One of My Favorites

So A. is almost 7 and these pictures were actually before he lost two more teeth. Aren't they great though? :)


This boy is one of my favorite things about my life. He truly is a joy. I can't hardly remember my life without him. I got pregnant with him right after 9-11. You know that day when a lot of people said the world had completely changed. This kid totally changed MY world.


He loves documentaries. I actually Tivo ones that I think he would "dig"- dinosaurs, sea life, pirahnas... His favorite show right now is River Monsters (though we just started checking out Man vs. Cartoon. Thanks Grandma!). The host goes to remote locations where they have legendary run-ins with dangerous fish or an occasional alligator. He interviews the people, investigates himself, and then tries to catch one of the "river monsters". So watching this show has made A. super excited to go fishing. But he is very sure he wants to catch something SMALL.


So he tells me since it will be his first time, he needs to go somewhere where the fish are small. And he has been thinking the nice small fish he wants to catch "could be something like a tuna."


Now you may not be informed (or you may be like Jessica Simpson), but tuna are NOT small. Wikipedia says "typical specimens average 2-2.5 m (6.5-7 ft) long and around 350 kg (770 lb) in weight." So I had to laugh and let him know that we would fish for something more reasonable!


He is usually very informed. It was mostly funny at how I was surprised he DIDN'T know this.


In fact, I will never forget a conversation at the dinner table when he was in kindergarten... We were trying to get G. to eat. I was making car noises, airplane noises, boat noises, anything with the spoon to get his mouth to open. A. said that I should make a submarine noise, which took me aback since this noise wasn't as easy to replicate. What does a submarine sound like anyway??? So A. beeped for me like sonar and I felt pretty silly.


Then Andy trying to show how super smart he is, asked A. if he knows how bats know where things are in the dark, to which A. replied "yeah, it's called echolocation." Well that's one way to shut down your dad from teaching you things. You just have to already know everything!



A. is such a great kid. He tells jokes. He helps out around the house. He is a great example to his brothers. He helps clear his plate and put away his laundry without anyone asking him. He tries to do the right thing.



One of the best things about A. is his talent to believe. I really think that this is a gift from Heavenly Father. When he hears things of a spiritual nature, he easily believes. He has a great testimony that is truly his own. It is in his own words and is very meaningful to him. I can't imagine life without him. He truly is one of my favorites. :) But I couldn't decide which of these pictures was my favorite, so I just posted them all.

Love to Hear This Boy Talk

So K. is cracking me up with all the stuff he says. I love it when he breaks out with an occasional "awesome" just in everyday play. Do I really use this word that much??? I love this age-- when they are learning how to talk. He also has now started using the more coloquial "yeah" instead of "yes" and he says it nice and slow, like he has some great control of the situation. He whispers often. I have never heard of a child that whispers without being incessantly reminded. We will have to see if it continues...

Of course all this talking creates frustration when he asks for a game, cookie, fruit snacks, me and it doesn't fit into the schedule yet. "If she knows exactly what I want, why isn't she getting it for me, NOW?"

He just came in with a baggie asking for goldfish and I said, "what do you say when you want something?" He looks at me with his cute sideways eyes and I say "Goldfish, PLEASE...?" To which he replies, "Okay." So much for being polite today... ;)

Thanks for the Donation

So I looked everywhere for a picture of my Uncle Benny and I am sorry to say that I don't have one that isn't a blurry one sent by Grandma T. from long ago. But I had to post about this...

My uncle has been on an oxygen tank for a while now and if you are picturing him a little old, feeble man, you are wrong. He is a hysterical, vibrant personality. That is the only way to describe him, "personality'. He has been on a lung transplant list and finally, on Wednesday, he got the call.

"The Call"-- the one that brings hope, comfort and happiness to my family, but somewhere, another family is feeling loss and sorrow. Hopefully, they can have some comfort in the fact that I am sure more than one family was blessed by the donation. And their loved one lives on in someway. Hopefully, they have a faith in life after this one. Where their loved one will see those that have gone before and dwell in the presence of God.

I have a greater desire to be an organ donor since my family has been blessed this way. I wish I could say "thank you" to the other family, but that seems so inadequate. I wish there were words in the English language that held more weight. Even my post title seems shallow. But because of you, my uncle can remain a vibrant personality. His wife, children, grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews and parents can laugh at another joke and share his smiles. So THANK YOU for that and I wish you peace and comfort as you part from your loved one. Know that we recognize the bittersweet moment this is.

And for all of us- Check to see what you need to do so you can be an organ donor. In my state, you have to send in some paperwork. But I have also heard that it is very important that your loved ones know of your wishes, so since you won't be here to say "yes", they will know.

And to Benny- Here's to a long life! Love you!