Kids Say the Darndest Things - March Edition

Taken from the sidebar...

I guess Haylee has seen me use the "quote" action with my fingers while talking. It seemed so funny when she tried it out herself...
Haylee: "Matt & Truman, from my class, "accidentally" (while using the "quote" finger action) went into the girls' bathroom." 3/09

Haylee was in the shower with me...
Haylee: "When I look at your belly, it makes me think you're having a baby"...and then to cover up her rudeness, "but I know you're not"...and then in a hopeful tone, "Are you?" 3/09

Ever since Katelyn's "incident," she's added a new phrase to her prayers...
Katelyn: "Please bless I won't steal." 3/09

Your Opinion, Please...

Which is Worse?

Let me tell you a story first...

On Saturday night, Matt & I went out and we were sitting at a light at the intersection of State St. and 4500 South in Murray. I heard a "Bang! Bang!" sound and I looked up ahead (it was dark) and saw a figure running across a gas station parking lot. Matt asked, "What was that?" I didn't know, but, to me, it kind of sounded like a car had run over something - the first "Bang!" being the front wheels and the second "Bang!" being the rear wheels running over it. While we were still waiting at the light, we heard another "Bang! Bang!" sound and Matt said, "I think it's gun shots!" I looked again to the gas station where I'd seen movement and this time I noticed a Police car with it's lights on pulled over on the side of the road. And I thought, "Oh my word, you may be right! Now what?" By this time, our light changed to green and as we start moving forward, we hear another "Bang! Bang!" sound. We also notice more Police cars in the back of the Chevron parking lot (which confirmed Matt's suspicion of gun fire.) We were turning right on State St. and other cars were driving around, too, coming from all directions of that intersection. We really had no choice but to keep on driving like we were - no where else to go. We then saw Policemen "standing on guard" (w/ weapons, I think) around that parking lot. I lost count of the "Bang! Bang!" sounds after that.

I tell Matt, "Hurry, drive past FAST!"

Matt says to me, "Get DOWN! If we get caught in the cross-fire, we don't need both of us dead!" as he helps force me down in my seat.

And then I thought, "Hey! Why does he have to get shot? I couldn't handle that! We would all be miserable without him! I don't want to be a widow at age 38. With five children. And a Mortgage. And husband-less (redundant w/ "widow" I know!) Maybe it should be me!"

And then I think, "Or should it? If it was me, wonder if he re-married the Wicked Stepmother? Or... IS THAT ME? No, I guess the more accurate term would be the 'Wicked Real-Mother!' Or wonder if he re-married a perfect woman - in EVERY way, one who didn't ruin all the height genes in the family, one who does home-canning, one who remembers everything, one who is not a dental liability, one sweet, little HOTTIE?...and after a while my children would start to say to her, 'You're soo much better than our old mother!' And then in time I was forgotten by them all together?!?"

All that in the 1.2 seconds it took us to get out of there -- unscathed!

So, here's where your opinion comes in...

Mother or Father? Who should get shot?

(not US specifically, just hypothetically speaking! Although, some of you may want one of us "voted off!") ;)

**We searched the Internet later for the News of what happened -- NADA! I just couldn't believe it was happening with all those cars around!**

These are a Few of My Favorite Things (Part 2)

No compensation was received in full or in part for the "advertising" of these products!

Slippers

We have a "no shoe" rule in our home, so all winter long, (and it's still winter - DANG!) I'm in these babies! You see, I have icicles for feet! I've been known to show up in public wearing them, too, unintentionally.

Quilts

Preferably the homemade kind. Aunt Nicole made this one for Miss B. Isn't it just YUMMY? (she thinks so - literally!) I'm in heaven wrapped up in one myself! This baby makes my list, too!

Pajamas

Is there a pattern here? Right off the bat, my first few things are all "sleep" related - I must be deprived and in need of that "long winter's nap" I never got! Seriously, my favorite part of the day is when I get out of my [sometimes unforgiving, tight, uncomfortable] clothes & get in my cozy PJ's and slide under the covers of my bed...mmmm!! **Aren't I lookin' good modeling the PJ's above - The Biggest Loser contest really paid off! :) ...Sorry, not me - just my impersonator!**

The Brady Bunch

I had a date with this show every day after school. I always felt awful that I ruined our family's chance of having a "Brady Bunch" family. If I would've been a BOY (the "Peter"), then we could've had it - six kids: boy, girl, boy, girl, boy, girl. But, NO, I messed it up - I'll always have "issues" about that! :0 On a brighter note, did you know it's back on Ch. 11 again, now? And, yes, when I discovered this, I recorded it every day until I filled a video tape (which will be obsolete when?) In fact, if Brookelle would've been a baby boy, her (his?) name would've been, "Brady." Yep, I'm a fan! Don't even tell me about all the scandalous things that have happened to the cast since the show - I don't want to hear it - I'm in denial! Every thing's still just as peachy as I saw it on T.V. It is. IT IS! My favorite episode of all time was:
#073-The Fender Benders - Carol's minor accident in a parking lot turns into a court case. To make matters worse, Bobby and Cindy fear they will have to testify against her. Guest stars Jackie "Uncle Fester" Coogan.
Do you remember? The other guy was faking a neck injury and was donning a brace in court and everything. Well, Mike throws his briefcase on the floor so it makes a startling noise and the guy turns his head immediately (in front of the Judge), thus proving he DID NOT really have an injury! So GREAT!

Little People

I had them when I was little (the smaller wooden kind that have since been deemed a choking hazard) and I get them for my children now. They had no choice but to like them! Just so adorable!

The Bosch

I know there is the NEW "Universal Bosch" model, but I have the one shown here. And as a side note, doesn't that slushy look de-lish? Do some people really make things by stirring or kneading by hand? Why? If I didn't have this, I would just stop baking! In fact, my old mixer broke last summer and I was having some High School friends come over for Sunday dinner, so I went out and bought my Bosch just for that - because I HAD to make rolls, right?! ;)

The smell of a Clean, freshly bathed Baby

It only lasts through the night and then they mess/stink themselves up again, but I enjoy it while it lasts.

GAMES

Gotta new game you wanna share with me? I'm game! The one above is a fun one I've always enjoyed - we've got laughing quite hard playing it before. It's sort of a get-to-know-you type, which I like. I really can't handle the ones that are too complicated or "deep" - Case in point: Heroscape that my boys like & have. Matt, for some reason, can't ever remember how to play games from one time to the next. I guess that means we need to play MORE!! :) Santa always brings my family a new game every year. I love it that some of my kids ask, "Can we have a "Game Night" tonight?" Anyone want to get together and play some games soon?

Chocolate covered Pretzels
There's just one problem (besides the calorie count) - Katelyn L.O.V.E.S. them, too, so I have to fight her for them - or hide them! ;)

A couple of Avon products
Hand Cream - like my lips, I just can't stand the feel of dry, even slightly unmoisturized hands! Beware of where you are when you apply it, though. I was at work once and got it out to use and a co-worker complained that I couldn't do that because she was allergic to all perfumes. What? It's not even fragranced! It's perfect.
and
Nurtura - it's feels so good after my shower when my face feels all tight & dry! I use to have an Avon lady who kept my name on a Call-whenever-Nurtura-goes-on-sale-list because I'd always buy it. Doesn't it just look like peach colored whipped cream? Mmmm...

The kids have ONE day off of school,

and this is what they were up to by 10:30 in the morning!

What? Am I raising Savages, or something?!?

9 days for Spring Break now seems like a very long time to be off of school! What about Summer vacation? Aaaauuh!

**NO, I did NOT take this picture - that was the mastermind of my "Lil' Darlings" and I found it later. When I came upon this scene, I got straight to work cutting the "Damsel in Distress" free!**

March Madness or March Miracle?

I'm calling it the "Miracle."

Ryan was up on his own early (6:30am - how lovely) all during the week practicing the piano so that he would have a sufficient number of days to earn T.V. watching privileges over the weekend. (defined as after dinner on Fri.)

Saturday jobs were done BY 10:00am, so the T.V. could be turned on by the first game.

There was a SIGNIFICANT reduction in sassing, disrespect, arguing, complaining, back talking, whining/crying to parents because as everyone knows, those are never allowed. And the only reason you would do that is if you had a "lapse" (due to your brain going numb from watching too much basketball.) And the only logical solution would be to have you watch LESS basketball by taking away one game at a time, of course, so your brain could recuperate!

I'm very much enjoying having this much leverage over my boy's positive behavior! This motivator causes MIRACLES!

But, the greatest miracle of all would've been if all our Utah teams could've won their first game!! :)

What I Wish I'd Known in High School

...OR Jr. High & College and pretty much my whole "Pre-marital Life."

I went and saw the movie, "He's Just Not That Into You" recently and Oh, It's

Just. So. True!

I had actually learned about the book by the same title years ago after seeing the author on Oprah one day and it was like TOTAL ENLIGHTENMENT!

Just because a guy TALKS to you, doesn't mean he likes you.

And when he smiles & laughs/jokes with you, that doesn't necessarily mean he likes you, either.

He may even take you on a date - occasionally [FYI: "hanging out" is NOT dating], but that also doesn't mean he likes you.

He might actually KISS you, too, so does that mean he likes you? Unfortunately, NO!

I DID NOT know this all those years!

My husband did all this in High School, too. I asked my husband, "WHY?" so I could try to understand. It's not Rocket Science, "You don't wanna burn any bridges!" he replied.

If a guy doesn't call you, he doesn't want to call you. He DID NOT lose your phone number. He isn't "swamped" with work/team sports/homework/his favorite TV shows. He is not out of town. He did not get hit by a cab. HE IS NOT INTERESTED IN SEEING YOU AGAIN! Guys don't forget how much they like you, so put down the phone.



If you can find him, then he can find you. If he wants to find you, he will. He did not forget where you live. He was not eaten by a lion. He is not interested.



Don't get tricked into asking him out. If he likes you, he'll do the asking. He will ask you out in advance. Doing the asking the night of or even the day of is called a "Booty Call." A "Booty Call" is also when he just asks you out if his #1 choice has already been asked by someone else - or if his #1 choice says, "No," but he needs a date anyway.



If a guy treats you like he doesn't give a darn, it's because he doesn't give a darn.



An excuse is a polite rejection. No class, no meeting early the next morning, No "Big Game" tomorrow, no illness will prevent him from being with you IF he is into you.

If he’s too busy to see you on the weekends,
And he doesn’t introduce you to his friends,
He's just not that into you.

If he’s a month late for your birthday,
Or if he calls you by another girl’s name,
He's just not that into you.

If he says he’s not the marrying type,
And he only calls you in the middle of the night,
He's just not that into you.

If he says she’s just a friend, like a sister,
Then one day you see him up and kiss her,
He's just not that into you.

Don't let the "honeys" and the "babys" fool you. His sweet nothings are exactly that. They are much easier to say than "I'm just not that into you."

What's up with "sort of dating" someone? Who wants to be "kinda hanging out" with someone? Sometimes guys can "use you" - for rides, or gifts, or homemade dinners, or NCMOs (that's a blast from the past) because they DO enjoy those things -- just not you!

Every guy you have ever dated who has said he doesn't want to get married or doesn't believe in marriage, or has "issues" with marriage, will ... rest assured ... someday be married. It just will never be with you. If you can get the milk for FREE, why buy the cow?

A guy who wants to make a relationship work will move mountains to keep the girl he loves. If he's not calling you to tell you he loves you, it should only be because he's showing up at your residence to do it in person ... if he's not doing any of that, he may like you as a friend, but ultimately he's just not that into you.

Why did I not know any of this?

Then along came Matt....

The first time he said, "I'll call you." I thought to myself, "The lies Men tell..." AND THEN HE CALLED!!

One night, I was attending a Conference for a few hours. When I got home, my roommates told me that Matt had called -- 4 TIMES!!

We started dating in November ('93) and I went to Texas for Thanksgiving that year. He gave me his necklace to wear while there so I "wouldn't forget about him." (I didn't!)

On Christmas ('93) he left his home and Family to come to my house and give me a Christmas gift and go to a movie with ME.

He kissed me for the first time that Christmas night (under the Mistletoe ~ how convenient!)

And HE CALLED ME AGAIN on December 26th!

One evening, I was at his apartment and one of Matt's guy friends called and wanted to get together. Matt told him he wouldn't because HIS "GIRLFRIEND" was over.

He invited me over to his apartment to watch the Superbowl with him & all his roommates!

He held my hand around campus, and DID NOT let go even if we passed old "flames."

After that, if he ever was going home for the weekend, he wanted me to come with him, too. Or vice verse, if I was going home, he decided he'd go, too. (Our hometowns were next to each other) And HE CALLED ME and WE DATED all weekend.

There was a dance we went to at the USU Student Center one weekend. It was the kind where couples could get "hitched." There was a make shift Wedding Chapel, with an "Officiator." You signed a "Marriage Licence" (that was also signed by a "Witness" by the name of Hugh U. Kiddin!) We even got these cheap gold "wedding bands" and you could kiss if you wanted to, also. (Of course, we wanted to!) BUT, HERE'S THE BIG THING...When we went into the "Chapel, the "Love of Matt's Life" (but not always mutual) ALL through High School, his Mission, & some of College was in there (hint: J.J.) BUT Matt went ahead and happily got "hitched" to me and laid a BIG ONE on me right in front of her - and DID NOT CARE that she saw - in fact, he felt fabulous doing that with me!

I actually started my job before Graduation, so I moved away from Logan a little early, but Matt had to stay for finals. We were only apart about 4 days when I came back for Graduation, but he was so glad to see me again, he had a graduation gift & card/letter for me and he told me he KNEW he wanted to marry me - AND HE DID, 3 months later!

Now, that Guy was/IS INTO ME!

Now, as a mother, I've got a Two-Fold Mission:

1. Teach my daughters. Now we have some clues on how to read guys. No more mis-reading!! Don't "Waste the Pretty!" You deserve to be with someone who will be nice to you all the time. There's a guy out there who's going to be really happy that you didn't waste your time trying to get together (and are not with) all those other crappy guys who weren't into you.


2. Teach my sons. When you say, "I'll call you" you WILL call her!! (SOON - like the next day!) And DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT kiss her if you don't like her (more than a friend!) Sometimes it might be best to tell her, "I'm just not that into you!" I've always said I'm gonna change the world "one boy at a time!" :)

Cause & Effect

She's picked up on it!

(Sorry, the video's kinda long, but I don't know how to shorten it.) BTW, it's Ryan's voice, not Suzanne's - I know it's hard to distinguish - poor kid! :)

This brought to my mind a "Parenting Pearl" taught in Love and Logic:

"Kids and dogs. Believe it or not, at age nine months children surpass the family dog in intelligence. In fact, they are old enough to learn the same things we teach our dog - that is, follow the commands 'come, sit, go, no, stay.' We call this 'Basic German Shepherd.'

Basic German Shepherd must be learned by the time the child is eighteen months old. It is the foundation of all discipline. If we can't make a two-year-old obey basic commands, the next sixteen years of that child's life and ours will be pure torture."

WISH ME LUCK!

These are a Few of My Favorite Things (Part 1)

Lip Balm

Those of you who know me or who've ever spent any time with me KNOW that I always need my lip balm! On the rare occasion I don't have access to any -- it is traumatic! I do not like the feel of dry, even slightly chappy lips!

I have one in my purse. I have one in my nightstand drawer. I have one in a kitchen drawer. I have one in my home computer desk. I have one in my work desk. I have them in our cars. I even have one on my Laundry Room shelf. (because ya never know when you're gonna need it! And for me it is OFTEN.)

I seriously get all giddy about lip balm, in particular, Lip Smackers brand! I'm even excited now just writing about it!

I just enjoy so much looking at all the different kinds in the store or on their website! Did you know they even have Skittles & Starburst flavors? :)

I have my year's supply of lip balm. I will NOT be unprepared in that category. Seriously.

My absolute favorite flavors has got to be the Dr. Pepper. With 7-up and Cherry 7-up as the runner's up. Currently, I'm using the Dasani (flavored water) lip balm - and I'm VERY pleased.

Greg Olsen Art

I LOVE THIS PICTURE!
It reminds me of me & my little sister or how it may be my daughters' future.

Ever since I saw it, I dreamed of hanging it above the piano in my own home!

Costco had a Greg Olsen Art Show just before Christmas of 2007. I dropped some major hints to "Santa Claus" about it. On one occasion, one of our friends conveniently asked me in front of "Santa Claus" what I wanted for Christmas and I mentioned this picture. I even pointed it out to "Santa Claus" at Costco one day.

It still is not hanging above my piano. I guess I was on the "Naughty List" that year. (and the next?)

O.P.I. Nail polish

The names are the best! They make me smile.

• Don't Socartease Me
  
  • Blushingham Palace
• Cosmo-Not Tonight Honey!
  • I'm not really a waitress
• You're a Pisa work

I found some new ones on their website that are "calling my name" (literally) and I better try out:

• It's a Doozi, says Suzi
• Suzy say Da!
• Suzi sells sushi by the seashore

GREEN PENS

I had a 9th Grade English teacher, Mrs. Bean, who used green pens on our papers.

That was when I became a "green pen fan."

She used them to write positive remarks/compliments about our writing.

She said it gave the meaning of "Go." And that's what she wanted us to do...

Not just to keep on GOing on the roll with our great writing, but also to...

GO do some good. GO do our best. GO FOR IT!

These are sacred writing utensils at my home. Not to be used by the children.

They are mine and I don't want them lost!

Papa Murphy's Gourmet Chicken Garlic Pizza

Creamy garlic sauce topped with almost a full pound of cheese. Grilled chicken, Roma tomatoes, green onions and herb & cheese blend.
Need I say more?

Flip Flops



Hey, my feet ARE my best asset - I gotta show 'em off! :)
Seriously, I'm so sad every year when Winter comes (I still try to wear them all through Fall) because I can no longer wear them! How many more days 'til I can get them out again?!? :)
But, I still try...My friends make fun of me that I show up to workout in my Flip Flops every night. (I just take them off for the aerobics part!)

Ranch Dressing


I will admit right now, that I am a "Ranch Dressing Snob!"
The GOOD kind is Hidden Valley Ranch that you make from the packet.

I'm the proud owner of TWO Hidden Valley Ranch dressing shakers - gotta have one in use & one ready to use when the other runs out!
The bottled stuff of the same brand is NOT the same - I don't get it!
The "ranch" packets that Fast Food places give out are TERRIBLE! Some restaurants ruin it, too! (SO disappointing!)
The GOOD kind goes great with just about everything!
My mom used to make that Spinach salad - ya know the one with the bacon, fresh mushrooms, & drained cottage cheese? Well, I would make her WAIT to put on the poppy seed vinegar dressing until I dished up MY portion first...and then I'd put Ranch on mine. Apparently, this was a major eating faux pas because my family sure gave me crap about it! At one point, my mom refused to let me have it that way, so I simply did not partake anymore. (I have since learned to enjoy the Spinach salad the way the recipe is written.)
My babies got it directly through the umbilical cord and they are all born hooked! (I'm so proud!)
The fact that this commentary is the longest should be a clue about how much I LIKE IT! :)

CHARMIN T. P.



I'm old enough to remember those awesome commercials..."DON'T SQUEEZE THE CHARMIN!"
You may think this is a dumb one, but all I can say is, "All Toilet Papers are NOT created equal!" After delivering 10 lb. babies, I need something that is soo kind on your behind. :)


Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper


How many of you are thinking I'm such a sinner, now? :)
Have you tried it? You should, you'll like it! :)
Did you know the Kicks 66 turned 7-11 on Parrish Ln. & Frontage Rd. in Centerville has it in their fountain? (better than the bottle or can!)
I actually haven't had it for a while. I am experimenting to see if refraining from carbonation does anything for my waistline & The Biggest Loser contest I'm in. Unless it's drastic, I'm back on it next month!

blessed event...for mother




Maternity Body Treatment

But, you don't HAVE to be pregnant to use it! :)
From the label: It relieves the discomfort of stretching, dry tight skin. Helps keep it supple and lovely; and is ideal for use as an all-over Body Creme before and after baby is born (doesn't that cover all times?) Also makes a superb Hand Creme.
I find this at Cuddle Haven in Kaysville (formerly the Mother Hen Maternity building).
The only other place I know of is on their website http://www.maynardinc.com/
Can you say soothing? Love it!

**Come to think of it...My timing's all off! Why am I posting this 2 1/2 months AFTER Christmas and 6 1/2 months BEFORE my Birthday?!? ;)

Crime and Punishment

I don't know if I'm even in the right frame of mind to write this, BUT I'm going to. (And maybe delete it later!)

I get home from shopping at Dick's with Katelyn & Brookelle, where I'd been for the last 1 1/2 hours. I'd already been performing "meltdown control" with Brookelle the last 1/2 hr. of the shopping trip. Brookelle is hungry, tired, and poopy. (Not to mention I am, too - at least the hungry part!) I bring the baby in the house first and change her diaper and am planning on feeding her and putting her down for a nap.

I notice that Katelyn still hasn't come in the house, yet, so I go out to the car to see if she needs help getting out or something. She is acting suspiciously. She is trying to hide something, holding her hands over the pocket of her dress. She does this often -- usually it's to conceal something she just destroyed (ripped apart, drew on, pulled off, crunched, etc.) So, I move her hand and reach into her pocket...and find a pack of Lifesavers! Yes, it had been semi-destroyed. The outer wrapper was all ripped off (later found on the floor of the car), so just a roll of colored lifesavers were showing through the white inner wrapper, a few of which were already missing! I knew we didn't have any Lifesavers around, so it could only mean one thing! I holler, "Did you STEAL this from Dick's?" She nods her head, YES. (I guess I should at least give that to her, she could've piled on another crime and LIED about it.)



I am sooo mad! Maybe even furious! I knew the right thing to do was to go back to Dick's RIGHT AT THAT MOMENT and make her confess & "make restitution!" But, I am already home! It's a 10 minute drive each way. The baby needs a nap. I'll have to reload the baby back in the car and haul everyone into the store....It wasn't convenient. I WISHED I DIDN'T HAVE TO DO IT! For a split second, I even tell myself, "It's OK, you don't have to do anything - just let it go!" BUT, IT WASN'T OK! I tell her we are going back now and she will have to tell them what she did and pay them [her own money] for it. She starts to CRY & CRY saying, "I just can't do it!" I was like, "OHHH...if you can STEAL it, you CAN tell them what you've done." I even tell her that the Police take people who STEAL to jail! Oh, that got the crying going to a louder volume/higher intensity! I didn't care if it made her cry at this point. I'll for sure be winning, "Mother of the Year," don't ya think?! :)

I called Matt and told him he needed to "do something about this" and then gave Katelyn the "Just-wait-until-your-father-gets-home" speech. The thing that made me the maddest (is that a word?) - besides the fact that it was SOO EXTREMELY INCONVENIENT for me, was that she has stolen toys from my friend's house the last two times she has gone there with me. I made her take those back, too (she stood on the porch crying in front of her) but apparently she doesn't "GET IT!" Oh my word! I have a Klepto on my hands.

So, anyway, I got the baby back in her car seat. Katelyn had unattached her car seat from the seat & taken her shoes off in the meantime, too. So, I had to get that all put back together [wasting more of my time] and we were on our way.

I gave Katelyn her ziploc bag of money and we walked up to the Customer Service Desk. By the pitiful look on Katelyn's face, I think the lady instantly knows what we are there for. I pull the mangled pack of Lifesavers out of my pocket and tell the lady I found them after we got home and Katelyn was here to pay for them. The lady says, "Uh Oh!" Katelyn starts to whimper/frown/shake. And the lady gives me a wink. Well, I'm not in the mood to be winked at - I am not amused by any of this! They find a new pack of lifesavers that she can scan and charge Katelyn the $0.81. The lady tells her that she is such a "big girl" to come back & pay for them. She tells her she is really proud of her. She thanks her for being honest enough to come back immediately. I am a horrible mother and was kind of thinking, "Enough already with the praising - don't make her feel good - SHE STOLE!" (At an inconvenient time, I might add!) But, I guess if I wasn't so mad, I'd think everything she tells her is good and true. EXCEPT for the next part. The lady went on to tell her, "Since you've paid for the Lifesavers, they're yours! You can eat them now!" And for the first time since being in the store, Katelyn smiles. OH NO SHE DOESN'T! She will not be rewarded! Those Lifesavers are now mine. The lady told me, "We've all been here. We've all been here." trying to console me, I guess. But, REALLY, I hadn't "been there" before today. Quite unusual, you might think, but it's true. That explains your overreaction, you might judge. Did I mention it didn't happen at a convenient time?! (Does anything ever?) Should I just be counting my blessings that this was the FIRST?

I watched the clock. The whole return process takes 28 minutes. And then I still have to feed the baby and put her to sleep when I get home. All that wasted time - and gas! I still haven't decided if she will pay me money, too, for my time & trouble. Katelyn kept trying to tell me that the lady said she could have the lifesavers, now. Too bad that lady is not her mother, huh?! I tell her she is lucky they didn't call the Police while we were there! I need to re-read a storybook on STEALING and memorize those lines, too, huh?! She commits to me she will not do it again!

All I can say is, she BETTER have learned a lesson from this. I hope she remembers it for a lifetime! (So much so, she uses it in a Sacrament Mtg. talk!) Then the 28 minutes will have been worth it! (But, I still think it'd be better if she never did it!)

Out of the Pages of Storybooks

I love Children's storybooks.

I loved them as a child and I love them as a parent.

As a Mom, I still like the story, but I also appreciate the little nuggets of wisdom found therein. Especially the ones that involve parent-child interactions. Many times, I find myself reading the story and I think, "I need to remember that line!" I think it would be the perfect thing to say to so & so, in such & such situation....but then I forget it! There is one line that I've managed to store in my memory.
It's from this book...

I actually received this book from a "storybook chain letter" type thing when Ryan was a toddler. You were suppose to send a book to the name on the top of the list and then the next person will, too...ya know how it goes, and you'll receive a ton of books, right? WRONG! I only got this one, but it's a good one! As you can see, it's corners have been chewed on by many a child. The name of the giver is still inscribed on the inside cover: AnaMarie Ostlund (10 mths old) Midvale, Utah.

ANYWAY, there's a line in this book that I use in my real life at least once a week! Seriously.

The story starts out with Mom saying, "Time for a nap." And the Little Critter says, "But I'm not tired." Sound familiar?!? Sometimes I get a different version of this, "I won't be able to sleep." "I can't fall asleep." "I'll be tired later." "I've tried, but nothing's happening." etc, etc., but it's all the same.

I think every child thinks that remark will get them out of a nap. They think Mom will then say, "Oh, OK, silly me...in that case, you don't have to take a nap after all!"

But here's how the Little Critter's Mom replies,

"Then close your eyes and just pretend to sleep."

And that's what I've memorized, too, and is how I reply EVERY time I hear one of the above "not tired" excuses.

IT WORKS LIKE MAGIC!

There's no rebuttal. There's nothing they can think of to say back to me (a rare moment.) They've been given their 2 choices! Mercer Mayer is a genius!

Now if I could only remember all the other magic words to say! :)