Our Everyday Adventures: 2009

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Melt your heart...

Merry Christmas,
from the little man who melts my heart every day!

Our Christmas Tree!

When you wait until December 19th to buy your Christmas tree, your selection of trees gets pretty slim.

Due to another unusually busy December (more to come on that later), we did not get around to getting a Christmas tree until a day behind last year! And I thought last year was bad. So we took the quick option and stopped at Home Depot, where fortunately they still had a FEW trees left. We walked to the very end of the row and bought the lone tree, which turned out to be beautiful! Probably our best one yet!

Christian picked the tree and Ethan approved, probably because it was freezing outside and we weren't exactly dressed in our winter coats!

We were so excited about getting such a big tree for a great price, that we failed to realize that our big, beautiful tree also had a big, beautiful trunk that didn't fit in our tree stand. Oops. As Jake said, we can't do anything the easy way. So when we pulled it off the top of our car in our garage, Jake spent the next hour sawing off six inches of the trunk with a pocket knife, to a point that we could jam it half way into our tree stand. Don't worry, it hasn't fallen over yet.

We eventually got it in the house (Christian was very patient), decorated it, and have been enjoying our beautiful Christmas tree and it's aroma for the last week!

Fun Christmas Activities

December has been a bit crazy for us this year, to say the least. Nothing out of the ordinary, really. But we did manage to sneak in a few fun Christmas activities here and there:

CHRISTMAS COOKIES
Christian does not like to get his fingers dirty or sticky when dealing with food, and he never wants to lick off whatever may have gotten on them. This year, however, he discovered how yummy the frosting was! He had no problem licking his fingers this time.

CHRISTMAS TREATS
Christian and I made our traditional pretzel Hugs, which are so yummy, and so fun because Christian can almost do them by himself! He was a great helper!

Here he is doing them last year (so cute! love the lips!):

(Christmas 2008)

My how he's grown!

GINGERBREAD HOUSES
First, Christian and I made the gingerbread. The best part of that is eating it fresh, dipped in milk! YUM! Ethan loved it too! We also made out own gingerbread man and read the Gingerbread Baby while we ate our snack. Unfortunately, our gingerbread man didn't live to see his house we built.

Sunday morning before church we had plenty of time (church starts at 1:00), so we built and decorated our gingerbread house.

The Worker (and Eater of the Candy)

The Mastermind behind the masterpiece

The Spectator

The Worker and the Mastermind with their masterpiece

The Masterpiece, from every angle
(Can you spot everyone's initial? Also, notice Jake's very festive rock gardens!)

This year's gingerbread house is going to be hard to outdo! I'm very impressed, Jake! We'd also like to thank our good friends, the Harrisons, who sponsored this gingerbread house by providing the candy used to decorate it. :)

Thursday, December 24, 2009

A Christmas Song for You!

Love,
Christian

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

From our Family to Yours!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Friends

It all began when we moved into the same apartment complex as the Salmons, the Harrisons lived in the complex next door, and the three men carpooled to the MARTA station together. The women had no other choice but to be friends. At that time, we all only had one child, at least two of us could carpool together to any given outing with children, and we all lived in the same ward. And now here we are, almost two years later, three additional children in the mix, all in separate wards, no longer carpooling, but still as good of friends as ever. The Harrisons moved to Boston, and will be moving to Potugal in January, and they stayed with us on their way to Utah for the holidays. We all got together and it was a great time!

One night we put all six kids to bed upstairs and the adults watched the Clemson/Geogia Tech football game and ate way too much. Unfortunately, the two tiger fans ended up cheering for the losing team. But do you like our prom picture?

The MEN (John, Willie, Jake)

The WOMEN (Krista, Lindy, Camille)
These girls are my lifesavers, time and time again. What would I do without them? Thanks Ladies, for everything!

And the KIDDIES!
(Parker-2.5, Lincoln-10 mo., Ethan-9 mo., Austria-1, Christian-almost three, Anya-almost three)
Can you believe we got such a good picture of all of them together? It was quite a miracle, really.

The TWO YEAR OLDS!

These two are trouble...and they call each other Donald and Daisy. Anya insists. It's hilarious! They really are the best of friends.

Thanks for such a fun weekend, everyone!! We LOVED having everyone here! What a blast!

Bathtime Mohawks

December 15, 2009

I gave Ethan a mohawk in the bathtub because he has so much hair and it's way too long, and when Christian saw it he said, "Esan has a mohawk! He's a basketball player." So then he wanted to be a basketball player too. Mohawks all around! (I'm still not sure why a mohawk is associated with a basketball player...any guesses? )

Ethan's Throne

We finally got a high chair for Ethan (Christian never had one, just a booster seat), and I love having it because Ethan will sit forever in it! And once we got it, Ethan ate much better for me. Now Ethan eats like a horse, as long as it's not baby food. Jake says Ethan sits in the Taj Mahal. Oh how I love Craigslist deals. :)

Ethan 9 Months

Ethan turned 9 months almost three weeks ago, and I'm finally now getting around to posting about it. At least I took the pictures on time.

His stats at his 9 month well-visit were: (so I can't remember them exactly, but I'll get the exacts stats at a later date)

Weight: (19%)
Height: (74%)
Head:

He was healthy and well, including his ears, so we feel very blessed! We just LOVE having Ethan in our family. Here are a few reasons why:

-He has the sweetest personality and brings so much joy and laughter into our home. He is definitely the sunshine at the end of Daddy's work day every day.
-He melts us with his adorable smile, his big blue eyes, and his hair, that just wont do anything but stick straight up.
-He is happy, happy, happy, and we couldn't ask for anything better from him. (Although, if he slept through the night, I certainly wouldn't complain about that.)
-He says uh-oh, mama, dada, yaya, and makes the cutest lip-smacking noise.
-He still doesn't crawl, but is showing a great interest in wanting to move. I think it'll still be awhile yet. He's a little behind in this department, I think, but he's been so content just to sit and play with toys!
-He loves his blankie and binky when he wants to go to sleep, but otherwise doesn't use either.
-He is silly. We think he'll be a goofball.
-We call him our wild man! He has lots of energy and gets very excited. I think he'll be off and running before he can walk!
-He puts up with a lot of toy-taking, pushing, wrestling, and flat out being sat/stood/laid on by his big brother. Poor Ethan. One day I think he'll get Christian back for all this. :)
-He loves his Mommy, but he also loves his Daddy and LOVES when he gets home from work.
-He is just so, so cute. We cannot get enough of him.

Jake and I think these boys look nothing alike...what do you think?

(Christian has just recently gotten into the "face-making" stage. Very fun!)

Christian's Joy School

Here are some of Christian's first projects from school. I realize I'm way behind, since the latest is Thanksgiving. :)

Monday, December 21, 2009

Happy 5 Years!

Five Years Ago...

Five Years, two college degrees, six jobs, one masters degree, three cities, two sweet little boys and one house later...

What an adventure we have had so far! I can't wait to see what the next five years bring! I have loved every minute of this ride together!

Happy Anniversary to my other half! I love you, Jake!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Christian is very creative!

And Monkey is a very lucky monkey!

Sunday Afternoon

Last week was our first Sunday in our new ward. Two weeks ago we were informed of a boundary change within our stake that affected our ward, and we were bumped into another, smaller ward in our stake. So now we attend a different building, but after one Sunday, it seems to be a wonderful ward! The people were all very welcoming and Christian loved his new class. We have never lived in a ward longer than a year and a half since we got married, so I suppose it's time for a change anyway!

Taking after his parents

What's better than enjoying chocolate off a spatula?

Christian has just recently been brave enough to lick the spatula and I think he likes it!

Friday, November 27, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm a day late, but Happy Thanksgiving anyway!

We spent the holiday and enjoyed delicious food with our fun fellow Georgian cousins.

Thanks for having us! I hope everyone else had a wonderful Thanksgiving too! We have so much to be thankful for.

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Christian Comics and Ethan Anecdotes

10.16.12

We were making little monsters with foam stickers and, referring to the eyebrows, Christian said, "He still needs his eye-flashes!" (meaning eyelashes, I think. I think it's cute! We should call them that instead)

6.20.12

Ethan: Mmm! This playdough is yummy!

Mommy: Are you eating it?

Ethan: No, just melling it.

6.15.12

(while dumping salt and pepper in his smoothie)

Ethan: I am making this more yummier!

5.30.12

(referring to his ability to pick up things with his toes)

Christian: My toes aren't workin' very good today. It's okay, I can get them to start workin'.

5.21.12

While in the backyard, trying to catch butterflies: (I have no idea where he came up with this)

Christian: if I want to see the butterfly I just call her name and she comes. Her name is Katie.

5.19.12

Christian comes running in from outside:

"Mom, Daddy needs some paper towels!"

As he starts to get them:

"How many is 'some'?"

5.17.12

I was trying to help Ethan organize his shoes in his closet and we found a BYU window sticker, so he decided to stick it on his window. It wasn't sticking, so he went to the bathroom and got it dripping wet. Despite all the water dripping down the window it still wasn't sticking. I wasn't paying too much attention to what he was doing, but after a couple more trips to the bathroom, he finally got it to stick. And then he exclaimed, "It worked! It just needed toilet water!"

I had tears running down my cheeks, I was laughing so hard. :)

4.25.12

On our way to preschool, Christian says to his friend Madison:

"I am so good at math, Madison." and then proceeds to perform his math skills by adding numbers. And then he started quizzing her and announced, "I am the best at math. You aren't." In a very of matter-of-fact way. :)

12.22.11

Christian: Ethan, what do you need to say to me?...(no response)...say Thank you!

Ethan: Thank you!

11.26.11

Christian: You know Thomas taught me how to be a spy.

Daddy: Do you want to be a spy when you grow up?

Christian: No, I already know how to be a spy!

11.7.11

Singing "The Wise Man and the Foolish Man"

Ethan: The rains came down and the frogs came up....

9.23.11
As I was slicing an avocado for my sandwich:
Ethan: mommy, when I get bigger, I will like avocados. Christian, when you get bigger you will like avocados too.
Christian: no, I already am bigger and I don't like avocados.

8.19.11
While driving in the van, Ethan was telling Owen who everyone was.
Ethan: that's named Christian...that's named Daddy....that's named Mommy...that's named Me!

8.18.11
Christian: We need a pet anteater.
Mommy: we do? how come?
C: because then he could eat all our ants! When we see ants then we will just open the door and let him in.
M: that is an excellent idea! Where do you think we could get a pet anteater? :)

8.16.11
While looking at a book of animals with Ethan...
Mommy: (pointing to a parakeet) When i was a little girl, I used to have a parakeet.
Ethan: when I was a baby, I used to have a rooster.

8.3.11
While watching the pictures come across the screen on the computer, Ethan exclaimed, "That's baby me!"

7.26.11
On the way home from the library Ethan announced from the back seat:
"I'm hot. I'm getting ready for a popsible!"
So I turned up the A/C: "That should cool you off."
Then Christian agreed: "That cold air makes me even hotter. I'm going to need a Popsicle too!"
We ate Popsicles when we got home. :)

7.20.11
I was playing Slamwich with Christian and the thief showed up in the first two cards. (that's the coveted card to slap!). I said: wow, there's the thief, right off the bat!
Christian: no, right of the front, Mom.

7.15.11
Apparently there are too many Jacks in the nursery rhymes and Ethan is getting confused. This morning I heard him chanting over and over: "Jack and Jill went up the hill and Jack jumped over the candlestick!".

7.1.11

Christian: "You know me and Daddy have the same middle name. That's why just me and him get to do everything together."

6.23.11
I was reading a note to Christian that I had written in the front of a book to Daddy before Christian was born. Part of it said, "I'm excited to raise this child (and all our children) with you...". After a moment of thought, Christian looked up and he said, "Daddy raised Owen. Remember? He did. He raised him up when we were hiking."

6.21.11

I think I've totally confused Ethan. I like to sing the BINGO song using Ethan's name "...and Ethan was his name-o...E T H A N...and Ethan was his name-o!".

This morning I heard Ethan singing this: "and BINGO was his name-o...B T H A N, B T H A N, B T H A N, and Bingo was his name-o!"

6.20.11

Owen sneezed.

Ethan: Bwess you Owen.

Ethan: (Looking up at me) Owen had a bwess you.

6.18.11
Lately Christian and Ethan have been a bit difficult to get to sleep. They've been having way too much fun together. :) So it requires Jake and/or me to go into their room multiple times to tell them to go to sleep. One time as Jake was shutting the door, he said, "And I don't want to hear another peep.". And without missing a beat Ethan said, "Peep!". Now Jake loves to say that to them just as he walks out of their room. He always gets a peep in response. :)

6.17.11
Ethan: Look, another moon!
Mom: oh yes, there's the moon.
Ethan: No, another moon. There's a moon in the backyard too!

6.15.11
Christian was closing his eyes while laying on the floor, so I said to Ethan, "Shhhh, he's asleep.".
Christian: "No, I'm dead!"

6.3.11
As we were driving on the freeway, Chrisitan asked, "what is as fast as a jet?". And then he answered his own question, "I bet a cheetah is as fast as a jet."

Mom: "a cheetah can run as fast as we are driving right now, but a jet is much much faster."
Still thinking about it, Christian said, "a speed train. That"s as fast as a jet."
Mom: "that might be, but I think a jet is faster."
Christian kept asking and then thinking until finally he said, "I know Mom! Papa's red car is as fast as a jet!"

6.1.11

Today we had a little preschool graduation to end our year of doing a preschool co-op. One of the other moms put it on and it was really cute. So tonight Christian was playing "graduation" and would announce his and Ethan's names--"Ethan Merkley" he'd say real loud, and then Ethan would walk down the hall and into their bedroom. Well, since they were doing graduation, that made them graduashers. (Pronounced gradu-A-shers.) Completely logical. He kept calling himself a graduashers. It was cracking me up.

5.28.11

We went and saw Thomas the Tank Engine up in Heber where the Heber Creeper usually runs. We didn't actually ride him, we just parked at an intersection of the tracks, put pennies on the track, and waited for him to come. While we were waiting, Ethan noticed his maya in the diaper bag in the van and quickly looked at me and declared, "I not need my maya. Thomas not mash my maya." And he made it very clear the rest of the evening that his maya did not get "mashed" by Thomas. But he did think it was cool that his "money got mashed!"

(Oh boy, it's been awhile! I have definitely been slacking on the comics...I'll blame that on the cute addition to our family that is causing me lack of sleep and short-term memory loss.) :)

2.20.11

While shooting hoops together Daddy and Christian would say, "Booyah Grandma!" when they made a good shot. Ethan caught on and started saying, "Oh YEAH, Grandma!"

2.19.11

When something is hot, Jake always exclaims, "Hot mama-sita!" (I have no idea where this came from or how it started.) Christian also has picked up the expression and will repeat it when something is hot. When Ethan finds something to be hot, his comes out as "Hot-sita!" It's hilarious!

2.15.11

Christian wasn't able to accomplish a particular task and he said to me, "Mom, it's because I'm four. But probly when I'm five, I will be able to do it."

2.13.11

Ethan overheard the name "Jimmer" mentioned in a conversation and without missing a beat he shouted, "Jimmer, for three!"

1.19.11
When Ethan burps...
Ethan: Excuse me, Efan.

When Ethan sneezes...
Ethan: Bwess you, Mommy. (or whoever else is close by)

1.18.11

In the drive through at the bank:

Christian: Mommy, tell them we got a new van.

Mommy: Wow, Christian, you can jump really high!
Christian: Yeah, that's because I'm four. When I was three I couldn't jump high but now I'm four and I can jump weally high!

1.4.11

I was upstairs folding laundry and could hear way too much giggling going on downstairs. I knew the boys were getting into mischief, but was enjoying the sound of laughter too much to go find out what was going on. Finally I called to Christian:

Mommy: Christian, what are you two doing down there?

Christian: (to Ethan) Efan, let's go upstairs and tell Mommy "nothing." giggle

1.4.11

Ethan wakes up at 5:45 almost every day. It makes us crazy. This morning he was in our bed at 6:00 and this took place:

Daddy: Ethan, where's Christian.

Ethan: Seeping

Daddy: Why aren't you sleeping too?

Ethan: Umm.... Efan is up.

12.30.10

Daddy: (In response to Ethan's silly behavior) Ethan, where did you come from?

Ethan: Umm...........Daddy.

Mommy: Amen!

(And now Ethan likes to repeat this because we all laugh at it!)

11.7.10

Christian after getting out of the shower wanted to comb his hair and then asked if he could put jello in his hair to make it look spiffy. I think he meant gel :)

11.4.10

As I came down the stairs Christian looked at me and exclaimed, "Mommy, you're tummy is getting so big!" Then he sat down on the stairs by me, as I was putting Ethan's shoes on, and laid his head on my tummy, saying, "Ohh!" in this cute, high little voice.

10.30.10

Mommy: Wow, Christian! Look at all those ducks! How many do you think there are?

Christian: One-hundred-twenty-one.

10.28.10

Once he was all dressed in his pajamas, Christian announced:

"I'm jammied!"

10.20.10

After asking Christian to tell me something, he responded:

"I'm too tired to say words."

10.18.10

When Ethan woke up from his nap:

Mommy: I better go get Ethan.

Christian: That's Misto Efan! You call him Efan, but I call him Misto Efan.

10.8.10

Ethan loves to sing "Nite-nite Chis-chan" over and over, especially while we're driving in the car and it drives Christian CRAZY! He always gets mad at Ethan for saying nite-nite to HIM. This particular day we were all driving home from swimming and Ethan wouldn't give it up. With each song, Christian's screaming at Ethan got louder and louder. Normally it makes me crazy too--Christian's screaming, not the singing--and I usually try to distract Ethan or get him to sing it to me. But this day, Jake and I were laughing hysterically. With each song, and each louder scream, Ethan kept at it, and looked Christian in the eye with the sweetest, innocent smile each time. Ethan was not intimidated by the screaming one bit, but rather encouraged by it.

10.6.10

Christian came into the kitchen after having been at preschool for the morning. When he saw a bunch of quarts of grape juice on the counter he asked:

Christian: Did you make those while I was at preschool?

Mommy: Yes.

Christian: I so pressed with you, Mommy!

(aka--impressed)

9.15.10

I am always trying to teach Christian (and Jake!) to put the toilet seat down, but this particular time it was up. We were in the bathroom to brush teeth before bed, all dressed in jammies. Christian went to sit on the toilet without looking, not to use the potty, but just for a place to sit. He fell all the way in! He was soaked! I couldn't stop laughing and he couldn't stop crying. Luckily he recovered eventually, once he was all dry and changed, and then was laughing about it moments later.

9.15.10

Christian: This is a soccer ball and I come in peace with it.

(Recognize Buzz Lightyear in that? I laughed so hard!)

9.13.10

While eating a frozen gogurt:

Christian: I'm chowing on this!

9.12.10

Mommy: Look at that sunset!

Christian: Oh my gosh, that is the coolest thing I have ever seen.

9.9.10

Christian: Daddy, I wuv you, even when you're at work. Daddy, I wuv you forever.

6.25.10

Lately Christian has been using the expression "I'm probably sure..."

"I'm probably sure these cookies will be yummy."

"I'm probably sure Efan can walk."

"I'm probably sure..."

5.30.10

Daddy: Christian, should we sleep at Wallsburg tonight?

Christian: Well, I was pwannin' on it.

5.20.10

Christian: Is Eliza going to be three on her next birthday?

Mommy: Yes.

Christian: Then she will be a big boy!

5.15.10

While driving in the car:

Christian: I(muttered something I didn't understand)

Mommy: What, Christian?

Christian: Mom, I was talking to myself.

Christian: Know what, Mom?

Mommy: What?

Christian: I wuv myself.

4.30.10
Christian gets out the Thomas the Train set and says:
Christian: I'm sorry you can't play wis dese, Esan.
Mommy: Can't you choose some pieces for Ethan to play with?
Christian: I will choose the stuctions (instructions) for Esan.

Christian has created his own version of "Holy cow!" He often is heard exclaiming: "Oh my cowy!"

4.25.10
At 6:00 AM Christian climbs into our bed. He leans over to Jake (who is half asleep) and gives him a kiss, then says, "Know why i gave you a kiss, Daddy?....Because I wuv you."

4.24.10
Christian: Oh! I just found a jewwey bean! Christian is so wucky!

4.23.10
While Jake and Christian are watching the NBA Playoffs:
Jake: What team is in white?
Christian: The Jazz?
Jake: Nope.
Christian: The Braves?
Jake: Nope. The Bulls.
Christian: The Bulls and the Bears?

4.20.10
Christian: You know what I say to the bees when they come around?
Mommy: What?
Christian: I speak spanish so they won't sting me.
Clearly, we have been watching too much Dora. :)

4.7.10
Christian was in the tub after getting his haircut and Ethan kept throwing his paci in, then wanting someone to get it for him.
Mommy: Ethan's trying to play a game with you.
Christian: I'm sorry, Esan. I don't want to play a game with you. I'm too tired.

3.31.10
Daddy: Mommy and Daddy are going to a basketball game tonight.
Christian: I want to come.
Daddy: Mommy and Daddy are going on a date and Grandma is going to put you to bed.
(After thinking about that for a minute:)
Christian: I want Grandma to go on a date with Daddy so Mommy can put me to bed.

3.25.10
Christian: Mommy, you wook sor it while I'm sweeping.
Mommy: While you're sleeping?
Christian: Yeah. Baybe it's in your purse. Or baybe it might be in your diaper bag. I'm giving you hints where to sind it.
(I can't even remember what I'm supposed to be looking for, but this conversation cracked me up.)

3.8.10
Christian and I were looking at a Where's Waldo book and having very little success finding Waldo or any of the other characters.
Christian: Maybe if I sing "I am a Child of God" we will sind Waldo. (in song) I am a child of God, and he has sent me here....

3.7.10
As we were driving home in the dark, Christian could see stars in the sky, a new thing since we rarely saw a star living in Atlanta and he was singing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."
Christian: (talking to himself) I was singing "Tinkle, Tinkle Wittle Dars" because I saw a tinkle wittle dars.....OH! There's another one! (in song) Tinkle, tinkle, little dars. How I wonder what you are....

2.7.10
On the way to church:
Christian: Ah nuts. I sorgot my tie.
And the when he told me about it after church he said: "And Daddy didn't go back."

2.5.10
After hitting a few balls in a row with his tennis racket:
Christian: I am good at tennis! When I get bigger and bigger and bigger, I will be a tennis people.
Mommy: A tennis player?
Christian: A tennis guy.

These conversations took place in anticipation for our Clemson trip, which actually didn't end up happening yet:
Mommy: Christian, you know we are going to Clemson tomorrow?
Christian: Is that in Georgia?
Mommy: Nope, South Carolina. It's going to be a long car ride.
Christian: I will sweep in the car and when we get there I will wake up and then I will get out of the car and run onto the sootball field!

Christian: I had a good idea. I can take nacks. Yeah, dat's a good idea. Ah! I had a good idea! I can take my Clemson sootball!! Yeah! Dat's a good idea!

Mommy: Christian, do you know we're going to sleep over at Clemson?
Christian: We can sleep on the grass! And then when we wake up we can pway sootball! (I think he was talking about sleeping on the grass of the football field. I also think someone's been talking to Christian about Clemson football.)

1.28.10
Tonight we did our usual routine: scriptures, family prayer, and then it was Mommy's turn to put Christian to bed. (We trade off every night.) We turned the lights off, cracked the door open, then Christian climbed into his bed. As he laid his head down, and was getting comfy in his covers, he said: "Amen." And then he looked at me and said, "I forgot to say amen. Amen." He must have been thinking about what had been said in that prayer and finally decided he agreed. :)

(BOY, I'VE BEEN SLACKING! This one's for you, Sally.)
1.14.09
Upon finding a box of tampons:
Christian: What are these, Mommy?
Mommy: Umm, those are just for Mommies.
After examining the box for a moment...
Christian: Are they bandaids?
Mommy: Yeah, kind of like bandaids. (Greatful he was satisfied with that.)

11.25.09
After eating at Wendy's, then getting back into the car to finish our drive to Augusta:
Mommy: Christian, did you tell Daddy thank you for dinner?
Christian: No, Wendy made it.

11.22.09
Daddy and Christian were watching a Clemson football game when the following conversation occurred

Daddy: Christian did you know that I went to school at Clemson?
Christian: I go to school at my sriends' houses.
Daddy: Does your school have a football team like Clemson?
Christian: Nope

11.21.09
Christian's prayers are getting more and more elaborate. Tonight his prayer sounded like this:

Dear Heavenly Sather, Sank you for my bwessings. Sank you we could make pizza. Sank you we could have "p" day. Sank you sor my Daddy. Sank you sor my Mommy. Sank you sor Esan. Sank you we could play. Sank you...(at this point he has his eyes open and begins listing things he can see) Sank you sor my plate. Sank you sor my cup....in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Often it becomes a game of trying to make Ethan laugh by the things he is listing. Tonight Ethan was very entertained. :)

11.20.09
Daddy: Christian, why are you so excited?
Christian: Because you're home, Daddy!

11.18.09
Christian: You have big muscles, Daddy.

11.15.09
Daddy: Christian, you need to obey.
Christian: No, I not obey.
Mommy: You are a stinker.
Christian: No, I not stink.

11.9.09
Christian started dancing to some music for Ethan to watch, but stopped mid-dance, came over to Ethan on my lap, pulled out his paci, and put it on my lap.
Christian: Now Esan can waas (laugh) at me.
Then he returned to his dancing, and Ethan laughed, right on cue. :)

10.28.09
As I was pedaling up a hill with Christian on the back of my bike, struggling to get to the top :)
Christian(with all sincerity): You can do it Mommy. You're almost there. You almost made it. You can do it Mommy.

10.23.09
Mommy: Christian, do you want another graham cracker?
Christian: yeah...I must be hungry!

10.22.09
At the doctor's office after learning that Ethan did not have to get his third antibiotic shot:
Christian: (in a high pitched voice, right in Ethan's face. with a grin on his face) Esan, you not have to get a shot. You know it, Esan?

10.19.09
Mommy: Are you making pancakes with your playdough?
Christian: Yeah...No, I making mashed potatoes.
A few minutes later...
Christian: I making mashed po-tookies!
Mommy: You're making mashed po-cookies?
Christian: Yeah!
Mommy: What do they taste like?
Christian: Oatmeal.
Quite the creative culinary mind he has!

10.18.09
Christian: PBS Kids. That's my save-rit word.
(We've apparently been watching too much TV.)

10.17.09
Mommy: Christian, do you think you can carry our pumpkin?
Christian: Yes, I have my big muscles.

10.9.09
Christian has figured out the meaning of the word FAVORITE and I would dare say it's now his "save-rit" word. In the past few days I heard these phrases come out of his mouth:
"Mommy, you're my save-rit."
"Daddy, you're my save-rit."
"Esan, you're my save-rit."
"I not want to watch that movie. It's not my save-rit."
"That's my save-rit." (Just like us, many things and many foods are his favorite lately.)

10.8.09
While playing pretend sleeping:
Christian: Mommy, I need to tell you a dories. (story)
Mommy: I do need a story.
Christian: "Once on a time...there was a monkey...he played wots and wots...he was reawwy tired...DEE end." That was a short one.
Mommy: I liked that one.
Christian: Now I need to tell you a wong one. "I am a child of God...I am a child of God...I am a child of God...DEE end."

This conversation happens almost every time we go to pick up Jake from the train station:
Christian: Are we getting on the seeway, Mommy?
Mommy: In just a few minutes we are.
Christian: I don't want to go on the seeway. I don't like the seeway.
(We still haven't quite figured out why.)
Then, as we get on the freeway:
Christian: No! I don't want to get on the seeway! I don't like the seeway!
Tough, we get on anyway. He is becoming quite the backseat driver. He also often tells us which way he wants to go, and if we turn the wrong direction, he gets upset. Where did this come from? I have no idea. I must say though, he has an amazing sense of direction. If you visited us and drove him around, he could tell you which way to turn until you made it back to our house. I would attribute that to having two very directional parents. :)

10.7.09
Mommy: Christian, do you want to come help me grate the cheese?
Christian: No, I'm busy.

Right after I got off the phone with the pediatrician's nurse, during which Christian was behaving badly (as usual, when I'm on the phone...why is that?):
Christian: Who was that?
Mommy: That was the doctor.
Christian: What did the doctor say?
Mommy: He said Christian needs to be a good boy. How does that sound?
Christian: That sounds good.

10.3.09
Daddy: Christian, do you like conference?
Christian: It's my save-rit. (favorite)

Christian: Mama, close your eyes and I go get someping cool. (Daddy did this to Christian just yesterday.)
Then he comes back....
Christian: Purr-rise!

In Christian's jargon, computer used to be "pee-u-ter" but it has evolved and now it's "poo-wee-ter." He also learned a new word tonight: "mee-u-di-sier"=humidifier. We kept asking him what it was called just to listen to his cute version of such a long word.

9.25.09
A tender moment....
Christian: I wuv you, Esan. I wuv you so much.

9.24.09
Christian: (Pointing to the bowling pins) What's that, Mama?
Mama: The bowling pins?
Christian: uh-huh
Mama: They're bowling pins
Christian: No, it's a cake

9.16.09
Christian: B is for Nanana bread.

9.15.09
As I am pitching to Christian (nothing out of the ordinary):
First pitch--swing and a miss.
Christian: Pitch it harder Mama.
Second pitch--swing and a miss
Christian: Pitch it HARDER Mama.
Third pitch--swing and a miss.
Christian: Daddy's a better pitcher, Mama.
OUCH.

9.13.09
Jake loves to rub Ethan's feet on his whiskers and it always makes Ethan laugh. Christian has obviously been watching, because today he was imitating it exactly and said, "Esan wikes me whiskers."

Christian was supposed to be going to bed but managed to escape and came downstairs in time to see Daddy putting away the food from dinner.
Christian (in tears, as if dying of hunger): Don't put away the shood! I NEED that shood!
In the end, he really did eat more dinner. (Probably because he ate practically nothing at dinner time.)

9.11.09
I ran upstairs to grab something and as I came back down Christian informed me: Esan wikes fishies!
In that brief moment, Christian had slipped Ethan a couple graham Goldfish, which Ethan was indeed enjoying. As I fished them out of his mouth, we had a quick lesson on babies and choking.

9.10.09
Christian's favorite phrase: Not yet.
It's his way of getting out of doing things, I think. I love the way he says it. It sounds more like: Not-tyet.

When Ethan laughs at Christian:
Christian: Esan wikes me.

9.7.09
As we pull up to Anya's apartment complex:
Christian: Is this Anya's house?
Mommy: Yes it is.
Christian: Anya has lots of houses.

9.4.09
My new favorite word that Christian says:
Pee-u-ter=computer
And a close second:
Pur-rise=surprise

8.2.09
As I was singing along to the primary music that Christian was listening to:
Christian: Just wisten to it, Mama.

7.24.09
As we were driving home from a too-late errand:
Christian: I want to go to the park.
Mommy: No, it's time to go to bed.
Christian: NO!
Mommy: It's definitely time for bed if you talk like that.
Christian: No, pwease.

7.29.09
I think this one was inspired by reading Where the Wild Things Are during potty time yesterday:
Christian: Mama, come in here and eat me up!

7.28.09
My new favorite word that Christian says:
"Moosies" (a.k.a. Smoothies)
I think it just might stick.

7.25.09
While neither of us were paying attention, Christian got a hold of the sunscreen stick and lathered up Ethan right before naps, then proceeded to lather his own feet and hands. He did a good job...there were no sunburns during naptime today. :)

7.20.09
During our lunch prayer Christian climbed onto the table while my eyes were closed and then prompted me to include, "Bless Christian not climb on the table."

7.17.09
Mommy: Christian, are you being a nice boy?
Christian: No, I a bad boy.
(At least he's honest.)

7.14.09
While Christian was saying the prayer for dinner, just after watching part of Monsters, Inc.
Christian: Please bless the monsters...

7.12.09
Daddy: Should I wear a tie to church?
Christian: Christian needs a tie and money.
Daddy: What do you need money for?
Christian: To give to Jesus.
(This isn't necessarily a comic, but a little proud Mommy moment. The Sunday before we had forgot to pay our tithing and I told Christian to remind us to bring money the next Sunday. He remembered!)

7.11.09
Trying to get Christian to help clean up toys before I came home from San Antonio, Jake told him they "needed to clean up so Mommy wouldn't call us pigs." In his prayer that evening:
Christian: Please bless Mommy not call us pigs...

7.10.09
This conversation took place the first morning I was in San Antonio, when Jake went to get Christian out of his crib:
Christian: Daddy, do we have a car today?
Daddy: Yes
Christian: I want to go somewhere
(Christian apparently feels the effects of being car-less as well.)

7.5.09
Christian: "I teasing!"

6.25.09
Mommy: You're a silly goose! ...Are you a goose?
Christian: No, I a Christian!

6.16.09

While looking at a picture of Grandma holding cousin Caleb:

"That's so coot!"

6.10.09

Christian has been catching on to the English grammar and although incorrect, I think it's very smart. We now hear phrases like:

"That's me shoe!"

"Come see me picture."

"That's me's."

Jake and I both agree he would make a fine pirate.

5.31.09
During sacrament meeting, after figuring something out:
Christian: Now we're cookin' with gas.
Mommy: Shhh...
Christian: (even louder) Now we're cookin' with gas!

Again during sacrament meeting, after a musical number Christian randomly started singing the chorus out loud:
Christian: Sharing the light....sharing the light...
It's a song I've never heard before, but he picked up on it after just this once. Obviously he was listening. Jake and I were laughing.

5.20.09
As I was reading The Three Little Pigs to Christian:
Mommy: "And he huffed, and he puffed and he blew the house down!"
Christian: Blew the house UP.
That's a version I've never heard before. The big bad wolf armed with dynamite... Christian is apparently catching on to opposites. :)

5.7.09
As we pulled into our second McDonald's of the day on our drive down to Navarre Beach, Christian exclaimed, "There's Old McDonalds!"

4.26.09
During our FHE lesson about the creation:
Jake: Who made Daddy?
Christian: Jesus
Jake: Who made Mommy?
Christian: Jesus
Jake: Who made Christian?
Christian: Jesus
Jake: Who made Ethan?
Christian: Mommy

4.19.09
As Jake slams on the brakes:
Christian: Whoa, Daddy.

3.2.09
As Christian was struggling to climb out of his chair after dinner, we heard this come out of his mouth:
Christian: (in a very distressed voice) Oh!...My big baby!
Jake and I bust up laughing....obviously I say that all the time.
Jake: I could have never gotten away with that.

Christian has been heard to say this phrase multiple times since then. It's apparently time for this baby to come out, so we can all be relieved. :)

2.28.09
Jake woke Christian up a little early in order for us all to make it to his basketball game Saturday morning. This is the conversation that took place:
Daddy: Should we go to Daddy's basketball game?
Christian: Wes!
Daddy: It's cold outside, so we need to find your jacket.
Christian: Brr!...then I say, "not too bad!"
(Laughter erupts from Jake and me)

2.25.09
Daddy: Christian, where do you live?
Chistian: In a house.

2.24.09
Daddy: Christian, what's your name?
Christian: Christian Merk-ey!
Daddy: What's Mommy's name?
Christian: Merk-ey Mommy!
Daddy: What's Daddy's name?
Christian: Merk-ey Daddy!

2.3.09
Christian figured out a very tricky matching toy.
Mommy: Good job, Christian! Say, "I am smart!"
Christian: I am marts!
(Christian hasn't mastered his consonant combinations yet, particularly anything that is combined with an "s" at the beginning of a word. For some reason, the s always ends up at the end instead. smart=marts, star=tars, snack=nacks, spot=pots, etc.)

2.2.09
During Family Home Evening:
Daddy: We're learning about the Holy Ghost.
Christian: He say, "Boo!"

1.29.09
As we were getting Christian ready for bed, waiting patiently on our knees for him to join us for family prayer, he ran over to his toy basket for one more delay before bedtime. Jake began to scold him, but before he could get out an entire word, Christian quickly held up the toy he had grabbed and reassured Daddy, "A ball, a ball," with the tone of voice that implied he wouldn't get in trouble with DAD, as long as he had a ball in his hand. He learns quickly. :)

12.21.08
After family prayer before Christian goes to bed Jake always says "Family hug!" and Christian gives us both a great big hug and a kiss. A few nights ago Jake told Christian to also give the baby a kiss, which he did right on my growing belly. He then turned to Daddy and said, "Daddy's baby, too?" and then proceeded to kiss Jake's tummy. ....Last night the conversation went like this:
Jake: I don't have a baby in my tummy, Christian. Does it look like I do?
Christian: WES! (with his big head nod)

12.4.08
Christian got a nativity set in the mail from his Grammy and he was bringing the pieces to me one by one to unwrap out of the plastic. As he did, I was telling him what each piece was.
Mommy: This one is a wiseman. He brought a present to Baby Jesus.
Christian: (breaking out in song) "The wise man built his house upon the rock!"
Close enough. :)

11.16.08
During Sacrament Meeting, Daddy told Christian to "color on Mommy's lap." Christian leaned over and put a bright orange streak of crayola crayon on my white skirt. What an obedient little boy. :)

11.7.08
Aunt Sally built Christian a "house" out of his bristle blocks, after which he stepped inside it and exclaimed, "Christian's in the house!" Thank you Uncle Joes for encouraging it. :)

10.5.08
Jake and Christian were taking a walk down to the garbage when they passed a woman heading the other way. She looked at Christian and said, "Hey man!" Without missing a beat Christian replied, "Hey man!"

9.22.08
Christian and I were outside on our porch when a car drove in, music loud and bass pumping. Christian froze, looked at me, then said, "Ice, ice baby." In Christian's mind, loud bass equals Ice, Ice Baby.