Cute, Tender and Funny Things They Say....

I wish I could video tape every little thing they say. The words themselves are funny, but the intonations, the speech impediments, slight accents, and expressions of body and face, all come together to bring a smile to my whole soul.

Joe had lots of busy nights this week with work and church service and on one of the nights after doing ministry visits, the bishop took them to dinner. Joe came home stuffed to the max and started talking about how all of his hard work (in exercising) was going down the drain because he was so full. He told me that he had weighed less all week after he had started running, but he was sure he wasn't "skinny" anymore. Brynn was at the table doing her homework and said in her little country girl accent, "Dad, it needs to be Saturday again so you can go bikin' and get skinny again!" We both laughed. She's so cute! It's amazing how well they listen to what you say! We're "supposed" to be running a half marathon on May 3 together, but we've been slackers in our training. For all those who felt bad for being in a fitness rut after hearing about the fun Trinidad race, know that we get in ruts ourselves and now we're trying to find a way out. Since our trip to the Montage I think I've run twice. Ya know, I don't think that's proper training for a half marathon. We may be doing the 10k if we can't get movin' soon!

On Friday morning at 2:53 a.m. I woke up to the phone ringing, which was a miracle, I don't wake up easily. It was my friend Tiffany telling me that her water had broken. I headed over to her house to watch her other two kids. Her kids woke up at 6:30 so we headed back to my house to get everyone going for the day there. Joe took Brynn to school, but when the time came to pick her up, I was on my own. I'm sure it was a sight to see, I put the two kids I was babysitting in my double stroller and strapped them in tight because they are both FEARLESS and will escape and take off running! With all of the cars around the school, I didn't want to take any chances. I put Aaron in the umbrella and had Abby push him. She was so cute! She kept saying over and over, "Mom, I'm learning how to be a mom!" About every 20 feet she would say, "Hold on mom! I need to fix something!" She then would walk to the front of the stroller and fix the wheels that were turned the wrong way. It was the longest walk to school, but she did an amazing job! My friend had her baby. A whoppin' 11 1/2 pounder (11 pounds 7 ounces to be exact).

On the way to the memorial service on Saturday we tried to prep the kids about what was going on and what had happened to the little baby who had passed away. They both were all very respectful at the viewing and during the service. On Sunday, the day after we attended the memorial service for little Caleb, Abby said to me matter of factly, "Mom, babies come to earth when they are born and when the times comes, they die. That's just part of life."

Abby is our little kitchen mouse and loves to just help herself when it comes to finding a little snack to eat. She knows that I am happy to get her a snack when she wants one, all she needs to do is ask, but that small task seems insurmountable to her. Today I found her eating some blueberry struesel bread at the little table. (Atleast she was at the table, I feel like I say "at the table" a million times a day). Abby loves to reason and is always thinking up explanations about her behavior. Today she said, "Mom, the reason why I was eating the bluberry bread without asking you was because when I am a mom I'll know how to get out the bread and feed myself, that's just why I was doing it." Glad to know you'll be able to take care of yourself Abby, not that I'm worried, you do a pretty great job as a 4 year old. :)

The other day Abby, Aaron and I were walking to school to pick Brynn up. Abby turned to me and said in a reassuring tone, "Mom, it's okay that you have blonde hair.....you can still be part of our family!" She keeps repeating this to both Joe and me, it's obviously occupying much of her thought lately.

Her cutest one liner this week had to be, "Guys, I am SO going to bed!" and like I said, the lisp, original accent, hand swing, head flip, and intonation make smiling absolutely unavoidable.