The Force

I had to blog about the conversation Jaycee and Ethan just had:

Jaycee, "Lets play Star Wars."

Ethan, "Ok, but it isn't real so we will have to pretend."

Jaycee, "Yes it is. It's all real and we are real Jedi's."

Ethan, "No we aren't. We are just pretend Jedi's and the force is just pretend."

Jaycee, "No it isn't. It is real."

Ethan, "Then how come we don't have real light sabers, just toy ones? And I've tried to use the force before. It didn't work!"

Jaycee, "We need to keep it secret for now that we are Jedi's so it doesn't work right now. When we are older it will work."

Ethan, "Well I try all the time and it never works for me so we'll just have to pretend."

I was cracking up listening to this conversation. What kid hasn't tried REALLY hard to use the force? I know I have and it didn't work for me. Mike tried a few weeks ago with the TV remote. It didn't work for him either.

What's Love?

I like to ask the kids random questions just to hear their clever, and often funny answers. For example:

Me: What's love?

Ethan: When you like something very much.

Jaycee: My family and Apollo (our doggy).

Me: If you gave love a smell what would it be?

Jaycee: Roses. That's what you give when you love yourself.

Ethan: Violets because they are blue.

Me: What does love look like?

Ethan: A red heart. Or pink. Or it looks like when someone is kissing.

Jaycee: Love looks like two people at the movies together.

Me: What does love taste like?

Jaycee: Sweet candy.

Ethan: Lipstick

How do you know Mom and Dad love each other?

Ethan: You let dad sleep in and he lets you sleep in.

Jaycee: You give each other hugs and kisses.

Me: How do you know Ethan loves you?

Jaycee: He helps me clean my room.

Me: How do you know that Jaycee loves you?

Ethan: She plays with me.

Me: How do you know Apollo loves you?

Jaycee: He snuggles with me at night.

Ethan: He comes to me every time I call him. (Then Ethan called him and he wouldn't come. Oh well.)

Me: If love was a person who would it be?

Ethan: Aunt Heather

Jaycee: Ethan, because he is my friend. (Then why were you beating each other up in the car last night? Just askin'.)

Bye-bye tonsils and ear tube!

Ethan's tonsils have been giving him fits, not to mention the tube in his ear that decided to permanently embed itself into his head. They all had to go in one fell swoop. Ethan was excited at first. We went to the store the day before and he picked out tons of cool treats like super hero popsicles, ice cream, and soda. He also knew he was going to get tons of attention and what kid doesn't love that? Especially Ethan who never takes a good audience for granted. We arrived at Primary Children's Hospital in the early afternoon and the fun started. He got to wear cool pajamas, play with toys, and watch cartoons. Then he went to sleep to the watermelon flavored gas and woke up very confused. That was the funny part. He had this look of terror on his face and kept saying things didn't work, like his lips and throat.

Now, the next day, thanks to pain meds. and popsicles Ethan is bouncing off the walls and ready to take on the world. Maybe I'll back off on the pain meds.

Getting ready.

Not quite awake yet.

The look of terror on Ethan's face when he woke up and "nothing was working right."

Another enjoyable weekend at the cabin. Everyone seemed to have a good time and no major injuries. More work was done on the remodel of the upstairs rooms thanks to the hard work of the men (mostly), and the grounds are flourishing as much as they can in the deserts of eastern Utah.

The kids wearing themselves out hiking up the mountain.

If you look closely, the colors around the cabin are beautiful.

The view from the top of the mountain behind the cabin.

The infamous wreckage a short ways from the cabin is the basis for many tall tales including tales of murder, lost campers destined for disaster, and Half-head.

If you look closely at the speck on the rocks against the sky, that's Meghan. It's the only place she can get phone service to text her friends. Apparently the hike is worth it. She did it many times every day. Crazy teenagers.

Am I lucky or what?

What a great day Mother's Day is. I told Mike I didn't want anything but his permission to take the kids to Disneyland this summer with my mom, sister-in-law and her kids. He gave it to me, hooray! He also gave me flowers, a card, and the gift that keeps on giving, Robert Downey Jr. On Saturday he took me on a date to see Iron Man 2 and today gave me Sherlock Holmes on DVD. He knows when I look at Robert, or Bob, as I like to call him, I'm only thinking of my dear husband. My kids spent some precious time making me cute nick-knacks and cards that I will cherish forever. I love being a mom.

I have grown up with the most amazing example of what a mom should be. My mom is incredible. As I try to be a good mom I often stop and think, "What would my mom do?" Love you, mom!

My Mom and dad, so playful.

Leaving Disneyland. I love traveling with my family.

Spooky House

Over the last week or so Jaycee and Ethan have been very interested in our attic which has 2 entrances, one in the kitchen and one in Ethan's room. I'm not sure why they are so interested. It may be because of the movie "Aliens in the Attic" or the Disneyland commercials that show the Toy Story characters hiding in the attic. But for whatever reason, they've asked if they can go up there and explore. Jaycee is convinced there are "things from history hiding up there."

For those of us that live in Utah we know it has been very windy over the last few days. Last night after I had put the kids to bed I opened the back door so Apollo (our sweet doggy) could run in and out for a bit seeing as how it was so warm outside. I was sitting at the computer in the kitchen when a huge gust of wind blew into the house from the door. The attic cover in the kitchen blew straight up into the attic but fell right back into place so I ran to the door and shut it. Just as I was walking back I saw Ethan at the top of the stairs crying hysterically. "Mom, there is something in the attic trying to get out. It just lifted the cover." I've never seen him so scared. I tried to explain what it was that happened but he wasn't convinced. Jaycee thought this was hilarious. Something is in out attic, something scary. Maybe the monster in the closet relocated. Needless to say, Ethan would have nothing to do with his room and slept in our room last night. Oh, the drama and adventures of young children can be so frightening to them, yet so entertaining to us.

Now if this doesn't scare away the monster what will?

Ethan, Jaycee, and my nephew, Riley.

Ethanism February 2010

Ethan just asked how old I was so I told him, I'm 33. Then he said, "Then dad must be 97." I love that kid.

Disneyland Part II

Disneyland season passes are the bomb! (do people still say that?) Anyway, we went yet again to the happiest place on Earth, this time it was for Christmas only in January so we could avoid the crowds. It was 75 degrees and sunny everyday so you couldn't have asked for better weather. It wasn't busy at all so we were able to just walk on to most rides which was the best part because you know when you are stuck in a long line at Disneyland you are always next to the couple making out with no regard for your small children staring wide eyed, or next to Mr. B.O., or the group of 20 with matching shirts who are speaking another language and you know they are talking about you. Anyway, the kids had tons of gift cards they received for Christmas so we didn't have to buy souvenirs and Mike and I had gift cards that took care of food and some nick-nacks. All in all it ended up being a very cheap trip. Now, 2 weeks later I yearn to go back. Yes, yearn. It calls to me, "Come back to me Kimber, come back and revert back to happier times once again. Just ignore Mike rolling his eyes at you while you act like you're 8 years old. He knows nothing of our joys." He did pound at least a dozen churro's while we were there, that was his joy.

We were too cheap to buy the picture even though it was a good one so we just took a picture of the picture. It turned out quite well.

California Adventures was so much fun. We love all the PIXAR stuff.

The token Disneyland picture that everyone has...your kids standing in front of the castle with a multitude of other people in the background that have no idea they are messing up your perfect picture. At least no one's in a halter top.

Since there were hardly any lines we went on rides we've never bothered with before, like this rocket ride in California Adventure. The park was so empty and slow the workers would ask for your camera so they could take pictures of your family while you were buckling up.

As far as characters are concerned, timing is everything. I refuse to wait in a line for a picture with a character but we just happen to be walking down Main Street when Goofy walked out of those "Cast Only" doors so we got this cute picture without waiting. Rock on!

As you can see, this was our last day so the kids are fully accessorized in over priced, yet adorable Disneyland paraphernalia.

Words of Wisdom by Ethan

Ethan was trying his best to be obnoxious and kept asking Jaycee the same thing over and over. Finally she said, "What part of NO do you not understand?" His reply, "Pretty much all of it."

Ethan was goofing around in the TV room downstairs while waiting to get in the shower.

Mike from his office, "Ethan, what are you doing out there?"

Ethan, "I'm naked, dizzy, and a little cold."