Tayvin and his big golden heart

Years ago I wrote a long post about Tayvin's heart and my determination to not let the world dim it's glow. I don't often forget about that. Sometimes I feel like I do really well at helping him act upon his desires to love and serve others. And often I feel like I'm not doing enough. But the fabulous thing is... I'm not alone. There's this pretty incredible man in my life that also happens to be a wonderful daddy. And between him, me, Tayvin, Heavenly Father and our Savior- Tayv's heart is growing and shining even more. He is always trying to cheer others up. He tells Aree and Tahnyon how much he loves them all the time. He gives random hugs and kisses. He talks about how we can help people. He draws pictures of Christ all the time. He earnestly prays for everyone. I came across this picture today and it reminded me of his wonderfully sweet spirit and his focus on what is important. I always want to remember this.

Overheard...

-I just got called to be the primary chorister in our new ward. I was asking Tahnyon what songs he wanted me to sing in nursery tomorrow. He told me, "Um... Popcorn popping. But sometimes I don't like to sing that song." Me: "Oh, really, why not?" Tahn: "Because it makes me look out the window." Well, gee kid, don't extend yourself too far. :) -Tayvin was in his room for talking disrespectfully one afternoon. When I went and asked him if he was ready to talk about it he looked at me very seriously and told me.... "My silent moments with you are now forever!" Hahahaha! I seriously could not keep a straight face for even a second. Where did this kid come from?

Overheard:

Walking out of church yesterday...

Tayv: "Mom, this is the picture I colored in cry-mary today. This one is a picture of me and daddy. And on the other side is a picture of you in the hospital."

Me: "Oh? You put me in the hospital?"

Tayv: "Well, my teacher asked us to draw a picture of something that would be a good reason to fast."

Overheard: Problem

Tayvin: "Mom, in school today we were supposed to say a problem." (I think they were working on math problems.) "And [insert random schoolmate's name here-we'll call him Braxton] said his problem was that his mom told him he couldn't play Cars 2 anymore that day because he'd already played too much. And I was like, Braxton! That's not a PROBLEM-Your mom's trying to keep you smart!"

Overheard: George

Randomly at dinner Tayvin asked if two girls could marry each other. Silently I was freaking out. I strongly believe that we each were given free agency and can choose how to use that but the institution of marriage, created by God, was meant to be between a man and a woman. (See my beliefs here.) But how do you explain this to a 5 yr old who, thankfully, knows little about where babies come from and nothing about sexuality. So, I'm freaking out and Nate is saying nothing. Thus, please don't judge me for my answers. :)

Tayvin: "Mom, can two girls get married?"
Mom: "In some states, it's legal. Not in our state. But God created us to marry a person of the opposite gender so we don't believe that it's right even if it is legal."
Tayvin: "Oh. So if they get married in the states where it's legal what happens to the kids?"
Mom: "There usually aren't kids. Unless they adopt. But it takes a man's body and a woman's body to make a baby."
Tayvin: "Is that ok?"
Mom: "Well, I believe that a child needs a mother and a father. Sometimes that's not possible but if we have a choice, that's what we should try to do for our children."
Tayvin: "Why?"
Mom: Blah blah something about daddy being able to teach him things that I can't and vice versa.
Tayvin: "George only has a dad because he was adopted."
Mom (assuming he is talking about a classmate who I suspected has two dads: "Oh? Does he just have one dad or two?"
Tayvin: "Just one."
Mom: "Is he tall and skinny?"
Tayvin: "Yah. And he has a yellow hat, a yellow suit, and a black hat."
Mom thinking that's interesting. I've never seen him dressed like that.
Tayvin: "Ya know, Curious George?"

End of serious conversation. Hahahaha!

Overheard

Walking to the car in the garage-
 Tahnyon: "Mom. Bikes. Ride. Maybe? (Gee, can you guess what my answer always is when he asks to ride bikes.)


Tayvin: "Mom, I'm trying to use these pirate hooks to climb the walls but they're not strong enough yet. I call them, 'have a lot to learn hooks.'

Facebook statuses...

Usually I know words. But is 'statuses' a word?  Anyway, facebook does this thing on your profile where it tells you what your status was last year on this day or two years ago, etc. And sometimes, no, a lot of times, I post things on facebook but not on my blog. So now, thanks to fb, I can transfer them over so I have some of those things documented. My first...

Sept 6, 2009
Stacia thinks her little guy is the cutest... "There's somepin' wrong with my covers."


sorry if you really don't care about my status on fb from two years ago, i do. :)

Overheard: spy

Tayv: "Hey Mom, wanna play spy?"
Me: "Um, maybe. I'm just going to do something for daddy's b-day then I was going to try to get your presents together for your b-day."
Tayv: "Oh, ok. I'll probably spy on you."
Me: "hahaha, no I don't think that's a good idea."
Tayv: "Oh, I don't think I'll see anything because I'll be hiding behind a wall."

thing 1 & thing 2

With 3 birthdays coming up in the next month I've got b-day planning on my mind. Which reminded me that I never got around to documenting the boys' combined b-day party last year....Thing 1 & Thing 2

 

thing 1 was slightly confused by the Cat in the Hat's appearance... "Mom, I thought Ryan was going to be the Cat in the Hat?!"

But he got over it in time to color a hat.

The Cat helped too.

Even Tahn decided he might be ok with the overgrown feline.

Of course there's always time for spinning.

And did you know things like to hang upside down occasionally?

Again, "Mom, seriously, who is that?"

 Back to pinning the hat on the Cat....

Sue Sue didn't want to give up her hat.

Thanks for coming Fragas!

Creepy Ry, but totally cool.

My sweet mom who always saves my tail.

Apparently Kenz has a crush on The Cat.

 And just so we're keeping this blog real, Tahn went from this...

 to this... 

 to this...

 which is how we ended up like this...

 and this...

Thanks to Ry and Jen for creating a totally cool Cat that MADE this party.

 Only a thespian can bring out reactions like this...

and especially this...

Seriously, if you know my dad you know this is TOTALLY unheard of!

Enter the cupcakes...

And of course, he would be the one of my kids that would try to grab the flame. He has no fear of getting hurt.



That's my boy!



Don't forget about the watermelon and sno-cones!

Oh, and the 'Lava Man' scooter that shoots fire.


Man, I love these kids!

Overheard: Cat

When my little sister was on her mission in New Zealand, she became really good friends with one of her companions from the Philippines.  She had a terrible family background and not a lot of hope for her future.  My parents are sponsoring her so that she can go to school here so she has become an adopted member of our family... we call her Cat.

Tayvin: "Hey Mom, you know we're all homo sapiens right?"
Me: "You're right buddy!"
Tayv: "But you know who's NOT a homo sapien?"
Me: "Who?"
Tayv: "Cat."
Me: "Yes she is! She's a human being too-just like us!"
Tayv: "Not Cat like Catherine. Cat like Tom Cat."

_____

Me: "Wow Tayv, you're getting awfully tan."
Tayv: "What?"
Me: "You're getting tan. It means your skin is kind of brown from being in the sun."
Tayv: "I don't want to be brown! Cat doesn't like her brown skin."
Me: "It looks cool when you're tan."
Tayv: "MOM! I'm not supposed to be brown, I'M WHITE!"

Overheard: Selfishness

I had an experience yesterday at a snowcone shack. Long story short, this guy wanted me to pay FULL PRICE (as in $4.50) for an EMPTY cup. Anyway, I was annoyed and Tayv picked up on it. When he asked about it I told him that the guy was just being selfish. We discussed smart business practices and what is acceptable and what is not in business. A few minutes later....
Tayv: "Hey Mom, I have an observation about why that guy was being selfish."
Me (chuckling about the incorrect use of the word): "Oh yah, what's that?"
Tayv: "Maybe Satan put some evil in him."
Me: "Haha! I don't think so."

A conversation then ensued about how Heavenly Father has given us a sort of protection from Satan, that he can tempt us but  Satan cannot put evil in us unless we allow him to do so.

Tayv: "Mom, is the protection a big CTR shield or CTR ring?"
Me: "Not exactly, but good guess."
Tayv: "It wasn't a guess. I was just wondering."

Overheard: The Simple Life

We spent a BEAUTIFUL 3 days up on the farm this weekend at my parent's house. We go up often but it's usually only for 2 days and it goes by way too quickly. It, of course, went by too quickly this time too but it was a nice slow few days.  Here is a quick overheard:
Me: "You've gotta admit Nate, there is something incredibly appealing about this simple life... Saturday afternoon horse ride, visiting with family on the deck in the shade, napping in the hammock, an evening of rodeo, riding in the back of the truck, Sunday afternoon dutch oven dinner in the mountains..."
Tayvin lounging in the back of the truck with the wind blowing through his cute little buzz cut with the most content look on his face: "Well Mom, sorry to tell you this but that's just part of life and it's a life I love."
Guess what little dude? It's a life I love too. I love sharing it with you and little makes me happier than seeing how much you love it too. Thanks for reminding me that simple should just be part of life.

Overheard: homework

Tayv while pretending to type on my old laptop: "Mom, I can't get dressed right now. I've got to get my homework done or they'll fire me from school and then I won't be able to go to kindergarten. Speaking of which, how do you spell Kindergarten and website? I got most of website."  And he did.

This sweet big brother

Tayv singing to Aree this morning:"When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change cause you're amazing just the way you are. And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for awhile. Cause girl, you're amazing just the way you are."

Happy Me

A few things that make me happy today....

• We got to spend an entire week of evenings with daddy! No school, no church meetings, just us.
• Only 5.5 more hours until our favorite time of day begins... when Nate pulls in the driveway.
• For the 2nd week in a row, Nate will be here to run family night instead of Tayv & I doing it ourselves.
• Tahn's chubby little flinstone feet that won't fit into any shoes.
• The image of Tayv waving goodbye with a look of love on his face as I dropped him off at school.
• Aree's tiny feet, tiny painted toenails, and beautiful big smile.
• The possiblity of a lightning storm.
• Cute little fingerprints on my newly washed windows and fridge.
• The sound of giggling then fighting then giggling brothers at 6 am.

Find some of your own happys today!

These cute kids of mine...

I'll just put this out there.... pictures of the kids this year were a joke! The night before, Tahn got about

half the amount of sleep he usually does and WAS NOT going to sit for more than 3 seconds at a time,

Tayv tried but once we got Aree situated in his lap and turned around to put Tahn in place he just

had to move, and Little Miss was hungry. So basically,

 I didn't get a real smile from any of them. But they are cute little stinkers. :)