If time could stand still

You can't make time stand still, but if you could I would make "now" last forever.   3 boys=happiness.

Today in Seth's prayer he said to Heavenly Father  "bless Jesus to be happy."  You better believe I said AMEN to that prayer.

Isaac and Seth were playing basketball in our front room.  Isaac said, "I'm Jimmer Fredette."  Not to be out done, Seth responded, "I'm Seffy Cool."  Jimmer's mom might disagree but Seth wins that one.

Isaac recruited my help making a go-cart...that will fly...that way he doesn't need a license...all per Isaac.  He's gonna fly to Honey Heart and Hannah's and see Hannah's dog.  Um...I just hammered where he told me to and provided some supplies, although he foraged pretty well on his own in our scary basement.

Also tonight, before going to bed, Isaac told me there was a bug flying around the light in his room and he was a little scared. I grabbed a broom and went to do my motherly duties.  I shooed the flying beetle and in got caught in the broom and I killed it.  Bad mistake.  Isaac was in tears.  "I love bugs."  He was genuinely sad.  I told him that little bug's spirit went to Heaven.  (Where or whom said that?  Is that true?...all bugs go to heaven?)  He wanted to know if bugs could be resurected from the garbage, and WHEN would that happen.  He was just so sad.  I told him next time I would shoe the bug outside and I am so sorry I killed the bug.  He cried a little more and then said, "Mom, I have an idea.  You could get a piece of paper and write 'I wont kill bugs' on it and then if you are going to kill a bug you could look at the paper." Genius.

Benjamin lies on top of me when I lay down with him at night.  He lies next to me eventually. But at some point his face is always smashed on mine...and I cant get a enough of him.

Benjamin brought me several books to be read to him today and he says "book" minus the "k" (not boo like a ghost).  He loves to point out the mouse in The Big Hungry Bear.

I lost my patience today...a couple of times.  I'm okay, my boys forgave me.  They always forgive me.  I like 'em.

Two wheels

It's been a looooong time coming, but Isaac is a bike rider!  He told us he wanted to take the training wheels off of his bike several weeks ago.  We took them off and he was riding within a day.  He is a quick study, which is good because his mama and papa aren't great runners.   Thanks for learning so quickly Isaac. 

His smile is contagious and so is his enthusiasm.   

 Good focusing buddy.  You are doing awesome!

 Do remember learning to ride a bike?  I wish I did.  

Thanks for running by my side to whomever taught me.

 BEST.  CHEERLEADER.  EVER.  Isaac won the heaven lottery when he got Seth for a little brother.  This kid couldn't be happier for his big bro.  He yelled "GOOD JOB ISAAC!" and ran down the sidewalk to keep up with Isaac.

He's amore fun than a barrel of monkeys

16 months ago today, Benjamin blessed us with his presence.  Living with this little gent is a riot.  He keeps me on my toes, to be sure.  He has his way of doing things and that it that, NOT easily dissuaded.  (SIDE NOTE:  as I am sitting here typing this Isaac is lying on the couch next to me and says.  "Mom, I'm gonna get baptized in a river."  "Why?" "Cause I want to."  "Okay."  These things are good to know in advance.) 

 At 16 months, Benjamin:

• is a walker, walker, walker and looks a little wobbly.
• LOVES to read books, especially Moo, Ba, La La La and From Head to Toe.
• likes to eat oatmeal, and mixed fruit-bananas, strawberries, and peeled apples,  fruit snacks and he like meat also.
• when he is hungry he says,"numa numa numa num" and when he wants candy he says the same.
• LOVES to take baths
• laughs a sigh of affirmation when asked if he wants a drinka-drink or some food.  When the answer is no he just says it, "noooooooooo."
• likes to sing along to the rio sound track, "Riiiiii-o, riiiii-o" and "Pop pop a-wow" for "Pop Goes The Weasel."
• puts hats on all the time, usually backwards.
• Likes to ride his little winnie the pooh scooter 
• Says "mommy, mommy, mommy"  whenever he wants ANYTHING.
• Says "mommy, mommy, mommy" or "mama, mama"  When he wants his mommy.
• Loves to love his daddy when he comes home from work.
• Loves to return to his mommy when he is done loving the papa.
• Loves to be in the middle of things and play with his brothers, even with the little star-war guys.
• says: owe, yes peas (when encouraged), amen, buh buh (for book), ball, Ooooo Ooo (for thank you), numa numa, bye bye, noooo, (nothing) when asked to say most things, mooo, ba, lalala

When Benjamin hears me open the dishwasher he makes a b-line straight to the kitchen.  He used to take all the silverware and dump them on the ground.  It was a race and when he learned it was futile he decided to "help" me load.  Little rascal.

Rub a dub dub, three men in a tub...

This picture was taken almost exactly a year ago.

He IS a rascal.  We had just taken him out, dried him, diapered him and pajama'ed him, but I guess he wasn't done yet.  He has his way of doing things and that is that.  He just crawled right in.

We are gonna keep him!

Bedtime tonight...

was nothing extra special, but I had an insight that bedtimes wont be like this forever.  That made me miss my little boys...and they are still little.

So a couple random things to remember:

I was going in to tuck them in and Baby Benjamin followed me in and then grunted that he wanted up. I just like him.  That's all.

I told them about the time Jesus came to the Nephites and had compassion on them and blessed them.  Isaac said, "I wanna see Jesus.  When can I see Jesus?" Then it was Seth's turn to pray.  It went something like this:
Heavenly Father,
Fank dee dat Jesus had compassion.
Fank dee dat Jesus served Heavenly Father.
Fank dee dat Jesus used the power.
(Mom) Please help me be compassionate like Jesus.
Please help me be compassionate like Jesus. (directed to mom) No mom.  I wanna do it by myself.
(Mom in a shushed voice) Okay.  Sorry.
Fank de dat my dad can baptize me when I am four in the church.
(Mom) When you're eight.
No. Four.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Boys tucked. (whew)
Boys untucked.

...and in my room, where I was.  Isaac says, "You wanna know why we always want you to tuck us and not dad?"
"Yeah.  Why?"
"Cause you snuggle us and dad doesn't."
(laughing) "Oh.  I'll remind dad to snuggle you.  Now go to bed."
Seth pipes up, "Mom, you dont tell us to go to bed.  Dad does."
"Well that's because dad knows what's best for you.  Now go to bed."

Benjamin just scurried after me when I left.  Like he knows that his spot is always right next to me.  I just like him.  That's all.

Boys in bed.
Boys out of bed.

We discuss...whatever.  And I am threatening to go berzerko if the dont go to bed.

At work they call E the hammer.  I guess he is the hammer at home too.  He more often put our little gentlemen to bed, brushes their teeth, says prayer, evidently he doesn't snuggle.  But night time routines are much easier when he is home.  It's like I know his spot is always best when it is right next to me. I just like him.  That's all.

Now I might get to go snuggle f I am lucky.

I'd like to bare my testimony...

Isaac bore his testimony today.   I have heard that children who haven't been baptized shouldn't bear testimony on fast and testimony Sunday.   Isaac hasn't been baptized but the little missionary man loves to share his testimony.  Sometimes I convince him to share it at home, but today there was no stopping him.  He went to the front all by himself and waited on the stand for his turn all by himself.  When it was his turn he got up without missing a beat, spoke right up in an appropriately loud voice, and even smiled.  This is what he said,

I'd like to bare my testimony.

I know this church is true.

I know Heavenly Father and Jesus love me, and I love them too.

I know my family loves me.

I like to read the scriptures with my family.

In the name of Jesus Christ amen.

We were sitting on the 2nd to the back row.  Isaac finished and was coming down from the stage when Seth yelled out, "GOOD JOB ISAAC!"  Amen.

I'd like to bare my testimony...

Isaac bore his testimony today.   I have heard that children who haven't been baptized shouldn't bear testimony on fast and testimony Sunday.   Isaac hasn't been baptized but the little missionary man loves to share his testimony.  Sometimes I convince him to share it at home, but today there was no stopping him.  He went to the front all by himself and waited on the stand for his turn all by himself.  When it was his turn he got up without missing a beat.  Spoke right up in an appropriately loud voice and even smiled.  This is what he said,

I'd like to bare my testimony.
I know this church is true.
I know Heavenly Father and Jesus love me, and I love them too.
I know my family loves me.
I like to read the scriptures with my family.
In the name of Jesus Christ amen.

We were sitting on the 2nd to the back row.  Isaac finished and was coming down from the stage when Seth yelled out, "GOOD JOB ISAAC!"  Amen.

Sometimes you have a bad day...