Corn

We all know how incredibly useful corn is. They use it in so many products. Tonight I will share with you the three new things my children used corn cobs for.

"Catch", well sort of. I don't know if it is their skill level that is lacking or their desire to actually catch. But they threw corn cobs at each other for a while and called it a game.

"Karate corn" It is an even better game where you throw the cob in the air and attempt to karate chop it. It kind of morphed into a weird volley ball variation.

"Sidewalk chalk eraser". Bet you didn't think of using a corn cob for erasing the parts you didn't like on your sidewalk mural.

There you have it. New uses for corn cobs. I am sure if they had had more time the list would be even longer.

Little Lady Eyebrawl

Conversation with Phebe-

She had done something very mature.
Me: You are a very serious young lady today.
Phebe: I'm not a lady.
Me: Well than what are you?
Phebe: I'm Phebe.
Me: Well, OK. What are you going to be when you grow up? What will you become?
Phebe: ....Eyebrawl.



Here is a picture of Eyebrawl since most of you are probably unfamiliar with it. Apparently this is what Phebe is going to grow up to be.

Those "i" words

While studying  the book of Revelations-

Caleb :(Randomly interrupting mid-verse.) I can't believe how long Jesus has been alive. And that he is still alive! That is a long time!
Naomi: That's because he's invincible.
Victor: The word is immortal.
Naomi : He is invincible too.
Caleb : I think that's bad because that means we can't see him and we might crash right into him because we couldn't see him.

Naomi and Victor just sat there stunned.

Me:  Naomi said invincible.That is invisible Caleb.

The ninja princess

Tonight the dinner conversation included this bit-

Naomi : I don't think I would ever want to be a princess.
Me: Why is that?
N: They have to use good manners all the time. And they wear dresses all the time.
Me: You don't like wearing dresses?
N: No. It is too hard to do cartwheels in them. ( This kid literally cartwheels through the house on a consistent basis.)
Me: You don't like using good manners?
N: Well, sometimes. But I don't want to do it all the time. I think I would end up being the Ninja Princess or something. I would sneak around all the time. And then leave my home and decide I am NOT GOING TO BE THE PRINCESS! (She requested large lettering there.)


Some of you may have little girls who dress up in frilly dresses and enjoy Disney Princess play. Mine seems to have come from a different mold.


I'm OK with that.

Quick hide!

While goofing off with my kids on Youtube we found this video. It made us laugh. It is very silly.

Scratch, scratch, scratch....

Believing

A while back my church had general conference. It is where the leaders of our church spend a weekend speaking to the members, or anyone else who happens to tune in. As a child my only real thoughts on conference consisted of "I get to sleep in this weekend!" I have since matured a bit and actually like listening to the speakers now. I may share more of the talks but for now if I can only pick one talk to share with you it is this one. This talk just touches my heart so deeply. This is Jeffery R Holland. He does such a good job of making me feel like he truly understands me and my personal life. He is amazing. Please, please take the 15 minutes it takes to listen to him talk. You can find the full text of this talk here.

The size of your faith or the degree of your knowledge is not the issue—it is the integrity you demonstrate toward the faith you do have and the truth you already know.

This line just makes me smile-
please don’t hyperventilate if from time to time issues arise that need to be examined, understood, and resolved. They do and they will. In this Church, what we know will always trump what we do not know. And remember, in this world, everyone is to walk by faith.

Oh, how true this is. It really struck a chord in me.
So be kind regarding human frailty—your own as well as that of those who serve with you in a Church led by volunteer, mortal men and women. Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it. So should we.

He tells a wonderful story about a 14 year old boy and how this boy "only believes". It makes me cry. I hope you listen to the talk. I think it was too long to post here. It is beautiful. 
Hope on. Journey on. Honestly acknowledge your questions and your concerns, but first and forever fan the flame of your faith, because all things are possible to them that believe. 

My Ramen Noodles are burning

While I changed my clothes after church several of my children happily ate Ramen Noodles. My husband Ethan sat work next to them working on the computer.

Phebe walked in looking very upset and Ethan asked her what was wrong.

Phebe:( in an incredibly sad voice.) My Ramen noodles are burning.

So Ethan went to the microwave where he found an entire package of noodles intact that had simply been thrown in and turned on.

In case you don't remember, the seasoning packet is made of foil. Apparently there were flames involved.

Poor Phebe was distraught. I prepared a pack for her and turned on the microwave. She was backing away and whimpering. We talked about what went wrong and she saw that noodles in a bowl of water do not catch fire. She calmed down and was back to being her crazy self.

I admit, I had no idea what would happen if you threw an unopened package in.

That smile

All I wanted this morning was to sit down and read my scriptures and write in my journal uninterrupted while my kids played in the backyard. I can't say that is what I got.

While sitting in my chair at one point Caleb snuck in the basement door and joyfully threw a handful of dried leaves at me. Sweet Caleb, so thoughtful. I definitely needed to be covered in dried leaves while I read.

Victor came in and sprawled  on the floor occasionally asking me questions.

My favorite moment however was when Caleb came back again and we had this conversation.

Caleb: Mom, can we get the hose out and water your plants?
Me: No, not while I am inside.
C: Why mom?
Me: Because I know that you are just going to fill up that hole you dug with water and then cover the slide with mud.
Then comes that smile that just melts me. It is just so cute and mischievous, and sadly so few people ever see it.
C: Why can't we cover the slide with mud mom?

Sing a long with Phebe

Phebe sang this song to me this morning-

I am a child of God.
And you are a child of God.
I am a person,
You are a person.
We are all persons. 
I want food.
We are dancing all the way.
We are Nemos. 
Nemos dance.

I am a child of God.
And I am a snuggle.
I am it.
I want some watermelon.
Mom says you have to eat your other food before you can have more watermelon.

Then she says it is time for me to sing along with her-

I am a child of God.
I love to dance and eat.
You love to dance and eat.
We love to eat watermelon. 
And we are children of God.


This has been silly songs with Phebe. Tune in next time when Phebe sings about being in "Out in the desert."

Death and Alex's house

For mother' s day the primary at church did something really cute. Each mom got a nice big bag of M& M's . With that bag was a paper with instructions for a game to play with mom and child. If you pick this color than you answer the corresponding question. So for family home evening last night we sat down and played it as a whole family.

One question asked was - where would you go if you could anywhere in the world?

Victors answer- china
Naomi- Japan to learn how to be a ninja.
Caleb- Alex's (his cousin that lives in Ohio) house.
Phebe - Alex's house.

The question everyone got to answer for me was - where do you see me in ten years?
Naomi's answer- dead.

Thanks Naomi, thanks.

Kids, some more

Here is an impressively spot on rant about having multiple children. It made me laugh, a lot due to how completely true it is in my experience.

And in addition to that, I present to you our latest dance music. Ethan and I even enjoy east coast swinging to it.

We also think the video is sweet and funny. And I think the name Olly Murs is silly.