Kids Say The Darndest Things Part 2

05-07-09 This morning, after he'd given the usual 5 second prayer, I told Will to pray again, but this time for something he's never prayed for. The immediate result; "Please bless the groundhogs, that they won't see their shadow."

And in Will's prayer tonight he said; "Please bless all the grandmas that they'll be in the Holy Ghost's heart."

04-25-09 Ben and I were enjoying dinner with Nick and Amanda at Joy Luck. I waited outside the restroom as Ben answered nature's call. When he came out, I asked him,
"Did you wash your hands?" His said, "Wow, look at that picture! That guy looks a lot wierder than that lady."
"Ben, did you wash your hands?" "When I went in that bathroom, its like I was in chinese!"
A third time, I persisted, "Ben, did you wash your hands?" Acknowledging his defeat, he shrugged his shoulders and went back in . . . to wash his hands.

04-21-09 It should be noted that Will said, "Yes" to tomatoes during sandwich prep and that this conversation randomly took place two hours after we ate lunch.

Will casually said, "I don't love you anymore. Mom. . . I don't love you anymore." Trying not to laugh, I dramatically asked, "Why don't you love me anymore?" "I like you, I just don't love you. . . because you put tomatoes on my sandwich and I don't like tomatoes." In a comforting tone he reassured me, "But I like you, I like you. I just don't love you."

04-10-09 Today, Will told Alessandra, "I'm Captain Courage, that means I'm a cool kid."

04-01-09 Before I walked out the door for mutual, I said my goodbyes and quietly told Alfonso, "Goodbye, Love." Will came running up to me and said, "Mommy, I want to tell you something, but in your ear." Then in a whisper he said, "Goodbye, Love Girl."

03-27-09 Today Will said, "I got a crush on you, Mom." Two hours later, "I got a crush on you huh, Mom." I asked him, "what does it mean to have a crush on someone?" He immediately said, "It means they're pretty! I have a crush on Allie too. I want her to be my girlfriend."

03-12-09 While making Tomato soup with Will, I noticed he was about to stick his tiger slap bracelet in the pot. "I don't think that's a good idea, Will." Will responded, "Yeah, then it would be Slap Bracelet Soup, huh?"

03-11-09 Today Spencer brilliantly suggested that we "buy a whole bunch of green construction paper and cover the whole house for St. Patrick's Day." I said, "Yeah, and then we could make the house pink for Easter!" Spencer immediately responded, "I don't think pink would suit most of the people in this house."

03-07-09 Tonight Will fervently prayed, "Please bless everyone to get a Power Ranger costume. Make mine red."

03-05-09 Holding up our recently read copy of 'Green Eggs and Ham,' Will told me, "I'm gonna call this book, Green Eggs and Sausage."

02-25-09 Will urgently announced on the intercom, "Mom, I have something to tell you." Anticipating a problem with toys or the Wii, I asked, "What is it Will?" In his softest sweetest voice, he said, "Uh, I love you."

02-19-09 After telling the boys about the new addition to the family, Spencer asked, "Can we order a girl?" I explained to them that Heavenly Father will decide whether he'll send a girl or boy. Will announced, "I'm going to pray to Heavuhly Fadder for a boy." I thought he intended to do it later until I noticed that he had his arms folded, and eyes closed. He quickly began, "Heavuhly Fadder, please make the baby a boy. . ."

02-16-09 After spending time in time out, Will's attitude changes from night to day and quite proud of himself, he exclaims, "Mom, I KEEPED THE COMMANDMENTS!"

02-13-09 While eating his jelly sandwich, Will pauses and says, "Mom, do Jellyfish eat jelly?"

02-13-09 As Spencer was sleeping I overheard him say, "Don't use that tone with me, missy!"

02-11-09 In Ben's prayer he said, ". . . and please bless Rochelle, that she will be happy forever." A week later Ben prays, "Please bless Rochelle that she will have a happy life."

02-10-09 After watching the movie, "Meet the Robinsons" Spencer was sketching some of his own inventions when he asked, "Mom, do you know how to make a time machine?" To his dismay, my answer was no.

02-09-09 In school, Will was officially recognized for being a good helper. He got a neat letter from the teacher and a token to exchange in the office for a prize. In the car he told me, "I be'd a good man at preschool today." What did you do to be a good man, Will? "Cuz I was nice tah people."

02-06-09 While trying to open the package of a little green Jolly Rancher, Will explained, "I wanna see if it's seaweed."

02-06-09 In the car, Will announced, "I like being alive, Mom."

01-26-09 While building a huge fort at Grandma's house, Spencer told Will, "We need this pillow to staple-ize it." Will, as usual, agreed, "Yeah, we need that pillow to staple-ize it!"

01-09-09 On our way to comb his hair in the bathroom, Will exclaimed, "Ouch!!! My broken heart!" "Why is your heart broken, Will?" "Uhhh. . . . . . . . . because I can't walk very well."

01-01-09 While saying the prayer Will said, "Heavenly Father, please bless the a's, b's, p's and w's"

Happiness Is. . .

I believe that it's the simple, often overlooked things in life that bring the greatest joy.


From the musical "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown"
Music and lyrics by Clark Gesner,
Happiness

Happiness is finding a pencil
Pizza with sausage
Telling the time

Happiness is learning to whistle
Tying you shoe
For the very first time.

Happiness is playing the drum
In your own school band.
And happiness is walking hand in hand.

Happiness is two kinds of ice cream...
Knowing a secret...
Climbing a tree.

Happiness is five dif'rent crayons...
Catching a firefly...
Setting him free.

Happiness is being alone ev'ry now and then.
And happiness is coming home again.
Happiness is morning and evening,
Daytime and nighttime too.
For happiness is anyone and anything at all
That's loved by you.

Happiness is having a sister
Sharing a sandwich
Getting along-

Happiness is singing together when day is through.
And happiness is those who sing with you.
Happiness is morning and evening,
Daytime and nighttime, too,
For happiness is anyone and anything at all
That's loved by you.

JTIWS (just thought I would share)

Believe

My friend, Toni, lent me the DVD "Believe" which our family watched last night. Great show. Would be even Greater in person/whale. I'd fancy a swim with one of these magnificent creatures. Little Adair, down the street LOVES this DVD and cried when her mom insisted that we borrow it. Adair has such a passion for whales. It made me think, hey, someday she could become a whale trainer at SeaWorld. . . in fact, I would like to swim with a whale or dolphin someday. It is incredible to witness their sheer size, power, and abilities not to mention the bond they have with their trainers. It's amazing to see what can be achieved when two very different species, collaborate. The underlying message from the show is to believe in your dreams. These trainers dreamed to become who they are. A child was picked out of the audience. She shared her dream to become a vetrenarian. Everyone applauded her and she was given a whale pendant to remember her dream. I was inspired.

"Believe" made me think about the things in life that I really want to do. The person I'd really like to be. It's one thing to tell your kids, you can be anything you want to be. But strangely another to tell yourself, and believe it. Why is that? I'd like to know. Are you doing what you want to do? Are you the person you want to be? What childhood dreams have you fulfilled, or left unfullfilled.

I'm 30 years old. I like who I am. I love what I do. I have a long way to go before I'm a great person like my mom, or Maria Cole, or Laura Pendleton. I have a lot of selflessness to achieve if I want to be like my friend Siobhan or my sweet Grandma Lefler. I'm so glad that I have my whole life ahead of me. Time for self-mastery, time to learn how to play the flute, and the harp. Time to write and record the songs in my mind. Time to become a true friend, like my sister, Delynn. Time to swim with killer whales, ride a gondola in Venice, or take in the view from a distant mountaintop.

There IS time. I just need to believe.

Spencer's Baptism

Spencer on his 8th birthday.


Will, Ben, Spence, and Jasen.


The cake.


The birthday boy.


The Bowens.


A treat for those in attendance.


The fumbling pianist.


Ben, Megan, Will, and Allie on the front row.



Spencer and his dad.


Me, Alfonso, and Spencer.


Spencer with Grandma and Grandpa Terry.


Our familia.


Spencer and his cousins from my side of the family.


Spence and D.D.


Spence and me.


Proud parents.



I adore Grandma Castle. It has been soooo long since we've last played cards!


Spencer, Will and (from the Richardson side) Grandma Castle, Camille and Evan.


Spencer's family. We love you Spencer and we are ALL so proud of you!

My Audition

I bumbled like an idiot at the beginning, but I think you get what I was trying to say. Anyway, this was a really fun experience!

For more info, check out http://www.dodgers.com/lds

AMERICAN IDOLS LIVE 2009

For a limited time only, straight from our camera, here are a few show highlights.
This is intended for the viewing pleasure of our friends who weren't able to attend the show. No copyright violation intended.






Our "Slow Ride" Home

Lucy and Peter

Earlier this week I had the fabulous priviledge of going to girls camp with the choice young women of my ward. There is something to be said about being way up in the mountains, removed from electricity and distractions. There is something magical about watching the full moon rise as you listen to all the girls giggling in their dimly lit tents.

I should tell you, I am a heavy dreamer. My nights are usually filled with random restless images that seem to play until I open my eyes. It can be exasperating. However, while up in the mountians with only a thin layer of fabric between me and the stars, my nights were limited to one dream only. I slept so peacefully and dreamt so clearly.

I dreamed that I was on a staircase, close to the top, when I saw a beautiful blonde-headed girl running into the hallway above. Her curls were bouncing and her smiling expression was radiant. She was so excited to see someone approaching. I looked below to see a little boy, crawling up the staircase squealing with joy. I instantly knew who they were and recognized a big sister jumping up and down at the edge of the stairs, ecstatic to see her little brother. I have to emphasize, they were SO HAPPY to see each other. They were only two steps away from each other, and the dream was over.

I know without question who those beautiful children were. The little boy's name is Peter. I know this because I held him in my arms in the park last Sunday and had the priviledge of rocking him to sleep. The little girl's name is Lucy. I know this because I've played with her. I'd know her beautiful face anywhere. I know and love her parents and mourned with them when she passed away last year.

This was such a clear, sweet dream. When I woke up, I became regretfully aware of the fact that Lucy and Peter will never play like that in this mortal life. But, it was obvious that they do KNOW each other, that they LOVE each other, and there WILL be a time for them to laugh and play together. I'm so glad to have caught a glimpse.

This Ragged Old Flag

Image taken of a flag which was recovered from ground zero at the World Trade Center.

Ragged Old Flag - Johnny Cash
I walked through a county courthouse square
On a park bench, an old man was sittin' there.
I said, "Your old court house is kinda run down,
He said, "Naw, it'll do for our little town."
I said, "Your old flag pole is leaned a little bit,
And that's a ragged old flag you got hangin' on it."
He said, "Have a seat," and I sat down,
"Is this the first time you've been to our little town"
I said, "I think it is"
He said "I don't like to brag, but we're kinda proud of
That Ragged Old Flag

"You see, we got a little hole in that flag there,
When Washington took it across the Delaware.
and It got powder burned the night Francis Scott Key sat watching it,
writing "Say Can You See"
It got a rip in New Orleans, with Packingham & Jackson
tugging at its seams.
and It almost fell at the Alamo
beside the Texas flag,
But she waved on though.
She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville,
And she got cut again at Shiloh Hill.
There was Robert E. Lee and Beauregard and Bragg,
And the south wind blew hard on
That Ragged Old Flag

"On Flanders Field in World War I,
She got a big hole from a Bertha Gun,
She turned blood red in World War II
She hung limp, and low, a time or two,
She was in Korea, Vietnam, She went where she was sent
by her Uncle Sam.
She waved from our ships upon the briny foam
and now they've about quit wavin' back here at home
in her own good land here She's been abused,
She's been burned, dishonored, denied an' refused,
And the government for which she stands
Has been scandalized throughout out the land.
And she's getting thread bare, and she's wearin' thin,
But she's in good shape, for the shape she's in.
Cause she's been through the fire before
and i believe she can take a whole lot more.

"So we raise her up every morning
And we bring her down slow every night,
We don't let her touch the ground,
And we fold her up right.
On second thought
I DO like to brag
Cause I'm mighty proud of
That Ragged Old Flag"

Let's not forget to give thanks.
Thanks to the men and women who have fought and still fight to keep America free, thanks for our government which isn't perfect but desperately struggles to provide for and guide it's people, and thanks to God for granting us time here on this blessed soil. Have a wonderful 4th of July weekend!

Confessions of a Hermit - Part 2

Right now as I type, my neighbors are on the porch next-door visiting. Why have I not joined them? I don't feel excluded or alienated. But with the kids out on a playdate, I just would much rather be alone. Remember what silence sounds like. Enjoy an uninterrupted moment with the current book I've been reading. Is this antisocial?

Lately, I've really immersed myself in reading. It has been such a long time since I've been able to do that. On Tuesday, I finished Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, and now I'm getting deep into The Freedom Writer's Diary. I have my next selection at hand. What can I say? I like to read. It's like a healthy dessert for my brain. So for today, I'll let the neighbors chat, I'll let the kids play with their friends, and after I rotate the laundry, I'll even let that set for a time. But now, I choose to be alone and read.

p.s. Have you read any good books lately that you'd like to share with me? I'd love some suggestions!