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!

More Humor

Abby has been saying the funniest things lately…

We walked past an elderly woman with lots of wrinkles going in to Macey's as we were coming out. Abby looked at me with wide eyes and said, "I just saw someone who was almost dead!" I just hope she didn't hear!

And as we were running errands last Saturday and drove past the post office I realized I had forgotten a package I needed to mail. I said that out loud and Abby replied with, "It's okay, Mom. Don't give up. Just don't give up! You can still make it to Macey's!" Her encouraging words surprised and entertained me.

A Wise Boy

I began a story about a wise man, Diogenes, to the kids yesterday but stopped to ask them if they knew what wise meant. Kian answered, "A man who saves his money." Abby answered, "Someone who keeps watch of his sheep." I thought those were interesting replies and explained it means very smart to which Abby replied, "Kian is wise!"

Lots of Growing Up Around Here!

Our kids have been growing by leaps and bounds lately! Not only is Felicity (age 1) walking like a maniac (no more crawling at all—and by the way, watching her walk is serious entertainment!), Ella is FINALLY using the potty 95% of the time (very happy parents here) AND Abby is almost 5, learning how to read and writing letters every moment she possibly can AND Kian has mastered reading and is reading everything he possibly can. Matt and I are amazed at how these kids have all grown so much so fast.

Kian asked to go to the library with me last night as I stocked up on books for our next month of homeschool. I consented. He then informed me, "I'm going to get electronics books and stay up all night reading!"

About a week ago after the girls were asleep and he was supposed to be asleep as well, he came out of his bedroom and asked me if he could stay up longer at night to read the Book of Mormon. I gave an enthusiastic response of course. I was happy he desired to read the scriptures on his own and he was happy he could stay up later. He's been reading about a chapter every night, even one during Sacrament meeting last Sunday, and seems to understand some of what he is reading. It certainly makes us happy to have such a motivated son.

You're going to Hell

Yes, some things Kian says truly shock us. While Kian was playing with a friend yesterday (as well as helping me dig a trench in front of our house), he said something truly shocking. This friend somehow mentioned that she didn't go to church. Kian's response was quick. "You are going to Hell," was his reply. "Kian, we don't say things like that to people," was my reply. This friend mentioned what her grandma thinks of those that go to church as being "square". The conversation turned to another topic.

Where did he get this idea??? Rhyetta and I have never said this to anyone and we certainly don't teach this to our kids. We have certainly talked to him afterward about how we don't talk to people like that.