help me obi-wan!

"Mom, was Yoda adopted?"  Conner asked while sitting at the kitchen table.

"No, I don't think so... why?"  My hands quickly flipped another round of Quesidillas while Carlee screamed from her chair.

"Well, its just that we never see Yoda's mom in any of the movies."  Noting the concern in his face, I walked away from the quesadillas to look him in the eye.  If this is important to his seven year-old mind, I can try take it seriously too.

"And that means he is adopted.... because?"

"If we don't see her, then she isn't real."

"Well, you don't see me when you are at school but that doesn't mean I am not real."

"Well... I want to see her."

"Well, she wasn't in the movie so we can't."

"If she put Yoda up for adoption do you think another family like ours would adopt him?"

"Sure, I guess so."

"Well, then who is his adopted mother?  Does he have any brothers and sister?"  His head rested in his hands, worry crinkled in his eyes.

"Sure, I imagine he would."

"But who are they?"

"I don't know bud - I am sorry."

"But I just want to know."  His fists pounded against the table in frustration.

"I am sorry dude.  You are just going to have to read all the Star Wars books to find out."

"But I want to know right now."

"I know you do, dude."  My fingers ruffled his hair as I returned to the art of quesadilla filling and flipping.

"Maybe dad knows.  He knows everything about Star Wars."


Twenty minutes later, Nate walked in the door to a house full of Star Wars uncertainty.  Before he could remove his shoes and take a breath, star wars questions began attacking him from all angles.  Sitting back in my chair to nurse a very upset baby, super dad did his best to "calm the waters."  The storm - for the mean time - has passed.  But it is only a matter of time before the flood waters begin to descend once again.

"Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, your my only hope!"

jedi temples are not funny

Afternoon walks to kindergarten are full of emotion.

Mr. Caleb walks a little taller with his chest poked out and a smile on his face that competes with the size of Texas.
Colton drags his feet with his shoulders curled in and a pout smeared across his face.
Carlee screams if the bounce isn't quite right.
And my pace is brisk and quick because lunch usually takes too long to eat and we are racing the clock.

Walks home from kindergarten on the pre-school free afternoons??
Even more intense..

On one particular afternoon, Colton's moody behavior stood testament to the fact that he needed a nap.  While marching home from school with Carlee fussing in my ear, he came unglued.  Protests  were complete with the various stomping of feet, rotten faces, and mean words.  He thinks he is quite the negotiator.

After telling him for the up-teenth time that he was going to invest in a nap that afternoon, he dug his heels into the ground.  I quickly realized that carrying a ten-pound fragile baby and my forty-pound three-year-old (yes, he weighs forty pounds) at the same time was not an option.  Period.  Standing on the street with cars whizzing past, I realized that we were never going to make it home.  Ever.  Sleep deprivation combined with an overactive imagination kicked in and images of my body outlined with chalk on the sidewalk surrounded with yellow tape entered my mind.  I could have very well died on that sidewalk with two inconsolable babies in hand.

Adrenaline kicked in and so did a little common sense.
Kids never like talking about naps and I was insane to argue with an overly-tired three-year-old.


Changing the subject to Star Wars - Colton's favorite conversation piece - I began asking him about all of his favorite characters.

What is Anakin's favorite food?
Where does BoBo Fett sleep?
How did Jabba the Hutt get so fat?
Does Darth Vadar drink Orange Juice?

Colton immediately piped up and began talking about Star Wars.  He told me all about BoBo Fett's favorite movies and Princess Leia's favorite hair style and why Han Solo needed to comb Chewbaccca's hair - when Colton looked up at me and said:


"Anakin Skywalker and Padme got married in the Jedi Temple.  Did you know that mom?"


I couldn't hold back the laughter for one more second.  What three-year-old can talk about Star Wars for hours upon end?


"Mom!  That is not funny!  We do not laugh about Jedi temples."  With eyes scrunched up in complete fury, he glared up at me to let me know that he was serious.

I should have shown more restraint and stopped my laughter, but I couldn't.  I had already used up my daily allotment of self-control. 

"Mom!  I am serious!  We do not laugh at temples because it makes Jesus sad."

 Swallowing my laughter, I bowed my head in submission.  The padawan had a point.

"Colton, you are right."  I responded, "Temples are not funny, they are special.  Thank you for reminding me."



He replied with a "you are welcome Mom... just don't do it again" response before he delved into the topic of Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan.  I continued the walk home in silent humility because he was right, Jedi temples are not funny.


Mental note to self: Next time I am in a desperate situation with Colton and choose to use Star Wars as a conversation piece - hold back the laughter.  It might just save your life.

cannibalism

I am dozing on the couch while nursing Carlee when I feel something moving close to my face.  Opening my eyes, Caleb's bright green irises are there to greet me.  Despite my constant lectures to keep things away from my face, Caleb is still under the impression that the best way to gain my attention is to position his hands or face within inches from my eyes.  


"What's up?"  I asked while swallowing my annoyance.  I love my kids and I love talking to them, but I also love sleep.

"Did you know that last night I was a real life monster?"  He sat back upon his heels, victory radiating from his eyes.

"Really?  A real life monster?"

"Yes!"

"How were you a real life monster?"

"Well, I woke up in the middle of the night and I wanted to eat Colton."

"What!?!"  I asked with a grin.  I love his stories.

"Yep!  I woke up in the middle of the night sooo hungry and I didn't want to walk to the kitchen so I almost ate Colton."

"Seriously?"

"Yep.  I am a real life monster."  He said, his heels tucked under his knees with a bounce. 

"Yikes.  Just don't eat me... okay?"

"Okay, mom."  He said with his classic-Caleb-smile.

"Or dad."

"Okay, I won't eat dad."

"Pheeeew."  I said,  "I am so glad we had this conversation.  Now go eat your brother so I can sleep."  My head leaned back against the couch to rest once again, too tired to care that my child just admitting to cannibalism.  Some arguments are not worth the energy.

First Day of School

Conner started second grade last week.
Caleb and Colton started kindergarten/preschool today.

And I have started nap school again with Carlee.

The teachers this year are fabulous.  Conner (I think) has another crush on his new Chinese teacher... although to his dismay she was married a couple weeks ago.  Drats.  I guess we will just have to stick to the second grade girls. 

Caleb's teacher (Mrs. Stokes) is a cute lady in our neighborhood and ward - he is going to have so much fun with her.

Colton gets to go to school at Jon's house!  Jon is one of Conner's favorite friends and his mom teaches preschool out of her home.  She is a fabulous teacher.  I am excited for Colton. 

Carlee likes to sleep in the afternoon and I am learning that the bed feels amazing at 1:00 in the afternoon.  I think I am going to pass my school with flying colors.

Don't you love the boy's socks? The rocking socks are China gifts from Spencer and Teresa.  I love how they compliment their outfits.  And yes, Conner has tried to wear his pair every day for the last week. 

four truths and no lies

1.  In the words of Caleb, "we finally got ourselves a cute cute baby."  Caleb may believe Carlee to be the first cute one, but I believe that all four of my babies have been super cute.


2.  Caleb is five-years old.  Where has the time gone?  Sometimes I have to remind myself to look forward to the future.  I been blessed to have five happy years with this kid and there are many more to come.

Caleb - I love you.




3.  Thanks to Uncle Preston and Aunt Becca, Conner and Caleb are finally riding around the neighborhood on "two wheels."  Preston and Becca need to move back to Utah and teach the boys other important life lessons... like how to tie shoes and why only married people can share a bed.

4.  "I want to get married.  Today." said the three-year-old Colton on the day of Uncle Spencer's wedding.  In a last minute rush, he called his aunt-to-be and requested her hand.  Teresa still married Spencer as planned and Colton is over the heartbreak.  Teresa might have said "no" to him, but great-grandma said "yes."

Spencer and Teresa were married on the eighth of August and left on a graduate school adventure to Ohio just a couple days ago.

First Outing

We took Carlee on her first outing last week to University Mall.
I am excited for the day when she will walk and browse with me.

Carlee Amira