Our Everyday Adventures: July 2012

Sunday, July 29, 2012

It's OLYMPICS time!

I love the Olympics! In fact, we finally gave in and bought ourselves a digital TV for the sole reason of watching the Olympics. Now we can actually watch a few channels, most importantly, NBC. And so, of course we had to have an Olympics party! Four years ago we had an Olympics party with our dear friends in Atlanta, complete with ethnic cuisine from Russia, China and Canada. This year wasn't quite as ethnic, but we did paint flags on our faces and watched the opening ceremonies together, while eating popcorn and treats. And when they were gone, Ethan exclaimed, "We need more treats!" You should have seen him gobble those down. :) When they were gone, Ethan had to go to bed, but Christian got to stay up even later because he took a nap for that very reason. Owen, unfortunately, missed the entire party as he was sick and sound asleep in his bed.

We all got American flags painted on our cheeks, and then Jake and I each got another country--Jake chose Russia of course, and I chose Canada, in honor of our Canadian friends. :) Or maybe that is ex-Canadian?

We are having lots of fun cheering on the USA!

Apricot Season

I love apricot season! It means apricot picking, drying, juicing, and leathering! In the past I have only done jam and dried apricots, but this year I was a little more ambitious. And I also have more storage than I used to. :)

Rosanna and I had an apricot day at her house, where we juiced and bottled 42 quarts of apricot nectar! And even the kids helped! All six of them, including Owen who did a good job napping. :) The bigger kids ran the strainer and the smaller ones helped with the pitting. And they all played together really well too so Rosanna and I could keep working.

I think I ran my dryer for over a week straight, and my oven for just about as long doing leather. I love the leather and got the best idea for how to do it from Our Best Bites. I love that website. And I love the leather in kid-sized fruit strips!

I kept saying I was DONE doing apricots, and then I'd get more and keep at it. I just couldn't resist...what if we don't get apricots next year? I ended up with 21 quarts of nectar, a bag full of fruit leather in my freezer, as well as ten quart-sized bags of dried apricots. Let's see how long they last! :) We all love them!

Thursday, July 26, 2012

4th of July

For the 4th of July we went up to Wallsburg to try to escape the inferno in Salt Lake. To celebrate the independence of this great nation and the freedoms we enjoy, we spent a couple days in Wallsburg, had a yummy breakfast at the lake, and did some inaugural boating for the summer. What better way to cool off then get on the boat and relax. All of the boys enjoyed being on the boat this year (Ethan has come a long way since last year!) and it was nice to get our first pull of the season in. We sure felt it the next day though. :) Christian loved driving the boat with Papa and Ethan and Owen were content in splashing their feet on the back of the boat. The water was very refreshing and the company was fabulous. We were also lucky to have Melissa join us in celebration of the 4th of July on the water! Unfortunately I have no pictures to prove that because my camera battery died the first night there and I forgot the charger. Melissa probably does, and when she blogs about it, I will steal them from her. :)

Here are some pics from Jake's phone:

FAVORITE PIC :)

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Gurr Family Reunion Beach Trip 2012

In June we went to Surfside Beach, Texas with my family for our biennial family reunion. (That means every other year, did you know that? I just googled it to make sure.) :) We had such a blast! It was such a great week and so hard to come home!

Some highlights include:
1. Flying on an airplane for our mode of transportation. This was very exciting for the boys, since it's really the first time they remember flying. It's the first time we have flown since moving to Utah.
2. Staying in a beach house right on the beach, which was so nice! Owen napped for two hours, twice a day, and while he napped, we played on the beach. We didn't have to haul food to the beach, and there was endless hours of entertainment with all that sand and water.
3. Boogie boarding to our heart's content
4. Catching crabs (and eating them for some...even Christian tried them and said he liked them!)
5. Visiting the NASA space center in Houston
6. Watching Christian ride the waves on his boogie board
7. Crab claw earrings
8. Building (and destroying?) sand castles
9. Eating delicious food, including a mass amount of shishkabobs that Jake grilled
10. Late night games and ice cream
11. Telestrations...and laughing until we cried
12. Reading stories with Grandparents, aunts or uncles
13. The yellow "pee water"--that's what the boys called it after bathing in it for the first time. Seriously, it looked like they were bathing in pee, and the toilets always looked like someone forgot to flush. Yuck! And it didn't taste so good either. We drank bottled water all week. :) (Maybe this wasn't necessarily a HIGH light?)
14. The extreme humidity. That place kills Atlanta in the humid department!
15. Family pictures
16. Grandma lounging on her beach chair. We are so glad my mom could come! She had two back surgeries prior to this trip and we didn't know if she was going to be able to make it. Fortunately she was and was able to have a nice relaxing week for her back to continue to heal.
17. Rachel turned five and we had a little birthday party for her
18. Owen learned to walk! He had lots of practice.
19. Playing Grandma's racetrack game
20. Attending church in a small ward near by...and Melissa happens to know the speaker!
21. Touching a real jelly fish!
22. Playing in the boat holes in the wall
23. Being with cousins! And aunts, uncles, siblings, grandparents, and the whole family! We are so glad Melissa made it for the first two days!

Here is a summary in pictures...

on the airplane..notice Christian is playing an antique game of electronic Connect Four. Imagine, an electronic device that only plays ONE game. He loves it!

Racing cars in the windowsills on the airport...they make great, slick tracks!

A FAVORITE PIC :)

This is the Boat House, where we stayed. It was one of three identical houses. Ours is the one on the far right.

The Pee Water. Gross!

YUM!

FAMILY PICTURES

Love this one...notice the blue clothespin? It's actually my favorite one. :)

Grandma and Grandpa with all ELEVEN grandchildren

The jelly fish that Steve caught. It was so cool to touch...it really feels like jelly!

Owen was more thrilled with the kiddie pool than he was with the beach!

A FAVORITE PIC :)

Decorating cookies one afternoon

NASA SPACE CENTER, HOUSTON

A FAVORITE PIC :)
Megan was such a great helper with Owen!

A FAVORITE PIC :)
This is SO Owen...holding onto my leg grinning up at me. Oh, and those BLUE eyes! This is not edited AT ALL.

ON THE BEACH

A FAVORITE :)

These were so cool! You could watch the mollusks wiggle down into the sand each time the waves went out.
Ethan was entranced by these.

A FAVORITE :)

FAMILY PHOTO!

JUST BEACHY!

And if you've made it this far, here is my favorite picture of the whole trip...

This is Dylan hanging out of one of three holes in the living room wall going up the stairs to make it look like a boat. These holes created endless hours of entertainment for the kids--throwing animals through them, playing math games in them (led by Megan), hanging out of them, putting balloons through them.
And miraculously, no one ever fell through them.

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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.