Happy Happy Birthday (brought to you with too many pictures)

Today was Everett's fourth birthday. It is strange to say I have a four-year-old. He's almost in kindergarten, and practically tomorrow he will be moving out!

Everett got a package from one set of Grandparents a few days ago, and I informed him that he could not open it until after church on Sunday. Everett woke up the next morning and told me that he thought that day would be a great day to go to church. He repeated this every morning until the big day finally came.

He got plenty of attention at church, thanks to the ward bulletin, which lists children's birthdays along with the adults. This was compounded by the fact that in Primary he smashed his fingers in a metal folding chair (which had collapsed after he stuck his fingers down the sides and rocked from front to back). I'm just glad he didn't break any of those little bones. Once Everett discovered that he was getting lots of attention for his fingers, he began to find a little enjoyment in his injury. Every time someone came up to him and wished him happy birthday, he wordlessly stuck his bottom lip out and lowered his teary eyes as he raised his injured hand.

Injury notwithstanding, Everett had a great day. He picked tacos in a crunchy shell for his dinner. Fine by me! It's an easy meal when I do shredded chicken in the crock pot.

Both kids enjoyed their tacos, although Ashley delicately picked out every last piece of lettuce.

After dinner, we skyped one set of Grandparents so Everett could move on to the most exciting part of the day--presents!!! He has been anxiously waiting for this day ever since Ashley had her birthday in June.

First up, Toy Story 3 Yahtzee Jr. We played this tonight and I think it was a hit. (FYI, it's only a few dollars right now at Wal-mart in case you need to get Christmas shopping done.)

Next, a football! There are some boys that live by us who are always out playing football. Everett was more excited about this gift than I anticipated, so after we were done he and Joel spent a while chasing each other down and tackling each other.

It was at about this point that Ashley decided it wasn't fair that Everett got to open all the presents.

Next, the subject of many late, late nights and much stress on my part, a rocket ship quilt! I have been meaning to do a bedspread for Everett for a while, and I decided this would be as good a time as any. I sat down with him one day and had him help me design a rocket ship, and that was that.

Finally, the gift Everett might be the most excited about, a marshmallow bow shooter. I don't know who came up with it, but it is a great idea. You load 20 mini marshmallows into the clear tube, pull the string back, and watch them go! I didn't think it would have much power, but those things sure speed out of there, enough so that I think you could shoot them across a backyard with no trouble at all. The best part is that I don't have to worry about the kids losing the ammo. I think Everett will enjoy this gift for a long, long time.

I knew this gift was coming so I prepped Everett by having him watch Robin Hood a few times this week. "That guy is the best fighter!" Everett would tell me. Well, now he gets to try it himself.

Joel didn't have much fun with it either. . .

Everett wanted pumpkin pie for dessert. Actually, I don't know what he wanted (neither did he). All I know is that Joel and I were both craving it and we planted the idea in his head. He was sure excited, though!

Ashley was a big fan of the pie as well. Joel actually helped me make it. The last time he helped me make pie was when we were dating. There was a lot more smooching involved this time, I can tell you that much.

I usually use real whipped cream because that is what I was raised on, but I decided to introduce the kids to reddi-whip. They loved that we could just spray it in their mouths.

At the end of the night, Everett wanted to put the blanket on his bed. I hope it outlasts a boy growing up, because it is probably the only one I will ever make him. I used a super soft 28 wale navy blue corduroy, but I was a little disappointed with it because it looks almost black and it is a little more like velvet than I wanted.

Everett doesn't seem to mind though. I sure love this loving, energetic child. I hope he has dreams of rocketing to the moon tonight.

I Sleep, You Sleep, We All Sleep

Sometimes, we like to sleep like this.

Sleep on a monkey while watching a movie.

In random places, like the space between couch cushions.

Or with feet in the air and thumb in the mouth. Try it sometime; maybe you'll like it.

How do you sleep?

How to eat a Pea

Little William is sick today, which makes my heart hurt. I took a bunch of pictures of him eating yesterday and I thought I would post them today because it makes me feel good to see him happy.

Here is your lesson on how to eat a pea. Feel free to disregard the instructions if you are not seven months old. Otherwise, this might be a very useful tutorial. (Although if you are seven months old and reading this on your own, I am guessing you already have eating under your belt.)

How to Eat a Pea

by William Warren Johnson

1. Be excited! Excitement is key to enjoying your dinner.

2. Isolate one pea from the rest of the herd.

3. Place it steadily in your hand.

4. Watch it roll around your palms for a little while.

5. Put that rolly pea in your mouth before you lose it for good.

6. Don't look like you are enjoying this--that is a surefire way to be given more vegetables.

7. Wave your arms around. Waving helps you chew (after all, you only have two teeth).

8. You may smile now as long as you have already given a good scowl. Go ahead. Smiling makes the peas taste better.

9. Try to swallow.

10. Wave your arms some more (see step 7).

11. Give it one final mash with your tongue, then swallow.

12. That was actually pretty good!

13. It's okay--rub your eyes. You're probably a little tired by now. It takes a long time to eat one pea, let alone a handful. If you're anything like me, it takes a lot of practice to fine-tune those motor skills. It's not like I'm easily distracted.

14. Wow! A window to outside!

Wait. What was I saying?

All in the Family

We often have movie nights with homemade pizza (last night was Surf's Up, which the kids didn't really enjoy). Everyone likes their pizza a different way.

I like mine bruschetta style, with a little olive oil and garlic instead of tomato sauce, topped with fresh tomato slices, fresh spinach, red onion, and mozzarella. I haven't tried it with basil yet, but I should.

Joel likes barbecue chicken pizza, with red onion.

The kids, well, the kids eat whatever I have out for them. Usually it is regular old cheese pizza with plenty of green bell pepper.

YUM. Add some breadsticks and everyone is a fan of this carb-heavy, vegetable-low dinner. I wonder if the kids will remember this tradition?

Lullaby

I found Ashley sound asleep like this yesterday afternoon. She has been loving this book lately--she finds it especially funny when the dogs fight about whether the boy dog likes the girl dog's hat.

"Do you like my hat?" Ashley will wander around saying. Then, she'll scowl as she replies to herself, "No, I do not like that hat! Goodbye! Good-BYE!" After she is done with the dialogue, she smiles shyly if she notices that I have been watching her.

Someday she will be into whatever fad the other kids are going wild over. I love soaking in these simple days; hopefully they will last me through the teenage years.

Finding and Seeking

See this boy?

Don't let that smile fool you. He is a troublemaker.

Now that he can get anywhere he wants, he always chooses the kitchen. Toys are of no interest to him anymore; he wants anything contraband, and the kitchen is the easiest place to find it.

Food scraps. Lost-and-forgotten silverware. Puddles of spilled drink.

And markers. Of course, markers. I am not the best housekeeper, but I do try to sweep often. The floor you see here is immediately after I swept. No one ate. No one drank. No one even touched any food. Yet there are plenty of crumbs left on the ground for William to swallow. The only explanation I have? I am not the best a very good housekeeper. That pretty much sums it up.

So, William practically lives under our table now.

And yes, he knows exactly what he is doing to me.

Poll

Joel and I were having a discussion the other day about our respective shower routines. I start with my hair and wash down from there, but do my face last. Joel starts at his feet/legs and works his way up.

I told him his approach doesn't make sense because it is like washing walls before your floor (all the soap drips down anyway), but he said it doesn't matter. So. . .I'm curious. How do you like to do it? Top to bottom or bottom to top?

****Edited****

Joel wants me to make it clear that I am mis-remembering his whole shower procedure. Apparently I am wrong in that he begins with his hands/arms and torso before doing his legs and feet, after which he washes his hair and face.

FYI, this was a two-minute conversation and not the subject of a marital dispute.

That is all.

*signing off*