Out of the mouth of babes

This weekend Bryce was out of town so on Friday the kids and I went down to Elma to stay the night at my parent's house. My brother's kids were also there while their parents were on a little vacation. It's quite the party when all the kids get together.

Brody 6
Canon almost 6
Cason 4
Kelsi almost 4
Miley 3

So you can see, the boys pal around together and the little girls pal around together and for the most part all is well.

On the most beautiful Saturday afternoon, grandpa took all the kids on a tractor/trailer ride in the field. I wasn't there but heard all later. I guess Brody and Canon thought it would be great to jump off of the trailer, let it get a ways in front of them and then RACE. Aunt Whitney was officiating. She said the first race Canon won. Then every race after that was a flat out tie.

Well, this was pretty disturbing to those two competitive buggars. They wanted WINNERS, not to tie. After several ties, Canon finally said "I won that one" (although Aunt Whit had just declared it a tie). Not to be outdone, Brody piped up and said, "No, I won" and back and forth it went until Brody pushed Canon over. Oh boy. That was really crossing the line. Grandpa had to take over at that point and had both boys apologizing.

Then grandpa pointed out that the more time they spent arguing the less time they had for playing. This seemed to hit a chord with them and the last thing Grandpa heard as they walked away in the field was...

Brody, "I think the racing was dumb anyway."

Canon, "Me too."

Brody, "Well, at least we agree on something."

Too true.

Thanks Kelsi

Our household is in great anticipation of V-Day tomorrow. We decorated the family room and kitchen with hearts and Valentine's banners everywhere. The kids helped me make a red velvet cake today and tonight after dinner we broke into it (because seriously, who can wait for cake).

The kids inhaled it and Kelsi just kept tellling me (between bites) how much she LOVED "red belbet cake." I heard her say something about Colton not being able to eat it, but I really didn't realize how much it was on her mind until her prayers later that night....

"Dear Hebenly Fathew, bless this dis day. Thank you for Jesus. I so sowwy Colton has no teef, that he can't eat his red belbet cake. Bless his teef."

What a sweetie.

Weighing in on Valentine's Day

One week and counting until Valentine's Day. So what I'd like to know, is what do you do with your loved one on V-Day? I think of this every year when I hear women voicing their opinions on V-Day and whether it's a day just for lovers or for all loved ones?

Interestingly enough, I have found that people can have pretty strong opinions about the day itself. Usually I tell Bryce to just get me a card and write something sweet in it. I am not a big fan of flowers on V-Day (too cliche), but I also wouldn't mind if he thought of something to get me that he knew I would love. Case in point...a few years ago he bought me the book Jurassic Park. I think some people would be furious if their husbands showed up with this un-romantic gesture. However, it just showed how well he knew me-I was thrilled! So I suppose it's not how your man thrills you, just that he does.

Now that's romantic.

The New Valentine's Day

I am new to this whole 'school holiday' thing, just having a Kindergartener this year. So, I was pretty bummed when I realized they wouldn't get to dress up on Halloween and have a big bash. I wasn't too surprised when there was no traditional Christmas party preceeding what is now called "Winter Break." (LAME!) But seriously, how can the schools screw up Valentine's Day? Here's how:

I got a letter home from Brody's teacher instructing parents on how to prep cards for the day. Here is the quote: "The kids may bring Valentine's for each other. Please do not have your child write who the Valentine is to. We will just stuff their holders and not worry about looking for each child's name."

WHAT?! Okay, some of my favorite things about Valentine's day were picking out the 'right' Valentine for each classmate (the one I knew they would like best or had the saying I wanted them to get from me). Second, I liked to stand in front of the big bulletin board at school with all of the class-made Valentine's Day pockets shaped like hearts and put my Valentine in each classmate's holder. Third, I loved to open up MY Valentine's from others and see what they wrote to me.

I would have been so disappointed if the teacher put the Valentine's in and when I received my Valentine, it just said, "from Johnny." Johnny didn't pick that card for me, he has no idea what I received and apparently he doesn't care. Because that is just what is wrong with things these days. Everything is just going through the motions and impersonal. I am so sick to death of it. I felt like what is the point?

As I helped Brody put together his Valentine's Day cards today, I was frustrated. I want things to mean something to my child. I don't want him to grow up in a world where he opens a Valentine only to get the candy that is attached to it, never thinking about the friend or classmate who attached that candy for him. But he can't...WHY? Because it is apparently too much trouble for a teacher or one of her many parent helpers to look at a name on a card and put it in the correct holder. No wonder our kids are growing up with such an entitlement mentality.

Now maybe this isn't how it is done in other grades...I sincerely hope so. Maybe the teacher just thinks that not enough of the Kindergarteners would be able to write/read each other's names.
On another note, hav any of you tried those soft leather shoes for infants? I got some today for Colton and those things ROCK!