what dad's do...

I went out for a bit. Nick was in charge of Matthew while I was gone. Claire was at preschool. He sent me an email later that day with this picture and caption:

Best Babysitter Ever.

sigh.....................................................

pianists

I had a wonderful Sunday last week. I am doing Lent this year. I know it's a Catholic/Evangelist Holiday, but I didn't think it was bad to give up something to Christ for 40 days. I am in no way perfect, and I do give myself Sunday to indulge a bit more, but I have enjoyed it. I was even lucky enough to sing for an Episcopalian Church the same day. Listening to her sermon was quite remarkable. She spoke about how giving up chocolate isn't exactly what God had in mind, but remembering the sacrifice is the point. I loved it.

My monsters are wonderful. Claire is absolutely driving me up a wall with incessant questions, but she is a dear and helps around the house so much for a three year old I wouldn't know what to do without her. She is scared of being tackled lately and I think she's going to end up more like Kloey, who doesn't like to wrestle. Matthew is so excited to wrestle that I sent Claire to time out last week and while I was on the phone for a second, I hear Claire yelling for me. I come back to find Claire on all fours with a Matthew on her back trying to ride her like a pony! That kid is so adventurous! He does that to me and to Nick regularly. He is especially good at giving raspberries on our backs when we pick something up. He lifts up our shirts and slobbers all over our backs. He is speaking, but not clearly. He says "All duh" (all done), "outside" (ow sigh), socks (sahks), and a few others.

Claire had her first recital last Tuesday. She will be doing it again at the end of April. She was freakin' adorable! If you want to come see her, please do! She was pretty shy and you couldn't hear her well, but it was wonderful. I remember singing "Bibbity Boppity Boo" when I was a wee one. I don't remember performing it, but I remember learning "sall a ka doo la, men key ka boo la" with my mom at the piano. Hopefully we're carrying on a little heritage ;) I played the piano...poorly. It was my first professional accompaniment. ha ha ha ha

We are lucky. And we know it.

Happy Valentines!

Claire's first Valentine Party EVER! She let me eat the Twix ;).

SHE'S READING! AGHHH!!! I LOVE this preschool!

Ready, Dad?

Nick and Claire were sitting on the bed. Nick was sick and let a little...toot...out. Almost directly after, Claire let a little toot out herself. They both giggled together.

And then...

Claire looks up at Nick and says: Ready, Dad?

Nick: Ready for what, Bear?

Claire toots!

*this is where you giggle, too!


Claire has started Primary (LDS church version of Sunday School for kids) this year:
A few weeks ago, Claire's Primary teacher comes up to tell us all the crazy antics Claire has been doing. Apparently she's the funniest girl they have ever heard because they commonly come up to us after church to update us and tell us how hilarious she is.

In class, this week alone, Claire said the following things:

Sister Roxy? Do you enjoy your sleeves? 

(we've been discussing modesty. her role model is Aurora from Sleeping Beauty and her sleeves are always off her shoulders. Something that Claire tries to do daily. What kid uses "enjoy"?)

They went on a trip to the potty and they heard Claire:

Eew! Disgusting!

Sister Roxy: Everything alright, Claire? do you need some help in there?

Claire: No, my poo poo is just red and green.

In class they were discussing how to keep bodies healthy.

Claire: My daddy says it's good to toot. My momma don't like tooting. I like tooting. (tooting has been substituting to save my mother's ears. She doesn't like the f word version of toot)

OH MY GOODNESS! this kid is awesome...

At the last minute, they asked her to give the opening prayer in Sharing Time (where all the kids 3-12 meet to say a prayer, sing songs, have a short lesson...etc). I was playing the piano and I seriously had to work not to be hurt that I couldn't help her with her first time. Or even help prepare her with what to say...

The Primary President asked her if she needed any help.

Claire: No, I can do it mysssself.

She gets up to the podium and

whispers into the microphone...

"Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for this day,
Thank you for my Momma and Daddy,
Something I couldn't hear,

Name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

then she runs to Sister Roxy and gives her a HUGE hug.

It was too cute.

again, my kid is awesome.

pitcher's mound

Matthew is the ultimate pitcher for the 18 month old league. That kid is hilarious. When we play ball, he throws the ball like a pro and then waits for me to throw it back. He can't catch yet, so he usually has to chase the ball down, but then goes right back to his 'mound' to throw again. He's so stinkin adorable. I love my kiddos.

Claire is LYING! AGH!!!!! Advice? Anyone?

any form of present will do...

So, maybe I'm the only one in the whole world who thought this was hilarious for so many different reasons, but I thought I'd share:

Does she really even understand what this does?

because every parent needs kids like this...

what goes in, must come out...

Bill had another stroke. So, while we were at the hospital Claire...well...this can be funny if seen in the right light. So, let's do it right:

Claire, Nick, Matthew and I went down to visit Bill (my father) in the hospital after this stroke happened. It was this past Sunday. Claire asks if she can take off this necklace that Grammie Krista gave her. 

Me: Ummmm...I don't know, Bear. You tend to put whatever you can in your mouth for reasons I don't understand. Will you keep it out of your mouth.

My Trained Monkey of A Daughter: Yes, Momma.

Me: Okay.

Matthew gets a stinky bum, and we left the diaper bag in the car. Nick and Claire go down to get it. Nick hears Claire coughing/choking. 

Nick: Bear, you okay?

Claire: cough cough, I swallowed my necklace. cough cough cough

Nick looks in Claire's mouth and sure enough, the necklace is gone. She gets spoken to sternly, I'm sure, I wasn't there. I was told after the fact. And then the two proceed back up to Grampa Bill's room. Claire stops.

Claire: Daddy? 

Nick stops and looks at her.

My THREE year old says: Don't tell Momma, okay Daddy?

Obviously it was the first thing he said when he got up to the room! We died. Seriously. Then Gramma Rosi turns to us and says

Gramma Rosi: Should you call your pediatrician?

Me: uhhhh...?

Rosi: I should just pop around the corner and ask Grampa Bill's nurse.

She returns while I am telling Claire that she promised not to put things in her mouth and then did exactly what I was afraid of...

Rosi: Yes, you should call your doctor. Just to make sure.

So, this is getting longer and longer. Basically, because the necklace was 10 inches long, the doc wanted us to get an xray after it passed through most of her body...just to make sure. The next morning we took her in, got an xray and found that is was clumped in a little ball and very close to being on its way out. She was fine. 

Is it bad that I almost hoped that it was something that would scare her JUST A BIT to help her remember how bad it is to put things in her mouth? That's awful though, right? Especially because I try so hard to not make her scared of the doctor. Hmmmm...sigh...grrrr...

Thanksgiving II

1. I am thankful for my amazing children. The more I watch, the more I care. I can't help it. They are positively amazing! Claire is totally PRE READING! And she loves it. She asks to do practice multiple times a day. Matthew is a total flirt. He can't help but liven everyone around him with a smile. And the way he attacks popcorn is something to be seen.

2. Aggies! WA-freakin'-hoooo! We went to the football game in the freezing cold this afternoon. It was awesome. Matthew was an ANGEL! He literally watched the game the entire time. And when he wasn't, he was flirting with the cute girls behind him. Claire was pretty whiny, but she was fairly okay through the whole thing. I was never ever a sports person unless my awesome brothers were playing, but I can't not watch this team. I'm sad if I have other obligations. And if we can't get free tickets, we watch it online! I can hardly believe this! I love it. I love the Aggies! They rock!

3. The Sorensen Family. They almost all came over for this Thanksgiving. It was awesome to spend so much time with them. Matt took us to see "Real Steel", which I totally recommend. Although I had a very hard time with the total destruction parts of this movie, but I really did love it. We ate fabulous food that we spent two days making. We had lots of fun playing games, going out as girls, playing with the kids, Black Friday watching---that turned into buying! ha ha ha!...etc. So glad they came. We love them. Thanks, guys.

4. This country. Glad we live here. Glad for our jobs. Glad for our security. Glad for our home. Glad for our ability to make changes. Glad to eat lots of food. Wish for a few changes, but who doesn't!?!

5. Heavenly Father...For allowing all of the previous. and more.

melissa villasenor!!!!

Everyone can totally be jealous! I went with my friend, Lizabeth E, to see this comedian on Thursday night up at USU. Not only is she a fantastic comedian but, she's CLEAN and she's a singer! You better believe that I feel in love because of that. She truly is amazing. I could do a complete critique of her vocal abilities, but I'd bore almost everyone but my mom, so...naw.

Check her out: