Apparently Justin and Max hide under the covers and watch surfing videos on you tube when he puts him to bed.
Guess we all know who the cooler parent is…..
Apparently Justin and Max hide under the covers and watch surfing videos on you tube when he puts him to bed.
Guess we all know who the cooler parent is…..
I want to remember what it’s like to put Max to bed right now. Time seems to speed up faster and faster. I heard a theory that that happens because when you are 10, 1 year is only a tenth of your life (remember when one year seemed to go on and on forever…not in a bad way, just in a it’s still 3 whole days until Christmas kind of way) and when you are 50 it’s only a 50th of your life, so five years at 50 would feel the same length as 1 year at ten….anyways…. There is so much I forget that I want to freeze in my brain.
Right now we have to convince Max to sleep in his own room, unless it’s a weekend then they can all sleep together. He’s convinced there is a nightmare living in his closet….I told him to say a prayer and Jesus would help him feel better. One night he screamed for me and with tears running down his face said, “I said a prayer and Jesus didn’t COME!”
We tell him that he has to go pee, everyone must pee before they go to bed. He usually pretends nothing will come out… until he can’t hold it anymore, then he acts amazed, raises his eyebrows and gives me a sheepish half smile.
We read a book.
I do remember that I used to read Josh 2 or 3 books and sing him a bunch of songs. Poor 3rd child…
We read 1 book…. with me skipping lots of pages and words because he wants to read the same book 1000 times in a row before we move on.
Then we sing the Lullaby song and Twinkle Star. My other kids would mix up their song picks. Not this one. Same songs, same order. Sometimes we sing Twinkle Star in a different tune with crazy voices, but that’s all the variation he goes for.
Usually I lie down by him while we sing. He likes to sing with his eyes closed and his little baby voice and facial expression cracks me up. I usually stare at him while we sing. I don’t sing to him. He always participates.
Then I kiss him goodnight. As I’m leaving I hear,
“I need a drink” – why do I never remember that before?
followed by, “Leave the door a little bit open, no a lot a bit open, no this much” – showing me with his hands
Followed by, “Leave the closet light on.”
Followed by, “I need hugs and kisses!”
By then I’m usually completely exasperated, but occasionally I really try to enjoy those chubby arms wrapped so tightly around my neck. And memorize that little face that is so completely him.
The boys trying to get the Mom with the camera out of there. Josh was in a funk and didn’t want to participate in this water fight, but his Dad made him… I pretty sure he was glad in the end.
A lemonade stand. Unbeknownst to me. Anna gave a drink to our neighbor who was working outside, which he gratefully accepted, then she said, “Your welcome! That will be 50 cents.” We need to work on what is acceptable salesmanship.
And a fairy house. These two saw an actual fairy check it out when they put it outside. And a couple of days later they discovered peppermint fairy dust inside.
Childhood magic. Sometimes forced magic, but magic nonetheless.
Posting about my friend girl’s trip earlier this week reminded me that my sister’s trip with my Mom and my sister’s was one thing that never got documented….friends are vital, but siblings know you inside and out. At your best and at your very worst. They know your quirks, your strengths, your weaknesses, your secret dreams, and your most embarrassing moments, and they usually love you anyway. The same is even more true of parents.
We were very grateful to Dad for flying Mom back across the world and making this whole thing possible.
We started out on Friday, where I got to drive for four hours by. myself. up to Salt Lake. That in itself was magical. I spent time catching up with an old friend from high school. Then drove straight to the BYU Art Museum where we got to see the Sacred Gifts exhibit. It was awe inspiring. I have been familiar with most of the pictures my whole life. But seeing the originals in person stirred my soul. I ended up buying a calendar and putting up some of the prints in our hallway during the Christmas season in an attempt to bring Christ more fully into our home.
I loved being able to see the expressions on their faces up close. It makes me want to paint… and pray….
Then we checked out our hotel. The Little America isbeautiful and elegant.
The next morning we got a personal guided tour of the church history museum by my Dad’s uncle who is one of the volunteers. It was my first time through this museum without any little ones and there is so much to see. People are amazing. I love the stories that history gives us. It makes my place in this world and my trials shrink to their proper size.
In front of the portraits of some of the first Relief Society presidents; and in front of the museum where I managed to get us a parking ticket. I did pay the meter, for the record, I just put in the wrong parking spot…Luckily it’s not LA and the ticket was only $15.
This darling boy hung out with us most of the weekend. He was a champ. The rest of the weekend pretty much revolved around food: Kneaders, Cheesecake Factory, and Mandarin…mmmm. There was also some shopping, temple square, reading trashy magazines by the pool (it was freezing, but reading by the pool is such a luxury), some games of Settlers, and lots of chatting.
The spring flowers were breathtaking.
Amy and I attempted to take selfies. We are not very good at it. Moving on.. Right before I headed home we visited the teeny tiny grandma’s grave. My Mom’s mom was an amazing lady and she is missed every single day.
I’m so grateful for this family of mine. So grateful for modern technology that allows me to talk to at least one of them every single day, even if it’s only a couple of minutes.