Kids, Kids, Kids

Sorry, everyone, but it's time for another self-indulgent post wherein I brag about my cute kids. :)  Here's a sampling of some fun moments with them lately:

Aaron woke me up the other morning with a hug.  “Thanks, buddy,” I told him groggily.  “Wait,” he said.  “I need a kiss too!”  He kissed me and then told me, “you’ve been giving me everything, Mom.  That’s why I did that.” “I have?” I asked.  “What have I given you?”  He shrugged and answered, “You know.  A home, food, watching over me.  All that stuff.”

The kids and I headed over to Seattle a couple of weeks ago and to keep them busy in the car we were playing the alphabet game where you have to spot the letters in order.  We were stuck on "J" when Tori piped up from the back seat:

Tori:  I wish there was a sign for a Javelina (pronounced with an "H" sound at the front)

Me:  Does that even have a J in it?

Tori: (Sounding impatient with her mother's obvious lack of knowledge) Yes, Mom.  It's Mexican. :)

I didn't even know what a Javelina was, but Tori quickly informed me that it's similar to a warthog.  The fact that this was the first "J" word that popped into her head is just so...Tori!

We were in the car the other day and Aaron felt the need to lift up his shirt and flash Tori.  "MOM," Tori complained from the backseat, "Aaron just showed me his nibbles!"  I asked her what she was talking about and she answered, "you know, those little pink things that stick up in the middle of his chest."  So Tori's calling nipples nibbles, and Aaron refers to his nether regions as his "twinsies."  Nibbles and twinsies.  Great. 


About a month ago, the kids and I were at Ross.  As I was checking out, Aaron told the sales clerk, "I've eaten hot dogs before!"  They proceeded to have a conversation about hot dogs and corn dogs and how the best corn dogs are at the fair.  As we were walking away, Aaron turned and called back to her, "see you next time!  I love ya!"  She looked so happy, and several other people around laughed at his comment.  When we were almost to the car, he told me that he loved that woman and that she was so, so pretty.  The woman was just an average looking, middle-aged woman, and I was touched that he was obviously seeing something in her that a lot of people probably miss.  I felt strongly that I should go in and tell her what he had said, so I put the kids in the car and ran back in to tell her.  She looked like she might cry and said, "you have no idea how much I needed that today.  Earlier, someone was so mean to me that I was in tears and I've had a really hard day.  Your son is so loving and wonderful!"  I told Aaron about it when I got back to the car, and he was so sad that someone had made her cry.  Ten minutes later we were walking into Wal-Mart, and I noticed that he was brooding.  I asked him what was wrong, and he told me that he REALLY, REALLY doesn't like it when someone makes that woman cry.  He then tried to convince me to buy her a present in Wal-Mart.  Tori saved us a trip back to Ross and taught him a great lesson by telling him that he had already given her the best present by being nice to her and telling her that he loved her.  In case I haven't mentioned it lately...I. LOVE. THAT. LITTLE. BOY!

Aaron: My stomach just girled at me

Me: Girled at you, huh?

Aaron: Yeah!  It just talked to me.  When it girls at me it talks to me.  It means I'm hungry.

Todd and I went out on a date recently and let Aaron and Tori have a movie night while we were gone.  The next day I asked Tori how the movie night went.  "Bad," she replied.  "Bad?" I asked.  "Why was it bad?"  "Because you weren't here.  Popcorn doesn't even taste good when you're not here."  Talk about making me want to never go out on another date again!

As we were getting the boat ready to take up to the cabin for the 4th of July, Todd was strapping things down and Aaron decided he wanted to help.  Handing Todd a bungee cord, he informed him proudly, "here Dad, I have a hooker!"

Aaron is such a complete joy lately and keeps us laughing.  He was saying family prayer the other night and ended it by saying "and please bless me that I can stop picking my boogers and eating them..."  Seriously, where does he come up with this stuff???  He's been going up to everyone lately (even complete strangers at times) and giving them hugs and telling them he loves them.  He loves having Jax around and is sad on the days he's not here.  

Tori just finished third grade and is doing an amazing job at school!  She alsofinished up another season of soccer.  She played goalie this year and loved it.  She did such a good job that her coach asked her to move up to play in the elite league next year.  I gave her the option, but she says she wants to take a break from soccer so that she can try softball and also so that she can spend more time with family.  I think it was hard on her having her Saturdays taken up by games when she's gone the rest of the week at school.  She's had her first babysitting jobs watching Finley for Brad and Sharee for their date nights.  She takes the responsibility very seriously and doesn't let me help her do anything...even change the poopy diapers she gets to deal with.  I spied on her using the baby monitor as she was putting Finley to bed a couple of weeks ago.  It was so sweet to watch my little girl rocking a baby and singing "I love to see the temple" and "I am a child of God".  I swear it was just yesterday that I was holding her and singing those songs.  They grow up much, much too fast.