Elements...our stories to "write down."
****I start with a favorite. Its Christmas 2005. Allison is two-and-a-half and Julia is six months. Allison's favorite past time is recreating our Savior's birth. Allison is Mary, I am Joseph and Julia is a wise man. (I have to preface this with Allison in her most spectacular "Mary" outfit and Julia topped with a Burger King paper crown. I am wearing my usual, my 5th T-shirt of the day and sweats, as Julia was a non-stop regurgitator of milk and baby food.) So on and on we go. Entering the living room on a donkey, the birth of our Cabbage Patch child, and gifts brought for this miracle birth. When all of the sudden, Allison yells, "Mom! Look! The wise man just spit up!"
****Most recently, I'm having to answer the "unknowns" about heaven. The kids are drilling me in the car for what heaven is like, when Bradley says, "mom, when I go to heaven, I'm going to be Jesus." I told him that he could not be Jesus, it just doesn't work that way. And being the precious 4 yr old that he is, he continued with, "yes I can and I will." "No, you can't." "Yes, I can." "But you can't, honey." "But mom, I really want to be Jesus!" "I'm sorry Bradley, but no is no. You can not be Jesus." "Ok, mom, I guess I"ll be the garbage truck man."
****We are in the car again. I get the question from Allison, "Mom, how old were you when you got to play outside by yourself?"
"About 8 or 9, but back then the neighborhoods were a lot safer and a mom had less to be concerned about."
"So, was it easier because the houses were further apart in the olden days?"
"No, I'm not that old. The houses were were further apart when Grandma Harvey was a little girl, due to more people living on farms and ranches than in big cities."
Then Julia chimed in, "So did Grandma Harvey live when everything was black and white."
"Yes, sure enough. Grandma Harvey lived when everything was black and white!" (much laughter!)
****As we were celebrating the 4th of July, Bradley asks Poppy to lean down so that he can "pet his knots." I said, "What? What do you want to do?" Bradley repeated his request. I asked, "why are they called knots?" He told me that "when you twirl your hair, it causes knots, then you have to cut them out." I fell over in laughter! I remember now that a few months ago, Bradley began a bad habit of twirling his hair. This caused such bad knots in his hair that I would have to cut the knots out. I told him that if he continued to twirl his hair, he would end up bald....therefore, Poppy has obviously twirled his hair causing too many knots!
**** "Apparently, I'm gonna need your help." (Bradley)
**** It was July 4th, 2009. We were camping near Lake City and had gone into town to view the parade and hang out for the day. We decided that before we went back to camp we needed to find some beer to celebrate with. Oddly enough, most liquor stores were closed...all but one. We had looked and looked. Anyway, when we drove right up to the front door, Bradley said, " ahhhh, beeeer!" We all laughed hysterically!!! Then looked up, and sitting on the wood planked porch of the store was a wood carving of a bear! It was just all too perfect, perfect timing.
**** "As it turns out, children are aloud to drink root beer." (Julia - This is thanks to Uncle John, who was the first to give my kiddos cola!)
***** "Mom, you know that my claws will grow back."
"Bradley, they are called fingernails." I said, as I was cutting his nails.
"Oh, I thought they were my claws."
***** Jim -"If you guys don't calm down, momma's gonna bring a belt in here for you to wear on your backside!"
Allison -"That's not very fashionable."
***** Our future salesman... Mom - "We need to leave in about 5 minutes to return the books to the library."
Bradley - "Why don't you leave us here and go by yourself, that way you can enjoy some peace and quiet." (age 6)
**** Jim was in the garage putting bikes up after an afternoon ride. Allison comes riding up the driveway out of the blue. Jim says "where did you come from?" Allison replies, "shouldn't that be a conversation you have with your parents
****We were pulling out of a parking garage at 7:45am near the Denver University campus. Crossing right in front of our car was about 7 college girls walking to class. Each one of them had on black yoga pants. Each one of them! I pointed this out to the kids in the back seat, as it just looked rather odd. They were all grouped together, walking across the street together. As we pulled out of the garage, then eased up to the stop light, we counted 3 additional girls on one corner, 4 on another corner and 2 more on the remaining corner....all wearing black yoga pants! I pointed this out and we counted them all! Crazy looking! Bradley then said, "Mom, maybe their professor told them if they filled up the jellybean jar, then they could have a yoga pant day, just like we were awarded a pajama day for good behavior. Its probably just yoga pant day!" (Bradley age 8)
**** "Bradley please stop farting in the car! It stinks so bad! We can't stand it!"
"Mom, its just cuz its Spring out now. Thats the season my farts stink!" (Bradley age 8)
