'Come here Squirrel!!'

One bright early morning last week the twins and I were watching a jumpy little squirrel run around our backyard. Once he noticed us, he would occasionally stare back at us- making sure we were safely behind the glass door. Then he would go about his business of looking for food. Jack happened upon us and seeing we were watching the squirrel, announced that he wanted to catch him. Perhaps for a pet? Anyway, I wondered at his catching strategy when he went and grabbed-of all things- mom's purse. Ignoring my protests that I didn't really want a squirrel in my purse, he opened the back door and started yelling, "Squirrel! Come over here right now!" and "I said COME HERE!!" I suppose he really thought this strategy would work and was quite surprised at it having the opposite effect on said squirrel. However, Greg and I both had a good laugh- at him and ourselves for trying the same tactic on little boys, with the same results I might add.

I like to Move it Move it...

We are laughing at the innate need that the twins have, especially Andrew, to dance when any music is playing. He can be doing anything, such as putting the smack down on Daddy, and as soon as music starts he stops, and his bum starts. The dancing varies from standing with knees apart and hips circling or the sitting wiggling. But their favorite thing- ever- is to have Daddy's ipod earphones. They share so each of them only have one and they will sit there and dance to any song that happens to pop up. We get quite a kick out of it.
Jack is a music lover too. Last night at family night he came up with all of our songs. He named them off using his fingers. 1st- the song about the hippo, giraffe, lion and zebra, 2ND- the prophet song, 3rd- the follow the prophet song, 4Th- the snowman song (with alternate hand signs) and 5Th- the boy who plays with matches (pronounced Maatches.) Since we didn't know some of these songs Jack had to lead us. It was a job he really enjoyed. We couldn't sit and sing we had to get up and march around the house as we sang, "Once there was a hippo, giraffe, and lion and zebra. (repeated until he felt we sang enough and had to sit down.) Then it was up again for two rounds of "follow the prophet" with our own lyrics. Such as Nephi was a prophet sent to get the plates from the wicked Laban inside the city gates. His brothers didn't want to, but he said he would so he did it and got them back to something something. Follow the prophet...
The boy who plays with matches was especially interesting to listen too. We were wondering how that one was going to play out. Mostly a boy played with matches. (Interestingly enough that was the only one we weren't ordered to sing while marching around the house.) And when we did start singing The wiseman song without his permission he got very hurt and was moved to almost tears all the while saying, "That's enough. We're not singing that right now. We're going to sing the snowman song. THAT'S ENOUGH!" We tried to explain that we were singing it because it was his brothers turn to lead a song, but that did little. All was set to right when we sang the snowman song, however. Then we told him he was very talented and he is now in charge of singing time during all family nights.

Perspective

I was realizing how much my perspective has changed since I've been married and especially since I've had kids. I used to sleep alone and was fine with it, now it's really hard to sleep alone. I used to think parenting would be difficult, but I'd somehow know what to do. Now I realize parents mostly have a theory to raise kids, but putting it into practice is an entirely different thing. I used to see clean as in floor swept and counters cleared- everything in it's place. Now I see clean if there is at least one area of the rug not covered in dirty laundry, toys or cracker that was thrown down and stomped on. Not to mention the stains from the spilled food an drink, and spit-up. And I used to view heaven as a place with my family surrounding me and we're talking and laughing. Now I see heaven as a place- still surrounded by family- but they are older and can clean up their own messes and DO!
The point of today's post is this: I don't know what life is going to be like later, but I do know that it will be different than it is now and once again perspectives will change. And I guess that's okay with me.

Jack Jack, my heart attack

Jack has always been a Daddy's boy. And that's fine with me. Until Daddy taught him how to burb. Now, anytime we have soda, all three of my boys sit around the dinner table pretending and in some cases actually burping! I've been mildly worried about this only because they are starting this so early in life, until recently when it's become a full on fear. This happend two days ago when I asked Jack a question. He (while casually sipping his 1/3 can of soda) BURPED, "yes." I was shocked and dismayed to find he could do this. A skill that I have yet to accomplish, not that I've tried that hard, but still!
The other thing that he's recently started doing came to the forefront yesterday morning at breakfast. Now as many of you may recall, he does not repeat the "help me to be a good boy" when prompted for the prayer. He'll say everything else, but refuses to ask for help in the area. So yesterday, at breakfast, he decided to say the prayer without help from us. It went like this:
"Dear Heavenly Father
Please bless Mommy and Daddy to be good. And please bless Myles and Andrew too. And bless the food...."
Bless us to be good? Thanks, Jack I'll try. Nothing like being called to repentance by your 3 year old.

Thing One and Thing Two

I was a bad Mom today and let my 18 month old try some salsa. He REALLY wanted it. He was getting mad that I wasn't sharing. So I just barely dipped the chip in and gave him some. I also gave some to his brother so he wouldn't feel left out. Myles automatically spit it out, but Andrew ate it down. Then he wanted more. When I gave him some he had to blow on it, like you do to hot food. Just not salsa kinda hot. They really are so cute.
Jack is busy being a cop today--I know we are all surprised he's not being a fireman. However, he was a fireman all day yesterday and he's got to be tired of answering all those 'calls' he gets on his 'roger'(or plastic phone.) Now he's off with Daddy to pick up the 'drys' (or dry cleaning.) And as he left he yelled back, "Love you, don't worry- I'll have fun." Doesn't that just calm a Mom's heart?
The picture is of Myles giving Andrew a hug in their 'Thing One' And 'Thing Two' outfits they finally fit into. I can't believe they are already wearing 24 month outfit stuff. They grow up so quickly.

I want to be a pilot

I found the following saying, which was apparently written by an anonymous 5th grader, on a plaque in a Navy exchange.

I want to be a pilot
I want to be a pilot when I grow up because it's fun and easy to do. Pilots don't need much school, they just have to learn numbers so they can read instruments. I guess they should be able to read maps so they can find their way if they get lost. Pilots should be brave so they won't get scared if it's foggy and they can't see or if a wing or motor falls off they should stay calm so they'll know what to do. Pilots have to have good eyes so they can see through clouds and they can't be afraid of lightning or thunder because they are closer to them than we are. The salary pilots make is another thing I like. They make more money than they can spend. This is because most people think airplane flying is dangerous except pilots don't because they know how easy it is. There isn't much I don't like, except girls like pilots and all the stewardesses want to marry them and they always have to chase them away so they won't bother them. I hope I don't get airsick because if I do I couldn't be a pilot and would have to go to work.
A fifth grader

2/5/08

Greg, amazingly, didn't have a flight today! This is good and bad news actually, since he hasn't flown in awhile we are at risk for getting a mandatory warm up flight which would set us back in training. But at least he isn't going at the breakneck speed he was before. The good news is he had the day off to go hiking with me and the boys. I say hiking, but mostly it was flat level walking beside a river. But it was very swampy. I mean, beautiful. We got to see Georgia moss, which we learned can be used as bedding or firestarter when you are "roughing" it in the swamp.
Jack and Andrew both fell asleep for the walking journey, leaving only Myles to watch the scenery go by. And the only one that got to walk on our trip which brought about his first upclose experience with an outdoor dog. He's had very limited contact with dogs and he wasn't too sure about the pup inspecting us this afternoon. Well after the dog gave up on us Myles still looked back expecting to be followed and perhaps hoping to be able to say, "look Mom, he followed me home. Can I keep him?" Thankfully that didn't happen. Since I think Dad would have responded with a resounding "NO!" Which would have been sad considering all the words Myles would suddenly have to learn to put together a question like that.
I think the most amazing part about today was that it's the 5 of February and we were sweating during our walk. In fact, if it hadn't been for the wind it would have been down right hot and muggy. As it was it was only muggy. A very good day on the whole.

February 1

I can't believe January is already gone! It seems like it was just here, just barely coming to claim it's new year status. Now, we are firmly set in the new year and it is no longer acceptable to acciedentally say 2007, or perhaps even 1997. (Yes, my years get a little fuzzy. Perhaps it's my blind spot for 7's.)

We were watching TV yesterday. Actually a movie so Greg could try out his new surround sound system. It was 'The Transporter.' Jack gets so into movie's now that he went up during one of the fight scenes and started pounding on all the bad guys on the screen.