucket to bail water out of the raft. Maybe there was a hole in the bottom of the raft, because I'm not seeing where water would get in any other way.
"The Builder," looking cool and it looks like "Babes" overcame his fear and is now having fun.
"Guys in Glasses."Well, that's about it. I've already shown you how the way home went, but here is another shot, so you can get the full effect:
A big thanks to "The Dad"! I great time was had by all. "The Engineer" loved it, and from talking to various others, so did the rest of the crew.Note for next year's reunion shirts: "The Dad" wears yellow. :)
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