Baby Boomers

At breakfast yesterday, I thought I'd give a quick history lesson. We've been studying modern world history this year and a lot of it is so horrible that I've just given a paragraph's summary of what happened rather than going into detail with these little kids! Although I do have a picture of Lenin on the timeline and the kids always like to ask if he was an evil man. They'll ask, "What's his name again?"

Anyway, last month we "studied" WW2 and so yesterday I wanted to talk about baby boomers with the kids. As they were eating their oatmeal, I mentioned how after the war, the people were SO happy that the war was over and they were finally living in peace again. The soldiers came home and lots of them got married and had babies. In fact, there were so many babies being born they called it a baby boom! They're eyes got bigger at such a funny phrase that they had never heard before and there were a few giggles. I explained it a little more, but they weren't listening! "Baby boom?!" asked Kian. "You mean like the babies went BOOM?!" Ha ha. Lots of laughs all around the table. Abby was hysterical, "So, the babies came out of the mommy's belly like boom?!" We were all laughing now. Kian asked me, "Where do babies come out?" I could see that he was trying to remember exactly but couldn't quite remember how it worked. I answered, "out of their vaginas." So then he excitedly replied, "The mothers can help in the war by shooting the babies out of their vaginas!" Then he got down on his hands and knees and demonstrated how they would shoot out of their backsides. We were in hysterics! I just let the conversation go and enjoyed the kids' laughter. When I tried to explain that our grandparents were born during the baby boom, they just couldn't hear me. Every time I mentioned "baby boom" they got distracted with funny images and hysterical laughter!

Abby Loves Flowers Part 2

She did it again. It is so sweet that I have to write it down.

She's saying her lunch-time prayer for the meal again (Ella's on breakfast and Kian is on dinner) and after showing gratitude for another day she starts in with her sweet praying voice that's coming straight from her heart. "Thank you for trees and plants." She then gasps with emotion and goes on "they make my heart beat." And finally, "Thank you for flowers and roses. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

Abby loves flowers

A prayer by Abby a short time ago...

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for this day. (She then went on to say all the normal things she says in almost all of her prayers like bless us to have a good day, bless daddy to come home safely, etc). But then she paused. And she switched her voice from her normal voice to a more sweet, pleading and genuine voice. And she went on... "Heavenly Father, I'm so glad that Jesus made all the plants and flowers. I love the fruits. It's like I'm in a dream."

I just smiled and wrote it down so I wouldn't forget! This is my daughter who last summer picked roses every day to place in a vase on our table, notices each new spring flower blooming and spent her birthday money on three new roses bushes that we planted in the backyard!

Where the wind blows...

I realize that it has been a LONG time since Matt or I have written anything...it may be a long time after today just because we are busy with life.

Last night for Family O H'evening (it's F.O.H. at our house, remember?) Kian wanted to build kites. Matt had picked up some sticks at his classroom from when he made kites with his students so we were set. Matt called us all into the living room and asked who wanted to be in charge of music? Abby volunteered; she is always in charge of music! Kian had already picked the activity and Matt had already made the brownies which left prayers and lesson. Ella happily volunteered for the prayers; she would say them all herself if we let her. I happily volunteered for the lesson (I actually had something brewing in my mind).

After singing Abby's favorite Primary song (I see my mother kneeling) and Ella's prayer, I talked to the kids about kites. How do kites travel? The wind, of course! I told the kids that our family is like a kite. Right now, Heavenly Father is blowing the wind (wooooooosh) and he's going to send our family somewhere new. We are probably going to move and Mommy and Daddy are doing everything we know how to feel the wind and follow it (going to the temple, exercising faith, fasting and praying, job hunting). I think the kids got it and it was really fun to explain to the kids how we're going to go where God wants us to go.

Even though we are considered foolish for not returning to Matt's guaranteed job at N.W.A. according to worldly wisdom, we've decided to follow God's promptings instead. We're actually really happy and excited about this decision!

Como se dice…?

So I've been brushing up on my Spanish lately. It's been a lot of fun to study it again. The kids have been learning some vocabulary as well. It's very interesting to me that the one in the house who is picking it up the fastest is sweet Ellanora. She often asks me how to say a word in Spanish and then will repeat it. Yesterday she asked, "Mommy, how do you say tortilla in Spanish?"

Prince Charming

While brushing Abby's hair this morning, she asked me such a surprisingly funny question. She asked in her gentle, sweet voice, "Mommy, who would you like me to marry?" I giggled and said something like, "I don't know the specific person, but I want him to be someone good and kind, who will never hit you or yell at you but will love you and be kind to you like Daddy is to me. And someone who will take you to the temple." She smiled at this and then asked, "Is Prince Charming still alive?"

A Winter Hike

We've had sick kids all week. Not my favorite. In fact, spending a week stuck in the house without being able to play with friends (my friends either), tending sickness, going to the doctor when necessary, no dates, etc. really kills me. It's when I'm at my worst.

 

ANYWAY, I had the car on Thursday and knew we had to get out of the house for our sanity. I said to the kids, "We're going to have a wild day. Get your socks and tennis shoes on and bring your nature journal. We're going on a hike!" As you can imagine, this was met with excitement. About an hour later when we were all finally ready and climbing into the car, I asked someone to say a prayer before we drove to Hobble Creek Canyon. Ella volunteered and this is what she prayed, "Dear Heavenly Faver, bless us that we can go on a hike again…Bless us that we can climb trees and not break our heads or legs or bones…" I just thought it was so genuine and sweet.

 

It was a good time. We were all happy to get out and observe the canyon in winter. It was colder than I realized and so we came home sooner than expected. It was lunchtime so I set out some cold chicken from the refrigerator onto the kitchen table while we washed hands and used the potty. Abby then approached me and asked, "Mom, can I have a bra?" I wondered where that came from and why. Who has she been talking to? Why would she ask such a thing? I asked her, "A bra? What do you mean?" She replied, trying to form the words but not getting it right, "Can I have a bra?" We walked into the kitchen together and I realized she was pointing to the chicken on the table. Smiling, "Oh, you mean a breast from the chicken?!" Yes, that it what she meant. Phew. I mean I know she's getting older quickly, but she just turned 5!