Huge Dad

Looking at a house for sale in Provo.

Abigail: Let's buy this house. It's not on a corner!

Mom: Yeah, Dad will like that. There are no overhead power lines, and the back yard is huge. Dad will really like that.

Lillian: Yeah, because he's huge!

Whom to Marry?

We visited Don and Justine's ward on Sunday, as we were leaving we waved goodbye to Don.

Outside...

Abigail: I want to marry him.

Mom: Uncle Donald?

Abigail: Yeah

Mom:  He's already married. Who is he married to?

Abigail and Lillian: (sigh) Justine.

Mom: Isaac is not married

Abigail: I'll marry him!

Mom. Well, he's your cousin, so you can't marry him.

Abigail: Why?

Mom. You are too genetically similar.

Abigail: What's that?

Mom: Your mom and Isaac's dad are siblings, so your children will have birth defects, like an arm missing or something.

Abigail: Okay, I'll marry Sam.

Mom: Sam is your cousin too.

Abigail: Well, who can I marry? Oh, I can marry Jeram or Kaleb. (pause) I'll marry them both.

Silly vs Special

Lillian loves to say prayers. Lately she has been rather silly and started making up words and walking around the room while praying.

After one such prayer...

Keith: Lillian, prayers are special. They are a time to talk with Heavenly Father. We need to not be silly during prayers, and use real words.

Lillian: You be special, I'll be silly.

At least she is honest with her desire not to change.

Tonight we had a rough night getting to bed. There were many tears and in my attempt to help Lillian calm down I asked her to tell me a story. She began slowly at first, then added fish and colors and houses and toys to her story. She then told me about "another adventure" and went on and on with her story. I gradually moved her from the floor to my lap to the bed all while she continued her tale. She may be shy at times, but this girl has a thing for stories. Perhaps I'll have her tell the bedtime stories from now on.

Bath Time

I put conditioner in Lillian's hair during her bath.

Lillian: Let the ditioner hang out in my hair. You go away while the ditioner hangs out.

Mom: You want some privacy?

Lillian: Yeah, I hang out with my hair and me.

I'm just happy she let me wash her hair.

Quantitative Keith

Keith and I are discussing AP tests and scores.

Keith: I got fives on my calculus and computer science tests.

Me: Keith, you just have a brain for math and computer stuff.

Keith: I did do better on quantitative tests than on qualitative.


Me: Like English?

Keith: Actually, I got a five on the English test.

Me: (laughing) Then what's qualitative? 

Keith: Well, I only got a four on each of the two history tests I took.


It is at these times that I try very hard not to think condemning thoughts of my most beloved husband.
No, really, I am very happy for his successful brain.

It's Not a Competition

We're eating dinner on this fine Fathers' Day. Abigail finishes her drink and comments that Keith still has some if his left. As he finishes the last tablespoon of liquid I hear...

Abigail: I finished before you did! I was done first, but it's not a competition is it.

parents chuckling

Abigail: I drank all mine first. But we're not talking about it. And it's not a competition.

My Ager

All day Wednesday Lillian is asking when we can go to the cabin.

Lillian: When we can play with my cousins? When my play with Jew-ee-a?
Mom: Julia's probably already at the cabin. We'll go when Dad gets back.

We show up in the evening...

Lillian: Where my ager?
Mom: What?
Lillian: Where my cousin that is my age?
Mom: Oh, Julia isn't here yet.

Later when Julia shows up...

Lillian: Jew-ee-a! You my age! You my frwend!