Have an awesome Tuesday

it's Monday again!

He is Risen!

Please. Go here to see an apostle's thoughts on Christ's gift to us.

He is Risen! He is Risen!

Tell it out with joyful voice.

He is Risen! He is Risen!
He hath opened heaven's gate.

We are free from sin's dark prison,

Risen to a holier state.

~Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1985

Saturday starts early and gets crazy

opening day for spring soccer!

8:00 am Munchkin game - Primary School field
9:00 am travel team game - HS field
9:30 am youth soccer game - middle school field
10:00 am kick out one dozen teenage boys sleeping in the basement

The best part is that we have to figure out how to divide that schedule and responsibly chaperone the rest of the birthday sleepover between two adults. One reason why cloning might be a good thing on a morning like this one.

As a random note, we hit redbox and watched "Bedtime Stories" last night.

I would give it a 3 out of 5 stars, and Adam Sandler definitely makes the movie.

If you're looking for something family friendly and light, this is it.

one small circle of life with snacks

I was outside on Brrrrrr-Tuesday, which actually felt very much like winter, hello, it's April here, huddling in my biggest son's oversized padded shirt and following the nature-lover around the yard, watching him explore the environment. It was so enjoyable, except if it were warm and well, just warm, it would have been more enjoyable. At one point he was on his bike, and we were meandering down the driveway, and I was being the follower. Only I kept finding myself in the leader position, because he stopped so often to observe and comment that my follow-the-leader plan wasn't really working out. We talked about cracks and ice heaves and jackhammers and the pipes and nework of interesting things underground. Since it felt chillier to stand still than to move, I said "c'mon, buddy, what're you doing back there?" To which he responded "I'm putting this little worm in a safer place so he won't get runned over so much." I thought that was a noble cause, so I jogged on my feet back and forth and waited for the little rescuer to catch up. Then we moved on to hitting baseballs off the tee, and when the supply of balls was spent, he started walking along the front beds, observing important things like yellow garden hose and downspouts. Just before the front steps, he stopped in front of this bush:

And in his cutest little manly-voice he asked "Hey mom, what's this, a pretzel tree?"

Oh, and in my head I'm just squeemishly in love with the little person that he is, knowing exactly why I didn't stop at just five kids. But without skipping a beat, I answer "No, it's called a forsythia bush. But the buds haven't come out yet."

And he says "Why? Do they eat it?" And I ask "Who?" And he says "The bugs."

Clever lad. What bugs wouldn't love snacking on a handy pretzel bush?

And then we're parking his bike in the garage and it occurs to me to ask about the fate of the worm he rescued while I was fending off frostbite. "Hey Pal," I said, "where did you put that worm you were saving?" And he points to the hole (where there used to be a screw and a nut) in the cross bar of his bike, and says "He's in there."

Another birth-day in the house

Do you call it SWEET 16 when you're a guy?Or do you just say "Sweet! I'm 16."
On New Year's eve, he carried his trumpet, his scriptures, and his AP History study guide around the house barefoot, in the snow. Some serious goals for '09.

He also has mad sewing skillz, as he made his mom a cozy fleece hat and scarf.
He's active in most musical ensembles at the HS, including accappella.

And he's a very fashionable dresser.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the man of the day.

Easter--no candy coating

Wouldn'tcha know that sometime last week Mr. Morning himself approached me and asked me the age old (well not quite that old) question "Mom, is the Easter Bunny real?" ...Well paint me a polka-dot easter bunny and sit me in the plastic green grass. I honestly felt overjoyed at the opportunity to answer this one. "No, little mister," I said, "the Easter Bunny is NOT real." I've always played along, but never forced the issue. And the five kids that have gone before him have never managed to ask. In my most loving and motherly way, I proceeded to lay it out. I think it was a delightful revelation for him, and it allowed me to call it 'just for fun' and 'pretend' and move on with life. So don't get all crazy on me and ask questions about other holidays and American traditions, because I won't answer. At least not here. What I will tell you, is that the Easter Bunny and I have parted ways. I'm looking forward to spending the rest of Easter week allowing him to be excited about candy and eggs and all that, but also taking advantage of some quiet time to really teach him about Easter.

After Thursday, I'll add a link to Elder Jeffrey Holland's amazing conference talk on this subject.