Thunderpants and True Love

I walked into the little girls' room this morning and they are arguing so....
Me: What's the problem?
Rissa: (sadly)Abby says these are not "funderpants"!
Me: Those are thunderpants??
Abby: (snotty) Yeah she thinks those are thunderpants!
Me: Why are these thunderpants? (they have a camouflage print)
Abby: She thinks those things look like thunder!
Rissa: Yeah!
Me: Abby, she can say these are thunderpants if she wants to. Get yourself ready for school!

A couple of weeks ago I picked Abby up from swimming lessons. My friends Rick and Kacie Sanders had taken her because I had to be at the church for something else. This is what she said on the way home.

Abby: Mom do you remember when brother Sanders was my super Santa and he brought me cookies and left them on the door?
Me: Yes, I remember when the Sanders family did the twelve days of Christmas for us.
Abby: Mom, how can it be possible, just how can it be possible?
Me: How can what be possible?
Abby: How can it be possible for a 1st grader to be in love with a man?
Me: (alarmed and surprised) What??
Abby: How can it be possible for me to be in love with a man? Just how can it be possible?
Me: (Trying not to laugh) First of all it isn't possible unless you're in love with your dad!
Abby: Oh no, I'm in love with Brother Sanders!
Me: Really? I don't know about that!
Abby: Oh yes! I'm in love with Brother Sanders!
SCARY CHILD!!

Fall 2009 Family Pictures

Clarissa is a big girl!

April 2009





















This was a special day for Clarissa! She had a major hurdle to overcome with her potty training. I had made many promises to her if she would just be brave and do this final thing and be done with potty training. She finally did it! We took a walk to the store and she picked out a new book for her very own. Then we walked back to the park where she played. An afternoon just for her and mommy! Now every time we drive past that particular park she recounts everything we did that day. Later she also got some ice cream of her very own to eat. This was about a month before her 3rd birthday. This was a great day for me too! My last child potty trained! YAY!!

October 16th
I ran two miles today! That may not sound that amazing but to me it is awesome! I wasn't able to run all summer due to major pain in my left heel. I have rested it as much as I could and when school started I began taking classes at the gym two days a week while Clarissa is in preschool. That has been a lot of fun. The other three days I was walking about 5 miles with friends while pushing the stroller. Now it is too cold for that. Today I went to the gym with Clarissa so I had to take her in the play room/workout room. The treadmill was calling my name. It has been really hard for me not being able to run. The exhilaration, the rush and general feeling of well-being I get from running 2 or more miles just cannot be obtained any other way that I have found. I was afraid of hurting my foot but it was worth it. I wanted to keep going but I felt I should be cautious also. I am hoping I don't regret it tomorrow!

Pioneer Trek 09

Paige and Holly, the kids' cousins came to visit and go on the pioneer trek with Curtis this year. They had a fabulous experience! They came home hot, tired and hungry but very happy. They all said they would do it again in a heartbeat. They worked hard and learned a great appreciation for their forefathers who sacrified so much to be able to freely worship the way they chose.

Rockets Summer 09

Phil's Graduation

Phil and Curtis came home one day early from scout camp so Phil could attend his graduation. He earned two Master's Degrees from Webster University. He was able to graduate with his two counselors from the YM presidency in our ward. We also found out that day that he was being promoted to Technical Sergeant. We are so proud of you! You are a great dad and a wonderful husband!!

Scout Camp June 2009

Curtis and Phil had a great time at scout camp this year. Our ward had their own scout camp so the boys would have better opportunities to earn merit badges and they were very successful! They went to a place called Porcupine Bay. It was a primitive site and they could not hike to it so they used canoes. The leaders had a speedboat for emergency's and to carry the important gear that they did not want to get wet (like sleeping bags and food). Curtis was the patrol leader this year so he had a lot of leadership opportunites. Great week for both of them!