Heavy Conversation

My friend Tammy's son Maxwell is in Ethan's kinder class (and Primary class and soccer team). We decided we'd rotate Thursdays having each other's son over to play. Last week was Ethan's week to go home with Maxwell and they had a pretty funny conversation in the car. This is what was said (Tammy posted it on her blog and I'm copying it here).

Tammy: "Ethan are you going to make a pinewood derby car to race at the ward dinner tomorrow?"

Ethan: "Well, we have a block but we have to cut it and my mom doesn't want to cut it because she doesn't want to cut herself..... Hey one time my uncle was cutting something and he cut two of his fingers off and now his fingers are smaller, it was crazy."

Maxwell: "Did he die?"

Ethan: "No, he didn't die."

Maxwell: "Well, when you get cut you die."

Ethan: "No, you only die if you get cut on your body."

Maxwell: "Oh, you mean if you get your head cut off or you get stabbed here (pointing to his stomach) then you'll die?"

Ethan: "Yeah."

Maxwell: "Then you go to heaven for a long time and then you can come back to earth."

Ethan: "Yeah, you get resurrected and you will never die again."

Maxwell: "Yeah, when I get resurrected I'm going to go back to my house."

Boys' conversations about cuts and dying, heavy stuff. Looks like Uncle Brian is well remembered in our house and that I'm a wimp. Too funny....

First day of school for a kindergartner and preschooler

First day of school came and went. Luke is going to preschool from 8-11am five days a week at Sonora. His teacher is Ms. Wanda. He has only had two days where he didn't want to be there and has been fine ever since. I took a picture from outside the class so he wouldn't know I was still there. I think the saddest part is that Luke doesn't see Ethan anymore. Last year they saw each other at recess but were in different classes. This year Ethan is on a different schedule. I think it will be good for Luke to develop his own personality a little bit and break the habit of being a shadow of his older brother. I feel for him though. Next year they will be back on the same schedule.

Ethan took to school without a hitch. His teacher's name is Mrs. Krabbe and he's in the same class as two boys from his Primary class; Hunter Windschitl and Maxwell Waldron. He is at the same school as Luke, which is two or three blocks away from our house. We've been walking to school as a family every morning. The school started enforcing uniforms. I see the good side of it but I feel bad for Ethan when he doesn't get to wear his "picture shirts" (as he calls them). I feel like I still don't know what I'm doing as a mom of school age children. Do I ask the teachers how my children behaved every day when I pick them up? Fundraisers, tardiness, absences, classroom sizes, volunteering, PTA, parent workshops.....sigh....whoa, I'm dizzy.

Happy 4 Luke

Luke recently turned 4!! I know I say this a LOT but I can't believe it. Happy Birthday Luke!

I thought I'd throw in a picture of Ethan riding his bike without training wheels! Go Ethan!

Steve and I gave Luke an electric four wheeler for his birthday.

Luke wanted to go to Pump It Up for his birthday so we headed over there with some friends and family (thanks for coming!). I didn't bother putting any pictures up because everyone is blurry from running around and jumping and sliding but I know all the kids had fun. My boys always walk out of there dripping in sweat! After the jumping we headed home and invited everyone over for BBQ and cake. Yesterday Luke had his well check exam and he weighs 56.5 lbs. and is 45.5 inches tall, Luke has always topped the charts. Luke definitely adds his own flair to our family and we love him for it.

Far and away in Los Angeles

(me the day we walked around Hollywood)

My sisters and I recently went on a mini getaway to L.A. We had a blast but none of us really wanted to act like tourists and take tons of pictures (and the websites don't allow copying) so this post will be aesthetically boring, sorry. We stayed in the beautiful Fairmont Miramar hotels. We ate delicious food. My favorites were Cafe Brasil, of course, and Joan's on Third, and the Grand Lux Cafe. Joan's was DELICIOUS and the first place we had never been to before. Its also where we got a glimpse at our first celebrity sightings. This is who we saw...

Alexandra Guarnaschelli from the Food Network

Cameron Diaz

We did lots of shopping at the Grove. We watched two movies, 'Julie and Julia' and 'The Time Traveler's Wife.' Unfortuneately, the tourist sites of Mann's Chinese theater and the star walk were kind of anti-climatic. All in all it was a fun trip. I definitely appreciated the time away and came home renewed in my purpose as a mother and wife. It was the first time I had been away from Sadie and that about did me in. I wanted to come home and smother her (and everyone else too) with hugs and kisses. Thank you Evelyn and Steve for making it all happen!