Ian's Birthday

Ian just had his 6th birthday. One of the qualities that I love about Ian is his charisma. He has never met someone that he hasn't won over in less than 5 minutes. It is amazing to watch him work a crowd. He can get people to do what he wants. I pray daily that he can use this power for good. On his birthday I took cupcakes to his class at school. He thought it would be funny to get icing all over his face. He did and then proceeded to show his classmates his face and how cool it was. Within 60 seconds the entire kindergarten class had shoved their faces into their cupcakes and were showing the results to Ian for approval. Heaven help us!

Ian had an oreo birthday cake. It was a dessert we tried with Tara's cooking club that turned out to be a keeper. The trick candles were a lot of fun too. Although I'm sure the cake was covered in Ian spit.

As always the best part was presents. His favorite present? The (synthetic) bird poop pellets that he could dissect to find bones of small rodents like moles and mice. How many boys get poop for their birthday? And it's their favorite gift! He was so excited to dissect the ball of poop and start assembling the bones. He waited dutifully through the singing of happy birthday and the eating of cake. I think he ate two bites of his cake before he snuck into the living room to start working.

He is concentrating so hard. He says he wants to be a paleontologist when he grows up. I guess this is good practice.

pants on backward

When I picked up Ian from school, I had a short visit with the teacher about some of his behavior problems during the day. At home I tried to figure out what was going on with Ian to result in a rough day. After brainstorming together, we finally found it.


If you are so sleepy that you don't notice that you put your pants on backward and tired enough that you wore them that way all day long, then you're in no position to handle the intensity of kindergarten. I'd be cranky too if my pants were on backward.

Our solution was an early bedtime and the next day he was back to his normal self.

Stripling Warrior

When I picked Ian up from school this afternoon his teacher pulled me aside for a second. She explained to me that Ian and a buddy had decided to have a marker fight instead of writing their letters on the white board. He had to sit out part of recess as a punishment, but she assured me he was very good the rest of the day.

When we got home I talked with Ian about listening to his teacher and obeying with exactness.

He began to cry, "Mom, I'm never gonna be a stripling warrior now."

For those of you not familiar, there is a story in the Book of Mormon about a group of young men who volunteer into the army to protect the freedom of their fathers and mothers. They are described in this way.

"And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all-they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted. Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him." Alma 53:20-21

They are involved in a deadly battle in which many people are killed, but their unit eventually is responsible for the victory.

"Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them." Alma 57:21

We talk with our boys often about striving to become men like these stripling warriors were. It broke my heart to hear the disappointment in Ian's voice and see the slump of his shoulders. I took him on my lap and kissed the top of his head. "Sweet boy, you are closer than you think."


There is another great reference to these young men in Alma 56:47

Child's Play

When you tell the kids to go play in their rooms, you never know what you're going to get.

Today it was underwear head kids. Maybe we have spent too much time reading Captain Underpants.

Glad his eyes work

Man I love this kid.

He is very entertaining and so full of intensity.

And he just told me I have a very flat stomach. See, how can you not love that?

Predictions

So, who do you think won?

That's what kids do...

Act I

Scene 1

(A kitchen. Mom enters still in pajamas groggy from just waking up. She trips over son. As she flips on the light, piles of candy wrappers are seen all over the floor.)

Mom: Ian, where did you get that candy? Why are you sneaking candy before breakfast?

(bending to pick up piles of candy wrappers)


Ian: I'm a kid. Kids sneak candy. If they can reach it, they sneak it. Cuz kids love candy.

(close scene because how do you argue with that?)

Singing, Dancing, and Nose Picking

My big kids at play

Sunday morning was the annual Primary Program for church. The children ages 3 - 11 provide the "sermon" for the day. The theme for this year is My Eternal Family. It was beautiful to listen to these children speak of their love for family and the gospel.

Tara was asked to sing a solo. She accepted and has spent a month worried about how the performance would go. Sunday morning she was in tears, so the family was trying to reassure her.

I attempted distraction, but I didn't think the whole picture-everyone-in-their-underwear would be helpful. I reminded her that no one would be looking at her because surely some one behind her would be picking their nose or dancing a jig, etc. People would be watching that instead of her. Tara found some solace in this and finally calmed down.

I continued getting ready and heard a conversation between my 3 program participants. "Hey boys will you act crazy during my song?" asked Tara. "I'll pick my nose," offered Eric. "I'm dancing the jig," declared Ian. (They totally have her back.)

Tara sang like an angel.

She was on key, on time, and beautiful to boot.

Eric pretend-picked his nose the ENTIRE program while Ian goofed off, danced, made silly faces and clapped despite repeated admonitions from his teacher to stop. They would NOT let their sister down.

I've never been more proud in my life of goofy, nose-picking boys or beautifully talented girls.

Dinner time prayers

I put dinner on the table. It was met with the normal moans and groans. "You haven't even tried it yet," I reminded.

Ian said the dinner blessing. "And Heavenly Father, please bless dinner to taste like pizza."

Since more than half of his chicken and stuffing was on his plate when the dishes were being washed, I'm guessing that prayer didn't make it very far.

New Soccer Player

We've got a new soccer player

With three kids playing soccer, we now have 5 practices a week, at least 3 games per week (sometimes more), and one crazy mom.

Fray-vorite

There are certain things about children that can't be helped...like the fact that they grow up. There are a few things at each stage that I truly miss. Right now I'm hoping Ian will say fray-vorite instead of favorite forever, and if it isn't too much to ask how about pack-pack for backpack too. At least then he'll still be a little boy instead of a big preschooler.

It doesn't look good though.

Me, Ian

Do you remember being a kid and having your mom call you by your sister's name or your brother's or even worse the dog? I hated it. I mean how hard is it to get a name right? Well, now that I'm a parent with many children I know it's nearly IMPOSSIBLE. To compensate for my inability to call my children by their correct name, I started asking them, "which kid are you?" after I called them by the wrong name.

I thought it was a good idea and sorta funny.

Then I noticed an interesting side effect. Anytime I have a conversation with Ian it goes like this. "Mom, me, Ian I caught a grandpa grasshopper."

Grasshoppers

The new thing around our house right now is grasshoppers. Yep, you read that right. We, actually Ian is catching them all the time. My back porch is littered with about 20 ziplock bags containing at least 2 or 3 grasshoppers apiece. Every once in a while you will look out the back door and see a bag making a break for it, grasshoppers jumping in unison and aiming for the freedom of the grass.

I thought it was a wonderful pastime until last night when I went to put away some kids' toys and found that his collection has migrated indoors...and outside of the bags.


I made Ian return his "friends" to their natural habitat much to his displeasure.

Problem Solving

Everyone has a list of things they want to teach their children. I'm no different. I listen and watch for evidence that I'm doing something right, so I can feel validated put little check marks on my list.

Yesterday I found some evidence!

Ian: I have to go to the bathroom.
Eric: Me too, but someone is in Mom's. (that would be me)
Ian: I have to go. (with increasing amounts of whine)
Eric: I know! We can pee at the same time in the kids' toilet.

Looks like I can check problem solving off my list.

new rings

I wasn't the only one who mourned the loss of my wedding ring. Ian often reminds me about it and tries to make me feel better by giving me "a new wedding ring" periodically.

Who needs a diamond when you can have these?

Eat your heart out ladies!

Ian's dating already

Ian went on his first date this week. His Best Girl (she earned that name because he already has a best friend who is a boy, so he has to call her his best girl) took him out on the town I mean country.

Apparently while sitting with his Best Girl at church on Sunday, he leaned over to her and asked, "So, what's it going to take for you and me to go to McDonald's together?" I wavered between mortification at his boldness and marvel at his ability to get what he wants.

Ian came home on cloud nine and talked about it for hours...literally.

Check out her blog post here.

A gift worth more than gold or silver...

Last Sunday my new friend came and sat with me at church. It was the first time someone (I didn't ask) came and sat with me. It was wonderful! I love her for it. I also love her for something even bigger.

She loves Ian...really loves him.

Shauna spent sacrament meeting getting to know Ian better and is now wrapped around his finger and he is wrapped around hers. I love it.

On Monday she brought him a turtle because Ian mentioned that he would stay in the back yard if he had a turtle. He hasn't had one escape attempt all week. My heart and mind have been at rest. Truly a gift worth more than gold.

Oh, and when she stopped by the other day, Ian saw that it was her and jumped up exclaiming, "It's my BEST GIRL!"

Raising the White Flag

I've tried everything I can think of to keep Ian safe in the confines of our backyard and house.

I installed a flip lock on the front door and thought all was well, but Ian got out the back gate.

I added a key lock to the back gate and thought all was well, but Ian found the hidden key and off he went.

I switched the key lock to a combination lock and added one to the side gate for good measure and thought all was well, but Ian still got out.

"HOW, HOW," I cried to the sky in frustration when I did my quarter hour check of the backyard only to find it empty, again!

Did he learn to scale and jump fences...entirely possible, but no. Instead he has been working diligently during his outdoor play time loosening a slat in the fence. Today he finally removed it and squeezed through the opening.

And so I raise the white flag and mark prison guard off my list of possible jobs I've been trained for while being a stay at home mom. Turns out I'm no good at it.

One of Life's Truths

Ian has a knack for explaining things. It's a talent really. Today he informed me of this little gem.

Girls cry. It's just what they do.

He's a quick study too (there were 3 girls at the house at the time and all of them were crying). I think it took his dad about 10 years to figure that one out.

Cow the Cat

We have a strict no pet policy at our house. I figure I have enough kids to take care of; I don't need an animal too.

That being said, what do you do when an animal adopts you? Cow the Cat (as named on her tags) has done just that. She hangs out around the house, she's been found in the garage, and today she was bold enough to come in the house. Don't tell Jared. He would go BALLISTIC.

I think Ian is her favorite. That cat is so sweet she puts up with anything. I wonder if there is a little boy missing her? If there is, he probably isn't missing her now. I just went outside to call the kids in for dinner, and the neighbor girl and Tara were trying to give Cow a bath in a rubbermaid tub. Poor cat.