Pete Pages: November 2009

Monday, November 23, 2009

Thankful

Tonight was our "2nd Annual Gratitude Night." We've been talking about gratitude and "being thankful" during family home evening all month, but tonight we made our "gratitude lists" and topped off the evening with a chocolate (pudding) pie.

Burke chose to illustrate his list:

Burke is thankful for:
Dog, ice cream, soccer, family, Legos, water, trees, happiness, friends, church, temple, home, country, George Washington, candy, cookies, Wii, clothing and the capitol.

I was "scribe" for Hewitt. Hewitt is thankful for:
Parks, cookies, clocks, rocks -"Hey! That rhymes!", Lego Star Wars, Liv, Dad, Burke, Tosh, Mommy, all my family, windows, wind, Tosh's Bear, rainbows, teeth, Liv's toys, trophies, Beckhem, coloring, Uncle Zach, jumping high, teachers, going to school, Ninjas, turkey, cows, celery - "I don't like it, but I'm thankful for it.", chicken, ice cream, hands, colors, crayons, pencils, lights, dark, bedrooms, toys, play, everybody, walls, ceilings, bears, ducks, animals, lying down, church, the microphone you talk through at church, faces, friends, shirts, pants. clothes, coats, sweaters, sweatshirts, dolphins, water, the sea, oceans, lakes, TVs, soccer, watching soccer, trampolines, pillows, sleeping, walking and running.

Rob was "scribe" for Tosh. Tosh is thankful for:
Mommy, Liv, Burke, Hewie (Wee Wee), Daddy, Me, Bear, Zach, Sue, Dina (?), Daddy, Mommy, "I'm thankful for Bear.", Zach, "How 'bout, Sue?", Burkie, Hewie, Daddy, Me, Wiggles, Mommy, Daddy, Carter, Mommy, Liv, Daddy, Bear, Toshy, Burkie, Hewie, Liv, chicken, Hewie, Mommy, Bear, Burkie, Mommy, Me, Bear, Burkie, Mommy, Daddy, Bear, What else?, Mommy, "How 'bout Wee Wee?", Zach, Sue, Grandma, Grandpa, Daddy, Me, Daddy, Burke, Bear, Liv, Daddy, Mommy...

Rob and I are grateful for our little "turkeys" among many, many other blessings.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Dodgeball

Last night I played dodgeball for the first time since ummm, sixth grade maybe? It was a combined activity for the young women and young men at church. Being one of the new leaders, I wanted to show my enthusiasm and good attitude (cough, cough), so I dressed for the occasion. I raided Rob's drawers and found a "70's looking" numbered basketball jersey, headband and wrist bands. I arrived slightly late and so I missed the rules, but was given a quick rule re-cap which included that if you hit someone in the face then you would be out.

Before I had a chance to do much watching I was thrown into play and this is what I was playing against:

Seriously! Sometimes I wonder if some people could get any more intense when it comes to sports and winning. A couple of 16 and 17 yr-old boys were so into it and quite relentless really. One kid smacked his younger sister in the face so hard (and at a very close range) that I tried to get him pulled from the game. Later, I attempted to explain to these guys that they didn't have to throw the ball as hard as they possibly could, and that how they treated the girls would eventually come back to them. It was a little interesting since just last week I was sitting with these same guys and talking about dating etiquette. The girls were pretty good sports about it, red, swollen faces and all. I can tell you that had I been there at age 15, then I probably would have been out in the hall texting my friends instead of playing for sure.

Anyway, I made a mental note as a "Boy Mom," that I need to teach my boys that games (such as dodgeball), are meant for fun and that taking things too seriously will ruin it, AND make you look lame in front of the ladies in the process...

To be fair, I've seen a lot of recent examples of poor sportsmanship in women too. Maybe you've heard about the women's soccer player from New Mexico (Have you seen these highlights? Crazy!): http://blogs.usatoday.com/gameon/2009/11/new-mexico-womens-soccer-player-elizabeth-lambert-suspended-for-physical-play-vs-byu.html.
And then there was the embarrassing display at my son's soccer game where one mother got upset at an "elbow" to her son and started yelling at the refs and and then at her son to "take out" the opposing player...seriously? My kid is seven. They only thing I'm teaching him to "take out" is the garbage!

I don't know about you, but for me,
Poor Sportsmanship (obnoxious behavior) = Not Cool!
Can't we all just play nice?

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Six months of Sunshine

...and I'm not talking about the weather.

Our sweet baby girl is six months old (already?)!

Here she is modeling her signature moves; crossing her ankles (she crosses them while she sleeps even), and doing the "Spidey" with her fingers:

We love you, Livvy!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Help a girl out

Rhetorical question: When you think back to your early dating years, do you:

a. smile
b. laugh
c. groan
d. cringe
e. all of the above

Rob and I are going to be speaking about "dating" to a group of 16 and 17 year-olds next Wednesday. I think we have a pretty good plan in the works, but I would LOVE a little help from you:

Would you be so kind to tell me about a favorite "fun" date that you went on in high school or even college. Please note that I am not interested in the most romantic date you have ever been on (remember this is for 16 and 17 yr-old kids. Hopefully they won't be experiencing their most "romantic" date until they are well into their 20s...).

It would be easy for me to do an internet search and find a list of "fun" or "creative" dating ideas, but I want REAL ideas/examples that you have actually experienced (an e-mail is fine if you aren't comfortable posting a comment). Thanks!

For part of our presentation, I plan on showing these funny photos of what Rob and I looked like back in the spring of 1991. This was Rob, just before prom (look out ladies):

This is me "pretending" to be picking out a dress for the prom (this photo was taken for a local magazine). I didn't really go to the Prom that year as it was 3 weeks before my 16th birthday, and the guy I really liked had a girlfriend anyway... (is anyone else sooo glad to be where they are today instead of 16 again?!)

Pete said...

Hewitt was just telling me about a new game he created where you can't touch the ball with your hands or feet. He said, "You can only hit the ball with your leg or foot-wrist." And so I clarified, "You mean your ankle?"
(10/8/09)

Me to Hewitt: Whatcha doin?
Hewitt: Arting. It's making art.
(10/2/09; Hewitt's 5th b-day)

Two jokes by Burke:
What does a storm wear?
Thunderwear!

What do you call King Kong's feet?
Big Foot!
(9/26/09)

I had the following conversation with Tosh:
Me: Are you a boy or a girl?
T: Boy
Me: Is Livvy a boy or a girl?
T: Baby
Me: Yes, but is Baby Liv a boy or a girl?
T: Girl
Me: Is Daddy a boy or a girl?
T: Big boy
Me: Is Mommy a boy or a girl?
T: Mommy a babe!
(Not prompted, I promise! 9/3/09)

Hewitt had set up a bunch of toy figures and Tosh was trying to play with them... Hewitt was telling Tosh not to touch them and I asked him to share the toys or to go and get some more figures for Tosh to play with. Hewitt said, "These are not toys! They are art!" (9/3/09)

We were driving along a road near our house (a rather quiet highway, really) and Hewitt suddenly exclaimed, "Mom! I just found the road to our old house! Keep driving straight!" I looked up and realized there were some big mountains in the FAR distance. Hewitt clearly thought he was staring at Utah. (8/28/09)

Hewitt brought home a little "Groundhog's Day" craft that he had made at preschool and kept calling the groundhog a bear. When I tried to tell him it was really a groundhog he looked at me like I was very silly and said, "It's a BEAR Mom, not a CORNDOG!" (2/2/09)

I explained to Burke about the recent airplane crash into the Hudson River and knowing that he would be very concerned, I quickly told him that all of the passengers were just fine. He looked at me with a worried look and said, "What about the birds? Are they okay?" (1/15/09)

I have a trunk full of old performing costumes from when I was a kid. Hewitt saw the trunk in the basement and told Rob that he wanted to open up the "treasure chest." Rob asked him if he knew what was in the trunk/chest and Hewitt replied that it was full of clothes. When Rob told Hewitt that he didn't want him to make a big mess Hewitt said, "I won't make a mess, I will just get out one clo." I guess that "clo" would be the singular form of clothes... (1/13/09)

Burke is always mentioning how he wants us to have lots more babies because he wants "hundreds" of brothers and sisters. I was explaining to him this morning about how it gets harder and more dangerous to have babies as a woman gets older...he looked at me and said, "Well, you look young Mom, like 19!" Then he leaned in closer and said, "Well, I do see some indents in your skin around your eyes (those would be wrinkles--thanks for noticing)." (12/26/08)

Hewitt blew his nose and must have accidentally gotten some snot or tissue in his mouth because he said, "Yuck! That tastes like cow dung!" (12/24/08)

Tosh got to Hewitt's cup of water at the table today and dumped it all over Hewitt's lap and onto the floor. Rob asked Hewitt, "Are you a little wet?" and he said, "I'm a BIG wet!" (12/24/08)

Rob was playing "Memory" with the boys and when Burke got a few matches in a row Hewitt said, "Wow Burkie, you're on fire!" (11/08)

We just bought some sod for our park strip and while Burke and I were looking at the pallet, I mentioned that some of the pieces looked like crabgrass and that we needed to find the best pieces of grass to buy. Burke looked at the sod for a little while and said, "None of it looks like crap grass to me!"

While I was flossing Burke's teeth he said, "Wait--I need to tell you something." I paused flossing and he said, "You sure know how to be a good mom!" (now there's a treasured compliment!)

Hewitt watched Rob kill a fly in our kitchen and then asked, "Did he cry? Did he want his mommy fly?"

I told Hewitt that I was going to get Tosh a snack and asked if he would like one. He paused and then said, "I'll take a milkshake." What am I, a drive-up window?

Hewitt was asking for toast today and when I pulled out the bread he said, "No, the 'letter O' toast!" I finally figured out that he wanted a toasted english muffin.

Burke came down for breakfast and said, "Mom, it might not look like my bed is made and you might not like it, but it's really stripes that I did as a design on my bed."

Hewitt has really liked eating plain tortillas lately. When I asked him if he wanted one he said, "Oh. Sure. I'll have a mamma mia."

Hewitt understands things very literally. When Rob told him that he "needed to fly" this morning (go to work), Hewitt asked, "Where is the fly? In the house?" When Rob asked him if he had a runny nose he said, "No. It's just boogers."

When Rob was leaving for work he hugged the boys and told them to "be good for Mommy and do exactly what she says." Burke said, "OK bye Dad, you be good at work and do exactly what your boss says."

We were discussing prophets in the scriptures for Family Home Evening and when Rob asked Burke which prophet(s) wrote the Book of Mormon Burke said, "Nephi, Jacob, Enos..." and continued to name the books in order. Rob and I were pretty surprised and couldn't help laughing.

I was just eavesdropping on Hewitt while he was playing with his toys and heard him say, "Ladies and jumpingmen..."

Burke was heading off to a neighbor's house to play and stuck his head back in the door and called, "I'll be traveling by bike."

When the garage door opens for us to drive in, Hewitt will pretend to be scared and say, "Oh no, it's the garage mouth! He's going to eat us!"

Hewitt got distracted and starting playing with his toys during lunch and when I reminded him to please keep eating he said, "But Mommy, I'm working."

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