Yuri’s Night is an international celebration held every April 12 to commemorate milestones in space exploration.
Benjamin and JamesAnthony and SamBenjamin riding a bomb bikeAnthony on the Bike Rodeo swing, Alex pedaling, LaReita coming aroundLaReita on the swingBenjamin, Anthony and AlexJamesJames pedalingAnthony on the Bike SwingBenjamin, James and AntonyBenjamin, Samuel (behind Ben’s arm), Anthony, James play on the giant Lite BrightSamuel, Anthony riding the Spanking Bike – fly-swatter spins around and whacks rider on the butt, James in backgroundAnthony – not sure he likes it
In the infinite wisdom of the PTA, they hold a fundraiser book sale at the same time as Parent/Teacher conferences. Great for fundraising, but also a hard time for parents as they have to tell their children “No, we cannot get everything that you see.”
Fortunately, the elementary library was clearing out old books that they didn’t want on their shelves. So the boys picked up nearly all the Bernstain Bears books that we didn’t already have. (They were very excited about this.)
Here you see them devouring books while waiting for me and Dave to finish talking to some neighbors.
Everyday Samuel is becoming more and more like a little boy. In one week he will be 2 years old. Wow.
Yesterday, like a true man, he decided he was hungry and began to fix himself something. He pushed a chair over to the stove, pulled over the frying pan, got a butter knife, scooped out some butter, plopped it in the pan and began talking to Dave. Dave asked, “are you hungry Samuel?” Some jibberish then a “Yes!”
Today as we were reading “The Little Engine That Could” he turned back to another page and he was pointing and talking about something then said, “Ho Cow!” (Holy Cow) Anthony has been saying that a lot lately, so naturally Samuel picked up on it. Samuel also picked up on “Gosh” tonight (fortunately not the other) as we were watching “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”. Children are so easily impressionable!
And the funniest thing of all happened tonight as I was getting him ready for bed. We were reading and he began picking at his nose. I pulled his hand away, “don’t pick your nose”. He smiled and then shoved his finger up his nose. I took it away again. Giggling, he put his other finger up his other nostril. I couldn’t help but giggle too. I pulled it out. He put his other finger up his nose. I pulled it out. Over and over. We were laughing so much we couldn’t even finish the story!
These boys are so fun!
Last week James’ primary teacher told him to get a chair for the only girl in his class. He asked “why?”
“So you can practice for when you have a sister someday.”
James instantly said, “Nope, we’re going to be a family of all boys!”
That’s true! (Aside from me), we are going to be a family of all boys! (That’s another story for another time.)
But even so, we are working on respect and courtesy.
A mom usually has two places in the house that she can have time to herself; the shower and the toilet. That is if she locks the door. Samuel loves to follow me around. Whenever I go into the bathroom he just cries and cries, reaches for the knob, bangs on the door and cries some more.
Yesterday I went into the bathroom and Samuel cried, reached for the door knob and he turned the handle and opened the door! I smiled big and said excitedly, “Samuel! You opened the door!” He smiled big too, and shut it, then opened it about 5 times, giggling every time. He was so pleased with himself!
This was a lot better of a 1st time opening a door than Anthony’s experience. The 1st time Anthony had learned how to open a door was when I lay down to take a quick cat nap (think I was pregnant with Benjamin). Anthony had been playing in his room so I figured he would be fine for 1/2 hour. Not too much later after closing my eyes (it seemed) I heard my doorbell ring. A neighbor that lives next to our church (just a block away) had heard him in her front yard looking and talking at her flowers. It was fortunate his guardian angel(s) didn’t let him get too far! To this day my neighbor (who is now my Visiting Teacher) said, “He just seemed so happy to be outside enjoying life!”
That’s my Anthony and Samuel – they LOVE to be outside.
Time to get those child-proof door knob locks back on.
I had an interesting Sunday today. Had a member of the Primary General Board come to our Primary for our Ward Conference. Fortunately everything went well.
We also actually arrived before the sacrament hymn. We did good today!
It sure is hard getting 4 boys (well I guess 6 boys) up, dressed, fed and out the door by 8:50 am). Though Alex is pretty self sufficient, I have to poke Dave out of bed, prod James into getting dressed, and coax Anthony into considering going to church and all that’s associated with that stressful topic for him. As for Samuel, I really should put him in a diaper only until we are actually heading out the door so he doesn’t make a mess of his clothes. And sometimes we have to do a quick diaper change as we are heading out. And for Benjamin I have to chase him around the house and wrestle his clothes on, and search for his shoes (even though he has about 5 pairs). Actually the shoe hunt and subsequent shoe struggle are a regular occurance on Sundays for us. (I bet that makes mom smile. I was always losing my shoes as a kid.) Then once we actually get to church I hear, “Mooommmm, I’m staaarrrving.” What happened to your breakfast? “I wasn’t hungry then.”
Sigh. Sundays feel like marathons. I have to remind myself, “Remember, we are teaching a principle to our children.”
Also this evening Lynette and LaMont and their families came to surprise me with a belated birthday celebration. (Since on my real birthday we were finishing our reunion and heading out of St. George. Which I thought the reunion with all my siblings and Aunt Elaine was celebration enough!) Dave helped arrange that – he’s so wonderfully sweet. It was a great time talking and laughing together (in between me helping Samuel after his 2 falls and goosebumps to his head). Kris and Aubrey filled Alex in on all the details of how to properly ask a girl out for Homecoming on Friday. Spanish Fork HS has 9 dances in a school year! Every month! Crazy expensive! I think Alex was getting a bit of information overload.
