Right of Passage

Don't be confused by this cute face: She.Is.A.Devil.

I don't understand the fascination with the toilet, but all of my children have dabbled, splashed and down-right partied in the toilet. And, with the progression of children, this seems to get nastier. Because I have a few 'un-named' children(it'd be easier to name the ONE that does) who never flush. This disgusts me! I just shudder to consider when kind of disease my kids will get from slurping pee(!!!???!!!).
When Avery was a babe I got her dipping the toilet paper and sucking it dry. And...she's still doing okay. So I suppose that the THREE times today I caught Landri in the toilet, all three times it was yellow, won't hurt her too badly. But I have now promised spanks for anyone who leaves a prize for Landri...harmful or not its still just nasty!
Seriously, what happened to my baby? She is full fledged toddler now. Climbing everything, emptying every cupboard, eating/drinking whatever we do(and apparently some extras!)...she snort giggles to entertain and she sneaks in a little bite when she kisses your cheek. Most of this I love...its just that some of these new things seem to be a right of passage...whether they're disgusting or not!

What's YOUR Perfect???

As noted by my earlier post, today is my grandma's birthday, which, I'm not gonna lie, has been a sad day. I was mulling over ideas for family home evening tonight(supposed to be last night but the NCAA b-ball tourney trumped)and wondering what to do.

The boys' hair is getting ridiculously long, so Nate and I forced them into getting it cut this evening. And while I'm watching the hair pile onto the floor, the PERFECT family home evening lesson hits me. In fact, I couldn't even propose it to Nate without snorting, and full on tears I was laughing so hard. Whether you agree or not, I don't care. This has been a private joke of ours our entire marriage. And let me say I adore this man. This BALD man. Enter t.o.p.i.c.

Easter is coming. In our faith, and I would assume most of Christianity, we celebrate Easter not for sugar and treats left by the Easter Bunny. But we celebrate the Resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. Because of this event every person who ever lived, and ever died, is promised the gift of resurrection when Jesus comes again. Because I'm already a bit blue today because I miss my grandma dearly, this seemed like the perfect fit. Are you wondering where the funny comes in?
There is a verse in the Bible that states that when we are resurrected that our body will be restored, and (paraphrasing) not one hair will be lost from our head...we'll be made perfect. So we discussed this topic with our children. We asked them if everyone will look the same? Will there be fat people? Will everyone be super-model pretty? NO! Because those things aren't important to God...so whatever he deems our perfect state will not be our 'dream body'! (DANGIT)

After the 'lesson' I had the kids come into the kitchen where I slathered Nate's head in elmer's glue...and the kids proceeded to "restore" Nate's head of hair, using the clippings from Kolbe and Eli.

Kenna, Ms. Germphobe...was grossed out. No help.
Avery and Eli dove right in.
Landri ate crackers in her high chair, though occasionally peeked suspciously at us.
Kolbe stared with one eyebrow arched the whole time. And I...I was the photographer.

I don't know if I honestly WANT his head of hair restored. I kinda like him as is. But, kudos to him for being the best sport ever...talk about a visual aid. I'm thinking my kids will never forget the real reason we celebrate Easter. Though....I AM a little scared to have them answer questions in Primary....

April 5th....

Gram,
I'm still a bit ticked off at you. We secretly always planned that I would be back here, and that we'd waste endless days shopping and drinking diet coke(ugh, you'd have diet pepsi)...and even though it doesn't seem like an adult thing to say, I'm still feeling kinda ripped. Do you have any idea how many times I instinctively think "oh I should just call gramma quick." ? I even have called the farm jus to let it ring....don't know what I would do if someone would actually answer it. And here I am with NO ONE to drink diet coke with, or shop with...and it isn't right. Sure, I have picked up the slack on the drinking AND shopping, but it isn't the same. I just miss you desperately. I wear Clinique makeup just because it makes me remember you...I touch the shirt you were wearing the last time I saw you almost every day, as it hangs in my closet. I still remember how you forced $40 bucks in my hand that last morning....telling me to 'stuff it' when I tried to say I was fine. Mom let me look in your purse the other day...I loved it. Its just as you left it....which made me smile. Except it must have been time for a trip to the ATM because you have minimal cash. Which is really unlike you, considering how many hands were constantly outstretched! Maybe you'd just been hit by the grandkids... I miss having someone to back me up no matter what my stance was. You never cared...you just fought with me! Man I miss you.

I know that the only reason that I can even survive you bailing out on me early is because we're gonna make up for it one day. I can't wait to see you again. I like to think that you are near me often...I hope its true. But I KNOW the first part is. Its just another reason I'm excited for Easter.