"Hat hat"

Daily Quotes

Our little Emma is so darling, and she often says things that I just can't go without writing down. Recently, it's been so many cute things in just a matter of minutes. James is quite a chatterbox, too, so here are some gems to enjoy:

Andrew and I were discussing Emma's long beautiful hair. He asked if she needs a trim (we'd never done anything to it). I said I could do it, or take her somewhere, but we'd have to pay. "No, I don't want to pay for it. I never want to cut my hair!"

Later, when I gave her her first trim, I said, "Emma you need to hold really still so I can cut your hair straight."
Emma, starting to cry, said: "No, Mom! I don't want it straight! I like it curly!!"

Talking about autumn, I explained how the leaves are changing colors, and will all fall off the trees. She immediately replied: "But, the birds have to live somewhere in the winter!"

One night, I had asked Emma if she could stay little for ever, marveling at how time flies. The the next breakfast, I made some comment about James eating and growing. Emma, remembering our discussion the night prior, asked,
"Why don't you want James to grow big?"

"I do," I said.

"Just me, then? You don't want me to grow big?"

"I do," I confessed, accepting the inevitable.

"Then why did you say you want me to be little?"

I tried to explain the sentimentality, how my children are precious, and the phase while they are little is so sweet, so short. Emma had quite the response:

"Don't worry, Mom. If you want a little baby, we can get a baby in your tummy."

"What?!" I exclaimed.

"Don't worry, Mom. You can pray to Heavenly Father and ask him to help you get another kid."

(FYI sorry to disappoint, but I'm not pregnant for those of you who, upon reading this, are now wondering, and there hasn't even been discussion of it, she honestly just pulled that out of nowhere!) 

James: "Nuh no!" as he drops something he knows he's not supposed to be getting into, and makes a mad dash away from me.

"Maybe when we move we can get a puppy named Clifford." (Emma)

"Emma, puppies are pretty expensive." (me)

"Yeah, I know, but maybe if somebody doesn't want their dog, they can give it to us!"

I was driving  when she said this and couldn't write it down, so I held down the button on my iPhone, and told Siri to send me an email. For those of you who don't know, Siri asks "What's the subject of your email?" "What would you like your email to say?" "Here's your message, ready to send it?" "OK. Megan, I'll send it." I then emailed myself what Emma just said. When Siri completed the email, she said "Okay, I'll email it." Emma heard all of this, and then said, 

"Mom, she's so nice to you." :)

"Doh, doh!!" (James request/demand for his binkie, "doh" of course!)

I put Emma to bed one night, and she came out. I expected it to be some cunning request to delay the bedtime. When I met her coming out of her door, she said:

"I love you, too, Mom, and I hope you have good dreams tonight."

James: "NO!" while swinging his elbow at some unwanted food, in true Karl Malone fashion.

(Tonight, instead of eating his grapes or peas at dinner, he took great pleasure pressing his index finger into them, one by one, giving them a good squish!)

"Emma, who made you so cute?!"

"Heavenly Father did."

"Bapa, Bapa, Bapa" (James, upon seeing Grandpa Kelly at Costco, upon arriving at Grandpa Kelly's house even without getting out of the car, and James, looking at the missionary picture of Grandpa Bruce on our desktop.)

Emma: "Hmm, . . . I wonder what I'll dream about tonight?"

We just took the binkie away about a week ago, and Andrew swore he heard James walking around, lamenting:

"Bu bye doh." :(

"You're the mom in the world." (meaning, You're the best mom in the world!) followed by a big Emma hug. :)

Tonight, James was beside himself and cried to sleep. I tried to encourage Emma to be really quiet when we went in to put her to bed. We quickly knelt down for bedtime prayer. I often ask her, "what are you thankful for," before we pray. She usually just says "my blankie," and anything else in sight on her bed. :) Tonight, I quickly asked the question, and she of course, said, "My blankie," without thinking, and even without the blankie in sight. I began praying, and expressed in the prayer that Emma is thankful for her blankie. In an urgent, whispered tone, she cut me off, pointed a finger at me while looking straight into my eyes, and exclaimed:

"Pause the prayer! I need to go get my blankie!!"

Counting My Blessings Day 20

I am thankful for James!! What a doll, this little guy is so cute, smiley, and ACTIVE! He loves to unload all the pans under the oven, pull out the crock pot from the cupboard, drag the blender base around by pulling on the chord, and push the spring button found in the bottom inside of the rice cooker--all of this done in about three minutes. Next, he will find his way to the computer desk and dump out all our chords and blank cds.
He LOVE to wrestle with Daddy on the bed and can never walk past it without extending his hands and saying "ehh ehh!"begging to be tossed aboard. He will stand with his head to the ground (like a triangle) as long as it takes for you to clue in that he wants to play sommersault (where you flip him over). He climbs up on the tv stand and knows exactly how to turn it on, and more recently he's been experimenting with the dvd player while Emma is watching a show. It's so adorable when he walks around with Emma's headbands about his neck and carries my paddle brush.
He will smile and laugh so readily for you and is always hoping you will come play with him. He loves to be in the middle of all the action, I just love it! He says "uh oh" all the time, and has learned from Emma to say "ow" when he's hurt, but most of the time he uses it to express that you have hurt his feelings (like when I say "No! James"). We love this little guy SO much.

Counting My Blessings Day 19

There are few things so fantastic as a glowing sunset. Tonight's was especially beautiful. Wow! I am thankful for the beauty of the earth and for the beauty of the sky. I love the see the artwork of God. I am privileged to have panoramic west-facing windows that allow me to capture a beautiful sunset almost without even thinking about it, practically every day. I love it!

Counting My Blessings Day 18

I am thankful I have been taught the value of hard work. I am grateful to have the ability to work, and I enjoy the satisfaction that comes from my labors. I have a great job at my apartment complex taking care of the hot tub, pool, and club house. I've been able to learn about the ph and chlorine levels, and better understand what makes for a clean hot tub. Daily, I am challenged to get out of bed and go unlock the club house rain or snow. Such a challenge helps me choose what kind of person I want to be, and I am striving to be someone who is hard working, honest, and reliable. I have also been blessed with a paycheck from this job, every other Friday. It is such a convenient job and has been a blessing for our family as Andrew has pursued his medical training.

Counting My Blessings Day 17

I am thankful for Andrew and how hard he works to be a great doctor and a great father. He is smack dab in the middle of his transition year, one of the more challenging programs in the country, and instead of complaining, he is doing his very best to learn all he can so he can be the best doctor possible. He gives much more effort than is required and is dedicated to making sure things are done right and that patients are well taken care of. On top of this, he spends hours consulting with family members and friends regarding health related issues, and he's been studying night and day for the third round of board exams. And, he manages to remain the favorite parent around here. Emma and James will race to the front door when he walks in, squeal with delight if they manage to sneak into the bedroom when he's trying to get some rest, and every time, he will pick them up, play, wrestle, tickle, and adore them, just the way they love. Emma said this morning, "Daddy, I need to make sure and say goodbye to you before you go." On the days he leaves too early, the first words from her mouth upon waking are: "Where's Daddy?" We love you, Andrew, thanks for working so hard and doing a great job!

Counting My Blessings Day 16

I am thankful for the Book of Mormon and the way in which the spirit can teach countless lessons through the same verses. Yesterday's gospel doctrine lesson was on studying and pondering the scriptures as Jesus taught in 3 Nephi 22, 23 & 26. I have been focusing on the teaching qualities of the Savior, and, as a personal progress goal, noting the divine qualities of the Savior as recorded in the Book of Mormon. Well, yesterday, I read 3 Nephi 26:14 which says "And it came to pass that he did teach and minister unto the children." A marvelous thing He did was teach children, and minister to them. For the first time, I thought of ministering in light of the way I attend to the needs of my children. As I do so, with love and care, and teach them correct principles, I, too, can be like the Savior. I am grateful for this lesson that came to me while studying from the Book of Mormon.